Daschle Withdraws Name from HHS Consideration

Maybe I should become a Democrat

Because it appears as though I wouldn't have to worry about paying taxes until I get nominated for a Cabinet position.

A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting. - George Patton

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by: Majority Moderate @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 15:13:12 PM CST

Seriously...

What, they just want to make everyone else pay the taxes?

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by: Haners @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 15:36:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Obama says he 'screwed up"; belated but good move

President Obama is on Fox telling Chris Wallace that he takes responsibility for the Daschle screwup.

Daschle finally did the right thing, but only after sucking Obama and Senate Dems into praising his honesty and knowledge of health care.

Daschle never should have taken the nomination in the first place. He embarrassed the president and himself.

He is not indispensable. Because of his dishonest and divisive  performance as majority leader, he wouldn't have been trusted by the Republicans who the president will want to support some aspects of health care reform.

And even though Daschle was involved in health care reform legislation for years, he's a light weight on the topic, as his latest ghost written book shows.

I have to question the intellectual integrity and the judgment of anyone who called Daschle "honest" and "indispensable." That's a lot of Democrats.

He got HHS because he endorsed Obama early and worked hard on the campaign, not because he's a health care expert or a particularly effective lobbyist.

But he does know how to make money.

Now, he knows how to pay taxes.

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by: Another skeptic @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 17:21:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Or Vice President

Because no Republican actually remembers Sarah Palin's tax problem.

Of course, as with most Republicans, by the time you get through their overwhelming corruption and monumental incompetence, their tax issues seem like small potatoes.

Isn't it nice that we finally live in a country where a single missed tax payment is a big deal again? In some sense, it represents a return to normalcy. We're no longer worried about systematic violations of the Constitution, just an occasional personal lapse.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

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by: sxp151 @ Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 01:25:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Glad to see Daschle...

did the right thing and withdrew.

The best potential replacement is Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY).  She is an expert on Health Care Policy, has served in congess for 20+ years and is well respected.

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining."  Glenn Beck  

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by: Arvadonian @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 15:22:20 PM CST

Shouldn't this be uncovered during the vetting process thereby keeping

that person from being nominated? If so, why the disconnect?

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by: ModerateGal @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 15:27:40 PM CST

It was discovered during the vetting process.

However, Pres Obama owed Daschle for his early support and advise---run for president in 08 because he had almost no record to be examined nor enemies made.  He (Obama) could adopt any position he needed.  And, they must have thought they could push Daschle through regardless of the tax issue.

I'm happy Daschle is gone.

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by: puddin @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 16:29:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

There seems to be a push for Howard Dean to take the position

from the netroots section. (Daily Kos and DU)  What does everyone think of his chances?

Proudly being investigated by Nancy Pelosi!

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by: cologeek @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 15:27:49 PM CST

IMO...

it should have been Dean from the beginning, both as a "reward" for the job he did as DNC Chair and b/c he'd just do a good job at HHS.  I'm definitely part of the camp that think Dems "owe" Dean something.

But, I doubt he'd get the gig.  Despite his record as Gov of Vermont, he's viewed as too hyper-partisan for Obama's bipartisan penchant.  

I hope I'm wrong and he'll get picked...Im just not counting on it...

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by: Dabee47 @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 15:59:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Dean would be horrible....

in this position (or any cabinet position).  

He is far too abrasive and if any headway is to be made on Health Care Reform, this person is going to have to be able to "work well with others".

I like Dean (supported him in '04), but this is not the place for him.  

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining."  Glenn Beck  

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by: Arvadonian @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 17:06:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I think Dean would be good

As DNC chair he did what was needed there. But he also has shown himself capable of working quietly when needed. And he is very effective and damn smart.

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 22:47:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

No doubt...

he is damned smart.  I think that Obama has his tough guy in Emanuel....not sure that Dean is quite cut out to be the "bring the folks together" person that is going to be needed to tackle health care.

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining."  Glenn Beck  

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by: Arvadonian @ Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 00:21:39 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I think we'll have Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed

Who needs to be massaged and persuaded? Republicans have spent the past two weeks begging us to notice that they're not worth negotiating with. And they don't have the votes to stop us.

Who else do we need to worry about?

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

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by: sxp151 @ Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 00:33:17 AM CST

[ Parent ]

He'd be good

He did good things with health insurance when he was a Governor.  He's showed he can handle a large organization.  

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by: Emma Anne @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 18:33:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hillary can't be happy...

With Daschle out and Kennedy ailing, this could have been an open door to her taking over health care like she wanted to in the Senate.  

Instead she's on a plane to Asia, right?  At least I thought I read it somewhere...

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by: Dabee47 @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 16:01:49 PM CST

Hillary is probably happy

to see Daschle out.  She wouldn't have been interested in HHS anyway.  If she had stayed in the Senate she would have been the go to person on healthcare, Kennedy notwithstanding.

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by: puddin @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 16:20:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Second chance

I am hoping this provides Obama a second chance to appoint someone the health insurers absolutely fucking loathe, so that he or she can stick it to them the way they've been stickin' it to us the past few years.

Wouldn't that be nice ?

" And there are no Christian terrorists."

The Beej, circa 8/26/2010

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 16:42:55 PM CST

[ Parent ]

:-)

Like maybe Bill Clinton?:-)

"I can tolerate chaos, I'm just not sure chaos can tolerate me" Dylan

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by: Sir Robin @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 19:20:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

that would be good, but a lot of baggage there Robin !

" And there are no Christian terrorists."

The Beej, circa 8/26/2010

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 18:06:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This is fantastic news.

When I heard it on MSNBC this morning, it made my day. There wouldn't have been an ounce of real health care reform under Daschle.

