Lawrence Connell MD Washington DC director

Trump Loyalist Installed To Oversee Washington DC VA Medical Center

Lawrence Connell MD Washington DC director
Col. Lawrence Connell, Chief of Staff for the Pacific Regional Medical Command (PRMC), presents Beverly Lopes, Joint Commission Readiness Consultant, Quality Services Division, TAMC with her 2013 PRMC Civilian Employee of the Year award in Category II of the recognition program March 5, 2014 at Tripler Army Medical Center. (Photo Credit: Ana Allen (PRMC))

After initially placing the chief of staff in charge of the troubled Washington DC VA Medical Center, the agency changed course and installed a Trump loyalist.

On Wednesday, the former director, Brian Hawkins, was replaced by the facility’s chief of staff, Dr. Charles Faselis. Thursday morning, VA changed course and replaced Faselis with Lawrence Connell, MD.

Connell is a Trump loyalist and retired Army medical officer. He was among a number of Trump loyalists installed at VA in January:

  • Lydia Blaha, Special Assistant/Deputy Press Secretary, GS-12, 1/23/17.
  • Lawrence Connell, Senior Advisor, GS-15, 1/20/17.
  • Lynda Davis, Senior Advisor/ Veteran Experience, SES, 1/20/17.
  • Jacquelyn Hayes-Byrd, Senior Advisor, No grade level, 2/6/17.
  • Thomas (Jake) Leinenkugel, Senior White House Advisor, SES, 1/20/17.
  • Michael Lukach, Special Assistant/White House Liaison, GS-15, 1/20/17.
  • Matthew Miller, Senior White House Advisor, SES, 1/23/17.
  • Bert Mizusawa, Senior Advisor, SES, 1/30/17.
  • Peter O’Rourke, Senior Advisor Appeal Mod, GS-15, 1/20/17.
  • Darin Selnick, Senior Advisor VHA Policy & Planning, SES, 1/23/17.
  • Brooks Tucker, Senior Advisor, GS-15, 1/30/17.

At least two from this list have now been installed into positions within the agency. Lynda Davis, PhD, was just selected to head the Chief Veterans Experience Officer.

[Thanks to commenter NiteWish for posting this in the comment section last month.]

RELATED: IG Review Of VA Medical Center May Shock You

VA Statements On Selecting Location Outside, Trump Loyalist

In a statement, VA said:

“After further consideration, it was determined that naming an acting director from outside the facility would allow leadership to concentrate on addressing the many challenges identified in the OIG report without compromising the ongoing internal review.”

In a later press conference, Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, MD, promised accountability and fairness for those involved in the management of Washington DC VA that put veterans lives at risk.

The VA Maryland Health Care System is handling the center’s human resources responsibilities because the D.C. facility has “been unable to sustain and maintain a sufficient HR program.” The IG said this has led to the center not having “direct authority over its recruitment and hiring functions.”

Brandon Coleman On Washington DC VA Shakeup

These swift moves led to even Brandon Coleman, a whistleblower, and fierce VA critic, to finally say positive things about a VA secretary for the first time in years.

About putting Connells to head the DC facility, “Colonels are great choices to run VA facilities.” But, “there is so much more that can be done.”

Regarding Hawkins being placed on leave, “He collected $17,000 in bonuses while running a VA facility that put veterans lives at risk.” Coleman saw this as a major failure in holding employees accountable and cited new legislation on accountability as a potential fix.

Coleman also commented on the new wait list website, “I’ve got to give credit where credit is due,” Secretary Shulkin, “is actually pushing for some transparency” by “putting the numbers out there for veterans to see.”

“That is a huge step forward compared to what we had during the last Administration.”

What do you think about these steps? Are these moves in line with Trump’s promise to reform the agency? Do you see the news this week as a positive sign?

Source: https://www.govexec.com/management/2017/04/trump-administration-installs-loyalist-repair-deficient-va-facility/137012/?oref=govexec_today_nl

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289 Comments

  1. I’ve posted before. Just not a bunch like most of you. I’m so sick (I mean physically I’ll sick) of just about anything to do with the VA. What do you do with someone who says they’re a veteran and then they treat you like shit? Or when a VA doctor actually assaults you AND your wife during C & P exam? Or you demand your Claim file and now five months later nothing?
    Or, best of all: You try to find an attorney to help you and no one will believe you? There’s even a lawyer here in my State that advertises his website as (state name)disabledveterans.org and when you contact them, no answer! No one will believe me about the deal that has happened. Haven’t found any yet!
    So changing out a director in some other state MAY be good for those vets, but until changes take place here, for me and the local vets, it just doesn’t get much huzzah from me.

    1. I don’t know what you are applying for. If it’s for PTSD and you can’t find someone.

      Call Kenneth carpenter attorney out of Topeka Kansas, he’s specialized in obtaining PTSD for veteran’s. Its called charter carpenter attorney

      Hope it helps

      1. @James Gallegos – Thank you for that info! I will try searching that out. Topeka isn’t too far. I’ll give him a try anyway…..

  2. Top down cut out of the cancer that run each VA clinic and hospital. And don’t use a surgeon that intentionally leaves some cancer behind in order to provide job security.
    On that note, Fucking radiation treat men’s KILL more people than they save. They take ALL the family’s money for a couple generations and kill the ‘patient’ anyway. Fuck the hospital corporations. They tout religion and healing as marketing tools but Keep people sick or just outright kill them while charging so much money for services that not even the directors of the hospitals could pay the bill. Fuck you.
    I really like the multiple charges as well: walk in the door charge, talk to reception charge, charge for nurse to ask questions and take blood pressure, then charge for two doctors to see you even though one only poked their head in the room and said oops wrong room…FUCKING THIEVES
    FUCK YOU!

    1. Oh I forgot, the $10 charge to mail you 6 different bills for a visit lasted 20min. 17 of which were spent waiting for someone to call you into the office…

      Sadistic money grubin’ shit birds

  3. Interesting. I couldn’t find how much Hawkins was collecting in bonuses when I commented on this Friday.

    There is no other conclusion you can reach other than the VA has zero standards for giving bonuses other than being able to fog a mirror.

    $17000. After he and his police chief installed cameras and microphones to spy on their police officers resulting in a lawsuit.

    What was the result of that suit?

    $17000. Yet Hawkins oversaw a complete breakdown in his management, supervisors or lower leaders.

    Wasn’t it Sloan Gibson whining before congress about wanting to restore bonuses? That it was critical to hiring/retaining good people?

    As for Trump loyalists being installed at VA…I don’t know if this is a good sign pointing to serious reform or if it points to being a jobs program for cronies and friends of cronies.

    This move suggests pointing towards reform. We shall see if the Colonel can clean up that hospital.

    Should be a nice pay raise for him to go from GS15 to SES as a Director.

    As for the others, I didn’t know so many senior advisors had been installed. One would think with so much advice, the VA would be seeing serious reform within a year.

    I also wonder if this pool of senior advisors is a holding pool of hospital directors that can be used to replace other directors when the shit hits the fan at their hospital.

    It may work, as long as the replaced director is not being paid for months until retirement.

    Happy Easter all.

  4. Check this out: ‘https://wakingtimesmedia.com/putin-russian-president-says-something-new-world-order-western-media-wont-air/’

    1. @LP: Knew this all along, good article, thank you. Once you know the truth, the news becomes comedy central.

  5. I believe the Secretary is on the right track. He stated ” If someone should not be working at the VA, they wont be working at the VA. Watch US” !

    If the new law is passed, this will assist the VA secretary the major tool, he needs to take real action. I think that VA employee’s whom have done wrong are gathering in their little groups, and trying to get their stories straight.

    I like this, because they may think they have their stories straight, but if the investigators explain to them that if they are trying to cover up for another employee and it found out they will be accountable and can be terminated along with the offender. Many of these employee’s will spill the beans on others and those loyal to the offender, will be fired.

    Can you imagine a group being fired all at once. That is a powerful message to all VA employee’s. A good investigator would take each employee and interview them and law down the law. Deal only with the evidence and not let hearsay to be introduced as real evidence.

    The new law if passed, the VA will experience a major shake up and many veterans who don’t have a job, will be able to have one. The new hires must be taught from the start, if they do not follow the law, they will not be working for the VA very long.

  6. Wow, its after 2am. CJ I hope your ok. Do a cold water compress on your eye. I’m going to say goodnight as well. Ex va, cj, Jo3n, I wish you and your families a wonderful and Happy Easter Sunday. Good night Ben’s world.

  7. @ANutterVet,@Ex va: Not kidding, I was laughing so hard, the tear duct in my left eye started itching. Never had this kind of thing happen before, now my left eye is swollen shut. I will have to say goodnight. Happy Easter all. God Bess you all and your families.

    1. @cj, @ANutterVet, @Jo3n, i need to say goodnight to you all and have a great Easter. God Bless you all and your families.

  8. @ANuterVet: Please don’t talk about potato salad, potato chips, being stopped up with opiates, and then talk about dropping a MOAB.

  9. @Cj, I don’t have social media either, at least if I do, family set it up. I lied about seeing it. @ANutterVet, I may be interested in supplements, not sure. I’m not sure about feeling better I guess. Can’t say why I am not on one. Thanks. @Exva The varmints have been running amuck too long. The VA is in sad shape. Thanks for the things, so many things, you have posted. I’m actually been going back before the election. Interesting to read last year, just to compare with. Happy Easter or Passover to y’all, and find that way that allow us to be a positive piece of every one you meet. God Bless the Veterans and their families.

    1. @Jo3n, you are right they have been doing whatever they want to do in the va medical centers. It needs to stop.

      1. We need to have them all over for dinner, and poison their food. Sorry, that’s not nice, we’ll have cj shoot them. A faster passing unto the next dimension of eternal life.

      2. I’m so sorry, how can I say such a thing. Shame on me. What we can do is to invite them to a big picnic dinner on a nice sunny day. Then drop a MOAB on their asses.

  10. @cj – Yeah I know. Sometimes I get these cravings [opiates working on my taste buds], and I can’t stop eating. Especially potato chip sandwiches.

      1. @cj – I missed something. What does ham, brown sugar, pineapple, and cherries have to do with a play. Please cj, enlighten my with this one. LOL

      2. ROFL!!! @cj, depends what she does. My daughter makes the devil eggs. I don’t know it will be a late dinner with sunrise services.

      3. I don’t think I have ever laughed that hard in my entire life. I copied that entire exchange, I am going to print it out and put it in a frame and hang it on a wall.

  11. @Ex va – We should go over to your place to eat.
    @cj – How do you make a Pizza in the shape of an egg. One is pointier than the other.

  12. @cj @Ex va – Pizza sounds good. I’ve been eating the heck out of coleslaw. That’s my favorite salad, and 3-bean, and old fashion potato salad with plenty egg yolks. Made with yellow mayonnaise.

      1. @cj – The dogs will eat before the guests. You’ll have to give your guests the dog food.

    1. We have ham, potato salad, salad, vegetables, rolls. @cj, you must make some good pizza.

  13. @ANutterVet,@Ex va: I am alone for the weekend, Having a veteran friend and his wife over for Pizza.

  14. @cj @Ex va @Jo3n – Anyone having good eats for Easter dinner? Spill the menu out.

  15. @Ex va @cj @Jo3n – It may not be a good idea to impersonate due to some ass wipe butthead taking advantage of this security flaw. What do you think?

    1. I never even thought of this flaw until tonight. Ben would take care of it if it got out of control. He monitors. I think someone would have said something already.

  16. @Ex va – Its always good to laugh at yourself.

    @cj – Where you stay. Same for @Jo3n?

    1. Yes, she is talking about how these so-called Security people don’t do their jobs. She is concerned about one person who can’t even write. One sleeps all the time, another is too heavy to move around.

  17. @Ex va – What the hell is your problem. You normally dot act like this. Fuck you bitch.

      1. @Ex va – No, what is going on. Did you take your meditation tonight? Your off tonight.

