The situation with Tom Daschle really depresses me.

[Mike 03]

I watched his testimony when he was being considered for HHS and it was so impressive and even though I didn't know all that much about Daschle, he really earned my respect.

Everyone is saying he would have been confirmed regardless of this tax issue.

I have mixed feelings, because it IS embarrassing when a number of Obama's nominees have these issues in their backgrounds, but when examined, they seem like they were honest mistakes.

Besides, Daschle is NOT being nominated for an economic position, but a humanist position, and his objective will be to design a health care program.

I really, really wish he would reconsider withdrawing.

Am I off base on this one? I admit, this is not an intellectual decision but a gut feeling I have about him after watching his testimony. His heart just seems so devoted to doing this and doing it right.

[FLAprogressive]

1. doesn't depress me. he was bad news from the start.

[Muttocracy]

2. Not crazy about Daschle but I'm depressed that Kennedy has to repeat the hearings. nt

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Well, let me give you my perspective on this.

In 2004, we optioned some of myhusband's stock options to do some renovations on our home. The accountant who did our taxes did not calculate the taxes properly. There are two types of stock options, ones where you pay the IRS when you option them, and others when you pay the IRS when the next tax return is due.


He only calculated that we paid the ones that were sent to the IRS when we optioned them.

We ended up #34,000 in default and by the time the IRS caught up with the error, we owed over $60,000 in taxes, penalty and interest. And, to top it off, the poor accountant had an aneurysm that prevented him from testifying to the IRS on our behalf.

So, yeah, I think Daschle should withdraw.

[KittyWampus]

21. Well, it sounds like Daschle has as much integrity as your husband

[Tangerine LaBamba]

27. What?

Why are you insulting the poster's husband's integrity?

Can you read? Did you read her post?

That's insulting and unnecessary and dumb, what you wrote.

[leftofthedial]

4. One less status quo medical insurance industry lobbyist

with an inside man is never bad news.

[EFerrari]

11. Yep. Tom Daschle is very likable and very accomplished

but I have never been happy about his connections or how he chose to earn his living after the Senate.

[priller]

5. The big problem with Daschle was his lobbying ties to healthcare industry

Since his ouster from the Senate he has been lined up at the lobbying trough big-time. He and his wife both. He was not the person to bring about change in healthcare.

[Mike 03]

8. Whoa, I didn't know about this. That's not good. NT

[marshall]

6. It does make you wonder if every one of them has tax issues

It just seems all too common. It's going to get to the point where he'll have to go outside the boundaries of the Washington establishment to find nominees who can withstand the rigid requirement that they be essentially honest.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. Politics aren't "gut feelings"

Politics are based on hard, cold facts, and Daschle was irresponsible and cavalier about that tax mishap.

He knew about it in JUNE, but never told anyone about it until his vetting process was underway. That's selfish and irresponsible. It's one thing to overlook a nanny tax or a self-employment tax, but when you end up having to pay up more than $200,000 in taxes and penalties, you're unfit for a Cabinet post.

And I was always a Daschle fan. Hated that he lost his re-election bid. But you do not, if you're at all sane, consider a car and driver a "gift" and just keep riding around in it.

He was arrogant and out of touch and should never have accepted the nomination. But, having early on put his entire, considerable political machine behind the brand-new candidate Obama, he was in line to be rewarded.

That's another hard, cold fact about politics - no one does anything out of the goodness of the heart - they pay back debts incurred along the way. Obama had a very good candidate in Daschle, in that he's extraordinarily connected and competent in health care matters.

But he fucked up big time. And that is the end of his public service life. He'll make more millions than ever now, with an Obama admistration. He's already landed on his feet.

Ultimately, a guy like Daschle is devoted to power and money.

[EFerrari]

12. Politics is based on relationships which usually turns out to be gut feeling,

aka, trust.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. No

It's pure quid pro quo, and that's how it's always been.

Trust?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!!!

Hardly.

[EFerrari]

15. The mechanism that facillitates quid pro quo is relationship

not the other way around. You're not a politician, are you?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

17. The mechanism that facilitates

quid pro quo is: What Can You Do For Me And What Do I Have That You Want?

No, I've never been a politician, but I have been a Washington lawyer for more than thirty years.

[EFerrari]

18. Nope. You're mistaking a tactic for the game.

But, you have thirty years of experience in the DC sewer. I'm sure you can sort it out.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

19. Sewer?

Your preconceived ignorance is amusing.

I'm sure you've already sorted it out. And you still came up wrong.

[EFerrari]

23. LOL

[Tangerine LaBamba]

25. Ah, yes, I remember

that that's always the response when you have nothing left. Terribly articulate.

Well, you tried, and that's noble.

Now, go spread joy.

[EFerrari]

28. "Your preconceived ignorance is amusing."

lol

I wonder why someone who claims to be such an expert (and so often, too) has to rely on such shoddiness.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

29. I suspect

you wonder a lot about a lot of things.

[EFerrari]

30. That's what happens when you have developed frontal lobes.

It's the characteristic that distinguishes people from apes. But, you knew that. :)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

31. Hmmmmmmm?

Did you say something relevant?

No, I didn't think so.

But, you keep trying, and that's very admirable.

[mdmc]

9. I'd be bummed if he was one of the good guys

he is ok..

[Mike 03]

10. You're telling me a lot of stuff I didn't know. Maybe he wasn't such a great pick.

Sheesh. He sure had me fooled.

ON EDIT

I wonder who would be a better pick?

[undeterred]

14. I like Tom Daschle.

But he is a "corporatist" when it comes to health care, and he should have known better about his taxes.

[Mike 03]

16. You are probably all right. It's just depressing to learn all of this. He seemed really great in

his hearing.

Another disappointment. And another post I've made that is a huge embarrassment to me.

[Mike 03]

20. I'm sure I was wrong (as usual) and I'm sorry. NT

[BlooInBloo]

22. "he really earned my respect" - Are you like 12 years old or something?

[firedupdem]

24. He had the best relationship with members of congress and the

senate to get health care reform passed. I don't care about the other issues. He had the qualifications necessary for the job. I'm disgusted that he had the tax issue and it was a major distraction but I believe health care reform has been set back due to this tax issue and the bullshit media pumping it up 24/7. I get mad just thinking about it.

[Uzybone]

26. He did it to himself, don't feel sorry for him