General Discussion

Atticus

(15,124 posts) Mon Apr 2, 2018, 03:57 PM Apr 2018

I, for one, am glad that Shulkin is gone. I know he was an Obama appointee, but his extended

European trip with the free Wimbledon tickets was totally inappropriate. And, yes, I am aware his behavior was no worse than numerous Trump appointees, but that's not really the point, is it?

In addition, in the interviews I've seen since he was canned, he has been an almost stereotypically mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy, spineless dweeb who is "grateful" that Kelly "gave him a heads up" and had not one uncomplimentary word about the cowardly Trump. We don't need any more placeholders in government.

The above notwithstanding, it should be noted that Shulkin functioned in his position as head of the VA without incident or scandal UNTIL the Oval Office was occupied by Thug -In-Chief Trump. When it became obvious that the ethical standards that governed the behavior of the prior administration had been totally abandoned by this one, Mr. Shulkin decided that the taxpayers should fund his European jaunt. "The fish rots from the head down."

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I, for one, am glad that Shulkin is gone. I know he was an Obama appointee, but his extended (Original Post) Atticus Apr 2018 OP

yep - ronnie jackson will be an infinitely better VA secretary DrDan Apr 2018 #1

If they serve under Trump, does it really make a difference? nt Atticus Apr 2018 #4

it sure does - Shulkin was an obstacle to privatization - now with him out . . . . DrDan Apr 2018 #5

The Shulkin I've seen would not be an obstacle to anything that Trump really wanted. He impressed Atticus Apr 2018 #6

if he wasn't an obstacle, trump would have left him alone as the Secretary DrDan Apr 2018 #7

That would make sense, which is why I doubt it was Trump's motive for the firing. nt Atticus Apr 2018 #8

"we will not allow VA to be privatized on our watch." - that was Shulkin July 2017 DrDan Apr 2018 #9

Thanks for your response. nt Atticus Apr 2018 #10

Junkets..on tax payer funds..bad...shulkin "THE WALL" for the oncoming privatization of asiliveandbreathe Apr 2018 #2

No wonder we will lose western civilization. WTF. -nt poboy2 Apr 2018 #3

DrDan

(20,411 posts)

1. yep - ronnie jackson will be an infinitely better VA secretary

Reply to Atticus (Original post)

Mon Apr 2, 2018, 04:15 PM

Apr 2018

Atticus

(15,124 posts)

4. If they serve under Trump, does it really make a difference? nt

Reply to DrDan (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 2, 2018, 04:47 PM

Apr 2018

DrDan

(20,411 posts)

5. it sure does - Shulkin was an obstacle to privatization - now with him out . . . .

Reply to Atticus (Reply #4)

Mon Apr 2, 2018, 04:58 PM

Apr 2018

Atticus

(15,124 posts)

6. The Shulkin I've seen would not be an obstacle to anything that Trump really wanted. He impressed

Reply to DrDan (Reply #5)

Mon Apr 2, 2018, 05:12 PM

Apr 2018

me as a"weathervane", willing to "go with the flow".

DrDan

(20,411 posts)

7. if he wasn't an obstacle, trump would have left him alone as the Secretary

Reply to Atticus (Reply #6)

Mon Apr 2, 2018, 05:13 PM

Apr 2018

Atticus

(15,124 posts)

8. That would make sense, which is why I doubt it was Trump's motive for the firing. nt

Reply to DrDan (Reply #7)

Mon Apr 2, 2018, 05:17 PM

Apr 2018

DrDan

(20,411 posts)

9. "we will not allow VA to be privatized on our watch." - that was Shulkin July 2017

Reply to Atticus (Reply #8)

Mon Apr 2, 2018, 05:24 PM

Apr 2018

"Under a Trump Administration, all veterans eligible for VA health care can bring their veteran’s ID card to any doctor or care facility that accepts Medicare to get the care they need immediately. ...The power to choose will stop the wait time backlogs and force the VA to improve and compete if the department wants to keep receiving veterans’ health care dollars."

That was from the trump campaign website.

Of course it was the reason he was fired - his position was diametrically opposed to trump's.