Bush picks Army doctor as veterans secretary

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Bush picks Army doctor as veterans secretary
Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:13pm EDT

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Tuesday
chose a retired military doctor and decorated Vietnam veteran to head
the veterans agency criticized over shoddy health care for soldiers
wounded in the Iraq and Afghan wars.

Lt. Gen. James Peake was chosen as Bush's nominee as secretary of the
Veterans Affairs Department. If confirmed by the Senate, he would
replace Jim Nicholson, who left government to join the private sector.

Peake, a former Army surgeon general, would be the first physican and
first general to hold the job. As someone who was wounded twice in
combat, Peake "understands the view from both sides of the hospital bed,"
Bush said.

The selection of Peake came eight months after a scandal erupted over
reports of poor health care for veterans of fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN30436429

[Captain Hilts]

1. MUCH better choice than his decision to name a veterinarian as Dir. Women's Health at NIH. nt

[Turbineguy]

2. Let's hope that's not the Army Doctor

who did my induction physical...

[niyad]

3. somebody who might actually have real credentials for the job? what in the HELL is happening to

this incompetent, maladministration? wow--first, that fema idiot is fired, now this??????

[Ian David]

4. Oh, you just wait. I'm sure the guy has done SOMETHING insanely awful. n/t

[avrdream]

5. Yeah, he'll end up being a horrible neocon.

But, on the surface, it sounds like a good nomination.

[Ian David]

8. He was CEO of a non-profit and a for-profit medical records company.

I predict we will find:

1) Refusing to give condoms to poor people.
2) Shady no-bid government contracts.

[Ian David]

6. Bush nominated The Irish Elvis Impersonator??

Now one of Ireland’s most sought after bands on the corporate business and wedding scene, this five piece band from Belfast is currently enjoying celebrity status wherever they play.

The James Peake Xperience is a show not to be missed. Entertaining costume changes and musical impersonations include some of the world’s top performers ranging from Elton John to Freddie Mercury and Elvis to Tom Jones. With his incredible rendition of Pavarotti’s ‘Nessun Dorma’, lead vocalist Seamus McPeake shows he undoubtedly has the biggest voice range in Ireland.



http://www.jamespeake.co.uk/album.html




Yes, yes....

I know.

It's a different James Peake.

[Ian David]

7. There might be some problems after all

<snip>

Peake retired from his last post — as Army surgeon general — in September 2004.

The nomination elicited concern from Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and a critic of the Bush administration’s handling of veterans issues.

Given Dr. Peake’s past posts running the Army health care system, he will have serious and significant questions to answer about failed preparations for our returning wounded warriors, Murray said in a statement. For months we’ve been hearing horror stories from Walter Reed and other military care centers, and I will want to know what role, if any, Dr. Peake played in the failures of the system.

But Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho {aka, Tappy McWidestance)}, also a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, disagreed that Peake’s position as Army surgeon general would weigh against his approval.

<snip>


Most recently, he was chief medical director and chief operating officer with QTC Management, which provides veterans with medical examinations and electronic medical records services.

More:
http://blog.radioleft.com/blog/_archives/2007/10/30/3323268.html

[Earth_First]

9. Hey Peake; here's a thread for you to read...

Rising number of veterans are uninsured, many ineligible for VA care

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3048073

Quit splitting hairs on combat/non-combat-related injury and insure these brave souls.