Daschle-Gate Continues

The Scandal continues:

President Obama’s choice for health secretary, Tom Daschle, was aware as early as last June that he might have to pay back taxes for the use of a car and driver provided by a private equity firm, but did not inform the Obama transition team until weeks after Mr. Obama named him to the health secretary’s post, senior administration officials said Saturday.

As Senate Democrats rushed to save the nomination of Mr. Daschle, their former leader, the White House spent the day trying to explain how he survived its vetting process despite his failure to pay $128,000 in taxes.

The White House would not say when the president himself learned of the tax issue, but said Mr. Obama is standing by his nominee.

“The president believes that nobody is perfect, but that nobody is trying to hide anything,” Robert Gibbs, the president’s press secretary, said in an interview, adding, “I think Senator Daschle rightly is going to have to answer questions, but I think members will be satisfied with the answers that he gives and will understand that he’s the right man for the job.”

At least six leading Democratic senators have come out in support of Mr. Daschle, but the fate of his nomination is unclear. The Senate Finance Committee, which is charged with holding a confirmation hearing on Mr. Daschle’s nomination, will meet behind closed doors Monday to discuss his taxes. After Timothy F. Geithner, Mr. Obama’s Treasury secretary, faced similar issues, some senators may have little appetite for confirming another nominee with tax problems.

“It’s totally shocking,” an aide to a Democratic senator said Saturday. “Why do we have to continue to have the same story over and over again with these nominees?”

via Daschle Knew of Tax Issues Over Car Use Last June – NYTimes.com.

I find it absolutely amazing that the Democrats would still confirm this guy, after learning about all these indiscretions. But then again, integrity is not one of the Democrats strengths. If the shoe was on the other foot. The Republicans would have already withdrawn his nomination and someone else would have been offered.  But because he is one the team of “The One”, he will confirmed and his tax problems quickly forgotten. Funny how that works, is it not?

Others: Althouse, Betsy’s Page, JustOneMinute

(via Memeornadum)

Terrible Ice Storm Rocks Kentucky, FEMA takes Five Days to respond, AP does not have the stones to critize Obama

Talk about the shoe being on the other foot! 🙄

The Story:

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has called up all of his Army National Guard troop and some Air National Guard units to get the state back on its feet following a crippling ice storm.

The addition of 3,000 soldiers and airmen makes 4,600 Guardsmen pressed into service. It’s the largest call-up in state history.

More than 400,000 people remain without power in Kentucky five days after the storm hit. Many others still lack electricity in other states from the Midwest into Appalachia.

The storm is suspected in at least 42 deaths across several states. Authorities say it could be weeks before some areas get power back.

via Storm-struck KY calls up entire Army Nat’l Guard – AP

The reason I say the above about the AP, is because if you look over on Tim Blair’s Blog, you see the following quotes from the AP:

Dozens of deaths have been reported and many people are pleading for a faster response to the power outages. Some in rural Kentucky ran short of food and bottled water, and resorted to dipping buckets in a creek …

Local officials grew angrier at what they said was a lack of help from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

[…]

Emergency Management Director Randell Smith … said roads are littered with fallen trees and people shivering in bone-chilling cold are in need.

“We’ve got people out in some areas we haven’t even visited yet,” Smith said. “We don’t even know that they’re alive.”

Smith said FEMA was still a no-show days after the storm

But if you go back to the original AP article, the parts quoted above are gone! Just like magic. Could it be that the editors at the AP, are scared of “The One” and fear that criticizing his response to this disaster in Kentucky might put at risk their ability to report from the White House?

Further more, five days?!?!?!?! Does anyone remember the outrage expressed by the Liberal media, after the disaster in New Orleans during Katrina? I have yet to hear any sort of outrage about this from CNN, I have yet to hear Anderson Vanderbilt Cooper yelling at Government officals on his show.

But the “magic one” did give a phone call, so it’s all good!:

Kentucky’s governor is praising the Obama administration’s prompt reaction to the fierce wintry weather that slammed his state.

“They really hit the ground running,” said Steve Beshear, interviewed by CNN. “They’re working very hard to get all the equipment and supplies here that we need.”

Crews have been working to restore power and water service to hundreds of thousands of people. Beshear said that while he realizes “nothing moves fast enough,” he said the federal assistance “has been a great help to us so far.”

Beshear, a Democrat, explained that when the first wave of bad weather came through on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, officials realized that they needed additional help.

“I called the White House directly at that time. I had my other folks talking to FEMA, but I went straight to the top because we needed fast help,” he said.

He said he spoke to the director of intergovernment relations and said she walked Kentucky’s paperwork through. He said President Obama called him and told him he was announcing an emergency declaration for the state.

“I can’t tell you how appreciative we were,” the governor said. “He not only expressed his concern, but he obviously had the Kentuckians in his thoughts and prayers, and he communicated that to us.”

Oh, He called, big whoopee do! Why isn’t he down there? Why isn’t he doing more? Oh wait, that’s because he’s a Democrat and they can do no wrong. My Bad.

Does anyone remember this picture, that left about lost thier mind over?

I remember how the liberal media crucified Bush over this. But Obama just makes a Phone call and he gets off, scott free!

Can you say Bias?

I knew you could!

Update: Michelle Malkin finally gets around to Blogging about it.

Others: Right Wing Nut House and Tim Blair

Liberal Smear Machine Starts Against Michael Steele

I knew it was coming, liberals are now turning on smear machine towards Michael Steele.

As we all know, what Liberals fear, they try to smear and discredit.

Go here to read it all.

Amanda Carpenter has more.

