We voted to end corruption

[fadedrose]

Appointees I wasn't particularly thrilled with: Richardson (trouble with some companies being investigated, don't know any details); Clinton (husband receives monies from foreign governments, not the best idea for a SecState); Gichtner (doesn't pay taxes, wonderful in your face appointment for the IRS); and now Daschle (wife lobbyist for years, same with him, and he doesn't pay taxes). Now I know why Dean wasn't picked for anything. He's too damned honest.


Does anyone else remember the story about a fella who a couple of years ago was shot and killed coming out of Walmart/Sam's Club for stealing a package of diapers.

[EFerrari]

1. DC is a sewer right now. Maybe it's always been a sewer but

right now it's an overflowing one.

[MadBadger]

2. You should edit out Hillary. Its bullshit that you included her in this list.

[fadedrose]

3. Hillary is quite capable to do the job

But Bill was too unwilling to give out names of contributors... and these are foreign countries - in case of disputes they need to know that she is NEUTRAL, and her neutrality has to be above suspicion. I see nothing wrong with including her appointment in this list.

I also didn't care for Rham.

[MadBadger]

5. Hillary did nothing wrong, and you lumped her in with people who have

Thats just completely unfair.

[fadedrose]

7. You should stay better informed

No one on the list has been blamed for doing anything wrong - find me some evidence that they committed a crime....only mention of them is that they made mistakes..

This list is shows nothing but my own level of comfort/discomfort with the people thereon.

Make your own list and I won't criticize. Your list is your list. Mine is mine.

[MadBadger]

10. Your title would make it seem otherwise

"We voted to end corruption"

Then you go on a list of people you dont like for presumably their corruption.

[fadedrose]

12. You certainly can take it that way, or not; up to you.

One thing tho, I wish her great success because I love my country and want the world to see it through better times than they have. I hope she can pull it off without Bill's sometimes (you pick the adjetive) actions.

[Life Long Dem]

13. Well, just to keep it simple.

I thought the whole family looked great. We all enjoy poking fun at Obama's swearing in, and I give them credit for being able to hold it in so well!:-)

[fadedrose]

24. Different types

Corruption of laws and corruption of spirit . . .

[laugle]

15. Wern't you for

Richardson for SOS..........LOL

Hillary has been confirmed so get over it!

[fadedrose]

23. I liked Kerry for SOS

and would have liked Dean anywhere...

[PassingFair]

4. You are not the boss of her.

I agree with her...

[Life Long Dem]

6. So basically you only have one legit argument?

The one I raised suspicion over and the the pundits made a big issue that liberals were leaving the candidate.

[fadedrose]

9. Moderate liberals are hanging tight

progressives are holding tight but losing their grip from the struggle..

[Life Long Dem]

8. And now they want to do this with Dashcle?

Well...Obama hasn't used his ace yet.

[depakid]

11. There's no good excuse for Daschle's behavior

-and if Obama is serious about responsibility and accountability, then he ought to be working quietly behind the scenes to remedy the situation.

Geithner's tax matter was also a bit troublesome- but not so simple and obvious to the taxpayer. One could make the argument that as Treasury Secretary- and formerly the President of the Federal Reserve Bank or New York, he ought to be held to a higher standard.

In Daschles case, however- the failure to report what was obviously gross income was so blatant as to seem to reasonable people as intentional.

[uponit7771]

14. The company he worked for gave unannounced compensation in form of a driver, he paid when

...he found out about the compensation. If he was a tax person I'd blame him

[laugle]

16. Congressional people know all about GIFTS and the tax

ramifications, geez........how can you give this guy a pass?

[avaistheone1]

31. They know all about housekeepers and the tax rules regarding them as well.

[sohndrsmith]

18. Was it intentional? I don't have an indication of that, or moreover,

that there was a deliberate attempt to alter the records in order hide it.

Maybe I haven't read enough... but I haven't seen this sort of thing (unless as insinuation in a personal opinion, which isn't the same as fact), but is there more to this....?

