It’s the Presidents’ fault

The raging discussion over the VA waiting list scandal is about who’s to blame, and the consensus of the political blogosphere is that it’s President Obama’s fault for breaking a promise he made in 2008 during his first campaign.

“I am tire of hearing stories of vets navigating a broken
veterans bureaucracy,” he said in 2008. “I will promise to make that a priority of mine when I’m President of the United States of America.”

But as I read through various articles, it’s also President Bush’s fault for launching two long nation-building wars – breaking a promise he made during his first campaign.

“If we don’y stop extending our troops all around the world, and nation-building missions, then we’re going to have a serious problem coming down the road – and I’m going to prevent that,” said Bush.

But then, as it turns out, 37 percent of the VA’s caseload has nothing to do with the last two wars – but is in fact linked to the use of Agent Orange during Vietnam.

Which means President Kennedy is also to blame. “I don’t agree with those who say we should withdraw, that’s be a grave mistake.”

JFK authorized the use of Agent Orange, and President Johnson said later during the Vietnam War, “And we will stay until aggression has stopped.”

LBJ is to blame for deploying it.

Then there’s President Carter who started an Agent Orange Registry, but not much else, then President Reagan who decided the government would not accept liability at allfor Agent Orange, and just kicked the can down the road.

Not a great track record for the White House, but what that means is, we can finally agree: It is the Presidents fault.

All of them.