IRS: Gee, We’re Sorry We Targeted Tea Party Organizations for Burdensome and Unnecessary Procedures!
If an Administration targets only critics of the President for IRS audits (not that any such thing could ever actually happen!!), and it turns out some of those critics have cheated on their taxes, I’m not sure those people should get a pass for their tax evasion . . . but I also think that President should be impeached.
I promise I did not already know about this:
The Internal Revenue Service apologized Friday for subjecting Tea Party groups to additional scrutiny during the 2012 election, but denied any political motive.
Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS unit that oversees tax-exempt groups, said organizations that included the words “tea party” or “patriot” in their applications for tax-exempt status were singled out for additional reviews. Her remarks, which came at an American Bar Association gathering, were first reported by the Associated Press.
White House spokesman Jay Carney on Friday afternoon called the IRS action “inappropriate” and said the Obama administration supports a full investigation, suggesting the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration would have jurisdiction.
It’s not really surprising that they did it. It’s surprising that they admitted it.
Nice of them to confirm who they really are.
Patterico (a0e22f) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:04 pmCarnie also tried to blame this on Bush. Twice.
JD (553314) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:08 pmWhich action does Carney think “inappropriate”?
bh (b6a8ad) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:10 pmTargeting the Tea Party groups, or apologising for it?
Carnie approaches
Colonel Haiku (74682c) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:20 pmvegetable beef soup smell
overpowers r00m
It’s not surprising that they admitted it. Apparently someone has already launched an investigation. They admitted it because they want to be able to control the investigation, just as they did with the ARB that Hillary! appointed to investigate Benghazi. It’s not surprising. It’s an attempt at damage control. Play it out, then claim it’s old news. Accuse others of politicizing their politicized decisions. Then when there are no innocent explanations left claim their opposition (note: that doesn’t include Ansar al Sharia, the al Nusra front, or the Muslim Brotherhood but the GOP and the TEA Party) of taking things out of context. Then offer up career employees below the political appointee level as sacrificial lambs.
Here’s an interestent post from NRO:
http://www.nationalreview.com/347956/re-mistakes-were-made
The attempt to blame this on “low level employees” in the Cincinnati office of the IRS is a brazen lie. But one they hope to get away with if they can keep Congress out of it. They’ve got a history with IGs that convinces them they can control those investigations entirely.
It’s not surprising at all they’re trying to get out in front of the story once they know they’re caught red handed. They want to steer this to a soft landing.
Steve57 (9b1cdb) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:22 pmOne wonders if Chavez loving Mark Lloyd provided tips;
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/10/10-crazy-things-the-irs-asked-tea-party-groups/
narciso (3fec35) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:29 pmhttp://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/watchdog-says-government-tried-to-silence-him-91110.html
Mr. Sopko is not so naive. He knows perfectly well that the senior officials in the administration understand perfectly well what the roll of an independent IG actually is.
And that they’re trying to subvert it, so that instead he provides the Obama administration with the cover of a pretense of an independent investigation.
One the administration actually controls. Like State’s ARB investigation into Benghazi.
Steve57 (9b1cdb) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:30 pm“the Obama administration supports a full investigation, suggesting the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration would have jurisdiction.”
And if they don’t like that Inspector General, they’ll just appoint a new one more to their liking.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:34 pmdaley @8, exactly. But not after first conducting a character assassination campaign against the previous one. Only then they’ll appoint some dependable beltway apparatchicks like Hillary! did when she handpicked Amb. Pickering and ADM Mullen to head the ARB intended to cover her ample behind.
Steve57 (9b1cdb) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:40 pmthis is the Post’s spin,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/05/10/im-not-good-at-math-the-irss-public-relations-disaster/?tid=pm_politics_pop
narciso (3fec35) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:43 pmSteve is right w/post#5… The cats out of the bag and it’s damage control time. They’ve been caught with hand in cookie jar.
Colonel Haiku (7865e7) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:43 pmOnly reason they’ve copped to it.