  18. @Ex va – Yeah you can give Melatonin to dogs. You may want to ask your Vet for the dosage. I don’t know your girls medical issues.

    @Jo3n – If you need help with supplements, all you need to do is ask. No problem.

    @cj – Do you want any of Jo3n’s credit cards? Yes, how many?

    I’m on the phone with my wife too.

      1. @cj – My wife is at work. She works on weekends, 12a – 8am. Gravy job. She does Security, and is the only one on Staff that is licensed. This Company is actually breaking Delaware and Federal law, but they don’t want to admit it.

      1. @Ex va,@ANutterVet,@cj: Go to the corner……….now—————————————->L

  19. @Ex va @cj – You’re alright. Follow me down here. After treating myself to squid, now I’m eating York Peppermint Mini Patties. I love this type of candy. And, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs. What kind of candies do you folks eat?

    @cj – Did the dogs settle down? Is @Jo3n still with us or did he drop offline?

  20. Feels like I walked in on Larry, Curly, and Mo. @ANutterVet, No, haven’t tried supplements, but open. @Cj, I found your post on Facebook. What’s up with that? @Exva, I am curious about why the VA has repo problems. Are we saying they have credit cards? All the money they steal year to year, and Our wise leaders reward their (so much stuff) actions with Credit, and then the taxpayers bought??? Someone, other than Veterans need go after those crooks.

    1. @Jo3n: LOL Jo3n, I don’t do social media, I have no facebook, unless someone hits me in the face with a book.

    2. @Jo3n, in the va a purchasing agent have cards like a credit card. They would have made a purchase and did not finish the purchasing order by payment and would have had a repo equipment. This violates so many directives. It probably someone who ordered from an equipment fund control point without the funds being there. I do not see how they knowingly do this and not get into trouble.

  21. @ANutterVet: I have, and it is all service connected. I even have hearing aids from listening to too many assholes.

  22. @Ex va – Good that you eat stuff like that. Now all we got to do is get Mr. CJ to muscle up and eat this good gourmet food.

    @cj – Have you been tested for ADD, ADHD, ADDH, ASSE, ASSWIPE, ASSHOLE, ASININE?

  23. @cj @Ex va – If you hit the Reply area to make a post, you’ll notice that right next to where it says, LEAVE A REPLY, that it will state Cancel Reply that is shaded as well.

    But if you post at the bottom, making a new comment, you’ll only see LEAVE A REPLY in capital letters. There will not be the shaded words, Cancel Reply. Do you understand? If not, your fucked up. LMAO

  24. @ANutterVet, i have eaten raw fish before, yes, i probably would eat it. I loved dried squid an Icelandic lobster. I have eaten a lot of different foods.

      1. @Ex va: Yes bad storms, the dog is out of his mind at the moment. He hates thunder. If I don’t answer, I lost power…………or passed out lol

  25. @cj – The platform the Ben’s using detects the email address. So on the blogs end, you can post by using someone else’s name. That is not good. I knew this when I first starting posting on Ben’s blog.

  26. @cj @Ex va @Jo3n – Are my posts visible tonight? How are you folks doing tonight? This weather is beautiful, but I can’t get outside to enjoy it. Its hard because I can’t take my wife to places like we use too. Dam, this ticks me off. Plus, not being able to spend time with my Boy.

    1. @cj, @ANutterVet, @Jo3n, i try to post either under the post and hit reply, but sometimes it will jump up on me for some unknown reason.

    1. @cj – Don’t post under the Reply. Make a new post and follow them at the end. Try that and see what happens. I think someone is screwing around with our posts. What do you folks think? Strange.

      1. @ ANutterVet, happened to me quite a few times, also. Will call it a day! All have a good and safe weekend.

  27. @cj – Give up on posting, the dogs, yourself, others, VA, tonight, life, . . . etc?

    1. @ANutterVet: I didn’t even know you could do that. I put EX va, where cj goes, and it posted. So now I am thinking, how the hell do we know if it is really us or not?

  28. @ANutterVet,@Ex va,@Jo3n: Hows all tonight? I just posted this a second ago, I have no clue where it went. It is up there ^ somewehre.

  29. @Ex va – My team has informed me that many times my PCP doesn’t even return phone calls. Then when my PT or Nurse tries to call, they get caught up in a waiting loop, but they have other clients to see. Whats up with this?

    1. @ANutterVet, is there any way you can get on another doctors panel? Can you ask for another physician or team? I don’t understand why you haven’t received any medical devices to help you with showering, etc. They are dropping the ball on your needs and you should be talking to people who can and will help you. I would suggest a patient advocate or letter to medical center director. They need to let you go to choice if they are not going to treat you.

  30. I treated myself to a nice snack tonight, dried squid, cuttlefish. We love the stuff. And, the shredded type is good over rice with some soy sauce. Umm, good tasting.

  31. @Jo3n – We’ve got the same symptoms, its called anxiety, PTSD, extremely alert. I know how that feels. Jo3n, do you take any supplements to help you?

  32. @Ex va – Hey Brother, been a bit since we chatted. How are you doing tonight? Hopefully this nice weather has been making your pain less.

    I’m hanging in there. Been a little upset because of all the issues with the VA attending to my health concerns. Even my PT and in-home Nurse are upset. They shared with me that they have other Veterans, their VA PCP’s are slow, and basically they get the impression that they don’t care about their responsibility in taking care of Veterans. Same problems all over the place, so they aren’t isolated problems. What do you think? You know em better then most people do.

    1. @ANutterVet, they are only as good as their managers and funding is managed. If they are not given support by their physicians they work under or given access to the equipment they can order. Sounds like upper management is not doing their jobs and tying the hands of the nurses and pt’s.

      1. @Ex va – Hanging in there. If we broke bread together, and it was my treat, would you eat raw ahi [tuna] fish with me?

        Try post your comment at the end. Thanks.

  33. @ANutterVet, I have a light sleep issue. I don’t keep regular hours. Been a bit emotional today. The smell of anger and frustration with all aspects of the VA. At this time, or later, is when I seem to be the most alert. It’s quiet. @All of Veterans and their families, please enjoy this Sunday. Happy Easter y’all, and God Bless…

    1. @ Jo3n, have a great Sunday you and all Vets here. I enjoy reading the posts and hope all have a good, safe weekend.

      ‘Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’
      1Corinthians 13:7

  34. @cj @LP @Benjamin Krause JD – I think Ben has a full time job as well. If I recall correctly, that it what he posted a while back. I don’t know his case load, but he should let you know if it is feasible to take your case. @LP, but in the meantime, your best bet is to contact the other sources the @cj posted for you. Good luck Brother, and don’t give up hope even though it could be a long haul to get your case heard if it is valid to the legal beagles.

    @cj – Did you see where N. Korea had a failed missile launch? And the inmates at James Vaughn Correctional Center in Delaware are acting up again. The guards are overwhelmed at this facility. I don’t know what the Liberal Governor Carney [D] is going to do. Recently, they called in an investigative team to find out what to do. Last month an officer was murdered in the riots. Rat bastards.

    April the Giraffe gave birth to a dude. The kids and adult kiddies should be very happy that the facility kept the camera going for them. We don’t want to upset the kids now. I know, its educational and informational for the kidlings. My question is, are the parents really educating their children in life sciences? I sure hope so.

    When I got custody of my children for the second time [ex-wife had to find herself even though she was alive and well – I don’t know about the latter], one of my daughters was behind in high school. It only took my wife and I one semester to get her on track to be considered for college. At first she ranked in the low 400’s out of a little over 500 students. She then ranked #2 in her class in only one semester. This shows you how fast an adolescent can turn around their educational life and get ready to be accepted in college.

    Then my daughter went back to live with her mom, and all college dreams were just that, a dream. Dam, I miss my children, and grand children. They got my scientific aptitudes in them. I was only 17 when my first child was born. Man, I really do miss those days when they were kids. Time flies by fast.

    Who is online tonight? Anybody?

    1. @ANutterVet: I hear ya Nuter, time does fly. I will be back a little later, I need to keep the dog calm, storms here. Talk soon.

  35. @LP: LP, here are some sources I posted for another veteran in your neck of the woods. Hope it helps.

    Texas lawyers for Texas Veterans. “https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Texas_Lawyers_for_Texas_Veterans” They provide pro bono work for Texas Veterans.

    Also “https://www.tlsc.org/programs/vlap.asp” The Texas Veterans Legal Assistance Project.

    “https://www.probono.net/oppsguide/organization.365879-Lone_Star_Lawyers_for_Lone_Star_Veterans_Lone_Star_Legal_Aid” Lone Star Lawyers for Lone Star Veterans, Lone Star Legal Aid

    Texas civil rights project veteraans services “https://www.texascivilrightsproject.org/en/issues/racial-and-economic-justice/veterans-services/”

    American Bar Association “https://www.americanbar.org/groups/committees/veterans_benefits/pro_bono_resources_for_veterans/texas.html” pro bono rescorces for veterans.

  36. Beeeeeeen?
    Ben?
    Ben?
    Ben?

    Holy fuck! I can’t this guy to call, email, or text me back. Yes, I’m writing about the author of this Whole page… B.K.
    I’m in Texas boss. Are you able to help me with this lawsuit for medical malpractice AND appeals for TBI, Gulf War Illness, & others I can’t think of right now??
    Please.
    (Your “contact me” page won’t let me contact you more than ONCE)

    1. LP,

      If you Look on the top row of links, at the top of the page, you will see a link for “Find Attorney”. If you follow that link it will take you to a page that has a link to “REQUEST A CONSULT”. The request link leads to a information on setting up a consult with Ben. It also contains a “Veterans Legal Consultation Form” for you to submit.

      1. Did that.
        Waited a month.
        Posted a comment into a different thread and didn’t get a response either.
        Tryed to use ‘contact me’ page Again and was not allowed because my number and email “were already in use”…
        Ive looked into lawyers here.
        I don’t give in, give up or stand down. 13yrs I’ve been dealing with this shit storm of hospital staff and congressmen not giving a fuck. Trying to make me go away. They just end up looking and feeling like the turds they are. Still, with that said, I can Not find legal assistance. Seems most firms are already on the VA payroll…nice huh?

  37. @Erik, all good, my personally owned problem is I have said that I’m fed up with the VA so many times over the years. I’m still here. On a website, feeling like one with Stockholm syndrome. I have an appointment with the VA, When I get there, I walk by the battered veterans who served honorably, now, most are tired. Their war may have been over 70years, ago and yet, the VA keeps the wounds open. I can’t remember the first day back to the world. Lots of things still missing. I would like to know just how much money it would take to put all disabled(0%>100%), on Medicare. Have hospitals, like 3max in a few states, and the Dakotas could share. 60 would be nationwide. Get rid of clinics. If you are s.c., you have Medicare. Use the VHA for specific and specialized care. Give each hospital a theme, specialty. With an Emergency room equipped to handle veterans and specialized in current warfare. Each war leaves different wounds. All VA’S would have mental health facilities. The way I see it, it was war, I need to talk, and listen. Someone forgot to welcome us home. I’m not home yet, and I am never gonna get there.

  38. Man, what a big effing mistake this is. But what the hell, a hard head makes for a soft ass when it comes time for that ass whipping. This is just my two cents, but they need to keep politics, political affiliation and especially political favors and appointments out of this agency, its one of the biggest reasons if not the only reason that the VA has gotten to be in dire straits. It shouldn’t matter one whit who is loyal to whatever political party or politician, but who’s gonna be loyal to us vets. All this proves is that there’s another political tool at the head of an organization that is supposed to be about helping those that put their lives in danger to safeguard our liberties and freedoms around the world, not somebody that’s gonna be beholden to some political jackass that sees this as another fiefdom that they or their party can get votes and accolades from. Myself, I have lost faith in both political parties because when it came to do the right thing by my veteran brothers and sisters, they were add to the “house fuck luck”pool for pass arounds and votes (that includes Obama, Hillary and McConnell)

    1. @NavInfPO6: Blah blah blah, you have a way of saying nothing about nothing don’t you? You don’t know jack shit about me, or what I do, or don’t do, for my fellow veteran brothers and sisters, so keep your semations to yourself. Yeah I just called you a jagoff, no mistake about it. Piss off with your attitude. Incase you didn’t get the memo, people are organizing. Are you just too ignorant to understand what was posted? Sure looks like you missed the boat on that one huh? Many of us have legal matters pending against the VA, and the beneficiaries of those legal battles will be other veterans. What are you doing? besides running off at the mouth against your so called brothers and sisters?

