Fox Pundit Claims Walter Reed Investigation Was ‘Going After The Administration From The Right’
Fox Pundit Claims Walter Reed Investigation Was ‘Going After The Administration From The Right’
Media Matters has repeatedly documented how major media outlets reflexively characterize conservative views as “pro-military,” and how concern for our armed forces is a conservative issue. The latest example:
During the February 24 edition of Fox News Watch, Newsday columnist James P. Pinkerton claimed that the reason it took the media so long to report on deteriorating conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was because “the media typically come at the Bush administration from the left” by criticizing the Iraq war. “The idea of going after the administration from the right as it were,” Pinkerton continued, “that we’re not supporting the troops enough, not [providing] body armor enough, not [protecting] Humvees enough, not helping at Walter Reed enough — that is an angle that most reporters don’t naturally think of when they’re waking up” because “they come from a different ideological perspective.”
Pinkerton’s falsehood is perhaps most evident in the blogosphere. Last week, we reported that Walter Reed had refused to let talk show host Don Imus (a frequent advocate for servicemembers and veterans) tour the hospital and investigate conditions there.
In our post, we linked to the unofficial Imus Blog, whose author Big Roy acknowledges that he “routinely slam[s] liberal politicians and media.” Yet, on Friday, Roy wrote a post titled, “Why Don’t Conservatives Support The Troops?”
During the past week I’ve gotten several links from some of the biggest liberal blogs/websites on the internet, Crooks & Liars, Think Progress, and Daily Kos. These are not sites that would normally link to this blog. As anyone who reads my blog knows I routinely slam liberal politicians and media.
But these guys rose above politics to try and bring awareness to the problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Some might say they’re doing it as an opportunity to slam the Bush Administration. I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s a genuine concern for active duty soldiers and veterans.
I wondered why I hadn’t received a single link from a conservative blog or website. I thought well they just didn’t like any of my posts. So I went and checked the right wing blogs I normally read when I get time, Redstate, Pajama Media, Hot Air, and Michelle Malkin. Except for Ms. Malkin, not one of these sites even mentioned the Washington Post Story or anything about Walter Reed that I could find. When Malkin talks about it. She was not able to rise above politics and used it as an opportunity to slam the liberal media and democrats.
UPDATE: Crooks & Liars has more, including an email campaign on Pinkerton.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
He is probably interested in the fact that suddenly the left cares about soldiers that are now suffering from liberal healthcare. Makes for an interesting contradiction.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:04 pmPatrick 1 doesn’t support the troops.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:09 pmPatrick1 thinks that health care is liberal. I think he should stop going to the doctor and sign up for the military.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:12 pmPatsy, u gettin mo stupid ebby day. U tryin go wid dat Algernon?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:12 pmI dunno – because providing appropriate and humane care is the right thing to do and doesn’t come with a Republican or Democrat label?
This problem isn’t limited to Walter Reed. it’s a system-wide problem in large part due to the military hanging on to injured/ill soldiers past the time of their hospital discharges. That’s why the public is so confused and keeps referring to them as veterans. They aren’t being discharged by the military – they are STILL ACTIVE DUTY. The military never did this in the past. Until Iraq, these paitnets were discharged from the military and received the remainder of their inpatient care at the VA or civilian healthcare facilities. The military doesn’t have the bed or healthcare provider capacity to offer long term inpatient care. That’s why these patients have been discharged from the hospital and have been deemed outpatients, responsible for independently living and managing their own care, when they are least able to do so. I blog a bout it at length – blogged about a plan of correction, too. I sent it to SecDef Gates for use by the investigative committee. Never heard back – what a surprise.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:13 pmChickenhawks loathe the troops.
Must be from the inferiority complex.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:13 pmThe most interesting contradiction I can think of is that Conservatives talk about the sanctity of life then send out our fellow citizens to kill and be killed and mutilated in wars that are morlly unjust and ill chosen. Then they appoint cronies into positions that undermine their care when they come home wounded and in need of help. Then idiots crow that its a liberal problem. Selective stupidity is a horrible blight on this country. As was said in an earlier thread by Spudge, the best healthcare system that all Americans should have is the one that Congressmen have. Not one that has been distorted and corrupted by the hands of cronies and evil bastards with an agenda.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:15 pmthese people just LOVE to be the victim!
February 28th, 2007 at 4:16 pmSocialized medicine is liberal. Something the soldiers are enduring as the left suddenly says it is a bad thing, but the very thing that want to put on all Americans. Supporting the troops would be getting them out of these welfare state medical facilities.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:16 pmThe right-wing is suddenly interested in conditions at Walter Reed because they suffer from support-the-troops envy.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:16 pmSocialized medicine is liberal.
Comment by Patrick1
What would you call government subsidies to businesses?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:19 pm#1 Patrick1
He is probably interested in the fact that suddenly the left cares about soldiers that are now suffering from liberal healthcare. Makes for an interesting contradiction.
It’s got to be shredding your insides to know how far from the truth that is. And nobody believes your silly crap. Why bother?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:20 pm#9 you sound like a terrorist! how DARE you crtique american health care! dont you knwo this is the gretest country in on the planet! if you dont like it you can git the hell out and go live in a cave with the rest of your kind!!
oh man that was difficult
February 28th, 2007 at 4:20 pm“Actions speak louder than words.” That certainly rings true here. Republicans have failed to provide our troops with equipment, have continually extended deployments, and have cut funding for the VA. Democrats have tried to tie deployments to having proper training and equipment and have asked Bush to set a timetable or at least some measurable goals for Iraq. It is obvious to any observer that the Republicans who run the country have never served our great nation as soldiers while so many Democrats have.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:21 pmIt’s obvious that conservatives don’t support the troops. The most they do is put those stupid yellow ribbons on their Hummers while us “hippies and lefties” send care packages to Iraq and protest against sending our kids to a bloodbath. If a soldier is injured he should be treated to the best care possible for as long as it takes.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:22 pmBut that would cost money so the greedy conservatives won’t go for it.
