Cheater Prospers

If the story first reported by the National Review’s Byron York is true, that President-elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of Treasury, Timothy Geithner, not only neglected to pay his taxes but was reimbursed for the taxes he didn’t pay, it seems hard to justify anybody’s continued support for his confirmation.

The IMF did not withhold state and federal income taxes or self-employment taxes — Social Security and Medicare — from its employees’ paychecks. But the IMF took great care to explain to those employees, in detail and frequently, what their tax responsibilities were. First, each employee was given the IMF Employee Tax Manual. Then, employees were given quarterly wage statements for the specific purpose of calculating taxes. Then, they were given year-end wage statements. And then, each IMF employee was required to file what was known as an Annual Tax Allowance Request. Geithner received all those documents.

The tax allowance has turned out to be a key part of the Geithner situation. This is how it worked. IMF employees were expected to pay their taxes out of their own money. But the IMF then gave them an extra allowance, known as a “gross-up,” to cover those tax payments. This was done in the Annual Tax Allowance Request, in which the employee filled out some basic information — marital status, dependent children, etc. — and the IMF then estimated the amount of taxes the employee would owe and gave the employee a corresponding allowance.

At the end of the tax allowance form were the words, “I hereby certify that all the information contained herein is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and that I will pay the taxes for which I have received tax allowance payments from the Fund.” Geithner signed the form. He accepted the allowance payment. He didn’t pay the tax. For several years in a row.

Michelle Malkin has a follow-up which seems to corroborate York’s interpretation, and the story has also been picked up by AOL.  A Wall Street Journal opinion piece questions the wisdom of allowing a man so incompetent with his own taxes to oversee everybody else’s.  While some may dismiss these allegations as mere partisan griping, the questions, in my mind, seem fair.  The New York Times‘ assertion that Geithner’s “skill” may trump concerns because if he were a bank he would be considered “too big to fail,” just sounds silly:

In better economic times, Mr. Geithner’s confirmation to be President-elect Barack Obama’s Treasury secretary might be in danger after the disclosure this week that he had paid more than $48,000 in delinquent taxes and interest. But with the economy so fragile, many senators are loath to rattle financial markets by rejecting someone with Mr. Geithner’s qualifications and international respect. By late Wednesday, Republicans as well as Democrats were predicting he would survive the controversy and be confirmed next week.

So, with the economy in the tank, what we really need is a tax cheat in charge of the government’s money?  The 350 million bailout dollars Obama is fighting tooth and nail for should be turned over to this guy to spend?  U.S. News and World Report’s Michael Barrone, who had dinner with the Obamessiah, (who promised to Astroturf Geithner through) seems to think so, even though he admits that he can understand why some Senators might be a little miffed:

If I were a senator, I’d be inclined to vote for the nomination of Timothy Geithner to be treasury secretary, for reasons suggested by Nina Easton. By all accounts, he’s very able and knowledgeable, and he’s already been part of the nation’s lead economic team as chairman of the New York Fed. And it’s very important to have a treasury secretary in place these days. But I have to say that his failure to pay self-employment tax is troubling and could certainly provide a reasonable basis for a senator to vote no. I have income from which no taxes are deducted and I make sure to pay my taxes on it (today, by the way, is the deadline for filing your quarterly returns). I can’t imagine what he was thinking when he didn’t pay.

CQ Politics claims that the Senate’s wussy response to charges, some of the sort  that caused immediate outrage derailing other appointees in the past, is due to the overall wussiness of the current Congress and the Obama transition teams’ tap dancing ability.  And, according to a David Brooks/Gail Collins New York Times article, the Astroturfing of the MSM to promote the president-elect’s Obamacanacracy philosophy is working way beyond anybody’s wildest expectations.  From David Brooks:

As for me, My O-Meter is in the ascendant. I was very high on him about a year ago, then I soured a bit last summer, but now we’re peaking again. Not because he was thoughtful enough to have dinner with some of us right-leaners this week, but rather because his transition has surpassed all my expectations.

edit

It’s true, I did break bread with Obama. It was amazing. He was carried into the house by cherubs, Bruce Springsteen and Oprah Winfrey spread rose pedals on the carpet where he was about to walk and he very considerately asked me what vintage of wine I wanted my water turned into.

It’s not as clear that the last quote was as snarky as you would expect a right-winger’s comments to be, since Brooks basically waxes poetic about how impressed and comfortable he is with Obama.  While Obama’s smartest pick,  Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State,  rightfully sails through the confirmation process, and Tom Daschle’s appointment is quietly being held up in committee, look for the handiwork of Obama’s brain, political ventriloquist and Astro-gardener, David Asselfuck’s handiwork in smoothing the way for Geithner and Attorney General wannabe, Eric Holder, as well as in the media response to Obama’s stimulus plan and TARP request.  Roland Burris will likely esacape any further Asslefuck media influence manipulation, now that he’s been sworn in, but the man who appointed him to the Senate, Rod Blagojevich, will continue to be Asslefucked into perdition.

