Comments on: Obama to name secretary of veterans affairs Sunday

By: Otis

Otis — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:23:06 +0000

Murtha? Are you kidding me? I don't want Murtha speaking on my behalf when it comes to Veteran's affairs.

By: Sue in MI

Sue in MI — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:18:53 +0000

I pray it isn't McCain, who pretends to support vets but votes down every attempt to honor and help them. Murtha would be good.

By: richard

richard — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:14:30 +0000

Tammy Tammy Tammy *fingers crossed*

By: Mary-Anne Heller

Mary-Anne Heller — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:11:28 +0000

Former Georgia Senator Max Clelland would be an excellent choice.

By: John Marshall, Ohio

John Marshall, Ohio — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:09:48 +0000

I would love to Senator Max Cleland in this role

By: sick n tired

sick n tired — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:06:54 +0000

For veteran's sake I hope it's not John McCain!

By: jcs,annapolis, MD

jcs,annapolis, MD — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Maryland LtGov Anthony Brown. Army reservist, spent time in Iraq, was at Harvard Law with BHO

By: Brian Sinykin

Brian Sinykin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:54:13 +0000

Obama now has a site were you can see what they are doing and also send them your ideas as to what needs to be down and how to do it. I did this and the following is what was submitted.

There is a current program that should work if you change how it is now being implemented.

The current program includes the VA's Extended Use Lease (EUL) unused land program and State government funding programs.

We can use a building that is on the VA campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The State of Minnesota put up the money for two sites, one temporary and one permanent. The Minneapolis site is the permanent site.

The building is a beautiful building. However building mistakes are now showing up and that is where it stops. I have been trying to get the VA (both Washington’s EUL department and the local Director at the Minneapolis Hospital), Hennepin County (They own the building), the Minnesota Housing and Finance Authority (they are on of the oversite groups) and the State of Minnesota’s Audit Department (They check on how the money was spent and is it following the intended use.), to correct what is wrong with the way this Permanent Supportive Housing for the Homeless is being run. Currently around 20+ Veterans have been put back on the streets, 5+ have died (two by suicide). The building is only two years old.

Hennepin County and the current building management refuse to follow the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act which would have provided the outline for what supportive programs should be in place and are not.

PLEASE! PLEASE! HELP ME HELP THE 90 VETERASN IN THIS PROGRAM AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO HAVE A BETA-SITE FOR WHAT FUTURE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE LIKE.

By: tiffany in ohio

tiffany in ohio — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:50:34 +0000

could it be McSAME hmmmm????

By: geoffrey ellis aronson

geoffrey ellis aronson — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:47:38 +0000

Max Cleland

By: moonbeam

moonbeam — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:40:20 +0000

An excellent choice might be Bob Filner, Congressman from CA. He has been a strong supporter of veterans and worked tirelessly to promote better health care and support, especially for wounded vets.

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:26:44 +0000

He is going to appoint the completely unqualified and inexperienced Tammy Duckworth. For the mere fact that she is a Democrat who also happened to be grievously wounded in Iraq. It will be the new, socially-sensitive, pity-based affirmative action of the future of this country. Forget about whether they are qualified, let's put them in because it makes us feel good. Sort of like Obama himself.

By: Tony Morales

Tony Morales — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:25:48 +0000

Kerry or that woman from Ill. Cant remember her name
She has no legs.....
what is her name????

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:18:21 +0000

Senator John Kerry, Colin Powell, Senator John McCain, Senator Chuck Hagel...

Really no speculation? Come on is this appointment such a a disappointment that CNN won't even speculate?

By: Alice Newman Center Harbor NH

Alice Newman Center Harbor NH — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:18:02 +0000

Even in the name of being "bipartisan", McCain's name won't float to the top of anyone's list. He voted against every veteran's benefit for the past 6 years.

By: L-Tenn

L-Tenn — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:13:52 +0000

This appointment should be a veteran who understands the plight of all veterans and is committed to act in their behalf, not the self-serving interests of the Pentagon.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:13:20 +0000

I do hope it is the double amputee who served in Iraq. I can't recall her name. But she know the plight of our returning Iraq Veterans.

By: jess

jess — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:12:58 +0000

isn't this what you get , when stop teaching morals and valuals and let your young people think everything.goes nothing is out of bounds,don't blame them just be careful what we say and do in front of them.so when we look at this picture of Sen.clinton and those two young men .we see what we all have become.[disrepectful,greatful and dishonest]

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:12:52 +0000

Tammy Duckworth?

By: Denise, SC

Denise, SC — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:08:41 +0000

Max Cleland (Former Senator from GA) should be Obama's choice for Sec. of Veteran Affairs. A a war hero and triple amputee, he will fight hard to bring all veterans the rights and diginty they deserve.

By: NOVALEE ELIZABETH

NOVALEE ELIZABETH — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:02:57 +0000

JIM WEBB.

By: Woodman

Woodman — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:59:55 +0000

Tammy Duckworth? Max Cleland? Evan Bayh?

By: Cricket

Cricket — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:59:27 +0000

Chuck Hagel might be a good choice also. Of course Jim Webb is equally qualified and both men have shown great support for our troops.

By: andrew

andrew — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:57:36 +0000

How bout Max Cleland? Just to spite Saxby..jerk

By: Julie from LA

Julie from LA — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:57:20 +0000

Please, not Webb or Murtha. They are practically Republicans.

Someone like Tammy Duckworth would be fantastic.