Colonel Haiku (7865e7) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:44 pmApparently the Russian work is correctly transliterated as “apparatchik.” So apparatchick is technically incorrect. But considering he role they’re playing in this power relationship, I think an exception should be made and my inadvertent mistake actually should be declared more accurate.
Mullen and Pickering. A pair of apparat-chicks.
Steve57 (9b1cdb) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:45 pmW/0bama buck stops way over there>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Colonel Haiku (7865e7) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:47 pmTechnically, I think the proper word is Zampolit, does that sound right, based on your time in the Navy.
narciso (3fec35) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:48 pm11.Steve is right w/post#5… The cats out of the bag and it’s damage control time. They’ve been caught with hand in cookie jar.
Comment by Colonel Haiku (7865e7) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:43 pm
What colonel said about what Steve said. the only reason they made this ‘admission” was to try to get ahead of the investigation which has not yet been adequately divulged.
When the obama administration does something, is it because:
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:55 pm1) it is a political maneuver
2) it is an act of political manipulation
3) there is an ulterior political reason
4) some combination of the above
5) does the exact combination matter?
Wrong Navy, narcisso.
At least it was the wrong Navy until every unit got assigned it’s GLBT thought-and-speech police nark. Which is now thankfully after my time.
I still think the correct word is apparatchik. Some dependable functionary who’s willing to do or say anything to shield the higher ups no matter how ridiculous it obviously is.
Or, rather, apparatchick.
Steve57 (9b1cdb) — 5/10/2013 @ 6:57 pmWell we seem to importing practices from certain places, commissar is probably more appropriate.
narciso (3fec35) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:04 pmTwo points
joe (93323e) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:09 pm1)The Cincinnati/covington ky office of the IRS is the national office for tax exempt organizations.
2) I am not 100% sure with respect to exams of tax exempt organizations, However, with respect to individual or corporate returns, a low or even mid level employee has neither the authority nor the ability to select a return for examination.
Comment by joe (93323e) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:09 pm
Thank you for that helpful info.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:16 pm“Oh, it was just at our Cincinnati office” [-never mind the fact that the Cincinnati office is the national office for tax exempt orgs- doh!]
This IRS situation should point out 2 things most people don’t consider.
Gus (694db4) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:16 pm1)The federal government is up to it’s eyeballs in low-mid-and high level LIBTARDS.
2)These fvcking libtards get paid very very very very well.
If you have a job like that, you ought to know better than to do the shit these fvckers do.
“When the obama administration any politician does something, is it because:
1) it is a political maneuver
2) it is an act of political manipulation
3) there is an ulterior political reason
4) some combination of the above
5) does the exact combination matter?”
– MD in Philly
FTFY
Leviticus (17b7a5) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:16 pmHmm. Missing a strikethrough there.
Leviticus (17b7a5) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:17 pmHow amazing that you used the “What if the IRS targeted conservatives?” analogy on the same day the IRS admitted it was doing that very thing. It turned a good analogy into great analogy.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:23 pmI’m being unfair to the GLBT Zampolits, if you can believe such a thing. The feminist Zampolits that were installed after Tailhook in the early ’90s were no laughing matter either.
You had to have been there. After Tailhook the only reason I didn’t get prosecuted for sexual harassment is that the women I didn’t actually sexually harass refused to knuckle under to the brass who wanted to falsely convict me just to get that notch in their belt. To show they were thoroughly onboard with the post-Tailhook program even if they had to threaten a female officer with prosecution for conduct unbecoming amongst other things if she didn’t cooperate.
I will always be eternally grateful that they resisted the pressure to falsely accuse me. That took moral character when almost everyone in our chain of command was bluffing that if the guys they wouldn’t accuse would pay, then they would pay.
You have to choose your friends carefully.
Steve57 (9b1cdb) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:23 pmLeviticus,
I think the strike code uses “s” instead of “strike.” You have to manually insert “strike” in the code.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:24 pmOk, this is weirding me out. If anything done by the IRS can be justified, what is more justifiable than singling out, for special scrutiny, tax exemption applications of organizations founded on the principle of tax protest and/or tax resistance, whose very names scream out tax protest/resistance? Why the apology? Why aren’t they brazening it out?
nk who asks WT* (875f57) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:32 pmWhat real bad thing is Obama hiding here?
