Hi Fred - This is so egregious. There was definitely an uptick in services under the Obama administration. A large new med center was built in our area, and my dad's services saw a dramatic turn for the better - much shorter wait times, easier processing, no endless waiting. It's just pathetic to see how those that these services don't affect just don't care.
You, sir, are a true patriot, unlike the cosplay slobs who have never served a day for their country or, worse, those that have served but have fallen under the spell of nationalist traitors like MTG. My dad is no longer here, so I'm glad he doesn't have to witness all of this, because it would have killed him sooner.
BTW, there are no bad pictures of you. You're always smiling, so that makes every picture wonderful!
I joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1981 in the era where President Reagan professionalized the military with abundant resources to win the Cold War.
The way Trump exploited the military was reprehensible. His family history of draft-dodging, comments about military killed in action as “losers and suckers”, using troops as photo props, and failure to honor or war dead in Europe cannot be forgiven.
Today, the malice toward the military has spread across the Republican party. Attacking the Chairman of the joint chief of staff, spreading lies about a weak military, and now introducing a budget that would strangle veterans benefits just when it’s needed most after 20-years of the global war on terrorism.
I have disassociated myself from a Republican party that has been captured by a pro-Russian, fascist group of insurrectionists who systematically want to kill our democratic republic. This proposal by McCarthy is case and point.
Good afternoon. I was working at the VA when Newt Gingrich pumped his Contract On(my word)America. Part of that was to freeze VA funding for 5(FIVE)years! Yeah, rethuglican lawmakers really give two damns about veterans and their care. They’re a bunch of no account grifters and have only gotten worse with tfg on the scene.
There’s really no word I can think of that’s adequate to describe the nexus of cruelty, stupidity, and irony inherent in a proposal to cut funding for veterans health and veterans cemeteries at the same time. It’s macabre. But seems like a perfect expression of Kevin’s thought processes to me. His idea of governance is like a monkey with a machine gun. “How does thing work?”
those Outpatient things have allowed the Main VA to better concentrate on the Vet's that require more intensive care. Case in Point is Pain Management, They are going more and more into various outside methods for the Management of Chronic Pain, including Acupuncture (shown to be very effective), that you can ONLY get offsite of the VA. This has reduced the need to prescribe pain meds that have reduced the possibilities of things like Opioid Dependencies & Addiction levels.
Fred, I love the title of this post. Recently I was thinking about what it would take for fed up citizens to take to the streets to oppose all the infuriating policies of the increasingly extremist GOP. I want it to be called the OH HELL NO protest. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you for going to the trouble to get the facts of McCarthy's bill. I'll pass them on to a couple of my conservative veteran relatives, without comment. Plant a seed. Let it grow.
The personal story about your journey getting to know Michelle & Jill on the Joining Forces initiative was great. Yeah, your selfie skillz are awful.
Another great article informed by your incredible experiences! Your contrast of veteran support in the White House prior to 2016 versus Trump’s total disrespect of our military needs to be shouted on the 2024 campaign trail and maybe a new Lincoln Project video.
I’ve been horrified by how many current active duty military and veterans continue to support MAGA. First I told myself that it was due to many of them entering the military young and uneducated and being on a steady diet of FOX “news.” Then I started noticing higher ranking military (active and retired) railing away on Twitter and elsewhere against “woke agendas,” minimizing what happened on Jan 6th, and denouncing anything democratic. As a friend of mine said, “Is MAGA really the hill they want to die on?”
If there are statistics on the percentage of MAGA versus Dems in our military, I’m almost afraid to know the tally. Soldiers have a right to their personal political beliefs of course but, since the Jan 6 insurrection, supporting MAGA is allegiance to those trying to destroy our democracy. Has the DOD enacted any policies to stem internal MAGA extremism, as if that’s something they could even do? I read that one commander banned Fox from being broadcast on his base but is it a world-wide DOD policy now?
Bottom line, is MAGA eroding the strength of our military?
If it weren’t for veterans like you Fred, and others like General Milley, I would have lost my mind by now!
Oh and that is a GREAT PHOTO of you with Michelle Obama - truth. ⭐️
Thank you, Deb. I appreciate it. The military by its nature appeals to people who lean conservative although it has absolutely become more diverse and balanced in the last twenty years. MAGA is much worse though and too many are harboring and worse, acting on those extreme beliefs. It must be addressed and yes it is eroding our military.
Hi Fred - This is so egregious. There was definitely an uptick in services under the Obama administration. A large new med center was built in our area, and my dad's services saw a dramatic turn for the better - much shorter wait times, easier processing, no endless waiting. It's just pathetic to see how those that these services don't affect just don't care.
