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Is the Tea Party Making a Comeback?
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2014-06-19 16:32:00
More lost emails.
Quote: The Internal Revenue Service has lost more emails connected to the tea party investigation, congressional investigators said Tuesday.
The IRS said last Friday it had lost an untold number of emails when Lois Lerner’s computer crashed in 2011. Lerner used to head the division that handles applications for tax-exempt status.
On Tuesday, two key lawmakers said the IRS has also lost emails from six additional IRS workers whose computers crashed. Among them was Nikole Flax, who was chief of staff to Lerner’s boss, then-deputy commissioner Steven Miller.
Miller later became acting IRS commissioner, but was forced to resign last year after the agency acknowledged that agents had improperly scrutinized tea party and other conservative groups when they applied for tax-exempt status. Documents have shown some liberal groups were also flagged.
Investigators from the House Ways and Means Committee interviewed IRS technicians Monday. The technicians said they first realized that Lerner’s emails were lost in February or March — months before they informed congressional investigators, said a statement by two top Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee, chairman Dave Camp of Michigan and subcommittee chairman Charles Boustany of Louisiana.
The two lawmakers called on the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the IRS, something Attorney General Eric Holder has declined to do in the past.
“It looks like the American people were lied to and the IRS tried to cover up the fact it conveniently lost key documents in this investigation,” the statement by Camp and Boustany said. “The White House promised full cooperation, the commissioner promised full access to Lois Lerner emails and now the agency claims it cannot produce those materials and they’ve known for months they couldn’t do this.”
The IRS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Oh gee, I wonder why these systems mysteriously crashed all at once with no backups ever made....
Oh wait, Obama said that this isn't a scandal, so we should all believe what he says and ignore it...
Edit: Paged like a pro, so here is a kangaroo.
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By Shiva.Viciousss 2014-06-19 16:34:47
More money wasted investigating nothing. Judging by the 7% approval rating Congress just received, it looks like the American people really don't give a ***about anything that doesn't involve passing laws.
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2014-06-19 16:37:47
More money wasted investigating nothing I deem important. fixed for more accuracy.
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By Shiva.Viciousss 2014-06-19 16:41:27
More money wasted investigating nothing. Judging by the 7% approval rating Congress just received, it looks like the American people really don't give a ***about anything that doesn't involve passing laws.
I'll post it again. No problem.
 Leviathan.Chaosx
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By Leviathan.Chaosx 2014-06-19 16:45:28
7%, that's some sweet approval.
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2014-06-19 16:45:58
So Vic, are you purposely being this obtuse, or are you just simple-minded by nature?
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2014-06-19 16:50:05
I just wonder if the shoe was on the other foot, and IRS targeted the liberal political party, would Vic then get angry about it?
He would of course say he wouldn't, but it would be pretty obvious that he would get angry.
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By Shiva.Viciousss 2014-06-19 16:55:47
I'm just sharing the views of the public, we don't care, and the polls reflect that. There is no scenario that I would be happy with the IRS, they are supposed to be disliked.
If the GOP wants to waste time making up scandals instead of actually working, thats fine, just expect more defeats in elections. Ask Cantor how he feels about it, he didn't even make it to the election. Keep trying to make a point tho.
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2014-06-19 16:58:35
I'm just sharing the views of the public, we don't care, and the polls reflect that. There is no scenario that I would be happy with the IRS, they are supposed to be disliked. So, in other words, you have no original thought in your head, you just "follow the crowd."
You just admitted that in the above quote too....
Why does that not surprise me at all?
So, let me ask you puppet, how does it feel to have everything thought and done for you?
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By Shiva.Viciousss 2014-06-19 17:05:08
I didn't admit anything, nice try tho. I share America's disgust with Congress. I don't care about the IRS, this fake scandal has had zero impact on Americans, including the conservative groups that were targeted. Keep trying tho.