I am expecting to find that these groups were singled out not only for political reasons, but because the Obama DHS has been investigating TEA Party groups as potential terrorists.
We see patriots and fiscal conservatives, they see McVeighs.
Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:34 pmYou don’t see something wrong with investigating political adversaries, because of their oppositional stance, I know that’s what is done in Chicago,
narciso (3fec35) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:37 pmI think the strike code uses “s” instead of “strike.” You have to manually insert “strike” in the code.Not so.
Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:37 pm“Carnie also tried to blame this on Bush. Twice.”
JD – Forget about Valerie Jarret. Apparently George Bush remains the most powerful person in the Obama Administration.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:41 pmBTW, I never want to hear a single word from these folks ever again about “suppressing votes.” They sidelined opposition grass-roots organizations during a major election, because they could.
Now that the damage is done, and they are about to be exposed, they decide to “make amends”; amends that are impossible to make without a resignation or 6.
This is strike 2 (the Benghazi cover-up is trike 1). Next strike and it’s time for the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on impeachment.
Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:43 pmI gave advice to an employer who had a mid-level manager who was a tax resistor in the McVeigh profile. (It was “Fire him”.) “Taxation is slavery” was the mildest nuttery the kook spouted, and that was ok as far as it went, but he thought it perfectly fine to falsify his W-4 too, which could have lead to the employer filing a false W-2. Like I said, the IRS could say “we wanted to be sure these tax-exempts were not shells for the purposes of tax-evasion”. Why isn’t it, conspiracist-mindeds want to know.
nk (875f57) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:44 pmThanks for the clarification.
One remains curious how the national office for tax-exempt office organizations can be called “low level.”
Does one not?
Steve57 (9b1cdb) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:50 pmnk:
I think the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution requires that similarly situated taxpayers be treated in similar ways. Let me know when the IRS starts investigating and auditing groups because they have “Marxist” or “Communist” in their names.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:51 pmLeviticus- there is an old cartoon (?Far Side) that shows the “Creature from the Black Lagoon” laying on a psychiatrist’s couch with the psych taking notes, with the caption/word bubble saying,
“I know I’m just a miserable creature, but recently it seems that I have been a particularly miserable creature”.
There was a time when I thought all politicians were happy to “twist things a bit” for their own benefit, but starting with Gore in the 2000 campaign I believe the dems as a whole on the national scene have been pathological liars, lying “even when they didn’t have to”.
I knew enough about McCain to judge him based on what he said and had said historically. I thought much the same about Romney. There were things I didn’t like much about either of them, but the things were straight up front to be judged. Obama portrayed himself as the post-partisan, post-racial, put the country first candidate back in 2008. As soon as that election was over and again in 2012 as early as his inaugeration speech, it was “Elections have consequences, I won, go sit in the corner and be a good whipping boy while I blame you for all of the ills of the world.”
I lived through watergate, the press was eager to destroy Nixon, not make excuses for him, and more important, many if not most repubs were for full disclosure, not circling the wagons and covering no matter what. You may not, but I really believe there are differences.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:51 pmThe Clinton Administration and the IRS.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:54 pm1948 to 1958, DRJ? 😉
nk (875f57) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:55 pm“Like I said, the IRS could say “we wanted to be sure these tax-exempts were not shells for the purposes of tax-evasion”. Why isn’t it, conspiracist-mindeds want to know.”
nk – Why it isn’t is because if the application for tax exempt status is properly filled out and the proposed activities meet the required standards of a tax exempt organization, there is no proper reason for further investigation or denial by the IRS. They can always investigate or audit after the fact if periodic filings look bogus.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:59 pmYes, MD… I was a young man when they brought Nixon low. They gave no quarter and Republicans were honest about it, in retrospect it was much ado about not much. The left is all about power… Seizing it, holding on to it, whatever the cost to the country. Nothing has changed in that respect.
