28 responses to “Memorial Day – 26 May 2014”

1. 

   Bill Tozer

   26 May 2014

   Dr. Rebane, this picture gets me every time. Last year and the year before I just cried and cried looking at it for well over an hour. Same this year. Lest we forget. Thank you

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2. 

   Todd Juvinall

   26 May 2014

   I just returned from the Memorial Day service at the Grass Valley Veterans Building. It was a very good turnout though I did not see Frisch, MichaelA or Pelline there. If you were there please forgive me. Anyway, Sue Horne have a wonderful address and gave us all a remembrance of the five young men lost in Iraq and Afghanistan who called our county home. Then a wonderful tribute to the Korean War vets and of course, all vets. A little girl from Magnolia Middle School won the local essay contest on patriotism and she did hers on the Pledge of Allegiance. Very well done.
   Though I never served, I want to thank George, Russ and all the other brave men and women who did. Know we have to work hard to make sure the tyrants of big government don’t take it all away.

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3. 

   Bonnie McGuire

   26 May 2014

   When I look at the picture of all those dear souls who lost their lives I can’t help but cry.
   They lost their lives doing what our different Commander in Chief’s and Congress expected them to do throughout American history. I just finished reading Colonel Phil Handley’s “Betrayal in Benghazi.” The ultimate sorrow is that our soldiers must feel like they have to watch their back too. [The link to Handley’s piece is below. gjr]
   http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/colonel-phil-handley/betrayal-in-benghazi/

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4. 

   Todd Juvinall

   26 May 2014

   How true Bonnie. My Dad never talked about the war except to say he did his job.
   The problem Hillary and Obama have with Benghazi is quite simple to me. You do everything you can to rescue Americans under attack. They did not do that. They are shameless and need to resign. But apparently if you are a Nigerian girl in the way out jungle and are kidnapped, Obama and Kerry will stop at nothing to help. Amazing!
   Now we get excuses and democrats like Pelosi and Cummings minimizing the loss of our Ambassador and trumping up the Nigerian issue. I was watching the BBC shortly after the Nigerian issue started and the BBC reporter went to a northern village where the terrorists had destroyed the place and killed 60 young men and boys! I did not see the same outrage about that, actually I saw no other news reports about those murders and the destruction of a whole town bin the news! Selective outrage.
   If we want to help around the world then the “rules of engagement” need to be this simple. Find and kill these terrorist parasites until there are no more.

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5. 

   Russ Steele

   26 May 2014

   Triple amputee war hero Brian Kolfage’s scathing memorial day letter to Obama is HERE.

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6. 

   George Rebane

   26 May 2014

   RussS 304pm – That letter is on the mark and timely. Thanks for posting it.

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7. 

   Michael Anderson

   26 May 2014

   Yes, Airman Kolfage seems to be quite the role model: http://bit.ly/1kam1Td

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8. 

   Russ Steele

   26 May 2014

   Ah yes, time to disregard the message and attack the messenger. I have forgotten which rule that is in the progressives rule book.

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9. 

   Michael Anderson

   26 May 2014

   I’m not attacking him Russ, I just provided a link to his blog comments. Raw data, that is all. I’ll leave the judgement to others. My initial thought is that he is a poor role model, but please convince me otherwise.

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10. 