Socialized medicine is liberal. Something the soldiers are enduring as the left suddenly says it is a bad thing, but the very thing that want to put on all Americans. Supporting the troops would be getting them out of these welfare state medical facilities.
Comment by Patrick1 — February 28, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Patrick1 doesn’t believe soldiers deserve government funded healthcare. Patrick1 hates the troops!
Patrick1 emboldens the enemy and is a terrorist!
February 28th, 2007 at 4:23 pmConservatives do not support the troops because it involves money – plain & simple! They’re the ones making money hand over fist (fascists) but the last ones to be generous with it. Think about every Rethug you know and they’re the biggest misers on the planet.
They care NOT that our troops are ill equipped in the field; they care NOT that Walter Reed hospital is giving our troops sub-standard care and is a shambles. They’re willing to look the other way when it comes to supporting our troops if it costs them money – their all-precious “god” – MONEY!
Just follow the “money trail” and at it’s corrupt end you’ll always find a republican! It’s failproof!
February 28th, 2007 at 4:23 pmDoes Patrick1 realize that by want to get our troops out of “welfare state medical facilities” that what he is really calling for is removing another benefit from the troops? One of the main reasons for joining the military is VA benefits, the second is the college fund.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:24 pmI think it is very funny that the left cares about the troops when liberal healthcare is exposed to the world as the mess that it is. Won’t be so easy to strip the American people of their healthcare now that we see the Walter Reed version of Hillarycare.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:24 pmJust listen closely to every republican “talking point” and reverse it – that’s the name of their game and a classic case (in every case) of “you spot it/you got it”. Simply reverse all of their lies and voila! therein lies the truth.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:25 pm#19 I guess you’re speaking about the hundreds of thousands of americans without any healthcare benefits??
February 28th, 2007 at 4:26 pmGet them out of these liberal hospitals and get them into real healthcare that the vast majority of the American people enjoy. The taxpayer can pay for it like they do these rat infested liberal monsters and it would end up being cheaper.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:27 pmRead on an internet site that “Bush’s Surge is Behind Schedule” – guess that means that the surging troops have no uniforms since that would be the ONLY way they wouldn’t be “ready” by his standards.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:28 pmPatrick1
I really don’t understand what your trying to say here. Are you arguing that the Government doesn’t have a duty of care to soldiers injured on their behalf and the private sector should clear up the mess?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:29 pm#22 I believe you’d better check your statistics before quoting “vast majority” since now it’s clear that most americans have inadequate healthcare or none at all. What country do you live in?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:29 pmIt’s so sad to see how ignorant some people are. Unfortunately, people like Patrick believe too much in the adage “Ignorance is Bliss”.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:29 pmAs everybody knows, the republicans blocked Hillary’s health care proposal. What we are looking at is 12 years of the republicans inability to not run something into the ground. That is what the world sees. The world does not watch Fox or listen to Fox. The world is reality based, something the republicans have a problem with.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:30 pmVeritas – you are so right! Conservatives are all about the benjamins – and the clevelands.
Grew up in a very Republican small town – the few times I’ve gone back, I can’t believe the things people say – they are exactly what I thought they were when I was 20 and couldn’t articulate what I was feeling. Now I can and they make me sadder and angrier than ever. Narrow minded, frightened, miserly, and just plain mean. Kinda like the trolls. Actually, exactly like the trolls.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:32 pmPentagon Suspends CNN, Discovery Channel Programs
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:32 pmI’m saying that the government has failed to provide for the health of the troops by placing them in these socialized medical facilities wheh about ten miles from Walter Reed is a nice clean modern private hospital. They should get them out of there and place them in a real hospital.
What is interesting to me is the left could care less about the troops and only say anything about them at all when their socialized medicine is exposed as a complete failure.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:33 pmWhy does Patrick1 hate our troops?
Could it be because he’s too afraid to actually serve as a soldier?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:37 pmoops, sorry
February 28th, 2007
February 28th, 2007 at 4:38 pmPentagon Suspends CNN, Discovery Channel Programs; Walter Reed patients ordered up at 6 a.m., told to keep quiet
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=9312
The only way the right could care less for our troops is if there was any mone in it for them.
The right hates our troops.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:38 pmThe abominable conditions at Walter Reed Hospital bespeak an administration whose entire program has turned to crap in one fell swoop – the gangrenous gook is seeping out of every nook and cranny of this administration and it’s one embarassment afer another – day by day. What a sham! Now our food supply is not being checked, thanks to Dumbya’s cronnies running the show without credentials….or was that money usurped and put into the funding of the Shiite terrorist camps?? That was yesterday’s WH embarassment….
The one thing the Libby trial has done is that it’s “unofficially impeached” the presidency of George W. Bush in the testimony of insiders about PNAC and it’s decade-long plan to expand imperialistic power. Of course, it also alluded to the “plan” being enabled by “another pearl harbor” type event so people are rapidly connecting the nasty dots. it’s all there and soon will be one ugly mess which this administration will serve time for. Everything in due time and Fitzgerald was “genius” in focusing on Libby’s perjury in order to bring into focus an administration which is out of control. Now that all of the testimony and documents are part/parcel of public record, the next investigations can take place and move forward. Whether Libby is convicted or not is very small potatoes now that the “bigger picture” has been able to be brought into focus.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:38 pmThat picture of poor Pinky looks like he’s about to puke.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:39 pmCongress has no “Power Of The Purse†to stop this war.
