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Tax-wasted Enough Already
Author: BobR    Date: 06/10/2013 12:32:28

With the NSA phone log warrant story taking all the headlines and pundit breath, the previous "controversies" surrounding the Obama administration have taken a back seat. It's time to revisit one of them: the "IRS/Tea Party" "scandal". To hear Republicans and FOX "News" tell it, the president conspired with the IRS to target Tea Party groups applying for tax-exempt status.

The initial question, of course, is: WHY should a blatantly political organization be granted tax-exempt status in the first place under a designation reserved for social welfare groups (which are the antithesis of what the Tea Party and Republicans stand for)? I am not the only person to ask that question:
The tea party groups in question were applying to become tax exempt 501©4 groups, also known as social welfare organizations. McDermott noted the purpose of such groups was to advance the common good and general welfare a community. Political organizations, on the other hand, are categorized under section 527 of the federal tax code.

“Each of your groups is highly political,” the congressman said. “From opposing the President’s healthcare reform, to abortion restrictions, to gay marriage, you’re all entrenched in some of the most controversial political issues in this country – and with your applications you are asking the American public to pay for that work. Many of you host and endorse candidates. The line between permitted political activity and non-permitted political activity can be very fine, and it’s important that tax payers know which side you fall on.”

So to that point - the "targeting" fell squarely within the purview of the IRS's mission to legally collect taxes and ferret out the cheats. However, that sort of question just inflamed the right-wing even more. Investigations were initiated. Lies and misrepresentations were rampant. The heads of the affected groups testified before Congress about how they felt their 1st Amendment rights were being stifled (pssst - here's what it means to have free speech).

And of course - there was the accusation that this was somehow orchestrated by the White House. It has been previously reported that the person in charge of the region where this occurred was a Bush appointee that was still in her job. The head of the IRS at the time was also a Bush appointee (and yet somehow the person currently acting as head of the IRS had to be sacrificed by President Obama at the altar of Republican douchebaggery).

It is now coming to light that the IRS agent that initiated the targeting of Tea Party groups was - in fact - a conservative Republican:
A U.S. Internal Revenue Service manager, who described himself as a conservative Republican, told congressional investigators that he and a local colleague decided to give conservative groups the extra scrutiny that has prompted weeks of political controversy.

In an official interview transcript released on Sunday by Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings, the manager said he and an underling set aside “Tea Party” and “patriot” groups that had applied for tax-exempt status because the organizations appeared to pose a new precedent that could affect future IRS filings.
[..]
The excerpts of interviews with IRS workers released by Cummings indicate that the IRS manager and an underling first decided to contact Washington, D.C. IRS officials for guidance on the cases from groups aligned with the anti-tax Tea Party movement.

They did so to consolidate them, as they might be precedent-setting for future cases, the manager said, according to the interview transcripts.

So: We have a conservative Republican IRS agent, reporting to a Bush-Appointee area manager, working under a Bush-Appointee IRS head, and somehow - somehow - this is a partisan Obama controversy??

Perpetual witch-hunter Daryll Issa wanted the truth to come out, and there is certainly enough truth out there now to prove that this was a "ground-up" operation (rather than a "top-down"), and was not done for partisan reasons. All Issa has proven thus far is that HE is the partisan hack wasting taxpayer dollars while he pursues his partisan agenda.
 

92 comments (Latest Comment: 06/10/2013 22:52:04 by wickedpam)
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Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 12:56:33
Morning

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 12:58:06
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 13:25:54
Good Morning!

I look forward to Representative Cummings releasing the interviews proving Issa wrong.

ETA: the rest of the interviews

Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2013 13:59:46
OK, I need to go home.

I totally just opened up a mini-moo, poured it in the trash, and dropped the empty into my coffee cup.



Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 14:05:25
The whistle blower gave that info from his office in Hong Kong it appears.
According to Glenn Greenwald, Snowden said he chose Hong Kong because “‘they have a spirited commitment to free speech and the right of political dissent,’ and because he believed that it was one of the few places in the world that both could and would resist the dictates of the US government.”


Hong Kong...

Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 14:14:19
Hey Mondo - which Samsung did you get?

Comment by Scoopster on 06/10/2013 14:18:21
Mornin' all..

The computer problems are abundant this morning..

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 14:23:49
Quote by wickedpam:
Hey Mondo - which Samsung did you get?



This one:


http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/000023989/3659/s3fronts.jpg


The Galaxy S3, aka the awesome phone of awesomeness


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 14:24:10
Mine is ice blue though.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 14:25:07
Quote by TriSec:
OK, I need to go home.

