VA Reports Additional HIV Cases

Week of May 04, 2009

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says a second patient exposed to dirty equipment at its hospital in Miami tested positive for HIV. This brings the number of VA patients to test positive for HIV to four. The VA continues to investigate problems with unclean medical equipment at VA clinics in Miami, Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga. For more information, visit VA's Endoscopic Procedure Notification webpage or telephone VA's Special Care Call center at 1-877-575-7256 (available, 24 hours a day, seven days a week).

The Primacy of Healing: Politics and Combat Stress in America

link to complete article 

I am a veteran of the war in Iraq. Like many, I came home bearing an unexpected skepticism toward our operations there and a fresh perspective on America's use of military power. And also like many, I found myself emotionally and psychologically harried by my experiences on the battlefield. But unlike many, I landed after discharge in a community where criticism for the war was both socially acceptable and, in fact, quite common, leaving me free to process a distress which was directly connected to US foreign policy. I was, literally and figuratively, right at home. So, I couldn't help noticing how the political dissent of my community was facilitating my mental healing. That has given me reason to consider all the ways in which politics has corresponded with and influenced the understanding and acceptance of combat stress. And while combat stress survivors have, in some ways, benefited from this relationship; they have suffered from it as well.

This was on the front page of Military.com Newsletter

The significance of this is that all of the previous cases that were filed were civilian, civil court cases.

It is a very interesting situation that this officer has put the military in.  Here is my explanation:

1.  The officer swore an oath to defend the Constitution and that is the cornerstone of his military obligation;
2.  The officer is alleging that the Commander in Chief is violating the constitution because President Obama is not a "natural born citizen" of the US as required by the Constitution to hold the office of the President.
3.  The only facts in dispute is whether or not President Obama was born in Kenya as his Kenya relatives are on the record claiming, and that he arrived in Hawaii within a week after his birth where his mother then obtained a birth certificate; or,  if he was actually born at the hospital in Hawaii.  
4.  It is not disputed that President Obama and the State of Hawaii have refused to release the original birth certificate.
5.  It is not not disputed that President Obama's father was not a US Citizen at the time, but was in fact a citizen of the United Kingdom and that the Constitution does not allow the office of the President to be held by a person who's parents were not both US Citizens.
6.  President Obama was adopted by an Indonesian Muslim and that adoption would have provided him Indonesian citizenship and revoked his US Citizenship.
7.  When President Obama returned to Hawaii after his mother's divorce from the Indonesian Muslim, he would have needed to file "re-patriation" papers in which his status as an Indonesian Citizen was terminated and he would then have been "re-patriated" or returned status as an American Citizen.   These immigration records have not been produced.

The dilemma here is that the Military Serviceman is probably legally correct in that President Obama is not legally qualified to hold the office.   But politically, this is an issue that could ignite the Second Civil War.

My belief  is that the military judge, judge advocates and jurors are going to all follow their oath and the law, rather than politics, and that the military court will require the production of documents that so far have not been produced.     If these documents are not produced or if there is any question as to their legitimacy, the officer will be acquitted.   That result would then put the entire chain of command on notice that their own court has determined that President Obama cannot establish his legitimacy to hold office and accordingly the command is under no obligation to follow his orders and many be under a constitutional obligation to remove him from office.

I for one would support a military coup if that is what it took to re-instate a legal, constitutional government and I imagine that there is a significant number of other people who think accordingly.

http://www.military.com/news/article/February-2009/officer-calls-obama-usurper-imposter-president.html?col=1186032325324&ESRC=dod.nl

Video Game Night - concept we are working on

I found these guys in Saline who have the experience putting on multi-player video game events for charity.

http://gamersoutreach.org/content/current-initiatives

They are already involved in an activity to support overseas troops.  I have contacted them and will see what we could possibly get involved in or how they could help us as far as putting on a monthly video game night.

http://blog.mlive.com/manzero/2009/02/gamers_for_giving_2009_zach_wi.html

Incentives to Hire Unemployed Veterans

The Stimulus Bill contains language that will enhance the applicability of Incentives to Hire Unemployed Veterans.

