LeBoutiller Beat Me To The Punch

Sometimes the answer to a problem can be so simplistic it is overlooked just for that reason.

Such is the case of the current V.A. mess.  And leave it to a Republican to have come up with the idea.

You've  heard that Congress gets Cadillac health care via subsidized premiums. It's such a simple and obvious fix it will never happen - apply it to the veterans.  John LeBoutillier suggested it during a discussion with the Political Insiders on the FOX Report Weekend. I listen to that segment of the program just to hear what these seasoned Washington insiders have to say about current politics.  Former Republican Congressman LeBoutillier is joined by Democrats Doug Schoen and Pat Caddell.  All have problems with the ways and means of the current administration and Congress and all have been on the inside long enough to know of which they speak.  The difference between these seasoned men and todays crop is that they care about country first.

As for the Veterans mess LeBoutillier suggested doing away with the VA in its entirety.  Issue every discharged service man and woman the same insurance card issued to Congress. It is honored everywhere in the world.

Think about it.  The convenience angle for the vets improves by not having to travel long distances to hospitals.  They would have access to any and all physicians.  The doctors and nurses and other medical staff would be absorbed by other hospitals.  Hospital chains could buy the existing real estate.

Only the bureaucrats would be left high and dry and well they should be.  After all they're the ones cooking the books on wait lists and under working staff by so doing! Haven't we been saying government is too big?  Here's a way to eliminate a whole Department - pay raises, bonuses and all.

I'm sure the idea could use some tweaking but on the surface it makes a whole lot of sense.  That's why it will never see the light of day.  Unless you join with me and contact your Congressional representatives and tell them to have a look at the idea.  I'm sure Mr. LeBoutillier would be more than happy to answer any questions they may have.

Darn!  This should have been a Dogwalk solution!  Simplistic rules!  At least in this case it should.

Do You Wonder Where Bizarrre National Politics Get Their Beginnings?

One can usually take pride when one of our more obscure western states starts making national headlines. And then there's Idaho.

I can't speak about the rest of the state but local politics, especially the local Republicans, are as dysfunctional a family as you can find.  It's so  screwed up Republicans are even changing party to have a chance at getting elected at which time they will promptly change back.  Win or lose I would guess.

The small town level such as here in Coeur d'Alene has always been a hot bed of discontent.  The once contentious mayor opted out this last go round.  The new mayor seems to have his head on straight and most of the citizenry behind him though it's early in his term.  Very early.  There are a lot of new city council members too. Again, it's too soon to make a judgement call.

The next step up the ladder are the county commissioners who are keeping the tradition of beening less than they could be.  The Human Resource department seems to have little to do because departments opt to do their own thing.  They do, however, oversee people being paid pretty healthy sums to not work. Not unlike Washington D.C. is it?

Now comes the state level where the Republican governor is up for re-election.  Remember the Republicans run everything here.  It explains why there are so many Independents! The gubernatorial debate was something to behold.  When it goes viral on You Tube and Greg Gutfeld gets hold of it for his program Red Eye you know it is cringe time.  Idaho?  I'm not from Idaho!

We have a biker, a curmudgeon, a cowboy (the incumbent) and a "regular guy" running.  Actually the cowboy seems to be the only sane one of the bunch.  That's being damned with faint praise I assure you.  The rest are living in Fantasy Land.

State government is much the same.  I won't go into the background of some of the more colorful members for fear of getting sued.  Suffice it to say they want to eliminate the 17th amendment and return to the less than successful practice of having the legislature choose our Senators. Lordy!

None of this should come as a surprise though.  It wasn't that long ago when our Senator at the time claimed having a "wide stance" was the reason an undercover agent mistook his actions in an airport mens room.

All things considered, we know the folks in Washington aren't the best we can do. They apparently aren't the worst either.  Those folks are still waiting in the wings!  Here. In Idaho.  I'd love to hear matching stories.

On second thought, no I wouldn't.  I'd hate to think this is the new normal in national politics!

A Bull Dog For Benghazi

Mother's Day has just passed.  There are four mothers out there somewhere who did not receive greetings from their sons.  They're dead.  Killed in Benghazi during a terrorist attack.  No one seems to know exactly why.  Those mothers and the families of those men do want to know why.  That is why there will and should be one more investigation into the incident.