    stevenfrisch

    27 May 2014

    Actually Todd, the long list of places I was not on Monday morning would be too long to post here. Not being in Grass Valley is merely one of them.
    But Michael and Russ are both raising an important point, although I would tend to agree with Michael that Russ’ choice of messengers is both counter-productive and destined to be ineffective.
    The sad truth is that we do not treat our veterans, particularly wounded veterans and those in need of a full suit of medical assistance, and assistance returning to civilian life well enough. The VA has been slow gearing up for the large number of veterans in need, as it was after Vietnam, and that is absolutely reprehensible.
    We could argue over who is responsible for that, especially since Republicans have voted down increases in Veterans benefits, or played political games to tie Veterans benefits to other political agendas.
    “Senate Republicans on Thursday derailed a sweeping $21 billion bill that would have expanded medical, educational and other benefits for veterans — in another chapter of the ongoing feud over amendments, spending and new sanctions on Iran.
    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moved Wednesday night to cut off debate on the bill and blocked consideration of amendments, including one on Iran sanctions demanded by Republicans. And on Thursday, Democrats came up four votes short of the 60 needed to keep the bill moving forward on a procedural budget vote, 56-41.
    http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/veterans-benefits-senate-republicans-104060.html
    As if the most recent vote were not enough to show Republicans abysmal record on Veterans benefits and creating opportunities for veterans consider the fact that in 2012 Republicans blocked the 2012 Veterans Jobs act that was designed to help Vets find employment and Republicans blocked a COLA on Vets benefits.
    As a matter of fact in the last 5 years here is the record of bills Republicans have blocked:
    H.R. 466 – Wounded Veteran Job Security Act – This bill would actually provide job security for veterans who are receiving medical treatment for injuries suffered while fighting in defense of their country. It would prohibit employers from terminating
    employees who miss work while receiving treatment for a service-related disability.
    H.R. 1168 — Veterans Retraining Act – This bill would provide for assistance to help veterans who are currently unemployed with their expenses while retraining for the current job market.
    H.R. 1171 – Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization – This bill would reauthorize programs in support of homeless veterans, to assist them with job training, counseling, and placement services through the Department of Veterans Affairs through 2014.
    H.R. 1172 — Requiring List on VA Website of Organizations Providing Scholarships for Veterans which does nothing more than direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to include information about scholarships for veterans.
    H.R. 1293 — Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 – Here’sanother bill in support of those who have fought for their country, passed by House Democrats and blocked from becoming law by Republicans.
    This would increase the amount paid by the VA to disabled veterans for necessary home structural improvements from $4,100 to $6,800 for those who are more than 50% disabled, and from $1,200 to $2,000 who are less than 50%, disabled. This means, if a veteran lost the use of his legs in service of his country, the country will pay for the wheelchair ramp so that he can live at home.
    By the way, the last time this ceiling was lifted was in 1992. There isn’t even a fiscal reason for being against this bill, as the total cost of this bill, according to CBO estimates, would be a “whopping” $20 million. That’s about a quarter (25 cents) per family of four.
    H.R. 1803 — Veterans Business Center Act – This bill would set up a Veterans Business Center program within the Small Business Administration, which would specialize in such programs as grants for service-disabled veterans, help them develop business plans and secure business opportunities. In other words, folks, it would create jobs and offer opportunities those who have fought in defense of our country.
    H.R. 2352 – Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act – This bill essentially combines a number of other bills that Republicans had blocked in the Senate previously, and adds a few elements. The bill would again establish a Veterans Business Center Program; …. it would establish a Military Entrepreneurs Program; …
    Just to be clear there have been some Democrats who have tied Veterans spending to other political objectives and they should be held accountable, but the record of the Republicans is abysmal. Thus when people like Mr.Kolfage speak up the way he does and gets embraced by Republicans as a messenger it falls on deaf ears because their record sucks.
    With all of that said, what is happening at the VA re: falsifying records and misleading Congress and the American public about the effectiveness of Veterans care is a true scandal, and someone must be held accountable. I would argue that President Obama should immediately fire Secretary Shinseki and appoint a new Secretary (perhaps Jim Webb) with a mandate to not only dig into the issue, but to build a coalition in Congress to support the care and attention our Veterans truly deserve.
    In the mean time Todd can shove his false patriotism where the sun don’t shine. If you really gave a sh*# about Veterans you would be telling your political leadership that you want them to increase both funding and accountability to help them, not returning the very leaders who are screwing them to office over and over again merely because they have an (R) after their name. That’s a much bigger ‘shame’ than not being in Grass Valley on Monday.