Colonel Haiku (fa70e5) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:00 pmThe FBI and Congressional committees certainly targeted those organizations. Senator McCarthy reportedly called for IRS audits and the Steinbeck family claims J. Edgar Hoover urged the IRS to audit John Steinbeck simply because he was a communist. That’s wrong, don’t you think? And it’s equally wrong to target conservatives now.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:01 pmComment by Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:43 pm
I agree, except I think Fast+Furious was already a strike, and not following through with the Black Panther voter intimidation was a strike at least for Holder.
Even if the House started impeachment proceedings, I find it hard to believe they would get any support from Dems in the Senate unless it was the most obvious and blatant situation.
I think the best we can hope is that enough nonsense comes out that people will give Repubs both houses in 2014 so we can at least do a better job minimizing the damage. Then again, we can keep praying for things we don’t even hope for.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:01 pmGeorge Bush rules the r00st
Colonel Haiku (180a66) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:08 pmIn the 0bamanation
MainBoy with Joy Toy
I am expecting to find that these groups were singled out not only for political reasons, but because the Obama DHS has been investigating TEA Party groups as potential terrorists.
We see patriots and fiscal conservatives, they see McVeighs.
Comment by Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/10/2013 @ 7:34 pm
Seriously, that’s what I’m tending to think, too. Obamabots do not just seek to demonize, they see demons.
nk (875f57) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:09 pmfrom someone who has an understanding of what they are really after;
http://www.therightscoop.com/sarah-palin-let-the-light-shine-on-the-corruption-at-the-heart-of-big-government/
narciso (3fec35) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:17 pmwe have to let the light shine or else it will be dark and we won’t be able to see anything
happyfeet (8ce051) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:20 pmDRJ, I have a revisionist view of the so-called “witch hunts”. They did uncover real enemies of the United States. I don’t hold it against either Gary Cooper or Elia Kazan that they “named names”. Sure, what was done to Orson Welles was unfair and even J. Edgar Hoover asked that Ethel Rosenberg not be executed, and the irony does not escape me that Nixon was in the end smeared with tax evasion.
nk (875f57) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:28 pmHere you go, happyfeet:
“Do you see him? Do you see the story? Do you see anything? It seems I am trying to tell you a dream–making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is the very essence of dreams.”
“Everything belonged to him–but that was a trifle. The thing to know was what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own. That was the reflection that made you creepy all over. It was impossible–not good for one either–trying to imagine. He had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land–I mean literally. You can’t understand–how could you?”
nk (875f57) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:36 pmLefties need to see themselves as heroic, as morally superior to those who don’t toe their line. Can’t have honest disagreements, nor are they amenable to introspection or supporting their contentions with logical thinking.
Oh, teh Hell with it… They suck, plain and simple.
Colonel Haiku (7865e7) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:38 pmWatching Carnie blame the IRS scandal on Bush, and Benghazi on Romney and Republicans was simply surreal.
JD (b63a52) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:55 pmnk,
I agree. What I find objectionable is using the IRS to do the investigating and targeting. It’s one thing to use the Congressional investigators or even the FBI, but I don’t see any reason to use the IRS to identify people as security threats or target them for their beliefs.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 5/10/2013 @ 8:57 pmyouknow what I think will get this admin’s atttn and the American public? A class action law suit in the billions.
jb (1c5190) — 5/10/2013 @ 9:19 pmBarack Obama:
Secretly working to restore Richard Nixon’s reputation since 2008.
Former Conservative (6e026c) — 5/10/2013 @ 9:23 pmthe irs has a deeply and inherently antagonistic relationship to real americans Mr. nk
this is how the irs and food stamp found common cause so readily I guess
happyfeet (8ce051) — 5/10/2013 @ 9:25 pmThe second of three Articles of Impeachment passed by the House Judiciary Committee July 24, 1974.
The vote was 27-11 with 6 Republicans voting aye. Any of this sound familiar?
Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/10/2013 @ 9:28 pmThis was not an outlier, it was part of an entire strategy;
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/05/obama-administration-used-alinsky-tactics-irs-to-ensure-tea-party-was-not-a-factor-in-2012/
narciso (3fec35) — 5/10/2013 @ 9:30 pmi blame Bush.
and you are all racists…
redc1c4 (403dff) — 5/10/2013 @ 9:34 pmThis program originated in Ohio, I guess, where many allegations of Dem cheating exist. I think Congress needs to issue a few subpenas and see what’s going on there.