      I say so called because you stated “I and I’m sure others, don’t want to hear anymore about the pain you are in, how you are sleep deprived, which medication helps or hinders you, how much you hate the VA or how much the VA hates you – blah blah blah!” In other words, YOU YOURSELF, don’t want to hear. Don’t be dragging others, into your insulting tone against your fellow veteran. Infact since YOU don’t want to hear, then go do as you say, and leave, (Pemanently) and don’t let the door hit you in the ass. I don’t give a rats ass about any veteran, who states, they don’t want to hear what troubles other veterans. You self centered, self serving, piece of shit. Fuckin know it all, that doesn’t know shit.

      1. This blog is called “disabledveterans.org” and it is about disabled veterans and the obstacles they have to hurdle to get benefits that they earned and are entitled. Medications, what goes on in va medical centers, lawsuits, treatment of Veterans, these subjects and others are not off base with what is brought thru articles and postings.

        We Veterans ask other Veterans advice and talk about our real life problems. I know some subjects can trigger Veterans because they suffer from PTSD and other disorders and trauma. Reading the articles and bloggers information and comments can upset some of us but we learn to cope and move on.

        We try to help each other and the ones who can’t give even the least consideration of another Veterans struggles usually are the trolls. I don’t know the trolls motivations, don’t know if they are kids, or va employees who can’t help themselves at trying to continue their abuses towards Veterans. Fate/Karma has a weird way of coming back on you and what you sow, i worry the least about you trolls.

        I think there have been a lot of solutions to real problems offered in this blog and would defend it.

  39. OK, I missed part of it, but UFC is on FOX. Taking a break from all this asinine corruptive bullshit from people who are supposed to be professionals [VA], but they seem to always fuck Veterans over even when the VA is in the wrong. A strange critter, that needs to be castrated, including dedicked [is this a word].

  40. @NavinfP06 – You stated, “I and I’m sure others, don’t want to hear anymore about the pain you are in, how you are sleep deprived, which medication helps or hinders you, how much you hate the VA or how much the VA hates you – blah blah blah!”

    But you started your post by saying, “Just sign me gone. However, before I leave (Permanently), I do want to address one thing.” NavinfP06, I don’t know your medical condition, and with no disrespect when I state this, but why inform us that you’re permanently leaving? I hope that your not to proud to ask for help if you need it. There are many Veterans here that will stand by your side, but you only have to ask.

    But if you come off with the attitude like you don’t care about what Veterans are going through, then you can’t expect anyone to stand by your side. And, I know that you didn’t ask for someone to help you out, but if you’re time is almost up, and you need assistance, there is no shame in asking for others to stand with you.

    Just saying that you don’t have to be to proud to ask. We’re here if you want us to be. I know I sound a little contradictive, but if you don’t need any help, even though your statement indicates that you’re going through a hard time, then God bless you Brother.

  41. @NavinfP06 , @nicky w savage – Lets not forget, as we are expressing ourselves on Ben’s blog, there are Veterans that are being murdered by VA employees [read past posts]. I’m so sick of people, especially other Veterans, who don’t uplift other Veterans whose lives are in jeopardy by the ass wipes quacks that work at the VA. What the fuck is wrong with you.

    And you talk about Veterans sticking together. Look, I know when I’m pissed off, and I’m fucking irritated as a mother fucker when Veterans are not put first by a dam fucking Federal Agency, that is supposed to take care of Veterans and their love ones. Its as simple as that. When Veterans lives are at stake, time is of the essence. Something needed to be done yesterday.

    @cj @Ex va, @Disgruntled Veteran, @Namnibor, @91Veteran, @Crazy elf, @Dennis, @Lem, @Seymore Klearly, @James Gallegos, @Jo3n, @Bill, @Windguy, @Don Karg, @Ron Nesler, @Gary, @Warhorse, @Dan F, @Fred Locke, @OLDMARINE, @Rick B – I so fire up at the present moment that I can’t think. Can any of you please post information on any Veterans that lost their lives while in a VA Medical Center or under the care of a VA Primary Care Physician and the Veteran(s) died because of malicious malpractice, murdered, or was left to die. It literally pisses me off when other Veterans seem not to put the lives of other Veterans that are disabled or sick, and need help in maintaining or to obtain the best health that they are able to get.

    @NavinfP06 and @ricky w savage seems to take the lives of Veterans as a grain of salt. I hope that I’m wrong about how they feel, but they never mentioned the importance about the lives of Veterans. Please help me out in this matter.

    These murders have been covered up in the past, and I wouldn’t doubt that murders of Veterans are still being covered up. With this in mind, I WILL NOT stop posting contents about the VA’s corruption.

    When Veterans are soft and compliant, the VA takes advantage of us. Wake the fuck up, they don’t own us anymore. And, if you think they own you, then go up to the VA facilities and work for free to maintain the buildings. Or, how about washing the Director’s vehicles?

    There are Veterans lives at stake, including mine. So fuck you if you can’t take reading what I’ve experienced by getting treated at the VA. Or, that I’m a Biologist, and have seen and heard from others how VA employees have violated laws, creeds, oaths, policies, guidelines, and rules. Then covering them up and putting their dam PR spin on it. Its no different than what our Politicians do to us. They manipulate how you feel about them, even though they are in the wrong.

    Veterans are dying everyday. Whether in a VA Medical Center, at home, or being homeless. The VA has failed miserably in addressing and properly treating PTSD, TBI, Anxiety, Traumatic Battle Wounds, Agent Orange or other Exposures to Chemicals, Burn Pits, and the list goes on. I don’t think Ben’s articles has settled in your heart and minds for the best interest of Veterans. I’m sorry to say, but how you react is exactly how the VA wants you to act.

    You can’t agree to come to an agreement, when the other party don’t agree about things. The VA has screwed over Veterans for decades. All you have to do is post a question and direct it to ex-VA employees. Ex-employees read and comment on Ben’s blog almost every day. If you think I’m not telling you the truth, post a question to an ex-VA employee. They’ll tell you what’s going on.

    The VA needs to be help to strict accountability. Losing one Veteran because of malpractice or corruption is way too much. Veterans lives matter too. Or how many lives of Veterans must we lose because of incompetency, corruption, fraud, poor disinfection and sanitary habits, Medical Providers who can’t speak or fully understand English, keeping the bonuses as a priority instead of Veterans healthcare, denying Veterans claims when their claim is actually valid, not helping the Veterans spouses when they are in need, not treating Veterans K9 Service Dogs like an extension of the Veteran, and more . . .

    Wake up, and please stop giving the VA the benefit of the doubt. They’ll take advantage of you every time. I know, they’ve taken advantage of me many times. Their ruthless when it comes to money. The see money better in their pocket, than to take proper care of Veterans.

    I hope that I explained myself. If not, someone please chime the fuck in. Thanks, Nutter.

  42. @Navinfp06, I thought, sso@gmail, said a few posts ahead, or behind, had a great idea.May, 01, 2017. Close it It’s a dinosaur, and it’s killing veterans at an alarming rate. Am I to understand that you wish it fixed? God Bless you.

  43. @NavinfP06 – “Should they fear what has, is being said? No!! Should they fear what will be said? You damn right they should.”

    Hey Brother, what the fuck does your statement mean? And, if you have any inkling of what to do about the VA, dam, put it down in writing. I’m not bucking you, put I don’t like being run around in circles with half truths either.

    And, until Ben states that we can’t vent our true feelings about the VA due to our direct personal experiences, I’ll keep on posting. And I know others will as well. We need to vent, or we’ll act it out. Is this what you want?

    1. @ANutterVet, well stated. @NavInfP06, I think many of the bloggers offer solutions and have sent Ben’s articles to many to try to correct the deficiencies in the va. To make a statement to imply that we have not done “anything” is so wrong. Anyone that comes on here for help many people respond with suggestions. I am sorry that you are disappointed with comments or suggestions, i do not agree with your analysis of this blog concerning the bloggers.

      Ben’s character is outstanding and he gives us a forum to discuss his articles and our personal experiences and what we have suffered within the va system and our everyday lives. God Bless Ben and the bloggers here because they have helped me with my issues concerning the va.

  44. Well many people are saying it is getting fixed.
    The fix has not been seen yet has it. So I say let’s wait and see. I see Trump at cutting the V.A. funding. I see the VSO’s in supporting this. I also see some steps that haven’t did anything for us yet.

    All has yet to be seen. When I see it then I will still not believe it.

    1. How about an Executive Order with clear cut details. EO’s are used for everything else. 100 days will be May 1st.

  45. Just sign me gone. However, before I leave (Permanently), I do want to address one thing.

    Ben is by far the best advocate for veterans and what he is trying to do to bring down the corruption in the VA is just short of a miracle. However, he simply cannot do it alone.

    I have read every post that I have received from Ben and ALL the replies that all of you have posted.

    When you get time, when your mind is semi free from drugs, you have enough sleep, you can clearly think, go back and read all the worthless crap that you continue to post – THEN, ask yourself why there hasn’t been a logical, even a single logical suggestion that would possibly initiate a full and complete investigation into everything that Ben has posted concerning the corruption within the VA system.

    I and I’m sure others, don’t want to hear anymore about the pain you are in, how you are sleep deprived, which medication helps or hinders you, how much you hate the VA or how much the VA hates you – blah blah blah!

    We are all pissed off at the VA, possible mad at our government officials or, even President Trump.

    It’s time to channel all that anger and come together, collectively. There is a solution to this injustice the VA continues to get away with. Maybe one veteran doesn’t have the answer but there has to be an answer somewhere.

    I thoroughly understand that this forum Ben has given everyone is a great place to vent your frustrations. However, if you are serious and want the VA to be forced to obey rules and regulations, then do “something” to assist yourself but more importantly, your Brothers and Sisters who continue to suffer.

    I offer no instant solution but I know what can be accomplished when more than one person begins to address the problem

    In summation, many on here have often stated that VA employees come on here and read what you are saying. Should they fear what has, is being said? No!!
    Should they fear what will be said? You damn right they should.

  46. I don’t want to hurt any ones feelings that has finally found out what gender that they think they are. Sorry, I’m trying to be tolerant, a nice person with understanding and compassion. What about you? Fuck off you social pervert.

  47. I can recall a lot of fucking criminal activity that happened in the VA back in the 1970’s. The movie Article 99 says it all. Nothing has dramatically changed at the VA to take better care of Veterans.

    Fuck you, you dam pussy ass mother fuckers if you can’t take it that a person, especially a President, doesn’t want to release their tax returns. Its not required by law that a President has too. It is only customary that a President show their tax returns. There’s a fucking difference. If it was me, and my tax return was being audited, I wouldn’t reveal my returns either.

    Stop your fucking crying, go enlist, and join the fight. There’s more important issues than acting like a two year old over President Trump’s tax returns. You only want the returns so that you can complain more and keep on crying about an issue that will not direct change or effect your life style. Stop being vindictive. Its a waste of energy. Take your excess energy and monies and help a Veteran in need.

    I’ve got to go to the bathroom. Sorry, which one do I use now.

  48. Departmen of veterans affairs fast fact, according to CNN of all places.
    “https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/30/us/department-of-veterans-affairs-fast-facts/”

  49. You think this bad treatment of veterans is new to the Chicago VA’s? Then you must be an idiot. Here is an article from 1991, Chicago Tribune. “https://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-10-10/news/9104010695_1_poor-care-hospital-renovation-project-north-chicago” Sure it will get better, rigggggghhhhhhttttt? The fuck you take us for?

