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kpete

(71,984 posts)
Mon May 13, 2013, 11:54 AM May 2013

Small Problem With Rubio Calling For Obama To Fire Commissioner Of IRS

"It is clear the IRS cannot operate with even a shred of the American people’s confidence under the current leadership," Rubio wrote in a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. "Therefore, I strongly urge that you and President Obama demand the IRS Commissioner’s resignation, effectively immediately. No government agency that has behaved in such a manner can possibly instill any faith and respect from the American public."

Script Needs a Rewrite :

Marco Rubio just called on President Obama to fire the Commissioner of the IRS. Small problem: the Commissioner in place when all this happened was Bush appointee Douglas H. Shulman. He left just after the November electing and there’s an acting Commissioner currently in place.

- Josh Marshall

http://livewire.talkingpointsm...
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/rubio-calls-on-irs-commissioner-to-resign?ref=fpblg

45 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Small Problem With Rubio Calling For Obama To Fire Commissioner Of IRS (Original Post) kpete May 2013 OP
Rubio is one stupid mo'fo madokie May 2013 #1
I second! immoderate May 2013 #2
+100 Atman May 2013 #3
I had hopes he had some out of box thinking but at BEST he's a go along, someone with NO original... uponit7771 May 2013 #4
Another problem: Some GOP lawmakers targeted primary TeaParty challengers as tax cheats blm May 2013 #5
Good catch AgingAmerican May 2013 #8
I've been posting these stories - one person called the possibility 'conspiracy theory'. heheh blm May 2013 #11
Interesting, blm. Would make sense.. KoKo May 2013 #15
Great job - as usual - in connecting dots karynnj May 2013 #20
This has GOP all over it pscot May 2013 #29
Yep blm May 2013 #36
This is hilarious... Spitfire of ATJ May 2013 #16
Could be - and far more plausible than Obama targeting Tea Party activists. blm May 2013 #19
Also a lot more of a motive than the "former Loyal Bushie sabotage" we've seen. Spitfire of ATJ May 2013 #24
What a moron. BlueStater May 2013 #6
DOH!! AgingAmerican May 2013 #7
These clowns get their script from Newscorp or similar billionaire owned media in a coordinated way. freshwest May 2013 #9
Rushpublican Teabagger Gold... KharmaTrain May 2013 #10
Except the IRS has already admitted wrongdoing. Flatulo May 2013 #14
Let's See... KharmaTrain May 2013 #17
The President has already condemned the actions of any in the IRS who singled out Flatulo May 2013 #23
If the IRS was suppose to be John2 May 2013 #42
The President may have jumped the gun with his comments. nt Flatulo May 2013 #44
Basically if certain groups (baggers for example) say they should not have to pay taxes, ThomThom May 2013 #12
K & R SunSeeker May 2013 #13
Holy Cow! There's a feeding frenzy going on! SleeplessinSoCal May 2013 #18
The question is... SCVDem May 2013 #21
Check out post #5 (and 16) Spitfire of ATJ May 2013 #25
not just mucking things up, but acting as "sleeper cells". SleeplessinSoCal May 2013 #28
Yup. GoCubsGo May 2013 #31
Ah, another beacon of hope for the GOP. progressoid May 2013 #22
Bet he hits China first! nt SCVDem May 2013 #30
bazinga TeamPooka May 2013 #26
Grandstanding for constituents that are even more stupid that Rubio *fail* Sheepshank May 2013 #27
Rubio is an ass. And stupid. That's what makes him a republican star. Jakes Progress May 2013 #32
He has to make a big show of it for his "base". Curmudgeoness May 2013 #33
I saw this on The Last Word last night AndyA May 2013 #34
The smallest bottle of water Rain Mcloud May 2013 #45
Republican Meme -- Never let the truth get in the way of a good perceived scandal egold2604 May 2013 #35
Rubio is either with GWB or against him Blue Owl May 2013 #37
When did facts ever get in the way of a good temper tantrum/outrage? Hekate May 2013 #38
I am sure that the Repugs are holding up Obama's nominee to head the IRS right now! Dustlawyer May 2013 #39
Oh my this is good skeewee08 May 2013 #40
almost reminds me of Acorn PatrynXX May 2013 #41
This is on the level of Romney immediately latching onto Benghazi before any facts were known. randome May 2013 #43

Atman

(31,464 posts)
3. +100
Mon May 13, 2013, 12:06 PM
May 2013

God, he's a self-important dufus. Which,
means the GOP will probably end up nominating him.

uponit7771

(90,335 posts)
4. I had hopes he had some out of box thinking but at BEST he's a go along, someone with NO original...
Mon May 13, 2013, 12:15 PM
May 2013

...thinking whatsoever

blm

(113,043 posts)
5. Another problem: Some GOP lawmakers targeted primary TeaParty challengers as tax cheats
Mon May 13, 2013, 12:30 PM
May 2013

I know Lugar did. Maybe Bush's appointee was targeting Tea Party leaders for those GOP establishment candidates?

