• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About

Radio America Online News Bureau

veterans

Arizona’s Vote Counting Debacle, Trump Targets DeSantis, The Worst Promo Ever

November 11, 2022 by GregC

Listen to “Arizona’s Vote Counting Debacle, Trump Targets DeSantis, The Worst Promo Ever” on Spreaker.

Ricochet.com Editor-in-Chief Jon Gabriel is in for Jim. Jon and Greg start out with a tribute to our veterans before digging into why the vote counting in Jon’s state of Arizona is infuriatingly slow. Jon explains how conservatives should interpret this delay, why this process breeds distrust in the system, and why the solutions are obvious. They also react to President Trump slamming Ron DeSantis and Glenn Youngkin as his attention shifts to the 2024 campaign. However, they also notice that the Never Trump crowd seems curiously intent on derailing DeSantis more than Trump – almost as if their grifting depends on Trump staying in the spotlight. Finally, they some Marketing 101 tips to KFC after the most cringeworthy promo we’ve ever seen.

Share

Filed Under: Business, History, Humor, Journalism, News & Politics, Russia, Ukraine, Veterans Tagged With: 2024, 3MartiniLunch, Arizona, DeSantis, KFC, NeverTrump, Trump, veterans, vote counting, Youngkin

Memorial Day Special

May 30, 2022 by GregC

Listen to “Memorial Day Special” on Spreaker.

As the the nation pauses for Memorial Day, Jim and Greg also take time to honor the brave Americans who gave their lives for this nation and their families who have sacrificed so much. They also take some time to give you the background on how this podcast began and how each of them became conservatives

Please visit our great sponsors:

Athletic Greens
https://athleticgreens.com/martini
Free 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D and 5 Free travel packs with your first purchase.

My Pillow
https://www.mypillow.com/martini
Save $90 during the MyPillow MySlipper Blowout Sale going on now!

Share

Filed Under: Elections, Journalism, Military, News & Politics, Veterans Tagged With: 3MartiniLunch, conservative, Corombos, Geraghty, Memorial Day, podcast, sacrifice, veterans, War

Biden’s Marxist Nominee, Kerry Ignores Genocide, Honoring Veterans

November 11, 2021 by GregC

Listen to “Biden’s Marxist Nominee, Kerry Ignores Genocide, Honoring Veterans” on Spreaker.

Jon Gabriel is in for Jim. Join Jon and Greg as they explore the radical record of the avowed Marxist whom Pres. Biden is nominating to be comptroller of the currency. They also slam John Kerry for saying China’s genocide against Uyghurs is “not my lane” as he tries to get a climate deal with the communists in Beijing. And they express their deep thanks to America’s veterans for their service and sacrifice to keep our nation safe and free.

Please visit our great sponsors:

XChair
https://xchairmartini.com
Visit xchairmartini.com for $100 your order today!

My Pillow
https://mypillow.com/martini
All Giza Dream Sheets are BOGO with Radio Listener Specials promo code MARTINI.

Share

Filed Under: China, Climate, Communism, COVID-19, Economy, Energy, Foreign Policy, History, Humor, News & Politics, Russia Tagged With: Biden, China, genocide, Kerry, Marxist, National Review, Omarova, Three Martini Lunch, Treasury, Uyghurs, veterans

Heroic Afghan Rescues, Handing the Taliban a ‘Kill List,’ Biden’s Shaky Speech

August 27, 2021 by GregC

Listen to “Heroic Afghan Rescues, Handing the Taliban a ‘Kill List,’ Biden’s Shaky Press Conference” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg as they salute the special forces veterans who rescued 500 Afghan allies in clandestine night operations designed to elude the Taliban. They’re also staggered to learn the U.S. gave the Taliban a list of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies they should let through their checkpoints, never thinking that we just handed our enemies a list of every Afghan they want dead. And they shudder at President Biden’s doddering press conference.

Please visit our great sponsors:

Made In
https://madeincookware.com/martini
Use promo code MARTINI for 15% off your first order.

My Pillow
https://mypillow.com/martini
Sleep better with the My Pillow Giza Dream Sheets. Now only $49.99 with promo code MARTINI.

Share

Filed Under: 9/11, Afghanistan, Constitution, Foreign Policy, History, Humor, Islamic Terrorism, Journalism, Middle East, News & Politics, Taliban Tagged With: Afghanistan, Biden, ISIS, Kamala, List, National Review, press, Taliban, Three Martini Lunch, veterans

August Jobs Boom, Atlantic Storm, Biden’s Endless Gaffes

September 4, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “August Jobs Boom, Atlantic Storm, Biden’s Endless Gaffes” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg as they cheer the August jobs report showing nearly 1.4 million new jobs and the unemployment rate dropping well below expectations. They also wade into the anonymous allegations in “The Atlantic” that President Trump uttered disparaging comments about our war dead and wounded veterans. And as Joe Biden starts making public appearances, the cringe-inducing moments come with him. Why does Biden never pay a price for comments that might sink other political figures?

