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Paul Rieckhoff

A Lump of Coal for Our Nation's Veterans From GE's John Krenicki

James Boyce | Posted 11.11.2009 | Politics

Read More: Veterans Day, Swiftboating, Votevets, Jon Soltz, John Kerry, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
James Boyce

For reasons I don't understand, time and time again, we see Americans who believe not in honoring the service of those that wear the uniform but who use it to take advantage of it.

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"We Got Your Back" -- Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Craig Newmark | Posted 11.11.2009 | Media

Read More: Iava, Paul Rieckhoff, Veterans, Facebook, Media News
Craig Newmark

Today, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is premiering a new PSA on their Facebook fan page to coincide with Veterans Day 2009. And you can be among the first to see it.

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Congress Gets Paid, Veterans Get Shafted

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 12.01.2009 | Politics

Read More: Veteran, Iava, War, Health Care, Iraq, Afghanistan, Congress, Budget, Shinseki, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

This year, like 20 out of the last 23 years, the veterans' health care budget is late. In fact, the only budget that did pass on time this year was the one that funds salary checks for members of Congress.

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"Immeasurable Courage and Uncommon Valor"-- Sgt. First Class Jared C. Monti

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 11.21.2009 | Politics

Read More: Veteran, Medal of Honor, Sgt. Jared Monti, Kanye, 9/11, Obama, Iraq, Afghanistan War, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

Last Thursday, we were reminded of what true courage, sacrifice, and heroism is all about.

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Eight Years Later: Why Is There Still A Hole at Ground Zero?

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 11.10.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rudy Giuliani, Veterans, War, Health Care, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, Obama, Ground Zero, September 11th, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

I, along with almost two million other troops, were sent to war because of what happened there. Too many lives were lost that day, and too little attention has been given to memorializing them.

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Veterans: Newest Addition to the Health Care Debate

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 09.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care, Public Option, Department of Veterans Affairs, Obama, Iava, Shinseki, Veterans, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

Hundreds of veterans were in attendance recently to hear Obama and VA Secretary Shinseki promise that despite the rumors, VA health care will be protected.

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As Michael Vick Awaits Hail Mary, Vets Tackle a New GI Bill

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 08.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Veteran, Iava, Todd Bowers, Michael Vick, Veterans GI Bill, Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, Iraq, Afghanistan, College, Nfl, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

In less than five days, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will finally take effect, ushering in the education dreams of hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops and veterans.

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GAO: VA Failing to Serve Women Warriors

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 08.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Veterans Affairs, Patty Murray, Veterans, Women Warriors, Iraq, Afghanistan, Obama, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Health Care, Troops, Government Accountability Office, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

This week, the Government Accountability Office released a stunning new report detailing significant barriers that many female veterans face in accessing health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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TwitNotes from #PDF09

Eric Kuhn | Posted 08.01.2009 | Media

Read More: Morley Winograd, Gen X, Mccain, Bloggers, Rnc, President Obama, Joe Rospars, pdf09, Obama, Washington Post, Frank Rich, Facebook, Mike Gravel, Iava, Mark McKinnon, Ana Marie Cox, Pdf, Obama 2008, David All, Jeff Jarvis, Skype, McCain 2008, Myspace, Craig Newmark, Twitter, Mayor Bloomberg, Michael Bloomberg, Macon Phillips, Alec Ross, Barack Obama, Personal Democracy Forum, New York City, Paul Rieckhoff, Gina Bianchini, Randi Zuckerberg, Andrew Rasiej, Simon Rosenberg, Ning, Youtube, Mellennials, Rachel Sklar, 311, Danah Boyd, Media News
Eric Kuhn

Over 1,000 people descended upon the annual Personal Democracy Forum earlier this week. Here are some of my notes -- taken on Twitter, of course -- from the two day conference.

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Marine Finds Unlikely Reinforcements Online: Nerds

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 07.30.2009 | Media

Read More: Veteran, Ning, Michael Bloomberg, War, Rey Leal, Technology, Iraq, Afghanistan, Personal Democracy Forum, Paul Rieckhoff, Gina Bianchini, Craig Newmark, Media News
Paul Rieckhoff

Nerds -- and I say that with the utmost respect -- are changing the lives of thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.

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Hey Lindsay Lohan! Did You Hear About the Major Victory for Thousands of Stop-Lossed Troops?

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 07.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: Stop-Loss, Lindsay Lohan, Veterans, War, Nancy Pelosi, Afghanistan, Iraq, Congress, Kate, Paul Rieckhoff, California, Jon, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

Congress stood up for veterans this week, and delivered retroactive overtime payments for our stop-lossed troops, a new education benefit for children of servicemembers killed since 9/11, and increased VA funding.

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Are We Poisoning Our Troops? Congress Takes Critical Step in Addressing Burn Pits in Iraq, Afghanistan

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 07.12.2009 | Politics

Read More: Cancer, Veteran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Congress, Iava, Department of Defense, Burn Pit, Paul Rieckhoff, Kbr, Carol Porter-Shea, Tim Bishop, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

When our troops deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan, they have enough to worry about from insurgents, snipers and roadside bombs. They shouldn't also have to worry about poison in the air they breathe.

