As a legal tax matter, this isn't even a close call. Mr. Daschle says he used the car service about 80% for personal use, and 20% for business. But his spokeswoman says it only dawned on the Senator last June that this might be taxable income. Mr. Daschle's excuse? According to a Journal report Friday, "he told committee staff he had grown used to having a car and driver as majority leader and did not think to report the perk on his taxes, according to staff members."So... I infer that the Senators — or Senate leaders — have their cars and drivers that are excluded from taxable income even when used for personal things. I'm not outraged by that, actually — because they are underpaid — but it is delusional to continue to see yourself as above the law after you've been ousted from the government. Once you take your government reputation and sell it in the private market for big bucks, you must bend to the normal law that binds the rest of us peons.
ADDED: In 1998, Tom said: "Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter." I take it that means Tom would like to be thrown in prison for quite a few years. It's especially appropriate for someone who is responsible for making the laws what they are.
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44 comments:
"Never lecture me again about global warming, Tom Daschle"?
This is the new age of bullshit and ignorance is now an excuse to break the law if you want to attain higher office. If any one of us did this, we would be in jail. I wonder now if Geitner (sp?) is going to prosecute Tom 'The Insidious' Daschle?
"...after you've been ousted from the government"
Don't you mean even after you've been ousted from the government?
Tax deductible car and driver for me but not for thee.
This is why I don't bother voting. It's pointless. Standing in line for 3 hours I'll never get back and for what? A new President that is as incompetent as the last one? I 'forget' to pay my fair share and the IRS would be jumping my ass faster than a priest at a Boy Scout jamboree.
Same shit, different party.
His wife ain't a bad looking bird though. Wouldn't mind seeing her in some black leather and heels.
You don't mean to say that the Dem. leadership expects perks and free everything as their cut of the pie they are constantly re-cutting to the highest bidder. I'm shocked, really shocked to learn this goes on in our votes-credits cap and trade system.
Now who can we trust to save the planet at the last second of CRISIS? SuperObamaMan to the rescue!
Tom Daschle's one of those quiet talkers. Never do business with a man you have to lean into to hear.
If Charlie Rangel can't understand the tax code, how do you expect Tom Daschle to?
They are underpaid. Only rich people can take those jobs because most citizens would never be able to afford a home in DC and another home in their district for that salary.
Can I just tell you there are gay people walking around everywhere. I don't mean you run of the mill out and proud gay. I mean your under the radar gay.
I just went to get a hot chocolate. The guy at the coffee shop with the Gilligan hat, who I want, gay, and looks longingly at me. He is very young but I would do him. The walk to the coffee shop was all of one block and there was a black african gay, a gay cab driver and a gay bus driver.
Should I do the coffee shop gay?
The coffee shop gay would require conversation though and I don't know if I am up for that.
The ethics, competency bar keeps ratching down.
Kennedy statement on Daschle nomination:
Tom Daschle is a leader of great integrity and strong dedication
Don't these jokers use professional tax preparers or TurboTax?
One good thing that might come out of a complete collapse of America is that the tax code would go like the Wall Streeters and DC lawyer-powerbrokers sent to firing squads.
What else but Revolution will end the insane, byzantine tax code?
Or we could wait for China to take over our finances and tell us what we must do.
" He is very young but I would do him"
By very young I take it you don't mean 14.
By very young I mean early 20's. I am not a pedophile Meade.
The sidewalk to me is a runway. The opportunities are endless. Hogs are swaying all around me. Temptation calls. Eyes are darting. Contact is being made.
What about your job? Does your job ever call you?
Like, say, on a Monday morning?
Titus... to get this thread back on the topic, please tell us if you would do Tom Daschle in a Limousine, and if not, why not?
I am a multi-tasker Meade. I am on a call right now.
Early twenties and you are, what, 60? Are there such things as gay cougars? Tradman is right... could Tom Daschle be a gay cougar?