You, sir, are a true patriot, unlike the cosplay slobs who have never served a day for their country or, worse, those that have served but have fallen under the spell of nationalist traitors like MTG. My dad is no longer here, so I'm glad he doesn't have to witness all of this, because it would have killed him sooner.
BTW, there are no bad pictures of you. You're always smiling, so that makes every picture wonderful!
Cheers, sir, and to better days ahead.
Lisa
I joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1981 in the era where President Reagan professionalized the military with abundant resources to win the Cold War.
The way Trump exploited the military was reprehensible. His family history of draft-dodging, comments about military killed in action as “losers and suckers”, using troops as photo props, and failure to honor or war dead in Europe cannot be forgiven.
Today, the malice toward the military has spread across the Republican party. Attacking the Chairman of the joint chief of staff, spreading lies about a weak military, and now introducing a budget that would strangle veterans benefits just when it’s needed most after 20-years of the global war on terrorism.
I have disassociated myself from a Republican party that has been captured by a pro-Russian, fascist group of insurrectionists who systematically want to kill our democratic republic. This proposal by McCarthy is case and point.
Good afternoon. I was working at the VA when Newt Gingrich pumped his Contract On(my word)America. Part of that was to freeze VA funding for 5(FIVE)years! Yeah, rethuglican lawmakers really give two damns about veterans and their care. They’re a bunch of no account grifters and have only gotten worse with tfg on the scene.
There’s really no word I can think of that’s adequate to describe the nexus of cruelty, stupidity, and irony inherent in a proposal to cut funding for veterans health and veterans cemeteries at the same time. It’s macabre. But seems like a perfect expression of Kevin’s thought processes to me. His idea of governance is like a monkey with a machine gun. “How does thing work?”
those Outpatient things have allowed the Main VA to better concentrate on the Vet's that require more intensive care. Case in Point is Pain Management, They are going more and more into various outside methods for the Management of Chronic Pain, including Acupuncture (shown to be very effective), that you can ONLY get offsite of the VA. This has reduced the need to prescribe pain meds that have reduced the possibilities of things like Opioid Dependencies & Addiction levels.
Fantastic post, Mr. Wellman—I hope that more and more members of the military listen to you.
Fred, I love the title of this post. Recently I was thinking about what it would take for fed up citizens to take to the streets to oppose all the infuriating policies of the increasingly extremist GOP. I want it to be called the OH HELL NO protest. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you so much. We may not be able to stay mad but we need to stay on mission.
It’s a lovely photo Fred! Thanks for all you do to shine a light on truth and help your fellow service members.
Thank you.
Thank you for going to the trouble to get the facts of McCarthy's bill. I'll pass them on to a couple of my conservative veteran relatives, without comment. Plant a seed. Let it grow.
The personal story about your journey getting to know Michelle & Jill on the Joining Forces initiative was great. Yeah, your selfie skillz are awful.
Another great article informed by your incredible experiences! Your contrast of veteran support in the White House prior to 2016 versus Trump’s total disrespect of our military needs to be shouted on the 2024 campaign trail and maybe a new Lincoln Project video.
I’ve been horrified by how many current active duty military and veterans continue to support MAGA. First I told myself that it was due to many of them entering the military young and uneducated and being on a steady diet of FOX “news.” Then I started noticing higher ranking military (active and retired) railing away on Twitter and elsewhere against “woke agendas,” minimizing what happened on Jan 6th, and denouncing anything democratic. As a friend of mine said, “Is MAGA really the hill they want to die on?”
If there are statistics on the percentage of MAGA versus Dems in our military, I’m almost afraid to know the tally. Soldiers have a right to their personal political beliefs of course but, since the Jan 6 insurrection, supporting MAGA is allegiance to those trying to destroy our democracy. Has the DOD enacted any policies to stem internal MAGA extremism, as if that’s something they could even do? I read that one commander banned Fox from being broadcast on his base but is it a world-wide DOD policy now?
Bottom line, is MAGA eroding the strength of our military?
If it weren’t for veterans like you Fred, and others like General Milley, I would have lost my mind by now!
Oh and that is a GREAT PHOTO of you with Michelle Obama - truth. ⭐️
Thank you, Deb. I appreciate it. The military by its nature appeals to people who lean conservative although it has absolutely become more diverse and balanced in the last twenty years. MAGA is much worse though and too many are harboring and worse, acting on those extreme beliefs. It must be addressed and yes it is eroding our military.