VA IT

VA IT Still Really Bad Says VA OIG, Veteran Finance Data At Risk

VA IT

In statements to Congress this week, the VA Inspector General (IG) blasted the agency’s technology systems saying they put veterans’ financial information at risk.

VA hired the firm CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) to audit the agency’s financial management processes and software. They audit revealed VA has even more weaknesses than previously hoped that make it… wait for it… wait for it… harder to audit.

That is right.

VA ineptitude at managing its own affairs and creating effective processes for managing money has also made it very difficult to audit the agency to catch errors or even fraud.

No wonder VA needs more and more money while never really fixing anything, right?

RELATED: Colorado VA Bans iPhones

Is it just me, or does the VA system generally seem more broken every time it gets a financial injection. Case in point is are the technology systems American taxpayers keep buying while never working as advertised.

The deputy IG Nicholas Dahl provided testimony on point to Congress on May 24, 2017.

Dahl informed Congress that IT security controls are still bad, which has been a repeat finding since 2000. You know, that is almost as long as VA employees manipulated wait times in VA’s computer system to improve performance numbers.

RELATED: VA Brags Up GI Bill IT System, Works Right Half The Time

Here, the problem was due to untimely patching of security vulnerabilities and a general failure to enforce password standards, among other things.

Never, Not Ever, Use “password” As Your Password

You know, those pesky passwords can really be a mother. Hopefully, VA was using a more stringent standard than John Podesta’s password strategy that was hacked resulting in the Wikileaks file called “The Podesta Files. His password was reportedly: “password”.

Even after being warned about the low standard and his need to change it, Podesta left it along. His entire email was then phished and leaked to Wikileaks.

Perhaps Podesta and VA use the same IT companies to secure their systems?

As for VA and its recent audit, one has to wonder where all the billions are going that taxpayers keep allocating to VA.

“Without good information technology security controls, VA’s financial information may not be safe in terms of confidentiality, integrity and availability,” according to Mr. Dahl.

The material weaknesses cited by Dahl are as follows. For your own information, a “material weakness” is:

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal controls such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of VA’s financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis.

VA IT – Now For The Bad News

So, it is a bad thing. Here is part of what Dahl reported. The material weaknesses are (taken straight from the testimony):

  • Information technology security controls – This is a repeat finding that our contract auditors have reported since FY 2000. Weaknesses existed in configuration management, such as untimely patching to mitigate security vulnerabilities; access controls, including inconsistent enforcement of password standards; security management; and contingency planning. Without good information technology security controls, VA’s financial information may not be safe in terms of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
  • Community care obligations, reconciliations, and accrued expenses – This is a repeat finding from the FY 2015 audit. CLA identified numerous examples of obligations for Community Care Programs that were overstated compared to actual payments. As a result, VA management performed its own analysis and recorded journal entries of approximately $1.9 billion to reduce overstated Choice Program obligations and $2.6 billion to reduce other overstated Community Care Program obligations in VA’s general ledger on September 30, 2016. The overestimation of obligations also resulted in a large overstatement of accrued expenses, which management also reduced through journal entries. CLA identified several causes of these overstatements, but overall, significant system limitations hindered effective and efficient operations and controls. CLA also reported that methods to estimate the cost of care were inconsistent at medical centers and the Office of Community Care’s procedures for its monitoring activities were not adequate. For most of FY 2016, the Office of Community Care had not performed a nationwide consolidated reconciliation of obligations and disbursements between VA’s Financial Management System (FMS) and the system used to authorize and process individual non-VA care claims.
  • Financial reporting – This is a repeat finding from the FY 2015 audit. VA’s financial management and general ledger system is FMS. Since its implementation in 1992, 3 Federal financial reporting requirements have become more complicated and the level of financial information needed by management and oversight bodies has become increasingly complex. Due to FMS’ limited functionality to meet current financial reporting needs, VA utilizes another system to create financial statements for external reporting. However, this process requires significant manual intervention and workarounds to ensure accurate financial reporting. CLA reported that VA recorded a large number of adjustments (called journal vouchers) to its accounts in order to prepare VA’s financial statements. Also, significant abnormal account balances (that is, an account balance that shows a debit balance when it should be a credit balance or vice versa) were not researched and cleared timely. These weaknesses increase the risk of material errors in financial reporting. Although VA has made improvements in areas such as the reduced use of journal vouchers, many issues have existed for years and require extensive efforts to implement solutions to resolve them.
  • Education benefits accrued liability – This is a new finding identified during the FY 2016 audit. CLA reported VA did not use the appropriate method to account for veterans’ education benefits. VA manages several education benefit programs with total disbursements of approximately $14.5 billion in FY 2016, with the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill Program being the largest. Prior to FY 2016, management did not view education benefit payments as post-employment benefits. As a result, VA did not report an estimated liability for future benefit payments as required by accounting standards. In FY 2016, VA reported this liability in the amount of approximately $60 billion for the first time on its balance sheet.
  • Control environment surrounding the compensation, pension, and burial actuarial estimates – This is a new finding identified during the FY 2016 audit. It resulted from the lack of succession planning for the chief actuary who was responsible for the calculation of VA’s unfunded veterans’ compensation and burial liability amount. This amount was reported on VA’s balance sheet as of September 30, 2016, as approximately $2.5 trillion. The chief actuary left VA in July 2016, and VA did not have a successor actuary with the appropriate qualifications and experience to take full responsibility to manage the actuarial model assumptions and review the related calculations. Management subsequently obtained the services of a credentialed actuary on detail from another department. VA also noted its model’s assumption for the rate of new compensation cases was outdated and adjusted its balance sheet by $277 billion. CLA reported VA needed to review the reasonableness of its key model assumptions, which would include comparing relevant actuarial information from the Department of Defense.
  • CFO organizational structure for VA and VHA – This was elevated from a significant deficiency in FY 2015 to a material weakness in FY 2016. CLA reported VA has a decentralized and fragmented organizational structure for financial management and reporting that did not operate in a fully integrated manner. The VA CFO establishes financial policy and produces VA’s consolidated financial statements. Business components, such as the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans 4 Benefits Administration (VBA), and the National Cemetery Administration, have their own CFOs, who oversee financial management operations and follow the chain of command within those organizations. VHA’s financial management structure was further fragmented, with three different CFO organizational structures within the Administration. CLA observed instances where procedures the VA CFO depended on were not completed by VA components or communication issues existed.

CLA concluded the decentralization of financial management functions among the VA component entities without organizational reporting and accountability back to the VA CFO decreased the VA CFO’s ability to affect financial management at the component level and across the VA enterprise, and also presented a risk to VA’s planned conversion to a shared service provider in order to modernize its financial systems.

So… on that note, have a Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Thank you to all who have served and to those families that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Source: https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/statements/VAOIG-statement-20170524-dahl.pdf

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238 Comments

  1. @Lawyer lynn: LL, where did you go? Why haven’t you been posting? You okay out there?

    1. @cj, is that not the truth. Just when you think you are getting ahead, something gets broken and needs to be fixed.

      1. @Ex va: Ex, I really need to get some sleep, I can hardly keep my eye’s open. Will try to catch you tomorrow night.

  2. @cj, thank you for the e-mail from a friend i will keep it. Tell him thank you.

    1. @Ex va – – – The friend got the word. Enjoy! Marines are known for carrying six packs of that. (Chuckle).

      Disgruntled Veteran
      1973 – 1976 USMC
      1978 – 1993 USN

  3. @Ex va: Goodnight, and God Bless you and your family.

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

    I got one good eye on you VAMC¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ That goes for you too DC

    1. @cj, God Bless you and your family. VAMC’s i will keep praying for the people in it, around it and those who depend on it. VAMC’s just a reminder that God knows everything you cannot be a liar forever.

  4. @Ex va: Your right, my mind isn’t working so great either, I think it’s time to try and get some rest.

    1. @cj, thanks a lot. I appreciate that. That soil will stay warm in a box like this. I think I could plant all year long. Kale and cabbage in winter months.

      1. @Ex va: I ran out of money on this one, but I will also be adding half hoops made from 1in pvc tubing, to make a greenhouse out of it for the cooler months. I don’t have to make that until around holloween. You can add all kinds of things a little at a time, Like side planters just for herbs, or some way to keep the air underneath warm to grow all winter long like you said.

      2. I was thinking of adding an axle and wheels on one side and wheel barrow handles on the other side. Roll it up close to a basement window and put a piece of flex pipe from the window to the underside, and fasten foam panels to keep in the heat. All you need is a little imagination.

      3. @cj, that would be like a cold frame and also a hot bed. If you could move it around to the warmer areas next to south side of building during winter months. Then cooler area during warmer months. You would have a lot of growing time being able to do this. That is a smart idea.

      4. @cj, just an idea that tape you wrap around pipes that has electricity so you don’t have frozen pipes, you might be able to use to warm soil. It is suppose to be insulated and i wonder if you could put that in the soil to help keep it warm?

      5. @Ex va: That is a great idea, I forgot all about heat tape. That would definitely work. I will have to send the pictures tomorrow, I can’t figure out how to send it from my phone. Says I have to change a setting in privacy, and I have no clue what.

      6. @Ex va: Ex you have another email, a mutual friend asked me to forward to you so you could capture his email.

      7. @cj, thanks for sending the info. I will have to get it printed tomorrow. Brain is not working to do this now. Lol. Damn it! LOL! I don’t know what is wrong with me. I am missing my settings on send it to printer.

      8. @Ex va: Wireless printing can be a pain. At my house if I have a service power outages, my router issues a new ip address for the printer, then I have to program that new ip address into all my linux machines. My wifes macbook just does it automatic, as does anything connected with ethernet. Always something.

  5. @Ex va: Rain is suppose to be on it’s way, in a day or two. I finished that elevated raised bed garden. It’s 6ft x 3 ft. All planted already, have spinach, peanuts, baby carrots, bullseye beets, scallions, and Italian Oregano. It looks nice, I took some pictures, I will send them along tomorrow after I get them off my phone.

    1. @cj, you have been busy. That is about the size i want for vegetables, i want it raised a couple of feet off ground so i could get to it. I don’t know i would probably have to go smaller because if it is raised to high i couldn’t get enough soil in it. Yes, i would like to see the pics. That sounds really nice, you are going to have a huge harvest.

      1. @Ex va: I made it so it is 3 feet off the ground, a great working height, and the sides are made from 2×12’s, plenty deep, You see the way I made it, it will handle all the weight you can throw at it. I used 3/8 carriage bolts for the sides to the legs, used 1×2’s and 1×6 hard maple for the support boards underneath, then under the support boards I added a 2×4 that is lag bolted into the 4×4 cedar legs, and also lag bolted straight up through the 2×4 into the 2×12 so the maple boards can’t go anywhere. You can zoom in on the picture when I send it to see all that I am going on about. Also used fir for the side boards and then soaked all of it in a mixture of 2 parts mineral spirits, 1 part linseed oil. You will see it.

      2. @cj, you know what you are doing in building these beds. 3 feet off the ground that sounds good. You could even grow a winter garden with beds like that. That should last you a long time with that kind of wood. Sealing it with mineral spirits and linseed oil. I thought about using cinder blocks and cement. Probably will just use wood. Cedar and maple sounds good. Fir is good too. The bending gets me i sit down on a little scooter. Thanks for telling me how you did this. This have given me ideas about how to do this. Appreciate it.

      3. @Ex va: It will make more sense when you see the pictures. I think I have about $120 in wood and hardware. I used all new dirt, high grade compost, vermiculite, and starter mix, I had around the house.

      4. @cj, that is not a bad price for that kinda bed. That is really good. I could afford that and it would save on the food bill. Thanks for the info.

      5. @Ex va: There is info I can send you on square foot gardening, It is a list of different things you can plant, and how many in each square foot, you will be surprised how organized and how much you can grow in a garden like that. Perfect for a raised bed. I just cut strings different lengths and use that to divide a square foot up, like if it says 9 spinach plants in a square foot, or 36 scallions, etc. Makes it easy as can be. I really like the whole concept.

      6. @cj, that sounds good. I would really be interested in the square foot gardening information. If you could give me the website or send it i would appreciate that. That is a very productive concept.

      7. @cj, i am too old school about the gardening. I need to learn how to use some different methods. A small salad garden with different lettuces and onions, garlic, beets, oregano, baby carrots, damn that sounds so good. Lol.

    1. @cj, not to good. I got choked and hurt neck and arm. it was embarrassing and hurt like hell. Lol.

      1. @Ex va: LOL okay, damn, I was gonna say, your only 6 hours away, Ima come down and open a can of whoop ass on whoever tried to choke you, but Humpty Dumpty has his own problems from what I hear. hahaha

      2. @cj, LOL! No it was on some food (a boiled egg). It put a crick in my neck and my arm was killing me. I don’t have much of a neck it would be hard to ring my neck. LOL!

      3. @cj, ROFL!!! I feel like Humpty Dumpty geico kind. Lol. Thanks for having my six bro. LOL!! We would ring roosters necks on the farm. If people knew all what a chicken would eat i don’t think they would eat chicken like everyone does. Lol.

      4. @Ex va: Hahaha, I don’t want to know, I already don’t like yardbird. Breaded fried chicken is a perfect example of how barbaric humans are, and chickens have also proven how retarded humans are as well.

        Barbaric because no other species takes an adult of an animal and dips it in it’s own unborn, then fry’s it in a pan.

        Makes us look retarded by the very fact that some human once say an egg pop out of a chickens ass, and said to himself, “hmmmmm,, I wonder what that tastes like?”

      5. @cj, are you worried about losing any of your health benefits or any other kind of benefits from the government? I don’t think it will happen it seems like every few years they threaten people with their social security, ssdi, or pensions. They are talking about it down here quite a bit. People get upset and i think that is the whole point of it.

