Randi: Every governor should bring their state's troops home

[Mandate My Ass]

from holding buildings around Walter Reed, put them in the best medical facility, rally the communities, and have a parade in their honor. Per caller Cathleen from WA.

[JAYJDF]

1. I so agree. I can't understand why our Governors don't get more

involved in this and take charge of their state's troops.

Don't send them. Bring them home. NOW

[Mandate My Ass]

2. The VA is overwhelmed

put them in public and private hospitals. Have high school kids and college kids volunteer to help them do paperwork and take them to appointments. Volunteer a ride to them and families!

There is so much the community could do if you bring them back to their community. They would see the whole community turn out for them. Make the problem smaller. Put a name and face and personality out front and then that person is real. Then it's a person, not a slogan or a magnet.


WTG!

[valerief]

3. If that happened, it would be "Springtime for Dubya in Paraguay."

And that day can't come too soon. We know we can't convict him, but maybe we can run him out of town.

[JackBeck]

4. This is a most excellent idea.

Integrating the soldiers back into their hometown community.

If you aren't listening to Randi today, you must tune in!

[Mandate My Ass]

5. Governers' potential excuse: "But they've been federalized..."

The message is very simple. Call the gov's office and say "We would like to help them with the federal requirements, we'd like to help them with jobs, if they can work while they're waiting."

[shance]

6. What a great idea for statewide Moveon organizations to rally behind!

That seems to be where our real power is as citizens - in our local and state governments.

[Mandate My Ass]

7. Caller from CA called Ahnold's office

The person who answered didn't know what or where Walter Reed hospital is. Called Sen. Boxer's office and she heard of proposal to bring troops to their home state. Will call other senator and the governor today to bring the troops at Walter Reed home.

[SeattleGirl]

8. I heard the call from Cathleen yesterday, and have been listening

to Randi today. I think this is a GREAT idea, and fortunately, one of my senators is Patty Murray, who fights tooth and nail for the veterans. I will be calling her office, Maria Cantwell's office, and my governor's office about this.

What I love about this idea, aside from the fact that it could help the vets get the care they need quicker, is that it is something WE can do directly to help them. I've sent packages and letters overseas, which is also a good thing, but I've often felt at a loss as to what to do when they get back home (eventually). This is something we can do to directly help them, and I love it. I'm a vocational rehab counselor, and I could certainly volunteer my time in terms of job search, etc. I bet nearly everyone has something they could do to help in this effort.

[Mandate My Ass]

9. That's the best part, IMHO

Randi said this would be the first generation that welcomed the troops home from a war of choice and made them feel cared for and appreciated AT HOME. I love this idea. I could volunteer and I know there are people in my community serving right now.

[DAMANgoldberg]

10. I made the call...

posted elsewhere, but Gov. Mark Sanford's office (803.734.2100 and get passed around) in South Carolina, an extremely Red state, but my Congressman is John Spratt (D).

[MamaBear]

11. I didn't hear the caller's proposal for who is going to fund this effort.

Who pays? Once the vets are in local institutions, do you really think the feds -- who are reluctant at best to fund their care in federal facilities -- are going to come up with cash for the states to pay for this long-term, complicated care?

What about the local patients who would be displaced by the veterans?

I am all for reforming the VA and getting our vets the care they need. I just think this is only half a plan with way too many loose ends.

I would very much worry that as far as Washington is concerned, it's out of sight, out of mind. And this administration's promises to help anybody are worthless. I'm sure the people on the Gulf Coast would agree.

It was a lovely impulse, though, and expressed well the incredible frustration we all feel at the abandonment of our military people by the
administration that has so badly used them.

[SeattleGirl]

15. You may not have heard one of the callers to Randi's show today

Has been a nurse at a VA hospital for many years, and she was talking about the empty beds, so spread out the vets, and spread out the money.

As far as out of sight, out of mind, yeah, you're right, but if enough people started making noise about this, enough people started demanding that these vets be taken care of properly and promptly, while Bush may still turn a deaf ear, those repukes up for re-election may well listen.

I think it's more than a lovely impulse. As I posted above, I want to do something for the returning vets that has meaning, but I haven't been sure what to do. This is a down-to-earth idea that really CAN help them, AND can get more people involved, regardless of their stand on the war. I'm totally against this war, but I am not against those who go to fight it. It tears me up to hear about what's happening at Walter Reed. It't betrayal at the deepest level to these vets, and if I can help do something to alleviate that, then I want to, and I will.

[malaise]

12. I've been saying that for ages

Go Randi.

[mainegreen]

13. The National Guard is not the same as State Defense Forces. n/t

[w8liftinglady]

14. Unfortunately,this would allow access and photos...first hand accounts

Much less access if we have the troops sequestered in one place

[TahitiNut]

16. Military personnel follow orders - not invitations.

The military personnel at Walter Reed are still in the military - they're not (yet) veterans. As GI's, they do what they're told to do and live where they're told to live.

:shrug:

[SeattleGirl]

17. Point taken. However, I think this still could be done.

One of the things Randi was making clear was that this was not an effort to bypass the military, but rather a way to help those troops who return home wounded get the care they need quicker than they are getting it now. We're talking about helping the military help their own, not thumbing our noses at them.