Rp logo flat shadow
Command Post What is this?
Posted on Jun 1, 2016
Mitch McConnell
53.4K
1.06K
525
42
41
1
Avatar feed
Responses: 218
SGM Mikel Dawson
93
93
0
I want to know why after WE THE PEOPLE gave you Republicans control of Congress you pissed away all the good chances you had to make thing right. Why did you let Obama Care rape the people of their existing health care plans and now are being charged so much more than the policies they had and were forced to give up?
Why is it that Congress has raped Social Security of the money WE THE PEOPLE have paid in and you, OUR SERVANTS have so wastefully put it in the position of default?
Why is it Congress doesn't fall under Social Security instead you voted yourselves a fat retirement even though you don't have to serve 20 years like us VETS who put our lives on the line?
Why don't you all fall under TRICARE like us vets seeing how we are all government employees?
Why is there more millionaires in Congress than any other group in the States?
Why don't you all have term limits like the president?
You all have pissed off the majority of people off in the United States, that's the reason Donald Trump is now the GOP candidate. Just because none of you did your jobs is the reason he's there. Are you going to support him or what?
I really don't expect you to answer any of my question and if you attempt I will not be surprised by a run around reply instead of a down to earth face to face answer which most of you career politicians fail to do!

Thanks for your time
(93)
Comment
(0)
SGT Robert George
SGT Robert George
8 y
LCpl (Join to see) - Tell me how thats supposed to work ? Increase debt to become more prosperous and shoving down our throats Obama care when nobody was being refused medical treatment in the first place ... I dont know Ive been a dummy all my life !!!
(0)
Reply
(0)
SSG Satellite Communication Systems Operator/Maintainer
(0)
Reply
(0)
LCpl Rifleman
LCpl (Join to see)
8 y
SGM Mikel Dawson - I have respect for the Marine Corps, the ideals, and the uniform. I was merely vocalizingmy opinion, is that not allowed anymore? How can you be forced ("raped" according to you) into paying Social Security or Welfare? No one asked you to live in this country. If you don't agree with the policy and want to verbally berate the politicians who try to help us (granted not all politicians are great), there is a simple solution, move to a country who's principles coincide supplementary with yours. Again, it's hard to voice a conflicting opinion without coming across as abrasive. I do apologize for my hostility.
(0)
Reply
(0)
PO1 Joseph Frazier
PO1 Joseph Frazier
8 y
SN Desley Snyder - Considering NOT a single Republican voted for the AC because it was a BAD bill should tell you something. If you think Democratso going behind "closed doors" and writing the bill without Republican input is called working together, then you may need to reevaluate compromise. Further,the Democrats refused to vote on any Republican Amendments to the bill. Finally, how much of the law have you read? I read 90% of it in college for my research paper. The ACA is a TERRIBLE law that has caused Healthcare costs to increase and people lose the health insurance they liked.
(2)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
MSG Intermediate Care Technician
47
47
0
Edited 8 y ago
1) When the surge of refugees came rolling out of Syria, the US was quick to offer space available.....yet there are COUNTLESS homeless US Citizens (many of whom are US Military Veterans)....why are we not taking care of our own first?
(47)
Comment
(0)
CSM David Heidke
CSM David Heidke
8 y
MSG (Join to see) - I wasn't on live either, but I scrolled through and counted Six responses to about a hundred questions.
(1)
Reply
(0)
MSG Intermediate Care Technician
MSG (Join to see)
8 y
CSM David Heidke - Sad. And I bet dollars to pesos that the only ones answered were the touchy feely easily answered ones.
(3)
Reply
(0)
MSG Mechanic 2nd
MSG (Join to see)
8 y
i grew up in a time when cambodies were given the same, free housing, education, while i worked my ass off , they had cars, housees and food as well as education, but i still had to work my ass off for the same, i'm now a retired vet 31 years, and i still have to work my ass off to get what they did weres the the justice
(2)
Reply
(0)
SGT Air Defense Radar Repairer
SGT (Join to see)
2 y
SPC (Join to see) The states get Federal money. The states are basically just a funnel tooczl governments yo handle the situation. Of course you do need to realize some Vets feel safer on the street. The City of El Paso Texas has some 40,000 on the waiting list for housing. Its not a problem easily solved nor can it be done quickly
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Management Assistant
44
44
0
Will term limits ever be considered for the senate?

