Republicans in Congress are now calling for VA Secretary Robert McDonald to resign. Should he?

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Wed, 25 May 2016 07:38:58 -0400

VA Secretary Robert McDonald somewhat apologized Tuesday afternoon for his remarks the day before. He had suggested that just as Disney doesn't measure success based on wait times for rides, so the VA shouldn't judge its success based on how long veterans have to wait for doctors' appointments. Republicans in Congress are now calling on him to resign. Should he?

Response by Alan K. made May 25 at 2016 7:42 AM

Alan K. — Wed, 25 May 2016 07:42:49 -0400

As fast as he can....he has proved to be ineffectual and not a Vets friend...

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 25 at 2016 7:45 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 25 May 2016 07:45:30 -0400

Yes before he's either lynched or jailed, either way he's toast.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made May 25 at 2016 7:51 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Wed, 25 May 2016 07:51:45 -0400

Made a poor analogy, but otherwise did nothing. So no, unless all the Republicans in Congress resign for doing nothing as well.

Response by SGT David T. made May 25 at 2016 8:05 AM

SGT David T. — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:05:56 -0400

The decision to resign is a personal one. Only he can answer that. Should he be fired? Now that is a separate question entirely.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 25 at 2016 8:13 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:13:00 -0400

I've actually been actively avoiding this current VA controversy... however....

When it really boils down to it, he spoke poorly, but Sec MacDonald was CORRECT.

WAIT TIME or LINE LENGTH is a POOR METRIC for measuring Success. It is. He phrased it badly in a Public Venue and is getting hammered for "phrasing" when he was 100% correct that we should not be using that specific metric to determine how well we are doing.

If you do not believe me, I could have the VA wait time to 0 days tomorrow (given the authority). The simple way is just to Deny all claims and Cancel all appointments. We would be instantly "Successful" if that was the yardstick of measurement.

One of the major issues of corruption that he has brought to light (in his term) was the "shady practices" of Administration used to Fudge the Numbers or Pencil Whip the Statistics to create a "False Impression of Success."

When he makes these "Phrasing" issues before Congress which become Media Soundbites... which piss us off.... it's because they're #%^^& true, and people don't like seeing having their BS pulled into the light.

Please keep in mind I RANT about the VA. I think it is one of the most poorly ran organizations on the planet. But... We should not try to measure success by wait times or line length either.... and on that Sec MacDonald is correct.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made May 25 at 2016 8:15 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:15:57 -0400

I think the issue is the current admin including HRC doesnt see anything wrong with the VA. I bet they wouldnt use it though.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 8:29 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:29:47 -0400

He should GTFO of his post. People like this are a disgrace to everything we should stand for. I am sure if someone made a statement about his family and their healthcare issues, he wouldn't be happy. Just another example of overpaid fatcat a$$holes that should go get a real job.

Response by SPC Terry Martin made May 25 at 2016 8:29 AM

SPC Terry Martin — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:29:52 -0400

Yes he needs to go, We don't need our Vets standing in line like at Disney World; nor a "Leader" saying "IF I was misunderstood ..." rather than taking responsibility and not have said it in the first place! Bad comparison! :-(

Personally, Why not have open admittance to ANY Hospital for Vets. I've never ran into a major line at a "Civilian" Hospital. A Vet should be able to walk into any Hospital in the USA or any Base and receive treatment.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made May 25 at 2016 8:33 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:33:20 -0400

SP5 Mark Kuzinski He has accomplished nothing as Secretary and his latest comments, comparing waits at Disney World with waits at the VA, is so totally insensitive and off-base that he has lost credibility with veterans, the very people he is supposed to be helping and representing. I think he needs to go..

Response by SSG Warren Swan made May 25 at 2016 8:36 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:36:12 -0400

For what? When Regan was in office VA was screwed up and everyone knew it, Bush the same, Clinton the same, Bush Jr, the same, and now Obama the same. Why replace him when we should be replacing 600+ individuals who haven't done a DAMN thing for the VA or vets, but know where HRC's email server is. Congress owns the money, Obama owns the cabinet member. Who has more power?

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made May 25 at 2016 8:54 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:54:54 -0400

Yes & I would recommend Retired General Raymond T. Odierno as his replacement.

General Raymond Thomas "Ray" Odierno is a retired United States Army general who served as the 38th Chief of Staff of the Army. Prior to his service as Chief of Staff, Odierno commanded United States Joint Forces Command from October 2010 until its disestablishment in August 2011. He served as Commanding General, United States Army

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 9:05 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:05:10 -0400

Honestly I believe the VA should be done away with altogether. If anyone deserves free healthcare and the best healthcare it the military, police, firefighters and first responders. After a certain period of service we should be given a credit card that will be taken by any healthcare provider and the government picks up the whole tab. This would save millions in administrative costs and payroll, not to mention getting the best fit for primary doctors for each person. If you don't like the doctor you saw last, just go to a different one.

The VA is really not about taking care of us. It's about justification of spending and titles for those in DC.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 9:17 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:17:20 -0400

Since that is his mentality then YES!

Response by SGT David Emme made May 25 at 2016 9:53 AM

SGT David Emme — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:53:15 -0400

Obviously he should resign but what a way to display you support the troops in a chest thumping moment while they turn around and stab us in the back by slashing benefits and pay to active duty, retirees, begin stripping away the 9/11 GIBILL. "Support the troops! Support the troops! We support the troops!", until it is time to actually support the troops!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 25 at 2016 9:59 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:59:41 -0400

The VA is too big and too complex to fix. There are many great people who work there but the problems it has cant be solved.

