Is Trump Intentionally Pissing On Veterans Or Getting Bad Advice?

338 Comments

1. Hello Ben (and the rest of the Brothers and Sisters at Arms)
   Even though I am a NPA (Fanatic), I voted for Trump, on the Last elections, because I had no second choice! However, the 2020, elections are much closer from what you think (and from what Trump thinks)
   I am also part of the 84% of the veterans who believe that Jeff Miller was (is) the best solution to drain the VA swamp!
   I guess the problem will continue to exist for long, long, time (no “light in the tunnel”)
   MSG VAM

2. @naminbor/anuttervet Could you deal with the facts that i stated? or we got to hear about the childish names calling, Snowflake and talking about another mans asshole or trolls? Name calling will not stop me or any clear thinking person from being Critical of the Sociopath in charge. Maybe i may be asking too much from this Group.

3. I can’t find any reputable source for the term “snowflake” being used by Nazi guards anywhere. In fact the only place I see it is from Lem and J’s posts. Wait a minute…….Lem and J? Lemmon J. Wow, karma is as karma does.

4. My God, Trump has been in office 9 days….. and already we have idiots whining about what he hasn’t done yet. At this point no one can truly say if Trump will live up to his promises concerning veterans or not. Lets give the man some time to actually do something before you start whining. So far, from what I have seen him do he is living up to his promises. You may not like some of the executive orders, or some of the people he has appointed, but he is living up to his promises in record speed. Remember… we could have had 4 more years of Barack Obama, in Hillary Clinton, and we darn sure didn’t need that…. so again, Give the man a chance….

   1. I’m with you for a year.

   2. Yes hes been in the office for 9 days and Put in a Goddam Hiring Freeze, Which will have a DIRECT EFFECT ON THE VA whom has or having Staffing issues for years. Yea hes showing and signing off on sooo many executive orders which are likely not legal (ex. blocking of the visas by a judge). Since Majority of them will have to be Voted in the House/Senate anyway so what did he do as a typical TV star? Put on a Goddam Show….Dont need to wait a year to see thru Bullshit do ya? Some of us can see thru the BS in advance ok….

      1. You are “seeing through the bullshit” because your heads are so far up the VSO asses your eyes are caked with it. How does it feel to be a human suppository?

         All I know is it smells like troll of the snowflake clan.

      2. @Namnibor – Your right Brother Namnibor. Anatomically speaking though, the other possible way that they can “see through the bullshit,” is if they’re past the rectum [poo muscular mechanical area], then going around in a counter clockwise direction [determined by facing forward] into the descending-, transverse-, and ascending- colon, then pushing to sprout up their peeping trolling heads into the beginning of the small intestines. Their eyes are covered with older chyme [food that has been broken down before it becomes poo. Chime right on in.

      3. Not great timing. Made sweet potato pie today and after reading your post, it suddenly occurred to me the consistency and appearance was that of “seeing through the bullshit” shade of sweet potato pie. I am still eating the damn pie. Just thought the timing was interesting of your reply. 🙂 Sweet Poo Pie. 🙂

5. What is a Snowflake?- My comment in response to Lem- Brother, again, dam semantics. You were the one who brought up to others on this blog, what you thought they meant when they coined the name “snowflake.” Did you ask them to clarify what they meant by saying “snowflake?” No.

   You put out a definition in which didn’t coincide in what was meant when the word was used. In other words, a different meaning, therefore semantics. When I first came across the term, those who used “snowflake,” were and are referring to how a person’s thinks. What they may mean is “snowflake = flake. Drop the snow. A state of a persons thinking on a particular subject matter at the time being. No offense taken. Good thing we got that cleared up. Lem, lets move on.

6. I almost forgot, don’t forget to watch the video, it is soooooooooo inspiring.

7. @J, VAISLYING INC, MK, John Cokos, Dan Martinez, Pissed, Rosebud.

   After going back and reading the pure hate you spew, I take back any nice thought I ever had. However, I am not without compassion, so after a long and careful introverted assessment, of what would be the most humane contribution I could make to your cause. I searched high, I searched low, I searched N,S.E.and W, of the Mississippi, and I have found you a new promised land. A place where like minded people can go to congregate. I hope your pleased as puddin with your new home. So, without further ado, I present to you: “https://savethesnowflakes.org/” Enjoy, frolic through the forest, catch a moonbeam, blow some dandelions and watch them soar, don’t worry…..be happy.

   1. @ cj, i just wanted to thank you for the link, it was so moving and inspiring, a glimpse of what problems some of our younger generation, “the snowflake generation”, is experiencing in their lives of not getting their own way. ROFL!!!! You nailed it!!! I am experiencing some difficulty right now as well, i can’t stop laughing!!!!! Thank you again.

      1. @Ex va – I see that cj got those endorphins going for ya. Thanks cj for giving our Brother a needed lift. Our goal is for more good days than the other type.

   2. @cj – Its 4:40am and thanks for the link. I saved it in my favorites folder along with Ben’s WP sign up link. I’ll keep it on hand when I need it for a reminder as a link. Good timing. Really funny. Thanks for the boost.

      1. @Ex Va and ANutterVet:
         Your quite welcome, sometimes laughter is the best medicine.

         I just don’t get it, over 350 million people in this country, and a handful of snowflakes, come on here, on a daily basis, and make it sound like it’s your fault personally that President Trump got elected. Either I am in the presence of some of the most powerful men and women, the world has ever seen, or a flock just flew over the coo coo’s nest. And the hate that they spew is unbelievable, I almost feel sorry for them. I don’t know if I should try to help them, or put them out of their misery. Truly stumped. I though I would never see the day, when veterans were at each others throats. Kinda makes me wish that whole Myan calendar deal was legit.

         Anyway, guys, I have been awake since Thursday, once I take my morning cocktail I am sure it will put me out for a couple of days. So the cycle continues. What a life!!

         On a side note, have you guys ever watched the documentary: Dick Cavett’s Vietnam? Sure was an eye opener, very interesting. I will post the link “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgtQIEZym2w” Most people would have a better understanding, of how we got to this point in history, by the bad decisions, made so long ago.

         “so life is just a game, and there is many ways to play, and all you do is choose’ : Life is Just a Game, Stanley Clarke, School Days album. Catch ya when I come out of the comma.

         P.S. Snowflakes, notice how my initials are in small cap’s? That’s because I know that in the grand scheme of things, I am noting but a piece of lint on a knats ass…….now that’s keepin it real.

      2. @ cj, hope you get some good rest. That is hard on the brain and body going that long without sleep. I know i do the same thing myself at times. My brain doesn’t want to shut down and pain aggravating my anxiety, it is a vicious cycle when i am on that mode. Thanks for the posting the links they were great. Sleep well.

   3. The Snowflakes would also be very happy in Teletubbies Land.

   4. Snowflake is a term used by Nazi guards to refer to the falling ash that was burning Jews. If that is OK with you, you are the worst kind of indifferent hateful fuck. I know this site is all about you and you could not care less if you help a single veteran. You are a hate blogger and any responsible Veteran’s Service Organization should denounce you.

      1. @J – Now you’re really acting like a flake. Take a breath, now slowly read CJ’s posts prior to the stupid shit that was posted afterwards. In the minds of individuals who post the word “snowflake,” they believe the word has a different meaning than white ashes falling during the Holocaust. Which in my opinion, should have never happened in the first place. Evil wickedness at its purest.

      2. @J, where is your evidence to support the term “snowflake” was used during that time frame in human history? I believe it was not and there is not any evidence during that evil timeframe in human history to support that the term was used in that manner.

         There is evidence to support the term in present day as this generation being too sensitive for views different than their own. Have you ever heard of the “Me” generation? How about the X, Y, or Z generation?

         During the time frame of WWII, in this country, they have been called the “greatest generation”, because this great nation sacrificed much to bring their much loved service men and women home. Churches, communities and the majority of the population volunteered, worked and donated everything they could to help this great nation to defeat the evil that was trying to take over the world.

      3. @Ex va – Exactly, different times, different meanings. Well stated. End of the snowflake definition as applied to this blog. Sorry lefties, get it right. I forgot, you can say the same. You see, I’ll even agree with you, and because I will not solely agree about snowflake only having one definition, you’ll fall down to the ground, kick you feet, scream, cry, and pout until you get your way. Well, with me your not. Issue closed.

      4. Including paying a fair share of taxes, some up to 70% on upper bracket earnings, unlike their greedy counterparts now that want to reach into the pockets of future generations to pay their fair share of the defense budget.

      5. @Ex va, @Namnibor, @91Veteran, @cj, @Lem – Here is a good example of the manipulation tactic. Ex va’s post was about the term “snowflake.” Your response isn’t even in the same realm. Point made. Mike up in air, drop, bang, off the stage because the show is over. Lem, Lem, Lem, . . .

      6. @ ANutterVet, agreed.

      7. @Ex va, @91Veteran, @Namnibor – I didn’t buy into Lem’s and J’s bullshit at the beginning. It is common sense to know that the meaning of words have changed from one generation to the next. We’ve been exposed to the attempts of leftist social engineering. And it will not be the last time.

         Leg lifts up, stream flows ——————-> onto pants.

      8. From my search, it’s clear Lem and J are pushing a lie based on an internet rumor.

         Interesting how they seemed so sure of themselves their comments bordered on calling others here Nazis and white supremacists.

         If they continue whining about anyone using the term snowflake, it is simply because they know it accurately describes them.

      9. I asked a neighbor that’s a daughter of a Holocaust Survivor, whom happens to be pretty up on History from that period because of all the events she volunteers for and organizations she is part of, about this presumed “Snowflake” term applied to that era and the Nazi Camps…she said…”I think you Vets are getting TROLLED” (she said it’s the first she has heard of that term used that way and she said it sounds like a disgruntled snowflake….I corrected her on the proper term of “Butthurt Snowflake”…)

         🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      10. @Namnibor – I never heard of this definition either. Frigging social engineering. Enough of your trolling shit Lem. There are better things to do. Now go ahead and accuse me of something, or tell me who I’m associated with. Scheming fucking manipulator. Fuck you. There are your types all over.

          You’ll fight more over a dam definition of a word, than you will for Veterans. Fuck off.

      11. Wholly carp, look at all this senseless turmoil over a fucking word that you all know damn well how it was meant when it was said. You can go to almost any political YouTube video and tell exactly how the word snowflake is used in its meaning. In fact, I provided a link to a site that leaves no question in anyone’s mind as to what is meant by the term “snowflake”. Since you do not like to be called a snowflake, simply because you have been outed for what you really are, a political leftist hack, you come up with a B.S. term in an effort to shame others in order to stop calling you a name, and you call us childish? You call people white racists fucks, and then get all butt hurt over the term snowfake? Want to know what the color of my skin is? pick a color you hate most, and I will be that color. I have an idea, why don’t we all try to get along. We conservative will agree to hug our elephants, and you Liberals can go kiss your ass.

          Time for my second cocktail and back to la la land, where the fucked up actually is starting to make sence.

      12. @cj — I just lost my sweet potato pie on that. Still laughing. Great reply.

      13. One more thing about the term “Snowflake” according to the left leaning Liberal site known as snopes: “https://www.snopes.com/snowflake-nazi-term-holocaust/” Your all fucking leftist liars, and the proof is in the pudding. MOMMMMMMMMMM he called me a snowwwwwwflakeeeeeee whaaaaaaaaa whaaaaaaaa whaaaaaaaa.

          I would say to all those lefty snowflakes that were looking for an appology, it would seem now, that it is YOU that need to do the appologizing. I won’t wait till hell freezes over for that, since lefties never admitt they are wrong, Isn’t that righty lefty?

          Once again all the Nastiest of the Nasty name calling comes from where? Oh yeah, the tolerant party of the left. So easy to debunk all the B.S.

      14. Same thing I found cj, but those suckered by a lie didn’t hesitate to get right in the gutter and start making racist comments.

      15. Snowflakes cannot have their pudding if they don’t eat their meat…that meat is a Choice Crow.

      16. @namnibor: I am soooo sorry bro, I hate the though of wasted sweet potato pie, I love that stuff. On another note, once again, you are very welcome. For veterans of all people to be called Nazi’s, and white racists fucks, and on and on, is sickening to say the least. I wonder if those lefties understand how Hitler was able to rise to power. That it was the immoral progressives that took over Berlin and turned it into a cesspool of immorality. So yes another case of the pot calling the kettle whatever color kettles are made out of today. I sure hope teapots still only have one spout, but ya never know these days.

      17. @91Veteran: I’ll tell you what, if the snowfakes think that Nazi, white fucking racist, uncle Tom, white supremist, etc is equal to snowflake. They have much bigger problems than any V.A. system is capable of taking care of. The kind of help they need is highly specialized, and NOT availabe at the V.A. Replying to all these comments are posting all over the place. Hard to keep up. Posting in the middle, the end, etc. Only reason I am not going to get angry and such, is because I never take political hacks seriously, they are out of their minds to begin with. So, don’t get angry, just sit back and have a little fun with the trolls.

      18. This is a hate blog posing as a Veteran’s Service Organization. There should be no political opinion here. There should be no trolls. It should be information to help vets. I’ve been watching this site for 6 years and the only time you have trouble with politics is when this site’s right-wing political hate mongers are clearly in the wrong as demonstrated here.

      19. @J: The only people I see here spewing their political opinions and hate is you and Lem. Everyone else is just responding to it in kind. If you do not like what you see then I suggest you look in the mirror, after all it was YOU who started calling others names, and spweing YOUR hate. This only looks like a hate blog to you because people don’t like hate mongers, and you J are a hate monger. Just about every single post I have seen from you is insulting another or alll veterans in one manner or another. So when you say as demonstrated here, what you really mean is demonstrated by you. Every other post after that was a response to what YOU stated. So get off your high horse you left wing nutjob, and stop acting like an asshole. Do you like asshole better than snowflake? or should I refer to you as just J the hack? You were also asked to provide a reputable source for your hate speach refering to snowflake is a Nazi term. You haven’t done so, yet here you continue with your outright hate instead. You, son, need help. The help you need is not the kind of help I can give any advice on. I don’t hang with or associate with racists of any kind. You will have to find a specialist that deals in that particular feild of study. Good luck with that.

      20. At least asshole doesn’t make fun of burning people alive; which you just don’t seem to get. You still can’t admit you have fucked up here. I am trying to help vets just as much as you are. I am not giving them bad information and bigotry that results in a worthless human like Trump becoming President. Your bad information, your inflated ego and your lies hurt and continue to hurt vets, and Jews, and anyone not white.

      21. @cj, @J, @91Veteran, @Namnibor, @Ex va, @Lem, @Dennis, @Disgruntled Veteran, @Seymore Klearly, @Crazy elf, @Rosebud- Words have different meanings to different people. And, these words can also have different meanings to those that are influenced by different generational time periods, politics, belief systems, and so forth. What one word means to another person, may not mean the same to another. Wait a second, let me finish.

          Calling someone a fucking white racist, or stating that they are included in the white supremacy segment, that unfortunately is in our society, is a stronger statement than being called a snowflake. Why, because in our current societal time period, the definition of a fucking white racist holds more weight than that of a snowflake.

          Before you go off, let me finish my point. For example, while I was off line, I spoke with a few friends. I asked each one, three [3] questions, but told them I only wanted an answer to the third question.

          I asked them, [1.] if I called you a fucking white racist, what comes to your mind, and [2.] if I called you a snowflake, what comes to your mind. Then the last question, the one I was more interested in hearing their answers was, [3.] which name would offend you more if I called you one of them, a fucking white racist or a snowflake? All of them answered being called a fucking white racist.

          I then asked them why they were not more offended if I called them a snowflake? The all said, that snowflake reminded them as a person who is a flake. One who lacks understanding. Whereas, being called a fucking white racist, was downright derogatory, demeaning, outright cruel and dirty, because the person was not a fucking white racist, nor did they belong or believed in the white supremacy movements belief system.

          That is the only way to objectively review the issue. And, if anyone has anything to add to this, please do so. But for me, the understanding of the issue is over. In this day and time, it is worse to be called a fucking white racist compared to a snowflake. Its as plain and simple as this.

          And, I’m not going any further with this. I know that I presented a sound and solid conclusion to this matter. Enough has been said already. Too many variables and other topics have been added to the mix. This has been the main contributor in making this an out of control and overbearing hot topic.

          My precious wife said, “move on,” this is way of the mark of making any logical sense. You Veterans have bigger battles to use your energy on. You should be helping Veterans in dire straights, with REAL problems that are negatively effecting their lives and their love ones.

          You know the VA is not totally there for us. Hopefully, one day we’ll see this change. And, I get it, its a tall order. But for now, lets help each other and those Veterans who need some ones ear and thoughtful suggestions. Remember, too many Veterans are taking their lives each day. As Veterans, let not this be on our shoulders.

      22. You haven’t presented a sound argument. You’ve shown you are a bigot incapable of admitting he is wrong. Just like Trump and the primary contributors to this hate blog pretending to help veterans.

      23. Damn J! Give it a rest for god’s sake. ENOUGH SAID. Put your dicks away.

      24. @Rosebud – I realize that people’s emotions can run high, when there is a stalemate in an argument [usually a healthy discussion], but is grounded and based on unscientific means. This is how this type of an argument will proceed.