Leviathan.Chaosx
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By Leviathan.Chaosx 2014-06-19 18:44:58
America needs to vote better it seems, rather than what their favorite news outlets tell them.
 Bismarck.Psubond
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By Bismarck.Psubond 2014-06-19 20:07:13
i think how the poll questions are asked it changes the numbers. a better question would be do you approve of how the party you most closely align yourself with has been performing.
VIP
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By Odin.Jassik 2014-06-19 20:20:28
I didn't admit anything, nice try tho. I share America's disgust with Congress. I don't care about the IRS, this fake scandal has had zero impact on Americans, including the conservative groups that were targeted. Keep trying tho.
It's not really a "fake scandal" as much as it's highly overstated. There were a much larger number of conservative groups applying for 501c in that timeframe than progressive or non-political.
Interesting stuff from a source with a known liberal bias... National Public Radio
By Jetackuu 2014-06-19 21:30:28
The GoP has nothing better to do than to attempt to repeal legislation and make up fake scandals to be counter productive, that's all they've done for years, and it's apparent to anyone who's not a moron.
By Fumiku 2014-06-20 03:55:02
The GoP has nothing better to do than to attempt to repeal legislation and make up fake scandals to be counter productive, that's all they've done for years, and it's apparent to anyone who's not a moron.
Meh, none of these scandals are fake. The problem is that republicans are blowing them up, way over what they are. Benghazi is a scandal, the irs ordeal is a scandal, and the NSA is a HUGH one, but people don't care about those because those don't directly affect our daily lives. People care more about jobs and laws that are directly affecting us right now. Not that it is sad, but it's just what is important to them.
Republicans are trying to focus too much on these as much as democrats are taking them too lightly.
But I do believe that congress is getting the boot do to their approval. I would like to see people voting everyone out until they get the picture.
One term and;
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Ragnarok.Nausi
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By Ragnarok.Nausi 2014-06-20 09:25:27
Eh, they're all real scandals alright, and they're all huge. Nixon resigned over far less scandal than what the IRS is today (not to mention what it will clarified to be).
The administration is taking flak for all of them. Recent polling reflects the populaces adopting a greater understanding of the administration's incompetency.
He's wearing thin with lower approval numbers at this point than Bush had after Katrina!
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By Jetackuu 2014-06-20 09:28:12
Neither Benghazi or the IRS thing are scandals, it's ridiculous to assert as such.
The NSA isn't a scandal but a national problem and should be dealt with.
Bismarck.Ramyrez
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By Bismarck.Ramyrez 2014-06-20 09:32:58
Every politician All the branches of the government are rating low right now. And they all deserve it.
Jackasses.
*Editted for accuracy.
Ragnarok.Nausi
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By Ragnarok.Nausi 2014-06-20 09:37:54
Every politician All the branches of the government are rating low right now. And they all deserve it.
Jackasses.
*Editted for accuracy. meh... Congress almost always has a low approval rating. It never really matters much. Everyone upset with congress is rarely upset with their own congressmen and senators (which is all they have influence over).
However, if we can swap out more and more establishment GOP types for new conservative blood, I'm all for it!
Ragnarok.Nausi
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By Ragnarok.Nausi 2014-06-20 09:38:18
Neither Benghazi or the IRS thing are scandals, it's ridiculous to assert as such.
The NSA isn't a scandal but a national problem and should be dealt with.
How's the weather on Mars today Jet?
By Jetackuu 2014-06-20 09:43:32
Neither Benghazi or the IRS thing are scandals, it's ridiculous to assert as such.
The NSA isn't a scandal but a national problem and should be dealt with.
How's the weather on Mars today Jet? I've been wondering what it's been like in Neocon land myself.
The IRS delaying or denying a bunch of requests for tax exempt status for a bunch of groups all under the same type in a sudden surge isn't a scandal, and no evidence has been presented beyond that scenario.
Benghazi was a terrible thing, but something that speaks more of our trying to keep embassies abroad while cutting back funds than anything. Oh what say you Mr. small government, oh wait: it's the military, let's give them more money for no good reason.
