I hate to sound like a jerk, and I may be wrong, but my inner skeptic is making me ask: as a combat veteran, doesn't the guy already have full medical benefits?

+1, if only for his service to the country.

gilgigamesh: I hate to sound like a jerk, and I may be wrong, but my inner skeptic is making me ask: as a combat veteran, doesn't the guy already have full medical benefits?

Nope. You only get benefits while you're in, our if you retire after 20+.

IamCeilingCat: gilgigamesh: I hate to sound like a jerk, and I may be wrong, but my inner skeptic is making me ask: as a combat veteran, doesn't the guy already have full medical benefits?

If you've read any of the articles, it states that he was discharged. It never specifies that it was honorable ... so, no ... if he received a big chicken dinner then the VA wouldn't cover anything.

What a Dick move... You don't get health insurance forever after a discharge before retirement.

KyngNothing: gilgigamesh: I hate to sound like a jerk, and I may be wrong, but my inner skeptic is making me ask: as a combat veteran, doesn't the guy already have full medical benefits?

Nope. You only get benefits while you're in, our if you retire after 20+.

Oh, that's the problem. I'm old, and my friends are just starting to retire from the military, so I was thinking from that perspective.

I'd just like to see what would happen if we ended up with a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" situation. It'd either make for very interesting politics and possibly even actual change, or a great sitcom pitch, at the very least.

Wintermute6: I'd just like to see what would happen if we ended up with a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" situation. It'd either make for very interesting politics and possibly even actual change, or a great sitcom pitch, at the very least.

I like the episode where the Tea Party and OWS paint a line dividing their apartment in half.

Oh, the hijinks that ensued.

Shostie: Wintermute6: I'd just like to see what would happen if we ended up with a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" situation. It'd either make for very interesting politics and possibly even actual change, or a great sitcom pitch, at the very least.

I like the episode where the Tea Party and OWS paint a line dividing their apartment in half.

Oh, the hijinks that ensued.

"If I have to leave the gun at home, you have to shave your dreadlocks and change into a clean shirt!"

You don't have to like the Occupy people to hate the f*cking scumbag police.

violentsalvation: You don't have to like the Occupy people to hate the f*cking scumbag police.

quien eres?

fusillade762: Anyone have any word on what this "police projectile" was yet?

My guess would be a rubber bullet, bean bag or canister of stuff.

Some of you should go work for Bashar Al-Assad's regime. You'd fit in perfectly.

Nadie_AZ: [i.imgur.com image 640x543]

Good stuff. Reposted.

Okay, I really prefer vintage jazz basses over precisions. In a pinch, I'll play a Stingray, however.

Don't fark with Wisconsin, Oakland.

Nadie_AZ: [i.imgur.com image 640x543]

There's an impossible to argue with diagram right there.

I hope he's okay.

IamCeilingCat: gilgigamesh: I hate to sound like a jerk, and I may be wrong, but my inner skeptic is making me ask: as a combat veteran, doesn't the guy already have full medical benefits?

If you've read any of the articles, it states that he was discharged. It never specifies that it was honorable ... so, no ... if he received a big chicken dinner then the VA wouldn't cover anything.

Where is the evidence of a BCD?

Oh look- Glenn Beck had something to say (new window).

BECK: The guy who was like there's no honor in this, these people are unarmed, there's no honor in this and I'm watching this [laughing] and I couldn't take it anymore, because the video shows this Marine yelling [mocking crying voice] stop brutalizing, we're unarmed! And the cops have their hands in their pockets. [...] They're like, "We know, we're standing here."

CO-HOST: What, you want us to brutalize you, is that what you want? [...]

OTHER CO-HOST: That video taken from the right angle is just one panicked man screaming. As long as you take that picture from one side, it's pretty dramatic.

Protip: When the police tell you to leave, it's time to leave.

Let's try this again.

When it comes to raising money for this guy, count me out. From everything I've read, here and elsewhere, the Oakland cops gave hours notice and multiple warnings that they were going to clear the protest site. Having done so, that makes the use of crowd control measures against the ones who remained legal and valid.