      6. @Ex va: You mean because I can do so much work? No, not afraid at all, I don’t receive a penny from the VA, and as far as SSDI is concerned, I can no longer perform the kind of work I use to do. If I had to word a regular 8 hour day, I would never make it. When I became 100 % disabled, I contacted the IL dept of human services, they sent me for extensive testing, I retrained several times, and passed numerous civil service tests, To work for the state. I would have been at the top of the list with my scores, and being disabled. Only problem, IL is in last place for hiring the disabled. I was finally told by the head of DHS, to apply for ssdi, that nobody would ever hire me with my disabilities. The states own panel of 7 doctors all agreed, and even said, they have never seen anyone with the amount of damage I have to my back. The local director even asked how the hell do I even walk? I just don’t give into my disability, I refuse to let it stop me, even though some days I wish I were dead, because of the pain. This is noway for someone to live, but I have no choice. I have never been the kind of person to give up. If there is a job out there for me, where they would be okay with all my Dr appointments, and having to take so many days off because I just couldn’t move that day, then I would certainly take it. I absolutely HATE not being able to work. For someone like me who has worked his ass off his entire life, not working is the same as being a useless piece of shit. It is why I try to stay productive, I don’t work for myself any longer, but I do try as hard as I can to help those around me, that can’t do for themselves. I will do so until I can no longer move. I just want to hold on long enough until my battles are over. Once I accomplish that, it will be the day I take my last breath. I have survived a massive heart attack, cancer, and everything else anyone has thrown at me, I have been stabbed, shot, sliced, and blown up, and I still refuse to stop. I need both knees replaced, I am going blind, deaf, and my memory is failing. The only thing I have left besides my family and the people on this blog is my balls, and I will not give those up for anybody. lol <—————-damn that was a long answer!!!!!!

      7. @cj, hahahahahaha!!!! Your right about chicken, we are barbaric, you know some places in Europe they are still eating horse? WTH??? A beautiful animal like that and it has labored for mankind for thousands of years.

        I would like more vegetables in my diet, at least i would know where and how they grew.

      8. @cj, you encourage and impress me. People get scared around here that the government is going to go belly up and they will loose their social security and other benefits. Yes, i am in the same boat as you i can’t work and had a lot of doctors say i can’t. I have permanent damage too. I know what you mean about living it is a very hard thing to do sometimes when you are severely disabled.

      9. @Ex va: If the government goes belly up, that will make us soldiers again, we won’t have a choice, there will be mayhem and we will first have to protect our families, and then start banding together with people we trust. Would take too long to write about all this here, In short it will be a mess, and we will have to take many, many lives. It is inevitable. I am ready, and have been for a long time, I shoot fast, accurate and if need be extreme long distances. I will not hesitate, that is what will get you killed in the coming civil unrest. If you need, and it comes to that, you can get your family up here, I have plenty for all of us.

      10. @cj, i knew you were a very productive person and i was too. It about killed me when i couldn’t work anymore i was so sick and had no other choice. Get your knees replaced it takes a lot pain away. I have one knee replaced. I was bone on bone. I hope you win your battles and live long to enjoy them. You have a hard head, God likes those types, he has made enough of us that way. Lol. Piddling in a garden is not an 8 hour day of working. I may spend 15-30 minutes and that is about all i can do in a day. I am trying to get stronger i was using a walker and was in a wheelchair before and that was hard to take.

        I use to never be sick, never miss a day of work. And i liked to work and that is when i felt the best when i worked.

        They should have given you a state position, when you qualified. That is BS!!! If they don’t hire you after going thru all that what is the point? Illinois doesn’t want to do anything for the disabled.

      11. @Ex va: Your right about it being hard. I went from going 100 mph every single day, to a complete stop, The hardest transition I ever had to make.

      12. @cj, thanks for the offer for taking us in. I appreciate that. I just don’t see the government causing a collapse because of all of the civil unrest. I don’t think they want people rioting and turning our country into a complete social unrest. I am not saying that none of it could or not happen. We have so many economies and different social structures. They estimate 51% of the citizens in this country are dependent on the government financially. That is a lot of people. Why would the government risk making that population angry?

        People around here grow a lot of their foods and farm. It is a different economy and survives not by Wall Street standards, when they have farmers markets they could put a price of whatever they want to and grade it how they want. So, to me a collapse like the Great Depression is hard to see when the government shuts down the stock market when it starts falling prices.

        We have lived thru recessions in our lifetimes, but not depressions. They threatened to close all the coal mines because of the high sulfur in illinois. They are employing miners again now digging coal.

      13. @Ex va: I think one day there will be a civil war, don’t underestimate the people in charge of this country, they would like nothing better than to cause a complete collapse, then come in and reset. It is what the NWO, and progressives are all about. It is their plan. I hope to see it while I am still able to contribute, Otherwise, I will need to figure out how to mount a grenade launcher on my walker.

      14. @cj, you are right people will be taking up arms if the government fails. We would all be back in the military again. The majority of my neighbors are armed. It is hard to imagine if we went to a military state. You are right about using our skills we would have too. If we want ourselves and families to survive.

      15. @cj, grenade launcher on your walker. ROFL!!! This is a disturbing thought about the NWO and the progressives because they truly have an agenda.

      16. @Ex va: That they do. This is like talking about politics or taxes. Never gonna end well LOL. Sooooo how bout them bears? hahaha

      17. @Ex va: I am going to see if I can send those pictures to you directly from my phone, hold on a second.

  6. Want a REAL TREAT? Google “VA rehires criminal”. Start reading the articles from top of the returned list to bottom. Keep a barf bag handy, and just wait until you start seeing there are PAGES of this shit – just like VA hiring; click “next”.

  7. @Crazy elf – – –Whoops! A little finger-slippage before post ready. Let us try it one more time.

    I could NOT agree more with you. If it is that large an organized “ring”, then it is a matter for a Federal Grand Jury to look into.

    Someone needs to be held to account for sure. Another reason it is high time to . . .

    FIX THE DAMN BROKEN VA:

    1. Recognize the problems inherent in the VA are SYSTEM-WIDE, not just limited to a few locations.

    2. Fire all the Lazy No Good Workers. Fire EVERY single AFGE/SES Employee.

    3. Sell off all the VA facilities. Alternatively, they may be converted into housing for homeless veterans.

    4. Issue all veterans a card that allows them to choose their own doctors within their community that they can TRUST.

    5. The United States Government will PAY those doctors promptly (Within 45 days) for the care they provide veterans.

    6. ELIMINATE the “Federal Protection” Umbrella for incompetent QUACKS that the VA sends to other states to practice other than their own. Going to practice in Hawaii? You need to be LICENSED in Hawaii. Same applies to all other states.

    7. Any claim a veteran submits that requires more than 90 days to adjudicate, is automatically found to be in favor of the veteran. If a claim filed by a veteran is found to be a false one designed to scam the system, the VA will have to prove in civil court that a false claim was intentionally submitted.

    8. All veterans will be allowed to seek/retain the services of a Veterans Rights Attorney from their first initial contact with the VA.

    POTUS Reagan broke up PATCO in the ’80’s. POTUS Trump and our current Congress Critters do NOT have Veterans Interests at heart. Perhaps their replacements will. VOTE OUT all these WORTHLESS INCUMBENTS. Give their replacement’s one term to take care of the Veterans. If they cannot muster the stones to do it properly – – – vote their worthless asses out as well.

    NO Combat Veteran should be surprised when the next McVeigh Incident occurs. Bound to happen. Just a matter of time . . .

  8. Yeah, maybe Tillerson and Shulkin talked about how the VA needs to be reformed and re-organized. Good PR. I don’t buy it. Zroom, zroom, OK lets ride.

    20-22 Veterans die each day, and still no major changes to the VA. There’s blood on their hands. I wouldn’t want it on mine. Question; How do they sleep at night? Shame on them!

  9. Seymore,
    Guess who’s in charge of the Seth Rich’s Case? According to Roger Stone, it’s Debbie Wasermann Shultz’s brother.
    “IF True”, as some claim, then “The fix is in!” according to Roger Stone!

    ______________________________

    Also, on Sunday, “Rolling Thunder” had “…close to ONE MILLION riders…” show up for Memorial Day in Washington D.C.. Including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in full leathers (on his personal ride) and Secretary of the Veterans Administration David Shulkin (who didn’t ride)! Maybe “Shithead Shulkin” is afraid of motorcycles?

    1. Who is Schit’s brother, and what is his job so we can start peeling back the union, whoops I mean onion? Good ride it showed well.

  10. @Seymore,
    “…160 medical centers and 1000 clinics…” being suspected of siphoning off, (using or selling drugs) is, in my opinion, MORE than just a few hundred employees being involved in this!
    I would hope the DOJ would put a Grand Jury together and start indicting these reprobates!
    The union, afge, can’t do anything about criminal activities committed by VA employees. Especially when it comes to illegal drug sales or VA employees illegally using drugs meant for patients/veterans health care!
    Also, since its come out about this atrocity, the law enforcement agency must know WHO was involved! “IF” they know WHO’s involved, then arrests should be eminent.

    It’s time for VA employees to pay for their illegal activities!

    1. ** VA Veteran Care Terrorism ** – the intentional infliction of emotional stress, including physiological and pathophysiological accentuators, and the incompetent and incomplete medical services, that includes using sets of preemption laws that prevents recourses for dangerously poor or defectively designed therapeutic supplies, and pharmaceutical formulations, that has harmful effect(s) on the appropriate and proper health care, and the speedy recovery of the lives of BENEFICIARY’s (Veterans). And, the lack of a fluent, streamlined, and timely filing process of claims submitted by BENEFICIARY’s (Veterans), for their due right of timely compensation and pension decision(s), and if not, will immediately put unnecessary stressors on the BENEFICIARY’s (Veterans) life, which then directly puts a BENEFICIARY (Veteran) in a degrading state of fear, of losing their health, recovery, family and friends, livelihood, and most importantly, the fear of losing their life. (Revised- May 30, 2017) – – – Brought to you by Nutter.

      1. there is no death without life… I will be glad when I check out…death is not the end………………………………………….I like the way this guy thinks…”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDGZqaA9G9s”

      2. ANUTTER…..IS IT ME NO….BUT IS IT THE TITLE YES…….open-minded-people-embrace-being-wrong-are-free-of-illusions-dont-mind-what-people-think-of-them-quote-…….

    2. @Crazy elf – – – I could NOT agree more with you. If it is that large an organized “ring”, then it is a matter for a Federal Grand Jury to look into.

      Someone needs to be held to account for sure.

      1. The DOJ has always had the power, jurisdiction to prosecute these criminals, but until now no one cared, you don’t need new laws just enforce the ones already in place.

      2. @Flotmorton P. Gildersleeve – – – Correct. But it seems in recent years that there has . . . Ahem . . . been a wee bit of corruption within the DOJ itself. Who enforces that? And why has it up until this point NOT been dealt with?

        Semper Fi.

        Disgruntled Veteran
        1973 – 1976 USMC
        1978 – 1993 USN

      3. Well, they didn’t have Rod Rosenstein the straight arrow man in the DOJ back then.
        I referred some matters to them which ended up in the incarceration of some politicos and then the end of a judge’s career (so to speak).
        they also removed 2 plainclothes rogue cops, (I called them “Harsky and Stutch”), from my front porch post haste one day who didn’t have a warrant (nor an exception to the 4th A like chasing a known threat to the community). (Arrogant county attorney after one of my vets I was trying to help)
        Hopefully times they are a changing, we just have to keep the guys in black with the masks from beating up our grandfolks who are out peacefully demonstrating for Pres. Trump. Maybe we should round up twenty of the baddest boys and put grey haired wigs on and walk “peacefully” for our Pres. ??

  11. I used to(try) to call the VA pharmacy about two different meds that were always short. The VA clerks just sent me in circles. I was accused of lying. It did stop. @Seymore, I am ok with it. The back to less fed, more, or less state. It’s a new world, and I’m an old man. Bless you Seymore, you do good.

  12. “Authorities are investigating dozens of cases of drug theft at Veterans Affairs hospitals”
    Associated Press
    Hope Yen, Associated Press
    Posted online seven hours ago.

    “WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating dozens of new cases of possible opioid and other drug theft by employees at Veterans Affairs hospitals, a sign the problem isn’t going away as more prescriptions disappear.

    Data obtained by The Associated Press show 36 criminal investigations opened by the VA inspector general’s office from Oct. 1 through May 19. It brings the total number of open criminal cases to 108 involving theft or unauthorized drug use. Most of those probes typically lead to criminal charges.”

    “The numbers are an increase from a similar period in the previous year. The VA has pledged “zero tolerance” in drug thefts following an AP story in February about a sharp rise in reported cases of stolen or missing drugs at the VA since 2009. Doctors, nurses or pharmacy staff in the VA’s network of more than 160 medical centers and 1,000 clinics are suspected of siphoning away controlled substances for their own use or street sale — sometimes to the harm of patients — or drugs simply vanished without explanation.

    Drug thefts are a growing problem at private hospitals as well as the government-run VA as the illegal use of opioids has increased in the United States. But separate data from the Drug Enforcement Administration obtained by the AP under the Freedom of Information Act show the rate of reported missing drugs at VA health facilities was more than double that of the private sector. DEA investigators cited in part a larger quantity of drugs kept in stock at the bigger VA medical centers to treat a higher volume of patients, both outpatient and inpatient, and for distribution of prescriptions by mail.”

    Full Article at: “https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-ap-exclusive-dozens-of-new-va-drug-theft-cases-probed-2017-5?r=UK&IR=T”

    1. Additional quote from the article above.

      “In February, the VA announced efforts to combat drug thefts, including employee drug tests and added inspections. Top VA officials in Washington led by VA Secretary David Shulkin pledged to be more active, holding conference calls with health facilities to develop plans and reviewing data to flag problems. The department said it would consider more internal audits.

      Criminal investigators said it was hard to say whether new safeguards are helping.

      “Prescription drug diversion is a multifaceted, egregious health care issue,” said Jeffrey Hughes, the acting VA assistant inspector general for investigations. “Veterans may be denied necessary medications or their proper dosage and medical records may contain false information to hide the diversion, further putting veterans’ health at risk.” “

    2. I like reading your posts. So between employees on the hang over or drinking on the job.

      We have a lot of drug addicts treating us. No wonder why veterans are having their pain medication stopped.

      No enough to go around. Had a drug addict kill a small child did not know want he was doing bedside of the drugs.

      VA employees using are very dangerous to veterans. They are going to have to drug test every employee and watch them pee or do blood tests.

      Fired and arrested they can clean up in jail. These employees will claim someone else was using and nothing happened to them and keep their job.

      Just to continue !

      Sad. Thanks

  13. Question; Do I have to go to labs at the VA? They have never said a word about it. I am paying for a private pcp who guaranteed my DNA/blood, nor results would go anywhere else. The nurse? at VA wouldn’t sign anything. @Seymore, I been reading different things you’ve suggested. Perhaps Democracy wasn’t working anymore. Perhaps it still is. Which ever, I really don’t like where we’re going. God Bless the Veterans….