I totally just opened up a mini-moo, poured it in the trash, and dropped the empty into my coffee cup.




You are having an interesting morning.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 14:32:19
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Hey Mondo - which Samsung did you get?



This one:


http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/000023989/3659/s3fronts.jpg


The Galaxy S3, aka the awesome phone of awesomeness


the awesome phone of awesome XD - so that's a thumbs up from you on that product, right

Its Android based, right? So if I switch from Motorola Android to Samsung its not a big deal and doesn't need a huge learning curve?


Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 14:37:36
I'm with Jackie Schectner -- Something is sketchy about Snowden.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 14:38:37
Quote by Raine:
I'm with Jackie Schectner -- Something is sketchy about Snowden.



he's very - its me, I did it, look at me!

Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 14:40:20
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Hey Mondo - which Samsung did you get?



This one:


http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/000023989/3659/s3fronts.jpg


The Galaxy S3, aka the awesome phone of awesomeness


the awesome phone of awesome XD - so that's a thumbs up from you on that product, right

Its Android based, right? So if I switch from Motorola Android to Samsung its not a big deal and doesn't need a huge learning curve?


I should say the main thing I want is a bigger screen


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 14:41:39
Quote by Raine:
I'm with Jackie Schectner -- Something is sketchy about Snowden.



The paranoia runs deep in that one. He's worried that the CIA will come and "get" him.





Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 14:42:32
Why doth you inquire about the APoA, Mala?

Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 14:44:58
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I'm with Jackie Schectner -- Something is sketchy about Snowden.



The paranoia runs deep in that one. He's worried that the CIA will come and "get" him.



he WAS CIA.




Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/10/2013 14:45:50
Good morning, bloggers!! BobR, I don't think that Issa has a leg to stand on here. First of all, a lot of these groups seem to exist solely for political reasons. Secondly, I don't see any IRS agent who happens to be a Republican sacrificing his or her career for Obama.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 14:45:51
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Hey Mondo - which Samsung did you get?



This one:


http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/000023989/3659/s3fronts.jpg


The Galaxy S3, aka the awesome phone of awesomeness


the awesome phone of awesome XD - so that's a thumbs up from you on that product, right

Its Android based, right? So if I switch from Motorola Android to Samsung its not a big deal and doesn't need a huge learning curve?



Yes. Although I have learned that since Android is much more open platform than iOS, there are little tweaks that each manufacturer and cell phone provider add, but otherwise, yeah, it will be pretty much the same. I was able to transition from the iPhone to the Android in about a day or so.

Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 14:46:36
Except Hong Kong/China has an extradition treaty with the USA -- why didn't this dude just go straight to Iceland?



Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 14:47:46
Quote by Mondobubba:
Why doth you inquire about the APoA, Mala?



I'm wanting to change my phone since I had to get a refurb when my original phone crapped out - just hating to change phones cause then I lose my grandfathered unlimited data plan so I'm dragging my feet a bit doing research

and the screen is so freaking small I have to put on reading glasses just to see it

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 14:48:20
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I'm with Jackie Schectner -- Something is sketchy about Snowden.



The paranoia runs deep in that one. He's worried that the CIA will come and "get" him.



he WAS CIA.





He was and now he's Booz, Allen and Hamilton. I was listening to the NPR mosheen this morning, when they were reporting on him it was mentioned that there 850,000 involved in intelligence these days. This includes gummit employees and contractors.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 14:50:12
Quote by Raine:
Except Hong Kong/China has an extradition treaty with the USA -- why didn't this dude just go straight to Iceland?




that is a good question - my guess he's either not so smart or he wants to make it a bigger spectacle in thinking the US and China will fight over him

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/10/2013 14:51:11
Quote by Raine:
Except Hong Kong/China has an extradition treaty with the USA -- why didn't this dude just go straight to Iceland?





In his case, I would have gone straight to Iceland. Although Hong Kong itself is trying hard to preserve its liberties, China has the ultimate say so.

I think that we are having a debate on these programs, which we should have had long ago.

Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 14:51:44
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I'm with Jackie Schectner -- Something is sketchy about Snowden.



The paranoia runs deep in that one. He's worried that the CIA will come and "get" him.



he WAS CIA.





He was and now he's Booz, Allen and Hamilton. I was listening to the NPR mosheen this morning, when they were reporting on him it was mentioned that there 850,000 involved in intelligence these days. This includes gummit employees and contractors.
I posted a lot of that info last night on das blog.

Something is just not right here. He has to have high level sec clearance. You see that is the part that just bugs me to no end -- and I feel really torn on this.



Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2013 14:53:52
Flashback:

It was 29 years ago today that Your Loyal TriSec was graduating from Saugus High School.

On what turned out to be the second-hottest day of 1984 in Boston (the next day was 98), in the middle of a week-long heat wave.

The only reason I'm here today is because my section of the alphabet was seated near the band - and they had water.


Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 14:54:18
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by Raine:
Except Hong Kong/China has an extradition treaty with the USA -- why didn't this dude just go straight to Iceland?





In his case, I would have gone straight to Iceland. Although Hong Kong itself is trying hard to preserve its liberties, China has the ultimate say so.

I think that we are having a debate on these programs, which we should have had long ago.
We should have had that debate yes -- but that doesn't mean that anyone should just release classified information becuase they decided years ago they wanted to become a 'whistleblower'. (Which he is not -- he is a leaker)
"A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed in Obama's promises. I was going to disclose it [but waited because of his election]. He continued with the policies of his predecessor," Snowden said in an interview The Guardian posted online.
he worked for booz allen hamilton for LESS than three months.






Comment by BobR on 06/10/2013 14:58:20
Quote by Raine:
Except Hong Kong/China has an extradition treaty with the USA -- why didn't this dude just go straight to Iceland?


https://immi.is/index.php/86-statement-regarding-involvement-of-immi-in-edward-snowden-asylum-request

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 15:02:47
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Why doth you inquire about the APoA, Mala?



I'm wanting to change my phone since I had to get a refurb when my original phone crapped out - just hating to change phones cause then I lose my grandfathered unlimited data plan so I'm dragging my feet a bit doing research

and the screen is so freaking small I have to put on reading glasses just to see it


Who is your carrier? I have AT&T and am grandfathered on unlimited data. I am not leaving them any time soon.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 15:05:49
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Why doth you inquire about the APoA, Mala?



I'm wanting to change my phone since I had to get a refurb when my original phone crapped out - just hating to change phones cause then I lose my grandfathered unlimited data plan so I'm dragging my feet a bit doing research

and the screen is so freaking small I have to put on reading glasses just to see it


Who is your carrier? I have AT&T and am grandfathered on unlimited data. I am not leaving them any time soon.



verizon -if your get a new phone you have to sign a new contract - at least that is my understanding

Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 15:10:38
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Why doth you inquire about the APoA, Mala?



I'm wanting to change my phone since I had to get a refurb when my original phone crapped out - just hating to change phones cause then I lose my grandfathered unlimited data plan so I'm dragging my feet a bit doing research

and the screen is so freaking small I have to put on reading glasses just to see it


Who is your carrier? I have AT&T and am grandfathered on unlimited data. I am not leaving them any time soon.



verizon -if your get a new phone you have to sign a new contract - at least that is my understanding
I'd have to ask Bob about that. I thought it was just a contract extension.



Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 15:12:41
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Why doth you inquire about the APoA, Mala?



I'm wanting to change my phone since I had to get a refurb when my original phone crapped out - just hating to change phones cause then I lose my grandfathered unlimited data plan so I'm dragging my feet a bit doing research

and the screen is so freaking small I have to put on reading glasses just to see it


Who is your carrier? I have AT&T and am grandfathered on unlimited data. I am not leaving them any time soon.



verizon -if your get a new phone you have to sign a new contract - at least that is my understanding
I'd have to ask Bob about that. I thought it was just a contract extension.



and you can still get the phone on a deal price? - that would be awesome


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 15:14:41
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I'm with Jackie Schectner -- Something is sketchy about Snowden.



The paranoia runs deep in that one. He's worried that the CIA will come and "get" him.



he WAS CIA.





He was and now he's Booz, Allen and Hamilton. I was listening to the NPR mosheen this morning, when they were reporting on him it was mentioned that there 850,000 involved in intelligence these days. This includes gummit employees and contractors.
I posted a lot of that info last night on das blog.

Something is just not right here. He has to have high level sec clearance. You see that is the part that just bugs me to no end -- and I feel really torn on this.



Remember, unlike computer security, the clearance goes with the person, not the role. If he had the top secret clearance at CIA he can walk right into the waiting arms of any contractor who wants to hire him.

Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 15:19:24
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Except Hong Kong/China has an extradition treaty with the USA -- why didn't this dude just go straight to Iceland?


https://immi.is/index.php/86-statement-regarding-involvement-of-immi-in-edward-snowden-asylum-request
There is some confusion to that as the Icelandic ambassador to China has said he needs to be in Iceland to request asylum.
Iceland might be a long shot. That country's ambassador to China told the South China Morning Post that Snowden would have to be physically inside Iceland in order to apply for such status.