Welcome to the world of transparency.... my guess is that if we took a fine tooth comb to the taxes of every senator or congressperson there would be very few who didn't have inconsistencies, problems or large amounts of money that don't square with their tax returns...

What was Daschle's income in relation to the amount in question? Percentage-wise, is it that different than mistakes many people with more than just one employer and only straightforward deductions/expenses, etc.?

I don't know, but I wouldn't mind more perspective on the whole thing...

[depakid]

19. I didn't imply that he evasion through any sort of fraud

But any ordinary person, exercizing the minimum of care (like reading the instructions in the tax booklet) knows that this counts as gross income.

Think about it. Your company or your client gives you something of value- predominantly for your personal use in exchange for your services.

Gross income? You bet it is- no brainer.

Surely Daschle knows that- which makes his failure to report it intentional -even the most unsophisitvated taxpayer would at least be considered negligent for that. And quite possibly worse. People can (and do) go to prison for things like this.

[sohndrsmith]

27. I know, you're right... I was just trying to explore the whole thing a bit more.

One of the most wonderful person I've ever had the pleasure of calling my friend (just a genuine, good-hearted soul full of integrity and just nice-guy-ism) also happened to be one of the wealthiest people I have ever - and likely will ever - meet or know. 100s of millions of dollars - that I knew about from others... which didn't take into account a whole bunch of other stuff like - never mind, just take my word for it).

Anyway, I describe my friend because were it not for him, I never would have known how much work (I know, it sounds ridiculous) it is to handle your finances when you're very, very wealthy with all sorts of properties or investments to manage... he had race horses, companies... many, many homes... employees and caretakers for all of the ones he was not in....

It was more complicated than what my finances were like, and mine wasn't all that cut and dried either.

It just gave me some perspective on what that might be like - and maybe made me a little less judgmental about Daschle's situation... I don't know. I guess I was looking at it through friend-colored glasses...

[nichomachus]

25. This wasn't an inconsistency or a hidden requirement

Anytime you receive something of value - -whether in the form of cash or goods and services, it is taxable. That is pretty basic -- and as a former Senator he should know that. Hell, I know it and I'm not all that bright when it comes to tax matters.

If I give you something of value, it is taxable (except under very certain circumstances). Why in the world do you think there has been all this hoo-ha about Republicans wanting to do away with the gift tax. They want to be able to spread money around without it being taxed.

Heck, my partner provided my health care on his plan. I had to pay tax on the value of that. (If we were heterosexual, I wouldn't have had to pay it -- so suck on that "civil unions are just as good as marriage" people.)

[HughMoran]

17. That was in 2006

;)

Corruption is hip again and we really need to find more reasons to bash Dems here.

;)

[Political Tiger]

20. Until human beings become Gods

It's going to be hard to find one that is perfect.

[nichomachus]

26. There is a huge difference between "perfect" and "not deliberately cheating on your taxes"

[DCBob]

21. Compared to most Republicans, these guys are saints..

There are bigger issues out there. Obama's team will be fine.

[treestar]

22. Corruption will always be around

At least this stuff is out in the open. Didn't Daschle pay the taxes back? And the tax laws aren't in black and white. It's perfectly possible to argue a deduction should be allowed.

In the chimpadministration they'd have told us we couldn't learn the facts or it would compromise national security.

[Beacool]

28. Who is "we"?

Some of us voted for him because he was the nominee, for no other reason.

:shrug:

BTW, you forgot Nancy Killefer.

[fadedrose]

30. That happened after my OP, tomorrow there will be more, I bet....nt

[Beacool]

32. OK

:D

[earth mom]

29. No RFK Jr. for Energy either.

I am sickened by the way it's all going.

It doesn't look good for this country, the people or the planet. :(

[earth mom]

33. Opps-That should have read no RFK Jr. to head the EPA.

:blush:

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. Obama's on it - you have to be a little patient, that's all.