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Our Stop-Lossed Troops Deserve Their Overtime

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 07.04.2009 | Politics

Read More: Stop-Loss, Congress, Iraq, Iava, Afghanistan, Senate, Paul Rieckhoff, War, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

In no other profession would an employee work overtime and not be compensated, and the same must be true of our military.

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The Suicidal Soldiers of Fort Campbell: In Memoriam, Post-Memorial Day

John Eskow | Posted 06.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Fort Campbell, Bill Clinton, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Military Stop Loss, Memorial Day, Liz Cheney, Arlington Cemetary, Harry-Mitchell, Iraq, Peter-Chiarelli, Veterans, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
John Eskow

Why do the moronic ramblings of Liz Cheney draw so much more attention than the fact that our soldiers are now murdering themselves at a faster clip than our enemies do?

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This Memorial Day, Honor the Fallen

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 06.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Arlington National Cemetery, Veteran, Medal of Honor, Memorial Day, Iraq, Afghanistan, World War II, Barack Obama, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

I worry that, even after almost eight years of war, too many Americans see today as just another summer holiday. Memorial Day should mean much more than barbecues and clearance sales.

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Colbert Steps Into The War Zone -- And Shows the Power of New Media

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 06.06.2009 | Politics

Read More: Stephen Colbert, Iava, Afghanistan, War, Colbert Report, Iraq, SupportYourVet.Org, Paul Rieckhoff, Veterans, Colbert Middle East, Colbert Iraq, Colbert Troops, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

Comedy's most serious satirist dropped yet another hint that he's heading "somewhere in the Persian Gulf" soon. I was lucky enough to talk with him about it.

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SupportYourVet.org: Massive New Ad Campaign Targets Vets' Friends and Families

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 05.31.2009 | Politics

Read More: Truman Scholar, Iava, Veterans, Health Care, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ad Council, Ptsd, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

We have a unique opportunity, in this brief moment, to finally turn the page on Vietnam, and welcome our veterans home with the honor and support they have earned.

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Honoring Sacrifice, Inspiring Leadership

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 05.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: 9/11, Military, Afghanistan, Iraq, Arizona Cardinals, Pat's Run, Pat Tillman, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

For me, like so many people, Pat Tillman represented the best of America. Tillman was a hero not just because of how he died, but because of how he lived.

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Discussing Veterans' Issues with Tavis Smiley

Robert Greenwald | Posted 05.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Iava, Homeless Veterans, Va, Barack Obama, Afghanistan, Tavis Smiley, Healthcare, Iraq, Paul Rieckhoff, Video, Politics News
Robert Greenwald

I appeared on Tavis Smiley last night to talk about In Their Boots and the issues facing veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Once Again, Real Journalism From Comedy Central (VIDEO)

Mark Nickolas | Posted 05.02.2009 | Media

Read More: David Brock, Sunlight Foundation, MoveOn.Org, Richard Clarke, Jon Soltz, Markos Moulitsas, Howard Dean, Keith Olbermann, Wesley Clark, Center for American Progress, Arianna Huffington, Paul Rieckhoff, Stephen Colbert, Crew, Jon Stewart, John Dean, Brandon Friedman, Glenn Beck, Josh Marshall, Al Gore, Media News
Mark Nickolas

Leave it to Comedy Central -- this time Stephen Colbert -- to do the traditional media's job in exposing the fanatical charlatans like Glenn Beck.

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Women Warriors: Honoring the Women of the U.S. Military

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 05.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Patty Murray, Women, Veterans, Health Care, Military, Iraq, Afghanistan, Paul Rieckhoff, Lioness, Women Veterans, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

If America has been slow to appreciate women's service in combat, we've been even slower to recognize the unique needs of women veterans.

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Six Years Later: Is Washington finally listening?

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 04.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Iava, Eric Shinseki, Barack Obama, Veterans, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

With the end of stop-loss, we've finally begun to address some of the burdens bad policy puts on our military families. But as the war enters its seventh year, there's still a ton left to do.

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Veterans Oppose Outsourcing VA Health Care Costs

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 04.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Obama, Afghanistan, Iraq, Veterans, War, Paul Rieckhoff, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

While we are all concerned about the economic difficulties the country is facing, we cannot allow our veterans to bear the brunt.

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Show Us the Money: Iraq Veterans React to the VA Budget

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 04.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Veteran, White House, Obama, Budget, Paul Rieckhoff, Obama Veterans, VA Funding, Iraq Veterans, Veterans Affairs, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

Veterans' funding is about $1.2 billion higher than the amount recommended by leading veterans' organizations, but Obama's budget is still not a slam dunk for veterans.

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Obama Bringing Troops Home: Are We Ready to Welcome Them?

Paul Rieckhoff | Posted 03.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Afghanistan, Unemployment, Budget, Ptsd, Economy, Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq Veterans, Veterans, Obama Veterans, Obama Withdrawal Plan, Obama Iraq, Obama Troops, Troops, Obama Iraq Withdrawal, War, President Obama, War in Iraq, Barack Obama, US Troops Iraq, Iraq Troop Withdrawal, 100 Days, Status of Forces Agreement, Iraq, Status of Forces, Politics News
Paul Rieckhoff

Whether it is 16 months or 19 months or 23 months, whether the residual force is 10,000 or 50,000 troops, the president's new plan will create a surge of new veterans coming home in 2009 and 2010. We need to be ready.

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