I do want Obama to stay in office until the end of his term. Lots of people are saying impeachment, but I want his ideology and his crooked Chicago politics to be thoroughly discredited on the merits: This is what socialism looks like, folks.
Patricia (be0117) — 5/10/2013 @ 9:39 pmI want his ideology and his crooked Chicago politics to be thoroughly discredited on the merits
It already is, to those that are looking. The willfully ignorant will never see it.
Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/10/2013 @ 10:08 pmTime for Obami to take the helicopter ride to San Clemente and write his memoirs
and I do mean his as in him. He needs to write it himself this time – not give a quick skim and thumbs up to the Bill Ayers ghostwriter version.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 5/10/2013 @ 10:32 pmbiden is just as fascist as food stamp and plus he’s eligible to run in 2016
happyfeet (8ce051) — 5/10/2013 @ 10:34 pm@ Comment by happyfeet (8ce051) — 5/10/2013 @ 10:34 pm
I’ll grant you that.
But since he’s just as facist, it negates the need for choosing between the devils we know.
If it’s all the same, let us get the one we can.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 5/10/2013 @ 10:44 pmI wonder if President O’Biden will pardon Barry?
papertiger (c2d6da) — 5/10/2013 @ 10:45 pmokey dokey I give the plan my tentative approval
keep me posted
happyfeet (8ce051) — 5/10/2013 @ 10:51 pmI know as if I could snap my fingers …
papertiger (c2d6da) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:27 amRub Genie’s lamp and wish it so.
These creeps had Petraeus by the short n’ curlies in the run-up to the ’12 election (thus neutering the CIA, thanks to his own misbehavior), the media was snug in their creep laps, we have a Binder Full of Lies and here we are with the same media in full spin mode, trying to put pearl earrings and paint lipstick on a corrupt, unethical, immoral, incompetent, despicable, malevolent sow.
Colonel Haiku (dba62e) — 5/11/2013 @ 4:30 am0bama trembles
Colonel Haiku (dba62e) — 5/11/2013 @ 4:33 amunder Boss with Hot Sauce Bush
teh Master Blaster
Hil sits on O’s face
Colonel Haiku (dba62e) — 5/11/2013 @ 4:41 amdaintily sprays Him with Mace
what diff does it make?
I know I am not the first to observe this, but nevertheless I’ll express my joy that “patriot” is considered a dirty word to those people.
Pious Agnostic (20c167) — 5/11/2013 @ 5:39 amPlease, release Perry from the automatic moderation queue, because I’d just love to read his defenses of the Obama Administration on this one.
Will it be OK if the next Republican President insures that any organization which has the words “workers” or “union” or “progressive” in their headings is subject to additional scrutiny?
The amused Dana (3e4784) — 5/11/2013 @ 5:54 amIn summary: Low level employees made mistakes, which somehow resulted in targeting a specific subset of political views, but there was no bias involved in doing so. Sorry.
tek (5b8386) — 5/11/2013 @ 6:04 amSomebody wanders into a Tea-Party rally wearing an offensive tee-shirt and that somehow reflects the weft and warp of the entire group.
But staff the HQ of your organization with people who blatantly target your political enemies, and it’s an isolated incident. Yup, makes sense to me.
Pious Agnostic (20c167) — 5/11/2013 @ 6:16 amI do want Obama to stay in office until the end of his term. Lots of people are saying impeachment, but I want his ideology and his crooked Chicago politics to be thoroughly discredited on the merits: This is what socialism looks like, folks.
Speaking of Chicago, or urban America in general, or countries like Argentina, France, Mexico, South Africa, etc, no matter how bad things get — no matter how unhinged, corrupt, crime-ridden and economically threadbare things become — large majorities of people remain wedded to the lunacy of liberalism and liberal politicians. It’s important to keep that in mind when trying to understand why human nature can be so deluded, immature, self-destructive, hypocritical and disingenuous.