Only by exposing the TRUTH about who is REALLY behind this war mongering and the TRUTH behind 9/11 – the ESSENTIAL PRETEXT- can the American people have their country and their military returned to their control (from Israel). This is NOT about Republicans vs. Democrats. This about AMERICANS coming together to expose the ENTIRE TRUTH and take their country back. Get your head around this…the Administration is being blackmailed by the Likud lunatics in Israel.
Congress relinquished it’s power to Israel when they allowed Dov Zakheim to be installed as Comptroller of the Pentagon in the months preceding 9/11. They relinquished their control over the “homeland” when they installed Mossad Agent Chertoff at Homeland Security). They depleted our ability to protect ourselves at home by sending our National Guard into a buzz saw. Congress does NOT REPRESENT YOU.
On 9/10, 2001, just one day prior to Cheney’s attack against America (with Mossad in a supporting role), Rumsfeld stated publicly that Zakheim was unable to account for $2.3 TRILLION of YOUR MONEY. the actual amount stolen by Zakheim (and shipped off to Israel to conduct this entire Coup) was $7 TRILLION.
Congress is powerless to stop the funding because the money to fund the entire Crusade was already stolen.
Zakheim remains a free man in the employ of Booz Allen. One of his co-conspirators, the former CEO of Comverse, Kobi Alexander, is SAID to be in Namibia awaiting extradition to the United States on insider trading charges. In reality – he is inside the United States in the Witness Protection Program – at the behest of one Richard B. Cheney – who coordinated 9/11 and all that has followed on behalf of his direct boss, one George HW Bush – and the true Puppet Master at the top of the (all seeing eye) pyramid (as depicted on your currency) – EVERYBODY’S BOSS – one David Rockefeller – the true villain of 9/11.
Chertoff was tasked with covering up the money trail of 9/11 by heading up “Operation Greenquest.” Ever seen his report?
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Here comes the next FALSE FLAG ATTACK gainst US interests, designed to appear to be the work of Iran, all so the Administration has a PRETEXT to bomb Iran on Israel’s demand.
You pissed of yet? You want your country back? How badly?
Expose the ENTIRE TRUTH.
Do it right now.
Arrest the neocons and their enablers.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:40 pmPatrick,
Anytime the taxpayers foot the bill the system is “socialized.” So even what you suggest is liberal and socialist.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:40 pmNo, little Pattsie©1.0 doesn’t hate our troops, he’s just here to get a rise out of all of us dumb enough to engage him in a meaningful discussion, cause meaningful he ain’t.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:41 pmWhat are you saying Patrick1? You seem like the most intelligent person posting here, but if you could please dumb it down a little bit for me I would really appreciate it. When you say “socialized medicine” what do you mean? Please explain.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:41 pm#28 Most Republicans I know suffer from the fear of “half empty” (their brains as well as their pocketbooks!). They’re from the land of fear where their largest nightmare is watching their money dwindle; that is, until they get the greatest “life lesson” which is “money can’t buy one’s health”. So, they suddenly realize that they are sick and “can’t take it with them” so what did it all matter anyway? When one makes money their “God”, they’ve effectively sold their soul to the devil (remember the infamous “moneychangers” in the bible?)….yeparoo – that’s the average Republican these days. Counting their money and drying up like old prunes until one day they realize that all the money in the world won’t make them healthy!
February 28th, 2007 at 4:42 pmbuzz buzz buzz buzz. buzz buzz buzz liberals are evil buzz buzz. buzz buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:42 pmGet them out of these liberal hospitals and get them into real healthcare that the vast majority of the American people enjoy. The taxpayer can pay for it like they do these rat infested liberal monsters and it would end up being cheaper. Comment by Patrick1 — February 28, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
You think a hospital run by the military is ‘liberal’? So I’m guessing you’re against battlefield medicine, since that’s also a ‘liberal run’ medical treatment? Liberal monsters?
You’re the fcuking terrorist that is more concerned with your ideology than supporting the troops! You’re a sick fcuk!
February 28th, 2007 at 4:42 pmPatrick1 is a terrorist supporter who hates the troops and veterans and thus the United States of America.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:43 pmSomeone sign him up for rendition. Quick.
Patrick
What hospital should we send the injured troops to? The local hospital in their hometown? You’ve got to be joking! These guys often need highly specialized care and in all likelihood they also need the emotional support of their fellow soldiers (as well as family) around them while they recover. Plus, the physicians should be able to transfer knowledge from one soldier’s treatment needs to others, which couldn’t happen if the soldier was the only one in their local hospital.
You are using this issue to try to make some argument against socialized medicine in general (and against Clinton more specifically). Worse, you are also insulting to the injured troops.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:43 pm#9 Patrick1
Socialized medicine is liberal.
Yeah, you’re right, Patrick. We send them out there to get chunks of their heads blown off, leaving them bed-ridden for the rest of their lives, and they should have to pay the sky-high prices for healthcare just like everyone else here.
It’s not socialized medicine, asswipe. It’s the government paying the servicemen and women their due, but the Republicans want to get cheap with them. Sure, let’s privatize their healthcare so a bunch of greedy bastards can jack up their rates, screw them out of getting the treatment they need, and nobody will be able to keep track of it. Also known as “sweeping it under the carpet.”
