"Mistakes Were Made"

[B-Man]

True Scandal

A tea-party group targeted by Democrats gets attention from the IRS—and the FBI, OSHA, and the ATF.

 

Catherine Engelbrecht’s tale has all the markings of a classic conspiracy theory: She says she thinks that because of her peaceful political activity, she and her family was targeted for scrutiny by hostile federal agencies.

 

Yet as news emerges that the Internal Revenue Service wielded its power to obstruct conservative groups, Catherine’s story becomes credible — and chilling. It also raises questions about whether other federal agencies have used their executive powers to target those deemed political enemies.

 

Before the Engelbrecht family’s three-year ordeal began, Catherine says, “I had no real expectation or preparation for the blood sport that American politics is.” Sounding weary on the phone, she continues: “It’s all been a through-the-looking-glass experience.”

 

Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who specializes in representing conservative organizations, says that the Engelbrecht family’s experience is “just the tip of the iceberg. . . . I think there’s definitely a Chicago-politics-style enemies list in this administration, and I think it permeates this branch of the federal government.”

 

{snip}

 

Two months later, the IRS initiated the first round of questions for True the Vote. Catherine painstakingly answered them, knowing that nonprofit status would help with the organization’s credibility, donors, and grant applications. In October, the IRS requested additional information. And whenever Catherine followed up with IRS agents about the status of True the Vote’s application, “there was always a delay that our application was going to be up next, and it was just around the corner,” she says,

 

As this was occurring, the FBI continued to phone King Street Patriots. In May 2011, agents phoned wondering “how they were doing.” The FBI made further inquiries in June, November, and December asking whether there was anything to report.

 

The situation escalated in 2012. That February, True the Vote received a third request for information from the IRS, which also sent its first questionnaire to King Street Patriots. Catherine says the IRS had “hundreds of questions — hundreds and hundreds of questions.” The IRS requested every Facebook post and Tweet she had ever written. She received questions about her family, whether she’d ever run for political office, and which organizations she had spoken to.

 

“It’s no great secret that the IRS is considered to be one of the more serious [federal agencies],” Catherine says. “When you get a call from the IRS, you don’t take it lightly. So when you’re asked questions that seem to imply a sense of disapproval, it has a very chilling effect.”

 

On the same day they received the questions from the IRS, Catherine says, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) launched an unscheduled audit of their machine shop, forcing the Engelbrechts to drop everything planned for that day. Though the Engelbrechts have a Class 7 license, which allows them to make component parts for guns, they do not manufacture firearms. Catherine said that while the ATF had a right to conduct the audit, “it was odd that they did it completely unannounced, and they took five, six hours. . . . It was so extensive. It just felt kind of weird.”

 

That was in February. In July, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration paid a visit to Engelbrecht Manufacturing while Bryan, Catherine, and their children were out of town. The OSHA inspector talked with the managerial staff and employees, inspecting the premises minutely. But Bryan says the agent found only “little Mickey Mouse stuff, like, ‘You have safety glasses on, but not the right kind; the forklift has a seatbelt, but not the right kind.’” Yet Catherine and Bryan said the OSHA inspector complimented them on their tightly run shop and said she didn’t know why she had been sent to examine it.

 

Not long after, the tab arrived. OSHA was imposing $25,000 in fines on Engelbrecht Manufacturing.

[Cinga]

It gets worse....

 

http://spectator.org/archives/2013/05/20/obama-and-the-irs-the-smoking

[B-Man]

Michael Barone: Obama’s IRS and AP scandals cast Big Chill on free speech.

 

Which, of course, is the goal......................

 

 

Column from John Kass , long-time Chicago newspaperman........................

 

IRS scandal a reminder of how I learned about The Chicago Way.

The Internal Revenue Service scandal now devouring the Obama administration — the outrageous use of the federal taxing authority to target tea party and other conservatives — certainly makes for meaty partisan politics.

 

But this scandal is about more than partisanship. It’s bigger than whether the Republicans win or the Democrats lose.