Mark (9ba6f2) — 5/11/2013 @ 6:59 amMost corrupt President in four decades.
SPQR (52c0b4) — 5/11/2013 @ 7:08 amThe higher-ups didn’t know? They knew enough to insist it wasn’t happening. They knew people weree complaining about it. They either didn’t bother to find out–because they liked it, likely–or they did and suggested it continue–because they liked it.
Richard Aubrey (6c93a4) — 5/11/2013 @ 7:41 amYeah, lots of people don’t want to see the truth, but the GOP needs to lay it out, before the dependent class is the majority.
I know, I know…
Patricia (be0117) — 5/11/2013 @ 7:58 amThe NYT endorsed and was a cheerleader for this practice. Nobody has been disciplined, and it was not political in nature. It is awesome that the IRS empowers low-level employees all over the country with policy making power and managerial decision making authority.
JD (d2170d) — 5/11/2013 @ 8:34 amZero’s regime claims it was errors by “low level employees” in Ohio but the groups audited say some of the questionnaires came from California and Utah.
Now comes word the IRS targeted Jewish non-profits.
http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2010/11/25/is-the-irs-targeting-jewish-groups-for-being-pro-israel/
If it isn’t clear yet that Imperial Presidency is back in style, Wake The F$$$ Up.
MaaddMaaxx (981b21) — 5/11/2013 @ 8:39 amHe should never have been elected (twice). He sits atop a corrupt administration and is power-crazed. He has exceeded our worst fears by orders of magnitude. But I’m with Patricia on this. Talk of Impeachment proceedings against the “historic presidency” is a recipe for a different type of long term national disaster. Unless even much more provable and incontrovertible evidence of malfeasance continues to emerge, and/or until some in his own party start to talk in those terms too, we should get off the impeachment track even though the thought of him finally (and deservedly) facing the music of impeachment is so sweet to our minds.
We do need to keep exposing and investigating and maintaining the pressure on the administration with fundamentally solid and logical arguments, using profoundly honest and always Constitutional ways.
We need to mercilessly and constantly mock him and all the liberal idiots and hypocrites and liars both inside and outside government.
We need to identify them–and then find ways to patiently engage and push a few key individuals in the legacy media who still want to be real journalists toward the genuinely important stories. We must try to understand how hard it is for them to shake off their own biases, to buck their sightless colleagues and their corrupt editors– and recognize and acknowledge them for doing their jobs when they do do the right thing (as a few more of them have seemingly been doing recently).
Along the same vein we need to get over our demonizing of journalists who have disappointed us in the past, and welcome them back warmly into the fold when they do eventually see the light. Peggy Noonan is an example. She is a lover of liberty and innately understands and can write movingly about America, the American spirit, and traditional conservative principles. She has spoken about and written dozens of brilliant columns, many highly critical of both the president and the administration since her very brief foray into Obamalove. But many people on the right continue to put her down with, “I’ve quit reading her because she was a turncoat” or, “well, it’s about time” or “what took her so damn long?” To what end?
elissa (e95433) — 5/11/2013 @ 8:40 amShouldn’t the higher-ups have known? I mean, they knew people were complaining. They knew enough to deny it was happening.
Richard Aubrey (6c93a4) — 5/11/2013 @ 8:41 amIMO, the apology is actually a warning. “We did it and we’ll do it again. Because, see, nothing happened to us and nothing can happen to us. So why should we stop?”
Now there’s talk they targeted Jewish groups, too! (Hot Air)
Anecdote: A short while after O was elected, we at Old State U received an email from a diversity person saying, the feds want you to take a survey on your ethnicity. The feds said, if we give you money you are required to do what we want. What they would do with the info was not stated, but I’m sure it would be “you need to hire more minorities or the money stops.”
Of course it was “voluntary” as they reminded us with successive emails to the troublemakers who refused.
I left and I don’t know how it turned out, but IMHO it’s all part of the great transformation O promised…or is that threatened.
Patricia (be0117) — 5/11/2013 @ 8:41 amWhere would we be if it weren’t for late Friday afternoon news?