I understand that it must not appeal to you considering you have served for 32 years.
(44)
Comment
(0)
SFC Management Assistant
SFC (Join to see)
8 y
CSM David Heidke - I figured this was the wrong senator to ask this question of.
(2)
Reply
(0)
CSM David Heidke
CSM David Heidke
8 y
SFC (Join to see) - I figured this was the wrong senator to ANY question of.

FTFY
(2)
Reply
(0)
SFC Casey O'Mally
SFC Casey O'Mally
2 y
SPC (Join to see) Congress shouldn't be dealing with foreign leaders. Not their job. That's the executive branch, specifically State Department, with career diplomats. Even then, we have Ambassadors who are political appointees and replaced pretty regularly. But they are supported, again, by careerists. No reason rollover in Congress causes any problems for foreign relations.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SGT Air Defense Radar Repairer
SGT (Join to see)
2 y
PO1 Chris V. Se have Term limits. They are called elections.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Avatar feed
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell here, what questions do you have for me?
CPT Engineer Officer
39
39
0
Why is it easier to get on the dole than receive benefits from the VA that were earned through blood and sweat?
(39)
Comment
(0)
CW3 Stephen Mills
CW3 Stephen Mills
8 y
I have a friend who works for Oklahoma DHS. They aren't even allowed to check to see if someone has a felony or warrants that would exempt them from eligibility. All they are allowed to do is ask and then they have to go with the answer they are given. If the state makes a practice of checking they can lose federal funding, according to her.
(2)
Reply
(0)
COL Military Police
COL (Join to see)
8 y
Super question!
(2)
Reply
(0)
CSM David Heidke
CSM David Heidke
8 y
fourth highest voted question, no answer.
(4)
Reply
(0)
CPT Engineer Officer
CPT (Join to see)
8 y
CSM David Heidke - Interesting isn't it?
(3)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Rory J. Mattheisen
22
22
0
Are you guys planning on getting any work done or will you just continue to throw fits like a group of spoiled adolescents?
(22)
Comment
(0)
MSG John Wirts
MSG John Wirts
8 y
Adolescents? None of them are that mature!
(1)
Reply
(0)
Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell
8 y
In fact, even though you may not have noticed, the new Senate Majority has been very productive. First, we're allowing senators to vote again. During the previous majority there were only 15 roll call votes in all of 2015. Under the new majority, it 2015 we had roughly 200. We passed on a bipartisan basis the following bills: trade promotion authority, a major rewrite of elementary and secondary education, a 5-year highway bill for the first time since the '90s, cybversecuirty legislation, a permanent R&D tax credit, a permanent ban on taxing the Internet, a comprehensive opioid and herin bill, a comprehensive energy bill for the first time in a decade, a n environmental bill dealing with toxic substances, and on deck are many individual bills to fund the government, a process that under the previous majority was completely dysfunctional. I talk about all this in the conclusion of my book.
(7)
Reply
(0)
SPC Rory J. Mattheisen
SPC Rory J. Mattheisen
8 y
Mitch McConnell - I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me sir. I did not expect it.
What are the plans to get the VA back on track without adding more layers of bureaucracy to it? I personally have fallen through the cracks many times and have watched many others fall through them as well. As I type this message I have another brother in arms sitting 6 feet away from me that was sleeping in his car two days ago. He is now safe and under my roof because of a chance encounter with a female veteran I helped get out of her car less than a month ago.
The holes in our current system are so incredibly large that I have formed a grassroots Veterans Service Organization 2/406 VSC and am re-casting my net daily to bring Combat Veterans in to the loop and help them improve their stations in life. Millions of dollars in funding is some where and to make things happen it is coming out of my bottom line.
(0)
Reply
(0)
CSM David Heidke
CSM David Heidke
8 y
PO1 Chris V. - That's the only reason he was here.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Infantryman (Airborne)
21
21
0
Edited 8 y ago
Senator McConnell, thank you for taking time to answer our questions. I am a disabled veteran, as many in RP are.
My question to you is, what is going to be done to help our veterans, get through the VA claims process faster?
When are we going to get the riff raff out of the VA system, and put people in their place who are responsible employees and care about the veterans?

