Statement on HR 3962

Today’s Virginian-Pilot reports that one of the provisions under consideration to fund HR 3962-the healthcare bill that will be voted on in the House tomorrow-is a reduction in supplemental Medicaid payments to hospitals that serve a substantial amount of poor and uninsured patients.

One of the hospitals that could lose funding under this bill is Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. This hospital sets the standard for neonatal and pediatric care in Hampton Roads. People trust CHKD with their children’s care in both emergent and non-emergent situations.

As a citizen, I would question the support of my representatives who choose to support this bill. I would want them to explain to me why, in the words of one representative,  it “makes sense to keep [the bill] moving forward,” knowing that one of our region’s best hospitals could suffer as a result.

-Coby W. Dillard

Statement on Virginian-Pilot Story

Yesterday, the Virginian-Pilot’s political blog published a story that mentioned the possibility of my challenging Rep. Bobby Scott in 2010.

Having been directly involved in Bob McDonnell’s successful gubernatorial campaign since May, my efforts are now focused on assisting with his transition team if called to do so, and spending time with my family.

I defer any questions or further comments on my political future until a later time.

-Coby W. Dillard

The Unintended Consequences of High Expectations

Occasionally, an event happens that requires a person to do something so great or spectacular that there’s no way they can possibly make the mark. Which, conversely, earns said person the “failure” label, regardless of what they may-or may not-have actually done.

Which brings us to the small matter of PBO’s newly awarded Nobel Prize…and the bigger issues behind it.

I can’t say that PBO’s specifically done anything, at this point in his administration, to warrant nomination for a Nobel, much less to win one. I’ve been arguing most of the day that even people I disagree with politically have had a moment, action, or event where I can say “that’s why they won a Nobel.” With PBO, that moment or action hasn’t arrived yet (more on that “yet” later).

The bigger problem I have is the corner PBO-and by extension, the country-has been painted into.

Happy Birthday To…

…me. Or, more specifically, this blog, which turns two today.

I’ve tried to keep this from becoming much of a campaign sounding board, and have been successful…but haven’t had time to write about much else. Anyway, it’s been a good year. Here’s to a couple more.

HB2DF,

-Coby

Have We Forgotten?

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going thru a living hell
And you say we shouldn’t worry ’bout bin Laden
Have you forgotten? 

Somehow, this September 11th seems different from the ones between 2002-2008. I’ve already been up and out this morning, and flags are still flying high. People are going about their day rather nonchalantly.

Which makes me wonder: have we forgotten what happened eight years ago today, or has the political environment we live in today caused us to “move on” from 9/11?

I treat 9/11 as a day to remind myself of why I fought, and why thousands of others died. I’m one of those people who still watches the news coverage of that day, and will show it to my kids as well. Not as some sort of sadistic exercise, but for them to know that there are evil people in this world. For me, there’s no more appropriate method of rememberance than to relive it all over again.

My first years of civilian life were in DC, where nothing happens on 9/11. Yeah, everything was still open, but there was a mood in the city that covered everything. Even at work, all most people did was stand around and talk about what they did on “that day.” The question was simply, “what were you doing?”

If you’re fortunate enough to talk to a Pearl Harbor survivor-as I was able to in 2007-they remember that day vividly. Sights, sounds, smells, where they were…you get it all. And you can see and hear their pain as the story’s retold. I’ve told my own story of 9/11, and while it pales in comparison to theirs, for me the pain-and anger-is no different. And for countless others who wore the uniform, who responded to the attacks, or who lost someone, the pain and anger will probably never leave.

 

I have to wonder-and some will say this isn’t fair or appropriate-how much our political environment has changed our outlook on 9/11. We’ve gone from fighting a war on terror-which began that day-to participating in an “overseas contingency operation.”  Our political leaders today wrangle over whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, or to bring them all home. Today itself has gone from a day of rememberance to a day of service. And, of course, we continue to fight among ourselves at home.

Has the desire for “hope and change” veiled us to the reality that we all learned eight years ago? As time removes us from that day, do we forget the 3,000-plus reminders that our freedom, while the envy of some, is an enemy to more?

I pray not.

I’m reminded of one of the closing lines from the movie We Were Soldiers-”we who have seen war, will never stop seeing.”

We don’t have to live in fear…but I pray we never stop seeing.

Honor Bound to Defend Freedom,

-Coby