Here is the current applicable forms:  http://www.doleta.gov/business/Incentives/opptax/PDF/WOTC%20f8850RevJune2007.pdf
http://www.doleta.gov/business/Incentives/opptax/PDF/ETA_Form_9061_ICF_6_F7-07.pdf

I will follow this and get you the form that will be published that includes the new language.

Here is the current benefit - read - if a Veteran is hired and works 2000 hours at $10.00 an hour the employer should receive  tax credit in the amount of $8,000.00

MINIMUN EMPLOYMENT OR RETENTION PERIOD. All new adult employees must work a minimum of 120 or 400 hours.  The WOTC amount an employer may claim depends on the hours the employee works. The credit is 25% of qualified first-year wages for those employed at least 120 hours but fewer than 400 hours and 40% for those employed 400 hours or more.

 I need feedback on this.  I will get a hold of Weaver at Michworks for a definitive explanation.

MARINES!!! This guy is coming to Ann Arbor on Monday @ 7:00 pm

Wouldn't it be ironic if someone were to call in a bomb threat to the Shaman Drum Bookstore and then to the U of M Hatcher Graduate Library .    Last week Professor Flag Cruncher.......er William Ayers tried to give a little talk in Canada.....GOD LOVE THEM, the Canadians would not let him into their country !

My suggestion:  how about some Viet Nam era Marines showing up with signs that say: How about if we spit on you?    On the other hand, you might cut him a little slack, because he did publicly come out against the October Bank / Wall Street Bailout.  I'm sure Thayrone on WAAM 1600 AM will be discussing this topic at 4:00 pm this afternoon.

Jr. Vice Brian Bayha in VA Hospital Ann Arbor

 Marines, 

 I received word that our Junior Vice Brian Bayha was admitted to the hospital on Sunday due to suffering a couple episodes of shortness of breath while shoveling some snow at the school bus place where he works.   Brian passed it off and continued with his day and found himself short of breath again on another occasion so he went to the VA Hospital to have it checked out.

I went up to see him today and he appears to be doing Okay and is in room A506 (5 West) his phone number at the VA is 734-845-3133, the T.V. reception isn't that good and the whole place is closed down for Martin Luther King Day. He could use some visitors and some reading material as he is pretty bored but like a true Marine he has his copy of "Semper Fi" at his bed side to read. 

Chaplain  Badalamenti would you please send a card to Brian I suggest you call and check to see if he is still in the hospital and send it to his home address. Just to let him know we are thinking of him. Jack do you by the cards you send out ? If so you need to buy a few and some stamps and turn your receipts in to the Paymaster Lori. 

Keep Brian in your prayers and give him a jingle, it will cheer him up. Thanks. 

                                                          David "Doc" Martinez

                                                          Commandant,  Washtenaw County                                                                    Washtenaw County Detachment (414)

Golf Outing - Great Lakes National Cemetery Advisory Council

Date: July 18, 2009

Here is the complete announcement and registration form.

Monthly Breakfast - The Bomber - Ypsilanti Michigan

At the January 8, 2009 the membership approved an informal monthly breakfast scheduled for 8:00 AM on the last Saturday of each month to be held at The Bomber in Ypsilanti.

For directions and menu information:  http://www.bomberrestaurant.net

Having never been to The Bomber before, I thought it might be good to check it out before our first MCL Breakfast.  It was worth the trip.  You get a plate full enough to feed two and I met some Viet Nam Veterans from the West side of Washtenaw County, one of whom was a former neighbor of Doc Martinez.  They were talking  Auto Unions - Economy, Alternative Fuels, War in Gaza and the Michigan Militia Commander out the way of Dexter, who went away for a bit of time after giving the State Police a merry chase in his Jeep.

I didn't get down there until 9:00 AM.  The place was packed, so it wouldn't hurt for someone to show up at 7:45 AM to claim a table.