    1. Jo3n, regarding your question I can only point out my personal experience. I currently have a bill for an emergency room visit that should have been covered by Medicaid. Because I refuse to sign a release for sharing of my records to other health care providers such as the Veterans Administration. Medicaid refuses to pay the bill.

      Like many other Veterans in our country a claim I made under 1151 was denied for the disability a unauthorized experimental surgery that was preformed on me. 13 years latter when I filed for SSDI I was denied because of the lack of medical records provided by the VA. I appealed and when through SS court and was awarded SSDI but when it was being processed by the regional office they refused to pay and sent my SS judges ruling back to him to be rewritten. The ruling was rewritten to grant me SSI not SSDI. So I am only eligible for Medicaid and not Medicare.

      As far as whether or not we live in a Democracy. That is very debatable. As I see it we have been living under two separate Dynasties with the Bush and Clintons names at the top. The rule of law only enforced when it protected these Dynasties and not when it protected the our Democracy.

      1. I should also point out that the Medicaid provider in my area is Health Net. The same Health Net that controls the Veterans Choice program.

      2. I am also have a rating of 10% for one service connected disability and service connected to two other disabilities rated at 0%.

        The 10% is for severe deviated septum following facial trama
        One of the 0% is for migraines following head trauma
        The other 0% is for a skin condition were I grow nodules or lymphomas in my skin that began occurring after a bacterial infection known as curvaceous anthrax

  14. Nonhuman Test Subject Hotdog roast & lemonade huddle in VA Urology Clinic until 5pm. Spared no expense.
    🙂

    1. Speaking of None Human Test Subjects (Veterans)

      “Whitehouse Promotes Partnerships to Advance Care for Veterans”
      Senator Announces Bill to Give VA Authority to Share Resources with Research Partners
      05/20/2016

      “The VA has indicated that it does not have proper authority under current law to partner with academic research institutions to share resources like research space, access to clinical services and direct patient care, and employee time. The bill Whitehouse has announced, the Enhanced Veteran Healthcare Act, would give the VA explicit authority to team up with medical schools and university health science centers to share those resources. These partnerships would allow the VA to increase access to medical personnel, specialized equipment, and research capacity, while also promoting a greater understanding of the unique needs of veterans in the broader medical community.”

      They forget to mention the key ingredient of greater access to us non-human subjects.

      “https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-promotes-partnerships-to-advance-care-for-veterans”

      1. Promoting Partnerships To Advance Care For Veterans– in other words, Shulkin is feeding his future vitae partners for his future golden parachute when this gig is up.

        Partnerships, in VA-speak means contracts, which of course the ticket to the $$$ cookie jar happens to be we nonhuman test subjects, now apparently, the VA does not think we Veterans should have any HIPPA rights now, right?

        Rat Bastards!

        I hear they are unleashing meat vending machines into the wild soon. PLEASE tell me the VA has absolutely nothing to do with this?!

  15. “https://static.infowars.com/politicalsidebarimage/memorial-day1_large.jpg”

  16. Today I decided to do a Google audit of VA.

    I asked how much total is VA budgetted. I asked how much of that is cash sent to vets I asked how many employees VA has. Any guesses how much is paid on a per employee basis to run the show at VA?
    Google tells me that;
    VA budget is $152.7 billion annual total.
    VA sends $50 billion in disability compensation.
    VA employs 312,841 people.

    $152.7 billion minus $50 billion in cash payments = $102.7 billion for VA spending. Divide that by he number of warm bodies paid to show up at VA for work, and it figures to around $326,000 per year PER EMPLOYEE that is spent to care for those who bore the brunt of battle when computed this way.

    Any ideas on how much care we could obtain for veterans if we paid private medical facilities $326,000 per person employed for care? This number is insane, therefor it is VA.

    1. Good golly Miss Molly, for $326,000 each veteran could pay for their own medical coverage even if it were Osama Obama Care,…………… and still have a few pennies left over to buy a decent house, YOU THINK??

      Even Insane McCain should understand this

      Does this prove the remedies implemented by federal government just don’t work? THEY DON’T

  17. Just now on local news,Channel 9, WFTV, Orlando, Fl., the VA was found to be lacking in mental health care at (approximately) 75% of their hospitals. The VA physicians who are supposed to be trained in mental health – AREN’T finishing their requirements. (paraphrasing the bullshit from VA!)

    So, in true VA form, the VA put a “spokesperson” on to tell about how well the VA hotline in Atlanta Georgia is doing!

    Also, while on the way back from getting lunch,
    WDBO FM 96 radio had some “gold star family” members on telling everyone how military families are “…losing 14 service members each day…” due to suicide and/or enemy activities!
    The ‘group’ says “…it’s disgraceful”!

    1. @Crazy elf – – – This in one area where I’m standing my ground against the VA. Behavioral Health has been a disaster. I know, I was an active patient, not anymore. And, its even worse since they now are heavily prescriber Anti-Depressants – Anti-Psychotics in lieu of Anti-Anxiolytics (which I believe to be the lessor of 3 evils for the treatment of anxiety. Has been an ongoing battle for over 2 years. Who suffers, me. Who’s responsible if I flip out due to lack of sleep during this time frame, even though VA knows this is a problem, and I’m I’ve been on edge. ME! VA don’t have my back, and that’s for sure. Kiss off Shulkin.

  18. This morning on “WDBO” FM Radio, (96.5), President Trump wants the VA employees investigated over the opioid scandal!
    Remember when we discussed how VA employees were caught “selling and using Prescription drugs?” And how veterans were being treated worse than real drug addicts?

    Well, it looks like, since no one has been held accountable, President Trump wants them held accountable!
    Could we be seeing a different direction by POTUS on how VA employees might be getting the boot from their jobs?!?!?!

    I do believe it’s time for President Trump to take off the gloves and start having his Judicial Branch take down a bunch of theiving bastards at the Veterans Administration

    1. Do you notice that the current drug epidemic is correctly NOT named a heroin epidemic? It is called opiod…

      Drug cartels do not produce opiod.

      Any guesses on who prescribed such massive quantities of opiod to be sent into American hands at taxpayer expense? Just who the hell did anyone think America was getting all those MILLIONS of pills from? The VA was the backbone of the opiod trade in America and I cannot envision how any other single organization could have been responsible. The dollars are just not there unless you are protected from the law.

      1. Their false premise is that firstly, the soon-to-be-heroin-addict is prescribed all kinds of opioid pain killers by their good dr.’s, and their false premise even skips a few steps/chapters and they try to say somehow…the patient just got hooked on heroin *because* of that damn gateway drug the Dr. gave them….WELL, what they fail to include in this fairytale unicorn pixy fart is this usually is what happens when a Dr.’ may allow their patients to become addicted or remain indifferent about it, then YANK those same opioid pain killers away…well, the zombie is going to come knocking at the brain called addiction and withdrawal, so yeah, by proxy, the street drug becomes then the problem….however, step one, the damn witch dr’s giving this stuff out like PEZZ to Vets then hanging them high and dry by cutting off meds….RAT BASTARDS!
        THAT is EXACTLY how one of my Veteran best friends died in last 6 years…by the VA’s indifference and negligence.

        RAT BASTARDS! I hope AFGE “little” Cox’s Whole Pig Deep Fryer causes an 11 Ladder Alarm Fire somewhere in the swamp today.

        Happy Memorial Day….and kiss my ass. 🙂

  19. United States Senator from Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse’s founder of the Rhode Island Quality Institute hooks up with the VA in a big enriching way on a new software project.

    The Senator, is a former Clinton appointee to the United States Attorney’s office, and is also, a former Attorney General of Rhode Island. The senator’s Rhode Island Quality Institute has hooked up with the VA to provide software for inter-operability between civilian and the VA Systems.

    I wonder if he got special consideration for this contract from Shulkin since he is a senator after all?

    “RI HIE Enables Bidirectional Health Data Exchange with VA”
    “Rhode Island veterans will now benefit from bidirectional health data exchange thanks to a local project in the Ocean State.”

    “”May 16, 2017 – The Rhode Island Quality Institute and Providence VA Medical Center (VAMC) recently announced the start of a new project designed to improve the quality and safety of care for Rhode Island veterans through improved information sharing.

    The Health Care Coordination for Rhode Island Veterans project will enable bidirectional health data exchange through the use of VAMC’s clinical information, CurrentCare, and Rhode Island’s statewide HIE.

    Funded partially by a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation, the project will allow VAMC healthcare providers and non-VA providers in the surrounding area to share patient health data more efficiently than ever.

    “Letting doctors and nurses access veterans’ full medical history is a common-sense way to better care for those who have served our country,” said Founder of the Rhode Island Quality Institute Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

    The project will allow for better care coordination and quality of care for veterans through improved patient EHR access.

    “I congratulate the Rhode Island Quality Institute and Rhode Island’s VA Medical Center on connecting and sharing information across two complex data systems,” said Whitehouse. “I’m also grateful to the Rhode Island Foundation for investing the resources needed to make it happen.””

    “https://ehrintelligence.com/news/ri-hie-enables-bidirectional-health-data-exchange-with-va”

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

    Personally I do not use the VA for Health Care. Also I do not want them having access to any of my medical records. The Care I received from the VA left me disabled when I received an experimental surgery without my consent. I do not want them having any access to my follow up care to correct the damage done at a VAMC.

    1. Seymore,
      I wonder when we’ll read about veterans having their personal information stolen from someone up there?
      Messing around, between two or more entities, with people’s medical files usually ends up shared.

    2. Guess Shulkin wants to keep this Senator in his pocket with some VA IT dollars. With the planned savings from the IU and of course having to spend everything now so he can ask for more before the next Year. Shulkin certainly knows the system.

      1. Yea, just like Debbie Wasermann Shultz used her “IT genius”, Awan, to send lots of classified information to our enemies and steal shit from Congress Critters!

        When will Americans learn to stand up and fight for America! I don’t give a shit about what party people belong to. The corruption in Washington D.C. is rampant and needs to be STOPPED!

        Damn I’m getting really tired of all the bullshit from both sides of the aisle!

    3. HOPE YOU DID A MED MALPRACTICE SUIT AGAINST THEM,
      IF EVER THERE WERE A BIGGER JERK IN THE SENATE IT IS SHELDON BLACKHEART
      HE IS WORTHLESS AND SELF IMPOSTIONED THINKS HE IS A MATLOCK REMAKE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA WHEN HE OFFERS UP THE POLITICALLY ORIENTED QUESTIONS NOT EVEN TRYING TO RESOLVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

      NASTY, NAST GUY, AND I TOLD HIM SO…………………………….PROSECUTOR LIKE A MEAN VICIOUS, SMALL MINDED, NARROW TARGETED MIND, WHO MOST LIKELY HAS PUT MORE THAN HIS SHARE OF INNOCENT FOLKS IN PRISON AND RUNIED THEIR LIVES CUZ HE GOTS TUNNEL VISION.

  20. Us none Human subjects are in the tests again. Help make a poor medical device manufacturer rich.

    EnteroMedics Inc (NASDAQ:ETRM) Uses The McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center To Unveil Its First vBloc® Neurometabolic Therapy Implant
    By Steve Hackney – May 23, 2017

    “https://www.wallstreetpr.com/enteromedics-inc-nasdaqetrm-uses-the-mcguire-veterans-affairs-medical-center-to-unveil-its-first-vbloc-neurometabolic-therapy-implant-39220”

    1. Let AFGE President David “little” Cox be the first volunteer for this implant. I wonder if the implant will survive his sitting posture on top of his brain?
      Well, this is what beta-testing is all about.

  21. Getting a head while the boss at a VAMC. Opps’ Sorry that should read getting head and losing your job as director of a VAMC.

    “News 13 Investigates: Could a workplace relationship threaten your career?”
    by Jennifer Emert
    Wednesday, May 24th 2017

    “https://wlos.com/news/news-13-investigates/va-administrator-fired-could-a-workplace-relationship-threaten-your-career”

    1. I dunno what it is about VA employees, but if you recall when Clinton was boinking the help and using her for cigar storage, the Democrats were trying to make it appear that consensual sex in the work place was no big deal.

      I recall at least 2 VA employees testifying back then about being fired from sex in the work place and lying about it.

      Didn’t Ben write a column about Downs?

      1. Lest we forget that head of VA OIG obsessively masturbating in that all-glass VAHQ conference room.
        Pigeons are still quite pissed they got blamed for the soiled glass, while the Director of Masturbation got to retire early with full benefits. Bet he was not even labeled as a sex-offender either and wanna bet he is doing that same still this very day?

        Pigeons will never forget. It’s their Memorial Day.

  22. To all brothers and sisters, y’all gotta Google and watch this video.

    From: “The Alex Jones Show”
    Dated: May 27, 2017 (18:54 minutes long)
    Millie Weaver and Michael Zimmerman reporting.
    Titled;

    “The Truth About Memorial Day” on utube!

    It’s the truth about what’s going on with the “West Los Angeles VA property!”
    Did you know there’s an oil well there? Did you know NO revenue goes toward helping veterans?
    There’s even a “view from a drone or helicopter” showing what’s on the property.
    Did you know the government paid/is paying $400,000 to refurbish EACH of the small amount of rooms to put homeless Veterans in?
    There’s a lot more information in this video y’all will get pissed about!

    1. Crazy elf …GOOD FIND…WE HAVE BEEN HAD BROTHERS….THAT’S WHY I KEEP SAYING THIS WHOLE SYSTEM IS ONE BIG LIE…

  23. I wasn’t going to comment any more today but this fell in my lap again and it is a must read in my opinion ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1992 –
    Executive Order 12803…………………………………

    The Scanned Retina; A Private Citizen Advocacy Membership Group, dedicated to Securing
    Lawful Constitutional Compliance for all Americans.
    Things about which you did not dare
    think-According to Executive Order 12803, signed by George H.W. Bush in 1992, The District Of Columbia – Washington D.C. (neither a state nor a part of the United States) was given the authority to privatize most or all of the infrastructure within the United States. This means that the federal government, or the corporation that acts in lieu of a federal government, can sell any city’s “assets” which were built with tax-payer monies including:

    · Roads
    · Tunnels
    · Bridges
    · Electricity supply facilities
    · Mass transit
    · Rail transportation
    · Airports
    · Ports
    · Waterways
    · Recycling/wastewater treatment facilities
    · Solid waste disposal facilities
    · Hospitals
    · Prisons
    · Schools
    · Housing

    E.O. 12803 lists the above as examples of America’s salable and/or lease-able infrastructure. But this is not to be taken as a complete list, as these are just some examples.
    “https://realitybloger.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/who-owns-america”

    1. Don’t forget that in Pres. Obama’s last months, he signed-away and let-go of America’s control of the internet. So might as well add all IT infrastructure to that list as well, as it’s dependent upon the electrical grid and other infrastructure to even include the swamp beasts that work therein D.C., all can be bought for many dollars on the penny with today’s upside-down deficit.

