Tonight's guests:
- Ezra Klein, columnist for the Washington Post and Bloomberg View, and MSNBC policy analyst
- Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq War veteran, founder and executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, joined by many of the veterans who lobbied Congress this week to help get rid of the VA backlog.
And here's executive producer Bill Wolff with what's on Rachel's mind tonight:
Leave a Comment:
On Tuesday, it was perfectly fitting to catch the children's gastroenteritis bug so that I could properly celebrate the anniversary of the Iraq war hugging the porcelain goddess. Visions of Bush, Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz danced through my head... garnished with the news about Reid dumping the assault weapons ban.
It was a surreal 2 days, but a less intense version of that we live in everyday.
Here's my return to reality song (miles davis).
John, you can accomplish the same effect with a bottle of Jose Cuervo if you don't have small germ bearers around.
I want to thank the folks at TRMS for drawing attention to the backlog problem within the VA. My blatantly obvious claim took 19 months to process. A wee bit longer than the six months I was told to expect. In the meantime I lost my home to foreclosure, was homeless and I'm ashamed to say, nearly ended my journey prematurely.
The VA is heartless even tho many of the 'people' working there are former service members. They don't care. During the entire 19 month wait I didn't encounter one 'person' in the VA that could even fake concern for my predicament or desperation. One 'person' I spoke with regarding my situation and lack of funds, housing or pain relief told me it was my fault the process was taking so long. It was my fault because I made an inquiry on why it was taking so long.
That inquiry, I was told, took my file folder out of the process so they could look at it (physically look at the file) and it was then placed at the back of the line of folders to be reviewed. Merely asking about the status of my claim cost me an addition seven months waiting for a decision.
Again, thank you Rachel, Steve, et al.
I think our voluntary, repeat voluntary, young servicemen and women should un-volunteer to go to Afghanistan or anywhere on earth, even to boot camp, unless and until the brave vets' claims are CURRENT. It is unconscionable, inexcusable and unacceptable to volunteer to go to war, help to enrich the military-industrial complex, and then if you're lucky enough to make it home, damaged, broken, crippled, or mentally injured only to be ignored in your time of need! Disgraceful at best.
I say forget civilly visiting our crippled congress....just organize soldiers to risk imprisonment by refusing to accept their assignments until the vets get their needs met. I'm signing petitions and supporting free meals for vets every day, but I think it's all falling on the collective deaf ear of DC. Civil disobedience, anyone?
Gordona, thank you for your service to our country. Obviously, I was opposed to that war as are many viewers of TRMS, but we are behind you and the other Iraq veterans. I hope everyone else who saw RM's coverage of this issue will write their senators and representatives about the unconscionable behavior of the VA as documented by Aaron Glantz and his coworkers at the center for investigative journalism. We need to watch these guys' back, because they are getting a raw, raw deal.
PS- with all due respect Tequila is mother's milk to me. I like drinks with a little fight left in them- unlike the froo froo concoctions our dear Little Pony comes up with. (btw- RM was making an obscure reference to a series called "My Little Pony"- not at all obscure to parents of children of the female persuasion- here's one with Rainbow dash [youtube])
Reid did not "dump" the assault weapons ban. He is giving it a separate roll call vote which is better. Reid is a very clever guy. the pimped out repubers are very stupid however. he has to outsmart them - quite easy to do now since they are stupider than before. is there such a thing as a stupidest repuber?
Good show tonight. I agree the VA needs to get its act together. Want to add, I think the FOX ad for the OBAMA show on failing Israel, is an attmept to overshadow the reair of HUBRIS. Notice that it is the subject of the HANNITY SHOW tomorrow night, Friday at 9PM. Coincidental? I dont think so. Embarrassing for FOX and Hannity, YES.
nothing wrong with the VA. they are doing all they can with what they have. evidently DUMYA AND COMPANY figured the war was free and so was the aftermath. you know, after math? since they couldnt do the math they figured what comes after is a "0" as in $0.00.