By: Psbro

Psbro — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:49:33 +0000

I'm hoping for Tammy Duckworth, double amputee & great American from Illinois to be the head of Veterans Affairs. It would also be the first female if I'm not mistaken. Her nomination would sail thru in a heartbeat.

By: Gee

Gee — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:46:43 +0000

McCleland of Georgia would be a great pick.

By: Gee

Gee — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:44:31 +0000

Change we can believe in, really?

By: Chad

Chad — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:38:36 +0000

I wonder if Favreau will be photographed with a cardboard cutout of the new secretary of veterans affairs bent over the mini-bar??

By: Joel Rosenberg

Joel Rosenberg — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:38:24 +0000

This was "the full story"?! This appointment is part of a vitally important reform. To elevate veterans' affairs to a cabinet-level department and to appoint a qualified person committed to treating the members of our armed forces with the respect they deserve and the social services they need represents a major change in the way presidential administrations do business. Here, finally, is an administration committed to "support[ing] our troops." It therefore deserves more than a single sentence of reportage, especially when "the full story" was promised. Who are the candidates for head of this department? What are the goals of the planned department? What is the public response to its creation?

By: earle,woodstock,vt

earle,woodstock,vt — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:20:18 +0000

I hope he asked US House Rep. John Murtha from Pennsylvania,and that this proud Vietnam War "Amputee" Hero accepted. It will be good for our veteran's health/moral to see one of their own running the show for a change.

By: lee

lee — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:13:08 +0000

He should get fired

By: mark musselman

mark musselman — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:11:37 +0000

Jim Webb?
With Tim Kane as Senator?

By: james in s.c.

james in s.c. — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:57:24 +0000

i say he pick tammy ducksworth???

By: BerndK

BerndK — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:53:51 +0000

Why not raeching beyond the party-boundaries an ask John McCain?

By: mary, VA

mary, VA — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:52:13 +0000

This must be John Kerry for Sec. of Veterans affairs,
That will be great !

By: reginald smith fairfax va

reginald smith fairfax va — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:43:12 +0000

i hope its tammy duckwoth i thinks thats her name or max cleland . they are injured veterans who know what it means to suffer !!!!!! as veterans . they will be simpathetic to alll veterans . and their hardships. a walter reed episode will not happen under their watch.

By: Franky

Franky — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:38:19 +0000

"A source in the Obama transition reveals President-elect Barack Obama will announce his choice for Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sunday at a news conference scheduled on Pearl Harbor Day and intended to highlight the service of veterans and current service members."

Now that I really like...a lot.

By: Lila Mach

Lila Mach — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:31:35 +0000

I bet it will be Chuck Hagel! Good man for the job.

By: Ray Fisher

Ray Fisher — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:13:31 +0000

I hope his pick is a wise one, perferrably a disabled veteran as my preference is for Tammy Duckworth. She exudes the spirit of the disabled veteran and has paid a long painful and life-long price for freedom. All gave some, some gave all and Tammy Duckworth will continue to give in perpetuity!!!

By: Charlie in Maine

Charlie in Maine — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:06:16 +0000

I know he is too busy to ask my opinion but I would absolutly pick Max Cleland of Georgia. Not only does he understand veterans and their issues but he was cheated out of his position in the Senate by that lying SOB Saxby Chambliss. I so wish Martin had won. Oh well. You can't win them all.

By: Jaye

Jaye — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:52:10 +0000

Hopefully it's someone who really cares about our veterans and our current military men and women.
Our military men and women have, and are, being treated horribly by the same people that sent them to war....and it's a complete disgrace.
Bush and Cheney send them to war to be killed and mamed and offer no real care when they return home. Shameful!!!

By: Clinton Supporter

Clinton Supporter — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:51:50 +0000

I have an idea – appoint that woman whose legs were blown off in Iraq. She's looking for a job, and women would forget all about the Facebook episode – wouldn't they??

By: ChicagoSuz

ChicagoSuz — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:46:19 +0000

I'm guessing Tammy Duckworth or Max Cleland.

Longshot... John McCain

By: Godluvr

Godluvr — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:42:35 +0000

Andrea Mitchell, does one of your spies already know who it is? Please, please tell me!!!!

By: Charles Sullivan

Charles Sullivan — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:35:56 +0000

How about Saxby Chambliss?

By: Ted van Tol

Ted van Tol — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:34:12 +0000

Barack is doeing just as he told us before.
He is a man of his word and he is proving
that every day.
I am from the Netherlands but he is my
president too, because his policy of change wil effect our country an
whole Europe intensively.
80% of the Dutch people are aproving his Presidency and
that's the highest number all over the world.
We know what a great and historic President he will be.

May he and his family be safe.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:25:42 +0000

My guess? Tammy Duckworth. I worked on her campaign in DuPage county as a volunteer, and she is an astounding person. I would be quite surprised, if it is not Major Duckworth, who heads Veteran's Affairs in Illinois presently. She would be a stellar choice.

By: James

James — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:13:28 +0000

Veterans are truely going to find out who really has always supported them in the next four years. Anyone actually interested in who had the real record of supporting veterans and their issues could have easily researched and found out that Obama has a better voting record on supporting veterans than McCain. McCain's lip support was only lip service and photo ops. It's nice to shake someone's hand and say thank you. But it's even better when you make sure they have adequate health care and benefits.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:10:27 +0000

Sure hope it isn't "songbird mccain" – he's voted against every veteran's benefit for a long time now. Bet he votes himself a pay raise in the senate next month.