Privatization has worked so well over in Iraq. Shoddy and unfinished construction. Sub-standard equipment. Toxic water supply. Overcharges and fraudulent billing. Yeah, let’s give the troops that kind of special treatment when they come home and try to piece their lives and bodies back together.
Could you be a bigger moron?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:46 pmNo matter how much Patrick1 doesn’t like it, the VA is for both republicans and democrats and is funded and supported by both trough taxpayers money and it is the right of every soldier to receive those benefits from our country for putting their necks on the line by serving in the military, but Patrick1 would understand serving his country. He is a chicken hawk.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:46 pmSpudge_Boy the college fund is a VA benefit and you correctly note that it is a prime enlistment enducement. It’s not the bells and whistles that was given to WWII vets and has so many cavets that it looks more like a sieve but it sells to 18 year olds. An old enducement was that once you served you would always have free medical care (not any more, but it was there).
On the subject of medical care, the ’solution’ promoted by conservatives is insurance, not medical care but an insurance policy. Try having your appendix removed by an insurance agent.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:48 pmPatrick,
Here’s a sample definition I found for “socialized medicine” (my highlight):
“a system of medical care regulated and controlled by the government, in which the government assumes responsibility for providing for the health needs and hospital care of the entire population, at no direct cost or at a nominal fee to the individual, by means of subsidies obtained by taxation”
Having a specialized system of care for injured troops is not socialized medicine. And even if the government used local private hospitals, what makes you think that those hospitals won’t charge the government the way other contractors do (i.e. high). Should we give Halliburton an opportunity to diversify its services?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:50 pmSo I went and checked the right wing blogs I normally read when I get time, Redstate, Pajama Media, Hot Air, and Michelle Malkin. Except for Ms. Malkin, not one of these sites even mentioned the Washington Post Story or anything about Walter Reed that I could find.
That is because veteran issues are not important to right wing pukes. For all their crying “Support the Troops”,when it comes down the line, they DON’T.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:51 pmThat is why almost all veteran activists are Democrat or Independant.
Send them to hospitals in large cities run by the private sector or non-profits, there are many excellent ones throughout the country. I see no need to place them in these liberal nightmares when liberty is so much better.
If we are going to have socialized medicine on the Walter Reed model, then we need socialized legal care, and socialized restaurants so we can all eat “free”.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:52 pm#30 Patrick1
I’m saying that the government has failed to provide for the health of the troops by placing them in these socialized medical facilities
Wrong, jackass. You don’t get it. The facilities and the care would be fine if the Republicans in charge weren’t cutting the funding. It’s a big f*cking game to the Grover Norquists: “Let’s screw up the government’s functions as much as we can and then complain to everyone how bad government is. Then when we privatize those government functions, we can get rich by sending the business to our cronies.”
When people die of neglect in a private hospital or nursing home, does that serve as an indictment of all privatized healthcare? Does that mean an endorsement of socialized medicine? No? Then why the other way around?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:53 pmYou want some common ground for all American to hang their hats on, regardless of political persuasion?
Here you go:
Soldiers returning from Iraq with missing limbs and/ facalties should receive treatment equivalent to that of the Mayo Clinic and the Ritz Carlton, combined. These individuals are NATIONAL TREASURES. Find me one American who will disagree with that. See, we’re Americans first!
How about if ALL Americans come together around this one common theme – and then let’s see how many more things we ALL HAVE IN COMMON.
Let’s help to educate ALL AMERICANS that the DIVIDE AND CONQUER strategy of David Rockefeller and his CFR/AIPAC operatives are in fact TRAITORS.
Let’s ALL AGREE ON THAT.
Next, let’s pursue the TRUTH OF 9/11 like it matters more than anything on earth. Let’s all do it together.
And then, when the entire truth is revealed, Let’s all meet at the White House, to evict the traitors and war criminals – together – in accordance with the laws of OUR COUNTRY, which they have stolen from US under false (flag) pretense, with the wilfull assistance of a complicit media.
Stop the brutal “Politics.”
Abolish the two party monopoly.
That party is over.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:54 pmPatrick would join the military if it wasn’t for the don’t ask/don’t tell policy.
-GSD
February 28th, 2007 at 4:55 pmThe right is only concerned with appearances.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:56 pmChimpeach there’s no problem with privatized medicine.
The problem is supply and demand. No supply of doctors, nurses, hospitals and your demand drives the prices through the roof. Double the number of providers and prices will fall . . . just try to get a bill to increase the number of providers past the AMA and Pharmaceutical companies (monopolies both, hand and hand).
February 28th, 2007 at 4:57 pm#49 patrick1
heh, by your definition we technically do have socialized legal care. Everyone is entitled to a public defender, and if they cannot afford one, then the state pays.
Socialized health care, if funded, is far superior to private since they are not worried about profit. You can bet that any private institution, no matter what the field, will put profit above all other concerns.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:59 pmPatrick1:
Are you aware that Osama Bin Laden does not exist, and that Israel’s Mossad attacked America under Dick Cheney’s direction on 9/11?
Are you aware that your own FBI is NOT seeking Bin Laden in connecton with 9/11?
What say you about these fact?
Doesn’t this reaity shoot a few holes in your gung-ho “War On Terror.”
Your boys are conducting a “War Of Terror.”
Karl Rove is the world’s biggest terrorist.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:59 pmIt is interesting that in his last post, Patrick1 is pushing Communism. Don’t let any of his fascist masters find out, they won’t be happy with their latest twink.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:59 pmPatrick, thanks for being such a dumb example of a Republican Bush supporter for the world to see.
thanks for showing why Americans rose up and kicked the Republicans out of power in congress. Keep posting and there will not be one Republican left in office after 2008.