Share

Filed Under: Economy, Elections, History, Labor, Military, News & Politics, Social Media Tagged With: 2020, Biden, Economy, gaffes, jobs, National Review, soldiers, Three Martini Lunch, Trump, veterans

High Tech Help for Veterans’ Health

July 18, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “High Tech Help for Veterans” on Spreaker.

Veterans are still facing long wait times to see doctors at some VA facilities. Those long wait times can mean worse illnesses and injuries.

Of particular concern are veterans who live hundreds of miles or more away from VA facilities and have a difficult time ever seeing a physician.

Now the VA, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars are teaming up with Philips North America for a pilot program to allow veterans to engage doctors through telehealth technologies and also benefit from artificial intelligence in the medical community.

In this podcast, Philips North America CEO Vitor Rocha explains how this partnership began and how it will work. He also explains the benefits of telehealth and what data will be reviewed from the pilot program to see if it will be expanded.

Share

Filed Under: News & Politics Tagged With: American Legion, Healthcare, news, Phillips, VA, veterans

Why We Honor Veterans

November 12, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “Why We Honor Veterans” on Spreaker.

As our nation formally observes Veterans Day Monday, U.S. Army veteran and former Pentagon official Van Hipp is teaching his children and all Americans why this day is so special and what our veterans truly mean to us.

In an “open letter” on FoxNews.com, Hipp says Americans need to recognize that veterans fulfill the main purpose for which the federal government was created in the first place.

“Always remember that is the primary purpose of our government. And it is American men and women who have worn the uniform – our veterans – who have kept us safe and provided for that common defense,” wrote Hipp.

But Hipp worries that an appreciation of our veterans is diminishing because fewer people have a clear grasp of what those men and women have done over more than two centuries to secure our liberties.  He says a survey published in USA Today earlier this year left him stunned.

“Twenty-two percent of millennials weren’t sure of they knew what the Holocaust was and 67 percent had never even heard of Auschwitz.  When I read that, I said, ‘We’ve got a problem,'” said Hipp.

Listen to the full podcast to hear more of the letter, and find out what Hipp believes is the most meaningful way we can honor our veterans on a daily basis.

Share

Filed Under: News & Politics, Podcasts Tagged With: history, news, VanHipp, veterans

VA Squalor ‘Not A Money Problem’

August 8, 2018 by GregC

http://dateline.radioamerica.org/podcast/8-18-duff-blog.mp3

A retired U.S. Marine Corps gunnery sergeant prominent veterans advocate is fuming after new revelations that the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington is failing to meet even the most basic medical standards.

Employees at the center are imploring new Veterans Affairs Sec. Robert Willkie to take immediate action to change practices there.  They cite rusty medical instruments and bacteria-infected water being used to sterilize equipment.

The employees also report, “Infection rates went up instead of down in veterans’ bloodstreams and in their urinary tracts. Patient satisfaction went down instead of up. Employee satisfaction tanked.”

Jessie Jane Duff served 20 years in the Marine Corps, rising to gunnery sergeant.  She is now a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research.

“This sounds like a third world hospital and yet it’s right at the back door of the VA headquarters itself right here in Washington, D.C.    It’s tragic.  This is one of the flagship hospitals for the VA,” said Duff, noting the facility is one of fifteen nationwide with the lowest rating.

“If it was a restaurant, it would have been shut down,” she added.  “Here is an example of basic healthcare that is being handled in such an incompetent manner.  I mean rusty instruments?  Water that you can’t even drink from?  What is going on?  Are we actually in combat?  Are we in a MASH unit?  Even then, their standards are higher.”

As a result of the VA scandal earlier this decade, funding for the department was effectively doubled.  Duff says these conditions are not due to a lack of resources.

“The VA gets the second largest bucket of money next to [the Defense Department].  So this is not a money problem.  This is a management problem.  It’s an accountability problem.  Until you’re able to bring in positive leadership with positive change. with the capability of removing those bad apples that have allowed these problems to fester, then you essentially have a status quo of business as usual,” said Duff.

Duff says legislation signed by President Trump last year does make it easier to fire the “bad apples” and also gives veterans more flexibility to find care outside of the VA system.  However, there are still problems, including veterans only getting access to private sector care if they live a certain distance from a VA facility.  Private providers are also have trouble getting reimbursed from the VA.