The Democrats can call it a stunt all they want.  Everything is known, they say.  After all there have already been four investigations.  It shows just one more short coming of how our government functions.  The four committees, jealous of their territorial sovereignty I suppose, didn't share the information they got with one another.  Never-the-less, we know none of them got answers to a lot of questions.  So let's try one more time.

I don't know a lot about Trey Gowdy other than what I've seen on television, but I do like what I've seen.  He seems to be a straight shooter.  Enough so it makes me wonder why he's in Congress.  But thank goodness he is.  He would seem to have the ability to ask the right questions and demand the answers without grand standing nor allowing his committee to do so.

It seems to me the Democrats are the ones actually doing the stunt.  If the administration had been honest from the get go this would all be over and done with by now.  But they weren't and a member of the admin at the time has her eye on the Presidency.  That makes it important.

What else?  The fact that we've been lied too over and over again for political expedience.  That's important because that puts in question everything we're told and are supposed to accept at face value.  I don't think so.

It's important because a promise was made to find and punish the perpetrators.  That was not kept.  As  goes the lying so go the promises.

There comes a time that politics must take second place to honesty and truth.  We've seen very little if any from this administration.  However, the only way this one last committee to succeed is for it's members to behave as investigators seeking the truth rather than politicians.  It's time for the Democrats to get on board; they too should want to know the truth.  And the Republicans have to quit being stupid and nix things like the fund raising stunt that surfaced.  That is a stunt.  Plain and simple.

Mr. Gowdy, a lot of us are depending on you to do a Herculean job and ferret out the truth once and for all. Especially the Mothers - and the others those men left behind.

Condi Should Have Waited

I shook my head in disgust when a group of Rutgers University faculty and students protested the scheduled commencement speech to be given by Condoleezza Rice.  It seems to be an annual ritual for a significant few to protest the appearances of the notable and far too often win.

Why this time?  Mostly because she was a member of the last Bush administration and its involvement in the Iraq war.  Never mind that, while perhaps not the best choice for Secretary of State considering the times, she is a woman of great accomplishment and those who protested could use a good dose of her insight and wisdom.

Cheers for the University for refusing their demands and thumbs down for Condi's being gracious and withdrawing, not wanting to spoil the day that should belong to the students. I appreciate the sentiment but she should have considered all the students, not the minority making the fuss.

As it is, a large number have taken issue with her decision to withdraw.  Those who believe in academic freedom and are open minded enough to listen to points of view that might differ from their own.

Who are the winners and the losers?  There are no winners.  The protesters have denied themselves an opportunity to be enlightened.  By design.  The student body has been denied the opportunity to listen to a speaker who has intimate knowledge of what the driving forces are in today's world.  And Ms. Rice herself has been denied being the recipient of an honorary degree.  I'm sure that is the least of her concerns.

If only she had waited for the theatrics to play out, every one could have been a winner.  Especially those who raised the protest.  They would have won even though they lost. Don't wait for that admission of truth.

Too Much Attitude, Dude

So how old is this kid?  Tommy Vietor.  To my old eyes he doesn't look like he's old enough to shave but I'd guess he's probably in his mid thirties or so.

He thinks he's hip.  His brother is President of CBS and he used to work in the White House.  That means he can talk to anyone anyway he wants.  Or so it seems.

Yep.  He's the one who addressed Bret Baier as "Dude" in an interview regarding the Benghazi talking points.  "Dude, Benghazi was like two years ago" is the exact quote.

Had I ever addressed any one in that manner my Mother would have washed my mouth out with soap. Even if I had been in my mid thirties or so. That was several generations ago. That was when we were taught respect.

He brushed it off on an interview on MSNBC by saying, "I guess you're supposed to speak the Queen's English on FOX." FOX and any place else you're being interviewed, hot shot.  Your manner of speaking and demeanor is a reflection not only of yourself but of the administration and the President you served.

I guess some will say it was mild compared to the way some in Congress talk of one another. And some might say it's the way young people talk these days.  Maybe college kids.  Certainly not young professionals. But there was no profanity.  Just snarky contempt of the man who was interviewing him.

I'll bet in his off hours he wears a ball cap in restaurants too.  You know, respect is a two way street.  And it has to be earned. Maybe it's why people in countries who do speak the Queen's English have so little for us these days.