Veterans Must Act to Limit the Power of a President

by Tom Barnes, Staff Writer 

I am a left wing Democrat. I worked very hard within the Democratic Party political structure in Northern Virginia to get Obama elected along with several local Democratic Party politicians in this area. It is not easy work, and trust me, once you get these people in office, they do not know, care or even want to know who you are. It is totally thankless work. Anyone who has ever worked on any political campaign anywhere will tell you that. You have to take your personal victory in getting your man or woman in office because after that point, they do not need you. It is fact of life in politics. You learn to live with it.

Now to my point. Obviously I am generally happy with a progressive White House and fresh air with new leadership and much more representative leadership within the Nation and the Democratic Party. It is more diverse and more aggressive in its postures for inclusion of all Americans into the political system. Having said that I am very upset with the totally ridiculous idea that disabled veterans will have their insurance companies billed for treatment of wounds, injuries and for therapy stemming from service connected disabilities.

This is ethically and systemically wrong for a number of solid reasons, but perhaps the most important is that very quickly American Insurance Companies would stop insuring American veterans and their families. A fourth grader could see that. Where the hell is the President’s head? Do not answer that. I have already made the phone call to his proctologist. I am sure that with the proper instruments and caution, the good doctor can remove the President’s head from his rectum. 

Now, here is the problem with "aggressive" politics…and this is coming from me…a guy who fervently believes in progressive politics. There is a tendency at the ‘top’ to see oneself as the end-all and be-all of good ideas. If you are elected in a tidal wave of emotion (like the election we just had where the American version of King Richard was deposed in a bloody battle with ‘friends’ who hated him – see Shakespeare) you tend to assume godlike powers. That would be a mistake for Obama. People can hate a progressive autocrat just as easily as they can hate an ultraconservative autocrat. He needs to understand this and never screw with us again.

The upshot of what I am saying? The Presidency has evolved to a point where it is too powerful. The President is called the president because he is only empowered to ‘preside’ and not rule. Kings rule. Presidents preside. As Americans we hated an ultraconservative nutjob ‘governing’ us. We will equally hate a highly progressive and lone-cowboy "good idea" man ‘governing’ us also. If they are going to be flip sides of the same coin, we will learn very quickly to put the brakes on whatever this man wants. The President needs to be very aware of how deeply stupid this idea is.

I supported this President and still do but this must never happen again, especially when it comes to handling disabled veterans. Who came up with this idea in the White House Mr. President? Find him and fire him. Today. This was a very bad start on your long journey with disabled veterans.

American veterans must act with their votes and their voices to limit the power of any President at any time, regardless of any political party. We are sick to death of imperial Presidents. They endanger democracy. Do not go there Mr. President. This was a very bad start in your relationship with us.

CWO3 Tom Barnes, USCG (Ret.)

totally disabled veteran (IU)