Your dumb a$$, ignorant posts are a liberal’s best friend. hahaha
What a joke you are.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:59 pmSupport the troops? We are spending 2 trillion on a small police action (no war declared), and what do we get? They lost! and now they complain. Ever faithful, my rear. Wimps! Bush has given everything they needed, and they are disloyal. They should have won without all the expense. They better not raise my taxes.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:01 pmPatrick1:
Are you aware that Osama Bin Laden does not exist, and that Israel’s Mossad attacked America under Dick Cheney’s direction on 9/11?
Are you aware that your own FBI is NOT seeking Bin Laden in connecton with 9/11?
What say you about these fact?
I’m saying your tinfoil hat is crooked.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:03 pmThe only reason we are having this discussion is because of 9/11.
No 9/11 – no war – no discusion of neglected care for injured soldiers.
Stop ignoring the ROOT CAUSE.
The Root Cause for this and EVERY OTHER DISCUSSION OF IMPORT IS 9/11.
It was NOT what you were told it was.
It WAS an INSIDE JOB.
Dov Zakheim’s SysPlan as used to fly the planes to their targets remotely.
Raytheon was DIRECTLY involved.
Focus on the root cause if you want to STOP THE WARMONGERS.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:04 pm“You send your warriors to the underfunded, dirty, mold-infested rehab quarters you have, not to the state of the art, sanitary, dignified facility you wish you had!”
February 28th, 2007 at 5:05 pmThere’s a cure for our health care problems. That cure is not to demand more government but less government. I challenge anyone to identify a problem with health care in America that is not caused or aggravated by federal, state and local governments” –Dr. Walter Williams.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:05 pmWell, shit! If Dr. Walter Williams said it…it must be true!
February 28th, 2007 at 5:08 pm#49 Patrick1
Send them to hospitals in large cities run by the private sector or non-profits, there are many excellent ones throughout the country.
How many of those hospitals have head trauma units? Which hospital do you send the patient to? The one in their hometown? What if it’s not equipped for their needs? The next nearest one? What if that’s 500 miles away? A lot of these patients haven’t been discharged. How do you decide whether or not they return to their units? How do you handle the paperwork? Are you going to send VA people out to the private hospitals? How much will that cost for travel? How do you avoid fraudulent billing from doctors and hospitals? Do you even have a clue about any of this? You’re a typical right-winger. You’re typical of the kind of right-wing leadership we’re stuck with in the White House. You have no grasp of the complexities of the things you spout off about and you don’t care. You’ve got an oversimplified world view and you don’t care about details because they just mess up your little fantasies about how things should be. Grow up.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:08 pmPatrick1:
Explain the story of the “Dancing Israelis” – Mossad Agents caught red handed on 9/11.
Fox News, ABC’s 20/20 and dozens of major news organizations covered it – including the Forward and Israel’s Harretz. Five mossad agents failed 7 polygraph tests about their role in 9/11 – then Chertoff set them free.
Do you condone this? Google “Dancing Israelis.”
Explain it in detail.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:10 pmOn the bright side, socialized medicine is one way we can solve the Social Security underfunding crisis.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:13 pm#48 Of course, the reichwing blogs wouldn’t publish the Water Reed debacle story! They fantasize their dual reality and publish only truth which supports it (which doesn’t leave them with much these days at all) so it’s small wonder that they wouldn’t publish another black mark on this administration of theirs. They, like this administration, resemble the Titanic – a sinking ship heading for it’s doom.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:14 pmThere’s a cure for our health care problems. That cure is to let rich people doctor-shop for Oxycontin and get abortions in Mexico, while denying insurance claims by the middle class and dropping the uninsured and underinsured from helicopters into the sea.
“Dr. Stinky”
February 28th, 2007 at 5:15 pmwell DUH, mr. “pundit” – these guys are SO radically FAR RIGHT that there’s plenty of room to attack them on that flank – don’t ANY of these idiots who call themselves conservative remember a little thing called FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY?????
February 28th, 2007 at 5:17 pm@Patrick1,
I come from Europe, lived for a while in the US and now in the “socialist state” of Canada, and I can tell you right now I take the Canadian healthcare system ANY DAY over the mess that the US healthcare system is.
The US system is one of the most wasteful, inefficent and expensive systems in the world. As a “customer” I have to wonder if the doctor I would LIKE to go to is part of the HMO my company decides to insure me under. Here in Canada it doesn’t matter. I PICK my doctor and I make an appointment.
No long waits for most things (despite what you would like to believe). The cost is neglectable ($50/month in Alberta) and if I don’t want to shell out the $50? I go to the doctor anyways and pay him $50 cash, that includes getting the prescription.
How much does it cost you to go and get YOUR prescription? What I have heard from co-workers in the US their doctor doesn’t even shake their hand for $50 much less does the entire examination.
But hey, keep living in your wonderful land of capitalism, let’s just hope for your families benefit that you never end up on the other side of the fence.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:17 pmThe Sun ^ | 6 Jan. 2006 | Emma Morton
February 28th, 2007 at 5:18 pmA MAN died after two ambulance crews could not be sent to his aid — because they were on EU-enforced lunch breaks. The victim collapsed in a betting shop, five minutes from his local ambulance station. But under the barmy European Working Time Directive, exposed by The Sun last month, crews couldn’t be disturbed. A paramedic was sent in a car and realised the unnamed man was having a heart attack. He dialled 999 but an ambulance did not arrive for half an hour. By then, the patient had died on the floor in Edmonton, North London. Last night London…
#54 Small Willy
Chimpeach there’s no problem with privatized medicine.