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11. 

    stevenfrisch

    27 May 2014

    By the way if you are interested in learning more about Sgt. James J. Reagan who is being mourned and remembered in the photo above his story is here:
    http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jjregan.htm

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12. 

    Bill Tozer

    27 May 2014

    Thank you for the link Mr. stevenfrisch.
    Todd, I never attend Memorial Day mournings or remembrances. No more. I do visit grave sites and Memorials when no one is around. No one. Its the one day a year when I get too emotional and lose my composure. Sometimes worse day of my life. Never watch that stuff on TV either. Buddy called me once about heading over to Stand Down at the fairgrounds to get some free jackets and stuff.. Told him to go pound sand and called him a whiner.
    We all deal with things differently. Like the old Eagles song, “Some drink to remember, some drink to forget.” My drinking days are over and I have climbed out of the bottle and put down the dope.
    I find it better to sit home and cry and chain smoke cigarettes all day and play those tapes over in my head. But, like old VHS, them tapes are not as clear now. Fuzzy helps. Same time next year. I do miss all you knuckleheads in fatigues. Gawd, I miss ya.
    Todd, I was AWOL from GV yesterday myself. It ain’t mandatory to suit up and show up. Cut Steve some slack, just for one day.

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13. 

    Todd Juvinall

    27 May 2014

    OK Bill.

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14. 

    George Rebane

    27 May 2014

    Given the success of the Depression1’s alphabet soup agencies, and the Great Society programs since the late 1960s, I doubt very much that any of those new veterans’ spending programs would have provided any aggregate help to the veterans. But it would have provided new careers for thousands of federal bureaucrats and administrators.
    Absent from all of those listed bills was the equivalent of the GI bill that essentially provided vouchers for veterans to go to schools of their choice. I am a great supporter of education freely selected and applied. Non-military government training programs have one thing in common for as long as they have been tried – NONE of them have worked.
    I am also a supporter of government funded medical care “for those who have borne the battle”, but not through the mismanagement of 340,000 federal employees whose bosses play lying games with a winking Washington. A medical voucher system would again be much more effective, allowing veterans to seek timely and appropriate (to them) care on the medical markets.
    But to a progressive, all problems are solved by government throwing more money exacted as tribute and administered by lackeys whose motivations lie 180 out from their much publicized commissions.

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15. 

    fish

    27 May 2014

    But to a progressive, all problems are solved by government throwing more money exacted as tribute and administered by lackeys whose motivations lie 180 out from their much publicized commissions.
    Pretty much all ten of the statist commandments in a single sentence.
    Nicely done.

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16. 

    Bill Tozert

    27 May 2014

    Mr. Todd. Sorry. You know I love ya, don’t ya? Those days of bumper stickers reading AMERICA- Love It or Leave It are gone forever I hope. Yesterday I planted flowers and fed stray kittens.
    Thank you for showing your support to all who served, and to all who are still on patrol, never to return. The fallen were such better men than I. Again, thank you. I know your heart is in the right spot.
    Its a new day! Let’s throw “Stevie isn’t it any Wonder” under the bus. You toss him under and I will drive over him. Then, just for blessed assurance, you can put the bus in reverse while I will take snapshots and post them on Donkeysex.com.
    Its a new day. The sun rose this morning. Lets open the can of Whoop Ass and get the FUE all atwitter. Even thought of him yesterday when I heard the sad news, but it wasn’t him. Similar facial appearance, but not him. Besides, its no fun kicking a dead horse. Opps, well, its fun only for the first few times. Carry one with poking the pinko.
    http://time.com/119370/worlds-heaviest-man-dies/

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17. 

    stevenfrisch

    27 May 2014

    Posted by: George Rebane | 27 May 2014 at 09:08 AM
    Yeah, I am all for Veterans, but don’t spend any money on them if I think there is a better way to do it, because government is inefficient; so I get to say I am all for Veterans except when it comes to supporting programs with $$ for veterans.
    It is kind of a reverse Catch-22 George…as long as people like you stomp your feet and say. “No!, not unless it goes to the program designed exactly how I like it”, veterans will get nothing.
    That is a pretty shitty way to run a government my friend. Perhaps you should learn to compromise a little for the sake of America’s heroes!

