Archive for January 30th, 2009
Michael Steele..Looking Forward
January 30th, 2009
Michael Steele grants his first interview to Sean Hannity following his election as Chairman of the Republican Party:
The party has a great deal of work to do and today they selected a man who is up to the task.
Posted in 
Another Cabinet Nominee Whose Knowledge Of The Federal Income Tax Laws Is Lacking? (Updated)
January 30th, 2009
Is improperly filing federal tax returns a prerequisite to receiving a Cabinet nomination in the current administration?
ABC News has learned that the nomination of former Senator Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., to be President Obama’s Secretary of Health and Human Services has hit a traffic snarl on its way through the Senate Finance Committee.
The controversy deals with a car and driver lent to Daschle by a wealthy Democratic friend, a chauffeur service the former senator used for years without declaring it on his taxes.
It remains an open question as to whether this is a “speed bump,” as a Democratic Senate ally of Daschle put it, or something more damaging.
After being defeated in his 2004 re-election campaign to the Senate, Daschle in 2005 became a consultant and chairman of the Executive Advisory Board at InterMedia Advisors.
Based in New York City, InterMedia Advisors is a private equity firm founded in part by longtime Daschle friend and Democratic fundraiserLeo Hindery, the former president of the YES network (the Yankees’ and Devils’ broadcast network).
That same year he began his professional relationship with InterMedia 2005, Daschle began using the services of Hindery’s car and driver.
The Cadillac and driver were never part of Daschle’s official compensation package at InterMedia but Mr. Daschle — who as Senate majority leader enjoyed the use of a car and driver at taxpayer expense — didn’t declare their services on his income taxes, as tax laws require.
During the vetting process to become HHS secretary, Daschle corrected the tax violation, voluntarily paying $101,943 in back taxes plus interest, working with his accountant to amend his tax returns for 2005 through 2007.
Mr. Daschle has one thing to be grateful for -that (D) after his name.
As a side note I would like to commend Jake Tapper for being a member of the media who is honest enough (and has done so on more than one occasion) to report misgivings on both sides of the aisle. How refreshing.
HT:Hot Air
Update:Mr. Daschle’s tax issues continue to grow:
Mr. Daschle also didn’t report $83,333 in consulting income in 2007.
The Senate Finance Committee Report also notes that during the vetting process, President Obama’s Transition Team “identified certain donations that did not qualify as charitable deductions because they were not paid to qualifying organizations. Daschle adjusted his contribution deductions on his amended returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007 to remove these amounts and add additional contributions.” This adjustment meant a reduction in the amount he contributed to charitable foundations of $14,963 from 2005 through 2007.
With the unreported income from the use of a car service in the amounts of $73,031 in 2005, $89,129 in 2006 and $93,096 in 2007; the unreported consulting income of $83,333 in 2007; and the adjusted reductions in charitable contributions, Daschle adds a total of $353,552 in additional income and reduced donations, meaning an additional tax payment of $128,203, in addition to $11,964 in interest.
Why does he not withdraw his nomination at this point? It would seem not only the smart but decent thing to do.
It’s Smart To Choose Your Arguments (And Targets) Wisely
January 30th, 2009
Rush Limbaugh in a radio interview with Mark Levin discusses recent events emanating from comments to members of congress attending a White House meeting:
[Warning: minimal strong language not suitable for children]
This clip was created by your Radio Equalizer
The RNC Elects A New Chairman
January 30th, 2009
Congratulations to Michael Steele who secured the RNC Chairmanship in the 6th round of voting today:
Love That New Bipartisanship
January 30th, 2009
Who said the following when asked a question relating to bipartisanship?:
I didn’t come here to be partisan. I didn’t come here to be bipartisan. I came here, as did my colleagues, to be nonpartisan, to work for the American people, to do what is in their interest.
a) Harry Reid
b) Barack Obama
c) Mitch McConnell
d) Nancy Pelosi
e) John Boehner
If you answered (d) Nancy Pelosi you win.
See the story.
Will They Love Us Tomorrow?
January 30th, 2009
You’ve heard by now that our standing in the world will much improve now that the evil George Bush is no longer in office.
A Democratic White House and Congress will create a love-in across the globe for certain.
Not so fast:
The EU trade commissioner vowed to fight back after the bill passed in the House of Representatives late on Wednesday included a ban on most purchases of foreign steel and iron used in infrastructure projects.
The Senate’s version of the legislation, which will be debated early next week, goes even further, requiring that any projects related to the stimulus use only American-made equipment and goods.
The inclusion of protectionist measures has quickly raised hackles in Europe.
Catherine Ashton, the EU trade commissioner, said: “We are looking at the situation. The one thing we can be absolutely certain about, is if a bill is passed which prohibits the sale or purchase of European goods on American territory, that is something we will not stand idly by and ignore.”
Despite the parlous state of the US economy, some major American firms, including General Electric, are also opposed to the Buy American stipulations, fearing reprisals from overseas and further damage to the global economy.
Bill Lane, government affairs director for Caterpillar, which has just laid off nearly a fifth of its 112,000 work force and is the tenth largest US investor in Britain, warned it was a dangerous step.
He said: “We are the first to recognise that if the US embraces Buy American then the whole notion of buying national will metastasize and limit our ability to take part in overseas projects.
“We are students of history. A major reason a very deep recession turned into the Great Depression was the fact that countries turned inward.”
Buying American is important, however, we must keep avenues of free trade open if we are to survive.
Let the love fest end and the tough days of governing begin.
When Opinions Really Do Not Matter
January 30th, 2009
Does this administration’s Press Secretary honestly believe members of Congress do not know each other?
“You know, the president also wanted last night to be a little bit more social, you know, so that individuals could better get to know each other and understand where they’re coming from in these legislative disagreements,” Gibbs told reporters Thursday. “But, again, you know, the president’s outreach on this will continue.”
emphasis-mine
Outreach? This man informed Republicans “I won.”
While the statement is true, this is behavior expected from a child, it is not befitting the President of the United States.
Are Republicans just supposed to roll over and play dead? Are they just to give a nod and wink to all proposals because the opposition won?
I for one am proud of the Republicans in the House for standing up to the Speaker and administration with regard to this pork laden stimulus bill. These folks are sent to Washington to fight for all Americans-not just special interests which support them in their political ambitions.
On Sunday, there will be a winner and a loser in the Super Bowl.
It’s a safe bet the majority of those interviewed from the winning team will have very complimentary things to say about their opponent.
Too bad we don’t have the same level of courtesy in Washington.