  50. I could care less who is put into senior or executive leadership positions at the VA. The VA is a corrupt system, a deviant and criminal system. For some reason, VA facilities in California have flown under radar without any inquisition. Between the treatment of vets requiring healthcare and vets being denied VocRehab, it amazes me that the obvious corrective action is being ignored: on May 1st, 2017, and precisely at 2359 hours, the federal government closes the Veterans Administration. At precisely 0001 hours, the United States government reopens an agency, under another name that serves the American veteran and his or her family. This would entail a new mission, a brand new framework for employee obligations and responsibility, and most importantly, would not be unionized as of midnight. Employ former veterans and their families, and make senior position obligated to former enlisted military personnel who, unlike the “O” grade, do not look for politically favored positions in government or corporate America. Just because you are an O grade, does not make you the best pick for a job title..
    BONUSES WILL NO LONGER BE GIVEN TO ANYONE IN ANY CAPACITY. When veterans are denied health and/or voc rehab benefits, the monies designated for the denied veterans are obviously tossed into a BONUS POT, a quota bank so to speak. Think about it, I doubt very much VA budget includes BONUS MONEY.
    The next time you see a veteran getting beaten, abused or kicked by a VA “cop”, would be a call for all veterans present to take that “cop” into custody, in whatever capacity or manner.
    C’mon people, there will have to be a hell of a lot more than a dedicated and friendly presidential appointment to fix VA….
    The VA counselors, medical staff, and admin are all criminal……

  51. LMFAOOOOOOOOOOO, The snowflakes are at it again, protesting to get his tax returns.

    ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
    ▌————————————————————————-▐
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    ▌—-█▀▄─█─█—-█——█—-█▀█–█─-█-█▀▄──█—–▐
    ▌—-▀▀▀─▀▀▀──▀——▀──▀—▀–▀▀▀-▀—▀—▀—–▐
    ▌******************SNOWFLAKE******************▐
    ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀██▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
    ————————————██
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    Will it ever end? of course not, Reinstate the draft, they will go to Canada as Seymore said. At least I think it was Seymore, sorry if it was not.

    1. One for all and all for one. Fuck you, you dam butthurting snowflake pussy ass mother fucker. You take something that is wrong, and then twist it, to make it seem like it is right. Fucking ass wipe manipulators.

    2. Never fails. Once it becomes warmer, the snowflakes all meltdown in masses. I’d say they were a seasonal thing. Like hunting season, there’s protest season.
      Hunting me a wabbit. Going to take all those colorful eggs and enjoy them after some wabbit stew. 🙂

    1. @ANutterVet: Nutter I know how you feel about this ridiculous new drug policy. It is insane to say the least. What is behind this new drug policy? I have no fucking clue, except to cause discomfort to veterans, I hope that they get a good laugh when I get triggered. I sent you an article from the mayo clinic, I believe they are world rcognized for their excellence in treatment of those that others. haven’t been able to treat. According to the article I sent you the VA’s position would be, their newly adopted anti drug program for veterans, proves, the mayo clinic doesn’t know shit. Interesting to say the least. If I had to put money on who would be able to keep me alive longer, I will go heavy on the Mayo and no Va’a please.

  52. Ex VA,Cj, to one, thanks for the rant. I think reading the anger in another Veteran, does two distinct things for me. 1, Someone out there is angry at the moment I am truly angry. 2, I’m seeing how the anger manifests into a bond. To the other one, thanks for my new house. Be reading y’all when ya wake from your naps.

  53. @Ex va,@ANutterVet: I will be back later tonight. Still updating everything here. And of course letting the dogs enjoy some nice weather berfore the storms later tonight. Talk soon. Relax fellas, it’s the weekend, enjoy.
    Don’t worry, be happy. lol

    1. @cj, good advice, just get a little upset and frustrated. Need to try to focus on the positives. Hard to do sometimes. I am angry about all of this.

  54. To: President Donald J. Trump, State Governors, Members of the Senate and House, Mayors, VA Administrators, Police Commissioners, and Judicial Members; This message is for informational purposes only. This message is not a threat against any ones well being. It is only a message and a personal opinion.

    You can take your fucking Disruptive Behavior Committee, your dam fucking Disruptive Behavior List, and the fucking EPER’s list, and shove them all right up your crooked and corrupted ass. If I were you, I’d stop taking advantage of Veterans. Go ahead, keep pushing. You’ll cry like a fucking baby when you get pushed back. Heed the warning bitches [VA crooked and corruptive employees].

    If Veterans believe that they aren’t receiving proper healthcare, then Veterans should have the right to treat themselves using all forms of cannabis and its purified and isolated chemical compounds. You dumb mother fuckers, do your righteous homework.

    I’ve never heard of anyone robbing, stealing, or mobbing another person, and confessed to stealing money to buy Marijuana. And, how can Marijuana be in the same Schedule I Controlled Substance list as Heroine? Both substances don’t have the same effects on people. Heroine is addictive.

    And, I’ve never heard of someone purposely overdosing on Marijuana. For educational and informational purposes, watch the program called, Weedetiquette. Educate yourself, and stop trying to manipulate people in order to use them and control them.

    And since you’re so scientifically minded, do some research to determine how much money is spent in the United States on alcohol related problems and situations [addictions, poisonings, deaths, homelessness, car accidents, destruction of property, divorce, child care, foster care of children, Child Protection Services, Police Services, Court costs, Lawyer Fees, . . . etc.]. Even though alcohol is legal, start admitting that this drug and poison causes more problems in the United States than all other forms of illegal substances added together.

    Show some professional love, and you’ll get not only get love in return from Veterans, we’ll back your ass up. But if you keep fucking us over and murdering our Brothers and Sisters, one day you’ll get fucked back [not intimately though].

    Finally, if you don’t change and mend your ways, I have the suspicion that you may be targeted for removal. One day, a Veteran may want to activate a MOAB [Mother of All Bombs] that will clean house [figuratively speaking]. I strongly urge you to treat Veterans in a humane manner. It’s the right thing to do.

    Note: By all means, this is not a physical threat from me. I’m only gauging the fired up emotions that I’ve tallied from some Veterans who have had enough of the VA’s fucking bullshit. These Veterans got screwed over while they were in active duty serving their Country, and now their getting screwed even more while in inactive duty. They’re being unprofessionally treated fucking corrupted and crooked VA employees.

    You [VA employees] are a fucking disgrace, and a fucking disservice to Veterans of the United States of America. Shame on you, you fucking pussy ass mother fuckers.

    This is a request to stop your corrupted, criminal, and illegal activity against those that served our Country in order to protect it, and its Citizens. This is a Veteran Service Announcement.

    1. Sorry for my fucking grammar. I’m fucking disgusted and fucking tired. If you don’t accept my fucking apology, then fuck you with a dirty infected limp probe.

      1. @ANutterVet: Your grammar is perfectly fine….I don’t see a damn thing wrong with it.

      2. @ANutterVet, i can feel your disgust and frustration with the va and i am sympathetic to your issues. I am so disgusted and tired of it too.

      3. @cj – I’m tired of hearing about my Brothers and Sisters getting fucked over by a Federal Agency that is supposed to take care of those that served our Country in any capacity. These pricks violate their own creed and oath. And then they expect Veterans to trust their fucking asses. If Veterans trust the VA, then we are fools. Simples as that.

        Dam, my Physical Therapist and Nurse Counselor has requested the VA to get me a shower chair or platform for many months. I don’t have one yet. I’ve been promised to be put into the Home Based Primary Care Program. I never been admitted into this program. I’ve been promised in-home counseling for my PTSD. Haven’t received no counseling from a Certified Behavioral Health Provider. I’m prescribed a generic medication that doesn’t work. I’ve informed the VA, and nothing has been done to get me a generic that does work well. I’ve lost muscle mass and became homebound because the VA was late in answering my cry for help. I’ve lost teeth because the VA wouldn’t prescribe me Biotene. I’ve lost the ability to walk without assistance because the VA took away a muscle relaxer that relieved my chronic spasms, and pain. The list can continue.

        From what I’ve posted, do you think that I should trust these mother fuckers? How often are Veterans supposed to get mistreated by the VA Medical Providers? And now, because of the new drug policy, the VA will only prescribe antidepressants for anxiety if your already prescribed opiates. I was taking Clonazepam and it relieved me of my anxiety and I was able to get some sleep.

        The VA doesn’t support Veterans enough or test Veterans for deficiencies when they have been taking pain medications for long term. This is such fucking bullshit. Research indicates the issues a person may have when taking opioids, and they VA PCP’s don’t ask shit. I always have to bring the problems up and ask for certain nutraceuticals or biologics. This is fucking ass backwards. A fucking disgrace.

        VA Primary Care Providers and other Physicians are legally killing Veterans. Or at least, causing Veterans to have a short life span. What a fucking disservice to those who served their Country. They have no fucking heart, and only do their best at covering up their fucking mistakes. And then do their PR work so that the VA looks good. Shit, what a fucking mess that Veterans are in.

        I’m fucking tire of this shit. Fuck you VA. CJ, give them a double middle finger for me.

      4. To the VA:
        …………./´¯/)………….(\¯`\
        …………/….//…………..\\….\
        ………../….//…………….\\….\
        …../´¯/…./´¯\…………./¯`\….\¯`\..
        .././…/…./…./.|_……_|.\….\….\…\.\..
        (.(….(….(…./.)..)….(..(.\….)….)…..).)
        .\…………….\/…/….\…\/……………./
        ..\…………….. /……..\………………/
        ….\…………..(…………)…………../
        ……\………….\………../…………./
        With love, from ANutterVet.

  55. @Ben, regarding your article, “Thanks VSOs: Lawyers, Veterans Should Be Nervous About Upcoming VA Cuts, Up To 20 Percent”, do you have an update on “HR 611 VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2017”?

    back in 2016 we had, “The VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 (HR 5620)”, wondering what changed in 2017.

    any updated news regarding this? such as benefits reductions, certain veteran rights being revoked, why criminals & illegal immigrants can hire a lawyer whenever–but a veteran cannot, why didn’t NOVA stay and help hammer out protections for veterans, etc.

  56. Two more VA Administrators that should also be replaced immediately.

    Steven E. Braverman, M.D. | 708-202-2153 | Director Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital.

    Marc A. Magill, MS | 312-569-6101 | Medical Center Director Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

    Reasons:

    “Chicago-area VA hospitals post higher infection rates than private peers”, By Brigid Sweeney, April 13, 2017
    “https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170413/NEWS03/170419917/chicago-veterans-affairs-hospitals-fall-short-on-infection-rates”

    “A new website unveiled this week by the Department of Veterans Affairs reveals that the Chicago area’s two VA hospitals performed worse than their private-sector peers on two different measures of safety.

    Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, located 12 miles west of downtown, posted rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections—a common hospital-acquired infection—more than twice the national average, and worse than all but one of 12 nearby non-veterans hospitals in the western suburbs.

    Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, on the near Southwest Side, posted catheter-associated UTI rates nearly twice the national average and worse than all but six of 26 non-VA hospitals in Chicago. Neither hospital reported rates of clostridium difficile (better known as C diff) or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), two serious hospital-acquired infections reported by their private peers. The website compared hospitals to their private peers on four different infection rates; VA hospitals were compared to each other when it came to patient satisfaction and appointment availability.”

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Note how they failed to report and choose to hide their infection rates for C diff and MRSA.

    “Neither hospital reported rates of clostridium difficile (better known as C diff) or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), two serious hospital-acquired infections reported by their private peers.

    1. Of course everyone remembers Steven E. Braverman, M.D. | 708-202-2153 | Director Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. For his prior notable deficiencies involving exploding body bags.