If it takes two VA secretaries to accomplish this mission, to get our VA systems, working for us, instead of against us, why isn't more being done other than lip service?

When someone, in the VA management systems, are found guilty of misappropriating money, hiding or destroying veterans paperwork, and lying about it, when are they going to be held responsible guilty, and paying for what they did? The trend seems to be arresting them, finding them not guilty of anything wrong and putting them back in the VA system.

We need help. The VA system has had a bad name going all the way back to WW I, and possibly the civil war. My dad went one time and said he would never go back in his lifetime. I cannot express to you how serious a problem this is in all the VA hospitals. At my Houston VA there are vets driving three to four hours to get treatment because their VA is not equipped to help them. Please take this problem back with you and demand something be done soon, before another vet dies waiting to get the help he or she earned and is entitled to.
Again, thank you for your time.
(21)
Comment
(0)
MSG Mechanic 2nd
MSG (Join to see)
8 y
the people that are responsible for decidideing disabillity never served, i have hearing loss documented, turned down because i was a 68 wm6, if they reviewed my records was also 8404 USN with artillery, then the fact that even medics need to qualify every year, they eventually conceeded my time in iraq, but still denied, thats only the tip of the iceberg, blew my knee out during apft, with medical docs, after coming home from iraq had 2 knee surgeries, denied, and the best, served at camp lejeune 85-87 drinking contaminated water unless you have 5 or more problems then dont even try, recent stats 1 in ten got compensated, hmmm is smell agent orange, i dont know whats going on in the va but thier employees get better benies then i did on active or my civi job, my addiction counsellor could take the rest of the year off with pay because of thier policy, i respect theese people most are vets, but it should'nt take 2, 3, 4 times to apeal and when you do hold on we're talking 10-12 months to get the answer, maybe va should be shut down and let the civi dr's decide, and send to much down sized va admin team
(1)
Reply
(0)
SGT Infantryman (Airborne)
SGT (Join to see)
8 y
I am deaf in one ear due mostly to my tour in Nam. When I tried to get some disability, because it is service connected, I was turned down. All I received was 10% for tinnitus. Everyone I know who have hearing loss, which is service connected, doesn't get any disability for it. For my other service connected disabilities, I am 100%, and received that within six months. I Dont have any complaints about my disability. It's the after care from some of the doctors who just want to put in eight hours and go home, and the way we are treated by some clerks. I found out, if you don't act rude to them, they won't act rude to you. You have to kind of kiss up, but whatever it takes to get through their system, I will do.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Pete Fleming
21
21
0
Why do we give special preferences to illegal aliens and refugees and other foreigners over US citizens? There are numerous people trying to enter the US legally, are good people, properly vetted but can't, spouses of US citizens even. But we welcome non-vetted (or not properly) people who have no connection to the US, who are a real potential threat? Why and when will legal American citizens (in this case legal spouses) have priority over non-US citizens?
(21)
Comment
(0)
SSG(P) Casualty Operations Ncoic
SSG(P) (Join to see)
8 y
True. We do not need immigration reform, as there are plenty of existing laws on the books that have done a good job thus far. We need to return to being a nation of laws, and ENFORCE the existing laws, instead of creating new ones that won't be enforced either.
(2)
Reply
(0)
PVT Amos A.
PVT Amos A.
8 y
They wont. And giving preference to refugees who will vote for a certain political power-base ensures not only remaining in power, but growing that power-base to ensure longevity for generations to come.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Bethany Viglietta
18
18
0
Edited 8 y ago
Senator Mitch McConnell,

Thanks for joining us and opening up the floor to questions. As you can tell we are a very passionate group of individuals who have taken quite the brunt of the politicking especially over the last ten years. You've been in the Senate since before I was even a thought, but I have to admit I didn't know much about your stances and had to do some research on recent bills regarding Veterans. Honestly, I knew it was bad, but did not truly understand how much the parties used bills that would benefit veterans as power plays. A few such bills include most recently the cuts to the Veterans Affairs Funding Bill, Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act, Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act, Veterans Jobs Corps Act, and the Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act. Each of these bills had the opportunity to make Veterans lives a little better, to ensure they get the necessary treatment, to expand education and health care, to allow Veterans and Service Members to start families even after being wounded... But instead each party dug in their heels because it may have involved Planned Parenthood, because they didn't want the other party to get a win, because for whatever reason the Republican Party felt they needed to include sanctions on Iran in a bill regarding Veterans.