Great expose on the VA backlog issue. It was sad to learn that this is happening in our country. Thanks for supporting our veterans. You signed off that segment by thanking the "guys". There were women standing there too. Next time you speak with the group, please be sure to acknowledge the GREAT AND BRAVE WOMEN who served our country. Thanks!
I want to contact the Senate about the Veterans benefits being delayed.
I have two nephews right now in Afghanistan (Marines). They at this point are fine but I am ashamed of our government and how they are treating our veterans.
My Uncles and father served in Viet Nam and Korea. My father is gone and never was able to tell us what he did. He on the day he died told my brother to look under his mattress. My father was an interpreter of Russian messages to the Korean government. Who knew? (My daughter is engaged to Max Brochenkov a tall and Russian Man who has lived here since he was seven years old). (My son is engaged to Jesse Mauck a beautiful Korean women whose mother came here with an American Husband).
My one Uncle hid for 10 years with PTSD. Just last year (40 years later) he was able to send the whole family a Christmas Card telling us he did not feel he was able to be part of our family because of what he had done in Viet Nam. He was a gunner on a helicopter and shot and killed adults and children who were aiming all sorts of things that fly and blow up, at he and his crew. My other uncle was wounded and spent his life as a teacher with honor.
For these men in my family to do all these things for us and the VA treat them so horribly is unreal.
I want to tell you that I appreciate you and I want to keep hearing about how our Government is treating our best and brightest!!!
Sincerely, Carrie (Jones) McAfee a 54 year old Caucasian mother of 5, grandma of 2.
it is NOT the fault of the VA. do not blame the VA. it is the fault of the repubers of congress for withholding money from the organization. just as they withheld funding security for bengazi.
Great piece. Thanks for your support of our veterans. You signed off thanking the "guys" . I am sure that it was an oversight, but there were brave and courageous WOMEN standing among those "guys". Please acknowledge them next time you have the opportunity to do so. Thanks!
NEWSFLASH! FOX News just announces its move to the Comedy Channel; Jon Daily and Stephen Colbert respond in a joint statement. "We welcome the FOX News show to our comedy family. We will rise to the challenge to 'up our game', meeting this new comedic standard."
AGREE - the VA story is an outrage!
Rachel, please post the link to the website your guest mentioned so we can support the #stopTheBacklog petition??
thanks!
all that is required is an entry interface which can be webbed pronto. Q&A no problem. score the thing. done. CALL MICHELLE.
Good show tonight. I notice Rachel coming to the same conclusion about the ".1% discriminators" (aka the vast right wing privatizing conspiracy) about this time. It is not a battle between the Republicans and Democrats as much, but between the Republicans (whose jobs often depend upon them mimicking what the .1% discriminators want). The Republican lawmake4rs and other public figures are often conflicted because the .1% actually wants Government to fail and the only people they care about are the .1%.
The way that we have to challenge this "stubbornness" is to note that all public figures have taken their Constitutional oath, and as such have sworn to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution." As such, the Republican politicians (particularly U.S. Representatives and Governors) is to shift power as much as possible to the individual States. This, in effect, creates a neo-confederacy for the GOP. As a lawyer, to fight this trend toward neo-Confederacy, we are looking into individually challenging lawmakers, Governors, judges, etc. who vary too far from their Constitutional oaths (e.g., with the sequester). If ALL Republican Representatives vote in a manner that is inconsistent with the General Welfare of We the People, then they could be accused of conspiring to overthrow the Constitution, as well as the will and General Welfare of We the People.
The longer that the .1% discriminators conspire with the GOP to favor the very few and powerful at the expense of the remainder of We the People; the more that this can be publicized by Rachel, etc., and the sooner we can get some of these Federal Lawsuits (or even just publicity schemes against discrimination) going to challenge the actions of the politically corrupt politicians, judges, and other public figures as summarized in Constitutional Challenge.org. The good news is that those of us like Rachel are starting to sound more mainstream to We the People, while those of FOX are sounding more like the self-interested and corrupt crazies.
The GOPers are still hoping the Democrats will not show up to vote in the mid-term state elections ( which IS what we normally do or do not do ). Maybe they are right. We voted once. How many times do we have to do it, anyway? Every year ? Man, democracies are a lot of work!