      “Bodies Of Unclaimed Veterans Languish At Hines VA Hospital, Whistleblower Claims”, by Charlie De Mar
      “https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/09/26/va-hospital-slow-to-bury-bodies-of-unclaimed-veterans-whistleblower-claims/”

    2. Clearly Steven E. Braverman, M.D. | 708-202-2153 | Director Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital has been prairie-dogging out the back side of the VA for a while now.

      1. Had an appointment just a few days ago at Hines, I am still not myself yet. Just having to go there for anything gets my stomch all tied up in knots. Followed by several days of anger. I know when ever I go, that no matter who I am there to see, or why I am there, I will be lied to, to my face. I know the entire appointment was for nothing. They are not interested in anything a veteran has to say. The only thing the doctors at that facility give a shit about is themselves. I can post a legal action against Hines, you can find it online. They called the VA police on an elderly patient to administer a seditive without his permission. There answer as to why they did it.”these are trained killers we treat here”. Remember that from now on, that is how your doctors at the VA have been trained to look at you, as a trained killer. Isn’t that nice of them?

        “https://www.illinois.gov/sites/gac/HRA/Reports/2014/14-030-9023.pdf”

        Also an interesting read in general. “https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-investigations/2016/10/23/va-hospitals-veterans-health-care-quest-for-answers/90337096/”

    3. @Seymoure Klearly: I know both of those VA”s very well. I agree with you. they are also extremely courrupt.Hines is the VA that uses unqualified quack shrinks to deny TBI claims. Jessie Brown is right nesxt to the the VARO, both order these unqualified hack quacks to discredit veterans. I am surprised that the flesh eating disease hasn’t found a robust home in either of these VA’s, and the VARO next door. Mark Kirk walked into the Hines VA, and told them they were going to need to lawer up, because he was comming after them. Tammy Duckworth walked in and asked, what can she do for them. hmmmmmmm.

    4. @Seymore Klearly, @cj, what is it with the state of illinois va’s medical centers? Are they all corrupt?
      They make me disgusted. These are nightmares and no one really seems to care of the operations of these medical centers. Why have they not been made to stand down on surgeries and hospital stays if they are spreading these dangerous infectious diseases??

      1. @Ex va: Did you read the complaint? Funny how all this stuff is out there on the net for anyone to see.
        Amazing what you can find when you google “edward hines va legal cases”

      2. @Ex va @cj @Seymore Klearly – What a fucking disgrace. These [corrupt and crooked VA employees] should be fired, and then barred from obtaining Federal, State, County, or City employment. And this is being nice.

        I’m tired of hearing about these illegal actions from people that are supposed to protect the lives of Veterans and their family members. They have no fucking class. Their criminals. Better yet, I’ve changed my mind, lock them up for life, and install malware so that the software can’t let them out of their cell.

      3. @cj, yes i did read the article seymore posted and i am reading some more articles. It is disgusting and no one seems to be doing anything about these crimes. What the hell no one in authority is stopping this? This is shocking again another all time low. These directors need to be charged for these crimes. A data base should include va medical centers and all complaints, crimes and see if there is a pattern directly linked to visn leadership or isolated to the medical center directors and managers. The vaoig has complaints but only recommendations, hall monitors. There is so much of it i don’t know if a database could hold all of it.

      4. Hines has been a known shithole VA for more than 40 years.

        When I went to the Madison VA, there were a large number of vets that would drive up from Illinois rather than go to Hines.

    5. Civilians who die in hospitals because of infections, are not reported either. The private hospitals, if that is what anyone can call them anymore cause all they do is worry about their Wall st. investments go up but they don’t have to report infection rates to anyone. MANY TAKE THOSE FILTHY INFECTIONS WITH THEM, to their homes, buses, cabs, cars, everywhere they go and spread it all around. A great way to not be held accountable for spreading their filth. Thank Kaiser and the AMA lobbyists for this. AND both who infect the rest of any medical care (including the VA) with all of the medical care bull shit.

    6. Magill is a snake. He was the director here at Grand Junction before being shuffled off to Illinois.

      Before that, he was at St Louis, about the time Rima Nelson was there.

      Yet the Legion helped Magill with their little Save Our System dog and pony show.

      He has been in the VA system over 30 years.

  57. Here’s a new video out from; “Judicial Watch”!
    Titled;
    “JW Takes ‘Flag Man’ Fight to Court on Tuesday: Bob’s Story!”

    Dated : 14 April 2017 (4:18 minutes long)

    I believe it concerns the VA out in Los Angeles California.
    Bob will be in court next Tuesday, 18 April 2017, to defend himself over “flying the American Flag on a fence outside of a VHA!”
    He’s been “ticketed 20 times and been acquitted 19 times!” according to the article!
    He’s standing tall for all the homeless veterans. Not being able to use VA!
    Lastly, he’s been at this since 2008!

    It’s a must watch video!

  58. Exva, I am the same. I go outside the VA, but it puts me back financially. Sometimes, ya just know that the VA would have either let me die, or help me die. I know one thing; I know nothing.

  59. Reading the last few posts reminded me of the nearly forgotten campouts. Night y’all, personally, I am having a very difficult time understanding what really happened, and where it’s going. Cj, ExVet, y’all just keep on communicating, and perhaps, y’all will open the gateway to the mysteries of why we keep going back.

    1. @Jo3n, some Veterans have no choice but to go to the va for their healthcare. They are either too poor, too disabled and have no other healthcare options. I don’t blame the Veteran they are just sick and trying to get help and they end up getting hurt from the va system. Goodnight Jo3n, and God Bless.

      1. @Ex va – – – Precisely. And some unfortunately, fall into ALL categories you mentioned simultaneously.

  60. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

    ∩ │◥███◣ ╱◥███◣
    ╱◥◣ ◥████◣▓∩▓│∩ ║
    │╱◥█◣║∩∩∩ ║◥█▓ ▓█◣
    ││∩│ ▓ ║∩田│║▓ ▓ ▓∩ ║
    Goodnight Ben’s World

  61. @Ex va: I believe you. And that is why I say nothing will ever really change. If they are not willing to boot the unions out then they are not willing to really change at all. I have a feeling all they are going to do is get more sneaky, and slithery.

    1. @cj, thank you for listening to me. That is what i am afraid that they will just hide their corruption more or make it more difficult to track. The vaoig doesn’t want to enforce the laws that are on the books.

      1. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

        Goodnight Jo3n, sleep well.

  62. Remember, any time a Union is involved, the employees work for themselves, (meaning their pocket books) and the union, they are not working for us. That is the entire problem, and it is NOT going to change.

    1. @cj, the majority of the va employees will not rock the gravy train they are on. They will not tell the truth and so i guess this shit could go on forever and get worse.

      1. @Ex va: exactly, and they have the balls to try to tell us how much they care? and to call themselves our brothers and sisters? They don’t give a damn about anyone but themselves.numero uno, and they sure the fuck are no brother or sister of mine. They are traitors in my eyes. I have seen many of their kind on active duty. usless pieces of shit every single one of them. No balls, and will stab you in the back faster than you could spit.

      2. @cj, yes they are the worst of being a traitor. No if they are part of the corruption and a Veteran i have no loyalty to anyone of them. To me they are worse than the average civilian because they have no code or honor. I worked with a few of those types they were so fucked up anyway in the head they were like robots of people. They were empty soulless shells of people, complete burnouts, no decency left. I have problems with some of them and i guess i always will. You don’t sell your soul to the devil for a job. I considered them evil. Don’t know how else to explain it.

      3. @Ex va: I agree. No honor. And to say nothing while a veterans is beeing kowingly screwed over, does make you a traitor. Those kind of veterans are dead to me.

      4. @cj, they are dead and i know they will answer in this life or the next. I believe that.

      5. @Ex va: We can only hope. Another thing I hate about the VA is how it feels when you walk in the place. I feels like the kind of place where illegal experiments are taking place on unsuspecting people, like a horror flick. It isn’t normal, and you can feel it in your gut.

      6. @cj, i am so angry about this they have no right to destroy someone’s life of take it.

      7. @cj, that is the majority of my problem with the va and their employees i saw the worst in them and i did the right things, followed their processes and it did get some in trouble but overall operations remained the same.

      8. @cj, yes i know that feeling. I would get physically sick when i entered the main building and some of the clinics. Could not ignore the corruption it was everywhere.

      9. @Ex va: I hear you Ex. Hey I better get going, I have to get up early tomorrow. Hope you sleep well and God Bless you and your family Ex.

  63. @cj, seems like we have had a lot of different bloggers on lately. That gives me some hope that the truth is getting out.

    1. @Ex va: Yes a lot more people, I am glad more people are telling their stories. I know damn well Ben’s blog is being monitored be the VA, and the VSO’s, who knows who else is monitoring as well.

      1. @cj, Veterans are telling the truth about what they are dealing with in the clinics and with vso’s and vba. The va doesn’t like to deal with the truth and if they don’t like i don’t give a shit i am so sick of them and their little bit of authority hurting Veterans with it. I hope i get to see the changes the system cannot be this way forever everything changes.

      2. @Ex va: Sadly, the AFGE/SES, is not going anywhere soon, and they are at the root of the problem. I don’t ever see real change ever happening at the VA. I don’t care how hard everyone jumps up and down screaming enough is enough. It will NEVER change. Only get worse.

      3. @cj, Ben caught one of them a va employee on the blog during work time. It was hilarious. I think Ben went after them. Hahahahahaha!!! It was great. I should have copied that one. Do you remember that?

      4. @cj, you think it will get even worse than this? To me it is rock bottom now. Shit i can’t even comprehend it getting worse. I don’t doubt it. Everything has to change.

      5. @Ex va: Sure, they have had it their way for far too long, and now that light is being shed on them, they don’t like it. They will now start to take it out on veterans. So yes it will get worse, and there will still be no accountablility, unless they get caught and it makes the news. Even then they will just shuffle these assholes around and keep paying out bonus’s and keep on denying claims so they get even bigger bonus’s. They will still hire quacks, because quacks like the idea of no accountablility and no having to pay for malpractice insurance. Look at the quack trying to sue united. Obviously a fivolous lawsuit filed by a quack, I wonder if he works for the VA, The never said what kind of doctor he was, Chiropracter? He was the one being the asshole, like he was more important than everyone else on the plane, so they should just make someone else get off and not his royal ass. A grown fucking man acting like a spoiled rotten kid, making them drag his sorry ass off the plane, and all these bleeding heart libtards all saying how terrible it was. I am sick of hearing about it already. Talk about the fucked up VA as much as that quack and we might stand a chance.

      6. @cj, you are right if Veterans had that much air time on news it would have to change. I agree that the airline did nothing wrong with his self entitled behavior of refusing to exit the plane, they responded correctly. It is ridiculous the attention he has received with this behavior. He should have been arrested.

      7. @Ex va: Agreed, he should be sitting in jail trying to post bond, not be the liberals hero of the day.

  64. @Ex va: You know who hasn’t been on in a long time? lawyerlynn, I like reading her posts. I hope she is okay.
    Wish the woman on the blog would post more. Always interesting when they do.

  65. @Ex va: I wouldn’t say a complete waste, but close enough. Course that is what the VA is good for, wasting peoples time, and doing jack shit.

    1. @cj, the va is out of control, if you are not in a foul mood when you get there they make sure you leave with it. I don’t know feel really discouraged with all of it. I try to get some peace with some of the issues with the va i have and it has been a difficult road.

      1. @Ex va: They put me in a foul mood by their actions. I hate people being inches away from me and lying to my face. I especially despise when they are not interested in a damn thing you have to say, and you can tell by the expression on their face, that they are fucking annoyed you had to audacity to open your mouth in the first place. I should have lobbed a grenade in the room just before closing the damn door and saying “have a nice day”

      2. @cj, i hate the deception too. They have lost all humanity in them. They could be interactive and be decent to another human being and they choose not to be. I cannot stand it. They are in the healthcare field there is no care involved.

      1. I hope the pain goes away for you tonight Ex. I been in a foul mood ever since my appointment. I don’t know why the hell I even went. A complete waste of time.

