Rep Duckworth is awesome

[hurly]

This guy is not claiming SF, but he's claiming an injury from military school( not one of the military academies). He gets 30% for a sprained ankle in prep school!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=rPOKm20wP4s

[Scimitar]

I have to disagree here. Without knowing the details of the situation.

It felt like Rep Duckworth was either using her position to emotionally masturbate and / or to gain political capital.

I doubt the individual challenged here was given a chance to address the accusations, it certainly felt more like a lynching then a hearing. If she's so big on justice then she would know that her actions where fundamentally unjust. I would argue, with out details, they she showed her real hand in that action, one of a politician being a politician.

It pisses me of when I see abuse of power, and that what it looked like. Again assuming he did nothing illegal, was not dishonest, or broke the policy rules. It seems that is not the case because of what Rep Duckworth "went after".

Again, assuming that the individual did not actually break any laws. He has a right to avail himself of policy and if policy allows him to claim 30% and pursue veteran advantage then he should. If the policies are wrong, then the policies should be changed. if the policy is unbalanced, then how the hell is that his problem.

Now I hear the counter argument of morality, and character, and ethics.

Here's is some food for thought. The overseas service company I run right now comes in under OSHA laws, these laws are hardly policed at all, therefore a significant portion of the industry ignores them and gains a price advantage.

I have sat down with the public sector individuals involved and told them this, and advised them that if I followed the law, I would go out of business, I will go out of my way to keep my staff as safe as I can, while keeping them employed, and this requires me to ignore the legislation.

Morality is not nearly as black and white as we'd like. Again it may end up this individual did somethign unethical, still doesn't justify the unprofessional and self seeking action in the clip. It seems to me that Rep Duckworth is pissed an this guy because of some policy wonks poor policy.

Again, abuse of power really pisses me off, and that's certainly what it looked like.

S

[SF_BHT]

Originally Posted by Scimitar

I have to disagree here. Without knowing the details of the situation.

It felt like Rep Duckworth was either using her position to emotionally masturbate and / or to gain political capital.

I doubt the individual challenged here was given a chance to address the accusations, it certainly felt more like a lynching then a hearing. If she's so big on justice then she would know that her actions where fundamentally unjust. I would argue, with out details, they she showed her real hand in that action, one of a politician being a politician.

It pisses me of when I see abuse of power, and that what it looked like. Again assuming he did nothing illegal, was not dishonest, or broke the policy rules. It seems that is not the case because of what Rep Duckworth "went after".

Again, assuming that the individual did not actually break any laws. He has a right to avail himself of policy and if policy allows him to claim 30% and pursue veteran advantage then he should. If the policies are wrong, then the policies should be changed. if the policy is unbalanced, then how the hell is that his problem.

Now I hear the counter argument of morality, and character, and ethics.

Here's is some food for thought. The overseas service company I run right now comes in under OSHA laws, these laws are hardly policed at all, therefore a significant portion of the industry ignores them and gains a price advantage.

I have sat down with the public sector individuals involved and told them this, and advised them that if I followed the law, I would go out of business, I will go out of my way to keep my staff as safe as I can, while keeping them employed, and this requires me to ignore the legislation.

Morality is not nearly as black and white as we'd like. Again it may end up this individual did somethign unethical, still doesn't justify the unprofessional and self seeking action in the clip. It seems to me that Rep Duckworth is pissed an this guy because of some policy wonks poor policy.

Again, abuse of power really pisses me off, and that's certainly what it looked like.

S

Well after looking into his information I understand why she let him have it. She is right he is gaming the system for financial advantage. He saw an opening to leverage the system and used it way after this happened to him in Prep School. He never served a day serving the country other than playing sports in Prep School.

The system is screwd up and people that have little or no loss that invest the time to try to get a percentage really block others that actually have real needs and rely on what the VA might be able to do for them.

Was she harsh. Hell yeah and I hope she continues. If you think she was abusing her power than you have never watched many congressional inquest. This was mild.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Scimitar

I have to disagree here. Without knowing the details of the situation.

It felt like Rep Duckworth was either using her position to emotionally masturbate and / or to gain political capital.

I doubt the individual challenged here was given a chance to address the accusations, it certainly felt more like a lynching then a hearing. If she's so big on justice then she would know that her actions where fundamentally unjust. I would argue, with out details, they she showed her real hand in that action, one of a politician being a politician.

It pisses me of when I see abuse of power, and that what it looked like. Again assuming he did nothing illegal, was not dishonest, or broke the policy rules. It seems that is not the case because of what Rep Duckworth "went after".

Again, assuming that the individual did not actually break any laws. He has a right to avail himself of policy and if policy allows him to claim 30% and pursue veteran advantage then he should. If the policies are wrong, then the policies should be changed. if the policy is unbalanced, then how the hell is that his problem.

Now I hear the counter argument of morality, and character, and ethics.

Here's is some food for thought. The overseas service company I run right now comes in under OSHA laws, these laws are hardly policed at all, therefore a significant portion of the industry ignores them and gains a price advantage.

I have sat down with the public sector individuals involved and told them this, and advised them that if I followed the law, I would go out of business, I will go out of my way to keep my staff as safe as I can, while keeping them employed, and this requires me to ignore the legislation.