 

It’s even bigger than President Barack Obama. Yes, bigger than Obama.

It is opening American eyes to the fundamental relationship between free people and those who govern them.

This one is about the Republic and whether we can keep it.

 

And it started me thinking of years ago, of my father and my uncle in Chicago and how government muscle really works.

 

Because if you want to understand The Chicago Way of things in Washington these days, with the guys from Chicago in charge of the White House and the federal leviathan, there’s one place you start:

 

You start in Chicago. . . .

 

This is America, I said.

 

“Are you in your good senses?” said my father. “We have lives here. We have businesses. If we get involved in politics,

they

will ruin us.”

 

And no one, not the Roosevelt Democrats or the Reagan Republicans, disagreed. The socialists, the communists, the royalists, everyone nodded their heads.

 

This was Chicago. And for a business owner to get involved meant one thing: It would cost you money and somebody from government could destroy you.

 

The health inspectors would come, and the revenue department, the building inspectors, the fire inspectors, on and on. The city code books aren’t thick because politicians like to write new laws and regulations. The codes are thick because when government swings them at a citizen, they hurt.

 

And who swings the codes and regulations at those who’d open their mouths? A government worker. That government worker owes his or her job to the political boss. And that boss has a boss.

 

The worker doesn’t have to be told. The worker wants a promotion. If an irritant rises, it is erased. The hack gets a promotion. This is government.

 

So everybody kept their mouths shut, and Chicago was hailed by national political reporters as the city that works.

 

.

[PastaJoe]

[meazza]

 

What a partisan hack you are.

[3rdnlng]

It gets worse....

 

http://spectator.org/archives/2013/05/20/obama-and-the-irs-the-smoking

 

From your link:

 

In White House language, “POTUS” stands for “President of the United States.”

 

The very next day after her White House meeting with the President, according to the Treasury Department’s Inspector General’s Report, IRS employees — the same employees who belong to the NTEU — set to work in earnest targeting the Tea Party and conservative groups around America. The IG report wrote it up this way:

 

April 1-2, 2010: The new Acting Manager, Technical Unit, suggested the need for a Sensitive Case Report on the Tea Party cases. The Determinations Unit Program Manager Agreed.

 

In short: the very day after the president of the quite publicly anti-Tea Party labor union — the union for IRS employees — met with President Obama, the manager of the IRS “Determinations Unit Program agreed” to open a “Sensitive Case report on the Tea party cases.” As stated by the IG report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a partisan hack you are.

 

Nobody has mentioned Hillary here recently. I wonder what woke the dolt up?

[B-Man]

Nothing wrong with Political cartoons, yours fails Pasta Joe because it is based on false perception, and thus is not funny................

 

 

There is more logic in humor than in anything else. Because, you see, humor is truth. ~Victor Borge

 

Many a true word is spoken in jest. ~English Proverb

 

Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words. ~Dorothy Parker

 

.

[DC Tom]

What a partisan hack you are.

 

Joe's fine with the abuse of government powers, as long as he dislikes the people being abused.

 

But if the IRS asks the SF Gay Men's Chorus to list all the sexual partners of their choir members, I'm sure he'll start screaming about it.

[IDBillzFan]

 

You should genuinely be ashamed of yourself. The abuse of power by the IRS is wide and specific and about as scary a crime as I've ever personally watched our government commit.

 

But Tom essentially nails it for a useless progressive tool like you. If the IRS were going after an illegal immigrant or gay basketball player, you'd be schitting purple twinkies and yelling something about Bush.

 

But the people they seek to silence disagree with your mindless, gutless snotbag of a brain cell, so it's perfectly okay with you.

 

You need a new country because this one will never be what you hope Obama will make it. Maybe you can join JTSP and give your allegiance to Assad. He sounds more in your mental and ideological league.

[B-Man]

 

 

You need a new country because this one will never be what you hope Obama will make it.

 

I hope you're right.......

 

 

Has an Iron Curtain Descended on the Cincinnati IRS Office?

 

ABC News visited the IRS Determinations office in Cincinnati, OH, the office that determines eligibility for 501©(3) and (4) groups. It has become a security state.