I know this is a lot of build up, but my question is what is your long game to help those who have served this nation and have endured years of conflict and how do you plan to get the legislation passed? Thanks so much for your time.


We need to do better.
(18)
Comment
(0)
CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
8 y
SSG Bethany Viglietta Nicely said Staff Sergeant!!!!!
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSG Bethany Viglietta
SSG Bethany Viglietta
8 y
CSM Charles Hayden Thank you. He didn't answer... I just hope he read it and has something else to think about.
(1)
Reply
(0)
CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
8 y
SSG Bethany Viglietta Ha! Congress knows what is best for them! Do you really believe Sen. McConnell took notes or filed anything for future attention?! They know it all, which equals re-election!
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSG Bethany Viglietta
SSG Bethany Viglietta
8 y
CSM Charles Hayden Touche. Guess there is a reason he's been doing it longer than I have been alive. Here's to Veterans stepping up and taking care of Veterans instead.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
LTC Stephen F.
17
17
0
Edited 8 y ago
Thank you for taking the opportunity to answer our questions Mitch McConnell
What will you focus the Senate's attention on for the first 100 days of the next administration? What are your top three legislative priorities for the incoming Senate?
[Update] I removed several questions from my original post and am reposting them individually.
I apologize for the sniping comments of my colleagues on this net.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. CW5 (Join to see) CSM Michael J. Uhlig SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright SPC Corbin Sayi SPC (Join to see) SSG Leo Bell PO2 Ed C. SGT Robert Hawks SGT Robert George Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM CSM Charles Hayden
(17)
Comment
(0)
SGT Forrest Stewart
SGT Forrest Stewart
8 y
SSG Lemuel Genovese - I honestly don't believe LTC Stephen Ford has ever put his best interests ahead of his subordinates, certainly not that I've ever witnessed. From what I've seen, he will stand his ground and stand up for his troops if that is the right thing to do.
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSG Lemuel Genovese
SSG Lemuel Genovese
8 y
GUYS - RELAX ! I was NOT impugning LTC Ford. My point, and this is my last post on this entire RALLY POINT website is that there are too many TOXIC field grade and flag officers whose chief concern is their next promotion. Nice to know Ford has the total respect of so many NCO's out there. THAT is true testimony to the quality of his leadership. So, if you attack me for being an old school VN/Desert Storm NCO taught the hard lessons of what poor leadership does in a combat zone, you are wasting your time.
(1)
Reply
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
8 y
SSG Lemuel Genovese - FYI gentlemen I wanted to make sure you saw SSG Genovese clear statement of intent. He was not insulting me. SGT Forrest Stewart SGT (Join to see) SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"
SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright SPC (Join to see) SP6 Clifford Ward
(3)
Reply
(0)
SGT Infantryman (Airborne)
SGT (Join to see)
8 y
LTC Stephen F., I stand my ground, Sir. If he's serious about that being his last post, that's his problem. If a little heat like I gave him, runs him off, he wouldn't have lasted long anyway in RP. I looked at his bio and there's not much there, plus he's a ghost to me without showing more about himself and no picture. Everyone knows how I feel about that. Sorry Sir. I'm a hard headed old school NCO who, believes officers should be shown more respect than he gave you.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Capt Richard I P.
16
16
0
Edited 8 y ago
Mitch McConnell Sir, Thanks for your time and for joining us here. As the Majority Leader of the Senior house of the Congress whose power to declare war is clearly established in the Constitution, can you explain why the last declared war was WWII and we have been openly kinetically engaged in multiple nations for over 15 years and less openly engaged in over 70 nations for longer without a declaration? What are your plans as the Leader of the Senate to address this bi-partisan Executive Branch over-reach and Legislative Branch abdication of duty?

(edited to address only one key question for time)
(16)
Comment
(0)
SGT Damaso V Santana
SGT Damaso V Santana
8 y
Thanks you Capt. for asking this important question. How can we as a nation have allowed our Constitution to be totally ignored and trampled. Our institutions have obviously failed, Congress the prime example.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close