OT - About Daschle quitting.

[Mass]

I have been fuming for a few days now about the Daschle story, and honestly, the way it has played among Democrats continue to bother me a lot. Good Democrats that had more important things to do (that includes Kerry, but also Conrad, Schumer, ...) have had to spend time and energy defending Daschle in front of the media for days, distracting of the task to build an appropriate stimulus package. They still had to do that yesterday (and the face of those standing behind Daschle at the press conference showed that they were less than happy to do that), and this morning, Daschle does what needed to be done: quitting. I feel sorry that the Obama administration and Daschle could not see the writing on the wall earlier. I understand loyalty (be it to Daschle or Obama), but it still makes me fume.

I wonder if I am the only one that thinks that.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=abSA7CqkMhCk&refer=us

[karynnj]

1. Not alone

Kerry's face standing behind Daschle looked like he really was unhappy with things he heard in the meeting. I have never seen a stonier look on his face - even through the Bush years. Obama should have been more proactive in pulling the name (getting Daschle to do so) when the huge amount of money that he got from health care companies was known as well as the tax issues. It bothered me that Kerry, who holds himself to extremely high ethical standards had to defend both Geitner (who was smug and lying) and Daschle for Obama.

[Mass]

2. I am not sure what Kerry is thinking, Here is his statement after Daschle's withdrawal

So, I would not want to give his thoughts he does not have. May be he trusted Daschle on that (I did not). But it just bothers me that it took them so long to make the decision. Still, I have to appreciate Kerry's loyalty. He did not have to make this statement.

"I wish Tom Daschle had not decided to withdraw his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services. While Tom's decision is a reminder of his loyalty to President Obama and his determination not to be a distraction, this was no ordinary appointment and today is not a good day for the cause of health care reform. Tom brought a unique level of legislative skill and experience to this position in addition to his passion to achieve affordable health care for every American. Tom made it very clear he'd made a mistake and he took responsibility for it. I believe that when the smoke clears and the frenzy has ended, no one will believe that this unwitting mistake should have erased thirty years of selfless public service and remarkable legislative skill and expertise on health care. I know Tom Daschle well. I know his integrity and I respect his heart for this cause, and I know Tom will find other ways to contribute to this central mission.

Here is the picture of Kerry and Daschle yesterday, for those who have not seen it. (via talkingpointsmemo.com)

[karynnj]

5. That is a loyal statement

It is true that 30 years of public service is on the other side of the balance. Kerry really must have felt awful for Daschle. I can believe that not including the money from the one speech was completely innocent - the client made an error in the 1099. On the car and driver, the question is how Daschle would even have known the amount to include - unless the client gave it to him - so maybe they were innocent.

One thing clear here is that Kerry is a good friend to have.

[Inuca]

8. Moving statement

Indeed, he did not have to issue such a statement, but he did. He is obviously not happy about what happened. A complete non sequitur, but neither am I. I am not sure what to make of all of this. And I do not only mean Daschle, but everything that has happened in the last week or so, nominations, stimulus, etc. I guess it's the prose after the poetry of the election, but it is confusing. And I do not have the time to fully digest all the information and make some sense out of it (even less to write about it). I just felt the need to drop a few quick words here, because I was really touched by this statement (it also added to my confusion, and overall sense of uneasiness).

And to end on a completely frivolous note: anyone else notices how incredibly good JK looks recently? The shots behind Daschle (NOT the picture above), on MTP... lip-licking good :-).

[sandnsea]

3. They need to clean it up

I can't believe they thought it would be acceptable to push Daschle through, his wife's lobbying was a problem before the rest of the garbage came out.

After I found out Rahm talks to Carville and Begala daily, I kind of lost a measure of hope for anything really different anyway.

[TayTay]

4. Not alone, sadly

There were side issues that were beginning to overcrowd this. I am glad that Sen. Daschle withdrew. (Nancy Killefer also withdrew today in part because of tax problems. Sorry, but we can't have women forced to withdraw over tax problems and not men. That would not be right.)

I am sorry this whole thing happened. I did not think that Geithner should have gone ahead. I mean the job is Treasury Secretary, you know, the persosn who heads the dept of collecting taxes. It's just not right. You can't give waivers out to people because you know them. That is what the Bush people did, it was Cheney's whole justification for the secret energy committee.. (These people are okay, I can personally vouch for them. Sorry, that's not enough.)

I think Tom Daschle is a great man and has a lot to offer. But not at this time and not under these conditions. We need to do better. You can't make a big deal out of saying, "these are the rules" and then break the rules.

[ProSense]

6. If I had to choose, it would be

Daschle over Geitner. Still, this is over and done with, the media still sucks and it's time to move on.

Two weeks into Obama's administration and things are moving along. I still see change creeping forward, and expect it to pick up speed in the near future.

[JI7]

7. the issue concerning Richardson and what he withdrew over seem so minimal

compared to Daschle and maybe even Geithner.

[Fabio]

9. Dont think this for a second.

The issues regarding Richardson's "Pay to Play" problems are big and growing bigger (ie potentially criminal charges).

[globalvillage]

10. TPM did a piece on this yesterday

http://tpmtv.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/tpmtv_pay_to_play_down_new_mex.php

That doesn't sound good.

[karynnj]

11. No, it doesn't

Wasn't he also possibly involved in the mess that was NM's 2004 election - where the votes from some native American areas recorded no votes for Kerry for President - though they were over whelming for him?

It is bad that he is so prominent in the Democratic party.

[globalvillage]

13. He stopped the recount, right?

God, it seems so long ago. The details are fading.

[karynnj]

14. yeah - and from vague memory

there was likely an internal Democratic effort to give one area less representation in terms of delegates, which would be based on the 2004 Presidential vote- so the Kerry votes did not tally on some native American machines - according to one account.

Richardson demanded a huge amount of money, then quickly cleared the machines.

(Note - I may have this wrong and the source could have been conspiracy theory - but there were obvious problems in the Presidential count.)

In an act of pure chutzpah, he had a plan for election integrity that was part of what he ran on in 2008.

[MarjorieG]

17. Bill was pushed in paper + optical scan. Touchscreens everywhere can/did blank out votes, esp by

language. NM activists brought Richardson to task over huge undervote/lost vote: moving to paper ballots gave us 87% improved on hispanic and 69% on native american (or the reverse attribution).

Now we're faced with less interest and no money everywhere to do audits and safety procedures with scanners. All electronics vulnerable.

[YvonneCa]

15. Yes. He did. n/t

[TayTay]

12. "Pay to Play" is what got Blago into trouble

That is criminal. You can't promise favors in exchange for cash or equivalent.

What Sen. Daschle did goes to his judgment. He is not and will not be under any criminal investigation. He was probably fined by the IRS and had to pay the back taxes.

Completely not the same. (I think the events surrounding Sen. Daschle's withdrawal are tragic and were preventable. Pay to Play is a whole nuther kettle of fish.)

[JI7]

16. i guess i was wrong about that, i didn't look much into it

but since we didn't hear much i just assumed it wasn't that big. but it might have been different had he not withdrew and the media focused his attention there.