          The individual that just has to win, no matter what, is unsuccessful in pointing out an area where they can offer a clear rebuttal, that relates to a lack of information or clarity thereof in an argument. Then if this tactic doesn’t work, they will use a strategy of intimidation methods to TRY 2 FORCE their unsounded points of view, by way of resorting to improper, degrading, derogatory, and demeaning name calling, and analogies that don’t relate or run in parallel or likeness.

          That’s why I refuse to participate any longer in arguing inappropriately about this topic. No offense, but by detracting the meaningless fluff, that is how I reached my deduction [conclusion] of this matter. Thanks for posting.

          And Rosebud you’re right, enough already. Another example of dirty scientific techniques, that reminds me of the VA.

      25. You were correct. When you Googled Nazi snowflake, the first site you get is one that explains that the term is an Internet rumor. It went on to explain that several experts in the field of the “final solution” never heard of this word used by the nazi guards

      26. @RoseBud – Actually, if I recall, I think “snowflake” was coined back around the 1860’s. But, the definition has been changed and accepted during our generation. This was the other point that I was trying to get the parties to understand. Words can have different meanings to different people during different generations. For a reasonable person, why is this so hard to understand? I don’t like dirty science, and grimy VA tactics.

      27. The statement comes from the movie, “Holocaust”. First in the scene a guard says to another, brushing ash off his shoulder, “snowflakes.” Then on herding Jews into the gas chamber, “more snowflakes”. Your call whether this is enough for my reaction as well as others. Whether it actually became a reference to Jews in the death camps other than in the movie, I have no information. But, clearly some white supremist imported it from the movie to the millennial generation. And it is inappropriate, even in that case, (that it is only the understanding of a veteran) to use it to refer to veterans who are more than 65 years old. The common usage of the term by some on this thread is out of line. For that matter any name calling by one veteran to another is out of line and I have been out of line in my name calling trying to get other’s to feel how it feels to be called a name by a comrade in arms. Takes you back to the term “gook” and brings out PTSD feelings.

      28. @cj, @Namnibor, @91Veteran, @Ex va, @RoseBud, @Benjamin Krause, JD – Are we going over the “snowflake” issue again? It has caused enough problems already. More important things to discuss. Due to the hot topic of this issue, the other day Ben banned J because things got out of hand. And, I already have all the dictionaries that I need.

          Rosebud wrote: “You were correct. When you Googled Nazi snowflake, the first site you get is one that explains that the term is an Internet rumor. It went on to explain that several experts in the field of the “final solution” never heard of this word used by the nazi guards”

          Then Rosebud responded again, after being justly frustrated, wrote to J: “Damn J! Give it a rest for god’s sake. ENOUGH SAID. Put your dicks away.”

          Lem you then commented to Rosebud: “The statement comes from the movie, “Holocaust”. First in the scene a guard says to another, brushing ash off his shoulder, “snowflakes.” Then on herding Jews into the gas chamber, “more snowflakes”. Your call whether this is enough for my reaction as well as others. Whether it actually became a reference to Jews in the death camps other than in the movie, I have no information. But, clearly some white supremist imported it from the movie to the millennial generation. And it is inappropriate, even in that case, (that it is only the understanding of a veteran) to use it to refer to veterans who are more than 65 years old. The common usage of the term by some on this thread is out of line. For that matter any name calling by one veteran to another is out of line and I have been out of line in my name calling trying to get other’s to feel how it feels to be called a name by a comrade in arms. Takes you back to the term “gook” and brings out PTSD feelings.”

          And, please don’t refer for me to buy the a new dictionary. If it means that much to you, I encourage to write a new dictionary in order to inform a lot more market share. Why, the market share seems not be on Ben’s blog, and that is fine. This is what defines market share. It doesn’t sell to everyone.

          For many others and myself, the issue closed. Causes way too much contention, and needs to stop here and now. Thanks Brother for your understanding. No need to reply.

      29. @J; Wanna take a guess at what fucking color I am asshole? YOUR the one that brought up Nazis, Nazis burn people alive, YOU fucked up and are the one that can’t admit it. YOU have no idea Who I voted for, and at the top of the list J is this………..now read it very carefully……………………I have never gave information OR onece provided any advice as to how ANYONE should vote. Once again, asshole it is YOU that injects politics and hate into this blog aka “worthless human like Trump” “anyone else not white” see J, your so blinded by your own bullshit, that you can’t even see that it is YOU, that is the racist, hateful, butthurt, egotistical, leftist bigot. Now fuck off, as I said earlier, I don’t hang with racist assholes. Get some help, yoiu need it. And before you say another fucking word, look at the very first vile post to this page. Who wrote it? OHHHHH it was J, What was the first post to this page?

          J January 27, 2017 at 3:40 am

          Feeling stupid yet? Do you have any excuse for the bad advice you’ve given vets about Trump?

          Well J? are you? you know ……….feeling stupid yet?

      30. You are a hate blog pretending to be a Veterans Service Organization. The only time the primary contributors have a problem with posting right-wing nutjob posts is when you are clearly embarrassed by the candidate and now President you endorsed. You are a chicken shit running away from past comments and support of the nut you put in The White House. You have misled and failed all vets that read this site. You give advice all the time; bad advice. I’ve been watching you for 6 years. I can’t believe how cowardly you refuse to own your mistake.

      31. Actually, J, they are of the “snowflake” generation that they want the term to apply to or they would have watched Holocaust. They are of the generation that has no sense of being wrong. Raised as latch key kids. Insisting the “new” use of the term is the only use of the term applied to humans ever and not realizing the alt right has made fools of them or they are the alt right laughing their asses off.

      32. @J: Really J? You have been watching me for six years have you? That’s funny because I have only just started watching this blog maybe six weeks ago you fucking liar. I am not embarrased about anything you left-wing ding-bat. See me running away? well do ya fuck nuts? I am right here. The advice I gave was how to apply for ssdi to go around the V.A. and get health care through Medicare. I see on the next page, you were the first to repost that very advice. Not only are you a fucking liar J. But you also steal other peoples post’s and claim them as your own. As to your last sentence? Apply it to yourself, kettle. Just incase you missed it you plagerizing fuck.

          cj January 28, 2017 at 8:43 pm

          This is for veterans that are disabled, and in need of medical care that they have been promised, but are not recieving. You can apply for ssdi, and since you have your V.A., and military medical records, both showing your disabilities, you have an extremely good chance of being granted disabled status. What this means for you, is you will be getting an ssdi monthy check, but even more important, if you have been disabled for at least two years, you will also be eligible for medicare. With medicare you now can recieve the care you need, from the best, and accountable Doctors in the country. If you need any help or have any questions about the process, just ask away, I will be glad to help.

          I am done with your sorry ass, don’t address me ever again, you will not receive a reply. Because frankly, your not worth my time.

      33. @cj, @J – The post that cj published, was in response to one of my posts. Thanks again cj.

      34. J sounded an awful lot like a commenter here once before under another name. He too kept complaining about this VSO site, as if he was clueless as to what a VSO is.

          He also made several comments about this being a right wing hate blog.

          No matter. Good riddance to both of them.

      35. Yeah, you have to believe in their off the wall non-absolutes. It’s like having a discussion with a young teenager asking you the same question in different manipulative forms.

      36. @ANutterVet: Thank you, and your lovely wife. Two voices of common sence and reason. Nuthing but respect for the two of you. Goodnight…………….I mean it this time.

      37. @J, @cj – Matter closed. Like a crocodile; big strong mouth, but can be out maneuvered, because unchanging internal instincts and a primitive mindset. Therefore, affecting your judgement and understanding. I worked with these types of animals in the past.

          That’s the way the chips fall. Sad thing, almost like neighbors who don’t speak to one another. Only were not in each others face. And, that’s a good thing! Last post on this issue.

      38. I looked into where J was posting from because of his hate-filled rhetoric that seemed divorced from what folks were saying here.

          The posts were from Buford, GA and a quick search of area government job postings made me concerned given that DHS hacks of election machines pinged from GA. Anyway, without burning up too much time on someone obviously trolling the site, I banned J. You all know what he’s been saying. I have no time for someone like that. Banned. Veterans are committing suicide at a shocking rate. Our VA leaders are stealing from taxpayers. We need to get serious and fight the fakers while avoiding detracting trolls.

          It’s a real shame because I like having both sides represented on the site, but we do not support or allow race-baiting or bigotted commenting here, and J was doing it. So he/she is gone.

      39. @cj – Thanks Brother. That’s it for me as well. They’ll be like children on the dock inpatient as hell to catch a fish. Incoming ineffective posts coming in. Where’s my tank man? Never mind, only fodder floating in the air. Good night Brother.

8. Please take your own advice. I’ve been saying it since coming to this site. Yet I continue to see primarily right-wing crap. Yes, I beg you to help vets. It sounds like you are embarrassed of Trump, are running away, and you are now hiding behind the motivation to help vets. The primary contributors to this site approach right-wing nutjobs and hiding behind a newly prioritized altruism is pretty chicken-shit.

   1. @J – J, go fuck yourself. Boy . . . , I don’t need validation from you. Don’t hide behind the screen. Like news media, if you don’t like what you read, then go find a blog that you feel more comfortable with. It’s as simple as that.

      Screwball thinking is what Veterans don’t need. By the way, the extreme [notice I said extreme], left liberal side of progressives [another fancy word for immorality], has cost our country plenty of unnecessary dollars and societal confusion in our Country, and abroad. Money better spent somewhere else. Dam, your thinking is so perverted, you can’t even figure out what bathroom to use. And, I still say, the poop shoot was created not for the penetration of a penis.

      1. @J – The poop shoot is for existing. Head, I mean, heed my advice.

      2. Since you and others on this site seem to think you speak for all vets…you are just the assholes that need to be held accountable. I will not be going anywhere…so stop hiding your hate behind feigned altruism.

      3. @J – Brother J, I never said that I hated anything or anyone. I have friends that do things that I don’t appreciate, and visa versa. Look man, lets just focus on Veterans issues. That’s the whole point of this blog. Throwing words at each other only gets us both all fired up. You can still hold onto your beliefs and I can hold onto mine, but it’s Veterans first.

   2. @J: You might have been saying it since you have been coming to this site, and that is good J. But all I have seen since I have been here is people like you, and your post is showing it once again, is to complaing about politics. My first President was President John F. Kennedy, so yeah, I have seen and heard everything under the sun. You have no idea what my polical preference is, so don’t assume you do. It get’s old real quick seeing shit like, (primarily right-wing crap), and the more people see that kind of distraction, the more they are going to hit back, just for the fun of it. If you can’t put your political B.S. aside and leave it at the door, then don’t walk through the damn door, OK? Next, I am not embarrased of anyone, not of Obama, not of Clinton, not of Bush, and not of Trump either. I could give a shit less who the damn President is, what I do give a shit about is how much damage the ENTIRE governemt, does to us all. If you go back and read my posts, the ones that meant anything, you will see I place blame on the government as a whole. Trump may only be here for four years, let’s both hope he doesn’t do any more harm. On this I am sure we can agree. Nothing chicken shit about it. Now I don’t know you at all, and I don’t pretend to either, so don’t pretend that you know anything about me either. If you need help with something, and I can help, then ask and let’s see what we can do together. As for my political beliefs? I hate the ENTIRE government, make NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT. I hope this clears up your chicken shit statement just a little bit. I have been helping vets for over 40 years, how about you J? Peace out. I am out for the night. Hope you have a good night as well J.

   3. @J — Please inhale this troll spray~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~

      1. @Namnibor – Shit Brother, point that thing somewhere else. Reboot. LMAO

   4. @J, the repeated pattern i find in your posts is the constant insulting and labeling individuals. I do not know which behavior is the greater evil. I think you need to understand that most individuals are more sophisticated than what they are being labeled. With your labeling you immediately create division and isolation. Is this really what you want to achieve when communicating with others?

      There are a lot of people looking for help, people helping others, communicating concerns, talking about important issues that may affect them. This blog is an avenue for people to get some understanding of what is happening in the va system that they may or may not be victim too. There are real people here that are in pain and suffering do you understand this? I hope you are not one of those people, but you sound like you are in some kind of pain and isolation. If you need help just ask someone will respond. What is your AGE? Are you ok and producutive in your life?

      I HOPE you people AND FRIENDS that you talk too. And in hope your issues can be resolved.

      1. @Ex va – Agreed. Brother J, there are plenty on this site that can and will help. Lets keep the focus on VA issues. Look, I realize your concerns about President Trump. But, this is not the site to discuss political issues. It causes division, and its not good for us as Veterans, nor good for others looking for help while searching online for a blog like Ben’s. And, at this time, we as Veterans don’t need to be divided. That’s exactly what the VA leadership wants. Hey, there’re running around asking each other what is going to happen. To me, its about time they should be concerned what may be heading to their way.

         Thank you, my Brother Ex va. R U holding up ok?

      2. @ ANutterVet, weather has been bad around here so pain is up too. Unstable weather patterns, hurts people with arthritis and old injuries. I think it is the barometric pressure up and down.

         I did get some sleep, thankful for that. I keep hoping and praying for you and others that changes to improve the quality of their lives comes soon. How are you doing?

         The va should be worried about their future because their lack of accountability hurts the ones who need their help. I believe that too, they are running around not knowing what is going to happen. Hope this POTUS keeps the promise of fixing the va.

      3. @Ex va – Weather is a big factor, especially on the mid-East Coast. My VA PCP don’t believe that your skin has cells that detect barometric pressure; therefore spasms, chicken skin. Wait, I don’t want to offend chickens, goose bumps. No wait, I can’t offend geese, ahhhhhh, we’ll call it bumpy skin.

      4. @ ANutterVet, my k-9 can feel the effects of changing pressures. She broke a leg and she limps sometimes when weather is bad. Geese, these va pcp don’t know anything unless it comes from vha directives. Common sense goes out the door. I hope your care improves and you get the meds you need. The back pain is the worst. I get the lower back pain too. Muscle spasms are the worst too. I take supplements and taking more now hoping to improve. Maybe a nurse handling your appointments may make it better. Make sure you get her extension number when she calls. You should be able to leave messages.

      5. @Ex va – I hope so Brother. They even changed their phone system and you can’t call your PCP directly.

      6. @Ex va – I forgot to mention how I was doing. Well, the VA doesn’t inform you of changes. They sent me two letters to make an appointment, I then called. They now require a Nurse to contact me to schedule the appointment. Receptionist can only make appts for yearly updates. Now I have to wait 48 hours for the Nurse to call. Stuuuuuuuupid!

         Lower back pain has been saying hello quite load. Lowers my tolerance of certain situations. Wish I had my hands on some Carisoprodol [Soma]. They always worked for me with no side effects.

   5. Not to mention their broadening of the desire to turn Jews into snowflakes to anyone who disagrees with them, even some who did vote for Trump. Just not on their rigid control freak line.

      1. WTF is wrong with you?

      2. @Namnibor – I dunno Brother, it can also be a severe case of snowball overloading, or just plain flake. No one except Lem has mentioned things pertaining to anti-Jew rhetoric. C’mon Lem, cut the crap.

      3. @Lem – Same dam rhetoric. Taking things out of proportion. Dam instigator.

9. This is for veterans that are disabled, and in need of medical care that they have been promised, but are not recieving. You can apply for ssdi, and since you have your V.A., and military medical records, both showing your disabilities, you have an extremely good chance of being granted disabled status. What this means for you, is you will be getting an ssdi monthy check, but even more important, if you have been disabled for at least two years, you will also be eligible for medicare. With medicare you now can recieve the care you need, from the best, and accountable Doctors in the country. If you need any help or have any questions about the process, just ask away, I will be glad to help.

   Now, for those that come here to stick knives in the sides of veterans, because YOU don’t like who YOUR Presidend is. Please, go find some place else to bitch. We don’t give a shit about YOUR butt hurt asses. Some of us have had to put up with assholes, from both parties over the past 45+ years. Deal with it or go melt somewhere else.

   Like AnutterVet said, what people here need is input, help, and strategies, to get the help they need. If you have experience getting through a problem, that another veteran is having? Then speak up and help out. If not? Then add to their lives by putting them in a lighter mood. If you can do none of the above? Then shut the fuck up. We don’t always have to be on topic to help someone else. And if you have something funny to share, then by all means do so……………..we can all use a good laugh. Adios……………….

   1. @cj – Brother cj, thanks for your post. Your right on point. I’ll try to post more later. Been battling the beast.

10. Neither. We were a prop, nothing more than a way to wrap his fascism in the flag. He is a CONMAN. He has been a public buffoon and CONMAN for his entire ego trip public life. He’s been attention seeking for what 40 years now? Not a damn thing new about it. He “Fund Raised” for Veterans. When it was looked into, every dime that HE had SAID was going to US, went TO HIM. He had the nerve to publicly attack a GOLD STAR family. He of 5 deferments, compares getting laid to a tour in Nam, insults John McCain as a loser for getting shot down, claims his being such a piss ant as a kid that his RICH parents tossing his butt in a Military type boarding school makes him a bigger military expert that the Joint Chiefs…
    BTW, the VA/”Public Health WAS one of the 3 exemptions that he did have to that freeze, so his “reconsidering” that resulted in the VA being able to hire people wasn’t manna from God.
    He isn’t “trying to piss us off” and he isn’t getting bad advice. He just used us fr his flag wrapping paper, and now just doesn’t care.
    Nothing new, for him, or us… Read “Tommy” by Kipling…

11. Awwww, wikipedia took down the cupcake in the rain. Too many snowflakes complaining no doubt. So for anyone who wants a copy of the link for their own use here it is: “https://i.makeagif.com/media/8-01-2015/Cl7olH.mp4” enjoy.