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18. 

    George Rebane

    27 May 2014

    stevenfrisch 244pm – I have been compromising for veterans ever since I finished active duty. The compromising by letting government provide services for them has not been a successful experience given the decades old record. Government does not do a good job attempting to provide services which are not in their constitutional charter. The VA’s healthcare debacle is just the tip of the iceberg; wait until Obamacare, the main event, becomes fully operational. We will then witness the gnashing of teeth and rending of garment the likes never before seen in our fair land.
    So, the $$s don’t have to go to programs “exactly” how I like them – there are many ways to provide monies to vets so that they can make their own decisions. But starting yet more govt programs as outlined in your 741am, is nothing more than a reapplication of the operational definition of insanity. All those programs will do is to once more screw over the vets AND the taxpayers, as the federal workers’ benefits and pensions add layers to our trillions of unfunded liabilities that are always a surprise to both politicians and progressives. Let’s for once try something different that has a chance of working (and that is already being used by the VA as a last resort when their planning continues to hit the wall).

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19. 

    Gregory

    27 May 2014

    “That is a pretty shitty way to run a government my friend. Perhaps you should learn to compromise a little for the sake of America’s heroes!”
    One way to tell who Frisch’s friends are is to pay attention to whom he refers to as “my friend”; they tend to be those who aren’t his friend.
    Pouring money into a bottomless bureaucratic pit to be spent on behalf isn’t the same as giving money to veterans. Time to pay for their health care directly, and the veteran gets to choose between VA or community based health care.

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20. 

    Todd Juvinall

    27 May 2014

    Thank you George and Russ for your service to America a. Hell I even appreciate Paul Emery’s service! You don’t have to debate the Frisch on anything having to do with the care and feeding of anyone. Liberals simply throw our money at everything and call it good. My guess is Frisch has never been in a VA hospital and never done diddly for the troops. He is simply a lefty bloviator.

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21. 

    fish

    27 May 2014

    It is kind of a reverse Catch-22 George…as long as people like you stomp your feet and say. “No!, not unless it goes to the program designed exactly how I like it”, veterans will get nothing.
    Hardly….the programs established after WWII are still there for the most part….when they work veterans get….something. I’m interested to know if you have any any idea why they seem to be working worse now than before and why you seem so wedded to the top down, command and control from Washington way of delivering services like this?

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22. 

    stevenfrisch

    28 May 2014

    How typical. “I support the Veterans but I oppose giving any more money to the programs that can help them.” What do you suggest, direct cash grants? Yeah, that will never happen, and if it did you would find a problem with it. I would strongly support a program like the GI Bill for current Veterans, but guess what, Republicans in Congress have consistently voted that down too!
    And seriously, you see a problem with solutions posited in the legislation about?
    There is some problem with telling employers that they cannot terminate a Veterans employment for getting treatment for injuries suffered in service to our country?
    There is a problem with providing funding to retrain Veterans for the current job market?
    There is a problem with listing potential educational funding sources on the VA web site? or direct cash grants to build wheel chair ramps for wounded Veterans? or creating a program within the SBA to specifically meet the needs of Veterans who seek to start a business?
    You are the poster child for how Veterans services have become a political football. Holding up service to Veterans to make some libertarian point about limited government is bullshit. It is shameful, regardless of your service to the country.
    Fish, I will tell you how they were once working (although many would say we have always provided piss poor service to our veterans) and now they are not. We send over 2.5 million Americans to Iraq and Afghanistan, with more than 400,000 of them serving 3 tours of duty or more, and only increased Veterans funding by 40%. The VA serves 2.5 times more Veterans now.
    That is no excuse for wasted money or inefficiency services, but the strategy should be to improve service and efficiency while increasing benefits to help Veterans make a smooth transition.
    And people like Todd, with the mind of a child, who profess patriotism without responsibility to our Veterans, are the epitome of false patriotism.

