Trump and his cabinet/buffoonery- Get your bunkers ready!

[AsburySkinsFan]

1 minute ago, skinsmarydu said:

Of course not, you silly!  We gon' privatize!  Make it all equal...place your bets, folks, now before the dice cool off...

The best hands for the VA is in the hands of the free market. Afterall our vets fought against Communism, Socialism, and all forms of collectivism. They fought for the right to pay for their own medical care! There will even be specially priced packages for former POWs and other losers.

[skinsmarydu]

ASF, that was a good one.  I'm gonna spread it around, if you don't mind~

[AsburySkinsFan]

15 minutes ago, skinsmarydu said:

ASF, that was a good one.  I'm gonna spread it around, if you don't mind~

Not my best work, but it's early and my Keurig hasn't warmed up yet.

[skinsmarydu]

Just now, AsburySkinsFan said:

Not my best work, but it's early and my Keurig hasn't warmed up yet.

I drink it too fast for those lil thangs...got a full pot ready when I wake up.  Get with the program, duuuuuddde...the millenials with their heads in their phones will never know what hit 'em.

 

[AsburySkinsFan]

29 minutes ago, skinsmarydu said:

I drink it too fast for those lil thangs...got a full pot ready when I wake up.  Get with the program, duuuuuddde...the millenials with their heads in their phones will never know what hit 'em.

 

LoL, mine does the carafe, over sized refillable coffee pods fill my 30oz stainless tumbler in one go.

[DogofWar1]

Inching closer and closer to that panic button.

 

 

[LD0506]

1 hour ago, AsburySkinsFan said:

The best hands for the VA is in the hands of the free market. Afterall our vets fought against Communism, Socialism, and all forms of collectivism. They fought for the right to pay for their own medical care! There will even be specially priced packages for former POWs and other losers.

 

Quote

The latest addition to his team of ultra-rich administration officials is Vincent Viola, a New York businessman and NHL owner who was announced Monday as Trump's pick for secretary of the Army.

 

There ya go, nobody takes care of vets like billionaires! The most bigly wheelchairs ever, sign up for your TrumpBuck vouchers- redeemable for your first operation and unlimited dressings (IVs not included)! The first 1000 get a free prosthetic limb of their choice! Call now and we'll throw in the BlueTooth (S/H charges extra)!

[Rskins06]

This is getting ridiculous with the crazy reactions to every one of PEOTUS nominees.  Now, you are attacking Vincent Viola for his nominee for Secretary of the Army because he is a billionaire businessman (when exactly has it been illegal or looked down upon to be successful in this country).  Haven't seen anyone mention he is a Graduate of West Point, a former Infantry Officer and Ranger School Graduate, served in the 101st Airborne Division and has been praised by Chuck Schumer (you know, the current Senate Minority Leader) who claimed Viola's dedication to the Army is second to none.

Yes, no one takes care of vets like FORMER vets who understand the challenges we face from our enemies and understand the mission of the Military is to train to fight and win wars and the need to have a force capable of facing down our enemies.  Not to sit around, worry about the PC police, EO training, SHARP training, etc. and how we can't offend other nations out of fear of their reactions.  How has that foreign policy worked for the last 8 yrs! 

Who should he have nominated?  Another politician who doesn't know the first thing about the actual needs of the military?   

 

[Rskins06]

2 hours ago, AsburySkinsFan said:

The best hands for the VA is in the hands of the free market. Afterall our vets fought against Communism, Socialism, and all forms of collectivism. They fought for the right to pay for their own medical care! There will even be specially priced packages for former POWs and other losers.

How would you fix the VA?  Just curious?  Do you think they DON"T pay for their own medical care?  Do you think it is free?  I would like to know?  What do you suggest the POWs and the other losers (who are these other losers you speak of) should do.  Some Vets actually deserve medical care, some vets actually deserve good medical care as most of them have sacrificed something for this country and fall under a system run by our government and politicians who have no clue what needs to be done.  The VA is a disaster and needs to be fixed......even for the POWs and the other losers.

[LD0506]

R! You pose questions in a reasonable way, you deserve a reasonable response.