    1. @cj, that was hilarious! I had to see it a couple of times and laughed every time i saw it.

    2. My pleasure Ex va, we all need to just laugh sometimes, shit get too damn serious in here at times.

    3. Nah, what more than likely happened was one butthurt snowflake was upset that other people got to admire the cupcake in the rain better than he because they have jobs and can afford a faster internet connection so they are able to view the rained-on cupcake better….wah, wah, wah….so if that snowflake could not see it then NOBODY CAN….wah, wah, wah….baby needs the bottle of snowflake juice.

12. Damn! The trolls have piled-onto this blog as if it was the zombie apocalypse or something…let’s call it what it is, The Abominable Snowflake Surge, aka A.S.S. Lots of asses about.

    1. It is the weekend and the Sponge Bob crowd need something to do.

       1. Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo lives in a pineapple under the sea? or is it:
          He’s a lunberjack and he’s OK
          He sleeps all night and he works all day

          He cut’s down trees, he skips and jumps
          He likes to press wild flowers
          He put’s on woman’s clothing, and hangs around in bars.

          He cut’s down tree’s, he wears high heels
          Suspendies and a bra
          He wish’s he’d been a girlie, just like his dear papa.
          This is for entertainment purposes only, no cyber bullying, aka cupcake baking, or intentional snowflake melting, is allowed and against regulations. us code cb/is 4q2

       2. @Dennis from a Grown Man who watches Sponge Bob, We see now where you get all of your Intellect from…..

       3. @MK – I’ve read many of your posts, and I believe that you haven’t published one comment that has helped me or encouraged me with solving current Veterans issues, with an Agency [VA] that is supposed to protect all Veterans. Due to the major function of Ben’s blog, this shows a lack of intellect as well.

          We’re mostly all Veterans that post on this blog. Veterans are hurting, trying to get their lives together, and the uncompassionate, corrupt, that enjoys the nepotism, favoritism, bullying and mobbing actions that are occurring in the VA system affects-effects all of us. Especially those, like myself, that has no other choice at the present time, but to use the VA for medical services. I feel like their the enemy [no physical threat intended, only a non-acting out thought].

          A couple of hours ago, my wife and were talking, and I informed my wife that I’ve never felt this way in my life. I’ll admit, I’m a touchy mother fucker at this present time. Due to all of the bullshit that I’ve been unnecessarily put through and promises reneged on, reading about how other Brothers and Sisters are struggling, and the pure evil wicked behavior and medical treatment modalities [not based on an individual basis], that many fucking smug VA employees, supervisors [which I refuse to call managers], and other top level decision makers expect us Veterans to eat, drink, and sleep their fucking poo dripping bad science of helping Veterans regain their lives back.

          So MK, with your intelligence, how about posting suggestions and points of interest that will better band Veterans together. I agree with you, pertaining about the unknown of President Trump. But remember, many of us felt the same way and were afraid when ex-Presidents Clinton and Obama were elected, I didn’t believe in everything that they believed in, but at the same time, I didn’t want them to fail. In my thinking, if they failed, then we all failed. Does this even make a little bit of common sense to you?

          And, I’m not that naïve that I don’t know that President Trump has a big ego. But, at the same time, I don’t believe this is the major area to focus on. We need to band together.

          I’m only trying to find common ground in order to stop the rhetoric, and find the good that helps Veterans to get the proper care that the need, and to obtain the help with getting their claims resolved in a fast and righteous manner.

       4. @ANutterVet Read your loooonnggg posts i really dont think you have read your own work, in working for a common good for us vets. Ive seen on several of your post actually doing the childish name calling like kids do. Id admit ive done it in a General theme but not focusing on one particular person. And yes im Critical of the Head Sociopath in Charge it comes with the Job!!! Like we all should be. Also at the very top of these post the Title says:Is Trump Intentionally Pissing On Veterans Or Getting Bad Advice? Now, im responding to it accordingly not coming across as a VSO ebook, just making points and responding to plain obvious stupidity and i know all has their opinion so do I.

       5. @MK – That’s not my comment you’re referring to. You contradict yourself as well. For free, you can have some troll dripple [||||||]=~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , , , , , , , , ,

13. All the Veterans I have known, have one thing in common, we are loyal. Not necessarily right. As reluctantly as I can be, I accepted him and today I am ok with my decision. Throughout history, more Countries have collapsed for more reasons than you can count. At this moment, my Country, your Country is in dire need of help. So many people stealing, everywhere, everyday. I wish Trump was a better person, I wish I knew what he’s doing, I wish… I believe Trump will do right for the Veterans. What else he’s gonna do, well, that’s for another blog. Couldn’t sleep. God Bless the Veterans. And God, keep an eye on Trump. Thanks

14. Should be; “continues to report FAKE NEWS.” I was the one who got the quivers. Even I can make a joke of myself.

    1. Glad your comments are above my paygrade…I actually did real work. P.S. Snowflake is a term used by Nazi guards to refer to the falling ash of burning Jews..you racist fuck!

       1. What is the Nazi word for dipshit?

       2. Let me take a stab at utilizing my genius level intellect and try to compose a psychological profile of you J.

          hmmm…tough one….here goes….

          1) You live at home with mom and dad.
          2) Your underwear has not been changed in three days.
          3) Your call the stuff on your face a beard but it looks NOTHING like Ben’s..
          4) Your half eaten Twinkees next to your pillow and between the sheets are still fresh after 4 months.
          5) You post on Craiglist under “misc romance” and still have not scored.
          6) Your right arm and wrist have highly developed muscles (see number 5)

          I will need to see more posts to more fully develop the profile. Would you care to add anything? This is all I could bang out on my iPad.

       3. @J: Racist fuck? That’s what you have? Dennis is definately right, wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy above your paygrade.

          Since you have trouble with the term “snowflake” probably because you are one. I will refere to you from now on as jr snowflake. ┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐

       4. @cj – Go ahead, blow em off to another digital platform. I just got up and seen all these emails in my box. Wait a minute I no more box. Do they have a box? Oops, programs on, trolling, trolling, trolling.

       5. @j – Boy j, your just on here pinching everybody’s ass. Stay in front of me. LGBTQRSTUVWW. It’s not normal behavior. I thought j stood for “joint.’ No the other kind, see what I mean. Get in front, I can’t trust your ass.

       6. @J — Dip scheiße…(rough German translation for ‘dip shit’) But the German for ‘Shit Head” of Scheißkopf is most appropriate for your sociopathic trolling.

15. So someone explain to me why it is ok for trump to tweet on an unsecured phone? Especially in light of presidential archives and the “disappearing” tweet with honor misspelled. It disappeared in 12 minutes. I await the usual name calling for questioning pumpkinhead or should I say the almighty Doritos man. If he can insult so an I!

    1. @Rosebud – Oh my Rosebud, Rosebud. Don’t get all caught up on a quiver. As you know, all men have toys, while HRC had servers. And, the emails with a “C” were sent over unsecured pathways. President Trump more than likely is able to keep classified information in its proper place for security reasons. And, as it is his right, he is allowed to distrust the Main Stream Media [MSM], if the overpaid newscasters will report the REAL NEWS.

    2. Shhhhhh dont Criticize a Sociopath only Sociopaths are suppose to do that on here, who will call you all kinds of names for being critical of the Cheeto in Charge. We as citizens here in the US can do that especially when you have a nutjob who gets into arguments with private citizens by tweets… he makes GW Bush look like a High School Grad…

       1. Hey nuclear scientists have inched the doomsday clock closer to midnight due to pumpkinhead’s bizzare statements! We’re all gonna die!

       2. Rosebud also is a slang term for a hemorrhoid-plagued anus.

       3. @Namnibor – Brother I checked my inbox after taking my morning supplements, bam there was your post. You got me laughing first thing. I guess I’ll have to make up some special salve to pass out for pain relieve. Lets see here . . . (mad scientist goes through his chemical compounds), . . . I’ll add some CO2 extracted habanero oil, pure menthol crystals, China camphor, and a little clove oil to thinner out.

          [|||||]= ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
          Cooling Butthurt Spray

       4. @ANutterVet — Don’t forget to add the wee bit of honey and copious amounts of live fire ants to that Cooling Butthurt Spray (CBS). The fire ants keep the trolls moving away at a fast pace and the honey keeps them there. 🙂

       5. @Namnibor – I just bought the most stickiest honey available. And the most recent hybrid fire ant with extreme biting skills. Oh no, I’m getting back bitten. Get ’em off me, get ’em the hell off me. Dang nam it, the ants broke away from da sticky honey, and their on the move. The ants even speak. Told me they got the wrong person. Some of you better watch your keyboards.

16. I like 90% of your post, but this one sucks, Trump must have time to work. Change is a chess game, not a I dream of Genie poof and done. You of all know this as you are on spot with most your post. It will take time, but he must look at the big picture as president, he must start like a person working on their own financial issue’s. You use the Pyramid method and work your way down. If we don’t see major change at VA in three months I would be surprised as President Trump must realize how much money they waste, he has staff reading all our messages, they check, they have insiders. He will make major changes just because they waste billions as VA as a whole is run like a Girl scout cookie program at best. No intelligent life there.

    1. Tim;
       From what I see locally there has been major change in the last year. I don’t know when Shulkin became the Undersecretary of VA Medical but at least it began on his watch. So that appointment may serve the VA well. As you say, 3 months will tell if he can do anything on the Benefits side.

       I’m not exactly ecstatic with the Choice program. Wasn’t rolled out well. And was a sell out to the corruption that brought it on. Health Net changed from a NPO, executives earing less than $250 each per year compensation to a for profit company with 5 top executives earing a total of over $25 million, the top executive earing over 12.5 Million and the lowest of the 5 earing over 1.5 million.

       The ACO actions on Health Care side omitted necessary controls, though improving, still has a way to go. Perhaps Shulkin doesn’t have enough experience there to get it done right.

       1. @Lem – Shulkin; nominated by President Barack Obama on March 18, 2015 and sworn in on July 6, 2015.

       2. Almost 2 years all ready. Would like to see some OIG reports from 2016 re the Medical Side compared to 2015. See if there is any improvement.

       3. @Lem – Per my own individual care, I don’t really need to see a report. I know first hand. Don’t know about other facilities. But the VA medical treatment has been the worse that I’ve ever had. Many errors in records, lack of patient-doctor trust, removing medications that I was previously taking that tremendously relieved my pain and spasms, promised service multiple times then they reneged on them, . . . it goes on and on. I would think that it is up to each Veterans care per the medical facility where they receive medical treatment.

17. I wrote Trump about this, that his choice was a slap in the face…(my son and I are both 100% disabled). My reply was that a representative would call me. No call! I recommended Allen Lynch, a man who has worked for veteran’s for decades….and to top that he earned the Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam. We are too big of a group to upset.

    Robert Boshears
    CPT, IN, USA, Ret.

18. I went to USA JOBS website i do not see any hiring freeze in any agency. There are postings for federal jobs across the country. I wonder if it takes time before this goes into effect with the hiring freeze.

19. Everyone does remember that Trump said fixing of the V.A. was a Day 1 job, right. So far we’ve gotten a mediocre, at best, nominee for V.A. Sec. & a federal hiring freeze that does not(so far) exclude V.A. Plus, rumors of vetting a totally unacceptable candidate for 2nd in charge of V.A. The fact that he has not yet ordered an audit of V.A. expenditures, to be reviewed by him, tells me Vets are in the back burner.

    1. @Thomas – Brother Thomas, this is my post on January 26, 2017 1:41pm

       President Trump Addresses Republican Congressional Leader in Center City Philadelphia- Paraphrasing, “We are going to do something special for Veterans. It is about time.”

       I hope he turns the VA inside out, and rips into all the foxholes to expel all the VA employees that are a disservice to Veterans, wasting taxpayers monies, and breaking the law.

       1. Amen to that.

       2. Also Lem confirmed the same.

20. If y’all are unaware, the VA is still under investigation.
    There’s definitely more to come on this.
    Google the following;

    “Hillary Clinton not pardoned! Here Comes Jason Chaffetz Please Share”

    Posted on Jan 27, 2017
    (7:47 minutes long)

    I do believe we’re going to see some real crap come down on VA!

21. I like how many commenters today came to the table with functional, and some funny, solutions for Trump’s team to consider. My point in the article was to highlight the difference between campaign trail rhetoric and the present reality we find ourselves in now.

    1. @Benjamin Krause, JD – Personally, when I get stressed, it is good relief for me to try to make my Brothers and Sisters laugh. Then when they post back and share with me that their endorphins kicked in. This then, gives me more relief. Ben, thanks for keeping your blog up and running. And, God speed and efficiency to you, when dealing and reporting about those that say nothing needs fixing in the VA system, or that you caught them with their hands in the cookie jar.

    2. Benjamin Krause, JD, thanks for your strength and determination to uncover the truth concerning the va system. You are causing changes needed and exposing the corruption when no one else is doing the job. Thank you.

    3. Ben. Mr. Trump is first and foremost a showman. He’s as much admitted same. I think that he’s probably well intended with VA issues, but, he’s also not a detail guy. I suspect everything he’s doing in his first two “ratings” weeks will need some serious remediation. His federal hiring freeze was a splatter-shot message to the mainstream GOP that hasn’t quite given him the accolades he seems to desire. Parsing out the VA hires requires a surgical attention to detail he’s not going to bother with until Capt. Leinie tells him how bad he fupped duck. Therein lies the problem. He’s tossed a grenade or three into quite a few tents already. His successes and the VA’s direction forward (or back) will heavily rely on how well his cabinet, advisers and staff can do triage.

    4. Due Diligence! All of you were aware of what insanity he was capable of and the BS he throws. I read the attack posts and the unwillingness to listen to reason.
       The now flip flopping here on Trump is priceless. All better learn to swallow the shit you put us all into. This is just the beginning so put your energy into protesting this emotionally unstable Pres. at his every step for the next catastrophic 4 years! Oh and guess what he is arresting/fining protesters and media by the droves. Censoring internet on climate change, etc
       My favorite is his statement on “we should have taken the Iraqi oil” “Maybe we will have another chance” The brain surgeon just put all of our troops in danger with that ludicrous statement. How many more terrorist did he insight on that one?
       This is no time to stand down.

       1. @Pissed – Many have put up with a lot of BS during ex-President Obama’s Administration. And, HRC, she hid a lot of things that dealt with her credibility and trust. And Bernie, well he Burned himself by telling the American public that he was tired of talking about all those emails. When Bernie said that, did you happen to watch HRC body language and facial expressions. Google it and watch it closely. HRC knew right then and there that she had knocked the wind out of Bernie’s bid for the Democratic nominee for President.

          My question is this Pissed, do you think Bernie knew what he did when he made that statement? Or, was he having a some sort of elderly slippage of reason and thought. Or, was Bernie paid off in some way to make that statement. I know if it was me, I would’ve have done it. That let out all the air in his fight for the nomination. And, from my knowledge, Bernie never said that he should’ve never made that statement. Something was strange in all that BS.

          By the way, you never once mentioned anything in your post about Veterans. And, tell your fellow believers to stop destroying property and rioting. That’s why there getting locked up. I believe in peaceful protesting, but it also gives protesters to stop commerce. Therefore, affecting-effecting the lives of people to provide for their families. Stop ACTing Up. Do real peaceful protests.

          And before you may bring it up, the Electoral College was established for a reason. Go read and find out why. Hint; the biased media and the concentrations of people in city areas. Does the word skewed mean anything.

       2. ALL distraction. Do you actually have ANY solution that will help vets now? No excuses about how this or that candidate did this which makes them worse than Trump. One workable solution from Trump…you were dumbasses to think Trump would ever help a vet. You’ve been conned…and that hurts a lot of vets. Shame on you.

       3. @J – Been getting conned before you were probably even born. Go and read some of my posts. Better yet, don’t. It’s above your paygrade.

       4. So J, Hillary would have been a better choice for veterans?

          You may not be old enough to remember, but I certainly am. After the Gulf War when her and her rapist husband were renting out the White House to the highest bidder, we Gulf War vets were trying to get proper health care from the VA. We were loud enough to finally get their attention. Bill didn’t have the guts to address the problem, so Hillary went on TV and lied, saying they would take action to help.
          She never mentioned Gulf War veterans or any other veteran again during his term.
          Bill then created the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses and stacked it with enough hacks to make it look like something was being done, but insured nothing would get done.
          Fast forward to about 1997-1999. Gulf War veterans had been told for years that our illnesses could not be diagnosed by the VA. We managed to get legislation passed, and Clinton was forced to sign it that presumed service connection for certain undiagnosed illnesses.
          It was magical. Suddenly when we went to the VA, they were diagnosing all kinds of things so any claim under that new law would be denied.
          Part of that legislation called for an independent research committee to be formed. That was ignored by Clintons VA until right before the end of his second term when they were forced to finally follow the law.