      1. I AG-GREAD….. namnibor……..I am not picking on any side of the isle, they are all in the same church…LOL

      2. We’re led to believe that it is to expensive to fix the important doors of protection to the major controlling section of Electric Utility Companies (EUC) infrastructure. EUC has know this for a long time. Think the reason that the Obamamite Staff persuaded the original Obamamite, that the fact is that the EU grid would cost the EUC’s to much to repair, and the Federal Gubmint as well, therefore it would be cheaper to upgrade and protect the Data and other Information flow (Internet Subscribers personal information), by offering Private Sector to have opportunity to purchase, and solving a multitude of monetary, upgrade, and protection issues.

    2. I THINK HE GOT THE WALTONS AND SIMPSONS BACK WORDS… THE TRAITOR HIMSELF…………………………We’re going to keep trying to strengthen the American family. To make them more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons.

      GEORGE H. W. BUSH, statement at the 1992 Republican National Convention
      I guess its the waltons that has everything up for sale…LOL

      1. The VA would repurpose the Walton’s saw mill operation to be an industrial shredder.

      2. The VA Secretary is “Mr. Burns” from “The Simpsons”, in every respect characterized.

      3. You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world …………[THAT WAS ME STEALING RESOURCES THAT BELONGED TO OUR AND OTHER COUNTRY’S]………and I didn’t. George H. W. Bush
        BUT I CAN NOT TELL A LIE YES I DID BRING THE BROCCOLI……SORRY YOU DID NOT LIKE IT DENNISl

      4. You see what happens when we let Brocholli Rights advocates get there way???!!! I tell you, there is no proven evidence that even medical use of brocholli is beneficial to humans and some even suspect it triggers mental illness!

        Stay away from that shit man!

  24. Memorial Day is generally the day when the air around the apartment pool is filled with the delightful smell of charred animal flesh, potato salad, and inevitably all the godamn different “favorite” dishes that folks bring to a potluck to show off their arts.

    As a kid I learned that a potluck is a LOT like Cheistmas – even on Memorial Day. This is obvious to me for a simple reason. On Christmas people brings all kinds of stuff and lay it under a dead tree and put nametags on the gifts. The name tags ARE NOT so the gifts can be properly distributed at all. The name tags are there so you know who will be watching you and judging whether your joyfull delight displayed at the gift is genuine or not. I was was pretty godamn good at acting like his gift of plaid boxer underwear from Uncle Les triggered an emotional response equivelant to getting a season pass at Disney World – with the green dots that make Platinum rides free!!! My tactic was to hug them tightly like a teddy bear. (I never wore them. They ended up as mom’s dish rags)

    Memorial Day potlucks have little to do with making sure your size XXX neighbors get enough to eat that day. It is a self congratulatory way to make people act like they just LOVE what you have brought, and often ask for the recipe – even while the kids are quietly handing the stuff off to Rover under the table, right?

    So while on my couch just now, I envisioned a potluck in which VA showed up. Cox from AFGE would be there. POTUS was not only there, but also charged a reduced rent fee on the facility for us (part of a deal he made). All kinds of folks like this were there milling around and sampling each dish served up by men in power. Obviously the stuff served had little to do with the needs of the many, like any potluck – it was put on to show off you craft then sit back and accept the congratulations. Kind of like a Christmas present.

    The Senate brought a delicious boiled pig dish. The pork litterally fell off the bones. Approval was high!
    The Federal Courts brought Jello. Approval was high!
    The Attorney General brought the same waffles left from last year. Approval was high!
    The AFGE senior brother, Mr. Cox brought a splendid dish of unpasterized Down Home Chitterlings. Approval was high!
    The Hines VA brought chicken. Approval was high!
    Even Senior VA management showed up and brought their very best crock of shit. Approval was high!

    I was there too! One vet from each State was.
    Dennis brought brownies from Oregon… Everyone was high!

    I sure did enjoy bringing smiles to their faces, even if it was phoney. The delusion continued well until the VA chicks started taking their tops off after eating the brownies. Then, like all good delusions, it was shattered.

    1. @Dennis- Nice…until the Purple Team started taking their tops off after eating your brownies. Some things are not able to be unseen after the brain has been stained with Purple Mammary Team (PMT).

      In my version, AFGE David “little” Cox is put on a pig roast rotisserie while BVA “Agent Orange Denier” Murphy adds something a little special to the pool water to give it some color and to partially hide the topless purple team, and a special appearance by NO OTHER than Tomah’s David “Candyman” Houlihan to add something festive he’s cooked-up in the bathroom to add to the punch to make everyone LOVE the now topless purple team.
      Where are the actual Veterans at this pool party pig bash?
      Why, the VA repurposed the “staged Veterans” for Memorial Day to make the lines in the pool. At the bottom of that pool. Yep, the VA just gave some of Candy man’s punch to the guest staged Veterans and repurposed those bodies to work as the floatation devices at this purple team flop party.

      Try to all have a great Memorial Day and never forget that freedom is definitely not as free as nefarious attitudes are at the engorged purple team at the VA.

    2. …odd thing about the dish Cox brought was that by the time he arrived alone in the car with the food, a third of it had already been eaten by somebody.

    3. @OLDMARINE

      I don’t think so. The Russian Rat Souffle was brought by The Press. Approval was high!

      1. @namnibor

        Except for at Hines VA nearly everything tastes like chicken. At Hines VA, even the chicken tastes like cockroach.

      2. AND ALL ALONG I THOUGHT IT WAS CRAWDAD SOUP MAYBE I ATE TO MUCH OF THE Russian Rat Souffle BECAUSE THE APPROVAL WAS ……HIGH

    4. DENNIS, THERE IS MORE TRUTH IN HUMOR THAN ELSEWHERE AND YOU SPEAK ELOQUENTLY OF THE DEVIL, BUT, HOWEVER, ACCURATELY AND IN GREAT HUMOR, HOWEVER, SUBTLE.

      BUT AND HOWEVER, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE TO “THEM” ..,..,”IT AIN’T FUNNY, A _ _ HOLE, THIS WAS JUST TO GET YOUR ATTENTION, ….NOW FIX IT DAMMIT!

  25. Hey, everyone.
    I’m going to be a little “politically INcorrect” in having y’all google something. Being that it’s “Memorial Day Weekend”. And we’re supposed to “HONOR our veterans who’ve fallen!” The following two utube videos are, in my opinion, should be of particular interest to veterans and nonveterans alike!

    So, that being said, here’s the titles to Google —–
    #1.)
    “Clip 1: Black Confederates: The Forgotten Men In Grey”

    #2.)
    “Clip 2: Black Confederates: The Forgotten Men In Grey”

    Each video is approximately 8 to 10 minutes long. And is part of our heritage we shouldn’t forget. These MEN fought, and some died, next to their “brothers”!
    “Nathan Bedford Forrest”, a Confederate Officer, was ahead of his time. You’ll be surprised at what he did!
    These pieces of American history, we shouldn’t allow to be lost!

    While your scarfing down burgers and beer, or hot dogs and soda, remember these fine GENTLEMEN who were part of our heritage!

    1. P.S.
      When y’all google these videos, you’ll find other videos, “Clip 3”, concerning the same issue.
      One is:

      “Behind the Dixie Stars!”

      It’s not long in time! Only y’all will learn more concerning our “Black Confederates”!
      Anyone “Who doesn’t learn from history, is DOOMED to repeat it!”

      Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend! And enjoy these videos!

  26. Off topic. Currently on Drudge.

    “https://circa.com/politics/accountability/on-memorial-day-weekend-vas-problems-serving-veterans-still-persist”

    1. Someone posted about the missing man table ceremony.

      I propose a plate set up on the other side of the table to keep the Missing man company…a VA Victim plate.

      It will actually be a plate of raw chicken and uncooked rice sauteed with dirty dish water.

      A side of cockroaches would top it off with a carafe of GoLYTELY.

      1. I am told that fried cockroach is tart but good – once you get past the legs. I personally would smother them in Grey Poupon mustard, but I have West Coast thinking….

  27. Ben,

    Does VA Directive under the law legally take precedent over our Constitution when the two are discovered to conflict with one another? Is this clearly defined somewhere?

    To me on this weekend when we honor our veterans, this question seems most relevent.

    1. Since this is a legal question I will pay you the VA rate of $1000 per hour to answer, and throw in some official time to make it better for you and me both, right? Just send me your bill, and I SWEAR I will get a check out to you pronto!

      Two pinkies held high!

    2. @Dennis – – – Dam Dennis, this is exactly the type of legal arguments that I’m talking about, in order to find ANY legal loophole to hold or keep the VA accountable to treat and care for the BENEFICIARY’s (Veterans), by dispersing portions of the allotted monies, in which the Federal Government has deemed that the VA should manage.

      A FUCKING FANTASTIC LEGAL QUESTION. And, I help foot some of Ben’s bill. Stretching a pinky towards you, so that you’ll have one left for later. – – – Nutter.

  28. You want to know how to cleanout VA? I know how.

    First my assumption is that VA is riddled with criminality. This has been demonstrated and documented ad nauseum for decades. Recently, the Director of Hines VA before retiring said something very telling and unnoticed by all but Sherlock Holmes (my alter ego). You see a criminal mind is far more of an ego trip than most realize. The ego is enormously satisfied in a criminal by acquiring wealth that does not otherwise belong to them. By outthinking their victims, a criminal gains nit only wealth satisfaction – it strokes the ego.

    But it does not end there. Feeding the ego is like feeding an addiction. The next high needs to be a little more potent to achieve the rush and excitement. A criminal mind will do the most absurd things to “almost” get caught, and often in the form of a taunt to get this rush. The Pink Panther thief in the movie left a pink glove as a kind of calling card – a taunt saying, “Catch me if you can.” Criminals just love taunting their deeds in this way, and this is not uncommon for a thief to be proud of his efforts and skill.

    So what has this got to do with the Director of Hines? Well, first a Senator from Chicago was quoted as saying he felt this director was the most corrupt public servant he had ever met, right? Do you suppose that just MAYBE a Chicago politician can reasonably identify a corrupt public servant…? I do. So exactly what did the Director of Hines say that is the tip off, and how do we go after it as a nation?

    She said just prior to retirement, “…the last few years at (VA) have been the most rewarding.”

    Hmmmm. Sounds like the Pink Panther is daring us to catch her to me. Exactly what would a Chicago politician read into a statement like that believing her to be the most corrupt public servant ever? Answer: she got paid off, and she is taunting us now like ANY criminal would be tempted to do.

    How do we fix it? Simple and the methods and folks are in place; By Presidential directive, the IRS should immediately be directed to conduct a full financial audit OF EVERY SINGLE Senior Service employee, and otherwise EVERY SINGLE ranking member of VA including and up to the Congressional representatives who sit on the Veterans Affairs Committee.

    It is not against the law to audit folks. It does not violate a union contract. It does but one thing – it finds out where your money came from, where it went, and if you owe taxes. Al Capone was a murderer, thug, bootlegger, and all around really nasty human. Do you know what put him in jail?

    Tax evasion. He simply could not account for where the money had came from, and the fact that he had the money meant that no taxes had been paid. Busted. Furthermore, the IRS has a reputation for squeezing blood out of turnips and it unlikely that ANY back door deal with anyone can loosen the noose of an IRS audit that discovers fraud and tax evasion.

    As a test run, let us audit the Hines Director. If she is clean then the Chicago Senator was wrong about her being the most corrupt servant he ever met. On the other hand, we may just find out why her last two years of employment were “the most rewarding” of all her years in service…

    …it is fundamental my dear watson….

    1. You are absolutely correct; audit for every VA employee and Congressperson;

      If you commit income tax fraud it does not matter how much you steal how little to the IRS they want to make an example out of you.\

      Right on Watson

    2. Dennis:

      The Constitution is the “Law of the Land and takes precedence over laws by congress and certainly over directives by bureaucracies. It is basic and clear, as long as you have a certain part of the constitution and can compare it with the VA reg. A lot of times the boobecrats make u[p their own regs or interpretations of what the regs are for their own convenience. It’s amazing how many times you can say; ‘No, I don’t have to do that,,,” or Where is the regulation which says that and what law is it based upon” very mucho fun
      AS WELL DENNIS YOU HAVE A TORT CLAIM AGAINST SOMEONE WHO VIOLATED A LAW IN COMMITTING A TORT IT IS CALLED NEGLIGENCE PER SE, AS WELL YOU SHOULD GO TO FEDERAL COURT AND REQUEST A JURY TRIAL AGAINST THE BOOBECRAT, FOR THAT TORT AS WELL AS HARRASSMENT, INTENTIONAL INFLICION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, ETC. ETC. AND THE FED COURT IS THE VENUE FOR THE VA; ASK BIG BEN ABOUT THIS STUFF

      1. Here is a personal tip off that something is horribly amiss, and it was something Lem posted that really tips us off when contrasted to a letter I reveived in response to a Privacy Act comlaint that I filed with HHS. Lem posted the laws about disclosing patient information.

        Presumably these laws are the implementation of the rights spelled out in our Constitution. I believe that Lem is posting accurate information based on my experience as a United States citizen who thinks it sounds like America.

        When VA, VISN-20 defended themselves against a restraining order set in place on my behalf by the courts, they chose to copy off portions of my record and introduce them as evidence agaisnt my case. Against my case = against me. I filed with the government a notification that my rights had been violated in the form of the proper Privacy Act violation complaint.

        They responded with some nice gobbledy-gook but the sentence that sticks out in memory is the one that explained the official government reason that they had not violated the Privacy Act -“…even if fully substantiated, your claim is not a violation of the Privacy Act of 1971. Uses agency documents for the prupose you describe is deemed a routine use, and is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1971.”

        Do you see the flaw? Since VA gets to determine what a routine use is, and since a routine use of records is permitted then they did not violate law – HOWEVER as Lem pointed out it was clearly a violation of law. So in this context, if a judge looks and sees that VA Directive XXX defines a use of the records that is otherwise unconstitutional, then what way does he make judgement and why?