  66. @Ex va: Poof it went again, so over to battery power. Says 2 1/2 hours time, on battery.

    1. @cj, that is good i don’t think my laptop lasts an hour now. Too much stuff on it i guess. Lol!

  67. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

    @Ex va: If I don’t answer right away it’s because I am restarting the computer. The damn power jack is messed up, so if I move wrong………pooof, out go the lights.

    1. @cj, that is ok, i understand i haven’t been getting all the messages back or there is a delay of some sort. The power jack on the computer? Maybe that has been causing problems for awhile.

      1. @Ex va: Yeah the powe jack on the laptop, I got up and tripped over the power cord. That is the only problem with laptops, the damn power jack, the weakest link. I think that is probably the most ingenious thing apple ever came out with was the magnetic power jack. But I hear that they are doing away with it? WTF.

      2. @cj, apple loves to give you convenience and then takes it away. Lol. How long does your laptop charge last? The ipad is ok but too little and i can’t do a lot of things like my laptop. It is smaller and easier for somethings.

      3. @Ex va: It is brand new so probably last a long time. I would have to switch over, it is not good to have the power cord in while using the batter, unless your charging it.

  68. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

    @Ex va:Rewrites, did you “work” to hard today?

    1. @cj, i don’t notice the typos you don’t have to write them. Lol. I read work when you wrote it. My brain just associates stuff. It is weird.

    1. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

      @Ex va: I am still here, are you still here?

      1. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

        @Ex va: Was good weather, I didn’t go out today.

      2. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

        @Ex va: What did you do? Did you word to hard today in the sun?

      3. @cj, no i did get out and did some walking. I don’t work at anything and that is the problem i know. I am thinking about surgery, scared about the back surgery. A lot of people don’t do good tired of being like this.

      4. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

        @Ex va: Yikes, I just had that talk with a neurosugeon. I said I don’t know a single person who is better off afterwards. She says, that’s because you never hear the good stories.

      5. @cj, right on i don’t know of a single person either. They want to give you blocks or steroid shots that last a few months. That can cause you damage as well just getting shots in the back.

      6. @Ex va: Here is the problem I have with letting anyone work on my back. If they fuck up, or it doesn’t work, I am permanently fucked for the rest of my life. It isn’t like if you got shot in the damn knee cap and all they wanna do is take your leg off. You can still function without a dam leg. What do you do without a fucking back?

      7. @cj, yes you are right. If they mess it up they told me i could be in a wheelchair permanently. It can happen. I don’t want to be in one permanently. You remind me of what i can’t really handle with this stuff. I have to have some mobility. It has been hard not to have it.

      8. @Ex va: Once I ran into this very young woman, she had on a back brace and a halo screwed into her skull. I asked her what had happened, if she was in an auto accident. She said she was a gymnist, and had broke her back. She said they had performed 4 failed back surgeries, and she was scheduled for a 5th. I said I was sorry she had to go through so much suffering. She said, she didn’t have a choice, when your in that much pain, and that many failed surgeries. She can only hope the next one works….. I don”t want that to be me. I do know at some point, there will come a time that I won”t have a choice either. It will be so bad, the only choice left will be to let them try.

      9. @cj, i have seen people like that too and i know they are suffering bad. That is what i don’t want. I feel sorry for people in chronic pain. I was down for six months and i don’t want to go thru that again. I have been told that the back can fuse itself with age and if you life long enough you may outlive the pain. The bones calcifies and you don’t have the inflammation as bad so less pain. My aunt backs calcified and she avoided surgery.

      10. @Ex va: They told me, the damage in my upper back is so bad nothing can be done. They also said over time, that yes, it will fuse itself and the pain will start to go away. All true. The body has a way of fixing itself sometimes. By brother inlaw, had a blocked artery, and his body re-routed the artery around the blockage. Crazy shit.

      11. @cj, good for your brother in law, i heard of stories like that too about arteries re-routing. I think the body try’s to heal itself or God is involved in the miracle. My neighbor has a bad skin disease and he suffers from the pain and inflammation it is bad. He doesn’t have pigments and has to avoid the sun. He is tough in his 80’s.

      12. @Ex va: I knew someone like that a very long time ago, and another guy I met, use to live in the same apt complex, had no hair, very odd seeing a person with no eyebrows.

  69. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

    @Jo3n: Hows you tonight Jo3n?

  70. This did capture some attention. Ben and others on this site have reported so many criminal acts, and nothing. I didn’t get who Dr. Shulkin was referring to accountability, the Veteran, the taxpayers, the employees. Who’s he want to be fair with? If it’s the employees, what would happen to them in the private sector should be fair. If it’s a dead Veteran, what’s fair? Sounds like another wait and see, then with new crimes against veterans nearly daily, we forget. I don’t know what to believe anymore.

    1. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

      @Jo3n: You can believe they got caught with their pants down, and nothing more.

  71. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

    @ANutterVet,@Ex va,@lily: You guys around?

      1. cj ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

        @Ex va: Hey Ex, hows you?

  72. Until i see clinic reforms i do not believe this will be much more than a drop in the bucket for cleaning the va corruption swamp. Hiring a Trump loyalist doesn’t solve va leadership problems.

    Until there is real changes in the operations of how a Veteran is treated in the clinics and throughout the department of Veterans affairs concerning pensions, compensations and other programs they are rightful entitled to receive this is not real changes. Cleaning up one va medical center does not solve the problems in the va system. These are not realistic changes and a very short sighted view of it. This is not real reform.

    The va needs major reforms and overhauling of the clinics. That is where it all begins. The vba and the waiting for years for compensation and pensions is unacceptable. More Veterans are being added to an already broken system. The va wants the public to believe that they are fixing the problems when they are doing as little as possible to correct it.

    To me i find this insulting to Veterans that these unprofessional acts putting Veterans lives at risk for unsanitary conditions and for not proper medical equipment which would be the norm for most hospitals and we are to applaud that it was exposed and now going to be corrected??? Do they want us to believe that this small act of correction is the “fix” for the va and this is evidence that they are going to correct the wrongdoings and crime in the agency?

    The va has miles and miles to go in corrective actions before they can be what they portray in the millions they have spent in public relation commercials to improve their image.

    I have an idea why don’t secretary shulkin consult with real people who know and experienced the problems within the va and ask them how to correct the serious failures within this agency. That would involve whistleblowers and other va employees who has had to stand up to upper management because of corruption and we know how the va really feels about employees that stand up to that corruption. The va does their very best to destroy these individuals who see the wrongdoing and who know that it can be fixed. The va kills the messenger for the message.

    1. ExVA, I agree the VA often kills the messenger.

      I think of it this way. How Shulkin handles this can be his own MOAB.

      Just as dropping a MOAB on caves sent a message to quite a number of people, including that fat little Chia-dictator NorK, so could this be.

      Time will tell. If Hawkins is fired, perhaps it will be a MOAB to other directors rather than the pop corn farts we’ve seen McDonald and others dropping.

  73. Until I see VA personnel, (employees of all “rank and file”, SES’rs etc., going to prison), I don’t have much faith in VA being turned around anytime soon!

    Off topic, yet important!
    From; “The Horn News”
    Titled:

    “Liberals have MELTDOWN over Trump’s “sexist” MOAB airstrike!”

    Dated: 14 April 2017
    Associated Press contributed.

    (There’s a video of “MOAB” hitting its target!)
    Y’all will laugh when you read some of the crap these snowflakes are saying.
    Maybe it’s time for the “DRAFT” to be reinstituted! That should give all of them something to cry about!

    1. @Crazy elf- I read that and also laughed in disgust. Every *concerned* snowflake should be immediately airdropped for a desert vacation to be one and at home with the cuddly-wuddly ISIS terrorists. 🙂

      Too bad our Air Force did not spray paint “GOD IS GOOD” on the sides of the MOAB before being air-dropped…and maybe some sharpie marker comments DID make it onto the outer bomb’s surface while in-flight….am betting they did. 🙂

      Now I am hoping they keep-up pounding them with these MOAB’s and if that does not work, well we know what the next category of armament is upward from that is, right? We could turn the entire middle east and Sahara desert to glass and reflect a good portion of the sun away and reverse global warming. 🙂

    2. I definitely think it is time for the draft to be reinstated.

      Far as the Butthurt snowflakes whining about the GBU 43 MOAB strike, I say Beautiful. Right Target. Right Timing. Right Reason. Right Weapon. Beautiful.

      I am a peace-loving man – – – but our country is engaged in a few simultaneous wars that the previous Administration chose to minimize. Sorry. Cannot be done. War is War. And what is the NUMBER ONE rule in war?

      Maximum Surprise. Maximum Violence. Shortest Duration. Bring as many of your people home ALIVE as you possibly can.

      All other matters are strictly secondary.

      1. Also, it’s not like even a nuke would change the actual landscape or moonscape that is Afghanistan and region.
        We should also really hit them where one of their major sources of $$$ is…the poppy fields/opium trade.
        Heroin is hitting the USA really hard and you cannot tell me this ramped-up heroin crisis is not some kind of undermining of USA via vast amounts of imported heroin.

        Just a few well-targeted above ground MOAB’s would take care of that problem as well and repeat anytime satellites show they are planting again. 🙂

        Obama is to blame for his passivity in foreign policy while we have been at war now for 16+ years solid…it’s not sustainable.

        I’m a relatively peace-loving person as well but ISIS wants world domination. Time to squash some towels and curtains.

      2. @Nam – – – I agree with you 100%. Particularly with regard to hitting them in their pharma wallet. Time to ramp MOAB production. Going to need more than the remaining 19 in inventory.

        Read an article in the Guardian this morning where the writer seemed somewhat baffled as to why the usage of THAT particular weapon versus Tomahawks or Daisy Cutters. Only looked at it from financial point of view.

        I guess to some folks – – – all explosions are alike.

      3. @Disgruntled Veteran- “[I guess to some folks – – – all explosions are alike.]”

        🙂 LMAO 🙂 That just struck me as really funny. “Tastes just like chicken!”

      4. @Nam – – – Glad you found it humorous. Will spare you the technical science of “Detonation Forensics” for now. Trust me that it makes for a very fascinating read.

        Used to know a Police Chief up in your neck of the woods. Prior Army Ranger before joining the Police force. Left the Police (retired? Not sure. Memory problems) and was going to do something technical involving Internet. This was back around ’94 to ’96. Always wondered what happened to him. Great Guy. I sure miss chatting with Mike.

        Wonder what he would think of what the VA has become?

    3. Elf,

      The draft would almost certainly set off a blizzard in Canada with all those snowflakes hitting the ground up there.

    4. The draft yup, no excuses if your fit your in.

      Maybe them mom’s and dad’s would get involved.

      People don’t give a shit until they are affected directly. !

  74. Perhaps Colonel Connell should have been the pick all along for VA Secretary? Maybe if Shulkin screws this up, the Colonel may be next-in-line.

    I really hate to get my hopes up again but just knowing something is starting to be done makes me think at this point, any movement in a positive direction is better than where we have been headed.

    1. @Nam – – – Colonel Connell did a very good job at cleaning up Tripler Army Medical Center here in Hawaii during his tenure. Do not know how he will do with the Bullshit Politico’s in DC. Remains to be seen.

      I cannot get my hopes up just yet, because not near enough has been done with regards to draining the toxic swamp creatures at the VA. An onerous task at best. The DC VA director should have been fired. “Demoting” them to administrative duties, yet still paying them should be a slap in the face to all veterans.

      1. I agree DisgruntledVet. I too hope Connells cleans up that hospital, and others are cleaned up as well.

        Its interesting to see the grade levels and how many of these are “senior advisors”.
        I would rather it be named the Task Force of Stomping Ass, but is it a task force to reform VA?

        Perhaps.

        As for Hawkins doing admin duty, I look on that as a first step of him being reassigned to a flunky job permanently, or fired.