          Hillary was silent. And had been since the early 90’s when she first went on TV after a Senate VA committee hearing chaired by Sen. Rockefeller.

          Do you have any detail on Hillary helping veterans? Or will you just continue to snivel?

       5. The Clinton Administration accelerated the deterioration of the VA (entitlements) started in the Nixon Administration and continued through all administrations since including the last one, 91. You are right on this. But he did take care of a lot of diminished capacity civilians which some vets, denied by the VA, were at least able to get shelter, Medicaid and earned income tax credits.

       6. @Lem – Who are you referring to as “he” in your third sentence? Clinton Administration = more than one person, where he = one person. Frigging semantics.

       7. Nutter, “he” is in the collective in that sentence. The buck stops at the top and it was a “he” not a “she” or an “it” although the last two “” could be lineally combined for the actual whole as far as veterans are concerned.

          As far as the term “snowflakes” if you are not an alt right Nazi, I would suggest you quit using the term for name calling unless you don’t mind being known as an alt right Nazi. It belongs to you once you let the dirt out of your mouth or mind.

       8. @Lem – Brother, again, dam semantics. You were the one who brought up to others on this blog, what you thought they meant when they coined the name “snowflake.” Did you ask them to clarify what they meant by saying “snowflake?” No.

          You put out a definition in which didn’t coincide in what was meant when the word was used. In other words, a different meaning, therefore semantics. When I first came across the term, those who used “snowflake,” were and are referring to how a person’s thinks. What they may mean is “snowflake = flake. Drop the snow. A state of a persons thinking on a particular subject matter at the time being. No offense taken. Good thing we got that cleared up. Lem, lets move on.

       9. I think all name calling should be dropped. Diffenent opinions should be respected and discussed without denigrating into vile name calling.

          Originally, when I first came on this site and expressed an opinion, it was met with a bunch of name calling. I was quite taken aback. Then I noticed that this was the usual fare given to anyone who expressed a different opinions. So it goes.

       10. @Rosebud – Sorry, if forgot, love is love. People are people. The subject was semantics about referring the word “snowflake” = anti-sematic against Jewish people. For me, I have no aught against the Jewish people. Rosebud, Rosebud, we don’t live in a perfect world, and if we did, more than likely there still would be some sort of name calling.

       11. I understood the term snowflake to refer to delicate little safe space seeking snot bags who just could not tolerate life around them, and who tried to browbeat others into not informing them of the reality they face.
           But, as the snowflakes and politically correct crowd like to do, they offer their own meaning to terms so they can demand others not to use them, and they again find comfort and feel superior in their safe space. Away from reality.

           For some reason, those same people who browbeat others into not using certain words have no problem using the word Nazi.

           I’ve always had a fondness for history of any kind, particularly military which eventually includes the Jewish people and the Holocaust. I have read extensively on that and had a chance to tour Dachau years ago where I saw the HQ building with its wall of pictures showing the prisoners and the medical experiments. I saw the barracks where so many thousands were held and used the beds which were little more than wooden boxes and the stone sinks. They were worn down on the edges from thousands using them over years. I also saw the shower room and the building with the tall smokestack housing the ovens.

           To suggest not using a word to describe the delicate little daffodils that scream when reality smacks them in the face because those same daffodils believe the real Nazis once used it is not only ridiculous but highly offensive.

           It greatly diminishes the evil that the Nazi bastards did.

           Are there other words the real Nazis used that should no longer be spoken? Who now determines what other rights I should or should not enjoy since they have set themselves up to determine who enjoys free speech?

       12. @91Veteran – You detailed it further, and explained it more clearly.

       13. Actually, I’m waiting for someone to complain that I called Nazis evil bastards.

           If the description fits….

       14. @91Veteran – Lets see. Ranting semanting. No, yes, may be, close, far, opaque, translucent, transparent?

       15. For complaints, please include your c-card or d-card number. Our security is triple SSL, so no worries. Processing fee is a deal at $9.99. All proceeds will go to the International Don’t Call Me A Name Club. Club is in need of ice packs for headaches, legal non-THC CBD products for pain, and tissues for that dang nam sticky clear mucous phlegm, that is similar to a non lacerated anal sphincter that is excreting from a bunch of mulit-roids.

           Those who are deeply affected-effected will require the non adulterated cannabis. Participants in our Compassionate Care Program [CCP] will be required to go to a licensed CCP physician, get a Federal, State, and International Security Clearance, and purchase a medical card from each jurisdiction.

           Then you’ll need to make an appointment with the Cannabis CBD Product Board. There is an additional fee for the Board Hearing, round trip airfare for the Board Member and his-her spouse or mistress(es), room and board, and 3 square meals a day per scammer, plus all the cock tails they can swallow.

           Shootz brudda, kiss their berry butts. Go and grow your own. Or, you may obtain the product with donations to the Hemp Revolutionary Company [HRC] located in Chappaqua, New York.

           After all administrators are paid 99.9% of the net profits [not gross], the rest of the net profits from HRC will directly go to another identity, called the world wide Clintonites Foundation [CF]. Then those monies to the Clinton Foundation from the HRC, will be added yet into another fund to cover the living costs of the HRC Administrators.

           The Main Stream Charity Watchers [MSCW] have rated both the HRC and CF a 5-Star [count ’em *****] Rating. The rating was approved by Nancy Pelosi, and reputable investors and money managers that are either Federal, State, or International inmates, including James Paul Lewis, Jr., Sibtul Shah, John G. Ervin, Michael H.K. Liew, Steven Byers, Tom Petters, Bernard Madoff, Nicholas Cosmo, Allen Stanford, Scott W. Rothstein, Trevor Cook, Paul Burks and Zeek Rewards, and all the corrupt comptrollers of the Veterans Affairs.

           Start your approval process now. The 2017 to Infinity Sell -A-Thon Campaign starts today. Thank you for your support [in their minds, they say to themselves, “what a bunch of suckers, can’t touch us.”].

       16. Your are right 91. The proper term is white supremist. Not many Nazis left manning ovens. Just white supremist trying their own jokes for those like minded in the know.

       17. Well, for those in the Secret In The KNOW Society, they should realize there are those outside that tribe that have different meanings for the terms they use.

           But only that society has the authority to dictate usage?

           Oops. I used tribe. Is that offensive to someone? Anyone? I might be afraid to speak one more word until I know!

           This is much the same as those who cannot defend their ideas, so they invent problems in order to shut down those with ideas that they just cannot refute.

           Racial code words come to mind. It was ridiculous how many different words could be determined by a raving lunatic to have some kind of racial meaning. Known only to them. To be pulled out and used to beat another with like a bludgeon so as to shut them up.

           Society has enough problems to deal with other than some snowflake being so delicate that they are offended by a word like that.

       18. Nothing ridiculous about it, 91. Historical usage and terms of a time that are transferred by a few laughing jackasses to the present time and think it is very funny they got you to mimic a Nazi in an oven camp. Very funny, and they may be just having a lark, not really being white supremist. So go ahead and use your free speech. I’ve let you know how I take and I’m sure others on the thread take it the same way. And then that is how we’ll know you. You are free to be or mimic anything you want. And you can laugh as hard as you want in doing it.

           If you didn’t know and have been made a fool of admit it and do what is right.

       19. Amen.

       20. Rhetoric! I’ve not read one post that mentions Nazi’s or Jews except you Lem. The word “snowflake” may have been coined by the Nazi’s relating to the ashes of our beloved Jewish members of society, but the word is not used as to mean the same in the minds of those who currently use the word now.

           The meanings of words change all of the time. Just because someone may call you a snowflake, doesn’t mean in their hearts they want to throw you in a dam furnace. Stop the rhetorical word meanings.

       21. So, then Nutter, you are saying that you have been unwittingly coopted by a laughing hyena but are unwilling to admit it and apologize? You want to obfuscate? Unwilling to accept responsibility for your words? In your face white supremist? Where are you really, Nutter? Word usage has meaning and snowflake as a label to a human being a particular one. No way out of it no matter how you want to parse it except owning the usage that has a particular meaning in the current political climate.

       22. @Lem – Exactly, you said it, “political climate.” There are climate changes and there have always been changes in the definitions in the meaning of many words. Now, I must say, the more that you try to tell me that there is only one meaning for the word snowflake, then you’re a snowflake. And, I’m almost like ex-President Obama in the phenotypical manner. I’m phenotypically white, but genetically mixed- half and half. Some areas refer it as hapa- whatever the other ethnicity is.

       23. JUST ADMIT IT NUTTER. You have been played for a fool and they are laughing their asses off at you because you didn’t know and now are refusing to admit it. What an ego! Really, you are better than that and you know it. Why don’t you cave in to a life changing experience?

       24. @Lem – It bothers you more than me. I don’t care who is laughing. And this is it for me on this topic.

           [1.] A word can have tw different meanings from individuals from different generations. Most people would agree with this statement, compared to the statement;

           [2.] When using the snowflake to refer to a person, it only has the meaning of white ash from Jewish people who unjustly and by cruel manners, were murdered during the Holocaust.

           Or, can I use the word kill(ed) instead of murdered. Another example, with no other variables added into a rebuttal that has noting to do with the argument. Your argument gets weaker and weaker. Why? Originally, I stated that the word snowflake has different meanings, even when it applies to people.

           Oh shootz, here we go again. Hey Brother, I’d be spending all my time in getting my baby doll over to me so I can hold her in my arms. Better yet, if you only knew me, I’ve stood by many and even jeopardized my own position to stand up for another.

           Like I said, and no offense and this is the end to the issue, I don’t need to be justified by you or others. Especially after I been more that reasonable accepting the knowledge that something can have multiple meanings to different people, that are of different generations, and who have been exposed to different political climates. On, and on, and on.

           And honestly, in my whole life, this is the first time I ever heard of such definition. And Lem, it’s you who make yourself out to be a foolish asshole. Since the Nazi were based on white supremacy, and I stated that that the Holocaust was cruel and unjustified, so how can I be a white supremist?

           I need to stop for a moment. I admit, like you will not, that I added another variable into our conversation by stating a foolish asshole. Can an asshole be foolish.

           Please, don’t answer. We’ll keep going around in circles. And if you tally things up, you ahead in the insensitive insults, hypocrite. I’ve got life things to do, not death. Out with Peace, or is that in with Peace? Oh shootz, I done it again. Last call, its over. Why?

           Mama grabbed my arm from spinning in circles. I love my backups.

       25. Good. Go ahead and kiss up, Nutter. Hope it gets you where you want to be. But you won’t find me there. I’m admitting I was stupid to vote the way I did. I just didn’t want to believe that we were still there and it was going to become worse.

       26. And, since you voted for President Trump, you would’ve been stupider if you went with HRC or Bernie. Poster. And, after all the debates, you can’t tell me that you didn’t know how President Trump works. Shootz, even I knew, and many others that there would be issues that may be we wouldn’t agree with. And Lem, I know how lonely feels, I really do in all honesty hope you get your wife to be with you. Where she from again?

       27. Lem, why don’t you admit you were foolish enough to be taken in by a lie?

       28. No Lem, it has no other meaning other than as I described in another comment.

           …an overly sensitive person who can’t deal with life.

           It has no connection whatsoever to the Nazis, and to suggest otherwise is a lie.

       29. It took some searching and I never could find the SITKS decoder, but I think the word snowflake is no where near a Nazi in an “oven camp”.

           Now Lem, if you think a snowflake is anywhere near similar to your vague insinuations that those using the word are Nazis, white supremacists or any other wild eyed thought you have, you may want to have your meds checked.

           There may be people who take those terms you used differently than how you define them.

       30. Try another search engine or look at the context on Britebart. Use “Nazi snowflake” as the search item.

       31. I did. The search results show its a lie pushed by other snowflakes.

       32. You might also view the mini series, Holocaust.

       33. By the way, and laughing their asses off at coopting the unknowing into using the term in name calling.

       34. Why don’t those of you that wish a term to use in your name calling go back to President Reagan’s. “Bleeding heart liberal” or can’t you type that many letters. Maybe make it a paste item so you can use it as frequently as you want.

       35. Well, those outside the Secret In The KNOW Society understood the term snowflake to mean much the same thing as bleeding heart liberal.

           …but now that we’ve been educated!

       36. I don’t care how it was “meant”. I care about how it is “taken” by others. If you are not a Nazi and don’t want to be know as a white supremist I suggest you don’t use the term, 91. Up to you how you want to be “taken” whether you mean it or not.

           There is more than one definition of “snowflake”. But only one applies to people.

       37. So is there an online class one can take to become a free speech policeman? Or is one appointed after a drum circle seminar?

           I would like to check into it since there is some confusion over why Nazi is allowed but snowflake is forbidden.

       38. Your are free to say what ever you want. You are not free to say how others will take it. You have the right to say it and I have the right to hear it in the terms I know and the ways I know it is applied. If you don’t care that is your problem. If you don’t care that is your problem. If I let you demean others and it makes me feel bad then I have the free speech right also. To let you know how I feel and how you may be take by others. Absolutely free speech. So go ahead and show your ass if you want to.

           I have no way to know if you are speaking from the heart of the way you feel as a white supremist or have just been coopted by the alt right which are now laughing their asses off about this thread.

       39. Ok Lem, how about Low Teperature Solidified DiHydrogen Monoxide Particle?

           Is that acceptable to the SITKS?

           If it is, please include the Secret code in your response so I know it is from them.

           Looks similar to * I think.

       40. So it is true. You just want another way to call someone a “snowflake” with the meaning applied to humans instead of ski slopes. LOL! You are who you are and are unwilling to just come out and own it, 91.

       41. Who am I Lem? Enlighten me.

       42. @Lem – Then I guess it’s all in your mind. I can’t control what you think, like you can’t control what I think a word means to me. Ok some people have a mind like a snowflake, it melts. Better now?

       43. Your inability to take responsibility for your actions(use of fucked up Nazi term) and your lack of compassion and indifference are just like Trump. Most people would stop using the term..you double down with a macho escalation of the offense. Childish. Please keep doing it and reveal the true nature of this website.

       44. @J – Listen word copper, if you don’t like what you read than scat. Oh wait, does that mean a fish or to move on. Two different definitions. Stop being so sensitive. Most level headed persons would take out the Nazi’s that put the helpless Jewish people into those burning infernos. So stop writing like its in my heart that I’m against Jewish people. I support them [$$$], do you? And, in what way? Which one are you, smuck or baka.

       45. Scat means move on if directed at a cat. It means bear shit if you are hunting a bear. And when you use labels for humans they always have special meanings though you may have picked them up believing they were simply a demeaning way to refer to a bleeding heart liberal or at least someone you want to accuse of being such. But after finding out the deeper meaning maybe you should use scat instead of snowflake. Or maybe it is more appropriate to call rabid Trump supporters “scat”.

           In any case, being of African descent, you should be able to find a more appropriate term for someone you consider to be a bleeding heart liberal. And thanks for the term I can use for a rabid greedy conservative Trump supporter. I voted for him and would like to have my vote back right now. Went through the immigration bit trying to bring my Japanese wife back to the US after spending 20 years in Japan taking care of her parents. And that was under Obama. It is the government contractors you have to pay fees to and who send you in circles paying more fees to additional contractors that pisses me off. Believe me, if a Muslim has to go through half the vetting my Baha’i wife did, they have been vetted.

       46. @Lem – There is a fish named a “scat.” I had 25 fish tanks when I was younger, and that is one of the ways I made my own money. My point again, there are more definitions to a word than jus one definition. This is the whole point.

           Besides all this and the other side tracking bullshit, I hope you get your wife to where you are. I’m married to an Asian as well. How did you think I was exposed to white rice for the first time?

       47. And when I was hunting bear I looked for bear scat. Lot of Trumps bear scat coming around this hunting ground.

       48. Solution to your problem- leave. Lem, I’ve presented you with common ground. And, I haven’t 100% demanded from you to accept that snowflake only means what I said. But, you want me to accept what you say as being 100% correct. Not at all considering my valid points, which many on this blog can and have easily comprehended and relate too.

       49. You have every right to define it your way. I have every right to hold to my definition and be very skeptical of your intention. Go ahead. Suck up.

       50. @Ex va, @91Veteran, @Namnibor, @cj, @Lem – Intention of what? Brother, if your in that frame of mind, please go to Mental Health. I don’t even know what you’re talking about. No, you go suck up on the teeters. What is happening with you man. You are spinning this WAY out of proportion. And, you know what, there’s no need too. @cj stated it best;

           “I just don’t get it, over 350 million people in this country, and a handful of snowflakes, come on here, on a daily basis, and make it sound like it’s your fault personally that President Trump got elected. Either I am in the presence of some of the most powerful men and women, the world has ever seen, or a flock just flew over the coo coo’s nest. And the hate that they spew is unbelievable, I almost feel sorry for them. I don’t know if I should try to help them, or put them out of their misery. Truly stumped. I though I would never see the day, when veterans were at each others throats. Kinda makes me wish that whole Myan calendar deal was legit.”

           You’ve been notified, not responding to anymore asinine posts.

       51. The only scat seen here are droppings in the form of comments from those believing snowflake has any connection to Nazi. Or white supremacists. Or klansman. Or Uncle Toms.

       52. J, can you or anyone else throwing around the “Nazi term” accusation actually provide a web link showing that snowflake refers to ash?

