More debates to come … hopefully we shall see more about all these matters.
dr.e

What makes Mike Gravel different from other candidates is that he actually says something. The others are so careful that they say nothing worth listening to. As far as Mr. Gravel clarifying his views on veterans or anything else, don’t hold your breath. Gravel was pretty much shoved to the edge of the stage and hardly allowed to speak in the last debate. He said he felt like a potted plant in the first debate.

The people who put on these debates don’t seem to show any more respect for Mike Gravel’s age or past accomplishments then they do for the accomplishments of America’s veterans. That reminds me of how the older vets get, the more they are shunted to the side and ignored.

Apparently Mike Gravel was the point man for ending the draft and risked his own liberties by releasing the Pentagon papers. The Pentagon papers showed that the government knew we were loosing our ass in Vietnam but intended to keep that a secret from the American people and intended to keep on killing thousands of GIs, all for political expediency. For those actions as Senator, Mike Gravel should be given a medal instead of being shoved to the side and ignored like an old fuddy-duddy.

Did anyone else on that stage even serve? They only pretend to back veterans because it looks good. More political expediency. Gravel didn’t say the things you wanted him to say, but it’s hard to imagine any of the others saying “appalling because the government has always, always waged war against the veterans”. Polite politicians just don’t say things like that in public. And that’s partly why we are so screwed up.

Re Sen Gravel:

“MS. KILMINSTER: My question is, why is it that veterans cannot receive medical services at the hospital of their choice?’

Sen Gravel was asked about his exp. as a veteran w the Vet Affairs Department, not about VA meds dispensary. Vet Affairs Dept is a huge sprawling outfit that creates policy, negotiates contracts, is visited by lobbyists, has arms overseas, runs surgical rooms, employs mil and civ docs, deals in medical equipment fabrication as well as buying it, literally keeps millions and millions of documents, has a huge archive, has tens of thousands of workers. ALL those departments are dealt with daily by thousands of vets who must apply, clarify, get copies of, and too often plead, go though miles and miles of red tape for the promised medical care, and when finally authorized, may be sub-grade or delayed nonetheless..

Sen Gravel said he got his meds there, so he “knows the situation very well.” I wish that were so, but meds dipensing’s not credible experience by my sights. The pertinent question was referring back to the question I listed in quotes above (which is from the transcript) … The context is that this question earlier in the debate was originally addressed to Obama, who also gave a shallow answer the question and instead skipped over to how gov’t bargains to keep Rx costs down. The debate went on and then wound its way back to VAD again.

I’m a military wife, husband 21 years USAF ret. Sen Gravel likely gets his meds by mail for the last few years, since Champus/TriCare was changed (again) a while back. Likely someone else fills out his paperwork for him. Let’s say, theoretically tho, he goes down to the VA for his meds. It’s like going to Walgreen’s’ pharmacy window, except at a military installation. That in no way gives insight into the VAD, not the surg wards, psych wards, not the policy offices, not anything other than a window to the dispensing pharm. Most ret. officers don’t announce they are officers, or Senators So and so, and make a big deal of it.They just get their meds.

Sen Gravel saying [the system] is “somewhat appalling” doesnt even touch the severity of the issues throughout the entire system; the grave situation of outdated medical equipment, lack of oversight of medications’ contraindications, lack of timely aftercare; lack of diagnostic equipment, having seriously ill people have to drive or be carried miles and miles away from where they live in order to be treated, overpaying contracts, not being able to account for supplies, often pitiful following of patients who are suicidal, it goes on and on. All these contribute to uneven, untimely and sub-standard tx to many many vets. If Sen Gravel knew the inside data, he could have stated it.

There are some vets, often younger or older but in decent health, who have never had to grapple with the system. Returning vets from Iraq and Afghanistan may not yet realize that gov’t officials running for election ‘repeating slogans’ doesn’t follow through to action necessarily. Yet, often the older the vet is, the more he/she has heard it and heard it… heard the promises, which like the Native American treaties with the US… the promises are broken time after time.

Sen Gravel can be briefed between now and the next debate, and no doubt he certainly will as his staff reads various critiques. But being briefed is not the same as ‘being there’ and knowing the details; That’s a mistake that Geo Bush makes also. I’ll look forward to seeing which, if either, Sen Gravel takes up

PS. I’m a girl, not a Sir. A grandmother, but you don’t have to call me Ma’am, although all the young soldiers we minister to, do.

dr.e.

“Senator Gravel, you served in the military during the Korean War. Have you had any experiences with the Veterans Affairs Department as a veteran yourself?

GRAVEL: I get my meds from the V.A., so I know the situation quite well.

BLITZER: Are you satisfied or unsatisfied?

GRAVEL: I’m satisfied, very much so. I think they do a good job. But I think it is really somewhat appalling because the government has always, always waged war against the veterans.”

But I think it is really somewhat appalling because the government has always, always waged war against the veterans.

Listening to the debate may have given one impression, but reading the transcript gives another. Mr. Gravel talks plain English. I personally appreciate that very much instead of the crap the other candidates ration out. At least he is a vet unlike our President, our vice president and most other candidates running to be president.

I appreciate your opinion, sir and ask that you give this man the respect of an accurate quotation.

Standing in line at the Prescription Counter at the VA (usually there are chairs, because the wait can be long) BEHIND active duty soldiers who properly have priority

Unless something has changed, Actvie Duty soldiers never go to a VA hospital. They should be at a DoD medical treatment facility or using their TRICARE benefits.

Nick Rivera: I’m glad you visited vets. I’m sure they appreciate it. I began working VA’s in 1960s. Medications. So many examples of not rxing psychiatric meds when needed. Brain chemical disturbance caused by PTSD rampant in those coming fr war. Little oversight for cross-contraindications in older vets who are taking multiple meds, with vets suffering arrhythmias, anxiety, or other probs from multiple meds that dont mix w/o bad effect. Exchanging brand meds for generic without notice. Subbing flannel patch meds which often cause rashes, in place of vicose patchs that are more expensive, but less allergenic for many. Appears that the longer a vet goes after discharge the more med and health care goes downhill, esp difficult for those who are long term disabled. Too, uneveness in care from facitility to fac. Each one is different, tho gov’t says all same.

Given that the quality VA system has been brought up several times throughout the campaign, Gravel’s response might very well have been out of touch, but it didn’t strike me as being insensitive. Indeed, I’ve been to my local VA hospital and talked with many of the patients, and I’ve found that many veterans are extremely thankful for receiving what care they do receive and are not so quick to critize the VA system as some of us might expect.

This wasn’t the greatest showing by Gravel. He certainly isn’t going to command the type of attention that he received following the first debate. But on the issue of the Iraq War, he and Kucinich continue to speak their minds and call for an immediate end to the war. Far from being a distraction, I think he’s a reminder that the Democrats in Congress have the power to end the war but simply choose not to for political reasons.