Yes, they don't make much salary. Funny how they all leave as millionaires, though.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/01/022690.php
I wouldn't do Daschle in a limousine or anywhere but I would do his son who is pretty hot.
There back on topic.
Bitch I am 38.
38 and you're saying that someone else is "very young"?
Daschle looks and sound pretty gay.
The quintessential limousine liberal.
Where's DTL to explain to us all how complicated taxes are?
When I was unemployed I got accustomed to the perk of not paying taxes. So when I got a job I didn't think that part had to change. But maybe that's only true if being unemployed includes having your own limo.
I'm not outraged by that, actually — because they are underpaid
They are underpaid.
They could be doing so much more for themselves, but they sacrifice for us.
Obama could have gone to work on Wall Street, you know. Geithner too. And Daschle could have done...something...other than be a Senator.
We, the non-government people, make the money we deserve (unless one is a greedy ceo or wall streeter). We should pay our taxes because there is no better, more enriching option waiting for us. Not like there is for our selfless, selfless leaders.
I hope Tom Daschle will withdraw his nomination today.
Daschle: Wait, I thought every American got a free limousine and chauffeur!? Isn't it in the Stimulus Package?
I hope Tom Daschle is confirmed, which, for the rest of us, will confirm that Obama will have the most corrupt administration in history. Rules are for little people.
Let's review - there are still 2 wars going on, Gitmo is still open, renditions are still occurring and Obama is responsible for civilian deaths. IMPEACH NOW!!!
Oh yeah, break out the bumperstickers...
What's there to say?
The corrupt are ejected and replaced with the corrupt.
So where are über-democratic defenders Doyle and hdhouse and DTL to tell us why these little things are small change compared to the big change it portends.
I'm glad I quit reading newspapers and watching TV. It's pointless to be informed. Yeah, I'm informed that Obama's administration is full of tax cheats and that Congress just voted itself a $4,700 raise in the midst of a financial meltdown.
That helps how exactly?
Me? I'm shrugging.
Alpha,
Man, that is so disarming. Well played.
Oh yeah, it's the rules for radicals in full swing right now baby. You know Alinski is clapping at Mr. Barely from hell as we speak.
We can call Obama "W" now, for Waiver. I guess he was all for hope and change, with a few exceptions here and there.
It's time to get real and teach this stuff in school. What's going to be important in this century is to become a member of the American nomeklatura. Once you're in, you're protected from the laws you impose on other people.
Pretty soon, the Daschles of this world will have their own shopping malls, places where the riff-raff who have to follow the rules aren't allowed.
I just read that Chris Dodd is refinancing his Countrywide mortgages "to avoid the appearance that he had received a sweetheart deal." Daschle could try this approach. He could announce that for the next two years, he'll be walking everywhere he goes.
I love Daschle's explanation, that he "mistakenly thought it was a gift from a friend of 15 years."
Is there an exemption to the Gift Tax if the gift comes from...a friend? Well, there certainly should be!
Cue the theme song from "Friends." Cue Dionne Warwick's "That's What Friends are For." What is wrong with these Rethuglicans, are they going to try to ban friendship now? Leave Daschle and his friend alone! Please! They were just friends!
Titus is the only here who accepts gifts from strangers. He limits it to non-taxable gifts. Heh.
DON'T YOU JERKS GET IT?
WE WON.
Now move along. Nothing to see here...
From the AP story: Daschle spokeswoman said he will tell Finance Committee members Monday: “I made a mistake. I mistakenly thought this was a gift from someone who I have been friends with for 15 years.”
A gift I did not receive until after I was being paid a million a year by my dear friend of fifteen years.
I'd like him to describe how this conversation about the gift came out: "Will you be giving me this gift that dare not speak its name every day, or might your generosity expire tomorrow so that I should be sure to get my car back from the shop? Perhaps I shouldn't ask any questions, and just hope the limo comes again tomorrow."
Is he under oath at these committee hearings? Oy.
Glenn Greenwald rips Tom Daschle a new one.
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