Update: Sister Toldjah has an excellent posting the counters the tripe that’s found on some of the Liberal Blogs. Excellent work! 😀

Michael Steele elected Republican National Committee Chairman

First the video of remarks by Steele:

Via The Politico:

Former Maryland Lt. Gov Michael Steele triumphed over four opponents in the race for Republican National Committee chairman Friday, giving the party its first black chairman as well as a forceful communicator at a time of political weakness.

“This is awesome,” Steele told RNC members in a victory speech. “It is with a great deal of humility and a sense of service that I accept and appreciate and thank all of you for the opportunity to serve.”

Steele emerged victorious from a lengthy, six-ballot voting process. Running against him were incumbent RNC Chair Mike Duncan, South Carolina Republican Party Chair Katon Dawson, Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis, and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

I will say it. I am glad to see that the Republican Party has elected an African-American. This will render the days of post-race racialism null and void.

…and for that, I am very glad. 😀

Maybe now some of the more Conservative Democrats, which have avoided the Republican Party because of it being perceived as a “White Man’s Party”, will come on over to the party of sanity.

One can only hope.

Memeornadum is now providing Coverage

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Linkfest Haven, the Blogger's Oasis

Why does America always do stupid things like this?

I will never, ever understand why America does stupid things like this right here, ever!

The Obama administration on Friday made an emergency contribution of more than $20 million for urgent relief efforts in the Gaza Strip, a day after the United Nations launched a flash appeal for $613 million to help Palestinians recover from Israel’s three-week military operation there.

The State Department said President Barack Obama had authorized the use of $20.3 million from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for humanitarian assistance to the 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza.

The money will go to U.N. agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which are distributing emergency food assistance, providing medical care and temporary shelter, creating temporary employment and restoring access to electricity and potable water, the department said in a statement.

The Israeli offensive killed nearly 1,300 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians, and caused an estimated $2 billion in damage, Palestinian officials say. The assault was launched to halt years of Hamas rocket fire on southern Israel.

via US puts up $20 million for Gaza relief – AP.

You want to know where this money is going to end up? In the hands of Hamas, the very terrorist organization that was attacking Israel, in the first place.  This money is supposed to be reserved for American Citizens, not for foreign countries!  You know, I find it absolutely amazing that the United States of America, would support a military attack on Gaza by Israel to defeat terrorists; only to have them send aid to the very people that Israel attacked. Not only this, our government is using money that is specifically earmarked for the people of the United States of America. This is an outrage! Someone should be complaining to the high Heavens about it!

The reason this outrages me so much is this; yeah, that money might go to American agencies approved by our Government, but ultimately, it will end up right back into the hands of the Hamas terrorists.

I will never understand why America continues to prop up those they claim are terrorists.

Chip Saltsman Withdraws From Republican Chairman's race

I knew this was coming.

Since November’s election, I’ve had the remarkable opportunity to travel throughout thirty two states, share my vision for the future of our party, and listen to the advice of the nearly one hundred members who took the time to visit with me in their homes, their offices, their airports, and their coffee shops.

I’ve seen how the Clark County Republicans of Nevada are organizing online to defeat Harry Reid in 2010, as we defeated Tom Daschle in 2002.

I’ve heard how Republicans in the District of Columbia have expanded their membership simply by holding their meetings and spreading their message in communities that have long shared our values, but which have never felt welcome within our ranks.

I’ve witnessed how the hard work of Republican leadership in my home of Tennessee has given our state its first Republican General Assembly since 1869.

And I’ve met with Republicans in New England’s blue states who are ready to plant our party’s flag and prove that our coalition is broad enough, strong enough to compete everywhere and win anywhere.

But, while my travels make me confident in our party’s future, I wanted you to be first to know that I have decided to withdraw my candidacy to become your next chairman.

Thank you for your passion for our party and for the principles that make it great. I hope that you won’t hesitate to call on me as we rebuild our majority.

Chip

via Chip Saltsman Withdraws From RNC Chairman’s Race — Post Politics

I sort of knew this was coming, especially after getting his butt handed to him, over at MSNBC. Plus the “Magic Negro” and other offensive crap on that CD was not too smart. Racism or any sort of perception of it, while when is attempting to serve in politics is a no-no amongst the Neo-Conservatives and the Republican Party in general; which is understandable seeing the party was the party of Anti-Slavery. This is why the Republican Party broke away from the Whig Party. Of course, the Kossaks are having a field day with it, which is not really a surprise.

I just hope the party is able to rebuild itself and is able to become strong again.

Ron Paul once again, speaks the truth.

This comes via  LewRockwell.com Blog.

Ron Paul just telling it like it is. People call him a kook, but, you know what? He’s absolutely right.

You want to know why the Neo-Conservatives hate this man so much? Because he exposes them for the fascist, Anti-American scum that they are. 

A damned good read!

This is awesome, go give it a read:

Despite such sentiments among many economists, the stimulus plan is certain to be passed by Congress and signed by President Obama.

Which means the last chance to head off “stimulus” boondoggle is to make sure the money isn’t there to be spent. And since our debt-ridden government has no money of its own to flush away, and will have to borrow the cash, scaring off potential lenders is the best bet.

So, come on America. Say it in print, on the radio, on TV, on blogs and in advertisements. Say it loud and say it proud: If the world is dumb enough to loan more money to the U.S. government, don’t expect it to be paid back. The Americans who will be making decisions in the decades to come won’t be bound by the folly of the current crop of office-holders.

If enough of us say it, the world will listen, and cut off the tap.

If that doesn’t stop the spending spree, nothing will.

via Disloyal Opposition: Screw the stimulus — let’s scare off the lenders.

I could not have said it better myself. 😀

(via National Review (Libertarian Blog))