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Steve Gilliard, 1964-2007

It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog, passed away June 2, 2007. He was 42.

To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.

Please keep Steve's friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.

Steve meant so much to us.

We will miss him terribly.

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Republican Crooks, $3.8 million in VA Executive Bonuses


Secretary of VA Affairs, Jim Nicholson with Bush

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly two dozen officials who received hefty performance bonuses last year at the Veterans Affairs Department also sat on the boards charged with recommending the payments.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press raise questions of conflict of interest in connection with the bonuses, some of which went to senior officials involved in crafting a budget that came up $1.3 billion short and jeopardized veterans' health care.

The documents show that 21 of 32 officials who were members of VA performance review boards received more than half a million dollars in payments themselves.
- (AP - VA Bonuses)

These crackerjack political appointees, after bungling the 2005 budget and creating a $1.3 billion dollar shortfall paid themselves over $3.8 million in bonuses.

While veterans wait more 6 months for care, and the VA itself has a 100,000 case backlog. These bastards voted themselves bonuses.

The bonuses were awarded even after government investigators had determined the VA repeatedly miscalculated "if not deliberately misled taxpayers" with questionable methods used to justify Bush administration cuts to health care amid the burgeoning Iraq war.
- (TIME VA Bonuses Questioned)


Michael Walcoff, Ronald Aument, and William Feeley just some of the many VA incompentents who stole money from veterans at Walter Reed and around the country.

Annual bonuses to senior VA officials now average more than $16,000 — the most lucrative in government. The VA said the payments are necessary to retain hardworking career officials.


Most of these guys make more than $150,000 a year.

According to the White House Office of Personnel Management, roughly three of every four senior officials at the VA have received some kind of bonus each year.



Listen, son, you and your folks are heading out right? we're going to need this bed, be sure and get your bill at reception.

Now, what was it that jackass Glen Reynolds was saying about Democratic Pork?

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