 

I would absolutely agree that vets et. al. have an understanding of vets needs, vets experience, in a way no bureaucrat can. My issue w/ Viola and the reason I posted that is the way he made that money, c'mon now, don't be coy, you know what I'm talking about. The high frequency trading scheme was essentially a way to game the market, there was no legitimate underlying ethos to it, it was a rigging scam. The guy gets my respect for his service but since then? Ehhhh, not so much, he hasn't don't a whole lot you can point to as evidence of character built by service.

 

The VA is a dumpster fire, the whole system is a national disgrace and we should all hang our heads at the way our vets are given shabby thirdhand treatment. The POWs and other losers was a reference to your Donalds comments on vets w/ PTSD, again, don't be coy, you're better than that. There absolutely has to be a better way to care for those that gave themselves in service to our country, it may not be the single highest demand but it sure as hell is in the top three IMO.

 

Here's the thing, that bit of gristle that's sticking in so many peoples craw lately, how do you get from <<<there/ vets deserve better...........to..............there>>>> Trumps minions processing them for Soylent Green to make a buck as some kind of answer? The same way that people wonder about there/economic woes/to/there WallStreet thieves that crashed the market in charge or there/people needing better jobs/to/there/LaborSec that thinks his workers should just take the dumpster leavings in payment.

 

I hatehateHATE the fact that I have been forced out of my comfortable oldwhiteguy/borderline fascist/hardliner mindset into bed with the lib left agenda in so many ways, simply because the option on the right is pure unadulterated insanity, insanity that to my mind rises to the level of antiAmerican treason, I simply cannot see how anyone can support this travesty and call themselves patriotic. Sorry, those are hard words, harsh sentiments, I know that and I know they rub people the wrong way but I genuinely feel that is the path we're on.

 

Whew, killed my coffee buzz.............................

[LadySkinsFan]

My thoughts on vets and VA.  People who join the military do so voluntarily, they make a contract with the country meaning the rest of us. It is up to the politicians to solve problems without force. Unfortunately, the politicians aren't doing their job because of the military industrial complex that they are beholden to. Our military is evolving into a worldwide corporate police force.

 

Once the politicians send our human treasure into harm's way, we should take care of them. That means the best health care both physically and mentally. We need to support them.

 

Unfortunately, the politicians have again failed to do their jobs. The Republicans in particular have stalled and prevented funding for our vets.  Shame on them. I don't see anything changing, in fact it will probably get much worse.

 

 

[Rskins06]

13 minutes ago, LD0506 said:

I would absolutely agree that vets et. al. have an understanding of vets needs, vets experience, in a way no bureaucrat can. My issue w/ Viola and the reason I posted that is the way he made that money, c'mon now, don't be coy, you know what I'm talking about. The high frequency trading scheme was essentially a way to game the market, there was no legitimate underlying ethos to it, it was a rigging scam. The guy gets my respect for his service but since then? Ehhhh, not so much, he hasn't don't a whole lot you can point to as evidence of character built by service.

The VA is a dumpster fire, the whole system is a national disgrace and we should all hang our heads at the way our vets are given shabby thirdhand treatment. The POWs and other losers was a reference to your Donalds comments on vets w/ PTSD, again, don't be coy, you're better than that. There absolutely has to be a better way to care for those that gave themselves in service to our country, it may not be the single highest demand but it sure as hell is in the top three IMO.

Whew, killed my coffee buzz.............................

Can you give me an example of ANYTHING Vincent Viola did which was found to be illegal, unethical or immoral?  Ok, so you don't agree with how he has made his money, I get it and understand it.  Honestly, every billionaire businessman found a way to game the market (in whichever business they owned) and am sure others have criticized the way they did it.  Does that make it illegal, unethical or immoral?  IMO, no, it just means they were able to sell something people wanted and made a lot of money doing it.  Being a West Point graduate, Infantry officer and Ranger school graduate mean something.  They are true indicators of ones character, integrity and the ability to get things accomplished.   You and I may disagree on his business dealings, however, I believe we can both agree having someone with the Military background overseeing our Army is a good thing.

I do understand the POW comments were a reference to the PEOTUS comments about John McCain and is comments about PTSD.  I was not a fan of the statement about John McCain.  However, I had no issue with his PTSD statement.....at all.  He said nothing that would or should have offended anyone.  I have seen combat, I have seen some **** I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy and have seen many Soldiers react different ways.  Some are stronger and able to take what they see and put it in perspective, others aren't able to do that.  Doesn't make them losers (he NEVER called them losers) or make them any different.  People react differently to situations, some have a harder time with it than others.  I watched Hacksaw Ridge, and to be honest with you, I had to take a knee before exiting the theater, first time my oldest son ever seen me break down, does it mean I am a "loser" or weak, no, don't think so and I didn't take his comments offensively but truly understood what he was saying.  His comments were spot on, some are affected more than others.