The problem is supply and demand. No supply of doctors, nurses, hospitals and your demand drives the prices through the roof. Double the number of providers and prices will fall . . . just try to get a bill to increase the number of providers past the AMA and Pharmaceutical companies (monopolies both, hand and hand).
I’m not saying privatized medicine is inherently bad. The idiotic notion of privatizing the healthcare for our troops is, though. Patrick is oblivious to what that means.
How many multi-trauma units are you going to find at private hospitals? Who’s going to pick the right hospital for the patient? Leave it up to him/her or his/her family to find the right one? Leave the transportation up to the family (if he/she has one)? And we’re talking about our troops. Some of them are supposed to return to their units. How does that interaction between private hospital and military organization work? Are you going to have the attending physician filling out DoD forms? I can think of a million more situations that need to be resolved. The cost of revamping the system goes way way beyond what it would cost to just adequately fund the VA so that it works properly.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:19 pmI believe we’ve sufficiently “outed” Mr. Patrick1, our resident minor troll by the time stamp on his first post. His mentality certainly confirms that fact as does his illiteracy regarding what “socialized medicine” actually is and how an alarming number of americans are going bare – sans healthcare insurance at all. A school-aged minor woudn’t comprehend something that complex (haha!)
February 28th, 2007 at 5:20 pm#71 – do your spelling homework soon! The proper spelling is “realiZed” and not “realised”….as I’ve said….time to do some homework before posting to these threads. They’re too sophisticated for one such as you.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:22 pmWhen the left imposes Walter Reed care or Hillary Care on the rest of us it will take a large new infrastructure for a new health plan.
#1. shelters must be made for the long lines that appear out of central medical care facilities.
#2. luxury hospitals must be made for those who do not have to wait;
a. relatives of bureaucrats
b. members of the inner circle of the democrat party
#3. jails must be built to contain those doctors and patients who contract for medical care privately, outside of hillary’s plan.
#4. a criminal justice system must be instituted to take care of those doctors who would choose to leave the country rather than practice in the new, socialized, u.s. health care system.
#5. new schools must be built to contain re-education programs that will pacify (intimidate) patients, doctors, health care professionals who do not agree with hillary’s plan.
#6. the buildings which were once owned by drug companies will be transformed into waiting pens for those who must be maintained while awaiting care. (drug company executives and owners are expected to be indicted for unbridled greed and lack of compassion and placed in holding pens…they won’t need the buildings anymore)
#7. a ministry of propaganda must be established to broadcast positive news and to stifle dissent.
numbers 8 through 635 to follow.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:23 pmI knew a guy who knew knew a guy who had a second cousin who died on the operating table of one of those fancy, liberal university hospitals during brain surgery.
So, I mean, obviously, we should just stop funding healthcare altogether in America and just rub mud on our wounds.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:26 pm“#7. a ministry of propaganda must be established to broadcast positive news and to stifle dissent.”
It’s called “Fox News.”
February 28th, 2007 at 5:27 pmDaily Mail UK ^ | 13 November 2006 | Staff
February 28th, 2007 at 5:29 pmA man fixed his front tooth with superglue after failing to find an NHS dentist. Gordon Cook, 55, has used the bizarre “DIY dentistry” technique on a loose crown for the last three years – with each fresh application of glue lasting around two months. The father of seven, who was erased from his original dentist’s register after moving to a new home in Tranmere, Merseyside, said he turned to glue after losing hope of finding a dentist. He said: “I tried to find a new dentist but they had all gone private.
Flaccid Flag Operation.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:29 pmOK, Patrick does not respond to challenges to debate his points, but keeps spitting out his “one-liner” sarcasms. He is now on my “ignore” list. No more free lunch for the troll.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:29 pmDoes Patrick1 realize he only posted 7 bullsh!t excuses?
February 28th, 2007 at 5:30 pm*
took a break… found this new (to me) thread… perfect place to tell this:
heard on randi rhodes a while ago… not sure if we’ve heard this one yet…
it could be just a real chump or a new repug meme going around…
that caller thinks that those at walter reed deserve what they got
because they signed up… they enlisted… they knew the chances…
astounding… makes our little patrick/michael/dale look like a girl scout…
February 28th, 2007 at 5:30 pm…
Walter Reed sure has become a mess thanks to Bush and his cronies. They played the violin and siphoned tax money to their wealthy friends while the soldiers suffered.
We will have universal health care in the U.S. Other “first-world” countries have adopted this system and it has proven to be a terrific success. The U.S. has fallen into last place in providing health care to its citizens and the overall health and quality of life of its citizens. Universal health care will come to the U.S. when Americans become fed up.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:32 pmNo one has challenged me to debate. Mostly I get tinfoil hat silliness and insults. But I’m willing to debate if we can find a liberal able.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:34 pmNo one has challenged me to debate. — Patrick1
because we do not debate with people with the mental ability of a mollusk. It would be unfair.
my appologies to mollusks everywhere for that comparison.
Keep posting your stupidness for all to see, patrick starfish.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:44 pm#85. You’ve hurt the feelings of my pet mollusk, Frankie. Poor Frankie.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:51 pm[...] in Bush Administration, GOP, Military, Medical at 3:02 pm by LeisureGuy This is eye-opening: Last week, we reported that Walter Reed had refused to let talk show host Don Imus (a frequent [...]
February 28th, 2007 at 5:52 pmI knew a guy who knew knew a guy who had a second cousin who died on the operating table of one of those fancy, liberal university hospitals during brain surgery.