Sucks that this guy is in a coma, but it's not as though he didn't have warning. Even a vet can earn a Darwin award if he tries hard enough.

doyner: Where is the evidence of a BCD?

There is none. If he served and was discharged honorably without injury, his medical insurance would run out after a certain time.

ALSO, VA health care is ONLY valid at a VA hospital. So, if you are a disabled veteran and you are injured or sick, you MUST go to a VA. If you go anywhere else, you are responsible for paying the full cost of your health insurance.

This guy could be a triple amputee with a CMOH, and if he didn't have private health insurance, he would have to foot the bill for his medical care, because its not at a VA.

Meatzilla: [www.indybay.org image 428x640]
Hmmm... upon further reflection
maybe standing twenty feet away right in front of the Police barricades
in the direct path of the Police tear gas grenadiers firing their tear gas
after having been previously warned multiple times that they were going to launch tear gas
wasn't such a great idea after all

/my 2¢ donation

Yeah, you're tough.

Meatzilla: /my 2¢ donation

oh good, the asshole speaks. Please. bless us with your infinite wisdom.

Meatzilla:
Yeah, I am. Smart enough not to stand in the direct path of persons firing projectiles too, dumb00ty.

so you agree with the protest, just not getting hit with tear gas.

got it.

Hobodeluxe: [www.indybay.org image 428x640]

He was so supportive of me fighting tyranny in Iraq but when it comes to fighting corporate tyranny here at home he's against me.Hmm, Maybe putting my life on the line in Iraq for two tours so that unappreciative people like Meatzilla could exercise their rights of free speech and assembly wasn't the brightest thing to do?

*sigh*

FWIW, sorry the person got hurt. Hopefully they will stop this crap and go home and it can become peaceful there again.

People defending the police in this situation hardly deserve to call themselves American. They disgrace our country and all it stands for. I bet they all weep at the sight of the flag, too.

Hopefully OPD will be paying all of his medical bills and then some. Assholes.
/will contribute anyway though

gilgigamesh: I hate to sound like a jerk, and I may be wrong, but my inner skeptic is making me ask: as a combat veteran, doesn't the guy already have full medical benefits?

Nope. You'd have to retire after 20 years of Honorable Service to get full retiree health benefits. Or, your injuries have to have occurred while you were in, and you were given a disability rating, if you separated before retirement.

If he was in a Reserve status, he could buy discounted TRI-Care health insurance, at around $55 bucks a month.

Sgt Otter: gilgigamesh: I hate to sound like a jerk, and I may be wrong, but my inner skeptic is making me ask: as a combat veteran, doesn't the guy already have full medical benefits?

Nope. You'd have to retire after 20 years of Honorable Service to get full retiree health benefits. Or, your injuries have to have occurred while you were in, and you were given a disability rating, if you separated before retirement.

If he was in a Reserve status, he could buy discounted TRI-Care health insurance, at around $55 bucks a month.

He wasn't a reservist. There's no way he'd go back (even to the reserves) once his time was up.

/worked with the guy for nearly 2 years
//smart as hell

He's now awake and communicating by writing. (new window)

Kung_Fu_Hamster: Sgt Otter: gilgigamesh: I hate to sound like a jerk, and I may be wrong, but my inner skeptic is making me ask: as a combat veteran, doesn't the guy already have full medical benefits?

Nope. You'd have to retire after 20 years of Honorable Service to get full retiree health benefits. Or, your injuries have to have occurred while you were in, and you were given a disability rating, if you separated before retirement.

If he was in a Reserve status, he could buy discounted TRI-Care health insurance, at around $55 bucks a month.

He wasn't a reservist. There's no way he'd go back (even to the reserves) once his time was up.

/worked with the guy for nearly 2 years
//smart as hell

Even if you're in the IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve) you qualify. Everybody enlists for 8 years, period. Whatever time you didn't serve on active duty, you have to complete as an Inactive Reservist, until you hit your 8 years. If you do 4 active, you do 4 IRR. 6 active, 2 IRR, etc. It's beaten in your head at the recruiter's office.

It's why I was rolling my eyes when dudes who got "drafted" by Stop-Loss acted like it was some super-secret fine print policy.