IRS confesses to inappropriately targeting conservative groups.

[Moonbeam]

I thought maybe I was looking at a filter or net to catch potential tax cheaters that included inappropriate methodologies, but with the intention to catch tax cheats not punish political enemies. The reason that such a filter focusing on words like tea party, even if logically they might find fraud there, is inappropriate is that you can't distinguish an intent to punish from an intend to collect revenue that should be rightfully taxed. Even if the effort was revenue motivated, there is no way the paranoid will believe it. Democratic groups, I feel rather certain, would feel the same way if there were an influx of them pushing for dubious shelter with suspicion about the validity of many of their claims.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

I thought maybe I was looking at a filter or net to catch potential tax cheaters that included inappropriate methodologies, but with the intention to catch tax cheats not punish political enemies. The reason that such a filter focusing on words like tea party, even if logically they might find fraud there, is inappropriate is that you can't distinguish an intent to punish from an intend to collect revenue that should be rightfully taxed.

It would only not be inappropriate if there were any valid arguments to suggest that tea party members are less apt to pay their taxes. Is there any? I mean, real evidence and solid arguments, not just assumptions and innuendo, which there is plenty of.

Even if the effort was revenue motivated, there is no way the paranoid will believe it.

It's not paranoia when they admit they are doing it.

As an aside, I can't imagine much that would make a person look as lacking in judgment and intelligence as quoting Sarah Palin.

 

[monovillage]

He been a Reg Republican his life, as far back as I can see.

http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=189591

He also gave to Christie-Toomey '16, republican.


So for all those blaming the "liberals" and "Obama", the IRS was headed by a republican the whole time this happened.

and the administration was headed by Obama.

 

[thraashman]

and the administration was headed by Obama.

You are aware that the President doesn't dictate every decision of every government agency when he's President, right? And that in fact most government agencies operate to a large degree with autonomy. Wait, just realized who I'm responding to, you were just being a partisan troll per usual.

 

[monovillage]

You are aware that the President doesn't dictate every decision of every government agency when he's President, right? And that in fact most government agencies operate to a large degree with autonomy.

Jizmm blamed the guy at the head of the IRS for things that happened under his leadership, why is it different when Obama is blamed for what happens under his administration?

 

[Jimzz]

Jizmm blamed the guy at the head of the IRS for things that happened under his leadership, why is it different when Obama is blamed for what happens under his administration?

Where did I blame him?

I was pointing out the idiocy of trolls like you blaming the "liberals" and "Obama" even though the head of the IRS at the time was a republican that was installed by a republican president.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

An article based on what? Anonymous sources? And you saw it where? Newsmax? Breitbart? Or the National Inquirer?

http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2153007

Sometimes the right has these kneejerk reactions and make really dumb responses. You demonstrate it's not restricted to them.

Care to take my statement on again?

 

[fskimospy]

Jizmm blamed the guy at the head of the IRS for things that happened under his leadership, why is it different when Obama is blamed for what happens under his administration?

This is something totally inexcusable, and certainly everyone responsible for that decision as well as that bureau should be canned immediately.

That being said, it is highly, highly unlikely that Obama had anything to do with it. Why even bring him up?

 

[Bowfinger]

This is something totally inexcusable, and certainly everyone responsible for that decision as well as that bureau should be canned immediately.

That being said, it is highly, highly unlikely that Obama had anything to do with it. Why even bring him up?

He is a self-admitted partisan hack. Blaming Democrats is the only play he knows.


Edit: re. the topic, absolutely unacceptable. Those involved should be dealt with promptly (and likely will be). I think the IRS takes its reputation seriously, and I expect it will act quickly to ensure this doesn't happen again.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Why even bring him up?

I'm surprised you don't know the answer, esky!

Democratic presidents are responsible for every bad thing that happens while they are in office, down to the last misbehaving IRS grunt.

Republican presidents are not responsible for any bad thing that happens while they are in office (c.f., 9/11, which totally was not Bush's fault at all).

 

[Matt1970]

I'm surprised you don't know the answer, esky!

Democratic presidents are responsible for every bad thing that happens while they are in office, down to the last misbehaving IRS grunt.

Republican presidents are not responsible for any bad thing that happens while they are in office (c.f., 9/11, which totally was not Bush's fault at all).

More like:

Democratic Presidents are never responsible for anything bad that happens, ever.

Republican presidents are responsible for bad thing that happen years before, during, and years after their Presidency.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

More like:

Democratic Presidents are never responsible for anything bad that happens, ever.

Republican presidents are responsible for bad thing that happen years before, during, and years after their Presidency.

Yes, drooler, left-wing hacks are as bad as you right-wing hacks. Do you have a point?

 

[Matt1970]

Yes, drooler, left-wing hacks are as bad as you right-wing hacks. Do you have a point?

No.

