IRS confesses to inappropriately targeting conservative groups.

[monovillage]

Being only willing to apologize for anything the president does, no matter what it is -- that's pure partisan asshole behavior.

Yes it is and you're guilty of it.

Deliberate misquoting is not permitted here. Consider this your one warning.

Perknose
Forum Director

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Yes it is and you're guilty of it.

Right:

What happened here was wrong, and is inexcusable, period. A full investigation needs to be done and everyone involved fired and/or charged.

Thank you for demonstrating your brilliance once again.

 

[sixone]

The bottom line is that I don't think you can blame obummer for this, but those involved should be punished severely, including immediate termination without pension. The public trust in certain agencies (like the IRS, FBI etc) to be apolitical is critical. Undermining that trust should carry significant punishment to dissuade others from doing similar things in the future. A simple slap on the wrist and "don't do that again <wink wink> " is not going to cut it.

Agreed. And it's critically important, now that the IRS will be directly involved in Obamacare. If we sit by and let one political party get away with this, you can bet that the next one in power will follow suit. This is not something that only happens to "other people".

 

[PokerGuy]

When he doesn't say anything, you guys criticize him for avoiding the issue. Then when he comes out and strongly condemns what happened, you accuse him of "trying desperately to keep this under control".

Sorry, I know it's hard to believe given my general distaste for him, but I didn't mean that as an attack on him. As I said, I don't think he's to blame for this one. What he said is true, but there need to be real world consequences to the actions of those agents involved, not just words. We'll see if that happens.

The "desperately trying to keep this under control" part refers to him trying to keep the political impact of this fiasco as low as possible (ie, the usual political BS not limited to one side or the other).

He did the right thing by speaking out, now lets see if there is the appropriate follow through.

 

[boomerang]

Because that office had the task of vetting all 503 C4 applications. Where groups were located had no bearing.

If that's the case then I stand corrected.

 

[Jimzz]

Well Mark Rubio is not having it and wants the head of the IRS to resign. Just one problem, the Head of the IRS term expired in mid-November. So he is not on the job anymore.

Rubio's spokesperson had to "clarify" Rubio meant the current acting IRS commissioner because Rubio knew the IRS Commissioner that was on the job when this happened is already gone. :whiste:

 

[fskimospy]

Well Mark Rubio is not having it and wants the head of the IRS to resign. Just one problem, the Head of the IRS term expired in mid-November. So he is not on the job anymore.

Rubio's spokesperson had to "clarify" Rubio meant the current acting IRS commissioner because Rubio knew the IRS Commissioner that was on the job when this happened is already gone. :whiste:

Why would it make any sense for the new guy to resign?

 

[Matt1970]

Who is learning? Can you tell us what you think happened in this case?

I could, but I am not going to.

 

[soundforbjt]

Well Mark Rubio is not having it and wants the head of the IRS to resign. Just one problem, the Head of the IRS term expired in mid-November. So he is not on the job anymore.

Rubio's spokesperson had to "clarify" Rubio meant the current acting IRS commissioner because Rubio knew the IRS Commissioner that was on the job when this happened is already gone. :whiste:

Marco Rubio, The Republican's possible "Golden Boy" for 2016 (probably as VP) for the Latino vote. He's off to a good start here.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Sorry, I know it's hard to believe given my general distaste for him, but I didn't mean that as an attack on him. As I said, I don't think he's to blame for this one. What he said is true, but there need to be real world consequences to the actions of those agents involved, not just words. We'll see if that happens.

The "desperately trying to keep this under control" part refers to him trying to keep the political impact of this fiasco as low as possible (ie, the usual political BS not limited to one side or the other).

He did the right thing by speaking out, now lets see if there is the appropriate follow through.

I appreciate your temperate and reasonable reply. (Not sarcasm.)

 

[fskimospy]

I could, but I am not going to.

Of course you won't because if you come right out and say things you'll look insane and/or stupid. This way you can just cast vague aspersions and not have to back anything up.

 

[Darwin333]

Ok, I have no interest in getting involved in what must already be a partisan circle jerk so I apologize if I skimmed over these answers already.

Wouldn't this be blatantly illegal? If so, have any indictments been made or is the justice department investigating? Whoever had any part of this, are they still employed in any shape or fashion by the US Government? Is it too soon to know the above so nothing has been done about it?

Using the IRS as a weapon against your political enemies (not implying that Obama was behind it but someone was) can not be even slightly tolerated. Its an absurd abuse of power and has to violate dozens of laws at least. I honestly don't care which party they were targeting, its unacceptable regardless of the party.

The IRS is, imho, way to powerful as it is. The idea that it not only can be but evidently has been used as a weapon should scare the shit out of everyone.

 

[Darwin333]

Agreed. And it's critically important, now that the IRS will be directly involved in Obamacare. If we sit by and let one political party get away with this, you can bet that the next one in power will follow suit. This is not something that only happens to "other people".

I am getting tired of the .gov employees just getting fired or even, oh the noes, losing their pensions. Fuck that, this is criminal behavior and should be treated as such. Throwing the assholes responsible for this in jail will do far more to scare people from doing it in the future then simply firing them. Getting fired was a consequence the person was obviously willing to accept when they did this shit.

 

[woolfe9998]

There is a point however. Those who hold one to a certain level of accountability ought to hold others to the same. In the case of Bush, much blame was laid at his feet whether right or wrongly based. Some of those who did so hold Obama to a different standard. That's neither about Bush nor Obama, but it is about supporters of both.