On Thursday morning, after news that Miller was sacked,

two ABC News journalists

walked into the Peck Federal Building in Cincinnati looking for answers. The newsmen were screened at the door by security. They emptied their pockets as instructed, removed their belts, then went through the metal detectors.We wanted to ask who about made the decisions in the unit and when the profiling started. And whether those decision makers been identified yet.

 

But the answers – like the people involved – remained elusive.

 

As we traveled the public hallways of the building – watched over by security cameras – an armed uniformed police officer with the Federal Protective Service followed us. We were looking for a particular office—of someone who would not want to be seen talking to reporters–but chose to bypass it because of our official babysitter.

 

Asked why we were being escorted in a public building, the officer identified himself as Insp. Mike Finkelstein and said he was only trying to make sure that the newsmen were not a “nuisance.” He brushed aside further questions. The cop said a supervisor would call to explain.

One of the reporters wanted to know if the act of following the journalists was an effort intended to scare off any federal employee who might have considered speaking to the press. That’s sure what it looked like; and, even if that wasn’t the goal, it was the effect.

 

The supervisor never called to explain. After repeated calls to Washington to obtain an explanation, the Department of Homeland Security eventually called back to tell the ABC reporters that the security guard following them around was proper.

 

So, the reporters’ calls of inquiry about a Department of the Treasury office were eventually referred over to the Department of Homeland Security. For what?

 

Is this America anymore, or have we truly been fundamentally transformed into something else?

[3rdnlng]

Joe's fine with the abuse of government powers, as long as he dislikes the people being abused.

 

But if the IRS asks the SF Gay Men's Chorus to list all the sexual partners of their choir members, I'm sure he'll start screaming about it.

 

 

There's a chance he's on that list multiple times. After all, he's into linguinne, and it might be al dente.

[B-Man]

More Cartoons........................................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cinga]

And now, Lois Lerner, who headed up the IRS office with oversight into tax exempt groups, has asked out of hearing with Congress stating she will plead the 5th....

 

From her attorney:

"She has not committed any crime or made any misrepresentation, but under the circumstances, she has no choice but to take this course," attorney William Taylor wrote Monday. He asked that his client be excused from appearing at the hearing chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.

 

Last I heard, you can only plead the 5th if something you say may incriminate you, so by this very statement, she should be held in contempt. You can't issue a statement that you did nothing wrong and that is why your claiming the 5th....

 

Read it here in this USA Today article for the liberty challenged among us.....

[B-Man]

From her attorney:

 

"She has not committed any crime or made any misrepresentation, but under the circumstances, she has no choice but to take this course," attorney William Taylor wrote Monday. He asked that his client be excused from appearing at the hearing chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.

 

 

 

Well, lets review.

 

She was informed of the targeting at least a year ago

 

She had a lawyer set up a fake question to get the information out there (a week before the report was coming out)

 

She admitted that "mistakes were made"

 

she apologized.

 

 

Yep....................she's done all she can do..........................taking the 5th is obviously her only recourse.......................BS !

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited May 22, 2013 by B-Man

[Cinga]

From her attorney:

 

 

 

 

 

Well, lets review.

 

She was informed of the targeting at least a year ago

 

She had a lawyer set up a fake question to get the information out there (a week before the report was coming out)

 

She admitted that "mistakes were made"

 

she apologized.

 

 

Yep....................she's done all she can do..........................taking the 5th is obviously her only recourse.......................BS !

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

But.... but... she apologized!!! isn't that enough???

 

wishing I had a sarcasm font...