I actually believe every vet should be given the opportunity to get into the Tri Care System.  Believe it or not, it actually works and makes it easier to get care.  Now, the Tri Care system would be different than what retirees or active duty get, they wouldn't be allowed to be seen at Military Facilities but would be able to visit Dr's who are in the Tri Care system where they live.

[Rskins06]

12 minutes ago, LadySkinsFan said:

My thoughts on vets and VA.  People who join the military do so voluntarily, they make a contract with the country meaning the rest of us. It is up to the politicians to solve problems without force. Unfortunately, the politicians aren't doing their job because of the military industrial complex that they are beholden to. Our military is evolving into a worldwide corporate police force.

 

Once the politicians send our human treasure into harm's way, we should take care of them. That means the best health care both physically and mentally. We need to support them.

 

Unfortunately, the politicians have again failed to do their jobs. The Republicans in particular have stalled and prevented funding for our vets.  Shame on them. I don't see anything changing, in fact it will probably get much worse.

 

 

Here is where I have a problem with some democrats.  You have a Democratic President who has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help veterans and has done ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING to fix ANYTHING in the VA (no one has been fired but yet most of them have gotten big bonus checks).  This VA disaster has happened on HIS WATCH!!  But, all we here is how the Republicans have stalled and prevented funding for our Vets.   Do you know who has threatened to VETO any budget giving the military more money (not the PEOTUS but the current POTUS)?  Do you know every pay raise requested by the Pentagon has been reduced because of the sitting president? 

BOTH Republicans AND Democrats are EQUALLY responsible for the VA failure!  Neither can claim to be better than the other.  However, this PEOTUS has the chance to do something about it.  We will see what actually happens.  I will gladly admit I am wrong if he does nothing....will you admit your error if he actually does make it better?

 

 

[LD0506]

Wow, are we actually going to have a conversation today? I'd love it, my snark is getting exhausted, I needed a break.

 

I do have questions about V's business dealings, and again, c'mon, you're trying to be coy, since when is "not illegal" equal to "not unethical/immoral"? The same way that "Not guilty" does not mean "innocent". You seem to have an awfully keen edge to split hairs with.

 

But here's the thing, Viola in and of himself might get a pass, or some benefit of the doubt by himself, kinda like he banked some credit on his character for his service, spent some on Wall Street hookers but the account isn't empty or overdrawn yet so we'll see what happens.

 

When you look at the totality of people the Trumpster fire has picked, considered, nominated there is a clearly discernible pattern here, a YUGE one, he's assembling a group that overwhelmingly fit a "type", the kind of greedocrats that have little or no principle or belief beyond their own enrichment, that see the system as something to be eaten instead of operated, the very people that have screwed over the middle class for years and blamed it on any or everyone else. The process that chose them vetted Viola and found him fitting? THAT really concerns me. Remember how Groucho said " I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member "? Like that

[The Evil Genius]

 

14 minutes ago, Rskins06 said:

Here is where I have a problem with some democrats.  You have a Democratic President who has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help veterans and has done ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING to fix ANYTHING in the VA (no one has been fired but yet most of them have gotten big bonus checks).  This VA disaster has happened on HIS WATCH!!  But, all we here is how the Republicans have stalled and prevented funding for our Vets.   Do you know who has threatened to VETO any budget giving the military more money (not the PEOTUS but the current POTUS)?  Do you know every pay raise requested by the Pentagon has been reduced because of the sitting president? 

BOTH Republicans AND Democrats are EQUALLY responsible for the VA failure!  Neither can claim to be better than the other.  However, this PEOTUS has the chance to do something about it.  We will see what actually happens.  I will gladly admit I am wrong if he does nothing....will you admit your error if he actually does make it better?

 

 

 

So the GOP didn't vote down or not vote at all on:???

 

The 2015 Veteran Affairs Funding Bill

The 2014 Women Veterans and Families Health Service Act 

The 2012 Veterans Job Corps Act

The 2014 Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act

The 2010 Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans With Children Act 

 

 

Oh wait, they did.

