Tom Daschle on taxes:
I guess this assessment comes from deeply held experience.
Senator Conrad, third-ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee, had this to say about Treasury Secretary Geithner's tax problems:
One wonders... is Mr. Daschle's hoped-for position critically important, too? Is *any* position to be held by a Democrat so critically important that obeying the tax laws are simply an inconvenient character flaw?
Here's a thought - if it is just *so farking difficult* for people of this intellectual caliber (remember, these people are Ivy Leaguers, not graduates of Boise State...) to keep up with their taxes, then perhaps a radical simplification of the tax code is in order...?
Naaaaaah. Senior LIberals don't care about taxes. They don't pay them, so why should they?
Oh, Schadenfreude Watch - among the things that former Senator Daschle is in trouble for is all the limo-with-driver service he neglected to report as income. Oddly enough, using a limo was considered (at one time) by then Representative Daschle as a disqualifier for Mr. Richard Lyng, who was up for (and eventually became) Secretary of Agriculture - an AP story in 1986 quotes then-Representative Daschle as saying of Mr. Lyng:
As Politico notes:
But it's suddenly different, now that the shoe is on the other foot.
Heh. Righ Wing Talk Radio and the Internet - a liberal politico's nightmare. The Internet - *any* politico's nightmare. And the Dems might try to muzzle the talk radio part, since their side doesn't seem to be able to muster the talent.
“Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter. ” Sen. Tom Daschle, Congressional Record, May 7, 1998, p. S4507.
I guess this assessment comes from deeply held experience.
Senator Conrad, third-ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee, had this to say about Treasury Secretary Geithner's tax problems:
On the matter of Mr. Geithner's failure to pay certain self-employment taxes, I find it completely unacceptable. I'm a former tax commissioner, I've dealt with hundreds of cases like this one, and in normal times that alone would lead me to oppose his confirmation. But these are not normal times, and I personally don't think we can afford a further delay in the filling of this critically important position.
One wonders... is Mr. Daschle's hoped-for position critically important, too? Is *any* position to be held by a Democrat so critically important that obeying the tax laws are simply an inconvenient character flaw?
Here's a thought - if it is just *so farking difficult* for people of this intellectual caliber (remember, these people are Ivy Leaguers, not graduates of Boise State...) to keep up with their taxes, then perhaps a radical simplification of the tax code is in order...?
Naaaaaah. Senior LIberals don't care about taxes. They don't pay them, so why should they?
Oh, Schadenfreude Watch - among the things that former Senator Daschle is in trouble for is all the limo-with-driver service he neglected to report as income. Oddly enough, using a limo was considered (at one time) by then Representative Daschle as a disqualifier for Mr. Richard Lyng, who was up for (and eventually became) Secretary of Agriculture - an AP story in 1986 quotes then-Representative Daschle as saying of Mr. Lyng:
Rep. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., called Lyng "a limousine-lounging corporate executive that knows about as much about farming and what it's like on the farm today as a kernel of corn."
As Politico notes:
“If a Bush appointee got rich off of Wall Street in this climate, had a chauffeur from one of his fat cat cronies, had unpaid taxes that amounted to more than what most people make in a year, and then the administration tried to fix it behind closed doors. Democrats would call for his head and would demand ‘accountability,’” said a top Senate GOP aide.
But it's suddenly different, now that the shoe is on the other foot.
Heh. Righ Wing Talk Radio and the Internet - a liberal politico's nightmare. The Internet - *any* politico's nightmare. And the Dems might try to muzzle the talk radio part, since their side doesn't seem to be able to muster the talent.
And, I would note, that Geithner and Daschle's problems all accrued during the tenure of President Bush - when, according to your logic, they should have been living in cardboard boxes in the alley behind Starbucks.
As for your last bit - there is some truth to that. Power corrupts, and now that you have it, your side is going to rot from within, too.
I hope you don't mind if we point it out as gleefully as you did when your side was benched.
And, in *this* space, at least, we pretty much spank 'em all when they come to light. Be nice if the MSM would be as interested in shining the light in the dark corners of the Left as they are the Right.
But really, Jason - if this is all the defense you have to mount, ya really shouldn't. Yer just embarassing yourself and setting a pretty low bar, aincha?
Mind you Republicans do cheat and they do get caught from time to time. Usually it's not with their hand in the till, but rather down some guys pants.
Really most pollies don't have to cheat. Most are law experts and can rip us all off quite legally. Many are stinking rich before they play the power game anyway.
And finally I do NOT beleive this man is indespensible in his role.
I believe that Mr. Geithner and Senator Daschle are smart, noble and generous men. They are to be held up as role models for all of us.
The least we can do is emulate their intellectual prowess in navigating the Byzantine tax code.
And the generous and all-knowing Cllinton couple have told us to be sure to deduct our charitable gift of used undies....
And Chris Dodd sets the example for demanding special "friends of Bubba" rates on our mortgages.
No, we can learn from these people.
That last is unmistakeable income. The guy's a fraud.
You know it's just another mistake that EVERYBODY makes! Obama even said so....
*groan*
So much for his transparent government and elimination of greed and corruption in Washingon, eh?
Oh, it's *transparent*, all right.
Just like his new wardrobe...
Someone pass me the bleach please!
Transparent clothing on The One is just not something I want to think about. (Although, Emporer Obama does have a certain ring to it.)
Of course, The One being The President is also not something I want to think about, but do, on a daily, if not hourly basis now.
With apologies to Verizon Wireless: "Can I hear me now?"