        Reassigning him is different than how McDonald handled things. As we saw with McDonald and with Hawkins, Rubens, Graves, Rima Nelson and others, McDonald’s idea of “you can’t fire your way to excellence” was bullshit.

        McDonald either did nothing, or shuffled a Director off to another VA.

        If the VA leadership has the authority to reassign whistle blowers they have the authority to reassign incompetent directors. And the authority to fire them.

        Let a fired director hire their own damn attorney to try get their job back.

        It would be more legal representation than most veterans can get before the VA.

      2. I concur with your assessment of Brian Hawkins, who should have been fired long time ago. I say this because when I worked at the Washington DC Medical Center, the service I worked for fired me after being on the job of 11 months, 20 days. When I reached out to the director to intervene, through check-and-balance, he ignored my email request. The same sentiment of lack of leadership found its ugly face all through senior and mid-level management.

        As I worked to defend my reputation and honor due to wrongfully being fired, I wrote a letter to Senator Tim Kaine, asking for an inquiry into my dismal. A person (Brian Hawkins) who knew nothing about me, replied to Senator Kaine in his conclusion the following:

        “Our VA Core Values (I CARE—Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence) define who we are, our culture, and how we care for Veterans and their families. Unfortunately, Mr.(unnamed) failed to adhere to these values and requirements for continued employment during the probationary period.”

        Karma has her way of working her magic, do you think Mr. Brian Hawkins lived up to VA Core Values? I responded to his letter, by saying. If I can do 26 years in the military and live up to the Army 7 Core Values Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage, I was quite sure that I could deal with VA’s 5 Core Values. After all, VA is not the Green Beret or Rangers, where the standards are so high that it’s beyond the average American citizen. Well it’s not.

        What’s more, it’s not that I haven’t dealt with core values before because the VA’s is not difficult. Based on what I saw of some seasoned VA employees, (unprofessional behavior) as a new employee at the Washington DC Medical Center, I was not impressed. In fact, many of them could have learned a lot from me.

        Those who are not willing to challenge the status quo of how somethings are done gets to go along, thereby maintaining the flow of unaccountability and inefficiency.

      3. Hello James,

        Thank you for contacting me. I did not expect feedback from you, anyhow, I am glad that you asked to learn more of my situation. The first person I contacted by email into my firing (before the last day), hoping someone with authority (then Director Brian Hawkins) who was the overseer of the overseers. Instead, of insuring that the mid-level managers were doing the “right thing,” he placed his head in the sand and ignored a “high priority” email by not answering. I have no love for Mr. Hawkins because he failed me as a leader, so it not hard to see why his failure also affected the Medical Center. A simple audit, when assuming responsibility and 10% monthly inventory could have reduced ¾ of his problems, the other ¼ is just by holding leaders accountable. As a retired First Sergeant, I could have shared with him, something he lacks a basic understanding of, Property Management and Accountability.

        In my plight to defend oneself, I was reaching out for help because a great injustice had been carried out under his watch and nothing was being done about it. I felt betrayed by the Washington DC VA Medical Center leaders because I got up every morning at 2:30 AM, left the house at 3:15 AM, drove from Newport News, VA to the Washington DC VA Medical Center. What’s more, I was there in the garage at 6:00 AM, ready to start work at 7:00 AM. Yes, I was willing to go out of my “comfort zone” because after being unemployed for three years, driving 348 miles round trip every day, was a small price to pay. The good thing was, I was working again. One thing I learned in the Army, you must be willing to sacrifice to achieve what one desire.

        I wrote the VA Secretary (then Robert A. McDonald), got no response. I wrote the OSC, (I have a file number), the OIG hot line, where there was no response. I also went through the MSPB (I have a file number), I wrote Senator Tim Kaine (I have a file number) (in fact I wrote him again on May 25.) Finally, I appeal my case all the way to the UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT. (I have a case number) Yes, all this was done (Pro se).

        No one really considered my situation to challenge the injustice that was being carried out under the false pretense of “probation period,” which makes the hold ordeal sad. How would one know if a person is being falsely accused or fabrication of information, then fired during the probation period, if there is no check-and-balance? To me, it’s a perfect system for abuse.

        It’s like the fired FBI Director, James Comey. Someone had the power to fire him so they did, plain and simple. My supervisor, did the same thing, she fabricated a situation, knowing that no one would challenge her and I was gone. How many people you know off, who get fired from a government agency and have no idea until the day of firing? All my coworkers were just as shock as I was, when I told them because no one new. There is nothing, when it comes to firing that is so “Top Secret” that no one knows. There is always, some tell-tell signs that people can see, professional behavior, mannerism, work performance, late to work, etc.… No, this was not my case, no one asked me anything. All I knew is that the paper worked was processed, I was notified to be somewhere at a certain time and then I was told, you are being fired 10 days before the end of my probation. Never in my dreams, I could have predicted me being fired, it was a total shock to me. This is what one must deal with in a corrupt system that cannot be trusted to do the right thing.
        The saddest thing about the whole ordeal, there were a lot of seasoned federal employees, who did not impress me one bit. In fact, the lack of professionalism some displayed, where somewhat something right off the streets.

        What reason did they give you for dismissal.? In the discharge documents, it stated, poor performance, poor customer service and failure to complete assigned tasked. All, which was fabricated by one’s supervisor to achieve her goal. The write up was done with the general wording, that came right out of the regulations (poor performance, poor customer service), lacking any specifics. To them, my performance and customer service was so poor that I was doing Onboarding, every two weeks when new employees came onboard. I did this all the way up to the week that I was fired. If my performance was so bad, why would one put me out in front to represent my service and VA during Onboarding?

        Yet, I was tried, found guilty, and sentence to hang by one person, without any opportunity to defend oneself, even though, I had evidence. All the evidence was irrelevant because I was on probation, something, the supervisor knew how to work. In fact, you can tell when an action taken has been unjust, everyone involved seek to run from the smell that they created to another part of VA or federal agency to hide.
        What did the union do for you if nothing why not.? I did reach out to the Union; however, little was done on my behalf. I was just another expendable 40% disable Vet with a master’s degree, who’s high standards could prove problematic for an organization, where some people displayed lesser standards.

        Every month VA puts on a Job report and in that report, it shows how many veterans were hired. I don’t know how true that report is, when veterans are being release as fast as they are being hired. Do the VA keep statistics of the number of probation employees fired? Are the statistics manipulated to reflect a more favorable hiring percentage, while at the same time releasing veterans within their probation period? How is that process tracked or is it?

        Yes, I did file my case with the MSPB, however, they indicated that since I was on probation, I was not considered an employee of the government, therefore, they ruled against me and upheld my termination. Since then Dec 2014, I have applied for over 184 federal USAJobs, numerous contractor, and other private sector jobs, yet I am still unemployed. And who say doing the right thing mean that good things will happen?

      4. I understand what you are saying and I believe you were let go because you were educated.

        You may have been to smart, some manager’s do not like someone who is smarter than they are. Jelious !

        This has been a problem for many veteran’s and I believe that you are a sciatic. VA hires veteran’s to look good, as you said only so they can say they complied with the veterans hiring practice.

        You are not the only one, many veteran’s are hired as janitors or kitchen help.

        This is just wrong what they did. The VA is a click. ! You must have taken a spot that was made for someone’s family member or a friend.

        The VA is dangerous to veterans and most hate veteran’s. These people are people who never served one day in the service.

        They also attack veteran’s seeking care and complain about their service. ! They use what they call the disruptive committee.

        I am a former employee and had to take a medical retirement, due to my PTSD and traumatic brain injury after 22 year’s with the VA.

        Had one employee who did not like me for saying something about how she was running the hispanic committee, where she was the chairman.

        It really pissed her off, when the director appointed me as the new chairman, so much so, that after i had to retire, she became manager of my local clinic.

        22 year’s with the VA, 3 year’s active duty and then 6 year’s in the guard, many superior performance awards, suggestion awards and placed into the VA Vanguard as a hero.

        This person told the Denver vamc that I would come into the clinic at least twice a month and become disruptive.

        She also stated that I wanted to murder staff at my local clinic.

        I was an administrative assistant in medical administration, so I know that if someone does something illegal or wrong a report has to be completed about the situation to protect the employee and the VA.

        The Denver VA punished me using the disruptive committee ! I know that this was not true and requested any and all evidence they used to punish me.

        Va’s response, there is no written evidence, but has been collaborated.? Who collaborated it, we can not tell you. !

        Every inquiry from the senator and the DAV were sent by the chief of staff to the very employee acussing me to answer herself. !

        She would say things like Mr Gallegos is not allowed back to the local clinic, because he will not admit to being disruptive. !

        Who is crazy enough to admit to something they never did. This happened in 2004 and I am still fighting this and will not stop until they listen.

        I have been collecting evidence ever since, each inquiry gave a little more evidence that they were lying.

        I have a letter from the director, telling a senator that due to the disruptive reporting of Mr Gallegos

        We the VA never coded his official medical record’s for disruptive behavior, nor did we ever Red Flag his official medical record’s. !

        Their lies catch up to them as they forget what they said before and screw up. !

        I have sent all this evidence to the VA Secretary President Trump and the Senate veterans affairs committee. This was done on may the 2nd, have not had a reply yet.

        I filed a class 6 felony charge of criminal libel against the employee , fire able offence. !

        Secretary Shulkin told the press ” those employees that should not be working at the VA, will not be working for the VA. !

        We will see. !

        If you still want to work for the VA, apply some where else. Play it ? until your probationary period is over and then show them how smart you are and become management and show them what you can accomplish.

        With you education you should be able to get a good job on the outside of the government.

        Keep applying for federal job’s and once established and you still want to work for the VA do it.

        Transfer, but always remember now you felt when they did this to you and treat other’s the way you want to be treated.

        Write a letter to the New VA Secretary and be honest and who knows he might hire you. !

        Good luck. !

  75. “[What do you think about these steps? Are these moves in line with Trump’s promise to reform the agency? Do you see the news this week as a positive sign?]”

    Yes, this is movement in a positive direction. However, the entire VA is impacted with shitheads, which means like all positive directions, may need some grunting and pushing to make movement of the VA bowel movements.

    “[“After further consideration, it was determined that naming an acting director from outside the facility would allow leadership to concentrate on addressing the many challenges identified in the OIG report without compromising the ongoing internal review.”]”

    This^ shows me that VA Sec. Shulkin is listening to someone wiser than the piggy VSO’s on this matter. Now we can only hope Phoenix VAMC and many other VA locations will also have unannounced inspections more frequently and get rid of the fraudsters that were put in place of a former allowed to retire with full benefits fraudster.
    This indeed is in the right direction but we again….have to wait and see.

    If Shulkin fires every manager in that facility under Hawkins, I will be more than impressed. If Shulkin requires Hawkins to pay back performance bonuses then fired…I may just have to celebrate. I want to see more than the can of worms pop top opened, I want it turned upside down and shaken. 🙂

    1. @namnibor: Exactly, big deal he was removed, he was also given a desk job too. Ya think it might be time to send one of these dirt bags to prison? Just think of the impact of this story at it’s core. This was the damn DC VA. Same town all the elected ostrich’s reside. Same town the VA headquarters is located. The same damn town that all the VSO’s have their respective headquarters at as well.

      I am supose to be impressed? Well I am not. All those listed above I am sure have visited this facility many times over. Our elected ostrich’s sure have since it requires zero travel.

      A black eye on all to say the least. Who is going to prison? Yeah I may just smile once is that director is sentenced, instead of shuffled.

      namnibor, in your honor, I am releasing from the veterans arsenal, the newly adopted Veterans Drone Program, “V.D.P. Use it wisely and do not target hospitals where innocent veterans are suffering.

      –Veteran Drone Program—_______
      ——————–V.D.P.——————|
      /———————@——————-(..)——————–@———————\

      1. @cj- As long as there’s an active link of the Oregonian Poop Canons and the Veteran Drone Program. Shitheads need to have new shithead hats…esp. the VSO Piggies, whom have done absolutely nothing to help make the VA safer for Veterans.