 

I'm sorry man..but the I can't find where the current GOP (of the last 30 or so years) gives a **** about veterans. 

 

edit..although to be fair. The 2012 Veteran Job Corps Act was originally sponsored by a Republican Senator. Senate Republicans eventually blocked it because, as Mitch McConell said,  the "Republicans remain resolute in our commitment to deny the Democrats anything that looks like an accomplishment in an election year”. So party over veterans. Got it. 

 

[Rskins06]

I know right, an actual conversation:)  Must be the Christmas / Holiday season.

 

If we are truly being honest, we could probably look at every billionaires business and find things we may question.  They may not be illegal, per se, but they may be questionable.  If there was something proven to be questionable, I would have issues with it.  To be honest, I didn't know who Viola is until this morning, but, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because of his service.

 

I actually like his nominees.  I am tired of seeing people run this country who have no experience running anything other than their reelections.  I wanted Romney because he represented someone who has created things.  That is me though, in 4 years, it may prove to be a mistake, however, this is a great country and I have faith the Donald Trump will put the best people in place.  Again, if I am wrong, I am willing to admit it.  I only hope, if he is successful, people who oppose him will be able to admit they were wrong.

[PeterMP]

39 minutes ago, Rskins06 said:

Can you give me an example of ANYTHING Vincent Viola did which was found to be illegal, unethical or immoral? 

 

By its nature high speed trading is unethical and immoral IMO.  I'm not sure that every billlionare has made his money doing things that are unethical and immoral, but it is certainly possible.  However, I do not think that should prevent people from calling out a case where somebody has clearly made their money in that way.

 

High speed trading is ONLY about gaming the system.

 

If every billionaire out there made their money through immoral and unethical actions, we should point it out EVERY SINGLE TIME.  Just because everybody else did is NOT AN EXCUSE.

 

I cut out your part about PTSD, but you said they are not weak:

 

Trump essentially said that.  He essentially said they are not strong and cannot handle it;

 

" when you talk about the mental health problems, when people come back from war and combat and they see things that maybe a lot of the folks in this room have seen many times over and you’re strong and you can handle it. But a lot of people can’t handle it. And they see horror stories. They see events that you couldn’t see in a movie, nobody would believe it. "

 

Some people are strong and can handle it.  Others are not can cannot handle it.  What does that make them?

[Rskins06]

15 minutes ago, The Evil Genius said:

The 2015 Veteran Affairs Funding Bill

The 2014 Women Veterans and Families Health Service Act 

The 2012 Veterans Job Corps Act

The 2014 Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act

The 2010 Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans With Children Act 

 

The Women Veterans bill failed because it had provisions inside for planned parenthood.  The amendment proposed intended to prevent planned parenthood and involvement.....which I fully support.

The VA Funding, The VA Job Corps, etc were stopped because there wasn't a way to pay for it.  They ultimately failed because of the cost of the bills.

 

 

[The Evil Genius]

1 minute ago, Rskins06 said:

The Women Veterans bill failed because it had provisions inside for planned parenthood.  The amendment proposed intended to prevent planned parenthood and involvement.....which I fully support.

 

The VA Funding, The VA Job Corps, etc were stopped because there wasn't a way to pay for it.  They ultimately failed because of the cost of the bills.

 

 

 

And yet that didn't stop the GOP from proposing funding (at the same time of the 2012 Job Corp Act) for the military that didn't have a way to be paid for. Again, party over veterans. 

 

I'm sorry, the GOP isn't the party of fiscal responsibility that you think it is. Truly, neither of the parties are. But it doesn't change the fact the GOP has constantly chosen Party over veterans spending. Or infrastructure spending over veterans. Or weapons spending over veterans. Or taxcuts to millionaires over veterans.

 

[Rskins06]

12 minutes ago, PeterMP said:

Trump essentially said that.  He essentially said they are not strong and cannot handle it;

 

" when you talk about the mental health problems, when people come back from war and combat and they see things that maybe a lot of the folks in this room have seen many times over and you’re strong and you can handle it. But a lot of people can’t handle it. And they see horror stories. They see events that you couldn’t see in a movie, nobody would believe it. "

 

Some people are strong and can handle it.  Others are not can cannot handle it.  What does that make them?

