Here come my right wing friends. "Delay gets 3 years - what about Rangel?"

[Ishoutandscream2]

Librul media, Rangel is getting off because he's "black" etc. etc.

I tell them that this was a state court that prosecuted Delay - a very, very Republican red state. When even the establishment of my own state can't stand the Bug Man, then he must be a pretty shitty guy. It doesn't totally shut up my wing nut friends, but they do say I have a point.

[KansDem]

1. Just respond with...

"Assange gets arrested -- what about Bush?"

Conservative media, Bush is getting off because he's a "good ol' boy, likes to give nicknames, we all want to have a beer with him" etc. etc.

[valerief]

5. Badda bing! nt

[EC]

2. Rangel did nothing illegal..

unethical, but not illegal.

[msanthrope]

4. eh--no. Not reporting income and not paying your taxes owed is illegal.

Luckily, Rangel won't see jail, since the amounts are relatively small, but it is still illegal.

[EC]

7. He paid them when the error was pointed out..

not illegal - it's the same as when we get audited and end up paying because of missing something...it's happened to me and I'm not a criminal...

[msanthrope]

8. That doesn't make it not illegal--and frankly, you don't 'forget' property you've owned since 1988.

It's one thing to miss something on your yearly taxes, and pay when audited.

It's quite another to own property since 1988, and 'forget' to mention it in your state filings, federal filings, and House disclosure forms....

[EC]

10. Not to continue the argument - but there are degrees

of illegality.. but I'm also SURE that Rangel didn't do his own taxes. He likely doesn't even see any of the W-2's etc...his accountant does...and like all of us when we have someone else do our taxes (because supposedly they know more about it than we do) we just sign, figuring they know what they are doing, therefore it must be right...


What Tom Delay did...he planned out from the beginning to do exactly what was done...I've always figured those PAC's and Charities these guys set up are cons to get money for themselves and friends...

[msanthrope]

11. I don't disagree with you that there are degrees of culpability.

I just disagree with the statement that Rangel did 'nothing illegal.'

As for the affirmative defense that someone else did his taxes, well, I'd buy that if we were talking about only a few filings--but we are talking about multiple filings, to different agencies.

And, he was the head of the House committee responsible for the federal tax code...

Nobody's perfect, and I'm glad he paid up.

[Hannah Bell]

9. less than $5000 5 years back taxes on a property he bought for about $90K in

the dominican republic in the 80s.

big-time "lawbreaking" there.

[msanthrope]

12. 20 years of back taxes---state and federal, and the 5k number was surpassed long ago.

Interestingly, you seem to be making an argument that the amount of money involved should determine legality--an argument that might make your avatar spin in his grave, non?

[Hannah Bell]

13. not according to the report i got that number from. & i made no argument whatsoever.

[Denninmi]

3. I suppose facts won't be effective in this situation.

The FACTS are that Delay was indicted, tried, and convicted on criminal charges in a court of law. Charlie was charged in the House with a violation of their ethics rules, tried, convicted, and "sentenced" to his censure. It was NEVER a criminal investigation within the jurisdiction of the court system. The House can't send someone to jail except for Contempt of Congress if the person fails to comply with a Subpoena. And, that is not as a "punishment" after being convicted of a crime, but a method of coercion to compel cooperation.

[NoGOPZone]

6. So they don't understand the difference between the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch?

Why do they hate America?