 

but lets not lose focus on the big picture in all this:

Fast and Furious

Benghazi

Shovel ready jobs

Green payoffs to lackeys

Fiat Immigration "reform"

Refusal to defend laws in court

The Tsarnovs (and how many more, here illegally)

North Korea/Iran

It's not a tax, until the Supremes call it a tax

Raping Medicare and Medicaid to fund PBOcare

Keystone

Gas 1.78 to 3.70 in 4 years

Gun Control

ObamaCare will save you money

Ft Hood workplace violence

Border "security"

and oh...

the IRS scandal

The AP scandal (that is growing)

 

and there's more... but in the POTUS defense.... he only learned of these things in the news, when we did.....

as did:

Holder

Carney

Lerner

Miller

Clinton

Lew

Petrerus

Geitner

Axelrod

Emanuel

Jarrett

 

Is there anyone at all in charge???

[3rdnlng]

But.... but... she apologized!!! isn't that enough???

 

wishing I had a sarcasm font...

 

but lets not lose focus on the big picture in all this:

Fast and Furious

Benghazi

Shovel ready jobs

Green payoffs to lackeys

Fiat Immigration "reform"

Refusal to defend laws in court

The Tsarnovs (and how many more, here illegally)

North Korea/Iran

It's not a tax, until the Supremes call it a tax

Raping Medicare and Medicaid to fund PBOcare

Keystone

Gas 1.78 to 3.70 in 4 years

Gun Control

ObamaCare will save you money

Ft Hood workplace violence

Border "security"

and oh...

the IRS scandal

The AP scandal (that is growing)

 

and there's more... but in the POTUS defense.... he only learned of these things in the news, when we did.....

as did:

Holder

Carney

Lerner

Miller

Clinton

Lew

Petrerus

Geitner

Axelrod

Emanuel

Jarrett

 

Is there anyone at all in charge???

 

It would appear that you don't think Obama is doing a good job.

[OCinBuffalo]

Lois Lerner, or her attorney, may have just screwed the Obama Admin. with their pants on.

 

When somebody takes the 5th, suddenly the concept of criminality comes into play. If there is the potential for someone to incriminate themselves, then logically, there is the potential for criminal behavior to have occurred. Potential criminal behavior REQUIRES a criminal investigation, or, the rule of law truly is dead.

 

Thus, now, the only solution to this is a special prosecutor, as they are the only ones who can conduct criminal investigations.

 

........

 

Also, looking at the big picture, and speaking of logic, there are only 2 possible outcomes here:

 

1. Obama et al did this, they ordered it, or somebody in the campaign/WH ordered it, possibly along with members of Congress. They did it, it was their idea, and the IRS simply followed orders.

 

2. Obama et al had nothing/little to do with this. IRS employees on their own concocted this mess out of personal and/or political interest. They took it upon themselves to use the regulations they created against those with whom they disagree, or, more simply, against those who seek to reduce their power.

 

That's it. Pick one. You can't pick neither, and be a serious person. Now, I ask all of you: which schit sandwich do the big $ leftist donors like the best? We will soon find out the answer to that one. But, think about it:

 

If they go with #1, then Obama, and any Congress people who are part of it, have to be done. Perhaps not impeached, but done all the same. You can't have these guys running around being the Geico lizard for progressive politics for the next 3 years. That's entirely too much time, even for Republicans, to have to wail away at them, and therefore their ideology. Instead, you have to tell him to basically shut it down, and just try to get as many compromises as you can, concede 2014, and hope that 2016 is far enough away that people forget, and are willing to give "the life of Julia" another hearing.

 

If they go with #2, then Big Government is done. Perhaps not permanently, but, if they save Obama, then the IRS and therefore, "activist government" takes the huge hit. In fact the term itself is done, because, think of all the "yeah we've seen what happens when activists are in government" jokes. Jokes, that will be funny because they are true. How can we have this kind of abuse? Answer: Bound to happen when you give people this kind of power. And, therein lies the end of liberal/progressive politics as we know it. For a generation, anybody suggesting that we increase the scope of government will be beaten down by this scandal, because Big Government, and not Obama, IS the scandal.

 

"May you live in interesting times" is a Chinese curse that is now upon the left. It will be interesting indeed, to see which choice they make. I assure you, they won't be able to avoid picking, and sticking with one or the other. Perhaps the smartest thing they can do is waffle between the two for as long as they can, and hope we eventually get bored with them lying.