        It sure seems like an important question to ask before we all go and confirm more judges.

  29. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I am sure the picture at this link says it all about who was behind putting Pakistani Intelligence in charge of the IT systems for the Dems in Congress.

    “https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-awan-b56b9ba6/”

    He has been there since the year 2000 according to his profile.

    Note how much younger Bill Clinton looked back then.

    1. Another interesting doc on the security clearances that were given to these H1b visa holders, even though one has a felony conviction on their record. Filed last year to give them full access to sit in on intelligence briefings and meetings.

      Of Course Debbie Wasserman Schultz was involved and it is again all Dems.

      “https://fas.org/irp/congress/2016_cr/hpsci-hac.pdf”

      1. “A Muslim Brotherhood Security Breach in Congress
        There’s a national security risk swamp to drain.”
        February 8, 2017
        Daniel Greenfield

        “https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/265729/muslim-brotherhood-security-breach-congress-daniel-greenfield”

  30. The other day my Primary care doctor at the VA required me to take a urine test before he would refill my meds….( true story) I suspect you guys haven’t had a urine test in months… not with all that I see today…..

    1. @Rich B; Rich, I am required to take a urine test every single time I have an appointment, this has been going on for about 6 month now.

    2. With your (true Story) modifier to your comment it seemed a little off.

      Lets see before your primary care, doc, nurse, practitioner, pharmacist … ect, would write you a new scrip for meds at the VA they required a piss test. Did they then sit around with you and wait for the results before writing the scrip?

      1. No they do not sit around with you…. they just don’t refill the medications until they have the results… in my case the meds were refilled the next day….

    3. @Rick b – – – The same happened to me. Even that I had to take additional meds to be able to get to my VA PCP office. And, I wasn’t informed bout the urine drug panel test. My VA PCP used the meds as a carrot, Rat Bastards.

      Additionally, my VA PCP informed that my drug test revealed another type of opiate, which wasn’t prescribed to me. I said “Really?” Knowing that I didn’t take, nor did I ever take any other opiate besides what was prescribed to me by my VA PCP. My word wasn’t good enough for my PCP, and neither did the VA drug test have any validity to me.

      When it seemed like the VA was going to pin me with taking other opiates, I declared a “False Positive” for the drug test result. When a “False Positive” is presented for a dirty drug result, or it is brought up that by the person that the drug test was given to. Fortunately, this means that a new urine drug test is automatic. VA may say otherwise, but then how can it be proven that the first drug test wasn’t a “False Positive.”

      Some VA PCP’s have been known to out right lie about the results of a Veterans drug test. A Power Play of using the drug test to get back at the Veteran for some reason or another. What makes me pissed off, is that if a drug test is positive, and then the Veteran is labeled as failing the drug test, then the Veteran is usually punished, usually the VA will then stop prescribing all controlled substances to the Veteran.

      But what if a VA PCP has been found to lie about the results of a Veterans drug test results? If this happens, I believe that the VA PCP should be automatically fired. You may ask, “Why should they be fired, and not reprimanded? Because the VA PCP has broken the trust of using their power over a Veteran; Abuse of Power. If a VA PCP is successful in doing this terrible act against the Veteran, and nothing is done about it, the Veteran will be flagged for their rest of their life as long as the Veteran is receiving medical care from the VA.

      Rick b, as we speak, I have two incidents that my VA PCP has violated me whether saying that I failed a drug test, or using the medications as a carrot, or just fucking with you because they have you up against the wall because not only does a Veteran need the medication may be for pain, but unfortunately, the Veteran could be addicted to the powerful pain medications as well. If the Veterans can’t get the medication, their body will in short time start to demand it by going into withdrawal.

      I have been in battle with my VA PCP for about 6 months because of abuse of power issues. And yet, even though I brought this up to my VA PCP’s supervisor, there was hardly any concern from the powers that be. Until I decided that the next time something like this happened again, I said to myself, “This is enough, I’m going to pop this aggravating boil the next time that it raises it ugly head.”

      And, that’s exactly what I did, I personally fired that VA PCP because I refuse to be treated by such. I’m not able to explain any details on the matter, but I’m sure that this type of behavior happens all the time. And for me, I refuse to be manipulated anymore by such illegal actions by these unaccountable asswiping Rat Bastards. Thanks for you post. – – – Nutter.

      1. Nutter

        With the VA anything is possible when it comes to these drug tests. I know 3 days after mine I went on line and downloaded my medical record which show :

        AMPHETAMINES NEG — (CUTOFF=1000)
        BARBITURATES NEG — (CUTOFF=300)
        BENZODIAZEPINES NEG — (CUTOFF=300)
        CANNABINOIDS NEG — (CUTOFF=50)
        COCAINE NEG — (CUTOFF=300)
        OPIATES NEG — (CUTOFF=300)
        Interpretation: Drug of Abuse results are not for legal issues. They are for medical use only

        This was the first time the VA had ever tested me for illegal drugs, and on this same day I had joked with the Nurse that I was going to go to Colorado and get something to self medicate… that statement may have been the trigger to the test…

        Since the va must put the results in your medical records, a false positive test likely would have to be screwed with by someone in the lab.

      2. I think it is routine now. And I’m glad of it. I have a lot of entries without basis other than I was dressed in homeless garb listing me as an alcoholic or drug abuser. Now with almost 20 years of the tests being done those false entries are no longer made. Stuporousness from complex partial seizure aftermath were not interpreted accurately and being unaware of having had a seizure all I could complain about was stupor which I rarely did.

        Prejudices against homelessness, especially homeless veterans.

      3. @Lem – – – Lem, wanted to know. Can TBI be caused other than a forceful trauma (hitting your head, explosion)? With your TBI, do you have any trouble remembering things, or to spell correctly? With TBI do you get times where you get super tired, and then start to nod out and also jerk when you come out of it?

        From my frame of questions, do you think I should be aware of anything else that may suggest TBI? Thanks. – – – Nutter.

      4. Think of “organic” as including TBI from concussions. There is also the concussion of being exposed to heavy artillery or naval guns. After many rounds the sinuses bounce the brain like the many jabs received by a boxer. Though not bringing the damage of a concussion that brings unconsciousness the cumulative effect of several hundred fired rounds does the same thing.

        And then there is disease (particularly p. falciparum malarial and encephalitis) and nerve agent exposure. Yes, there are many causes of “organic brain damage and disease.” (disease post traumatic encephalopathy)

    4. Rich B,

      Simply reply to the doctor who reminded you to get a urine test that because of the current political atmosphere, you decline treatment for any condition that requires you to submit to a test for illicite drugs or any other schedule substance listed under the Controlled Substances Act. Tell him you believe that the results could be used to incriminate you or otherwise interfere with ou liberty or propertty. Tell him, “Please treat my condition using a different protocol.”

      ..or just say “no” and tell him Nancy Reagan taught you to say that lolz!

      1. Not necessary. Taken without a warrant your medical record is private and cannot be disclosed without your permission and the physician’s permission. Both not one.

      2. Lem,
        VA Roseburg, VISN-20 surprised myself, and the Circuit Court judges when they produced a portion of my medical history and the Assistant Attorney General who had produced it proceded to disclose information to the judge in an attempt to get the restraining order issued against the VA clinic manager removed. The restraining order simply banned the VA manager from contacting me personally at home or influencing others to interfere with my healthcare at VA.

        The judge did indeed dismiss the restraining order, but cited his belief that Circuit Court had made an error in so restraining a federal employee.

        I do not view your information as inaccurate, however the facts I just cited are true. The manager had simply copied poetions of my record that he thought would defend his actions of calling me at home repeatedly to inform me that further service complaints sent by FAX would result in me being flagged as a disruptive parient and termination of local services would result. He claimed to be in charge of the DBC in his calls to me, and claimed to be able to do this and I believed him.

        In Oregon, it is a violation of state law to call an elderly or disabled person at home and threaten to disrupt medical care. This is highly specific and not just inrerpretation which is why the RO was issued – the facts were not in dispute.

        Want to know what happened after they were served with that order? I got banned from the local VA clinic, and flagged as a Cat One Violent and Disruptive Patient.

        So the facts are not in dispute – despite legality the VA has fully demonstrated their willingness to show up in court with my records and use them against me.

      3. File suit for invasion of privacy on top of your other complaint. You are supposed to be able to limit your record’s use to your medical needs between you and your care giver. He obviously didn’t have a release form to give it to a judge unless you selectively released portions to the same judge.

      4. Dennis. Please copy everything you have and send it to the Secretary of veterans affairs and to the white house and to the Senate committee on veterans affairs.

        File libel charges on anyone involved. This illegal committee must be put into ✔!

        These people have no business punishing veteran’s. This committee is denying every single human civil and constitutional rights away from veterans.

        If enough of us write and tell our stories of this injustice maybe they will have to take action.

        The VA knows they are harming veterans using this illegal committee.

  31. Seymore,
    The main reason I brought up the video is because it pertains to IT mismanaged monies, all in our government agencies! And how Ben Krause is on top of it.
    You, however, have brought more corruption into the fray!
    The “prosecutor” found dead here in Florida was, in my opinion, due to his investigations into, not only visas, but voter fraud. Which has been reported widely down here!
    I can see you, and a few others, have been “putting the puzzle pieces together” the way I have!
    Like I’ve said before, I put out a little information for others to put more pieces together!
    Your a hell-of-a-lot better at getting to the bottom of things than I ever was! Thank you for your being able to expose the corruption better than me!
    I also believe we’re going to see great changes, and possibly charges, happening in Washington soon!

    Angela said it right earlier today.
    Maybe we do need someone to “hack into the Veterans Administration computer system”! Maybe then we will know where BILLIONS OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS have disappeared to for the past 17 to 20 years!
    Maybe it’s time for some “computer snooping” to bring the Veterans Administration to its knees!
    I really can’t see any other way. Except to do the unthinkable – ie; “Hack the Veterans Administration’s Computers!”
    Because I’m pretty sure the money is going offshore!

    1. Elf,

      One thing we certainly know for sure is the money is not going where it is needed at the Veterans Administration and yes most of it is going out the holes in the VAs pockets.

      What I truly find amazing about this security breach through Wasserman. Is the fact that 49 Democratic members of the house of Representatives put all their emails and information for the Nation at risk by employing these H1B Visa holders. The same Visa Holders now receiving protection from the Pakistani Government and it is known that they did in fact comprise the email systems and files maintained by the 49 representatives.

      With the relationship between the Pakistani Government and Saudi Arabia the Saudis now have all that info also.

      To believe even for a moment these representatives are not fully compromised and voting in line with the wishes of the King of Saudi Arabia would be foolish.

      What utter morons we have in Washington.

      The Daily Caller provides a list of the Reps who hired the Pakistani Intelligence services to handle their email and file systems. They really should have hired US Veterans.

      “Sources: Democratic Aide Suspected Of Major Security Breach Under Government Protection In Pakistan”
      “https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/22/sources-democratic-aide-suspected-of-major-security-breach-under-government-protection-in-pakistan/”

      1. Seymore,
        There’s must be some real juicy information about those “Congress Critters” for Wasserman-Schultz to threaten the D.C. police chief!

        Wouldn’t it be a hoot IF the Awan brothers were to “leak” it to the public!!!!
        Surely they, the brothers, have devised a plan for “self preservation” against an “untimely death”, ie: Seth Rich, and a whole lot more! (I do believe this last statement isn’t too far of a reach!)
        Seems anyone wanting to testify against the “Clinton Cartel” ends up “face down” somewhere.

        Question;
        Do you think it’s possible to hack into the Veterans Administration’s IT computer system? Especially the ones which controls the monies?

      2. Seymore, Crazy Elf,

        Its interesting they have the Capitol Cleaner Police investigating this nonsense like it’s a minor theft of trinkets rather than the FBI investigating it as the serious national security threat it is.
        It tells me there are people on both sides of the aisle that want this kept quiet.

        Can anyone recall a serious case in the past 25 years where the Capitol Police actually solved a crime without lots of details being screwed up?

        The H1B visa issue is also interesting. How many other entities are compromised because that entity hired an H1B visa holder? Is congress quiet on that detail because they want to protect their lucrative little program of selling Visas for politically connected donors?

        I would think a more serious investigation by the FBI might also expose lots of details more formally, and possibly to public scrutiny…which could be very embarrassing to both sides.

      3. You could not be more correct, the corruption goes deep deep deep, 91Vet

    2. @Crazy elf: elf, don’t sell yourself short, your one helluva an investigative researcher in your own rite. I am glad you and Seymore, and 91, and of course Ben,bring so many things to our attention we wouldn’t have otherwise known. I thank all of you for opening my eyes to what you post. Just wish I was capable of putting it all together like you guys. I don’t think I will ever be able to do that.

      On another topic…….I sent an email to two organizations asking for help in organizing a march with veterans. I am not sure the email I sent was a good email. I should post it here, so you guys can tell me what you think, and what changes you think I should make to it. If I get no response, I will continue to reach out to all these different march organizers. I think this would be a good time to get a boiler plate email together that everyone likes, instead of leaving it up to me, my mind doesn’t always work like it should. What do you guys think about this?

      1. Or, just simply post a letter you think would be affective in soliciting the help of professional organizers, to help our cause along. I will copy and paste it into a new email to send out. Thank you, in advance.

      2. @”cj”
        Here’s a suggestion —-
        When you’re on utube, or other websites, and you see something with a “title” that is similar to what Ben is/has discussed, put the information on here! Even if the title is a little off, like the one I put on today about “…a civil war and deep crisis…”! The reason it’s relevant is because of the Awan brothers and their involvement as IT Specialists! And the corruption in Washington D.C.! Which includes the Veterans Administration!

        You’ve come up with some great things yourself!
        I particularly like your idea of finding someone with balls who could hack into the Veterans Administration’s computer systems! Finding out where all those BILLIONS of taxpayers monies went would be priceless!

        On the other hand, I don’t believe any “group” will help us “plan for a march on D.C.!” That’s just my opinion though!
        Only don’t give up! Maybe I’m wrong!

      3. Crazy Elf, I wonder if the VA has gotten in on this H1B visa scam.

        What an easy way for upper management to control an IT employee with lots of administrative access to systems than having the threat of revoking their visa hanging over them?

        If the VA or any other entity actually does employ H1B visa holders, I suspect they have easy access to personal information that could be used for identity theft.