So, I mean, obviously, we should just stop funding healthcare altogether in America and just rub mud on our wounds.
Comment by War4Sale — February 28, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
i just had to repeat that… i jumped on to post about that randi caller, and after refreshing the page, that was the first comment i read here…
it’s a classic… i’ll have to save it… very rich…
…
here’s another heard on randi hint (her callers are amazing) –
February 28th, 2007 at 5:52 pmany one who needs any help getting what they need should work through the CHAPLAIN, or the PATIENT REP. or even the RED CROSS…
this man was adament and encouraging… randi liked the CHAPLAIN idea…
pass it on…
…
#87: The chaplain? I guess that makes sense, with Bush as Commander in Thief, our loyal soldiers had better start praying if they want any care or support.
February 28th, 2007 at 6:03 pm“Pinkerton’s the LIAR,
February 28th, 2007 at 6:06 pmMalkin’s the THIEF,
(Or is it the other way around–WHO CARES WHICH IS WHICH, THEY’RE BOTH THE SAME!!!!!)
And CHIMPya’s the Boy Who Buys the (Male) Beef(-cake!)!”
Doesn’t Patrick1 realize that nobody here gives a rats a$$ about him or anything he has to say. Who would want to debate a child?
February 28th, 2007 at 6:11 pmOK, I’ll demonstrate what I’ve been trying to show everyone: Patrick1, you claim that Democrats don’t support the troops. But, the Iran and Afganistan Veterans of America has developed a grading system which judges lawmakers by their votes on issues relating to soldiers and veterans. Here are some of the grades they have given:
Pelosi: B+
Kerry: B
Kennedy: B+
Norm Coleman: D
Rick Santorum: D-
John Cornyn: D-
Duncan Hunter: C
Dennis Hastert: F
The veterans and soldiers seem to be giving Democrats better grades. Patrick, how does this fact square with your assertion that Democrats don’t support the troops?
February 28th, 2007 at 6:35 pmLet me help you out here, Patrick. Here’s the link to Military.com which posted Paul Reichoff’s article on the grading system. Reichoff is a Marine. http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,117439,00.html
February 28th, 2007 at 6:47 pmYoo hoo, Patrick1. You started off this thread with an assertion that “the left” doesn’t care about the troops. Then, you complained that nobody wanted to debate you. I thought that since you seem to want to debate, a good start would be discussing the IAVA grading of legislators. After all, talk is talk, but voting records are facts. Right? So, what do you think of these counter-intuitive, bothersome facts?
February 28th, 2007 at 6:51 pmWho would want to debate a child?
Comment by Spudge_Boy
I think Patrick would…..and michael, definitely michael.
February 28th, 2007 at 6:52 pmSpudge, I’ve suggested over and over that people ignore Patrick. I don’t ignore every conservative. Some seem to want to engage in an argument. But, Patrick is simply here to annoy people.
February 28th, 2007 at 6:57 pmOK, Patrick doesn’t want to debate the facts on who supports the troops. How about his simple-minded assertion that the VA is “leftist medicine.”
From the official history of the Veterans Administration: “The Continental Congress of 1776 encouraged enlistments during the Revolutionary War by providing pensions for soldiers who were disabled. Direct medical and hospital care given to veterans in the early days of the Republic was provided by the individual States and communities. In 1811, the first domiciliary and medical facility for veterans was authorized by the Federal Government. In the 19th century, the Nation’s veterans assistance program was expanded to include benefits and pensions not only for veterans, but also their widows and dependents.”
You know, Patrick, most of the founders of our country were what we would call “lefties” today, so maybe you have a point there.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:13 pmWhat happens when you try to fit the human cost of war into the conservative box? Well, it doesn’t fit. Conservatives have a fundamental philosophical problem with providing social services to anyone, period.
The liberal says, thank you for your service, you deserve to now be cared for in your injuries and wounds, for the rest of your life if need be.
The conservative says, thank you for your service, sorry you got blown up, but now you have to make the best of your life with what you have, and without any entitlements. Good luck.
February 28th, 2007 at 8:10 pmThat was fun. I love writing to these people; kinda makes me feel like the General.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:49 pmThe discussion seems to have gone far afield from the subject of the article of a Fox Pundit defending the administration for its inept management of the military and VA medical systems.
The administration’s position is indefensible but their attempts to blame the messenger hasn’t changed.
And a little comment to Patrick1, there aren’t many private medical facilities in this country, most are corporate bureaucracies concerned about the bottom line, but not before the interests of top managers.
Medical care in the U.S. is like buying a car one part at a time, very expensive and easy to inflate the costs since there is no market mechanism to enduce competition.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:57 pmThe vets at Walter Reed should KICK THE SHIT OUT OF
TRAITORS Bush and Cheney when they come to visit.
And then put the coxuckers in one of the rooms with rats and roaches to recuperate.
God Bless America and our TROOPS.
FVKC silver-spoon TRAITORS like AWOL Bush and 5-deferment Cheney.
February 28th, 2007 at 10:15 pmPatrick is a TRAITOR to the USA,
just like that coxucker PUNK Bush.
May they BURN for ETERNITY for their EVIL.
Thank you, Lord!!!!
February 28th, 2007 at 10:38 pm#90 Spudge Boy
Doesn’t Patrick1 realize that nobody here gives a rats a$$ about him or anything he has to say. Who would want to debate a child?
A child? How about a cartoon character.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:02 pmWhat I think is really funny is that Patrick1 doesn’t even realise he is validating Big Roy’s observation: when “conservatives” acknowledge the plight of the disabled veterans, they are unable to rise above politics and will use it as an opportunity to slam their political opponents.