"According to Icelandic law, a person can only submit such an application once he-she is in Iceland," Ambassador Kristín Árnadóttir said, according to the paper. "The Ministry of the Interior in Iceland deals with issues of this nature and handles applications for asylum."
Original South China Post article.




Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 15:21:21
Quote by Mondobubba:
Remember, unlike computer security, the clearance goes with the person, not the role. If he had the top secret clearance at CIA he can walk right into the waiting arms of any contractor who wants to hire him.
Thanks for reminding me. It still seems really strange that he said he knew of these practices in 2008. That would be before Obama took office.

Why did he wait?


Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2013 15:27:53
Quote by wickedpam:

verizon -if your get a new phone you have to sign a new contract - at least that is my understanding



I'm with Verizon - Brother TriSec has recently told me the same thing. Especially if you have a much older, non-smart phone. I'd have to upgrade to one of the far more expensive data plans, so I have not yet.

Although I probably will soon enough - I want a new phone for my birthday this summer. Which I will have to buy myself.

Comment by clintster on 06/10/2013 15:30:18
So apparently the Tony awards broadcast was cut off early in Atlanta for the news. Not to fear, though: they provided a recap. And after watching this, I'm sure you'll agree they really put their best foot in their mouth:



Katie Boots? REALLY?

Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 15:37:04
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by wickedpam:

verizon -if your get a new phone you have to sign a new contract - at least that is my understanding



I'm with Verizon - Brother TriSec has recently told me the same thing. Especially if you have a much older, non-smart phone. I'd have to upgrade to one of the far more expensive data plans, so I have not yet.

Although I probably will soon enough - I want a new phone for my birthday this summer. Which I will have to buy myself.



trust me, when you jump up to a smart phone you'll enjoy it very much

wonder if its the same if you're just making a lateral move

Comment by livingonli on 06/10/2013 15:41:24
Good morning, folks. So much to do and so little time to do it.

Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 15:42:00
Quote by clintster:
So apparently the Tony awards broadcast was cut off early in Atlanta for the news. Not to fear, though: they provided a recap. And after watching this, I'm sure you'll agree they really put their best foot in their mouth:



Katie Boots? REALLY?
That's a mouthful?

Neil Patrick harris rapping was a mouthful... and he was awesome!

Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2013 15:42:35
Quote by Raine:
Quote by clintster:
So apparently the Tony awards broadcast was cut off early in Atlanta for the news. Not to fear, though: they provided a recap. And after watching this, I'm sure you'll agree they really put their best foot in their mouth:



Katie Boots? REALLY?
That's a mouthful?

Neil Patrick harris rapping was a mouthful... and he was awesome!



CHeck it!

Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 15:42:56
The trip to beautiful pippin starring KAtie Boots!

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 15:56:19
Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 16:13:20



Speaking of things that will make you laugh, this is well worth to the 16 mins

Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2013 16:14:43
Strike one - Trespassing.

Strike two - Headphones.

Strike Three - TRAIN!

Comment by Raine on 06/10/2013 16:19:54
This really kinda pissed me off, and I can't believe I am defending Mika.

Look I am not trying to attack the messenger, but this idea of shutting down a question, a fair one in my opinion, with the answer *Your parroting WH talking points* id just a bullshit way to shut down discussion.

THIS I do not like. If people like Greenwald want sunlight and transparency -- then let the f8cking discussion happen -- he, after all, broke the story.

This was actually a great segment on Morning Joe.



Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 16:24:27
Quote by TriSec:
Strike one - Trespassing.

Strike two - Headphones.

Strike Three - TRAIN!



Sounds like the neighbor I almost ran over last night when the power was out the neighborhood. I turned on my headlights and there in his black shirt and dark jeans was a dude with his headphones on in the middle of the street. Note to the meat head, do not dress for felony burglary when you are out for a walk in the blackout.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 16:29:12
Quote by Raine:
This really kinda pissed me off, and I can't believe I am defending Mika.

Look I am not trying to attack the messenger, but this idea of shutting down a question, a fair one in my opinion, with the answer *Your parroting WH talking points* id just a bullshit way to shut down discussion.

THIS I do not like. If people like Greenwald want sunlight and transparency -- then let the f8cking discussion happen -- he, after all, broke the story.

This was actually a great segment on Morning Joe.



Glen Greenwald at his worst. As I said on the book of the faces yesterday, he is the Andrew Wakefield of journalism. Like Wakefield his defenders are jumping to his defense.


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/10/2013 16:37:28
Said power failure happened during "Mad Men" last night. I am not please'd.