        As for marching, the Women’s March was a Soros funded operation for political purposes, so they easily had the funding needed to get many people from across the country to DC quickly, and likely had plenty of money for logistics…lodging, transportation around DC, food, etc.

        I see snippets on Twitter where it appears the Women’s March organizers are falling apart from infighting and racial identity politics.

      4. @91Veteran,@Crazy elf: Thanks for the reply, it would figure with the organizational infighting. I will just keep plugging away, they are not the only organizers on the planet. I will give it a couple weeks, of reaching out to different organizers. If no response, I will try to figure it out myself.

        I see what you mean elf, about researching, it’s not the research I have trouble with, it’s making sense of what I find. This might sound strange,….although I have very high scoring on IQ testing, and aptitude testing. I am not able to make use of it, as in connecting the dots. It’s hard to explain, I think Lem, and James, know first hand what I’m saying.

        Very embarrassing, when you’re talking with someone, and you either struggle with what the next word is, although you do know the proper word that should be used, or you suddenly have no idea, what you were discussing in the first place.

      5. This is part of having a traumatic brain injury racing mind. Our mind thinks faster than our mouth.

        So we get confused, especially when more than one person is in evolved. Testing shows how we have short term memory.

        It causes symptoms of bipolar. Some people hear this label and they think we are mentally ILL.

        We are disabled by trauma to the brain. The VA like other’s use our disability as a means to do what ever they want to us.

        Don’t pay no mind what we think, we are labeled as being stupid. I know I am not stupid or I would have never been able to become an administrative assistant.

        Persons with this type of disability have to compensate when gathering information. Myself I made my own manuels of what I should know.

        Wrote the job step by step to fall back on !

        I am usely ok one on one and if I am not pressured and given the time to think things through.

        Yes I have said after speaking, what the hell were we talking about and laugh. Hidden wounds a lot of people do not understand…

        VA may think we are easy target’s but they are wrong !

        Only by the grace of God I am able to be here to tell my story. Being shot point blank in the head, I should not be here !

        But I lived only to be shunned by the department of veterans affairs or ignored by them in their greed to save a buck !

        40 year’s of Hell before getting treatment and they started attacking me once I won my disability claim.

        The employee that reported me as being disruptive is an Evil, Evil person.

        Her day will come, I believe what goes around comes around. And I don’t have to retaliate, they do it to themselves !

  32. To:
    Seymore, 91Veteran, namnibor and all!

    I knew the video “America is in a civil war and deep crisis” would peek everyone’s curiosity.
    We, on this and other websites, are finally and completely waking up to the MASSIVE corruption and illegal activities by so many damn reprobates in Washington D.C. and around the world!
    President Trump has his work cut out for him, IF he truly wants to “Drain the Swamp”!
    He’s can’t do it alone. He needs the help of all of American PATRIOTS!
    Will he receive that help? Only time will tell!

    1. Hey Elf,

      “Federal Prosecutor Investigating Fraud, Found Dead in Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s District”
      Carter May 26th, 2017 5:37 pm

      “A federal prosecutor’s body was discovered on a Hollywood, Florida beach with potential head trauma.”
      Brandon J. Whisenant, Jr.’s body was found Wednesday by a random individual. The police are attempting to determine if Whisenant’s death was a “homicide, suicide, or something else.”

      “Hollywood police spokeswoman Miranda Grossman said Thursday that the body of 37-year-old Beranton J. Whisenant Jr. was found early Wednesday by a passerby on the city’s beach. She said detectives are trying to determine if the death was a homicide, suicide or something else.

      Whisenant worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami in its major crimes unit. He had joined the office in January. Court records show he had been handling several visa and passport fraud cases.

      Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg said in a statement that Whisenant was a “great lawyer and wonderful colleague.” The office declined to comment on the investigation.”

      1. I am just going to take a little shot in the dark on who’s passports and Visas he was investigating.

        Hina Alvi, Imran Awan and his brothers?

      2. Reading through some of the Pakistani newspapers and they have been very well protected since their return to Pakistan. Always traveling with a large security convoy.

      3. time to send in another Seal Team, or special ops group of fellows, I guess, Hmmmm?

      4. Oh and just a short message to Hina, Imran and his bros.

        Watch out for that drone!!!! I t will be coming your way.

      5. It’s not a drone, it’s a Kami Kazee one way being piloted by Debbie Wasserman Shulz, who has been allowed to die “with honor’ instead of going down stateside via RICO.
        Hi, Debbie…Bye, Debbie

  33. This has been a problem for a long time. I was charged for an overpayment of checks I never received. Later a Guam Education Head connected to the University got charged for embezzling but I was never forgiven for the checks I never received in 1975-76. Even after I provided an audit of my bank deposits showing the amount I received was less two checks than what I was charged as having recieved.

  34. Get this imposter Shulkin out he is one of “THEM” not one of “US”
    GET HIM OUT, GET HIM OUT, HE IS THE WORM

    1. There is no human in the land, irregardless of post or title, that can undo corruption once the disease of dishonesty spreads in a bearaucracy from the very top to the lowest denominator.

      VA is akin to a really good older spy movie that relied on plot rather than special effects. In a REALLY good spy movie the viewer is completely in the dark about just who the spies are and who poses a danger, only in the end to realize that every single on screen actor is a damn spy and generally defers to the psychopathic side when under stress.

      They ALL spy and lie and end in the end, usually in gruesome fashion courtesies of James Bond, they die. He has a license issued for that in his country by his own federal government, so it’s ok, and it makes a damn good movie.

      When you look at the actors presented to the public through their deeds in the scripted movie called, “VA, the Golden Years”, then I think the plot is VERY well scripted at VA in terms of entertainment, so this is not an insult at all because like a good Bond movie – all of the characters keep us guessing who the problem has become until we learn it is all of them! Isn’t it exciting?

  35. I just have to point out that the Audit Firm hired to audit the Veterans Administration’s financial management processes and software Clifton Larson Allen (CLA). CLA is primarily a wealth management and investment firm. Which deals with managing wealth and investment opportunities.

    “https://www.claconnect.com/services/wealth-advisory#Services”

    The kind of company you hire to hide your wealth and reduce tax burdens. Not so strong on openness and accountability.

    1. Since Shulkin hired a wealth management firm to do his audit. It does raise a big question in my mind.

      Has anyone told Shulkin that he does not actually “own” the Veterans Administration?

      1. Seymore, I see this audit as providing pointers on how better to hide their fraud, waste, abuse, theft and mismanagement.

        How the hell do you not know you have to account for future liabilities? How many news articles has there been on state pension funds not having enough in them for future liabilities? Same with SSA? Or other kinds of programs?

        Imagine how fast shareholders would be filing lawsuits against a corporate board if the corporation used such sloppy accounting.

        Yet several years ago congress got excited over Enron? For a few billion?

        FFS congress goes bananas when their donors might lose a few million in their stock shares due to sloppy accounting because donations to their campaign might go down, but a $60 billion minimum mistake?

        And it’s gone on for at least 17 years, while congress ignored accountability to we, the shareholders?

        I firmly believe there are a number in congress who benefit from this sloppy accounting. In every agency. So they do little or nothing.

        Perhaps if congress demanded better accounting, they would not have to cut the legs off elderly veterans with TDIU.

        Someone posted a comment that their Senator said this created a shitstorm. It should be a shithurricane.

        Does the VA give a damn about a $60 billion mistake? Hell NO! Because they can always go to the corporate board in congress and ask for more.

  36. Good morning from Oregon!!! We have GREAT weather this weekend. Yesterday was officially summertime at my home. I took my Italian Grayhound pair for a long walk as usual. Yesterday out in the middle of a beautiful lush green pasture (I live on an island known as Goodpasture Island) my male hound suddenly stopped short on trail, with his tail wagging lazy from side to side. He looked up at the warm blue sky and held his head up into the gentle breeze blowing off the clean and icy waters of the Willamette River 50 yards away and then…

    He closed his eyes and stood still just wagging his tail slowly. Dogs speak a language in which the consonants are spoken from the tail, and the vowels are the rest of the animal. His name is “Houdini” and his pedigreed bloodline goes tracably back in time to the courts of nobility scattered around the globe. The hound is a vanishing species and those scant few that breeds that still remain (like Houdini’s breed) have been saved from oblivion by man, a species not otherwise normally motivated to save life. The Grayhound, whether miniature or racing exist because they form a special bond with humans.

    Yesterday in the pasture, Houdini said very clearly to me (and the world) in dogspeak, “Summer is here.”

    As I later sat on my living room sofa and inhaled vapor made from a plant that my neighbors grow, I felt at ease with life for awhile. I read from my iPad this blog author’s headlines, just the headlines from all these days past now and back in time, and painted a story in which each headline was a sentence by itself – part of a much larger paragraph, and so forth with my job as the author to be restrained from adding anything but conjunctions to hook it all together.

    I also from my iPad read again the words of a white man spoken from 3000 miles away, who claims he will use men with guns to stop folks like my neighbor from growing his plants – the plants he shares with me and which even now I am enjoying. The herb helps ease anguish which is a symptom I seek relief from. The white man from Washington says this plant has no place in my neighborhood. It is pretty easy to get though if you are a PTSD patient in Oregon because in Oregon we decided to treat the ailments that veterans suffer from, which is far more cost effective than throwing them in jail for them. In Oregon we have decided it is not against the law to enjoy life.

    To know of enjoying it is essential that a true understanding of the word “enjoy” be imparted to a man. Houdini shows me how to do that. Magic. When I with him and our third leg, Tegan (my girl dog and good friend) on our walks it is impossible not to enjoy it.

    The man from Washington DC says my neighbors plants will make me crazy… who knows, but maybe that is why I enjoyed writing an entire book in my mind of just headlines that tell a story of our federal government for whom this white man works. I sure enjoy summer.

    From Oregon on this holiday weekend, I hold aloft a burning symbol of the very reason our Constitutional Republic reserved our individual rights to the State in which we live! I toast and salute each one of you; fellow veterans of the United States of America military service, THANK YOU!!! (and this bud’s for you.)

  37. To All,
    This morning, while watching two utube videos, I ran across something y’all might be interested in.

    I don’t believe a lot of people, especially PATRIOTS, know how deep the corruption actually goes within our government and/or civilian corporations. This would also include the Veterans Administration!

    There’s substantial proof of “censorship” by the Main Stream Medias no one wants to address! Or, how our government agencies are involved in massive corruption and cover-ups. Causing MSM’s to stay silent over these many issues!

    Also, there’s substantial proof of pedophilia going on by those in high places! Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile, for one! Who is ‘connected’ to many in high places! Congressional persons and Corporate persons!

    Then there’s Debbie Wasermann Shultz (D-Fl.) “threatening the Chief of Capital Police over a laptop used by the Awan brothers (five days ago)!” They used it, allegedly, to send and receive classified information to sources outside of America! Some are or could be enemies of our country!
    She’s trying real hard to get that laptop back! Maybe she’s under investigation over something connected to the laptop?
    She’s also one of the members of the “appropriations committee” that funds the D.C. Police!

    So, if y’all are interested, here’s the source –
    From;
    “Think About It”
    Dated:
    May 26, 2017
    Titled:

    “America Is In A Civil War And Deep Crisis”

    (It’s 18:34 minutes long)
    Remember, it’s “Censorship At Its Finest!”

    1. Loved the vid especially the part where they were showing Wasermann threating the Chief of the Capital Police force. It is like some little tiny bully poking a bear with a stick.

      1. For anyone interested great coverage of the Wasserman story as it is unfolding by Luke Rosiak at the Daily Caller. He has done some excellent reporting on Veterans Matters and is a reliable source for information.

        “Wasserman Schultz Threatened Police Chief For Gathering Evidence On Her IT Staffer’s Alleged Crimes [VIDEO]”

        “Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz threatened the chief of the U.S. Capitol Police with “consequences” for holding equipment that she says belongs to her in order to build a criminal case against a Pakistani staffer suspected of massive cybersecurity breaches involving funneling sensitive congressional data offsite.”

        “A federal employee with knowledge of the situation and who requested anonymity told The Daily Caller News Foundation’s Investigative Group that as House authorities closed in on Imran Awan and his brothers, a laptop used by Imran was hidden in an unused crevice of the Rayburn House Office Building. Wasserman Schultz’s office is in Longworth House Office Building, a separate structure.

        The laptop was later found by Capitol Police and seized because it was relevant to the criminal investigation, the source said.

        The investigation is examining members’ data leaving the network and how Awan managed to get Members to place three relatives and a friend into largely no-show positions on their payrolls, billing $4 million since 2010. (RELATED: Suspects Could Read Every Email Congressmen Sent And Received)”

        “Though on the surface Wasserman Schultz would have been a victim of Awan’s scam, she has inexplicably protected him, circumventing the network ban by re-titling him as an “adviser” instead of technology administrator.

        Politico described him and his wife, Hina Alvi, as having a “friendly personal relationship” with both Wasserman Schultz and Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York.

        That baffled a Democratic IT staffer, who said “I can’t imagine why she’d be that good of friends with a technology provider.”

        “Usually if someone does bad stuff, an office is going to distance themselves” rather than incur political fallout for a mere staffer, he added. (RELATED: House IT Aides Fear Suspects Are Blackmailing Members With Their Own Data)

        Wasserman Schultz resigned as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 2016 after Wikileaks published thousands of internal emails obtained by an as-yet unidentified hacker.”

        Full article at: “https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/24/wasserman-schultz-threatened-police-chief-for-gathering-evidence-on-her-it-staffers-alleged-crimes/”

        It is interesting to note that the person under investigation had access to at least 12 Congressmen and Congresswomen. There is a lot more to this story. See the suspect has fled back to Pakistan to his old job with that country’s intelligence agency. That little out of the way nuke capable frienimy of ours that was hiding the Boggieman Osama.