You're not fooling anyone but your other neocon buddies.
By Jetackuu 2014-06-20 09:46:50
Not to mention that there's been a lot worse embassy attacks over the years and even since, more Americans die daily over ***that we can actually predict and control, and you're concerned about wasting millions of dollars chasing a political witch hunt over nothing.
I'll say it again:
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2014-06-20 09:52:52
and you're concerned about wasting millions of dollars chasing a political witch hunt over nothing. Kindof like Bush and his "war crimes" huh?
Ragnarok.Nausi
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By Ragnarok.Nausi 2014-06-20 09:58:09
Neither Benghazi or the IRS thing are scandals, it's ridiculous to assert as such.
The NSA isn't a scandal but a national problem and should be dealt with.
How's the weather on Mars today Jet? I've been wondering what it's been like in Neocon land myself.
The IRS delaying or denying a bunch of requests for tax exempt status for a bunch of groups all under the same type in a sudden surge isn't a scandal, and no evidence has been presented beyond that scenario.
Benghazi was a terrible thing, but something that speaks more of our trying to keep embassies abroad while cutting back funds than anything. Oh what say you Mr. small government, oh wait: it's the military, let's give them more money for no good reason.
You're not fooling anyone but your other neocon buddies. A) do you even know what a neocon is?
B) Watergate took over 2 years before Nixon eventually resigned
C) IRS "loosing" hard drives in the pursuit of the scandal only gives greater cause for investigation.
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Bismarck.Ramyrez
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By Bismarck.Ramyrez 2014-06-20 10:09:12
Every politician All the branches of the government are rating low right now. And they all deserve it. Jackasses. *Editted for accuracy. meh... Congress almost always has a low approval rating. It never really matters much. Everyone upset with congress is rarely upset with their own congressmen and senators (which is all they have influence over). However, if we can swap out more and more establishment GOP types for new conservative blood, I'm all for it!
I'd prefer old Republican blood to the current or new conservatives (edit: by new "conservatives" I mean the misguided Tea Party twits). Some new Democratic blood wouldn't go amiss either. Some people with a social concious but who don't feel the need to make social issues the only issues, and maybe people from both parties with a lot more interest for working Americans and a lot less for corporate masters.
I don't mind "big government", as we've seen what happens when corporations are allowed to run amuck. What I mind is "big money" government. You see it right now with the FDA, FCC, and similar regulatory bodies passing laws and regulations that are beneficial to large corporations in their respective fields, but serve only to hinder and hurt smaller or specialist businesses.
It's sort of funny how both too much and too little regulation (or too much bought regulation) hurts things in similar ways.
By Jetackuu 2014-06-20 10:17:27
and you're concerned about wasting millions of dollars chasing a political witch hunt over nothing. Kindof like Bush and his "war crimes" huh? Bush has already been convicted of war crimes, and I'd personally like to put both of them on trial (along with others) for treason.
A) do you even know what a neocon is?
B) Watergate took over 2 years before Nixon eventually resigned
C) IRS "loosing" hard drives in the pursuit of the scandal only gives greater cause for investigation. A. I do
B. don't care
C. still a waste of time and money, and has no benefit, there's no real "cause for investigation" to begin with, short of a bunch of people who think they got shafted for not getting tax exempt status, and probably didn't deserve it.
By fonewear 2014-06-20 10:18:07
George Bush doesn't care about black people. There I said it.
Also I'm the greatest rapper alive.
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2014-06-20 10:19:18
Is this "delusional post day?"
Let me see:
Obama is a great leader and deserves all the praises he has received.
By Jetackuu 2014-06-20 10:21:20
Is this "delusional post day?"
Let me see:
Obama is a great leader and deserves all the praises he has received.
Great? no, better than Bush? probably. Then again I wouldn't let G.W. run a Burger King.