A lot of conservative regular visitors to this site do exactly that on every topic, effectively changing the subject away from a genuine problem.
Party over nation, every time. All hail the Leader!
March 1st, 2007 at 12:14 amDid kindergarten get out late ?
March 1st, 2007 at 2:44 amLet me check my republican math…
Efficient well run VA + Republican oversite/administration = waste/fraud/broken VA
See, See, government doesn’t work, privitize, privitize!
March 1st, 2007 at 11:21 amAs a military veteran I am totally outraged at the conditions that have been ongoing, “unnoticedâ€, at building 18 at the Walter Reed Hospital. Am I supposed to believe that of all the political, congressional and senatorial big wigs that have enjoyed the medical facilities at this hospital never noticed anything wrong.
I guess then that the stories them of visiting returning veterans may be a hoax on us! If they had visited them where they are being quartered instead of a staged political picture event elsewhere then maybe something may have been noticed. If it was noticed and nothing was done a very different picture is being presented.
Our local media here in Tampa now states that one of our representatives (Bilrakis) had noticed this quite a while ago but he states that nothing has been done. How come the media never brought this tragic situation to light? Are our representatives now trying to cover their proverbial butts? If so they should immediately be subjected to the same fate as the low lifes running the hospital, and I don’t mean the underlings!
The ruse of “support our troops†by the republican party must come to an end. This is the last straw! They shout us down about protect our troops? I think not! This is their problem and our duly elected officials need to get off their asses and get this right! The next politician that has a medical procedure done should immediately be sent to live in the same quarters as these unfortunate soldiers. In fact why don’t we reverse the entire process and send the soldiers to the suites that politicians enjoy and the politicians all go to building 18. Maybe the politicians should have the same benefits as the troops and then maybe medical care for our troops would improve!
I’m so damned mad I can’t even write anymore. I’m fed up with the attitude of these politcians that I think they all need a real ass chewing. Forget about the next election, their ass is on the line right now. Do something!
Anyone wanting to quote this letter, anywhere, has my permission to do so. Please show your outrage and act upon it. Don’t give them a break, they haven’t earned it, our troops have!
March 1st, 2007 at 2:20 pm[...] Think Progress and other big USA blogs from the “liberal” perspective have been taking on the false notion some conservatives have, that support of one’s military, is a conservative value. It’s a human value to support the people who defend you, so it’s an insult to the military for someone to say that people who aren’t in a particular party don’t support soldiers. After all, soldiers come from all sorts of life situations, and support various political parties. [...]
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:51 amShows what you know. If Walter Reed were privatized, the returning wounded soldiers wouldn’t even be able to AFFORD THE HEALTHCARE. Stupid bloviator; you don;t even understand how the world works, do you?
To a Republican there are only two good soldiers. One that’s alive and unwounded.. or one that’s dead. Wounded and disabled, they leave those people to rot.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:33 amYou can’t debate people like Patrick, who are in the deep throes of ideological psychosis. It’s like arguing with a Creationist (who may be one and the same).
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:36 amAnd here’s a perfect example of Patrick’s ideological psychosis.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:38 amTypical cutting remarks from republicans wearing blinders!
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:16 pmIf the’re not gonna treat our soldiers, then total coverage health-insurance coverage should be mandatory if we’re gonna let you in the army. No health insurance, no serving in the military.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:51 pmI would suppose by now that building 18 has been emptied and all the occupants have been relocated to decent living quarters.There are some pretty homes on WalterReed base.The generals and colonels living there should vacate them for the wounded.
March 5th, 2007 at 2:39 amInsurance Automobile Insurance Home Owners Insurance
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 15th, 2008 at 9:26 pmInsurance Small Business Health Insurance Nationwide Insurance
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 16th, 2008 at 12:43 amYoung Girls Young Teens Angus Young
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 17th, 2008 at 12:58 pmdoctor credentials
Well spoken. I have to research more on this as it is really vital info.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:25 pmHealth Insurance California Health Insurance Michigan Health Insurance
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 19th, 2008 at 6:17 amVacation Rental Travel Search Engines Costa Rica Travel
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 19th, 2008 at 4:26 pmHealth Insurance Gulf Breeze Insurance Flood Insurance
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 20th, 2008 at 12:09 pmGay Incest Old Gay Men Gay Male Galleries
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 21st, 2008 at 6:26 amAged Help Insurance Travel
I was searching for ‘%KEYWORD%’ at google and got this your post (’%TITLE%’) in search results. Not very relevant result, but still interesting to read :)
March 22nd, 2008 at 1:47 amGay Sex Gay Sex Videos Black Gay Men
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 24th, 2008 at 8:26 amGay Incest Gay Male Sex Gay Brothers
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 27th, 2008 at 10:32 pmDentist Working Insurance Insurance
I don’t mean to be too in your face, but I’m not sure I agree with this. Anyhow, thanks for sharing and I think I’ll come to this blog more often.
March 29th, 2008 at 4:55 pmGay Incest Gay Cumshots Gay Jock
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:54 pmShag Hairstyles and Haircuts…
shag hairstyle basically gotits name from the word “shaggy” since …once the hair is cutand layered it gives off a shaggy look. The shag hairstyle has always been apopular hairstyle, and there are plenty ofshag hairstyles to choose from…
April 5th, 2009 at 10:07 pmArbonne skin care line overview…
Arbonne is one of the main companies in the world when it comes to beauty and skin care. Its skin care product line is one of the best in the world that many women. The products of Arbonne skin care products are developed in Switzerland….
April 30th, 2009 at 3:38 pm