With the bureaucracy grinding the system to a halt and sometimes not even putting clean medical instruments into use, Duff says the American people should take a good look at the VA.

“My question to the American people is, ‘Do you see why government-run health care has never helped those that are using it?’  It sounds like an easy fix.  It sounds like a possible solution to problems, but what often happens is when you remove private enterprise from the equation, there is not a sense of responsibility,” said Duff.

She says these problems must be dealt with soon or military enlistments will drop.

“We cannot have a nation where we do not take care of those who sacrificed the most, who signed a blank check with their life or their limb for us.  That is critical.  Who will volunteer for the military if they ever see that this is the end result in their final years of life or even when they’re only thirty-something years old and need health care,” said Duff.

But what should happen now to make sure we never see similar conditions at another VA facility?  Duff says President Trump must make it clear this is unacceptable on his watch.

“This is one thing that President Trump ran on.  He stated that the VA bureaucracy was something that needed to be taken care of,” said Duff, who encourages Trump to use his Twitter account to call out those responsible.

Regardless of the public relations strategy, Duff says the problems must be solved.  She says the courage of the employees at the D.C. facility is a great first step, but meaningful change must follow.

“I admire them for speaking up and if it is being covered up, let’s crack this open.  Let’s get this exposed.  Let’s have the media go after it.

“I’ll tell you right now, President Trump is not going to tolerate veterans dying on his watch due to a lack of care run by the very system, by the very people he has now appointed.  I expect that he will be very aggressive about this,” said Duff.

Share

Filed Under: News & Politics, Podcasts Tagged With: bureaucracy, care, hospital, infected water, news, rusty tools, single payer, VA, veterans

Mixed Bag for Vets in First Year of Trump

November 10, 2017 by GregC

http://dateline.radioamerica.org/podcast/11-10-duff-blog.mp3

As America pauses for Veterans Day this weekend, a leading advocate for improving the VA system that cares for those who have served this nation in uniform says the VA system has made made some important improvements in the first year of the Trump administration but she says some badly needed reforms are happening far too slowly.

Jessie Jane Duff served as a gunnery sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.  She is now a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research.  She gives the Trump administration a ‘B’ grade thus far in improving the health care system for veterans.

Duff says Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David Shulkin has made progress on some bureaucratic issues, including closing down 430 vacant buildings around the nation and another 284 that were underutilized.

“That can save $23 million a year.  That money can now be going to health care or receiving mental health care for these veterans,” said Duff.

She says other efficiencies are also now in place.

“They have improved same-day services for primary and mental health care at all of their medical centers.  They’re making it easier for veterans to file online health care applications.  They’re receiving eight times as many online applications this year.  That’s good,” said Duff.

Duff also applauds collaborative efforts with the private marketplace to allow veterans to get minor health care needs, such as flu shots, taken care of outside of VA facilities.  Veterans living in rural areas more than 40 miles from a VA hospital also have greater access to private sector health care.

She is also encouraged that Shulkin is informing the public of any disciplinary actions within the VA in real time.

“They also became the first agency to post information on employee disciplinary actions online.  That’s a must.  How many times did we hear about disciplinary actions after the fact, after they had either resigned from a position or transferred to a new job.  They had covered up in the past,” said Duff.

But while those positives are making life easier for veterans, other major priorities are moving at a glacial pace.  Duff says is taking entirely too long to implement a modern system to seamlessly transfer medical records from the Department of Defense to the VA.

“This ordeal, which should have been corrected ten years ago, has fallen on President Trump’s lap and on Secretary Shulkin’s lap, is apparently going to take another eight years,” said Duff.

Another major frustration is the slow turnaround on veterans’ health care claims.  She says in a digital world, the kind of backlog we see at the VA is simply unacceptable.

“There should not be any kind of backlog.  A backlog means you’ve been waiting over 125 days for your claim to be addressed.  In my opinion, it should be no more than a 30 to 60, no more than a 90-day turnaround,” said Duff.

“We’re not sending anything by the Pony Express anymore.  We’re not even sending anything by the Postal Service anymore.  Everything is electronic.  Everything should be expedited and that should immediately shave off 30 days,” said Duff.

While Duff is adamant about the turnaround times, she admits forcing standards on bureaucrats often leads to the scandals we saw just two years ago.

“The problem when you give these deadlines is you start having people fraudulently putting down numbers.  That’s what created the basic backlog in the first place,” said Duff.

So while progress has been made at the VA in 2017, Duff says there are still great concerns.

“It’s just very dismaying to me to see that these things still are going to take long to happen.  How many more veterans are going to die waiting?  How many more veterans are not going to get adequate care?” asked Duff.