Ragnarok.Nausi
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By Ragnarok.Nausi 2014-06-20 10:22:32
Is this "delusional post day?"
Let me see:
Obama is a great leader and deserves all the praises he has received.
Great? no, better than Bush? probably. Then again I wouldn't let G.W. run a Burger King. I wouldn't let Obama run an automated car wash
Interesting story today from Virginia:
Quote: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia lost to a Tea Party challenger on Tuesday in a stunning Republican primary upset that sent shockwaves through Congress and gave the conservative Tea Party movement the biggest victory in its four-year history.
Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, was easily beaten by college economics professor David Brat, CNN projected. With nearly 90 percent of votes counted, Brat had 56 percent to Cantor's 44 percent.
Brat, a political newcomer who teaches at Randolph-Macon College, had argued Cantor was not conservative enough and accused the seven-term incumbent of betraying conservative values on spending, the national debt and immigration.
Cantor had been seen by many as an eventual successor to House Speaker John Boehner, and his loss is certain to unsettle members of both parties already nervous about the depth of anger toward Congress among voters.
Cantor had spent more than $5 million to head off the challenge from Brat, who spent about $122,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
What's interesting is not only did the Tea Party candidate win, but also spent far less. $122,000 vs $5 million on his campaign.
However, the Tea Party still has a long way to go:
Quote: The victory followed a string of primary losses by Tea Party candidates this year to candidates backed by the Republican establishment.
The race was the highlight of voting in five states on Tuesday. South Carolina, Maine, Nevada and North Dakota were also selecting candidates for the Nov. 4 midterm elections.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina also faced a Tea Party challenge on Tuesday. Graham was expected to beat a crowded field of six challengers who had accused him of not being conservative enough.
Are they on the way to making a comeback this November?
Fox News seems to be somewhat optimistic.
Quote: The Tea Party movement would like to make clear that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated.
Victories this week by Tea Party-backed candidates in Nebraska and West Virginia Republican primaries are helping to reinvigorate the movement, which some had written off amid a difficult campaign season. But as its own members point out, whether the movement is winning primaries or not, it's hard to argue its small-government message has faded.
Famous, or infamous, Tea Party-aligned lawmakers in Congress continue to play a strong role in the direction of the party. Polls of conservatives consistently show figures like Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as political favorites in a hypothetical 2016 race. And it is those figures who keep the Republican Party something of an evolving force -- Paul arguably made drones a bipartisan issue, and also filed a lawsuit this year against the administration over NSA surveillance, pushing the GOP to rethink the balance between security and privacy.
"Political pundits love to role-play as coroners, but they aren't very good at it," Tea Party Express Executive Director Taylor Budowich said after wins Tuesday night in Nebraska and West Virginia. "The mainstream media has been pushing the recycled 'Tea Party is Dead' headlines, but tonight's results show how again they've got it wrong. What these pundits don't understand is ... the broad appeal of the Tea Party's message of fiscal responsibility and economic growth."
In Nebraska, the primary victory by Republican Senate candidate Ben Sasse should help his party in November retain the open seat -- he is immediately considered the favorite for the seat held by retiring GOP Sen. Mike Johanns.
In West Virginia, former Maryland GOP chairman Alex Mooney won the Republican primary with spending help from such outside groups as the Madison Fund, the Senate Conservatives Fund and Tea Party Express.
The Tea Party is optimistic about winning both general election races -- with Mooney's 2nd Congressional District being a Republican stronghold and Sasse, a former Bush administration official, rebuffing the kind of fringe-candidate label that dogged some unsuccessful Tea Party candidates in 2012.
In addition, Tea Party leaders are touting the narrow victory Tuesday by Nebraska GOP Rep. Lee Terry for a House seat he is expected to keep and Florida businessman Curt Clawson's victory last month in a special election for the House seat left by Republican Trey Radel.
Still, it is becoming clear this year that the Tea Party will struggle to repeat its past record of ousting high-profile Republican incumbents in the primaries.
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