Double standards are not acceptable. However, the problem here is that the critique is often not of those who employ the double standards. Instead, it is an attempt to use one wrongful application of blame to justify another. That is what happens routinely when these points are made, and it's how the argument was framed by Bober above. It was also a poor analogy given the example he chose, though I'm sure he could have found a more legitimate one somewhere.

 

[Matt1970]

Of course you won't because if you come right out and say things you'll look insane and/or stupid. This way you can just cast vague aspersions and not have to back anything up.

Come on now, how many times in the history of Politics has shit got blamed on some little guy? And you have made quite a name for youself here with vague aspersions and baseless BS.

 

[dank69]

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.

No, I am asking you what political party you think would unfairly target tea party organizations.

 

[ivwshane]

Ok, I have no interest in getting involved in what must already be a partisan circle jerk so I apologize if I skimmed over these answers already.

Wouldn't this be blatantly illegal? If so, have any indictments been made or is the justice department investigating? Whoever had any part of this, are they still employed in any shape or fashion by the US Government? Is it too soon to know the above so nothing has been done about it?

Using the IRS as a weapon against your political enemies (not implying that Obama was behind it but someone was) can not be even slightly tolerated. Its an absurd abuse of power and has to violate dozens of laws at least. I honestly don't care which party they were targeting, its unacceptable regardless of the party.

The IRS is, imho, way to powerful as it is. The idea that it not only can be but evidently has been used as a weapon should scare the shit out of everyone.

Do you know what a 501c4 is? Do you know how the IRS determines who qualifies? Do you know why/how the IRS scrutinized right wing groups? Are you aware of who was running the IRS?


This "scandal" is on par with racial profiling, of which there are some that are for and there are some that are against racial profiling.

The argument can be made for either side. I tend to error on the side of caution and prefer people to be unbiased. In that respect I hope this is investigated and corrected.

Having said that, any other claims or accusations are just more political BS. I fully expect the right to cry wolf again that it some how involved Obama.

 

[Jaskalas]

Does anyone think Obama can or should be blamed for this?

Seems difficult for him to organize this through a Bush appointee. Buck appears to fall short on this one.

 

[waggy]

Does anyone think Obama can or should be blamed for this?

Seems difficult for him to organize this through a Bush appointee. Buck appears to fall short on this one.

no. as of right now i can't/won't hold Obama on this.

I suspect some obama supporter thinking he can help went far far overboard. But as of now (and i doubt ever) you can't hold Obama accountable fo rthis.

i will say the IRS needs a good looking at though. perhaps they have far to much power.

 

[monovillage]

Does anyone think Obama can or should be blamed for this?

Seems difficult for him to organize this through a Bush appointee. Buck appears to fall short on this one.

Obama should get as much blame for this as he would get credit for an improving economy.

 

[Darwin333]

Do you know what a 501c4 is?

Yes.

Do you know how the IRS determines who qualifies?

Yes

Do you know the IRS scrutinized right wing groups?

I did once I read this article.

Are you aware of who was running the IRS?

As in the director of the IRS (or whatever)? I am almost positive that the IRS falls under the Treasury Secretary so depending on how high up you are asking I might know. I have no clue about the asshole who is the head of the actual IRS though.

This "scandal" is on par with racial profiling, of which there are some that are for and there are some that are against racial profiling.

thats bullshit. This is using the weight of one of the most powerful government agencies to go after an enemy. Pure and simple.

The argument can be made for either side. I tend to error on the side of caution and prefer people to be unbiased. In that respect I hope this is investigated and corrected.

I completely agree with the above. Not sure if you have seen my posts or not but I hate both of the retarded parties equally so I am not all pissed off because of who was targeted. I am pissed off because someone was targeted for political or personal reasons which can not be allowed. Getting fucked with by the IRS is usually a very serious pain in the ass that can cost a crapton of time and money

Having said that, any other claims or accusations are just more political BS. I fully expect the right to cry wolf again that it some how involved Obama.

Oh I am sure they will too. Personally I very very seriously doubt that Obama had anything to do with this. Hell, I would be surprised if any high ranking official had something to do with it, more likely its a couple of assholes in the IRS itself. Regardless, those assholes should be found, investigated, and if found to have broken any laws be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

[fskimospy]

Come on now, how many times in the history of Politics has shit got blamed on some little guy? And you have made quite a name for youself here with vague aspersions and baseless BS.

Instead of writing this you could just tell us what you think happened. You clearly have an idea in your head, why so reluctant to share it?

 

[Darwin333]

Obama should get as much blame for this as he would get credit for an improving economy.

lmmfao! Yall are too much.

 

[fskimospy]

Obama should get as much blame for this as he would get credit for an improving economy.

While still blaming him for bad economic news, I'm sure.

 

[ivwshane]

Do you know what a 501c4 is?

Yes.



Yes


I did once I read this article.



As in the director of the IRS (or whatever)? I am almost positive that the IRS falls under the Treasury Secretary so depending on how high up you are asking I might know. I have no clue about the asshole who is the head of the actual IRS though.



thats bullshit. This is using the weight of one of the most powerful government agencies to go after an enemy. Pure and simple.



I completely agree with the above. Not sure if you have seen my posts or not but I hate both of the retarded parties equally so I am not all pissed off because of who was targeted. I am pissed off because someone was targeted for political or personal reasons which can not be allowed. Getting fucked with by the IRS is usually a very serious pain in the ass that can cost a crapton of time and money



Oh I am sure they will too. Personally I very very seriously doubt that Obama had anything to do with this. Hell, I would be surprised if any high ranking official had something to do with it, more likely its a couple of assholes in the IRS itself. Regardless, those assholes should be found, investigated, and if found to have broken any laws be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

How many groups were denied 501c4 status?