           If you search on snowflake, you get the common definition, and the Urban Dictionary meaning of, an overly sensitive person, incapable of dealing with any opinions that differ from their own, and several news articles, none of which contain any reference to snowflakes and Nazis.

           In fact, if you search on snowflake AND Nazi, you can find a snopes link that describes it as an internet rumor, with no connection whatsoever between snowflake and Nazi.

           Now, if you and Lem want to continue your fevered ranting while insinuating those using the word snowflake to describe the immaturity of so many on the left as a Nazi, just know it is only your imagination running wild with no basis in fact.

           This actually explains why I never, ever heard of any connection between snowflake and Nazi until a few days ago here on this site in a comment.

       53. You can watch or re-watch “Holocaust”. And listen to the guards in one scene brushing off “copo de nieve”. And then referring to those going to the gas chamber in the same term. Of course it is translated into English in the English version. The original word is in German. Or you can observe the “scat” trying to burn Dr. Sennholz: “https://www.reddit.com/r/CringeAnarchy/comments/5pi9r7/snowflake_is_a_nazi_term/”

           In fact you can join the frey there also. But it will not change my mind. You are “scat” of the bear Putin and white supremism.

           And you’ll find snopes agrees with you. some poor research or perhaps the researcher was a scat from Putin.

           And you’ll find your back up of using it derogatorily to refer to the millennial generation, in both cases instigated by alt right as a lark. And they are laughing their asses off all the way knowing how they have even sucked in black conservatives.

       54. I’ve watched Bugs Bunny when I was younger, but I never believed rabbits could actually talk.
           I don’t even believe a giant monkey climbed the World Trade Center and then getting shot by military helicopters.

           You can believe a fictionalized mini series of you like, but you shouldn’t get so sucked in by what you see on TV that you become a racist.

           Finally, if you want to accept the tweets of a raving leftist that claims to be a doctor but wears a “pussy hat” as evidence supporting your lie, that’s your business, but you shouldn’t force your delusions on others.

           Do a search on the doctor you cite. Pay attention to the report about her scams on ripoff report dot com.

       55. If you don’t want to be seen as a white supremist referring to the ash from the ovens, then call a snowflake a snowflake, not people a snowflake. You know damn well what I’m saying, Nutter. Quit obfuscating. Wink, nod and laughfing your way around those who don’t know.

       56. @Lem – This is tiring. A waste of fucking energy. And don’t call me that dam white word. I’m of African descent and get tired of being bullied and labeled unfairly all of the time. My people, like others, deserve better. You’re still stuck on the definition of rhetoric, albeit purposely, because you can’t admit that some definitions for words change over the period of time. Its slang, without the same meaning in this present tense; white ash. Lastly, in kindness, fuck you! You may want to be spinster for PR firm that represents Big Pharma, Poisons and Seeds, GMO, and many more industries. Spin it baby, spin it. Rhetoric that is. I don’t want that to be taken out of proportion.

       57. Then I’m sure you have unwittingly been coopted by a bunch of jackasses that are laughing their asses off right now knowing they have fooled you into siding with the KKK. I also have African blood. Not much and I’m a descendent of a family that moved from SC after the Civil War and passed for white. But as you know, as far as the KKK is concerned I’m black and would hang by the same rope used on you at a hanging party.

           Why be so stubborn about admitting you’ve been played for a fool and get on the right side of this issue. Are you that much of an Uncle Tom? I don’t think so. Let Seymore have the side you have been arguing. You should know better than most on this site what is right and just.

           If you don’t want to look like an Uncle Tom just stop using that word for name calling.

       58. @Lem – Your a fucking fool. Typical manipulator that can’t agree that a word can have different meanings to individuals born in different times. So fucking intelligent. Another form of dirty socialistic science. If it bothers you that much write a book. And call all others an Uncle Tom when they know that they aren’t. Don’t forget to print your full name and address in the book. Watch out others may want to look for you.

       59. Like I said. You have the freedom to use the term. I also have the freedom to interpret its meaning in the use from who is saying it and to whom it is directed and the apparent background of who is saying it given their other political and social statements.

           So go ahead and use the term. I’m just telling you what it means to me and how I’ll interpret it. And, as has all ready been demonstrated, I’m not alone. So those of us that see you using it in the face of being told that “fuck you” I’m going to use it no matter what it means to you, have every right to assume we know where you are coming from. So go back to your sheet wearing friends and kiss up.

       60. @Ex va, @Namnibor, @91Veteran, @cj, @Lem- Hey look, its really enough of your fucking manipulation. You called me a fool. I didn’t even come close in calling you a fool during our argument with rebuttals. And, I can count the number of individuals on one hand who agree with you. I have reached out to you with common ground. So don’t push your bullshit at me anymore.

           So what do I need to do now big daddy? Carry a notebook around with a list of all the words that will hurt peoples feelings. Shootz, with all the ethnic backgrounds in this world. I’d spend so much time in it, that it would be better to obtain a degree in this field of study. Go and create your own website if words are getting you upset to the point that you need to get society to change. Enough already.

           I’m really trying to encourage you to create a website. That’s what most people do if they believe so firmly like you do. As a matter of fact, I think it would be quite interesting if you did this. I don’t use it much, but I have a dictionary of outdated words that I use when I deal with the VA. The purpose, like you know yourself, is to get them to scratch their head and to make them think your of a higher intelligence. I get Lem. You tried to do this to me in your earlier posts.

           Lem, there are more important things to tend too. I’m not saying that YOUR ISSUE isn’t meaningless or that it doesn’t have any validity according to your understanding [again folks, trying to find common ground here]. It just doesn’t have as great as a meaning to me. No ill feelings intended.

           A word of caution, please be careful of forcing yourself upon someone when they are in front of you, and they are offering you common ground. But, you go and stomp all over it in order to cause more strife, and adding more variable insults along with unsuccessful manipulative tactics.

       61. No, Nutter, you called me a “snowflake”. In that way, I’m a snake, like Trump. Bite me and I’ll bite back. And when you call someone such a bile name you should expect a back lash. I started small but you insist on using the term which tells me I’m right. You are a suck up Uncle Tom after a suck ups reward.

           And you still won’t admit you’ve been used and laughed at. That makes it even worse. You are being derided by both sides and you haven’t got a clew. Yet you sound more intelligent than that.

       62. @Lem – Dead topic already.

       63. Lem, you truly are going off the deep end on this snowflake business.

           That word describes you to a tee.

           Not only do you claim anyone using it is a white supremacist or Nazi, but now they must be a klansman or an Uncle Tom.

           …and to think just a few days ago you were sniveling about trolling and being off topic. Now you are throwing slurs around like some Oregon shit shooter.

       64. We absolutely should have taken Iraqi oil. He was spot on about that. If any terrorist woild like to come to my front door and speak with me about it I will leave it unlocked. Where should I put the bodies afterward?

       65. IN THE GARDEN DENNIS ..IT MAKES GREAT FERTILIZER

       66. Can I defile their corpses before disposal or would that just piss of more of them?

       67. Since I’ve seen you use it a lot, the term Snowflake was used by Nazi guards to refer to the falling ash that was burning Jews…you racist old white fuck.

       68. The Nazis also gave the Marines their nickname “Teufel Hunden”. It means Devil Dog and was granted after the Battle Of Bella Woods as I recall. It was granted because the Marines involved gave no quarter, showed no mercy, and slaughtered Nazis in brutal and bloody style and ruthless vigour that the denizens of Hell would be proud of.

           I am ok with using the word snowflake.

           Semper Fi Devil Dog

       69. You seem quite delicate.

           Adults are talking here so you run along and play now, huh?

       70. @92Veteran – Do we need to start a toy drive?

       71. I’m thinking only fluffy items ANutterVet.

           Any sharp objects and mommy will have to haul their dumbass to the ER.

       72. @91Veteran – Oooops, sent them already.

    5. Hes Just Being the Politician he claims Not to Be, mouth writing checks his Ass Will Not Cash!!!!

    6. He’s Just Being the Politician he claims Not to Be, mouth writing checks his Ass Will Not Cash!!!!

       1. @MK – Your response is rhetoric. Like Ben wrote about. We need to focus on helping each other as Veterans. Enough idle bitching.

22. There are so many problems within the va medical center, the cleanup of clinical operations would be a mammoth undertaking. I do not expect this system to be corrected within a week, i think it would take years. That is if the decided to actually clean up the corruption. Here is a few suggestions:

    1) doctors are too pampered and taken care of in the system. Some do not even have to show up for work and still get paid.
    2) doctors do not pay for their malpractice insurance. Va pays for it and when they are negligent va has to settle and possibly pay out in the millions.
    3) doctors should be as contractors, not hired as an va employee. This would allow for more accountability with doctors paying for malpractice insurance themselves. It would be difficult to be insured with negligence charges or legal charges pending.
    4) doctors performance is monitored, they perform as their colleagues as in the private sector or they cannot work in a va healthcare system.
    5) administrators and/or managers/supervisors, should be on contract with limited terms. Any corruption, scams/schemes or illegal conduct they will be terminated.
    6) quality assurance within the va medical center should be eliminated. Their performance and analysis of clinical performance does not reflect true productivity. Their analysis of the treatment of Veterans has no credibility in some va medical centers.

    All these positions would no longer be union positions they will not have union protection and would be charged and prosecuted for their crimes. Not in federal courts.

    1. These are just suggestions.

       1. All of them good suggestions.

       2. @91Veteran, thank you.

    2. @Ex va – Well, well, got ya laughing, and now those fantastic neurons are firing off electrical thoughts, so that you’re able to post really good management suggestions. The new Secretary, if changes are truly a major focus, should heed the input of employees still working in the VA, and those that have recently been unjustifiably terminated or quite for unknown reasons. Company leadership can learn a lot from employees working or who have worked on the front lines.

       Hey, VA Administrators, we know you visit Ben’s blog. Corruptors and manipulators always scan around to look for information to use against those who are REALLY trying to do their job or to make changes for the better. You don’t fool most of us. And, when you try too, the word spreads from others that know.

       1. quite should be quit. finga’s one went crazy tappin on dose buttins in front ob me.

       2. @ANutterVet, thanks for the encouragement. With Bens’ blog i believe it bothers their conscience a little, a little is what they have to work with unfortunately. I am still hoping that our new POTUS takes serious action. The POTUS and congress could make some sweeping changes if they wanted. I say enough is enough and i do not like that we Veterans are suffering at their end of receiving treatment that is not adequate. I will keep going with this fight with the rest of you all, and God help us all. So thankful to be able to share and have some laughs at times. I hope this is just all a bad chapter in va/USA history and history shows the error and never goes back to this ugly place. I hope the lesson is short.

       3. @Ex va – Roger that my Brother!

23. So Trump not selecting the new VA Secretary based on either popular opinion or on your informed opinion, Ben, somehow derails any chance for improvement?

    At first glance it would appear his selection is merely agreement with the status quo, but whatever happened to giving a man a chance to prove his worth?

    Opinions are plenty, but no one, not even you Ben (whom I respect a great deal when it comes to keeping us Veterans informed) has any patent on future outcomes.

    I could be wrong, but what if Trumps play here is intentionally temporary… Sometimes when changing out management you cutoff the head first, then you replace it with something familiar during the search phase.

    Regardless, no amount of speculation will determine reality.

24. I’m more than a little pissed about Shulkin but not about the hiring freeze.

    My reasoning for this comes from my own experience as a manager in the private sector. Shortly after I left the service, I was hired to clean up a breathtakingly dysfunctional workforce. Part of their gripes were based in the fact that they were terribly overworked and understaffed. Most of the problems, though, were rooted in the culture. We had some really bad employees whom I didn’t want to expose new hires to, and, besides, I wanted to bring in my own people, anyway.

    Personally, I’d rather the money be used to expand the VCP. I’d rather seek care outside the VA system if given a choice. There’s been no continuity in my care. I’ve lived here for two years, and I’ve already had turnover in my primary care physician, my neurologist, and my MH provider (X2 on that one). I know that all of these providers hated what the VA was doing to vets, and I think this might have had something to do with their leaving.

25. I am sort of with Ben on this. I also had two sorry choices to make.

    1. If I go with Trump – I truly didn’t want to because I knew he would only see dollar signs, I think we know that with the 15 percent tax he wants to push for the corporations. Who do you think will pick up the other 20 percent. In fact this makes it where the rich will not pay any taxes for certain and will probably get refunds.

    2. Clinton – She lost my vote long before she was a known criminal but she really fell off my boat when she deleted the emails (covering up a crime by committing another). Then no justice came out of it.

    Do we really think Trump will do anything about Clinton, I seriously doubt it, and I wouldn’t doubt that he has already had both over to the White House to drink on our dollars.

    We are screwed now. I knew we would be when I voted for him and he won but what other choice did I or anyone else have.

26. Dan Martinez LOL!
    I endorse Dr. David Shulkin. Guys keep on writing ALL talk and no action. What a waste…

    1. @Dan Martinez – Dan, after you came on Ben’s blog, you mentioned and marketed yourself wanting to be the next Secretary of the VA. Although you didn’t present yourself in a clear and concise professional manner for throwing your name in the ring for such a critical position of the VA;

       [1.] You didn’t build or present an up-to-date official website.
       [2.] No clear cut plan was clearly spelled out for all to read and to evaluate.
       [3.] No endorsements by any leaders known for being on the cutting edge of dealing with Veterans issues, medical care practices, or list a combination of strategies to show others how to possibly solve the problems that are presently occurring in the VA’s system.
       [4.] Search engine results only led to a website that had nothing to do with Veterans, healthcare, corruption, time theft [an issue hardly anyone talks about], the bully and or mobbing of dedicated VA employees, or the management thereof.
       [5.] You posted comments on Ben’s blog, which is accepted, but when challenged you gave no logical rebuttals.
       [6.] By the tone of your post, you probably won’t be a good manager [may be a dictating supervisor], for the position of Secretary of the VA.

       Help me out here, . . . “what is a waste?”

       1. @ ANutterVet, perfectly stated!

    2. @Dan Martinez — Still a hemorrhoid. Should have that looked into, you’re leaving a trail like a snail. 🙂

       1. @Dan Martinez, @Ex va, @Namnibor – Now Ben, since Namnibor diagnosed you with mucosal phlegm like material excreting from your anal roids, and being that this can cause someone to slip and fall, please, immediately go to the closest VA’s ER.

          While your there, tell them that you wanted to be the next Secretary of the VA, and what you really planned on doing to make things better, then post how you were treated. Keep us informed and updated.

       2. @ANutterVet — Priceless! 🙂

       3. @ ANutterVet, my eyes are watering from laughing!!!!!!!

    3. I dunno Danny boy, but it seems to me Ben’s “talking” got plenty of action.

       He wrote about a corrupt director and now he is fired.

       He wrote about a shady deal with veterans data, and a massive contract was rescinded on the day he wrote about.

       He wrote about veterans with TBI getting examinations by unqualified hacks causing the VA to contact 24000 vets for new exams.

       That’s just a quick 3 I can think of.

       Seems like Ben’s “talking” is resulting in action.

       How about your talking? How’s that workin out for ya?

    4. I personally went to Circuit Court and talked about VA. The judge talked. The Judge issued some talk written down on paper called a Restraining Order and served it on VA. VA responded with talk and banned me from care.

       I issued more talk in the form of appeals. VA simply ignord the appealls as if they were never sent. So I went to the press who talked with me and I talked with them.

       23 interviews of talk later and the press issued even more talk in the form of two consequtive Sunday editions, Section F, that talked about the deceit and treachery within VA. Even my Congressman talked with VA – 7 times. VA finally talked to my Congressman and said they would not talk to him anymore about it. I issued more “Free Speech” (talk) in the form of even more Privacy Act requests. The VA now refuses to talk to me about my privacy Act and FOIA requests. So at least the VA is not all talk. In fact, except for false criminal allegations they are on board with you and do not want to talk at all about it now…

       Since the day the newspaper talked about VA publicly last year my mental health services have been terminated and I am banned from talking anymore to a VA shrink. No flag though this time. I guess all the talk in the paper about their misconduct made them talk among themselves? At any rate they talked about it and now figure that I no longer qualify to talk to a shrink since I talked to the press.

       So I do see your point and this is all just a lot of talk. It is a funny thing though isn’t it that of all the things to put at the very beginning of the ten items assembled (after a lot of talk) into one document and now called The Bill Of Rights, was the right to freely assemble and talk? Those Bill Of Rights guys were just full of talk too.

       Heck, in my own family instead of saying, “I have to take a piss” we instead just say, “I have to go talk to a man about a horse.” (I’m not sure this one is covered by the First Ammendment though)

27. I DON’T KNOW WHAT ANYBODY REALLY EXPECTED. A POLITICAN NOT LYING? AND, I’M SANTA CLAUS. WE DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE PEOPLE. LET’S SEE… DO I WANT A DEVIL WORSHIPPING, CHILD MOLESTING, HUMAN SACRIFICING, LESBIAN OR A GREEDY BILLIONAIRE WITH REALLY BAD HAIR? ….. THAT WAS A HARD CHOICE BUT I WENT WITH TRUMP. SO SPANK ME ALREADY.