And Haners has a point--if the rest of us are expected to obey the rule of law, the same laws that half of these assholes passed but don't abide by, why should we?

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

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by: Middle of the Road @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 17:09:04 PM CST

oh good god, people!

..you all are so dramatic!  That's my job.

A few prominent people are found to have not paid some taxes and then....suddenly....what?  Everyone asks, "If they don't have to pay taxes, why should we?"  Well, guess what, they do AND you do!  The both of youz.  So, get back to it.

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by: Jambalaya @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 17:50:00 PM CST

Anyone want to bet

Tim Geithner is going next?  This constant drumbeat of tax deadbeat nominations isn't going to help the president any.  It's sending a message of Democrats thinking that taxes are only for the little people, not for the special elite, such as themselves.  
President Obama is throwing away his popularity with this.  It's hard to say you are for change when you have a lot of old faces at your side, carrying extra baggage from when we last saw them.

Proudly being investigated by Nancy Pelosi!

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by: cologeek @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 19:05:56 PM CST

Name your stakes (steaks?)

Geithner has been confirmed.  They're not going there.  

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

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by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 19:17:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

So you don't think

he may be pressured to resign?

Proudly being investigated by Nancy Pelosi!

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by: cologeek @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 19:46:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

by whom? the folks who just voted to confirm him?

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by: Jambalaya @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 19:54:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The measure of a man

Bush: (After numerous incrdibly disastrous decisions)..."I can't think of any mistakes I've made"

Obama: (After Daschle withdraws)....."I screwed up."

"I can tolerate chaos, I'm just not sure chaos can tolerate me" Dylan

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by: Sir Robin @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 19:19:29 PM CST

Only in politics...

can you screw up and get a pat on the back from Sir Robin.

Just kidding, SR.  Amazing how refreshing it is to hear someone admit a screw up.  And to think, Obama's mistake didn't even leave anyone dead!

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by: Dabee47 @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 19:36:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Refreshing isn't it ?

To have a president accept responsibility for his actions and his mistakes. In fact, its more than refreshing, its almost a shock given what we've become used to.  

"Religion is for people who don't want to go to hell. Spirituality is for people who've been there, and don't want to go back"

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by: allyncooper @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 20:43:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Agreed. An adult in the White House. n/t

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

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by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 21:18:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Health Care Reform

With Daschle gone I don't have an opinion on who would be the best replacement. Conyers bill is the way to go, been sitting in Congress for years, should have been done years ago before Bush ran the country into the poorhouse with trillion dollar a year budget deficits. Good time to have done it from a fiscal perspective would have been at the end of Clinton's term or beginning of the next when we had budget surpluses. Unfortunately we got a "high functioning moron" for his successor and nothing was done (he was too preoccupied spending $ 700 billion invading and occupying a country that never attacked us and posed no threat to our national security).

In 1947 Harry Truman called for a single payer universal health care system (was in the Dems platform in 1948 also). It's incredible to me we've done almost nothing, when almost every other industrialized country in the world has.  

"Religion is for people who don't want to go to hell. Spirituality is for people who've been there, and don't want to go back"

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by: allyncooper @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 20:36:15 PM CST

Single-payer schemes have failed where ever they've been tried

Why is it that totalitarians support single-payer health insurance, which would dumb down access to health care for all Americans?

The greed for power over other people's lives is something to behold.

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by: Another skeptic @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 23:14:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Name em

Name the countries where they have failed and when they failed. And since they failed, describe what they are doing now for a health care system.  

"Religion is for people who don't want to go to hell. Spirituality is for people who've been there, and don't want to go back"

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by: allyncooper @ Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 23:21:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Don't ask AS to list facts, figures or otherwise support his talking points

he can't.  He never does.  That RushBo or Manatee said it is enough.  It must be true, he printed it off Red State.  

Oh and if you challenge him enough--he'll just declare the debate over and himself the winner.  

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

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by: ClubTwitty @ Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:25:16 AM CST

[ Parent ]

don't bother me with the facts

I remember listening to Dick Cheney giving his VP acceptance speech at the 2004 Republican convention and he stated "the Bush administration has worked to lower the cost of health care for all Americans". Since I'm self employed and pay for my own health insurance, I pulled out my receipts and figured my health care premiums had gone up over 20% every year since 2000.

It's amazing what some people will believe just because "somebody" said it.  

"Religion is for people who don't want to go to hell. Spirituality is for people who've been there, and don't want to go back"

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by: allyncooper @ Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 11:52:41 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I wish someone would discuss this issue seriously

but since serious people won't discuss it, I guess I'll have to.

What was Daschle accused of? He worked for someone, and one of the perks was getting driven around. Now many of us don't have nice perks at our jobs, but we have little perks.

Say your company gives you a laptop so you can work from home. And once in a while you post dumbass messages on blogs with it. Now according to the IRS, you should compute the amount of time you spend on it doing personal things, say 20%. If the computer is worth $1000, you should consider that $200 in income and report it on your tax forms.

An employer-provided bus pass is the same type of thing. Use it to get to work? Fine. Use it to go to a concert? Taxable benefit.

Let your friend stay in the back room for a month for free? Hope he reports it. Ask him to help you move and give him beer? Hope you saved the receipt. He gave you his old TV in gratitude? Better go appraise it.

Nobody follows these laws because they're far too cumbersome if taken seriously. Once you get up to a certain level of wealth, the issues start to look bigger, but they remain relatively minor.

Daschle found this issue himself and publicized it. Of course he should have paid the taxes once he knew about it, and that's exactly what he did. Wish he were slightly more pristine, sure, but I don't understand the hissyfit everyone is throwing.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

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by: sxp151 @ Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 00:31:20 AM CST