C-SPAN3 V.A. Budget Shortfalls

[unhappycamper]

V.A. Budget Shortfalls
Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson explains budget shortfalls in a V.A. subcommittee level hearing. The V.A. recently reported a $1 billion deficit in the FY '06 budget. Sec. Nicholson talks about demands placed on V.A. programs by soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, among other issues.

Nicholson got a bitch slap from a repug after his opening statement. This is going to be an amusing session.

[Skidmore]

1. One of the congressmen got up in morning business this

morning and just ripped Nicholson for ignoring budget shortfalls and poor services for the priority of having current pictures of himself at all hospitals.

[unhappycamper]

2. This is a pretty good session. Watch it if you can. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

3. Democrats Need To Stand Up More For Veterans

I watched Dick Durban's speech to the VFW convention other day (yes, he appologized again), and I saw an audience that was not only supportive of him, but seemed grateful to have him speaking out...especially about veterans issues.

Just like with the unions, Veterans could be a great ally for Democrats as we stand for giving them the benefits they were promised and deserve and to help them assimilate back into this goofy society after the years of military service. We also stand for the rights of their families...better living conditions, health care, education...the important things for these young families who are emotionally and economically distressed. Repugnicans crap on 'em. It's time we embraced them and really show our concern for what's happening to Veterans...using that as a podium to shine light on the existing mess in the military.

Please keep us posted on what's being said. Hopefully CSPAN will run this on their other networks later.

Cheers

[Skidmore]

4. Nicholson basically is saying, "But it's hard work".

These guys were supposed to be among the captains of industry in this adminstration, right? This was the model that they wanted government to run with. Bah...........

[Skidmore]

5. Nicholson is actually stuttering trying to answer questions

because he came thinking he was going to get a hearty slap on the back and many of those "thanks for your service to our nation" platitudes. This man does not know his stuff or his organization. He came prepared to BS his way through with a bunch of good old boys. Election year's a bad time to try that strategy.

[unhappycamper]

6. Sounds like the 'models' these dickwads used forgot to include a war!

Amazin.