        For more on the subject:

        “House IT Aides Fear Suspects In Hill Breach Are Blackmailing Members With Their Own Data”
        Luke Rosiak Investigative Reporter at the Daily Caller
        9:30 PM 05/21/2017
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/21/house-it-aides-fear-suspects-in-hill-breach-are-blackmailing-members-with-their-own-data/”

        Read the rest:
        A Continuing DCNF Investigative Group Series

        “House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs Committee Members Compromised By Rogue IT Staff”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/02/04/exclusive-house-intelligence-it-staffers-fired-in-computer-security-probe/”

        “Brothers Had Massive Debts, Years Of Suspicious Activity”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/02/07/congress-it-probe-suspects-had-massive-debts-years-of-suspicious-activity/”

        “Secretly Took $100K In Iraqi Money”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/02/20/exclusive-house-dem-it-guys-in-security-probe-secretly-took-100k-in-iraqi-money/”

        “Owed Money To Hezbollah-Connected Fugitive”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/02/21/congressional-computer-admins-in-criminal-probe-owed-money-to-hezbollah-connected-fugitive/”

        “Received $4 Million From Dem Reps”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/01/pakistani-suspects-in-house-it-probe-received-4-million-from-dem-reps/”

        “Allegedly Kept Stepmom In ‘Captivity’ To Access Offshore Cash”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/08/house-staffers-in-security-probe-allegedly-kept-stepmom-in-captivity-to-access-offshore-cash/”

        “Also Had Access To DNC Emails”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/09/suspect-in-house-it-security-probe-also-had-access-to-dnc-emails/”

        “Could Read Every Email Dozens Of Congressmen Sent And Received”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/13/house-hacking-suspects-could-read-every-email-dozens-of-congressmen-sent-and-received/”

        “Paul Ryan: Capitol Police Getting ‘Assistance’ On Criminal Investigation”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/15/paul-ryan-house-it-scandal-probe-getting-outside-help/”

        “Read the Court Docs Detailing Greed, Ruthlessness of Democratic IT Guy”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/04/30/stepmom-says-house-it-scandal-figure-threatened-kidnappings-of-pakistani-kin/”

        “House IT Aides Fear Suspects In Hill Breach Are Blackmailing Members With Their Own Data”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/21/house-it-aides-fear-suspects-in-hill-breach-are-blackmailing-members-with-their-own-data/”

        “Suspect Has Fled To Pakistan, Relative Says”
        “https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/22/sources-democratic-aide-suspected-of-major-security-breach-under-government-protection-in-pakistan/”

      2. Seymore, I’ve read several of those articles and it is absolutely shocking what happened.

        It makes me think little Debbie was blackmailed early on, and was made to suggest to other Democrats in congress that they should hire these guys.

        If I recall correctly, Debbie was the first to hire these guys, then shortly after they started working for a few other offices, then even more as time went on.

        If you look at the other offices that used these guys, you see several that were involved with intelligence committees or other kinds of security committees.

        I always wondered why Jackie Speier left congress at such a young age.

        In my opinion this is a massive national security threat, and should be investigated as such.

        Instead, the Capitol Police are on it.

      3. 91Veteran,

        I do know what you mean this isn’t some groundless Russian probe.

        When you look at the names that were on the House Intelligence committee that Pakistani Intelligence. I mean they had access to not only their emails but all of their records stored on the system. Both Republican and Democrat. Some of the biggest swamp creatures.

        Names like:

        Chuck Schumer
        John McCain
        Jack Reed
        Mitch McConnell
        Dianne Feinstein
        Marco Rubio
        And at least 10 others and they are all now compromised. That is just off the House Intelligence committee. This is surely a major size butt plug about to be pulled to help drain the swamp.

        In regards to the Capitol Police handling the investigation. Who at the FBI could someone trust. This investigation has been ongoing since early February. Clearly firing James Comey is connected and he had demonstrated he was not trustworthy enough to handle this investigation.

        Also his current acting replacement Andrew McCabe and his handling of the Clinton Emails case shows he can not be trusted.

        Also you can now see why the Dems have been trying to raise a shit storm about Trump and Russia. A great number of Dems have also been compromised and will need to be replaced.

    2. Elf, have to wonder when they will be holding the special elections to replace all the compromised Congressmen and Congresswomen.

      1. There should be a master drain plug in the bottom of the D.C. Swamp but only problem is a good share of them had more than their share at all the expensive, high-end dining from lobbyists and the like and may plug-up the drain to do the job.

        I suggest we give a laptop to Wasserman-Shultz that has some C4 in it and blow that drain wide open. Pretty sure she should fit in the orifice/anus of the swamp.

      2. Namnibor,

        Given this is all been breaking while Trump has been out of the country and it is now being release on a Friday as he is returning. Don’t think they will need the C4.

        Although if you are in politics and work in Washington DC. Be sure to bring your umbrella this weather man is call for heavy signs of continuous shit storms on the horizon.

      3. Seymore Klearly,

        We of course need to counter those shit storms with Dennis’ Oregonian Poop Canons. With heavier, constipated form-factor ammo….poop canons with chunks.

      4. My wife and I love your moniker, “See more clearly” unfortunately those who are in power will not Seymore Klearly; Thus it is up to us to clear the way and elect some
        clear headed folks.
        I like the plan that ‘disgruntled vet’ has come up with and we need to go forward united; and insist on these remedies.
        We are like a kid who tries out for the football team but doesn/’t realize his own strength. We veterans are the largest bloc of voters in the U.S.
        The DAV, AMVETS, VFW, American Legion, and all of the other organizations need to get on board, even though it is to their advantage that we do not solve the problems in the VA. (If your leg heals, you don’t need your crutch any more)
        Hey Guys and Girls, Happy Memorial Day, let’s move these insane McCains out, Hang Soros and the Junior Soros’ boys and take their ill gotten funds.
        Kick Debbie Wasserman Shultz in the and throw her and Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the vultures out, out, out, into space without oxygen or into the depths of the deepest ocean. Semper Fi. These slugs must be told not to B.S. the guys and gals who built the Sh _ thouse…………………………..
        When I think back to that POS who told me I wasn’t qualified to be an “adjudicator” even with my law degree I wish I had run her out of the VA and gotten the job….
        Oh yeah, I would have been a great adjudicator, watching the “Government’s Money”
        Oh yeah, give me that file of that vet , let’s see, hey my trusty assistant, Mort, Did he serve, was he injured? Yes sir, Flotmorton, o.k. stamp this file APPROVED FOR COMPENSATION..
        Next file, please Mort…………………….
        Debbie Wasserman shulz, Hillary , Abedin, and the crowd, you too Nancy, round em up and send ’em to Altratraz, put em on a ship to nowhere that never docks at any port. (Man without a country he wised up way too late and so will they, but it will be too late. Keep ’em locked and loaded and our heads clear, we are the studs, they are the duds.
        Now I don’t care what your politics are, just don’t come up into my face with a mask and tell me I can’t express my own views.
        What do you think would happen in Berkely or Portland if the black clad thugs with the masks rushed the old folks demonstrating peacefully for Pres. Trump, and they grabbed the red “Make America Great Again” baseball hats off of the grey haired folks and WHOOPS, the grey hair came off too, (just wigs) and they were introduced to an orgaqnized group of former Navy Seals, Spec. Ops Marines, 101st Airborne folks. Stack ’em up and load up the ambulances, after you “Book ’em, Dano”.
        Suppose those thugs who falsely imprisoned the Professor at that “college” called Evergreen and the majority of students were vets who wanted the Prof to continue his lectures?? WHOOPS! Tell ’em Gomer: Surprise, Surprise, get the hose and wash the floor of what’s left of them. IT IS VERY CLEAR, thugs YOU SPEAK FOR YOURSELVES BUT YOU DON’T SPEAK OR ACT FOR ME. (When your broken bones heal you may behave yourselves……. and don’t think of upping the ante, cuz we’re the “man”

  38. (Off – Topic) @ANutterVet @cj @Ex va – – – Mama came home from hospital. Fluid restricted diet, and more follow-up appointments scheduled next week.

    We got a lot of things to do over the next thirty days, will be around when can – – – but not going to spend hours daily reading e-mails from this blog. Will comment on our status from time to time, as can. Going to follow every new post Ben makes though. Need to stay as informed as I possibly can.

    @ ALL READERS – – – I hope everyone has a good Memorial Day Weekend. Do Not overdue it. Stay sane. Stay safe.

  39. From: VA National Headquarters
    To: VA talent recuiters
    For: National distribution

    This memo of understanding outlines VA’s newest strategy in our search for new talent which has now been formally integrated into the VA DDPS system validation strategy. In particular this methodology is believed to be able to shore up VA expertise and recruit the talent from available VA applicants while realigning the culture at VA with more modern standards.

    In order to streamline the hiring process, the DDPS committee responsible for procurring quality employees must now apply the following test question to all applicants. There is now just one test question. The following test question is deemed appropriate for the entire range of VA employment and is required of all english speaking applicants;

    “What is two plus two?”

    a) Two
    b) Three
    c) Five
    d) Mine

    Applicants answering “a” qualify for jobs involving the payment of non VA providers, and additionally for VBA claims adjucators.
    Applicants answering b” qualify for jobs in the patient services area, and Public Relations
    Applicants answering “c” qualify to process veterans co-pays and veteran payments for care, as well as positions regarding the timely payments of bonuses awarded for job performance at VA.
    Applicants answering “d” will be reffered to the Senior Executive Service coordinator for VA for inclusion into the upper VA financial management team.

    Note that it is VA policy to encourage truthful responses, and VA applicants will now undergo DDPS validation to confirm eligibilty for employment. The DDPS system used to confirm applicant eligibility for employment (Double Dog Pinky Swear) has been undergoing overhaul since OIG reported potential abuses within the system starting as early as March 1971. OIG also uses its own DDPS validation for data it reports to Congress, and the program is currently realigning the OIG DDPS system with the overall strategy to realign VA culture to meet the every changing demands of veteran care and official time.

    VA recruiters must now inform applicants of the brand new higher standards (now required since 1971) of the new national rollout of the DDPS system.

    Distibution: National.

    1. @Dennis – – – Funny, FUNNY, serious shit. Hope you have a good Memorial Day Weekend.

      1. @Disgruntled Veteran, @cj, how you gentlemen doing this evening. LOL!!!

        @Disgruntled Veteran, how is your wife doing? I hope she is doing better.

    2. @Dennis- That is truly humorous. “The Art of The Steal”, rather than Trump’s “Art of The Deal”….VA Style. Made my morning.

    3. From: VA Headquarters
      To: VA Talent Recruiters
      Subject: Write in answers on DDPS validation test

      It has recently come to the attention of The Committee that some job applicants are writing in a answer of “four” at the bottom of the all inclusive agency employment test question required now prior to DDPS cerification. It has been verified by VA OIG that these forms wih the write in answers disrupt the computer from correctly scoring and placing the appicants. This interuption of computer time disrupts the delivery of a quality healthcare product within the VA healthcare system and cannot be tolerated – the answer of “four” also violates labor clauses that VA has negotiated with our trusted labor partners, disrupting official time.

      Therefor, write in answers of “four” should be immediately reported to the facility Disruptive Behavior Committee for action when the official time is not so impaired.

      *** For IMMEDIATE action (not normal speed VA action) ***

      Richard Wad, Phd, DDPS Committee
      VA, National HQ

  40. I must be missing something! What has the VA done that doesn’t require multiple fixes or replacement?

  41. Benjamin, remember when the Democrats and Republicans confirmed Secretary David Shulkin 100-0 and you put his picture on the top of the page of your news article, well, he looked evil in that picture of himself. Well, Benjamin, where are the Secretary’s horns? Is he about to start growing them? How about his tail? And his pitch fork???
    All points to evil.


    1. ────────────▐▌────▐▌
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  42. ¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪̀●́)=o/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿̿

  43. Yeah, The SKUNK shulkin has to go. I don’t know where or how he got that 6 billion dollar figure budget surplus. Perhaps the little back room deal he had with orange man he was already thinking about getting his greedy little skunk paws on that 18 billion dollar TDIU money!

  44. AGAIN, the VA cannot be fixed it is broken beyond repair, shut it down and let a private company distribute benefits, let vets go to 5 star docs and let private attorneys adjudicate the compensation and pensions .

    SHUT IT DOWN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT CANNOT BE FIXED, IT IS SO STINKING BAD…….

    1. @Flotmorton P. Gildersleeve – – – Sorry. Respectfully disagree. The VA CAN be fixed. Here is the General Brief on how to “get ‘er done”. I do have a detailed OPS Plan.

      FIX THE DAMN BROKEN VA:

      1. Recognize the problems inherent in the VA are SYSTEM-WIDE, not just limited to a few locations.

      2. Fire all the Lazy No Good Workers. Fire EVERY single AFGE/SES Employee.

      3. Sell off all the VA facilities. Alternatively, they may be converted into housing for homeless veterans.

      4. Issue all veterans a card that allows them to choose their own doctors within their community that they can TRUST.

      5. The United States Government will PAY those doctors promptly (Within 45 days) for the care they provide veterans.

      6. ELIMINATE the “Federal Protection” Umbrella for incompetent QUACKS that the VA sends to other states to practice other than their own. Going to practice in Hawaii? You need to be LICENSED in Hawaii. Same applies to all other states.

      7. Any claim a veteran submits that requires more than 90 days to adjudicate, is automatically found to be in favor of the veteran. If a claim filed by a veteran is found to be a false one designed to scam the system, the VA will have to prove in civil court that a false claim was intentionally submitted.

      8. All veterans will be allowed to seek/retain the services of a Veterans Rights Attorney from their first initial contact with the VA.

      POTUS Reagan broke up PATCO in the ’80’s. POTUS Trump and our current Congress Critters do NOT have Veterans Interests at heart. Perhaps their replacements will. VOTE OUT all these WORTHLESS INCUMBENTS. Give their replacement’s one term to take care of the Veterans. If they cannot muster the stones to do it properly – – – vote their worthless asses out as well.

      NO Combat Veteran should be surprised when the next McVeigh Incident occurs. Bound to happen.

      1. Hey that’s what I call a “fix”…….. Just what I was gunning for, Amen, Brother, the 90 days doesn’t have to happen, just schedule and immediate hearing on the record and make sure that officials will be culpable for any false statements which they make. Hold ’em culpable for felony perjury, and conspiracy to violate the VA regulations, etc.etc. Hello Air Wing commence dripping where the smoke is, artillery fire at will, fix bayonets,
        no prisoners, high diddle diddle right up the middle………………………..

      2. @Flotmorton P. Gildersleeve – – – I have been espousing this “General Plan” for approximately six months now. The General Plan has given me some time to work out quite a finely detailed “shooter level” plan. Taking a short break to clear my head, then a day or two for final review and refinement. Once that done, will place it on the White House site to see if it will garner enough signatures to get an answer. May also try change.org – – – to see what kind of response I get.

        No doubt. SOMETHING needs to be DONE.