Edited May 22, 2013 by OCinBuffalo

[meazza]

[DC Tom]

Lois Lerner, or her attorney, may have just screwed the Obama Admin. with their pants on.

 

When somebody takes the 5th, suddenly the concept of criminality comes into play. If there is the potential for someone to incriminate themselves, then logically, there is the potential for criminal behavior to have occurred. Potential criminal behavior REQUIRES a criminal investigation, or, the rule of law truly is dead.

 

Thus, now, the only solution to this is a special prosecutor, as they are the only ones who can conduct criminal investigations.

 

........

 

Also, looking at the big picture, and speaking of logic, there are only 2 possible outcomes here:

 

1. Obama et al did this, they ordered it, or somebody in the campaign/WH ordered it, possibly along with members of Congress. They did it, it was their idea, and the IRS simply followed orders.

 

2. Obama et al had nothing/little to do with this. IRS employees on their own concocted this mess out of personal and/or political interest. They took it upon themselves to use the regulations they created against those with whom they disagree, or, more simply, against those who seek to reduce their power.

 

That's it. Pick one. You can't pick neither, and be a serious person. Now, I ask all of you: which schit sandwich do the big $ leftist donors like the best? We will soon find out the answer to that one. But, think about it:

 

If they go with #1, then Obama, and any Congress people who are part of it, have to be done. Perhaps not impeached, but done all the same. You can't have these guys running around being the Geico lizard for progressive politics for the next 3 years. That's entirely too much time, even for Republicans, to have to wail away at them, and therefore their ideology. Instead, you have to tell him to basically shut it down, and just try to get as many compromises as you can, concede 2014, and hope that 2016 is far enough away that people forget, and are willing to give "the life of Julia" another hearing.

 

If they go with #2, then Big Government is done. Perhaps not permanently, but, if they save Obama, then the IRS and therefore, "activist government" takes the huge hit. In fact the term itself is done, because, think of all the "yeah we've seen what happens when activists are in government" jokes. Jokes, that will be funny because they are true. How can we have this kind of abuse? Answer: Bound to happen when you give people this kind of power. And, therein lies the end of liberal/progressive politics as we know it. For a generation, anybody suggesting that we increase the scope of government will be beaten down by this scandal, because Big Government, and not Obama, IS the scandal.

 

"May you live in interesting times" is a Chinese curse that is now upon the left. It will be interesting indeed, to see which choice they make. I assure you, they won't be able to avoid picking, and sticking with one or the other. Perhaps the smartest thing they can do is waffle between the two for as long as they can, and hope we eventually get bored with them lying.

 

That's the EXACT same logic the left used in 2007 to try to undermine Alberto Gonzales and Bush w/r/y the attorney firings.

[OCinBuffalo]

That's the EXACT same logic the left used in 2007 to try to undermine Alberto Gonzales and Bush w/r/y the attorney firings.

Seriously: do you have to ruin every single F'ing thing?

 

You don't see any humor value in using every single Bush era argument that was made by the "I heard it on MSNBC" people, and have them argue against those arguments, while being completely oblivious that they are doing it? None at all? I WAS going to have lots of fun with this.

 

Whatever. The second part of what I said above is much more important, because it's much more convincing for the average Joe. Everybody knows the IRS. Much fewer people know the difference between a US Attorney and a District Attorney, and the only reason they know the latter? Law and Order.

 

In terms of scope and scale, the IRS affront to the Republic is just a tiny bit larger than some USA nobody knew or cared about, don't you think? I'm not excusing that bad behavior, just the opposite: I'm taking it into full account and using it as a precedent.

 

Gonzales ended up gone, and that's as it should be. Given this IRS thing's scale, a whole lot more people than a guy like Gonzalez, will end up going, and somebody WILL have to serve time, if Obama is to have any chance of retaining any power. This will also likely cost Obama 2014 and his 2nd term agenda, unless something like "John Boehner and 80 House Republicans use military aircraft to ship coke." happens.

 

His legacy remains for him to determine, no different than yours is for you: the choices he makes starting today are his legacy.