    1. @Sandy Hale, Christian – Ok Sandy, bend over, I’m going to spank you with my left hand. Ready, wack, wack, wack. Now, go to your room, put your earphones on, and you’re going to listen to friends on the Right Wing programs. Sandy, the only reason I gave you an e-spanking, is because next election, it hopefully will not be a hard choice. Joking. No pun intended, I understand. Your not the only one who felt this way.

28. From the top. Is it a poor decision by Trump to keep Shulkin? Or is he getting bad advice from insiders like Priebus?

    Given his comments during the campaign, after the election and since the inauguration, I cannot believe what has happened at VA is anything other than getting bad advice on Shulkin, and government moving slow on the hiring freeze.

    On the bad advice, are their insiders giving that bad advice to protect the gravy train? Bad advice from politically connected contractors, VSOs and unions?

    Whatever it is, Trump needs to get a handle on it or it seriously will turn into a major media embarrassment for him.

    I discount every singly one of those Democrats who signed the letter about any hiring freeze. If they gave a damn, they would have spoken up long before the election, and certainly before the number of job openings got to 40000+.

    Their bullshit concern now is a disgrace to every veteran who committed suicide because they had no hope.

    Struggling to fill openings? Gee, with leadership like the VA had, I wonder why. Many private medical providers might have ethics and concern for their patients rather than just avoiding malpractice suits.

    I also discount anything Isakson says. His history shows he has zero concern for veterans. What is unfortunate for veterans and Trump is that improvement will have to go through him. Isakson wants to act like this didn’t happen on his watch by now making demands. He needs to act like a chairman rather than a chair warmer.

    I also believe that there will be an exemption for medical providers, which might leave out others at the VA such as administrators.

    I seriously find it disgusting and a blatant lie that all of these politicians now whining about this freeze.

    These are the same bastards that sat by while many veterans are committing suicide, many veterans were waiting and dying, and while the Choice program has been shown to be a disaster for veterans in not only waiting, but not paying the bill of veterans manage to get the appointment.

    It is THOSE politicians who should be explaining why they haven’t acted since at least 2014, not some guy who’s only been in office 7 days.

    A question for those who only want to protect the VA gravy train. Once Trump figures out what is going on, what will you do if he decides every vet should be seen in the community by whoever they want? What if he decides veterans can’t wait to hire thousands of dues paying union members?

    What will you say since you are now on record showing your concern for veterans getting care in a timely manner?

    1. Agreed.

29. This website clearly leans Republican pushing right-wing extremism. You gleefully posted articles announcing veterans overwhelming support of Trump. Snowflake was an expression Nazi guards used to refer to the falling ash of burning Jews.

    1. @J — Please just get a life, your trolling embarrassing yourself. Lunch time at the VA or your moma’s basement?

       1. @J —L@@k at the term snowflake generation or generation snowflake on Wikipedia, it describes you. Young adults that cannot handle a view different than their own and who become extremely offended.

       2. It also easily applies to those who call others names including “snowflake”.

       3. @EX va — Then the Wikipedia definition at the bottom should have a link to an image of a cupcake that’s been left out in the rain. Could take it further and add music to it and have that classic Donna Summer song and video of “Macarthur Park” and lyrics to same to support image of melting dessert fluff:

          “Spring was never waiting for us dear
          It ran one step ahead
          As we followed in the dance

          MacArthur’s Park is melting in the dark
          All the sweet, green icing flowing down
          Someone left the cake out in the rain
          I don’t think that I can take it
          ’cause it took so long to bake it
          And I’ll never have that recipe again, oh, no

          I recall the yellow cotton dress
          Foaming like a wave
          On the ground beneath your knees
          The birds like tender babies in your hands
          And the old men playing Chinese checkers by the trees

          MacArthur’s Park is melting in the dark
          All the sweet green icing flowing down
          Someone left the cake out in the rain
          I don’t think that I can take it
          ‘Cause it took so long to bake it
          And I’ll never have that recipe again, oh, no

          MacArthur’s Park is melting in the dark
          All the sweet green icing flowing down
          Someone left my cake out in the rain
          I don’t think that I can take it
          ‘Cause it took so long to make it
          And I’ll never have that recipe again, oh, no”

       4. @Namnibor, @Ex va – I ate those dam cupcakes before and the recipe was never standardized. First one gave me poo, then the second, I couldn’t poo. Whats up wit dat?

       5. @ANutterVet and @namnibor, you guys got me laughing. LMAO!!!!!

       6. @Ex va – Now you watch your pain level from all that laughing.

       7. @namnibor: Ask and you shall receive. Click the link under broader usage: “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Snowflake”

       8. @ANutterVet — All recipes at the VA meat grinder are formulated to specifically fly out of the southern exit fluently but always with the chance of chunks in the forecast around Fridays.
          (I bet it’s part time Veteran employees that have to hose that southern exit off daily)

       9. @CJ — Thanks! The cupcake in the downpour rain is perfect. 🙂

       10. @ ANutterVet, you are correct laughter does help a lot with the pain relief. I appreciate it!

       11. @cj, you posted in Wikipedia that is great. ROFL!!! The cupcake in the rain video!!! That was great!!! Perfect!!!

       12. @cj , @Ex va, @Namnibor – Dang nam it cj, watch your blow back. This is the third time I had to wipe of my keyboard. You Shitter. I mean, shootz you shit.

           I’m on a mission here. I gotta keep my Brother @Ex va laughing.

       13. ANutterVet, it’s all shits and giggles until someone giggles and shits.

       14. @91Veteran – That’s a good one. Better copyright that.

    2. Snowflake is also an expression that small children use to describe falling white stuff that comes out of clouds. Children tend to gleefully express left-wing extremism if taken in a political light, if it involves cookies or pancakes. I once married a German national. She taught me enough German to get by very nicely in Europe.

       I never once recall the Germans using the word “snowflake” in speech. “Snow” is proniunced loosely as “shnay” although I have no clue what the right spelling is nor what the additional letters are for spelling is for flake? Is it “J”?

       1. 🙂 “shnay j” 🙂 The alliteration is killing me!!

30. I believe I’ve mentioned before my wife is on Twitter. She “Tweets” not only to President Trump, she adds it to “Eric Trump” and his “team”!
    Now, she’s going to ‘tweet’ the following. She’s going to ask President Trump *IF* it would be possible, to sign a law, to “video and/or voice record any and all VA appointments”.
    This way, there will no longer be a “he said, she said” situation.
    Can y’all imagine the facial expressions of all those reprobates. Especially when they see vets video taping their every lazy move. Standing around not doing anything.

    Or, how about healthcare providers not answering questions. Or helping veterans with their many illnesses. Or, trying to push meds not approved for consumption by humans.

    Or, schedulers not performing their duties, by “zeroing out” appointments.

    Or, employees being caught playing video games during work hours.

    I could go on and on over the many, many egregious acts performed by those asswipes.
    Wouldn’t that be a great day!?

    1. @Crazy elf – Got my recording equipment ready to go.

    2. @Crazy elf:
       You are very lucky to have your wife siding with you. I will tape some phone calls without letting people know I’m doing it. One can’t go two steps these days without committing some infraction or breaking a law. A country who constantly and continually keeps its citizens in a state of fear accuses these same citizens of being ‘paranoid’ and in need of government intervention to save these citizens from themselves.
       Why would a government that is supposedly ‘by the people, for the people’ want their citizens in a constant state of prostration and bowing to government? It is never too late to learn that though we may have evolved from apes (which I doubt) we can still learn how to stand upright and be strong for our children, ourselves and posterity.
       Thank you for these news stories and blog– one cannot know who is being reached and needing to know other good people are still battling also, but there is hope.
       Ephesians 6: 10-20

       1. @LittleSandyRiver: How are you doing with your quitting smoking? I am pulling for you, I know you can do it. No stinking little damn pack of smokes can rule over you, YOUR the BOSS, kick butts, and take names later. Look in the mirror, and look and that smoke…..now who’s the boss? Yeah, that’s right……..You are.

       2. @cj I have been quit now for a few months, thanks for reminder! When the urge to smoke overtakes me, I just find something quick to do and realize that the moment will pass. And of course the urge comes at the times I least expect.
          It is almost difficult to keep up with all the comments, but enjoy reading articles and replies.

       3. Really good free book on the internet to help you quit & stay quit: Never Take Another Puff By Joel Spitzer

       4. @LittleSandyRiver: That is fantastik news. The urges will get better, but never be gone completely. It’s been about 5 years now, and once in a while out of nowhere I will reach for a smoke, insane. I am so glad your doing so well. Keep up the great work. NiteWish is right about that book.

    3. She needs to include Trumps new VA advisor in her tweets.

       And add a simple request. No longer should the VA be exempt from federal and state laws.

31. A new vaccination coming for all of us guinea pigs. Roll up your sleeves and bend over. Here it comes sideways with big pharma in total charge, so there will be no lube. Did everybody remember to get your flu shots?

    “Zika vaccine could be delayed, unaffordable after US Army grants exclusive rights to pharma company”
    By Sophie Edwards 27 January 2017

    “https://www.devex.com/news/zika-vaccine-could-be-delayed-unaffordable-after-us-army-grants-exclusive-rights-to-pharma-company-89519”

32. We transition from a man that was the darling of the world. The whole world and much of America just loved this darling of a man. He had charisma and played hoops for Gods sake! Who can hate a man that shoots hoops and gets a Nobel Prize just for breathing inside the oval office? Obama used his authority with the practiced precision that only the Chicago politico moguls can train into a man. Obama got his way just because he was Obama and nothing more was needed for him.

    We transition to a man that the world abhores. At least half of America didn’t want the jack ass and his own party actively undermined his presidential bid. I honestly never did like the guy much. He has the wealth of all the ancient Kings combined, and he uses his authority like a blunt club. Those who do befriend and work with him often find themselves out of a job on a moments notice. I am 52, and I have witnessed many presidents get elected now. I have never seen so much fear expressed over a new president in my time. Trump gets his way because he bulls through the bullshit and cuts to the chase within moments. He discards liabilities quickly and covets assets greatly. He has or wants no poitical finesse.

    This is the history of two men so far as seen by me except for one thing – Obama has been president for eight years and his beloved nation still sees 20+ vets per day end their own trail for lack of hope that life holds anything more of value to them. Pain, Shame, Guilt, Remorse, and Regret are the realities for these heros and that is the way of war. Enter the VA.

    Add VA to the list above and you will have written the psychological profile leading up to nearly all of those 20+. I have sat for months in rooms with my brothers and sisters who feel all of these things like intractable pain. Several chose to end the pain. One hardened combat Marine seargent a few decades younger than me said once in once a week Thursday group, “I come down here for hours most days (to the plaza where the clinic is). I wait for this group because I don’t know where else to go. I don’t know what to do.” He said it with a far away look in his eyes. He turned to me real slow and asked, “Where do you go?”

    He asked it like I was somebody else. I had absolutely no answer for him. Six months in group asking this kind of thing and talking about practicing his trigger pull with the gun to his head. Then he wasn’t here anymore.

    The hope in my heart is that America will hate Trump. I want VA to hate Trump. I want Trump to be so hated that instead of a Nobel Peace Prize that the World promises to destroy America. I WANT the godamn counsellor in that fucking meeting to tell the NEXT seargent, “You can come here. The doors are open 24 hours a day and YOU are the reason. We are here to help you through this EVERY SINGLE DAY.” Under Obama he just waited outside in all weather for months for the one hour per week that he could talk to people that did not divert their gaze.

    It is time for a President that I really hate, that you really hate, and that the world really hates. Perhaps we will find a place for our vets to wait out of the weather if we aren’t all so enthralled with all the love flowing out of the septic lines coming from Washington D.C.

    1. Well said, Dennis!

       1. @Dennis – I must admit most of your posts are a proactive challenge to comprehend [meant in a positive way]. And, if the reader doesn’t catch your point the first time they read it, and if they are interested in understanding, they will need to go back and reread your post again. A very good way to strategically weed out those who truly don’t take the time to understand where you coming from, and the point in which you’re trying to get across. In short terms, a very thought provocative post. Thank you.

          Your post about where you lived next to your family’s tavern was intriguingly funny.

    2. He must be the only man with a Kill List to earn the Peace Prize for “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” & then to donate some of the 1.4mil to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund & then there is Demarlon Thomas, of Saginaw, Michigan pardoned by Obama this past Nov, living at a halfway house is assassinate by his former gang members the other day – all caught on video. In my opinion both international & domestic peoples are not uniting.

    3. Pretty simple request, isn’t it Dennis.

    4. Surprisingly, the world elite 1 percent do not back or like Trump. They are for globalization which can be construed as Socialism. This is where Trump wants the business owners to excel and people to work for good wages. The World’s elite don’t want to share profits and want the companies to go to countries who pay low wages.

       I for one am against Socialism. Just the other day I watched a video of a staunch Obama supporter who was complaining they were afraid of losing benefits they’ve enjoyed the 8 years Obama was president.

       While people who went to work every day for the last 8 years saw their wages locked and veterans saw laughable insulting yearly disability COLA and other increases, welfare recipients enjoyed increased benefits which were good enough to not have to bother looking for a job.

       In my State of Wisconsin, Governor Walker already put action into play requiring welfare recipients to work 80 hours a month if they had children ages 6 to 18. Likewise, I’m expecting Trump to do the same as he’s already helping to build a bigger workforce. This goes against what the Socialists on the top and bottom ends do not want. Trumps plan will let us see increases due more workers paying in and less welfare recipients collecting.

       I wouldn’t be too quick to say Trump is in with all the elites. He’s more of a low end Billionaire as ludicrous as it sounds and he’s for middle America. He isn’t going to paint himself into a corner with the VA either. There were some AFGE employee firings in Puerto Rico since he got into office. Just give him a chance.

33. President Donald Trump has now been in office just 6 full days. During that 6 days, we have seen a growing number of high level officials fired and retiring across the VA System. No doubt there is going to be an even greater purge of VA Officials including a large number of hiring officials known as Chief of Staff.

    The Chief of Staff at each VA medical facility is responsible for hiring Medical and Psychology staff such as Doctors, nurses and Psychiatrist. Even with additional money from Congress the current hiring system at the VA has not been providing the needed staffing.

    The current hiring system at the VA is definitely not working. In fact, with the current system of hiring at the VA which has chief of staffs who are also employed by the partnering universities. Provides a real conflict of interest that is costing the VA $100s of millions each year.

    A close look at the Cincinnati VAMC show that the conflict of interest there not only prevented Veterans from receiving proper and timely care. It was a vehicle for the University of Cincinnati to steal over $100 million per year from the VA.

    Anyone who doubt it should read former VAMC Chief of Staff Dr. Barbara Temeck whistleblowers report and statement.

    1. You have to wonder if the VA has 41000-45000 job openings, why they only have 2000 openings advertised as the linked article in Ben’s post states.

34. Discount me from the category of combat trained crazy veterans who know how to use firepower. That kind of statement has law enforcement assuming all veterans are gun toting crazy war vets ready to snap any minute if they don’t get their way.

    1. @Just Another Veteran – Is this only a statement that you’re making? Or, are you commenting to a post? If you’re commenting, please place your response under the post by clicking this faded out Reply button.

       I do agree that the type of comment will keep law enforcement on edge. Thanks.

    2. Just Another Veteran,
       Who on here is advocating violent behavior? Which comment are you referring to?

       1. A death wish is violent behavior. Just turned inward instead of outward. And that is better. It keeps me from turning it outward.

          Dennis just posted an example.

          My aunt did it her way. Stoic, without access to a gun or other finale exit means, she refused food and treatment. My sister refused treatment for pneumonia. There are means for anyone so disposed.

       2. @ANutterVet @Crazy elf: If I am not mistaken, he is refering to Ben’s article

          “We are outspoken. We are pissed. And we know how to work all the guns.” and “Personally, if I were Donald Trump, I would not piss on my most supportive population group that consists of a diverse cross-section of combat-trained taxpayers. It is the wrong group to piss off, President Trump.”

       3. @cj – I said the same thing to my wife pertaining to how the VA treats many Veterans.

       4. @ANutterVet: LOL nooooooo, I was trying to answer Crazy Elf.

          “Just Another Veteran,
          Who on here is advocating violent behavior? Which comment are you referring to?”

          Only I haven’t quite figured out yet how to make my comment post where I want it to post. I hit reply under the post, and it ends up in another place. Making me look like I am talking out of my ass…..and to be honest……somethimes I am, because somedays shit for brains is all I have.

          …./””””””””””””\======░ ▒▓▓█D
          /””””””””””””””””””””””\
          \_@_@_@_@_@_@_@_/

       5. @cj -You stated, “Making me look like I am talking out of my ass…..and to be honest……somethimes I am, because somedays shit for brains is all I have.”

          And I say, I know, I read some of your posts. Joking. LMAO. Don’t want to be mistaken for the enemy. Large artillery has more power than a dam pissed off coming at you K9.

       6. @ANutterVet : Oh crap…you did read them didn’t you? hahahaha
          I don’t know…..those K9’s can turn quicker than any Howitzer

          (___________________________________________________()6 `-,
          ( __________________________________________________/ ””`
          //\\ //\\
          “” “” “” “”

       7. Oops, I sure screwed that pooch.

       8. @Just Another Vet,
          I do believe Ben was speaking “rhetorically”!