"The longer that the .1% discriminators conspire with the GOP to favor the very few and powerful at the expense of the remainder of We the People..."
keep that front and center. instead of having a river of cash RECIRCULATION in the economy that WE OWN, the pimped out repuber thieves have damned the river and hijacked our economy and diverted the stream thru their pimps where they siphon off large quantities of cash.
then.... the river goes thru the thieving wallstreet banks which siphon off more cash and which cash is REPLACED WITH CONSUMER DEBT LOANS (aka credit cards) FOR HIGHER PRICED GOODS.
Can anyone provide any concrete suggestions as to what can be done about the VA backlog? Would some government money to hire an army of temps fix the problem?
I am waiting for some fool GOPer to call that Army Welfare. “ Well thanks for pouring my concrete driveway, but I am not going to pay you like I promised because I now need to save money. I really meant it at the time but things change. “ Americans spend more time trying to save a buck on their taxes than ever want to admit what we get for our investment. Invest in America ? No I think I will just keep it for myself now.
Alan and Gordona, I have few point's to mention. The VA, according to the IAVA is still doing 97% of claim's by Paper? The Temp Idea is a very good idea, The VA doesn't seem to be Overstaffed. GORDONA, Did you find the Paperwork in your claim to be repetitious and unecessary? While waiting for your claim to be processed, What exactly did you do? Go anywhere else for care while waiting, ie Private Doctor, Hospital? Where you able to use your County resources while waiting for your Claim? I believe that County Resources could be used to help out the VA. GORDONA, There are many of us willing to Help, I would like for you to contact Me via the NewsVine and tell me exactly the details, One suggestion I have for Vet's is to make yourself known to your Local Vet Org's. Unless we run into you on the street Those of us who want to help have no Idea who or where you are. That info as you know is NOT obtainable. Until I get info on Funding issue's, And Care, I can't specifically propose my idea's to Lawmakers or various official's. Veteran USMC 82-90
PIECE OF CAKE.
<form name=vabenefitapp method="post" action="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];?>">
<input type=text name=firstname size=24 value=<?php echo $firstname ?>
<br>
...and so on...
<br>
<input type=submit value=submit>
</form>
* Anyone remember how the WWI vets were treated when they protested Washington DC for the nonexistent, but promised, benefits? We do not want that again.
* The advertisement preceding the TRMS WarmUp was for the Microsoft Bing search engine, so I googled it. It works ok. Is it pop, soda, or a coke? Yes, can I have a Pepsi coke please? What do you mean, where am I from?
stomped by the hoofs of the horses lead by the self-righteous pig-headed sadistic "people are expendable" pos himself, colonel macarthur.
How Soon We Forget: While you have been right to criticize the neocons for their deliberate misleading of the public in the run-up to the Iraq war, you seem to have forgotten the crucial role your own network played at the time. Phil Donahue was the only host who had the guts to give a platform to those who were critical of the administration’s selling of the war, and after he was fired, because network execs considered him a "difficult public face for NBC in a time of war," there was hardly any coverage given to the anti-war protests or other journalists who, as it turned out, knew this was a deliberate subterfuge on the part of the Bush administration to get us into the war, a fact MSNBC can hardly claim for itself. Day after day your network championed the cause, either overtly or by failing to give equal time to those opposing what was being planned. As you are so fond of saying, it’s all on tape—all you have to do is go back and look. So, while you are rightly excoriating those who lied to bring about this horrific war, and who are certainly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, you should give equal time to that which served as the propaganda vehicle to deliver their message. Perhaps you could do an expose on Chris Matthews, who, astonishingly, years later would ask “How did this happen?” meaning how did we get into the war, once it was apparent it had become a complete catastrophe; this from a man who had five hours during the week and a half hour on Sunday, week after week, to choose anyone he wanted to interview, and who could have done as much as anyone to ensure dissenting voices were given a chance to be heard but chose instead to toe the party line. Check the record, Rachel, and give us a detailed account similar to that in your documentary Hubris, then we’ll have a better, more honest picture of how the war was sold to the American people. Show some humility, lest you and your network be accused of the same hubris.
