Shinseki - Should He Go Or Stay

When General Eric Shinseki was chosen to head the VA I thought it was one of Obama's best picks.  Even with all that is now going on, I'm not sure he isn't.

Sebelius wasn't dismissed for the debacle she made of Obamacare.  Why should Shinseki be dismissed for a problem that isn't of his making?

I think he should be given the chance to make it right.  I do not for a minute believe, that as a former general, he doesn't care deeply about veterans.

The problem as I see it lies with Congress and the bureaucracy and the structure of civil service jobs. Plus the type of people, across the board, who fill them.  Self serving and greedy at the expense of those in dire need.  What kind of citizens are these?

Tell Harry Reid to get off his behind and bring to the floor legislation that allows the firing of civil service no matter at what level they serve.  Then fire everyone involved as they are found and demand the return of their bonuses if such was received.  Prosecute to the full extent of the law those who acted criminally and send them to prison. No plea deals.  We're not dealing with children even if they're acting like it.

Replace every one who has oversight responsibilities and with the upcoming election those who turned a blind eye to what has been happening. What makes this so egregious is that it has been going on throughout every administration, not just this one.  This time they just happened to get caught and have no place to hide.

This is a non-partisan issue just as the Vets are non-partisan.  I cannot remember when there has been no grumbling about VA services and waits.

Shinseki should have the authority to do what's necessary.  If he doesn't this is one time the President should go around Congress with his phone and his pen and give it to him. Give the Vets vouchers for private sector care now.  Don't wait for an investigation to show what we already know.  Don't let Congress drag it's feet hoping it will go away.  Remember, this is government run health service, what we'll all get with Obamacare.  If you can't relate then pretend you're a Vet in need!  Give the General a chance to save his men.

Then go through every agency in the government and do the same housecleaning.  If this Congress can't get it done, make sure the next one can.

How many national disgraces does it take to get our attention?  How many national disgraces does it take to demand change?  This should be the final nail in the coffin.  If it isn't we're beyond hope and will get nothing more than what we deserve. I should hate to think this is it.

Ya Know, Nancy, Just Stop!

That goes for every one else who can't control their snarky persona!  So the Democrats capitulated and joined on what hopefully will be the last Benghazi investigation. There should never have been a question as to whether or not they would or should.

Partisanship and party loyalty rule no matter the crisis.  Here four Americans were killed and the whys and wherefores have yet to be answered.  The Dems know that and no matter how hard they try to deny it, pesky little tidbits keep seeping to the surface that belies their propaganda.

Let's face it.  If they're right and there's nothing more to be found they should be a part of finding that out.  Why wouldn't they want to?

She told reporters, "But I do think it's important for the American people to have a pursuit of these questions done in as fair and as open and balanced as possible."  Hooray for Nancy!  Maybe she's seen the light of day.

Oops!  No.  She had to tag on, "That's simply not possible leaving it to the Republicans."  You just had to do that, didn't you Nancy.  You couldn't be conciliatory and gracious even once.

Do you ever wonder why your opposition so often get their hackles up?  It isn't because they're Republican.  It's because you are you!

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.