       9. Does Violently Happy count? 🙂

35. My wife read this article, and was dismayed at all the Anti-Trump rhetoric.
    She said, “It took GOD six days to create the world!” Are y’all expecting President Trump to be like GOD?
    (How long was a “day” then? No one knows!)
    Now we must put our trust, and yes faith, in him to get the job done. We also must be willing to help.
    He has a website to reach out to him.
    Use it. We have sent him articles concerning this, and other, issues about VA.
    Have you?
    The more he knows, the more he can do to get the job done. Send him your concerns. Send him your stories.
    ________________________

    91Veteran,
    Here’s something you might be interested in.
    From:
    “girlsjustwannahaveguns.com”
    posted on 26 Jan. 2017
    titled:

    “Eat Dust Barry: Obama’s Social Security Gun Grab REVERSED by Congress”

    Social Security was first, then the VA was next on the chopping block. The next time we go to VHA, we’re going to see *IF* VA asks about weapons.
    I’ve already stated it wasn’t any of their business on this issue.
    _____________________

    Also, from “military.com/daily news”
    posted: today Jan. 27, 2017 are two articles of concern.
    1)
    “Trial for PTSD Treatment with Ecstasy Ingredient to Open Soon”

    2)
    “Help for Caretakers: Understanding PTSD in Veterans”

    By Amy Bushatz (w/videos)
    _________________

    My wife saw on our local news, WRDQ – channel 27, concerning how the VA is now “claiming” – “Agent Orange was NEVER sprayed in Guam!”
    They interviewed a veteran who says that’s not true. He knows it’s “fake/false/lies information” because he sprayed the “chemical compound” around the base.

    1. And farmers didn’t use it on corn fields.

       Yes, Agent Orange was used on all bases including those in the U S to sterilized ground around fences. But it wasn’t sprayed on people the way it was in Vietnam. Men weren’t “poisoned” by it on Guam unless they were careless in handling it. But they were poisoned by it in the field in Vietnam.

       If you are claiming “poisoning” anywhere but Vietnam Jungles in the Prairie Operations then recognize the exposure was to all Americans who ate corn or corn fed animals for example. Many used it to kill weeds and grass in pavement cracks.

       Agent Orange: AKA 2-4-D. As marked on the barrels the LARCs I was on hauling it up the Cua Viet River to Dong Ha after being transferred from the NavSupAct Hospital to the Admiral’s Staff.

       That was also the marking on the barrel used as a broad leaf weed killer in the corn field in Missouri by my cousin when I was 12 and he was 13 on his uncle’s farm. And when his uncle told us not to spray with a following wind, use the protective clothing and gloves because it was the most poisonous substance known to man in 1953. Applied in double strength to the broad leaf weed killer it kills all plants and if strong enough sterilizes the soil.

       1. Lem,
          It was also sprayed along rail road tracks, with heavy foliage, in the U.S.
          I wonder how many citizens are aware of this. How many lived close to the rail road?

    2. That’s good news crazy elf. That kind of unconstituional crap and invasion of privacy should have never happened.

       It just goes to show how thoroughly lawless Obama was in ignoring any requirement for a court to declare one incompetent before restricting rights.

36. I suspect the hiring freeze is part of the same effort that created the Phoenix and Cheyenne VA crises. Make enough veterans dissatisfied, as many are on this thread all ready, that the VA can be privatized and instead of directors receiving hundreds of thousands in compensation the tax payers will be ponying up tens of millions to compensate the big medical corporations.

    It is the same corruption that made the ACA such a bad bill.

    1. Look at the Choice contractors as an example. Look up their executive compensation.

       1. Lem,
          You bring up a great point.
          I believe taxpayers have an undisputed right to know where all their money is going!
          That ACA was a rip off of the taxpayers from the beginning. Even the MIT idiot who drafted it, and was called on the carpet by Congress (there’s a video of him sucking tits over his lies), admitted he lied to Americans.

    2. Lem,
       I don’t believe it was a “hiring freeze” in Phoenix and Cheyenne which caused the crisis. I believe it was the corrupt administration at both VA agencies.
       They were more interested in receiving taxpayers monies for themselves than helping veterans.

       1. No, it wasn’t a hiring freeze. But it was an engineered crisis. Why weren’t the Directors able to keep staff? Were they deliberately abusive? The new Director in Cheyenne is able to keep staff. Is there some additional incentives at his disposal?

          And it wasn’t just happening in Phoenix and Cheyenne. How do you think we have gotten so many dissatisfied veterans with the VA since the beginning of the effort to privatize government services? Someone just mentioned privatizing the Post Office on my facebook.

          Issuance of immigration visas has been taken out of the Embassies and given to a private company which makes you obtain documents at a fee from other privatized government services. It is about the 1% getting their hands, in the words of the killers of Malcom X, in pockets of others.

37. I was a flight instructor at our local airport as a much younger man. I taught flight in sailplanes, airplanes and I towed banners over the Ducks football games. I flew for momey because I loved flight and the only way to afford it was to get paid while doing it. I hate to brag, but I made nearly $15 per hour (read from the engine time meter)!

    One common feature to any flight school is that the clients are generally wealthy. Poor kids just cannot pay the rental fees. So I got doctors, lawyers, and other similarly well paid professionals who became my students.

    A flight Instructor alone in an aircraft with a student exists substantially to sace the aircraft and crew from the student. You just cannot get away without letting the damn students take control and it is a simultaneous excersize in sheer terror and forgiving patience. A bond is formed.

    This article reminded me of a glider student that I had. A doctor. At the time HMOs were just taking flight and they too were lauded as the doom of us all. My student Tony worked at the local hospital until the HMO bought the company. Incredibly it became his job to fire all employees that did not fit the HMO biz model. He talked often about it. He himself was responsible for identifying his own position for discharge and he was.

    Here is what he told me; A traditional healthcare organization (prior to HMOs, like VA) has three standing armies. One of the armies is currently working in the hospital. The second army employed is there to relieve the first one at given and set intervals. The third standing army exists full time in case any one individual in the first two does not show up to work.

    The HMO biz model that we all now see in America has one standing army. My student was tasked with reducing he workforce to a single standing army and more an half of the folks employed full time were let go. America predicted gloom, but fast forward now 20+ years and I do not see people laying dead in the streets from it.

    What is my point? My point is this; our new POTUS also knows about the HMO biz model. He also knows about the traditional VA model. I hear constantly about VA shortfalls in staff, yet I see staff that is disinterested, lazy, overweight, condescending, and generally worthless as care providers. This happened in general medicine too until HMOs came along.

    So I take a pass on todays article because I do not believe that VA is understaffed. VA is undermanaged. If my student years ago was right, then VA has three standing armies of care providers. America only needs one. Furthermore, the corruption that immunity from law has brought reaches down to the lowest level. This blog has an endless supply of true stories that sicken the mind. I cannot see a good reason to keep feeding that nightmare more bodies.

    A hiring freeze is step one to disarming the union. This was done by my student when the HMO took over. Step two I am betting is now underway. Step two as told by my student is to simply tell the other two standing armies the two words my doc student was tasked with telling over half of his own colleagues; “You’re fired.”

    Before I duck the flying cabbages let me ask you to do something; Google the following phrase, “sex offenders who work at veterans affairs”. Before you throw that tomato at me just read up on some of the “new hires” at VA.

    1. @Dennis: I won’t be throwing and cabbage or tomatoes at you. I think you and most who have posted are correct.

    2. Dennis,
       I just googled “Sex Offenders Who Work At Veterans Affairs”!
       And there are articles after articles concerning this issue. Who is hiring these criminals? What right does VA have putting convicted criminals in charge of anything?

       This is another reason President Trump needs to close down VHA’s nationwide and start over by hiring only the best and brightest healthcare providers! From the best Medical Universities in the United States of America! Not from Third World Countries. Hell, we don’t even know if half of the healthcare providers at VHA’s are even qualified to play doctor or nurse!!!!!!!!

       Until then, let us use outside healthcare!
       One of the articles claim VA is only staffed with about 13% veterans. That’s not enough.

       1. Makes me sick to my stomache that America is employing the filthiest of criminals – child sex offenders! One of these guys even had his sex registry photo taken with his VA id badge on! The fucker was going to work helping our nations heros right after sentencing!

          I am on the complete opposite end of the dismay over a hiring freeze. My position is to fire every last one of the cermin, fire up the bulldozers, and fire just a single warning shot to those inside the goddamn buildings before those bulldozers make a level playground out of every last VA facility.

          I say we give them a full ten seconds to safely evacuate.

       2. “vermin” not “cermin”

       3. I highly doubt any private sector medical provider would hire a sex offender given they would be liable for putting someone like that in a position of trust.

          I’m curious what the law is regarding a criminal in a position of trust in the private sector.

          When there are no consequences for breaching trust, you end up with sex offenders working at the VA.

          I cannot fathom how any criminal hired to work at the VA can pass a background check. Either the VA is not doing them, or you have others that are untrustworthy in a position of trust deciding that criminal won’t be a problem when hired.

    3. You know Dennis, what you say is borne out in news articles over the past couple years reporting the case load of a VA provider compared to those in the private sector.

       I suspect how many patients a VA doctor sees per day/week/month is easily measured.

       I also suspect once those in charge see numbers showing a VA doctor might be only seeing 3 patients per week, some changes will be made.

       I don’t want to see assembly line care where I might see a doctor for 5 minutes, but I also don’t see veterans waiting a month to see a doctor because that doctor seeing more than 3 vets per week is too much work.

       1. Recently, a neighbor that was moving out living across from me that happens to work in a highly specialized cancer treatment hospital told me that they just lost a fellow excellent M.D. to go work at the VA and the odd thing about it he left while knowing Veterans sent through the VA Choice Program to their clinic because the nearer VA Clinics did not HAVE such advanced cancer treatment, had their Choice **denied** because the VA failed to act *timely* and even fail to *pay the bill/authorization*…yet, this Highly Specialized Cancer Treatment M.D. *left* for the VA, working *at* a VAMC that *has no* specialized cancer treatment…WHY?…his reason was simple: “I will only see MAX of 3 patients a day and no worry of liability”…THAT is HOW the VA is “attracting” help at the VA…I personally rather wait for new hires be actual Dr.’s working as hard or harder than private sector.
          Rant Out.

38. I too was NOT happy to see “Ferret Faced” Shulkin being considered as Sec-VA.
    That said, what do y’all expect in just seven days? What ‘miracles’ did you expect? Did y’all expect hundreds, if not a few thousand, to be fired? Did y’all expect some kind of “saviour” to “deliver us from evil” IMMEDIATELY after Jan. 20, 2017?
    It doesn’t work that way!
    It takes time to assess the situation on the best course of attack!!!! Already we’ve seen improvement. Some have retired, which they should have been fired. Some HAVE BEEN FIRED!
    A few days ago, many had praised President Trump. Today, many are scorning him.
    Some say “military experience should be a prerequisite for the job as President & Sec-VA!” Well, look how that’s worked for us in the past! Most have been a Gen. Custer FUBAR! Remember what happened to him? Or how about Gen. Grant, later President Grant. His administration was filled to capacity with corruption.

    This crap, known as the VA, has had 100 years to become the third most corrupt agency. Only two others are more corrupt, the DOD & AFGE (respectfully)!
    Damn folks, give the man a chance!
    It’s called “Hurry up and wait!” Remember those words?!

    1. @Crazy elf, @Seymore Klearly, @Namnibor – I agree that we need to give POTUS more time. The only thing that concerns me, is what time frame would be considered to be reasonable. Just like opinions, the acceptable length of time can be spread all over the place. A reasonable amount of an acceptable time frame [goal] must be set. If not, we as Veterans will be at the mercy of the same ole, same ole. And quite frankly, I’ve had enough, and I believe that you feel the same way as well.

       JMO from a Veteran who is really tired of the unnecessary pain and suffering, my life being flipped up side down for years, the lack of empathy and medical probing from VA care providers, the Main Stream Media [MSM] uncaring attitude via less coverage about the VA’s problems, and my heart being ripped into after reading about the horror stories posted by my Brothers and Sisters on Ben’s blog.

       1. A reasonable amount of time? That depends. Trump has moved faster than I expected on some things, so the speed of things changing in the VA may be faster than I expected.

          I truly believe one change made already is the speed at which corrupt managers are fired as we saw with Hamlin.

          How fast for other things?

          1 month to see other changes. 3 months to see things meaningful. 6 months to see a significant turnaround.

          This is all predicated on keeping the worthless VSOs and congress critters out of the way.

          I still believe in the idea that when a man gives his word, he’s going to keep it. I suspect Trump has the same expectation for as long as he’s been in business.

          I also expect he won’t be surprised at how pissed off veterans will be if he doesn’t keep his word.

          During his inaugural speech, he ripped politicians in DC that say one thing and do another.

          He will be held to the same standard.

39. I don’t think Trump is intentionally kicking us vets under the bus.It’s just that he never really gives serious thought to what he is saying and is aways having to have his surrogates walk it back. I fear his his ability to to put his mouth in gear before his brain is going to get us into so deep s**t in the future. JMO

40. Another thought: By announcing this federal hiring freeze, it brings to the surface of the swamp the outspoken swamp beasts wanting to protect the status quo by their outcry, such as the VSO’s suddenly appearing as if they grew a conscience and NOW say it’s a “public safety issue for Vets”, but only when the cookie jar lid was super glued shut….Pres. Trump may be calling a huge bluff in order for the swamp beasts to show themselves…remember, he’s in the business of games of chance and casinos…strategy. I am trying to view all that’s taking place as Pres. Trump announcing hiring freeze *may* be akin to the Pied Piper calling the rats to show themselves and be led to their doom. Critical Thinking 101: Look all around, inside, and under the box, not just in the box.
    It’s snowing here…lovely peaceful snow.

    1. namnibor,
       Your “box metaphor” is dead on.
       Have we, veterans all, become so intangled within/inside our “boxes”, that we can’t see outside of it!?
       New ways of thinking is what will allow us to move forward!

41. This sounds a little premature Ben. I mean, we should lift the hiring ban, to hire needed shrinks and doctors? Last I looked none of those shrinks or doctors have been doing us any favors. In fact, they have both been harming us. Is it not the shrinks that have been denying our service connected TBI, due to everything else under the sun? What about all those doctors? Wow what a great team of help we have there, right? Yes I think it is a little premature at this point. I have stated before………..I am all in to march on Washington in the largest march this country has ever seen. There is not a household in this country that either, doesn’t have a veteran as a family member, or a friend of a family that has a veteran in it, or knows someone who has lost a family member fighting for this country. Expediency rarely ever works out for the better, and usually gets criticized in hindsight, had they only taken the time to think this through, this would not have happened. It pains me dearly knowing at least 20 veterans a day are taking their own lives, and I would gladly give my own to save just one of them. I am not willing, however, to hire just to hire UNQUALIFIED QUACKS to push them over the edge. If I sound over the edge myself…..well I have a fantastic cocktail I take twice a day courtesy of the V.A. and a TBI that has so far, not been recognized by those very QUACKS your requesting more of to be hired…………..Yeah running off at the mouth is a byproduct of those two conditions I just mentioned. So I am entitled to my opinion. Hey doc, I have this terrible pain between my shoulder blades. Oh that’s an old broken rib. Next day almost lost my life again, major heart attack. Great work doc. No we don’t need more of those, we need less of those, and more of REAL, QUALIFIED, BOARD CERTIFIED doctors, and a way to prosecute them when they screw up. Just like the real doctors in private practice. I go to the Lovell Federal Healthcare Center, it is both DOD and V.A. and it has been a cluster fuck ever since the two have been combined. Mixing the two is a BAD idea. I know, I have years of experience with that combination. I also DO NOT CARE, what any Senator says, after all. they have had since day one to fix this mess, and haven’t. Don’t shift the blame off of the offenders/Senators/Congressmen, to anyone else. Sifting through this mess is going to take time………..period. This needs to be done right, not expediently. Drain the swamp, Never expect an emmediate resonse from me, I rarely have time to watch all that is going on.

    1. Cj I get that pain too between the shoulder blades, thankx for the heads up on a pending heart attack. I showed the DR my hands at one appt, I have the beginning of Dupuytren’s Contracture =[If you can’t stretch your hands out flat it’s a condition that slowly causes fingers to bend into the palm. The condition occurs as a result of small lumps or nodules forming in the connective tissue in the palm. Over time, the nodules contract until it is difficult to extend the fingers. Untreated, these will become fixed in a permanently bent position]. Dr tells me oh that’s nothing, your just thin. Well my father was thin too & he had 3 fingers on both hands laying flat against the palm & unusable. Looked extraterrestrial being able to only use 2 fingers to do stuff but he said it was not painful. [RIP daddy].

       1. @NiteWish: Please get that pain between your shoulders checked right away, with a Cardiologist, today, if possible. I am sorry to hear about your hands, and for the loss of your father. I hope that somewhere a doctor can help with that.

          P.S. Some heart centers will see you right away, check what hospitals in your area are heart centers, call and most likely you can get evaluated today. Also, do not do anything strenuous, until you have been checked.

       2. Thank you cj but no, I have a death ‘wish’ & housemates have strict instructions not to call any EMT, unless I’m already dead, if not – please finish the job. DNR do not resuscitate

       3. @NiteWish: I am sorry to hear this. If you would like to talk in private, I will gladly give you my email. I hate to lose any family members, and veterans are all part of the same fucked up family, like it or not.