Mitch McConnell Had Previously Floated Karl Rove Idea To Target Weak Tea Party Candidates

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/09/mitch-mcconnell-karl-rove_n_2652927.html
WASHINGTON -- A firestorm on the right has greeted a new Karl Rove-backed super PAC aimed at knocking off weak conservative Senate candidates and protecting strong incumbents in GOP primaries, but the new PAC may well prove to be a plus in the eyes of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

That’s not surprising: The model for the new super PAC, dubbed the Conservative Victory Project, is akin to one that McConnell has touted the need for at GOP events in recent years, two GOP fundraisers with good ties to the senator told Huffington Post. Both asked for anonymity to speak candidly about private events and discussions.

The two fundraisers explained that McConnell has several times lamented that, in the last two elections, weaker and unelectable Tea Party candidates have been winning more GOP primary battles, often with hefty financing from right-leaning groups like the Club for Growth. In some cases, the weaker candidates have also been backed by Democratic groups seeking to boost their own party’s prospects in the fall elections.

And the result wasn’t pretty for the GOP in either cycle. In 2012, two GOP Senate candidates with Tea Party backing lost their races last fall in Missouri and Indiana, helping Democrats expand their Senate majority. In the case of Missouri, McConnell strongly condemned Tea Party favorite Todd Akin for his incendiary comments about “legitimate rape,” and sent signals that Akin should consider dropping out before a candidate deadline passed last fall to avoid a debacle on Election Day. In 2010, Tea Party candidates in Delaware and Nevada lost races that more moderate Republicans may have been able to take.>>>

blm

(113,043 posts)
11. I've been posting these stories - one person called the possibility 'conspiracy theory'. heheh
Mon May 13, 2013, 01:46 PM
May 2013

I am just VERY certain that Republicans are more likely to use IRS against their opponents than Democrats are, especially is the head of IRS is a GOP (appointed by Bush) head of IRS.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
15. Interesting, blm. Would make sense..
Mon May 13, 2013, 02:23 PM
May 2013

Someone called you a "CT" for posting this? It must have been one of our "visitors."

Anyway this would make sense that Repug Establishment would be targeting TeaBaggers they felt were out of line. Especially if the IRS head was appointed by Bush.

karynnj

(59,501 posts)
20. Great job - as usual - in connecting dots
Mon May 13, 2013, 02:35 PM
May 2013

It is hilarious that Rubio has succeeded in making it more well known that it was a now departed Bush appointee that did this. Your connection with the fact that establishment GOP used some charges against the tea party alternatives is icing on the cake.

pscot

(21,024 posts)
29. This has GOP all over it
Mon May 13, 2013, 06:55 PM
May 2013

The Dems are too timid to try something like this. Plus it's a twofer; they do the crime, then get to whine while Democrats do the time

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
16. This is hilarious...
Mon May 13, 2013, 02:25 PM
May 2013

So the long time establishment Republicans where getting primaried by upstart Tea Party candidates so they tried to cut them off at the wallet using the IRS.

IOW: This was asshole on asshole violence that we had nothing to do with.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
9. These clowns get their script from Newscorp or similar billionaire owned media in a coordinated way.
Mon May 13, 2013, 01:45 PM
May 2013

Little they say contains any facts or has any basis in reality. The players in print, radio and television always repeat the same story usually without even editing the points or phrasing.

The technique overwhelms the public with a sense of urgency. They could be telling us the Moon is full of aliens controlling our thoughts or made of cheese for all the relevance it has.

People believe it because they are hearing it from all sides at once, thus the importance of planning and coordination. Which is what makes the 'news cyle' or 'wash, rinse, repeat.' That's they call the call what networks put out 'programming.'

They posit it as indisputable fact since no one who dispute it is allowed on any of the media, to break the programming.

'See, everyone says it, so it must be true!'

The gulls will eat this up because they know there's safety in being part of a group, no matter how insane the ideas put forth are.

KharmaTrain

(31,706 posts)
10. Rushpublican Teabagger Gold...
Mon May 13, 2013, 01:45 PM
May 2013

...the more I hear this latest "scandal", the more I see how this is yet another "Birther"...a game to be played among the rushpublicans in hope that others will play along as well. This "scandal" will be based on little fact and lots of "ifs" and conjecture. It'll be built upon and the "conspiracy" will grow as more bullshit is added. This is a diversion away from other important issues...focusing the beltway corporates into talking "scandal" and "IRS audits" instead of gun control or economic injustice or immigration reform or any other meaningful legislation.