“Don’t let a crisis go to waste.” If you’ve got Benghazi lemons, go make some Benghazi-IRS lemonade.
In one report, the IRS flack was holding a press briefing by phone and after 20 minutes said it was over because the questions were repetitious. One brave soul piped up “that’s because you are refusing to answer them, so you’d better stay on-line until we are satisfied…”and she did linger a while longer.
in_awe (7c859a) — 5/11/2013 @ 8:43 amthem low level schmucks
ColonelHaiku (c74636) — 5/11/2013 @ 8:57 amteh Power and teh Glory
hip deep in sheep dip
if this is “progress”
ColonelHaiku (c74636) — 5/11/2013 @ 9:00 amsomebody get a damn rope
and find highest tree
WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM EVACUATED — FOR SMOKE!
and we all know there are no mirrors at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue…
ColonelHaiku (c74636) — 5/11/2013 @ 9:03 amand we all know there are no mirrors at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue…
Actually, I think Obama installed quite a few new ones.
Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/11/2013 @ 9:10 amTalk of Impeachment proceedings against the “historic presidency” is a recipe for a different type of long term national disaster. Unless even much more provable and incontrovertible evidence of malfeasance continues to emerge, and/or until some in his own party start to talk in those terms too, we should get off the impeachment track even though the thought of him finally (and deservedly) facing the music of impeachment is so sweet to our minds.
Point well-taken, especially since some on our side will feed the liberal expectations. As I said, this is only strike two, and only that if it gets traced back to DC. As of now it is only a “second-rate burglary.” So to speak.
But if we find out that the WH was, say, tapping Romney’s phones or paid people to sabotage his computer system, “historic presidency” be damned.
Kevin M (bf8ad7) — 5/11/2013 @ 9:16 amNow, we are learning that Jewish groups might have been targeted, too.
One question they asked such groups: whether they supported the existence of Israel. So… what is the wrong answer in their mind?
Click on my name and it’ll take you to the link.
Aaron "Worthing" Walker (23789b) — 5/11/2013 @ 9:26 amelissa at #78: as usual, so very well put.
Simon Jester (76e877) — 5/11/2013 @ 9:40 am“We need to mercilessly and constantly mock him and all the liberal idiots and hypocrites and liars both inside and outside government.”
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Jav7FPZftEU/TNWjrkiuJtI/AAAAAAAABPY/WjRgULZUr9k/s1600/You+should+be+thanking+me.jpg
ColonelHaiku (c74636) — 5/11/2013 @ 9:55 amFor teh IRS…
http://qkme.me/3ucoco
ColonelHaiku (c74636) — 5/11/2013 @ 10:11 amfor Hillary Clinton…
http://qkme.me/3ucoge
ColonelHaiku (c74636) — 5/11/2013 @ 10:18 amImpeachment is a political process.
Whatever it is, it has to be bad enough to flip democratic senators, and a lot of them, to have any hope in the Senate.
Whatever it is, it would have to be bad enough that it would risk the election of democrat senators.
Given our current political state, I can’t imagine what that would be. It’s just inconceivable. People who vote for democrat senators now, what would they NOT vote for? It baffles the mind.
luagha (1de9ec) — 5/11/2013 @ 10:44 amThe tea party shuld be targeted … they are close to white supremacist hate groups, domestic terrorists
Dad (96024b) — 5/11/2013 @ 11:26 am“Dad” – your hatred and dishonesty is always so refreshing.
JD (60eb27) — 5/11/2013 @ 11:33 amDad:
Since liberals can’t win the important arguments on the merits, it’s obviously easier for them to use every ounce of power to target conservatives as extremists and thus discredit them as a credible alternative.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 5/11/2013 @ 11:42 amWell this does fit a pattern with the SPLC literally targeting the Family Research Center,with Media Matters, Van Jones outfit, going after Rush and Beck’s sponsors, one of the former associates is a panelist on the Unicycle show with 9/11 denialist Niblett.
narciso (3fec35) — 5/11/2013 @ 11:56 amThe tea party shuld be targeted … they are close to white supremacist hate groups, domestic terrorists
Comment by Dad
I think Dad should be ashamed of that little bit of groupthink dishonesty, but we all know the fever-swamp lefties don’t “embarrass easy”.