Response by SGT William Howell made May 25 at 2016 10:10 AM

SGT William Howell — Wed, 25 May 2016 10:10:48 -0400

He is absolutely right. If I have a hang nail and somebody has congestive heart failure that person should be moved to the front of the line. He is working in a bureaucracy and trying to fix it. There are limited resources for an almost unlimited number of people. Just because somebody doesn't like the answer doesn't mean it is not the right answer.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made May 25 at 2016 10:23 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Wed, 25 May 2016 10:23:19 -0400

This guy is just another incompetent in a long line of incompetents. None of which could change an extremely huge organization with politicians of all stripes thinking they know best.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 11:41 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 11:41:31 -0400

The VA is actually pretty good, IF (big frelling IF) you can ever get in to be seen. So, IMHO, wait times are a big, if not the biggest, part of the problem with the VA.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made May 25 at 2016 12:26 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Wed, 25 May 2016 12:26:13 -0400

The metric being wait times is what got the VA into this mess to begin with. The question of how effective he's been (within the constraints of a gigantic, corrupt bureaucracy) is a fair one, but he has a damn point. Wait times are a symptom of a larger problem and are the wrong starting metric for success.

Response by LTJG Don Biscoe made May 25 at 2016 1:08 PM

LTJG Don Biscoe — Wed, 25 May 2016 13:08:29 -0400

Probably. His Diney comment shows how the average Washington bureaucrat thinks about things rather than look for solutions. Not to mention, if he did understand markets he's know his comment is shallow. Theme parks ONLY job is to entertain. If you are spending too much time in long lines how likely are you to either go back or recommend the park? Of course Disney and others monitor lines....

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 2:25 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 14:25:25 -0400

Better question is should he be asked to resign by the president.

If I were the president (and I wouldn't take that job for anything) I would simply tell him to resign by a designated time of be fired.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made May 25 at 2016 2:25 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 25 May 2016 14:25:39 -0400

I guess we'll just have to wait to find out. We're used to that, aren't we?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 4:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:03:30 -0400

Maybe they should put an active duty member to be the VA secretary advisor. These civilians seem not to care about our current and past serving members.

Response by SFC Joseph McCausland made May 25 at 2016 4:34 PM

SFC Joseph McCausland — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:34:30 -0400

Absolutely, if he can make such a ridiculous statement, it shows he has no clue what our veterans endure while waiting to be treated.
I would give him the "boot" and also the person that hired him.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made May 25 at 2016 4:39 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:39:49 -0400

SP5 Mark Kuzinski It may be time, but anyone that we put in there to replace them needs the support of Congress and the money to make the necessary changes. Just an opinion!

Response by SFC Joseph McCausland made May 25 at 2016 4:53 PM

SFC Joseph McCausland — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:53:56 -0400

Basically, this idiot has just said... "Don't judge us by how many veterans "DIE" waiting to be seen..judge us by how many we actually see".
As I look at the picture of him and Obama.. I am sorry, I can't help but lend a caption to that picture....
"Do you think they are going to believe all the "BS" i am about to unload on them..don't worry Mr. P. when I am done, the VETS will love you".
Sorry... just couldn't help myself".

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 10:05 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:05:39 -0400

Let this simmer a while. Somehow we magically recoup all the Government waste and bonuses since the origin of the VA. The same day we hire an exact clone of of a combination of Patton, MCarthur, Hal Moore and Col Hard........and the odds of success are ..........?
Col Hard is the ficticious name I gave a artillery commander with the 82nd in 1965. The story goes, he lost 4 men in one day to sniper fire. There was a section of Santo Domingo that the Marxist held and the good colonel trained his 105's on select buildings and blew off a few rounds, moved up a few meter, blew off more rounds and eventually took 4 city blocks. For his reaction and brave vengance, they made him return those 4 blocks to the Marxist. He's still my hero.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made May 26 at 2016 1:29 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Thu, 26 May 2016 01:29:53 -0400

The head of the TSA resigned over poor performance and long wait lines.
The head of the VA?????
It's time to fire Bob.

Response by LTC Erik Spike Thiesmeyer, Sr. made May 26 at 2016 2:43 AM

LTC Erik Spike Thiesmeyer, Sr. — Thu, 26 May 2016 02:43:49 -0400

My latest VA appointment is nearly 3 months from now. Now, it's not life threatening (sleep apnea study), but I've been suffering for years and now I finally get an appointment but it's in August?? Did I mention it's 180 miles away? Yes, he should resign or be fired. Then they need to fire the top 10 people at each facility across the US. Not doctors, nurses, PAs, etc. just the administrators and bureaucrats.

Response by SFC Roberto Garza Jr. made May 26 at 2016 9:22 AM

SFC Roberto Garza Jr. — Thu, 26 May 2016 09:22:22 -0400

I would recommend his dismissal. He has been very arrogant since the beginning acting as if veterans are just complaining. He has not been dismissed because the VA is not taken seriously. We need leaders at the top who place veterans health as a priority and not as a check the block.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2016 1:23 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 May 2016 13:23:02 -0400

Much ado about nothing, if anyone gives a good rat fart what I think.

Response by Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. made Jun 1 at 2016 2:36 PM

Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 14:36:01 -0400

Robert McDonald needs to go. Maybe Disney World deserves him.
However, in 7 months, if he has not resigned, he will be booted out of his position unless the military hating H. Clinton is elected. God help our military, retirees and the USA if she is elected.

Response by SPC Diana D. made Dec 13 at 2017 6:14 PM

SPC Diana D. — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 18:14:52 -0500

If you are one of those standing in line his comment struck a nerve. I have been waiting in line for 4 months now. I think that they should start cleaning house from the top and work their way down. Too many people are dying waiting on the VA.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 6:26 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 18:26:18 -0500

Any Obama Leftovers or Resistance should be shown the door.