Eric Shinseki has served since 2009 as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Many of us remember him fondly as the then Army Chief of Staff what testified to the Senate during the run-up to the invasion of a then-sovereign Iraq that Iraq post-invasion would require “something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers.”
This ran counter to Donald Rumsfeld’s estimate, which was, officially, “seven Marines and a slingshot.”
Shinseki was later fired.
It sucks to be right.
Now Shinseki is being leaned on to resign due to revelations that the VA in Phoenix cooked the books regarding veterans’ represented access to care versus the real numbers. Lack of access, it is said, has killed 40 veterans. The American Legion says he should resign. Even our friend Paul Rieckhoff is asking IAVA members to chime in with a poll of confidence.
Veterans’ issues have been a bone of contention for liberals for quite some time, and it is among the most worthy of issues. However, I would ask that every time you hear it suggested that a member of the Obama cabinet resign, you should hear a little bell ringing.
If Shinseki resigns, President Obama will have to replace him. Candidates must endure Senate hearings. This administration is already anticipating confirmation hearings for HHS. If these conservagoats can strong-arm more cabinet staff into resigning and make it appear as if there is some disgrace regarding it, mo’ better for their constant, active sabotage machine.
Look for more calls from the right for more folks to resign. In the meantime, it is hoped that Shinseki can get to the bottom of this and implement the proper, robust reforms.
Nearly two weeks since the NBA banned him for life, Donald Sterling is apologizing and asking for forgiveness in his first public interview after a leaked recording showed him making racist comments in a phone call with his reported girlfriend.
Sterling recorded an exclusive interview with Anderson Cooper – which will air at 8 p.m. Monday on CNN – where he said “I’m a good member who made a mistake and I’m apologizing and I’m asking for forgiveness.â€
“Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years? I mean, I love my league, I love my partners. Am I entitled to one mistake? It’s a terrible mistake, and I’ll never do it again,†80-year-old Sterling said.
I’ll say it again: This problem ain’t that Sterling disparaged African-Americans. The problem is that Sterling said the he, the owner of an NBA team, doesn’t like X group of humans attending NBA games.
As you may be aware, game attendance = dollars. I think he could have said he didn’t want polar bears attending NBA games and he’d be in hot water (assuming that polar bears buy tickets to basketball games). Not as much. But some. The guy can apologize all he wants for racist comments. It doesn’t address that his comments were in tandem potentially business-killing. That’s the real reason the NBA chose to punch the guy in the windpipe rather than to slap his wrist.
Sal. Trust me. Just put some brothers up on the wall.