And, (everybody) the wheels on the bus…

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chil’ Please!

In a recent post over at The Confluence by SM77, the sheer silliness of the overabundance of Obama product pimping, of everything from plates and coins to action figures and pajamas, was highlighted and duly mocked as Obama Porn, or the obscenely excessive display of ObamaLove.  But that was before this, from PRWeb:

Joseph Enterprises Inc., the makers and distributors of several famous household gifts and functional products announce an addition to their Chia Pet line of products, the Chia Obama, to honor our 44th US President.

This Special Edition CHIA OBAMA is a handmade decorative figurine in the likeness of President Barack Obama.

Like its other American Icon, the Chia Pet, the Chia Obama is easy to do and fun to grow. Chia Obama will be available online at www.chiaobama.com. It comes with a Chia Seed packet, enough for three plantings. This is a great gift idea for friends and family.

Joseph Enterprises also manufactures and/or distributes other exciting products, including Licensed Chia Pet products such as Chia Scooby-Doo, Chia Garfield, Chia Shrek and Chia Simpsons. It also markets the Chia Herb Garden, Chia Cat Grass, The Clapper, The ‘Ove’ Glove, the Creosote Sweeping Log and the Classic Pen Set. Most items are sold through retail chains across the USA and Canada, during the Christmas Holiday season.

Now, I thought America jumped the shark with the Obama/Spiderman team-up, and I have even called President Pet Rock a Chia Pet and a Clapper before, but, I was being derisive and dismissive.  Not so, these pimps people, they’re dead serious about cashing in on the Obafad.  However, nothing takes the cake, like this. (Click at your own risk, must be 18 or older and in reasonably good health.  I’m not kidding, proceed at your own risk.)  An alternate site carries the product cheaper.  This is apparently not a joke, but a novelty.

This is not a joke, either.

Blagojevich Arms His Firing Squad

Why would Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich beseech the legislative body determined to remove him from office based on allegations of wrongdoing to “find the truth and sort things out, to put the business of the people first?”   Presiding over a “tense swearing in of the state Senate,” comprised of lawmakers who have made no secret that they’ve already made up their minds that he’s not only guilty of any and everything he has ever been accused of in his life, he’s beneath contempt, why doesn’t he just play along and act guilty?  Is he crazy, or does he know something the rest of us can only guess at?  From CBS News:

Impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich presided Wednesday over a tense swearing-in of the state Senate that must ultimately decide whether to oust him, telling the lawmakers he hopes they will “find the truth and sort things out.”

The Democratic governor was greeted by silence as he entered the Senate chamber through a back entrance, took the podium without introduction and banged a gavel to call the session to order. He mostly stuck to the formalities of overseeing the ceremony during the hour or so he presided over the chamber.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Blagojevich received a summons for his impeachment trial from the state Senate. Spokeswoman Kelley Quinn said the governor’s legal team accepted the summons from the Illinois Senate’s sergeant-at-arms.

The Senate also approved rules for the trial, which is to begin Jan. 26. The rules govern issues such as issuing subpoenas. They also allow a majority of senators to override rulings by the judge.

So, basically, the Senators can do whatever the heck they feel like doing as they fast track this done deal.  Why the rush?  If he is slime, he’s been slime for years.  So, is it an attempt at face-saving revenge for his out-maneuvering the Democrats on the state and federal level by appointing Roland Burris as a replacement for Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat that they had no choice but to accept that motivates them now?   Are they angered that his arrest and allegations of his long-term corruption reflects badly on all of them now that the election as president of one of their own puts them in the national spotlight?  Or, is there more to it than that?

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the investigation that resulted in Blagojevich’s Dec. 9th arrest is more extensive than previously thought.  More phones were tapped, and comings and goings into his campaign headquarters were being videotaped, and possibly still are.

Federal authorities used a video camera as part of their cache of tools to investigate Gov. Blagojevich in the final weeks of 2008 before his arrest, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The camera, which likely was remote-controlled, was trained on the Friends of Blagojevich offices, 4147 N. Ravenswood, to help FBI agents identify individuals entering and leaving the campaign offices — and to identify who was talking on bugs agents covertly planted inside.

In addition, more phone lines and cell phones were tapped in the investigation than the government previously disclosed — including the cell phones of at least three members of the governor’s inner circle and two phones inside the campaign office — capturing dozens of individuals in the days when the governor was pondering a U.S. Senate pick and when horsetrading for the seat was rampant, sources said. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is likely among the numerous individuals recorded because he called Blagojevich’s campaign office Dec. 3 to discuss his preferences for the seat.

Poor Rod.  He’s being run out of town on a rail by frightened villagers convinced he’s a threat to all that’s holy and decent.  Standing before the angry mob of the Senate, fulfilling his constitutional obligations in pretty much presiding over his own impeachment, had to feel like he was being forced to load all the guns they were arming themselves with to point at his head and make him go.  Makes you wonder why he’s not quite freaking out about it.  After all, he could just quit.