Obama's first failed appointment

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Redux

I'll be happy to continue to cite my posts ~snip~

welcome back - good info - good debate.

[classicman]

I think that it is way too early to determine anything conclusive about anything this administration is doing/has done. However, there have been some interesting developments so far.

The power struggle between the Pelosi/Reid congress & the Obama Administration.

The "stimulus bill" that may or may not really be all that stimulating.

The appointments with serious tax issues. Daschle was very demonstrative in helping get Obama elected. Obama owes him politically.

The transparency/change in the way this administration operates.

There are more, both good and ??? - lets see what happens.

[classicman]

Tom Daschle, slammed for not paying taxes, withdraws nomination

In a major blow to the Obama administration, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has withdrawn his nomination to be secretary of Health and Human Services. The president accepted his decision "with sadness and regret."

Daschle, who was under pressure from critics on Capitol Hill who assailed him for failing to pay $146,000 in back taxes for items including a limousine and driver, said that he did not want to be a distraction for President Obama.

But with South Carolina Republican Jim DeMint calling for him to withdraw, Daschle -- one of the president's earliest supporters -- told supporters he could felt the damage to his reputation would also hurt his influence in winning passage of major healthcare reform, a key Obama plank.

And it likely did not help his case that another Obama appointee, Nancy Killefer, withdrew her nomination today for a far smaller amount of nanny taxes, totaling less than $1,000.

Excellent. Too bad Geitner got though. I think he should do the right thing and step down also.
If this is a new way to run Washington, then let it be so.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by classicman

Excellent.

If you like seeing the administration falter in its first days in office, I suppose you would think it's excellent.

[tw]

Originally Posted by glatt

If you like seeing the administration falter in its first days in office, I suppose you would think it's excellent.

It really is silly and irrelevant. Obama probably owes Daschle some political favors. If so, those debts have been paid.

Meanwhile, Daschle does not have a very good track record as a leader. These tax problems may have saved us from another political hack. Daschle did reconnaissance picture analysis in the Air Force. He was even one of the few given pictures of Saddam's WMDs. Those pictures showed nothing. Daschle should have known that. Instead, Daschle supported George Jr's lies about Saddam's WMDs.

A good leader should have some credibility and honesty. The former Senate Democratic leader even lied about Saddam's WMDs. His withdrawal from consideration is probably a good thing for America. It says little to nothing about Obama. A responsible Tom Daschle would have told the truth back then about George Jr. Daschle’s problems are of his own making. So he is now doing what Dan Quayle did. Yes, similar credibility.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by glatt

If you like seeing the administration falter in its first days in office, I suppose you would think it's excellent.

Sorry I meant it was good that the people who were not paying their taxes or whatever were stepping aside. I think its the right thing and a stark change from the past.

[Clodfobble]

I don't necessarily think that it's a sign the administration is faltering, myself. If scandals come out and there are consequences (nominees are quickly shown the door,) I see that as a positive thing.

[sugarpop]

In Tom Daschle's case, I think it was an honest mistake. Sarah Palin didn't claim her husband's or children's travel expenses on her taxes, and they are not supposed to be free. She still hasn't fixed that mistake. No one is reaming her for that. (I know, she isn't running for anything now. But some republicans want her to be the leader of the party, and she was running as VP of the United States. So how is it different?)

Tom Daschle came clean about it when he realized the mistake, and he paid more than he had to. He paid the interest. We are missing out on a someone who could really do a lot of good.

I don't know about Geitner. I missed what happened there.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by sugarpop

Tom Daschle came clean about it when he realized the mistake, and he paid more than he had to. He paid the interest. We are missing out on a someone who could really do a lot of good.

I don't know about Geitner. I missed what happened there.

I think the timing of Daschle's "realization" was a lot circumspect. It seemed to happen in conjunction with an impending appointment.

He was forced to do the right thing in the end and thats the positive out of the situation. I (looks for lightning) agree with tw here - Daschle was not a good choice for the position. Not if Obama wants to change the "business as usual" mentality of this administration.

The Daschle withdrawal comes at the time of a related first signficant achievement by Obama and the Congressional Democrats.

Obama was planning to sign the SCHIP bill tomorrow; the bill that Congress enacted last week (and that Bush vetoed lat year) expanding the program to cover an additional 4+ million uninsured children. Daschle was supposed to be at his side and it was to be touted as the first step to providing quality, affordable health care to cover all children.

I guess we'll see if he postpones the bill signing to perhaps combine it with announcing a new nominee for HHS in which case, I think he will act quickly on a nominee.

[classicman]

Postpone it??? Why? Cuz a tax cheat got caught? Eff that. Forward my man! Obama is gettin shit done. keep it on a roll.
Hell the IRS should audit every congressman/woman and senator, then move right down the line through all the lobbyists and everyone else till all those involved with raising our taxes are damn sure paying theirs.

Originally Posted by classicman

Postpone it??? Why? Cuz a tax cheat got caught? Eff that. Forward my man! Obama is gettin shit done. keep it on a roll.....

No postponement

At 4:30 p.m. in the East Room, he signs the State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/....html?wprss=44

On the heals of Bush's veto of SCHIP last year, this marks one small step for change, one giant leap for children!

I like the $500,000 cap on executive compensation for companies receiving taxpayer bailouts that Obama will announce today as well.

More change!

[smoothmoniker]

I'm curious to get Radar's take on this.

[TheMercenary]

SCHIP is a good thing. He should be applauded for that move.

Another Obama third-week success?

This time for the environment as well as the earliest heritage of the country by putting on hold a Bush "fire sale" of oil and gas exploration leases in the waning days of his administration.

In a clear signal that the Obama administration is shifting the government's approach to energy exploration on public lands, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar yesterday canceled oil and gas leases on 77 parcels of federal land after opponents said the drilling would blight Utah's scenic southeastern corner.

Salazar's decision -- which reverses the Bush administration's move to allow drilling on about 130,000 acres near pristine areas such as Nine Mile Canyon, Arches National Park and Dinosaur National Monument -- is one of a series of steps that the new administration and congressional Democrats are planning to reshape federal regulation of drilling, mining, lumbering and other resource-tapping activities, both on U.S. soil and offshore.

full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...401785_pf.html

To understand the potential impact of oil and gas exploration on Utah's Nine Mile Canyon, the home to one of the most important and extensive collections of native American rock art.

Check out the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yveYWkpCnEw
(is there a way to embed youtube vids here or is that discouraged?)

In my opinion, these Bush last minute leases (issued with little or no opportunity for public comment or review) should be burned in a public display on the front lawn of the White House to send an even stronger message.

There are places to explore for new oil and gas resources (if necessary - and I dont think it is, with millions of acres already under lease to oil companies) and other areas that should remain untouched.

In close proximity to national parks and sacred landmarks should remain untouched!