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23. 

    Bill Tozer

    28 May 2014

    First salvo fired across the bow this morning. Time for a group hug. Mr. stevenfrisch needs a special hug today. Without him we wouldn’t be a dysfunctional family and that ain’t normal. Ever been to an Adult Children of Normal Families Convention? It ain’t no barrel of monkeys and about a boring as watching the grass grow.

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24. 

    Russ Steele

    28 May 2014

    College Board Re-writing History
    Beginning in August, such a course will be offered to 500,000 of America’s most talented high-school sophomores and juniors – the College Board’s new AP U.S. History Framework. The new College Board Framework will replace the traditional 5-page topical outline with a 98-page document that dictates how teachers should cover the required topics. George Washington gets one brief mention; other founders, such as Benjamin Franklin and James Madison, none. The Declaration of Independence is referred to in passing in one clause of one sentence.
    If the Framework virtually ignores the most important men and documents in American history, what does it find worthy of attention? The answer is, pretty much anything that casts a negative light on our country. The redesigned Framework inculcates a consistently negative view of American history by highlighting oppressors and exploiters while ignoring the dreamers and innovators who built our country.
    The Framework asserts that the British-American colonies were characterized by the development of “a rigid racial hierarchy” (page 27) that was in turn derived from “a strong belief in British racial and cultural superiority” (page 29) – and teaches that much of the rest of American history was shaped by those beliefs. There is much emphasis on mistreatment of slaves and native people, but none on truly revolutionary founding principles that laid the groundwork for the freest nation on earth (consent of the governed, development of democratic institutions, religious liberty). World War II was a time of racial discrimination and other inequities, not of massive sacrifice and achievement by soldiers and civilians alike.
    More HERE.

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25. 

    Todd Juvinall

    28 May 2014

    fish, there are always people like Frisch who stain the country and its veterans with their nasty rhetoric. He is simply unimportant. But, he is noisy. Too funny.

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26. 

    fish

    28 May 2014

    CAUTION MORAL PREENING AHEAD!
    How typical. “I support the Veterans but I oppose giving any more money to the programs that can help them.” What do you suggest, direct cash grants? Yeah, that will never happen, and if it did you would find a problem with it. I would strongly support a program like the GI Bill for current Veterans, but guess what, Republicans in Congress have consistently voted that down too!
    And seriously, you see a problem with solutions posited in the legislation about?
    Since this one will require a little time to deconstruct I’ll need to wait until later! Wouldn’t want Michael to curl up into the fetal position because I was frittering my time away.

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27. 

    George Rebane

    28 May 2014

    stevenfrisch 623am – Were you a journalist, the fabricated quote you attribute to me should be examined under the ‘Journalism’s Carpet Bombing …’ post. Nevertheless, it does neatly fit under the long-identified MO of liberal argumentation that posits ‘We know what you really think/mean/said.’ How else to construct a straw man?
    In any event, I invite readers to continue this discussion thread under ‘The VA fiasco …’.
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2014/05/the-va-fiasco-some-thoughts.html

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28. 

    stevenfrisch

    28 May 2014

    First let’s dispel the falsehood that I attributed the statement in quotation marks above to you George.
    The first rule of quotation marks listed in Writers Digest Guide to Grammar is, “First, they are used to enclose words and phrases to which special attention needs to be drawn.”
    In this case I was not quoting you, I was paraphrasing you, and specifically did not attribute the word to you. If I had meant to attribute them I would have said, “George said, “…..”
    Sorry to be a grammarian on you, but it was an intentional paraphrase.

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