Just to get you started:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/phil-donahue-chris-matthews-msnbc-firing_n_2926643.html?utm_hp_ref=media
Good points all Scot, Now imagine America without MSNBC. Remember where we came from. In 1999 Newt wants the world to know that our president got a BJ, as the stock market crashes and puts our youngest workers out and unemployed, all the while Join-the-Army adds flood the American airways two years before September 11 2001. What do you think was happening ?
My comments were purely rhetorical, as will be apparent when no exposé on Matthews or full length documentary on MSNBC’s role in selling the war is forthcoming. I agree with you that it’s hard to imagine an America without MSNBC, that is, without a corporate propaganda system designed to confine the parameters of political discussion to carefully set margins, margins acceptable to the corporations who own the media delivering their product, and to give those watching the feeling of having participated in a debate when in fact no real debate has taken place (including here in the comments section, proving the pointlessness of the endeavor, my own comments included). These shows have no impact whatsoever on those in power, unless it’s to legitimize their view of the world. In other words, they are a ‘non-event,’ serving only to turn politics into a form of entertainment. Sadly, the only kind of mea culpa one can expect from these outlets is when one of their employees says something that offends his corporate overlords, as was the case when Chris Hayes had to walk back his comments ‘about the war dead and the fallen… valor…’ and his hesitancy to use ‘the words "heroes"’ in a discussion that was by all accounts banal and insignificant, except to those watching the bottom line, who were afraid of offending the network sponsors (i.e. other corporations). By doing so he showed his fealty to those for whom he works, regardless that he wasn’t in the wrong, and can now be promoted, having proved he’s capable of working within the limits prescribed by those with the power to dictate what those limits will be.
BUMP!!
i do feel compelled to say something else.... as a professional it was quite obvious to me that DUMYA WAS LYING. on top of that, he is not a thinker nor even a simple reconciler. how anyone could ever salute a dumb turd and his sadistic greedy drooling snakely cowardly cohort dickless buddy is stunning, shocking. hook line and sinker. and from a napkin in nigeria? laffable!
How Soon We Forget: While you have been right to criticize the neocons for their deliberate misleading of the public in the run-up to the Iraq war, you seem to have forgotten the crucial role your own network played at the time. Phil Donahue was the only host who had the guts to give a platform to those who were critical of the administration’s selling of the war, and after he was fired, because network execs considered him a "difficult public face for NBC in a time of war," there was hardly any coverage given to the anti-war protests or other journalists who, as it turned out, knew this was a deliberate subterfuge on the part of the Bush administration to get us into the war, a fact MSNBC can hardly claim for itself. Day after day your network championed the cause, either overtly or by failing to give equal time to those opposing what was being planned. As you are so fond of saying, it’s all on tape—all you have to do is go back and look. So, while you are rightly excoriating those who lied to bring about this horrific war, and who are certainly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, you should give equal time to that which served as the propaganda vehicle to deliver their message. Perhaps you could do an expose on Chris Matthews, who, astonishingly, years later would ask “How did this happen?” meaning how did we get into the war, once it was apparent it had become a complete catastrophe; this from a man who had five hours during the week and a half hour on Sunday, week after week, to choose anyone he wanted to interview, and who could have done as much as anyone to ensure dissenting voices were given a chance to be heard but chose instead to toe the party line. Check the record, Rachel, and give us a detailed account similar to that in your documentary Hubris, then we’ll have a better, more honest picture of how the war was sold to the American people. Show some humility, lest you and your network be accused of the same hubris.
Just to get you started:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/phil-donahue-chris-matthews-msnbc-firing_n_2926643.html?utm_hp_ref=media
Dam....prefect 20/20 rear vision. Where was Phil Donahue on his " squirrel call " over the BJ ??
Dear Rachel
I am a avid watcher of your show. Did you notice that the dog in the verterans show slept in the end? Ha ha
Bharath