Do you have any combat experience?  Do you know anyone who does?  Do you know anyone who has PTSD?  What about others who have seen the same things but do not have PTSD?  No one (wont say no one, as there may be some) who knows any of the above took any of those comments offensively.  Every one of us who have seen things, experienced things some only see in movies do have different ways of handling it.  You took it as him calling us weak, I took it as someone speaking honestly about it.  There are some who honestly aren't able to handle it, they aren't looked at as weak, he didn't say they are weak.  This was an example of the liberal media trying to make a statement about something they know nothing about and make it look like something it wasn't.

I don't have PTSD, however, there are situations or movies which affect me.  Doesn't mean I am weak...at all.  Yes, there are a lot of people who can't handle it, some because of the amount of **** they have seen, some because they aren't mentally prepared to see or experience it, not everyone came in the Military expecting to be put in positions to see or experience what they did. 

 

I am assuming you know he was giving this speech to military personnel about military personnel?

[DogofWar1]

I don't have too many doubts about the suitability of women in the military, unlike certain politicians out there, but I will note, pregnant women with cancer and STDs are probably statistically more likely to be less effective military personnel than women who aren't pregnant and have had access to protection and preventive medical care.

[The Evil Genius]

Trumpsters don't want to talk about the blood coming from wherever, Dog. 

[LadySkinsFan]

Gee, maybe they are weak because the brainwashing didn't take as good with them.

 

This was a sarcastic statement, however, we know that our troops go through brainwashing so they can view the other human beings they are supposed to kill as other than human.

 

Some people don't see other human beings as anything but human, and have a problem with that mindset that they are taught. And it might not become a realization until they are in actual combat, and they can't deal with it.

[Rskins06]

12 minutes ago, The Evil Genius said:

 

And yet that didn't stop the GOP from proposing funding (at the same time of the 2012 Job Corp Act) for the military that didn't have a way to be paid for. Again, party over veterans. 

 

I'm sorry, the GOP isn't the party of fiscal responsibility that you think it is. Truly, neither of the parties are. But it doesn't change the fact the GOP has constantly chosen Party over veterans spending. Or infrastructure spending over veterans. Or weapons spending over veterans. Or taxcuts to millionaires over veterans.

 

You act like the Republicans are the only ones doing the above.  Below is an example of the stance of the Democratic Party and President Obama (issuing blanket veto threats) against military spending.

 

"Democrats Thursday blocked the Senate from turning to a $78 billion spending measure for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military base construction. They and the White House argue that it's part of an overall GOP budget framework that shortchanges spending on other domestic programs...The White House has issued blanket veto threats against every spending bill, saying they shortchange domestic programs while exempting the Pentagon from the return of automatic spending curbs that would otherwise freeze its budget. Republicans note that many Democrats supported the bills when they were considered by the Appropriations Committee."

 

"It goes back to when Democrats decided in June to filibuster the Defense appropriations bill, as part of their strategy to filibuster any and all appropriations bills until Republicans were willing to renegotiate the sequester. This was a golden opportunity for McConnell: Democrats weren’t filibustering just any bill, they were filibustering a bill that does things like, well, pay the troops. It was an extremely aggressive and perhaps unsustainable step. Democrats took it only because they were confident McConnell would gripe about it, but ultimately cave. To understand the missed opportunity here, consider what could have happened if McConnell was not so dedicated to keeping the Senate “open for business” and working with the president on other priorities. Imagine instead what would have happened if McConnell saw the opportunity to break Reid and isolate the president on spending. He could have canceled all other Senate business, canceled the recesses, and forced the Democrats to block the Defense appropriations bill every 72 hours until September 30th. No weekends off, no holidays, keeping 75 year old men up all night for days, allowing no personal comforts until the filibuster is broken. In stark comparison to the media’s willingness to hide the ball on Planned Parenthood, Republicans would have been gifted with three months of messaging on “Democrats are so angry at the American people for taking away their majority, they are refusing to pay the troops.” Instead, McConnell did what Democrats expected him to do. He griped about it, moved on, and looked to a continuing resolution. He extracted no price at all from Reid and his caucus for shutting down the budget process."

 

Can we please stop pretending the Democrats are all for the veterans while the Republicans are against us.  Neither have proven to be anything other than politicians fighting for reelections.

[visionary]