        Duly note that the VA Crows may be an issue with the Drone Program. Then there’s the steady circle of buzzards and vultures over each VAMC that must be neutralized before the poop canons have any effect.

        Tons of future work. But it’s a start….but will it last?

      2. @namnibor: Sadly, I don’t think it will last at all. The only reason we are even hearing about this is because of it’s location. Kind of like Waler Reed, like that just all happened as soon as GW took office. My ass, how many “officials” visited Walter Reed, and did swat? Yet there it was for all to see. Again……..not impressed.

      3. cj April 14, 2017 at 3:43 pm

        Dammit……………..squat no ‘swat’
        ?
        Typo’s on typo’s……………….I give up. Going back to sleep.
        <<>>
        ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿

    2. Namnibor,

      It will be interesting to see how Hawkins is handled. Pretty sure we will just see history repeat itself. My educated guess is that Hawkins will be nothing more than a VA shithead that is prairie-dogging out the backside of the VA that never makes it all of the way out the exit.

      1. Prairie dogging. Good one Seymore.

        Time will tell if that turd turns into a mole and is shipped off elsewhere.

        To become part of the VA whack-a-mole game.

    3. I agree Nam. I still think putting Connells in as director just after putting out a Press Release naming the Chief of Staff as Acting shows things have changed.

      Naming the Chief of Staff was the VAs good ol boy way of thinking. Given the problems uncovered here, why would they promote someone (the COS) that was just as incompetent at doing their job as the director?

      It tells me someone recognized that, and recognized the fact that a House VA committee hearing might lead to other embarrassing things, and gave some senior advice to Shulkin.

  76. And a tiny victory for the good guys. From the office of Senator Jeff Merkley

    Great news for Oregon veterans: the Portland VA has temporarily stopped removing vets from a program supporting spouses who take care of disabled veterans.

    In many cases, a disabled vet will find no better and more dedicated caregiver than the person he or she is married to. Nevertheless, the Portland VA recently announced that it would stop allowing spouse caregivers to receive payments under a key caregiver program.

    I joined other members of Congress from Oregon to urge the Portland VA to put the brakes on this misguided move and they listened.

    For those who serve our country overseas, their service away from home is challenging, but their return to civilian life can sometimes be even harder. Many veterans face tremendous hurdles — especially when it comes to accessing quality health care. This caregiver program at the Portland VA is exactly the kind of support we should be providing those who served.

    Our veterans have kept their promise to their nation and now we must keep our promises to them. Please know that I will continue to push to uphold those promises. This means ensuring that the VA does right by our veterans and caregivers here in Oregon, and all across the nation.

    1. OK Merley, now what are you gonna do about the notorious Disruptive Behavior Committees of the VA. You know, the ones who meet in secret, discuss charges broguht against vets, vote on the validity of the charges and determine punishment and THEN notify the veteran that they have been charged, tried, and convicted of actions that merit the loss of property and freedom that others posess without due process?

      Where are you at Jeff with Kangaroo courts being held weekly in VAs across the country who take their jury from a common pool of a single labor union, who hide the identity of each juror from the accused and the public, who meet in secret locations unannounced, and who rely upon citizens of the US and foreign nationals who are employee by VA? Jeff Merkley, lets leave it up to you in regards to vets right here in Oregon who are required to have a gun at their backs following them right into the bathrooms at VA in order to protect America from them when they go to get a flu shot.

      Where are you at with his one Jeff Merkley? You can clearly kiss the asses of the spouses of these vets, but when those vets vets are convicted by a VA kangaroo court of ANYTHING the particular court makes up on a butt hurt whim, are you still standing by us vets and are you still willing to do something about it?

  77. Wait, don’t drain the Swamp I got an idea let’s just filllllllll it back up with more swampters. Then we can really fall for fix again like a bunch iliterate dummies AGAIN..

    1. The only problem with draining the swamp, now one can see all of the alligators and crocodiles that was living in the swamp. They still on land but only in a depression.

  78. I really want to say something positive here, but it would be so out of character so as to call my integrity into question. I choose to hold onto my hate in the belief that if I drink poison it will hurt my enemy horribly and I will be redeemed.

    Now, in honor of some VA ass getting kicked a little bit, I am going to place a substance into my vaporizor. The substance to best of my knowledge is listed on the Federal Controlled Substances Act list as a Catagory One substance which has (paraphrasing here) zero value to humanity in any way, and turns people into father rapists and litterbugs. Ouch.

    Then, I am going to vaporize the Cat One substance and inhale it. I might pause a bit savoring the moment as a Constitutional crisis of States rights vs Federal rights it which States enjoy a standing eight count edge towards victory, Or I might choke a bit, but I keep clover honey (100% pure and made in America) handy. A little honey can make a lot of things better and I suppose a little good news can too – sort of like prayer.

    1. @ Dennis, I find it so funny, odd, strange– that DC has medicinal mj along with recreational mj. Those with chronic pain and other illness could benefit greatly (and less overdosing on opiates) if mj were available to those who needed relief; and someone with seizure disorder could be helped. But the story is: “There has not been enough research done to warrant cannabis for medical purposes”. Oh, I reckon until all those who make the rules are still trying out which strain is best for “this pain or that illness”? No wonder no one in Wash DC wants to be voted out and have to come home!

      1. It is a proven fact that marijuanna causes paranoia, reduced cognitive potential, and impacts the ability to speak truthfully, but that is only seen in politicians who attempt to legislate it.

        My God, Eric The Healer of Rome, father of medicine, used extracts of marijuana in over half of his remedies. How many countless billions hace used this drug to good effect? Do you know how many people in the entire history of mankind are known to have died from marijuanna overdose? ZERO. And if marijuanna turns women into sex crazed maniac, first of all I say RIGHT ON! but Oregon marijuanna must lack that gene because the women in the park regrettably leave their tops on (mostly).

        People my age were taught that marijuanna was a morality issue by mothers who were barely themselves much more than children. Mothers often resort to shame and morality to dissuade a kid from doing something, and a mother terrified of her kid getting busted always defaults to shaming a behavior when a rational argument is not available.

        Once a few generations slip by nodbody cares why something is shameful – it just is. So now we have states like Oregon who make it possible to bypass the guilt trip mostly, but look at the laws! In Oregon you can have pot, sure, but it is still a crime if anyone sees you smoke it in public. You can grow it, but it is a crime if the plants are visible to the public! It is still illegal to purchase it unless it is purchased through a State Licensed dispensary but get this; in Oregon you pay the drug dealer (the State) a 25% tax on all sales!!!

        Tell me on God’s green Earth the justification for taxing a farmers product at 25% of retail!!! There is none, and so Oregon has proven out for history what men have learned throughout recorded history; and item taxed more than about 10% has the effect of creating a healthy and profitable black market. A 25% tax off the top at retail turns extracted medicine from $15 per gram into the same stuff but sold at $60-$90 per gram. This is because in order to track the plants for taxes enormous edfort is undertaken that actually puts a tag on each plant and requires tremendous overhead to electronically monitor the plant from seed to harvest. Each plant??? So the politicians created a huge black market in the effort to,legalize the stuff and rake in dealer cuts of the profit right off the top.

        …And this from a medicine that has demonstrated no lethal ability in humans, and is done for the “protection” of consumers anyway…

    2. @ Dennis,
      as to first point– yes, some do experience paranoia when using; and a reason for that is because they are scared of being arrested, caught, found out, busted, etc. and that could be their response to it.
      The moral issue does play a big part: drug use (of any kind) predated the VN war, like you said, but was prevalent during the 60s and 70s, with use by active duty, veterans and students. Shame, like you said, plays a big role (going to paranoia, also). ‘Guilt’ and ‘Shame’ are different– guilt may be something one feels for doing something ‘bad’, shame is a feeling that you, yourself, are inherently ‘bad’.
      We have not learned much from history, as noting how long this War on Drugs has been going on. From 1920-1933, we had the alcohol prohibition– which the outlawing only affected those targeted and those caught, while money and influence were able to enjoy their drinking.
      It just seems that what I’ve always believed about ‘US’ has slowly eroded as more history is read– and one really can’t change the headlines and articles in newspapers from a hundred years ago up until recently. Why would, say, a Governor of a state not even allow trials and tests with cannabis to see if it would help children with epilepsy? What has the child and the parents got to lose? Rather, it is the Governor who has something to lose, from fearful people who might vote them out?
      I know of no one who has overdosed on mj, like you said. But if cannabis were allowable, pharma companies may lose. The prison industry may lose. Big govt may lose the power and hold of guilt and shame over citizens. Is it a panacea for everyone? No. But in these, my last years, I would like to be somewhat pain free– I’ve towed the line, so far. I know many others who’ve walked the line, also!

    3. Dennis, I wonder what response you would get if you submitted a request to Shulkin to have your DBC flag lifted, along with the background story on how it came to be.

      I suggest it, because it seems to me Shulkin is having people watch over his shoulder to make sure he addresses problems quickly.

      Imagine the director, Chief of Staff and others being removed pending firing for so badly abusing the DBC process, and you in the process.

      1. I have collected paperwork since they falsely accused me of disruptive behavior and I was going to send it to the Secretary for action.

        Then I thought about it and feel it would be wiser to wait to see if they pass the new law where VA employees will have 15 day’s to respond or be fired.

        Since the old law is still in effect, the employees can still use them to their advantage. By stringing this out some times up to 2 year’s.

        I will be filing criminal libel charges, that is a class 6 felony. With the new law employees committing a felony, can be fired by the Secretary of veterans affairs and no appeal.

        I think waiting is the best option for me, I don’t want to let them know when and where I am sending it in and hopefully we can catch them by surprise.

        15 day’s in lieu of up to two year’s waiting. If I send it in now, action maybe taken, but at a turtles pace.

        Just a thought. I like my odds. Look up criminal libel and VA regulations on disruptive behavior and the oig reports.

        Those that have been falsely accused may have a remedy going this route.

        Surprise attack is better than giving advance notice or time for them to try and pull something out of there butt. To get away with their wrongdoing.

    4. I should have added, it may be worth trying Dennis, because I get the impression some of these senior advisors are being dispatched to look into problem hospitals in different parts of the country, and doing it somewhat quietly.

      Ben wrote about some senior people holding a meeting/town hall up in his area, and if I recall correctly, Leinenkugel, one of Trumps senior veterans advisors was there.

      I mention this because if you look at Leinenkugels Twitter timeline, he has a tweet about flying in to visit the Helena VA…and the picture suggests Helena, MT.

      I don’t see any reporting on this, and Leinenkugel said it was his first time there…which suggests he isn’t visiting family or going to the VA there for treatment.

      Other parts of Leinenkugels Twitter timeline suggests he has stepped up actually tweeting about veterans.

      Is Leinenkugel being sent around the country to have a look at certain VA hospitals?

  79. Remains to be seen just how all of this will play out. When Trump has all his people in place, and they are in position to make changes, the the clock starts. It’s a “Arms Length” transaction….

  80. It amazes me this happened in the town that the “Big 6” veterans organizations have their National Headquarters and not one had any idea this was happening????????? They all have VSO offices in the hospital representing patients, but not one everheard a complaint from staff or patients about these issues???????? Personally, it happened because the VSO’s are a collection of butt wipe spineless give a shit give me more money morons, and that’s the end of the story…………..

    1. Hondo, it shows the VSOs only visited the VACO to kiss ass and see what bones would be thrown their way, and never visited the hospital.

      For any reason. Including health care.

  81. cj¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ says:

    First, I would just like to say, fuck the VA
    …………………./´¯/)
    ………………..,/¯../
    ………………./…./
    …………./´¯/’…’/´¯¯`·¸
    ………./’/…/…./……./¨¯\
    ……..(‘(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
    ………\……………..’…../
    ……….”…\………. _.·´
    …………\…………..(
    …………..\………….\
    harder than the VA fucks us.

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