       4. cj Theres nothing to talk about that I haven’t already examined & re-examined but thank you for your kindness. It means a lot to me. A few weeks ago we had 2 rolling earthquakes during the night, its my responsible to do the checks for damage. 2 days later I realize I missed checking the furnace room & sure enough the exhaust pipe had been moved completely off the vent, Lucky we rarely turn it on being in CA but I realized my wish to die in my sleep could affect another & it is not my intention to wish harm on any other human being or the pets with my personal wish. The old Cliché Be Careful what you wish for. I installed a carbon monoxide alarm for them.

       5. @NiteWish: I won’t pry. I only asked as it seems we have the same wish. The day they saved my life? Is the day my life ended, they should have just let me go.

       6. cj I watched the HBO documentary special Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq & was dismayed the VA is promoting the celebrating of the worst day of a Vets life & then reminding them of it every year like a second birthday. Wouldn’t work for me. Those people need to read Johnny got his gun. Be well old friend.

       7. @NiteWish: I just finished watching the same documentary, I can see both sides of that fucked up coin, and now have a better understanding of where your coming from.

          Firstly, I would like to apologize for my ignorance of what you have been through, because of course, I do not know you. Second, you should know that people you never even met, have you in their prayers, even if each will never cross paths. People pray for our veterans each and every day, even if they don’t know them personally, because they have them in their thoughts.

          We have just crossed paths, and I will tell you, I care a great deal about you. Our lives, and generations, are far apart, our experiences are not even in the same zip code. I can’t even imagine what you have gone through, yet your my brother none the less.

          I have a tendency to ramble on and not make much sense, so I will stop now. I guess, I just wanted you to know, people do care.

       8. cj Lets clear this up: I am not a combat vet, I am not male. I am a veteran sister with PTSD + chronic shoulder/arm/neck condition. 2 of my 3 sons are Iraq combat vets, the other did ‘secret’ things, I know little about. I mentioned the documentary due to your comment “ The day they saved my life”….. I feel weird now, think I’ll just go & be quite & smoke a doobie.

       9. @NiteWish – Sister NiteWish,I did that for few decades after getting discharged, and didn’t even know why. Add on the 151 sweet dark rum and black Russians, and I was numb as could be. Jogging for 7-10 miles to make myself exhausted. When in the company of others, always carrying weapons on me in different locations for an easy grab to protect myself. Now speaking about that doobie

          Don’t bogart that joint my friend, . . . Ahh, those days. Try not to be to hard on yourself. I believe I know how you feel when you add on the pain. Do you take any Schedule II medications for pain?

       10. @NiteWish – I forgot to ask if you have muscle spasms and if you’re on a specific type of medication. With the epidemic in our country with pain meds, the DEA has tagged one muscle relaxer [Carisoprodol-Soma] for tight monitoring.

       11. @NiteWish:See, we have more in common than you think. I am not a combat veteran either. There is no reason to feel weird, we are and always will be family. Yes, they saved my life, after that heart attack I told you about. What they didn’t do, is finish the job, because the V.A. got in the way. I am 100% disabled, from service connected injuries during peace time. You can be blown up in your barracks by the stupidity of other people. Veterans get messed up all the time durring peace time while minding their own business. It happens. Your even more apart of this veteran family than I am, you being the mother of veterans, is no easy task either. Nothing but respect for you, and everything I said before stays the same. It makes no difference to me if your male or female, combat or non combat. We are all part of the same f…up family. And should watch our for each other, and give help when asked. OK….I’m done running off at the mouth.

    2. Good post cj.

       Interesting on how all these politicians suddenly become experts after sitting by for years and watching a disaster unfold.

       I too hate the idea of another veteran dying, but I would rather time be spent at trying to permanently fix a problem so that number drops as close to zero as possible.

       Throwing a bandaid at the situation for the sake of speed as has been done for years won’t fix it.

42. Vox populi is a Latin phrase that literally means “voice of the people”.

    Popular opinion (YOUR”S) IS ALMOST ALWAYS WRONG. Get over it blog posting vets, “You will get fooled again”.

    Paragraphs are your friend. Drop the stream of conscience, run on posts.
    You know who you are….

    1. @John Cokos — Perhaps you should understand that some of us deal with physical and mental health issues that often limit or impair “proper grammar or paragraphs” and get the fuck over it….butthurt trollflake.

43. Appropriate criticism in article as far as the pick for Shulkin for VA Sec., but as far as the hiring freeze potentially or actually affecting the VA…let’s give Pres. Trump a chance before pissing on our own cornflakes because I really feel Trump’s team may be readying for massive audits to see follow the $$$ and see where the ship is bleeding $$$ from…call it a RESET of sorts.
    I am not happy with Shulkin pick by no means and that definitely tasted like piss in my cornflakes, but I am looking at it like this, you cannot throw money on a fire and expect it not to go up in flames without accountability and that’s exactly what’s been done with the VA for decades…time to try a different road traveled…give it time folks. Yes, we need to keep the pressure on but in same token, we need not come across polar opposite of the still butthurt snowflakes kind of way just yet at least…but keeping the pressure on and bright spotlight called truth and accountability.
    President Trump also has this huge Obama Eight Year Mess to wade through, to include fact a great majority of those tanks and military equipment Obama sent in last days to Russian border arrived there with dead batteries and NO FUEL. LOL! Messed-up, and our USA is really messed-up, and almost every Federal Agency has been on carte blanche hungry hippos for eight years…so the swamp is plenty thick folks…then you have the VA and the Military Industrial Mess Machine with both having bleeding $$$$ from contractors gouging, VA employees with vested interest in these bleeding contracts…what I am trying to express is give Pres. Trump a wee bit more time, he’s already done a whirlwind of activity in first 7 days in Office…but he started this work before even getting in office on the business and trade end…now he has to wrangle the large swamp beasts….give it time my brothers and sisters…but not too much because the VA is definitely lying and Veterans are definitely dying.
    Rant out. Give Pres. Trump a chance before getting panties in a bind. A hiring freeze could also be looked upon in a glass half full way in that’s less Federal Employee’s killing Vets or dishing out shitty care. Just saying.

    1. I agree namnibor $$$ and see where the ship is bleeding $$$ I think if you went to the VA’S contracting office you will find the rat’s nest

    2. That is a very good point of seeing where it is bleeding. I like the way Trump is bullying these agencies like the VA has bullied veterans for many years. He just has to follow through with his words and learn discipline. If he will listen to Mattis about the VA, he will get some insight because there is a direct nexus to VA and DOD on so many levels.

    3. THERE IS NO HIRING BAN FOR THE VA JUST GO ON THEIR WEBSITE AND READ IT

44. I too, again, voted for the lesser of two evils not putting much hope in any of them. I am very accustomed to lip-service and stinking politics. Also all the lies and promises over the many years that lying corrupt politicians make never keeping, while not many sheep seem to care about or is flushed down the expected memory hole.

    Trump said America 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Okay, he did the trade crap stuff, the torture thing, illegals (?) pipeline (corporate whores) then the Mex border which should also include our northern borders. Then came the foreign junk and distractions, Russia, London, Israel, the stinking media clowns to the United Nations filth, etc. So he’s stepped backwards and side-ways in my thinking while we suffer and do without, some dying in horrible ways and without end of life meds to make their passing more comfortable (the VA and civilian methods). NO they have to wait up to days to get through the pain med red-tape and game playing. So I guess Trump, and of coarse Pence or Coats or Congress critters haven’t had to deal with lasting ill health issues, threatened, ruined, lied to, worse, and constant chronic pain issues. Is so he’d and the trash he picked from Indiana would have put us at the top of the priority list somewhere like he said in some of his pointing out of vets in his filled arena gatherings. While trashy Marxist pigs and the VA cheerleaders, media and other refuse to do anything for certain groups of vets here and around the nation. While other vets go totally un-affected for some lame reasons. Oh, they didn’t ask the right questions or may have complained and changed clinics…that evil stuff the VA and government hates. They demand sheep and silent test, and lab rats.

    Pence, Coats, and others have allowed all others sorts here to piss in our Wheaties, allow for corruption and censoring or totally ignoring us to continue as usual. So by the day Trump pushes our issues aside to play other games he ignoring those who have suffered, suffering without medical care, meds, or trying to keep us safe from the corrupt and the many lefties and special interest groups out there. And I think we have all seen from the Women’s March what some, or myself, have dealt with in the VA system when trying to settle some issues with those type of mindsets and agendas which we are not part of, Just hated if we happen to bruise an ego or dare question one in their lofty positions of authority and power enough to ruin a persons life in many ways. Which so far the DC crowd is allowing. For damn sure the freaks in high offices in Indiana, local or state, sure don’t give a hoot. While each day more can happen, more lousy VA staff retires with their perks and pay, witnesses die off, become fearful, or we just give up since being totally ignored by all. Same damn game playing I have seen my entire life.

    If I were POTUS the first thing I would have done is do a state by state trip while notifying every vet with issues to show up with their concerns and demand a total investigation of the issues and talk to people. Of course some of us would have to fight our way through the communist, trash, and Marxist to be heard. Then DC and Trump & company could be playing the game MDs are doing here with their 6 or more hours wait for a simple office visit that most seem to be fine with or able to do.

    I also would have by-passed all the ‘glitz, glamor, balls, dinners, extravagance, dog and pony shows to appease Hollywood, MSM scum, and DC garbage. A waste of time and money. Is it more ‘let them eat cake’ and suffer while we dance, play, sing, booze-up, and put on a fancy show to follow the pathetic traditions of DC and our over-lords and masters.

    There isn’t anything he can’t do on his airplane like sitting in the oval office. There are people dying and suffering out here while our so-called libtard communist global villages and Marxist college towns claim all is well, or Indiana is really #1 in the nation and all up-right and perfect Clintonian/Soetero villages. (!) Or is he too worried about exposing the likes of lying Pence, Coats, Indaina’s ways of dealing with us non-conformist or harmed, and the rest of the scum in offices in the Hoosier state and others?

    Well this social critic is in no way an optimist.

45. 01/27/2017

    Dear Benjamin Krause,

    We have a new President, and it does take time to get use to the office.

    There are people pulling on him in every direction to favor their “cause,” and to promote their self-worth.

    Few have offered their wisdom and courage to go against Washington DC, the Central Bankers, and those who control most outcomes.

    “Is Trump Intentionally Pissing On Veterans Or Getting Bad Advice?” you asked?

    If he were “pissing” on the Veterans you would know it, right away marking his territory. Getting “Bad Advice” I highly doubt it—they are sitting on mountains of information that dive to the heart of the matter.

    What is happening now is that the President is assessing the condition of the Organization/institution and its function, and capabilities to exist.

    There will be a change, what kind of change, who really knows—-I bet Trump doesn’t even know today what the VA will look like in a year.

    Those who have been following the VA Scandal, since the Scandal Broke in Phoenix, Arizona in Mid 2014, have noticed many changes have occurred in the last couple of weeks.

    There has to be an Earthquake in the politics at the VA to Wake up the Nation from the Century of Apathy that has layered on top of this corrupted Organization since Wilson/Harding.

    Remember in Phoenix, Arizona, the Carl Hayden VA is a ONE STAR hospital with no intention to change, after millions of dollars of taxpayers money was pumped into it.

    The Corrective Actions will appear to be harsh and brutal—get used to it.

    Be careful what you wish for, that is what they told Karlheinz Halter and I at Slidematic in Torrance, California, in 1989, as we began to looking into the missing/stolen CNC Machinery making F-16 Cavities for the Hughes Electronics/Microwave components and Allied Signal components, and Marvin Engineering [which moved it from Air Force to the DCIS, DCIS’s massive failure resulting in the 1998 Cox Report].

    Like I have stated before— you will know right away if you are getting pissed on!

    Sincerely,

    Don Karg

46. Trump will do Trump. Veterans need to take care of themselves. Trump will never meet any military standard because he lacks disciple. A true commander in chief will brave the front line of battle. George Washington.
    What needs to happen is that the qualifications for the oval office need to be revised to include that military requirement and you will not have to experience this level 3 fuckery that is going on. DOD medicine should be combined with VA to fulfill the medical needs during the freeze or even permanently. There are too many duplicate processes in government which is the true waste
    Trump is fucking with the wrong type of taxpayer, whether he is getting bad advice or not, he is making himself an easy target.

    From all the coverage I have seen his security team does not cover him well for reaction time.
    He needs to go to the gym because his shit is unsat with a crunchberry beast like posture .
    He has his hands full, I wish him well but he does need some meds from a medical standpoint of repeating himself over and over. (OCD)
    He admits to being a germa-phob and a perfectionist which are classic symptoms.

    Just remember as a veteran, stay healthy and on target because no one can take that away from you unless you let them.

    1. Trump is a predictable sociopath….

       1. And you are a sociopathic troll.

       2. @Namnibor and others will find one reason or another to do their lil two step dancing to defend this Orange Cheeto in Charge, no matter what you say they got a little childish response or name calling from their walker. Wait until the Head Cheeto in Charge start cutting Socialist Security since hes got his SS Cutters in Place to be Nominated.
          Paul Ryan has had this Bill to cut SS since 2012 and is chopping at the Bit to get the Ball Rolling and Head Cheeto in Charge will still find a confusing way to explain it or maybe no one will call him on his Hot Air Promises like a Politician he did on his Campaign. You dam right im going to be Critical of this Blowhard like we were on Obama that what happens when you the Head Sociopath in Charge…

    2. respectfully disagree on your point that a Commander In Chief should brave the front lines. This is not his job. If an officer is caught mopping floors in the barracks because the men just cannot get it done, he will not command for another moment nor should he.

       1. Yeah, that is a simple analogy. When I was a Corpsman, my platoon knew everything about stopping the bleeding, including cauterization with gunpowder and starting Ivs. My intent was to show that the C IC should be on the front line of enforcing strength and not getting second hand information. A person needs to experience the gore of a pink mist and the smell of serosanguinous blood to know the reality that those in the front line endure. The VA is a slow calculated death perpetrated by a deny delay tactic. I respect what you are saying though. Semper Fi and Nescit Cedere

       2. Wasn’t a grunt corpsman. But was a corpsman close enough to the grunts to see some of their blood. Most difficult position I had was leading PO at Rough and Ready Island dispensary after returning from Danang and all but one of the other 7 corpsman were grunts dealing with the aftermath of their experience. And I had seen enough blood at the NavSupAct Hosp Danang. But it is not the same as putting a man on a Chopper and never finding out if he lived. If you had done enough? To ease the pain let me assure you, the ones that made it to the ER breathing went back to the states breathing by a very high percentage.

47. No. I had a choice between Trump or the Clinton Crime Family. My vote was the Anti-Clinton vote. I stand by my choices.

    Had DNC not rigged the preliminary against Bernie while pushing Trump as an easy target for Hillary to beat, things may have gone differently. But in this case, DNC literally got what it paid for.

    Clinton knew populist candidates had an advantage per her 2014 Goldman speech, but she thought her team could rig the outcome anyway.

    Next time, DNC and RNC should support their best people rather than rig the deck to support unpopular candidates.

    1. I think J may want to put some salve on that after that comment Ben.

       1. Butthurt Snowflakes wouldn’t know the difference, they are always butthurt.

    2. Had. No choice but the first line u mentioned yr choice picking one criminal over another. ..smfh

48. @ J, i do not even know if i should reply to the rude comment. Ben is an investigative reporter he doesn’t give advice, he asks questions…Are you questioning your self? is this directed inward?

49. Feeling stupid yet? Do you have any excuse for the bad advice you’ve given vets about Trump?

    1. No! Also, Veterans do not require someone to tell us HOW to vote and Benjamin never once pushed or overtly promoted any one candidate. Veterans are much more educated and aware than you give us credit for. Is your snowflake melted yet?

       1. Hey Namnibor,

          Doesn’t it truly warms the heart knowing Ben’s articles are keeping Trolls like J up at night worrying?

          Maybe J might find some relief if he sat in a corner and banged his head on a wall for an hour or two.

    2. VETS JUST BEND OVER MORE BILLIONARE TRUMPER WANTS TO GIVE TO YO IN THE REAR VETS GIVE THE TRUMPER A COLGATE SMILE AS HE GIVES IT TI TO YO VETS HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA SUCKERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    3. It’s been 7 days.

       You feeling stupid over the VA being a disaster for the last 8 years?

    4. I couldn’t have said it better.

    5. Yea President TWEETS is one of the politically laziest bastards around he’s probably getn advise from his daughter he probably never even been to a Goddam VA hospital. So no surprise he’s leaving the same fuckn roosters and hens there. I’m sure he will give some confusing as fuck reason for his decision . And the brain dead vets will say u see he’s different cause he just says so smfh and u wonder why Americans get fucked by these sociapaths every 4 years…

       1. “Brain-Dead Vets”?

          Condescending Troll calling the kettle black?

       2. @Namnibor – That’s it. I’m busting out the K9’s. Find ’em boy. Grab their nads, crunch down, and twist. Off that is. Leave ’em one now.

       3. Me is that you? I thought I recognized the accent. I thought you had better things to do than sit at the fuckin computer. Did you step outside and get some air?

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