This "scandal" also hit a big teabagger button...the evil, nasty IRS. Their longtime goal is to destroy it and nothing could help them get closer to this goal than to demonize it. Also by doing so it takes the pressure off of any investigations into the nebulous ties between many teabagger groups, corporate high rollers (like the Kochs) and politicians...

KharmaTrain

(31,706 posts)
17. Let's See...
Mon May 13, 2013, 02:29 PM
May 2013

...yes, the IRS admitted that the words "Tea Party" were used in searching for possible audits. Now let's see how many audits were conducted and why. Maybe, just maybe, there's some legitimate reason...a 50c3 or other non-profit being used to filter money to and from political candidates or operatives. Let's see if there is a valid reason for an organization that is responsible to make sure that all pay taxes fairly to investigate groups that openly advocate avoiding paying their fair share and destroying both the IRS and the tax code. In short, let's find out if these audits were warranted and who ordered them. Leaping to the "conclusion" that this is a political vendetta plays right into where the rushpublicans hope this will go...

 

Flatulo

(5,005 posts)
23. The President has already condemned the actions of any in the IRS who singled out
Mon May 13, 2013, 02:54 PM
May 2013

conservative groups for additional scrutiny, claiming that it is 'absolutely outrageous'.

The IRS is supposed to be politically neutral. Since conservatives may govern again in the future, I don't think they should be used as a hit squad for whatever regime may be in power.

Lets hope it was a few low-level employees involved. Otherwise, this will indeed overshadow more important agendas.

 

John2

(2,730 posts)
42. If the IRS was suppose to be
Wed May 15, 2013, 04:50 AM
May 2013

acting independently, the the President has nothing to do with it, but the heads of the IRS at the time this Policy began ned should be responsible. The IRS was still under Bush appointees. Lerner knew this a year ago, but she found it convenient to insert an apology in front of the Media last Friday. The media took it from there and everything is pointing at the Obama Administration for the guilty Party. People would automatically assume the Obama Administration is guilty because why would Republicans target the Tea Party? Well the Republicans were trying to de legitimize the Tea Party during the 2012 Election. So you point the fingers at the Democrats and the Tea Party followers will believe anything associated with those evil Democrats and Obama. How convenient would it be for Miss Lerner. And when was the last time the media investigated facts before a rush to judgement? They have been carrying the water for the GOP time and time again. This maybe no different.

ThomThom

(1,486 posts)
12. Basically if certain groups (baggers for example) say they should not have to pay taxes,
Mon May 13, 2013, 01:53 PM
May 2013

is it not the job of the IRS to check and see that they do?
But to not know who was in charge and that he left is pretty lame.

SleeplessinSoCal

(9,110 posts)
18. Holy Cow! There's a feeding frenzy going on!
Mon May 13, 2013, 02:31 PM
May 2013

This will eventually make the news. Meanwhile we are left exposed to moronic behavior approved of and sanctioned by the GOP.

GoCubsGo

(32,079 posts)
31. Yup.
Mon May 13, 2013, 07:18 PM
May 2013

Loads of them burrowed all over in the government, especially in the Justice Department. All of them put there to pull shit like this.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
33. He has to make a big show of it for his "base".
Mon May 13, 2013, 08:07 PM
May 2013

The only people who are shocked by this are the teabaggers......the rest of us know that the IRS is supposed to go after tax cheats, and if there are a large number of cheats using certain names, that is where they should be looking. Targeting the local soup kitchen will be a waste of their efforts.

AndyA

(16,993 posts)
34. I saw this on The Last Word last night
Tue May 14, 2013, 07:45 AM
May 2013

Rubio is obviously in over his head. Maybe he was thirsty when he wrote that letter and didn't have his tiny little bottle of water handy.

Hekate

(90,645 posts)
38. When did facts ever get in the way of a good temper tantrum/outrage?
Tue May 14, 2013, 11:49 AM
May 2013

.... As DUers should well know ...

PatrynXX

(5,668 posts)
41. almost reminds me of Acorn
Tue May 14, 2013, 12:22 PM
May 2013

Acorn reports irregularities and suddenly someone does a fictional piece on them and poof.


I can see it now a Dem is running the IRS discovers issues and thats why news of this leaked. Republicans and Tea Part don't get along this has nothing to do with Obama. It would if the IRS bothered to do it's job and go after real mucked up Conservative places that shouldn't be taxless..

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
43. This is on the level of Romney immediately latching onto Benghazi before any facts were known.
Wed May 15, 2013, 05:18 AM
May 2013

Rubio is a panicky chihuahua and it will be a glorious event to watch him self-destruct during the GOP primary.

And even more glorious if he makes it to the nomination. He is another clueless Romney.

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