Morality is not nearly as black and white as we'd like. Again it may end up this individual did somethign unethical, still doesn't justify the unprofessional and self seeking action in the clip. It seems to me that Rep Duckworth is pissed an this guy because of some policy wonks poor policy.

Again, abuse of power really pisses me off, and that's certainly what it looked like.

S

Why do you think Rep. Duckworth might take this personally?

TR

[Scimitar]

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

Well after looking into his information I understand why she let him have it. She is right he is gaming the system for financial advantage. He saw an opening to leverage the system and used it way after this happened to him in Prep School. He never served a day serving the country other than playing sports in Prep School.

The system is screwd up and people that have little or no loss that invest the time to try to get a percentage really block others that actually have real needs and rely on what the VA might be able to do for them.

Was she harsh. Hell yeah and I hope she continues. If you think she was abusing her power than you have never watched many congressional inquest. This was mild.

Thanks BHT,

Yeah looks like the guys a scumbag, certainly not defending him, hopeful they can get him on something, but if they can't I do have to point the finger at the system at least a little.

How does she get 20% and he get 30%, somethings odd there, surely the individual has little influence on the result?

And how does he get anything for a sport injury and she get only 20% for what seems to be a very real service related injury if not a combat injury?

It's not the harshness I care about, I just feel grandstanding from the bench like that is unprofessional, dispassionate justice is a very important feature of any justice system.

It still felt very politico, but from what you say that's pretty standard for these hearings, and their all politicians right? I wonder if there's a connection.

S

[cbtengr]

This country could stand a bit more "Grandstanding" of that nature. This guy went on to play college football. He is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the frauds who are drawing disability, we need to weed out the individuals within the VA or whatever bureaucracy who approve these claims.

[cedsall]

This guy is a serious loser and deserves everything she gave him and a lot more. And Rep. Duckworth giving him the lambasting couldn't have been more appropriate.

He twists his ankle at USMAPS, goes on to play college football, now (years later) is getting 30% from the VA. He wouldn't even be considered a veteran if he hadn't twisted his ankle/been injured in prep school.

I've read some discussion on whether it's him or the VA system that's at fault. Well the VA system isn't the sharpest tool in the shed but he had to file the papers.

I know when I climb out of bed in the morning I feel every bad landing, every stupid thing I did in 20 years. Then I walk the dogs, make that morning commute, sit in that big office they give me drinking the morning coffee, and when life seems a little tough I think "Yeah, it's sucked a whole lot worse than this." I've got all my original equipment and with the exception of some orthopedic surgery scars and tinnitus in my right ear, I've got nothing to complain about.

Screw him and all the other whining losers like him.

[NurseTim]

I'm torn, she is still serving despite bilateral amputation of her legs and her right arm reattached, a rotor wing pilot, saw combat duty, all greatly to her credit.

But she is an an Illinois democrat. The democratic party is run by chicago/daley machine. The same that spawned he who shall not be named and most other corrupt politicians in recent memory.

Lt. Col. Duckworth get an atta girl for this one. I still wouldn't turn my back on her though.

Anyone committing disability fraud ought to be made to give $5 handjobs/BJ's at rest areas and made to support 1 or more genuinely disabled person.

[18C4V]

30 % for a sprained ankle for playing football? WTF???? I have zero VA ratings and I've had numerous injuries from being on jump status and being an SF soldier. Shit, I've been IEDed and RPGed and haven't claimed shit. What POS that guy is.

[NurseTim]

How does he get VA status by going to prep school? One of the military academies I can see, but prep school? Mindblowing

[SF_BHT]

Originally Posted by NurseTim

How does he get VA status by going to prep school? One of the military academies I can see, but prep school? Mindblowing

You are in the military "enlisted" during prep school and during the acadamay. When you graduate you are commissioned.

[Team Sergeant]

Braulio Castillo what a bottom feeding scumbag........

Duckworth Slams Man Over 'Prep-School' Disability
Jun 27, 2013
Military.com| by Bryant Jordan

Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs when the Army helicopter she was piloting in Iraq was shot down by insurgents in 2005, called shame on a Virginia business man granted a Department of Veterans Affairs disability for a prep-school football injury that he claimed was earned defending the country.

Braulio Castillo, president of Strong Castle -- an information technology company based in Leesburg, Va. -- testified on Wednesday after a congressional investigation found his service-disabled veteran status stemmed from a 1984 ankle injury suffered while playing football at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.

Castillo, who applied for his disability in 2012 shortly after buying the company, told Duckworth he believed he deserves his VA disability.

Duckworth didn't agree. She took particular exception to Castillo implying in a letter to the Small Business Administration that his disability was the result of active-duty military service as she chastised him for using his service-disabled veteran status to gain an advantage when competing for federal contracts.
Cont:

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...isability.html

[SF_BHT]

I would love to kow why he did not continue after prep school in West Point. What he did do was go on to a regular college and he played football there. His little twisted ankle did not deter him from playing.

Then many years down the road he needed an edge and applied for a disability and got it. He is fucked up and the system is screwed up also......