While she hopes to see rapid improvement on issues like claim turnarounds and record transfers, Duff warns that a federally-run health care program is always going to have problems.

“The fear I have is that government health care is always going to be muddied down with government bureaucracy,” said Duff, once again urging the VA to partner with outside health care providers.

“Let Blue Cross or whatever health care system that’s willing to take on veterans that are away from hospitals.  Let’s get this moving,” she said.

Standard Podcast [ 17:05 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Share

Filed Under: News & Politics, Podcasts Tagged With: David Shulkin, news, records, Trump, VA, veterans, wait times

‘Every American Should Be Absolutely Disgusted’

March 21, 2017 by GregC

http://dateline.radioamerica.org/podcast/3-21-DUFF-WND-COROMBOS.mp3

A new report shows the Department of Veterans Affairs is failing to answer calls on the Veteran Crisis Line, leaving many veterans waiting 30 minutes, a federal performance that one prominent veterans advocate says should leave the American people “disgusted.”

The VA’s own inspector general issued the report Monday.  First created in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line is designed to have 10 percent or fewer of the calls roll over into overflow call centers.  However, from April through November of 2016, 28.4 percent of calls went to those call centers, with many waiting 30 minutes for someone to speak to them.  In October, the rate was 34.9 percent.

“It’s disgusting.  Every American should be absolutely disgusted with this rate for a suicide hotline.  I’m just kind of numb to a point where the VA is just the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to giving me an opportunity to come out ans scream and yell,” said retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Jessie Jane Duff, who is now a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research.

“I am frustrated beyond belief.  I understand this is a new administration.  I’m willing to give the new secretary of the Veterans Administration an opportunity to correct these issues.  But I do hope that bringing this forward in the first 50 some odd days of this administration, they’d take it very seriously,” said Duff.

She says veteran suicides are a major problem and forcing vets in crisis to wait long periods is not helpful.

“They have 20 veterans a day killing themselves.  Twenty veterans a day; this is by the VA’s own stats themselves.  So then to put them on hold for 30 minutes.  Do you not think that’s not potentially contributing to the suicide rate?” asked Duff.

The report also shows the VA is distorting the wait time for veterans by declaring that calls forwarded to overflow centers are never really on hold.

“To have them wait 30 minutes is ridiculous.  And then the excuses they give.  They said they’re not being put on hold because they were re-routed to an overflow center.  They said, ‘Well, we didn’t put them on hold.’  Quit patting yourself on the back.  To a caller, that was waiting 30 minutes.  In that time they could have pulled the trigger or driven off the bridge,” said Duff.

Deflecting blame infuriates Duff as much as the incompetence.

“Who is going to be held accountable for this.  The staff obviously doesn’t get fired.  There’s obviously minimal recourse for the veterans who are left on hold.  What are they left to do.  Reporting it doesn’t seem to be getting them anywhere,” said Duff.

Duff says this seems like an easy fix.

“You would have to centralize where this system is located and you would have to enable it with an efficient and effective staff.  They should be like a 911 call center.  911 does not place you on hold.  It’s as simple as that.  It should be considered an emergency,” said Duff.

Duff says something like this should be effectively addressed in three months or less.  She also wants the VA to focus on care for veterans instead of trying to take away their second amendment rights because they’ve been deemed mentally incapable of handling their own financial affairs.  The Justice Department imposed such an order and legislation is now underway to reverse that ruling.

“Mentally defective does not equate suicide, and if the VA cares so much about suicide, why aren’t they answering their phones,” said Duff.

When it comes to confronting union and freeing up the VA secretary to remove ineffective or incompetent personnel, Duff wants to see major results within a year.  She says Secretary David Shulkin deserves a chance to do the job, but she says results should determine how long he stays there.

“For the bigger things. I expect (results) in a year.  I’m not even talking midterms.  If this doesn’t get corrected, somebody needs to be removed from this position and we need someone who’s willing to do the deep dive and go in there and dig,” said Duff.

Standard Podcast [ 13:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Share

Filed Under: News & Politics, Podcasts Tagged With: crisis, line, news, Shulkin, VA, veterans

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Recent

  • DeSantis Laughs Off Trump Insults, More Uvalde Frustration, Reparations Madness
  • Dems Sour on Abrams, China & Marijuana, Dem Demeans School Parents
  • Russia & China Grow Closer, Mexican President’s Accusations, Trump Legal Drama
  • McCarthy’s Energy Focus, Marianne’s Temper, Barney Frank Gets A Pass
  • Biden’s Weak Nominee, Tons of Missing Uranium, Emhoff’s Asinine Analogy

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in