        Semper Fi, Sir.

        Disgruntled Veteran
        C/S: Scorchmonster
        1973 – 1976 USMC
        1978 – 1993 USN

      3. @cj, i had rain all night it finally let up. Lol. Sorry missed you tonight or this morning i should say.

  45. HAY YOU WHO THINK THIS IS A BAD THING IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME AND YOU THINK THE ROBBER WILL STOP THE ROBBER FROM TAKING WHAT THEY WANT, JUST THINK BILLIONS OF OUR DOLLARS HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THOSE ASS HOLES WHO NOW WANT MORE FOR GIVING LESS TO US WHO NEED IT. I JUST READ THE LAW TO GIVE US AN INCREASE ON OUR MONEY ( COLA ) WELL BE READY TO NOT GET ONE AS THEY TIED IT TO SOC. SEC. AGAIN IF THEY GET ONE WE DO TO WELL FUCK THEM THEY WHO MAKE LAW SHOULD LIVE BY THE LAW. I AM A 100% DAV AND WORKED VERY HAVE TO GET THAT AND NOW FIND MYSELF ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LADDER OF THE MONEY BUT THOSE WHO CONTROL THE MONEY GET TO BE MILLIONERS AND GIVE 160 BILLION TO THE VA WHO CAN’T TELL ANYONE WHERE IT IS GOING IT MAKES SO GLAD I AND MANY OF YOU LIVE LIKE I DO ( LIVING ON THE TRASH WE ARE GIVEN WHILE THOSE LIVE HIGH ON THE HOGG AND STEAL FROM US SO THEY CAN LAUGHT AT US AT THE .003% RAISE WE ARE GIVEN AND SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH ) FUCK THEM AND WHAT THEY PATT ON THEIR OWN BACKS FOR DOING. NOW IF WE WHERE GIVEN THE MONEY THEY STOLE AND ONCE WE COULD DO MORE HAVE MORE AND DO FOR OURSELVES WITH MONEY GIVEN BACK TO THEM AND ALL OF US.

  46. Bullshit Smokescreen of self-inflicted eyes wide-opened-closed. That same concept the DoD and pentagon got exposed on many many moons ago where a toilet seat or whatever widget is allocated an insanely huge amount of $$$ and by the gross squared, adds-up really fast but on the surface, it just looks like a hell of a lot of widgets and toilet seats…for black ops and other projects….so goes the VA….except, it’s more than likely going to be found in a future audit, all the AFGE pocket.

    By design obscured and this is probably the reason why there’s also no consistency from VA Network/VAMC, and seem to all be on their own systems in their ratty network.

    But wait a minute…what about IBM Watson and that huge amount IT $$$$$$$$$ already funneling into the black hole? They need MORE?

    No, they need fired.

    From a canon.

    Because the VA is a freaking circus clown canon act. Pearls to swine, the VA and $$$.

    Rant Out.

    (Happy Memorial Weekend, now get off my lawn)

  47. I forgot to add to my comment above…if they are this sloppy with IT security with their financial systems, does anyone think they are more secure with their patient records systems?

    Uh…it’s the same IT people running the same systems, all directed by their CIO…if they have one.

    1. Hell, what about the amount of surgical tools, supplies, maybe a cigarette butt or even a cockroack from the VA table are left inside Veterans under the VA’s knife in their sloppiness? How many times have we read VA stories where they get caught not properly sterilizing and sanitizing? Sloppy kitchens and buildings are usually gift-wrapped in cockroaches’ as well.

    2. As far as the money flow in the VA, the flow of the money can be tracked over a period of time. It would have to be performed from external remote tracking of their internal systems without the VA being aware of the monitoring. Just like they monitor everything else. Why not monitor the flow of money in the VA from an external position and from a remote accessed terminal? Benjamin, our DOJ could use some of these computer hacks to trail behind the VA. The computer hack named Kim.com – the New Zealand computer hack who was working with the former DNC staffer who was supposedly murdered due to exposing Democrat email information to Wiki Leaks could be hired to expose the financial data in the VA just like the DNC emails were exposed to Wiki Leaks. As far as Shulkin cutting VA compensation, folks this is the rationing of care. SAD.This is the type of respect that is given to our elderly veterans which is total disregard for them and a total write off of them. What a disgraceful attitude towards our elderly veterans. Mark Zuckerberg the Facebook CEO is touting for a basic universal income for everyone. Why doesn’t he just send everyone a check off the top of his fortune instead of using the other taxpayer money to fund a proposed idea?
      And too, Dr. Ben Carson’s
      take on poverty is correct. Zuckerberg’s model is off kiltered period. Zuckerberg is dead wrong with his assertions. Dr. Ben Carson is correct about his take on poverty. Zuckerberg is all about Socialism and Communism. His attitude is deceptive like an adult bribing a kid with a promise of a piece of candy to the kid. Zuckerburg and Hillary Clinton are both about deceiving the American people into the Socialist and Communist
      imprisonments.

  48. I dunno, this just makes me suspicious. Are their processes bad because of incompetence? Or by design to hide corruption. On the other hand, is this a setup before the VA asks for more money? Or as an excuse to award another huge contract? After news of so many multi-million dollar contracts being let over the past couple years, along with a worthless phone app, why are their controls so pathetic at this point?

    Why is it if a veteran owes the VA a penny, they can track that down and withhold it from the veteran in a minute, but these bozos can’t track much larger amounts?

    Now, by the numbers:

    The configuration management management weakness means either their systems are inconsistently configured, or they are not configured properly with proper access controls. Essentially, they are saying some systems have weak security, maybe only requiring a simple password, while others require a 12 character password, or others require they log in with their PIV identification card, or they have systems without any password requirement at all. Untimely patching of security means they are not running Windows updates on their Windows systems, or updating any other systems they have that have known security holes. Access controls simply means what I described above about passwords. Security management simply means they have systems without proper permissions settings, so they are essentially wide open to any user accessing the system.

    All of this regarding their IT security on financial systems suggests just about anyone can access them and change whatever numbers they want, without proper tracking.

    The Community Care paragraph says they are overstating costs compared to what they are paying out which suggests it’s a slush fund, or has little oversight in how the funding is spent. Is it any wonder they cannot pay providers on time? Is it any wonder they suddenly found they had almost $2 billion in the Choice program that would have been unspent if Congress hadn’t extended the program?

    The paragraph on Financial Reporting suggests they are just making shit up, and when the numbers don’t jive, they just make a “journal voucher”.

    Maybe I am stupid for assuming the VA has a Chief Financial Officer, but the paragraph on education benefits suggests it doesn’t matter if they do or not, they are incompetent.

    The paragraph on the control environment and actuarials suggests they are way underestimating what they have liability for. Has this been the reason the VA is scrambling at reducing ratings?

    The paragraph on CFO’s is interesting. The VA has multiple CFO’s throughout the agency, yet they have such sloppy accounting? I get the sense multiple CFO’s are too arrogant to talk to other CFO’s within the same agency.

    Bottom line? You better not try get away with travel fraud! Oh, and if you have insurance? You should just rest assured the VA is accurate in calculating that either your insurance should be billed, or that ER visit you had should not be paid for, because the VA knows how to count and stuff.

    1. 91Veteran, you really made some insightful points that does lead to suspecting that all this could be for sure corruption. The point that was made about how the VA, if they choose to, can track a vet in a heartbeat with anything about anything. Benjamin, could the VA have a system that is not exposed to the auditors? And yes, too, as for passwords, this is correct they require 10 million long character passwords even with special characters. Remember, Benjamin, the VA is all about deceit and sabatoge anyway. The VA may not be revealing all information when the IG even comes to audit. This really makes no sense but something is going on. They present 2 different sides of the Isle.
      Maybe Trump could create a task force of forensic accountants and forensic actuaries to get into the VA financial system to audit. Many questions????? need to be investigated to find some real answers.

      1. And, too, I almost believe everything that is going on in the VA is by design. Benjamin, remember how you added the CIA manuals in your past news articles. The deceit and sabatoge principles. Benjamin, honestly, I really believe the money is being funneled to a hidden entity but to who, which, and where???? I do not believe it is due to incompetence because they can be very detailed when they want to be. So Benjamin, what is the deal? All Intentional. 100% Corruption. The Banana Republic VA. DOJ needs to hire a task force of forensic actuaries and forensic accountants to go through the financial system in the VA.
        And, too, many of these University campuses are full of Leftists Liberal Democrat spoil brat type students. There is tremendous unrest and corruption everywhere in this country. Pathetic.

  49. Well, Benjamin, and all, this is nothing new. Already aware that financial accountability does not exist in the VA. No frugality at all even exists in the VA. No wonder their request for money or need for money is to infinity. Lord help them Benjamin. All of the VA leadership types need to go to prison. President Trump needs to appoint a task force of actuaries to go work day and night without any time off at all until the VA’s financial system is cleaned up to the last damn penny. The government is going to collapse if they do not get a grip. Just like some of the government officials are not even concerned about North Korea and our power grid. All the government cares about is wallowing in fake propaganda conspiracy theories and bullshit instead solving real issues in this country. I tell you what if they do not get on board with North Korea and the potential possibility of them knocking out our power grid, hey, their pockets will for sure be no longer lined with taxpayer dollars. I guess then they will no longer be able to remain as hypocrits behind their walls. Benjamin, like I have said over and over again, these government iditics take everything for granted. The reality of it is what is here today could be gone with a snap of a finger tomorrow. They had better wise up.

    1. Angela …….The government is going to collapse if they do not get a grip…..thats there plan anyways, you have to collapse the old to bring in the NEW WORLD ORDER

  50. Explains why veterans are being denied their disability claim.

    Hit this button, hit that button and then hit them again and whala I just put $$$$$$ into my secret bank account.

    Wait that was not enough one more time $$$$$$$ there that should last me the weekend.

    Again who is being held accountable. ! I know it was not me. ! It’s always not me. !

    Not me should be so old he’s should be dust by now. Maybe it’s his extended relative’s or adopted Not ME.

    Why use the word Bad. ! Why not just tell the attorney general to get the FBI involved.

    They VA calls the FBI on so called disruptive Veteran’s.

    Some thing is really wrong and someone is siphoning off this money. Of course it’s hard to track the money.

    Who has access to these funds.? A lot. !

    How about an I T worker and another employee, employees work together and funnel the veterans money to their or friends bank accounts.

    Not me. ! Must be arrested. ! Or bumped off before he has children.

    Even if someone was caught, all they have to say is I plead the 5th end of story or they can say you can’t fire me, because you did not punish my boss who taught me.

    The Secretary has the authority to fire employees, or have them arrested and he should just do it.

    To much money diverted in one way or the other. Time to pay up !

    1. Hey, James, Seymore and all other PATRIOTS of America:

      How about those Awan brothers, “IT Specialists” hired by Debbie Wasermann Shultz (D-Fl.), who ripped off taxpayers for $4 million in four years. Now she’s caught redhanded “…threatening the Chief of Capital police over her laptop!”
      Where she let the Awan brothers use it to send and receive classified information to foreign (enemy) countries! She’s the bitch slut whore who rigged the DNC against Sanders during the campaign! And is “very close to Hillary Clinton” – “The Butcher of Bengahzi”!

      This bullshit from “Shithead Shulkin” is just another stall tactic to rip off more money from the taxpayers! He knows full well of all the criminal activities committed by VA employees! Because he’s part of the crimes!
      Our FBI and DOJ needs to convene a Grand Jury and indict all these asswipes asap!

      Just as giving VA $19 million to design a freaking “computer app”! That’s bullshit!
      Especially when VHA’s are caught nationwide killing veterans, feeding veterans cockroach stew, letting veterans rot and body bags explode etc., etc., etc.!

      FUCK THE VA, AND FUCK SHITHEAD SHULKIN! They’re all a bunch of punk asswipes!
      Yea, in a fucking mood tonight! PTSD kicking in on all this crap no one want to stop!

      1. WHY DIDN’T THEY HIRE SOME GOOD OLE US BOYS, VETS WHO WERE EDUCATED VIA THEIR MILITARY EXPERIENCE instead of theswe Pakistani spies??????????
        Debbie Wasserman Shitz is guilty of espionage without a doubt, I could convict her if I were a prosecutor and she had the great F.Lee Bailey and his group to defend her, She is guilty beyond any others who have been convicted of similar crimes.

  51. With all the holes in the VA pockets, it would really surprise me if they did a full complete audit of the VA and found that more than 1/3 of the money budgeted to the VA was used appropriately with the other 2/3 being lost out the illegal holes in the pockets.

    Your right Dennis, Shulkin needs to go!

    1. Seymore, do you think Apple or Google has these kinds of problems in tracking their budgets?

      Somehow I doubt they do since the CFO’s of those companies are likely answerable to someone, whereas those with oversight of the VA (Congress) are likely benefiting from the lack of accounting.

      1. I defiantly agree with you 91Veteran. If they had the same kind of problems tracking their budgets we would never have heard of Apple or Google. They would never have gotten their organizations up and running with the same kind of VA accounting system.

      2. Fricken spell checker. I meant to say “definitely” not defiantly.

        Sorry 91Veteran.

  52. I was listening to the House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing today talking to rat fink shulkin and most of the discussion was about more billions to be spent on their worthless IT. Shulkin or should I say Skunkin wants to cut TDIU to give more money to IT, Veterans Choice (which the VA sent me a Choice card but turned me down for Choice anyway) and money to provide emergency mental health care to guys with bad paper discharges. I can see what that is: Produce medical evidence to get a discharge upgrade. Skunk shulkin needs to go!

    1. I was watching a Veterans Affairs Committee hearing a couple of years ago, same IT bullshit that must be where they siphon the money through.

  53. Sweet “Bad VA Art, Ben! Read article as have time. Following.

  54. Great “Bad VA Art” Ben.
    Well, in my opinion, the VA has to do something to hide the money! How else can they rip off the American Taxpaying People in the tune of over $180 BILLION DOLLARS!
    They figured out how to give everyone tens of thousands of dollars each in the SES positions!
    So, with this new revelation coming out into the light, what will be done to stop the waste, fraud and abuse?

    1. off topic – I just opened up to a Ben article on Agent Orange with newly released – previously hidden information. Now it’s gone. Did I stumble/glitch into an old post?

      1. Check that – just found a 2013 article. Odd stuff. That article popped up on the home page with recent “Follow up prudent layperson” and “Elderly disabled under the bus” issues.

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