Did anyone else watch Dan Rather?

[AValdoux]

Its a shame it is available only to subscribers of HDNet, part of my DishNetwork HD package. His first topic was VA funding. It started out with a military homecoming, complete with pyrotechnics & smoke machines, which I thought was a little out of place. Then he went on to cover the injuries they are coming home with. He interviewed the head of the VA and it was interesting watching someone put on the spot in HD. Rather explained that we are underfunding the VA. Even though Bush has raised spending by 70%, the needs created by the Iraq war are far greater. When he interviewed the VA head he asked him point blank, "So you are denying you need more funding and you have all the resources necessary to care for our veterans." The VA guy kind of blinked a few times and stuttered around a 'yes' answer.

One story brought me to tears. They had a young woman who is suffering from head trauma who has lost all her memories and has limited short term memory. When she came home she told her husband she would have to fall in love again and would need time. The scumbag left her and her two year old daughter. She lives with her mom because she is unable to function without help. People have to wear name tags around her so she will know who they are. I almost cried when she explained she has no memory of her daughter's birth. I have two children and I thought that was horrifying. This woman's background was in accounting and she was injured driving a fuel truck into Baghdad.

They also featured a story on Tammy Duckworth. I didn't know she was helicopter pilot. She pointed out that the average age of the injured soldier is between 19 - 24 yrs of age. We will be taking care of them for a long time. The VA's plan to control cost is by redefining who gets the benefits. My dvr cut out right after that.

The dishnetwork schedule said it started at 6:30 but it started at 7:00 so it only recorded 30 minutes. I'm going to try to get the rest of when they re-broadcast it this week.

Did anyone else see it? I hope they find another outlet so more people can see this show.


AValdoux

[thereismore]

1. thanks for the recap, I do not

have HD. I wish more people could see him also.

[David Zephyr]

2. I saw his report.

It broke me up seeing this great journalist reporting again. I hope everyone can see it.

[Coexist]

3. I saw it - it was fantastic.

it was touching without being obnoxious.

I cried.