 

[soundforbjt]

Are you suggesting that it's okay for the IRS to abuse its power as long as they do it to people you dislike? Otherwise, I don't know what that's supposed to mean.

I believe he's referring to the fact that Republicans lost seats they may have won if TP candidates hadn't challenged the Republican candidates in those primaries.

Carl Rove said something to the effect that the Tea Party was now his enemy. It's possible the decision came from Republicans like Rove who see the TP as a threat to them acquiring and keeping power.

 

[hal2kilo]

I believe he's referring to the fact that Republicans lost seats they may have won if TP candidates hadn't challenged the Republican candidates in those primaries.

Carl Rove said something to the effect that the Tea Party was now his enemy. It's possible the decision came from Republicans like Rove who see the TP as a threat to them acquiring and keeping power.

Now that's an angle I hadn't thought about. Rove is scum, and would stoop to anything to go after his political enemies. Plus he has a big rolodex. Isn't this fun.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Now that's an angle I hadn't thought about. Rove is scum, and would stoop to anything to go after his political entities. Plus he has a big rolodex. Isn't this fun.

Yes, he is scum, but that is beyond a stretch.

IMO that is utterly unsubstantiated speculation from a partisan trying to distract.

 

[monovillage]

It expands.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...hat-criticized-the-government-ig-report-says/

At various points over the past two years, Internal Revenue Service officials targeted nonprofit groups that criticized the government and sought to educate Americans about the U.S. Constitution, according to documents in an audit conducted by the agency’s inspector general.The documents, obtained by The Washington Post from a congressional aide with knowledge of the findings, show that on June 29, 2011, IRS staffers held a briefing with senior agency official Lois G. Lerner in which they described giving special attention to instances where “statements in the case file criticize how the country is being run.” Lerner, who oversees tax-exempt groups for the agency, raised objections and the agency revised its criteria a week later.

But six months later, the IRS applied a new political test to groups that applied for tax-exempt status as “social welfare” groups, the document says. On Jan. 15, 2012 the agency decided to target “political action type organizations involved in limiting/expanding Government, educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, social economic reform movement.,” according to the appendix in the IG report, which was requested by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and has yet to be released.

 

[boomerang]

This same shit worked out badly for Nixon. I'd settle for Valerie Jarrett taking a fall.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

This same shit worked out badly for Nixon. I'd settle for Valerie Jarrett taking a fall.

Do you have any evidence that Jarrett was involved? Or should we just get a rope?

 

[boomerang]

Do you have any evidence that Jarrett was involved? Or should we just get a rope?

Nope, don't have any. A rope? That sounds like some kind of racist comment. Are you saying you'd like to see Valerie Jarrett hung?

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Nope, don't have any. A rope? That sounds like some kind of racist comment. Are you saying you'd like to see Valerie Jarrett hung?

That was sarcasm.

Are there any right-wingers in P&N with an IQ above room temperature?

 

[monovillage]

I'm glad to see that Obama made this statement:

"Obama spokesman Jay Carney said Saturday the president believes the government should be staffed with "the very best public servants with the highest levels of integrity" and that "based on recent media reports, (the president) is concerned that the conduct of a small number of Internal Revenue Service employees may have fallen short of that standard."

Wow, he really went out on a limb with that strongly worded condemnation of this abuse of power. Pretty harsh words from him about illegal activities and corruption.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...rs-revelations-will-fuel-government-distrust/


and Chuckles this is sarcasm.

 

[boomerang]

That was sarcasm.

Are there any right-wingers in P&N with an IQ above room temperature?

As was my post dumbass. Then you question my IQ?

You're real quick with the insults skippy. It's not flattering. Your conduct should be way above the level you're at. Your behavior reflects very poorly upon the organization. If I thought I had one iota of power around here I'd be asking for you to be relieved of your duties. Regardless, you've got way too high of an opinion of yourself and are too thin-skinned for the task you've accepted. You should fall on the sword.

BTW, this post is not sarcasm.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

As was my post dumbass.

Well, it wasn't any more stupid or aggressive than things you write routinely. I mean, you quote Sarah Palin -- that alone proves that you're not very bright.

You should fall on the sword.

And you should re-read the forum guidelines before you get infracted.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Yes, he is scum, but that is beyond a stretch.

IMO that is utterly unsubstantiated speculation from a partisan trying to distract.

I'm surprised you don't know the answer, esky!

Democratic presidents are responsible for every bad thing that happens while they are in office, down to the last misbehaving IRS grunt.

Republican presidents are not responsible for any bad thing that happens while they are in office (c.f., 9/11, which totally was not Bush's fault at all).

They all have a desk and the buck never gets there. That's partisan hackery 101. This administration is looking more like the prior one as time goes on and its supporters just like the last.

I can see Obama using Hans Solo's "It's not my fault".

http://abcnews.go.com/m/video?id=19166236