Colonel Haiku (c74636) — 5/11/2013 @ 12:39 pmI just don’t think “Dad” knows any tea partiers personally, and that’s a big part of his (and others’) misinformation problem. He just blithely believes, and passes on, everything he is told by OFA.
Last weekend I attended a 90th birthday celebration. Two of the attendees there–ladies with fluffy white hair and in pretty party dresses were wearing rhinestone “Tea Party” lapel pins. As I watched them eating their cake and sipping their punch all I could think of was “YIKES– Domestic Terrorists are in our midst!!”
elissa (e95433) — 5/11/2013 @ 12:42 pmI know you’re shocked as much as I:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRS_POLITICAL_GROUPS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-05-11-15-18-14
narciso (3fec35) — 5/11/2013 @ 12:58 pmEzra Klein has a great SQUIRREL post about this. Apparently this is the fault of the law itself, everyone should be subject to this type of scrutiny, and if Kkkarl Rove had t exploited a loophole in Citizens United this would have never happened.
JD (60eb27) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:04 pmMegan McArdle has now admitted to having recently been smacked across the head with reality twice. First her column on Gosnell, and now this:
Conservative groups have been complaining for a few years that they’re being harassed by the IRS, forced to endure an inordinate amount of scrutiny. I’ve been ignoring those complaints, because it just seemed so unlikely. Sure, that sort of thing used to go on: Kennedy ordered the IRS to investigate both right- and left-wing groups he didn’t like, and Richard Nixon was audited three times between 1961 and 1968. But those were the bad old days. No modern administration, or modern agency would do that.
Well, I take it back. The IRS admits that, in fact, it did single out conservative groups for scrutiny.
….This kind of administrative abuse is the sort of slow-acting poison that can kill civil society. I’d like to see the IRS demonstrate that this is just an isolated incident—one that they are very determined not to see repeated.
Welcome to the Obama administration Megan! And thanks for noticing the stench.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/10/irs-targeted-conservative-groups-for-extra-scrutiny.html
elissa (e95433) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:05 pm“Dad” – after the thorough debunking o your copypasta lies about embassy deaths unde Buuuuuuuuush, are you willing to retract your baseless lies?
JD (60eb27) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:06 pm“Dad” – your hatred and dishonesty is always so refreshing.
I’ve noticed the word “troll” being applied in various instances due to some people in a forum being resentful towards others mainly for their causing a clash of opinions. But in the case of the person you mention, “troll” seems to fit him perfectly.
Now comes word the IRS targeted Jewish non-profits.
That calls to mind the following, per below, which I post as a tribute to liberals and the Democrat Party. Actually, since Franklin D Roosevelt can be paired with Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman (ie, two other “progressives” who were appallingly bigoted and racist in private, with the former even initiating Jim Crow laws), he represents sort of a hat trick.
Mark (9ba6f2) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:15 pmhttp://bigstory.ap.org/article/irs-apologizes-targeting-tea-party-groups
This will quickly unravel, and the MFM will ignore it.
JD (60eb27) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:26 pmhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/11/breaking-senior-irs-officials-knew-of-targeting-conservative-groups-in-2011/
They knew a long time ago, and lied about it.
JD (60eb27) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:26 pmhttps://twitter.com/whitehouse/status/333295474637426688/photo/1
BARF
JD (60eb27) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:37 pmTO not impeach is to give an approving nod to affirmative action.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 5/11/2013 @ 1:42 pmSpecial treatment because he is black.
Is this guy the President with an asterisk?
Teh One is my NorthStar
JD (60eb27) — 5/11/2013 @ 2:06 pmWho knew that Perry, Dad, kmart, jharp, and Mahalia had control of the WH twitter account?!
JD (60eb27) — 5/11/2013 @ 2:06 pmezra klein… capo di tutti capi of teh Juicebox Mafia… he should be prosecuted under teh RICO statute for on-going journolistic criminal enterprise…
Colonel Haiku (9e8111) — 5/11/2013 @ 3:24 pm