Senate Finance Committee Geithner vote 18-5: Meet your B.O. Republicans
I’m in between flights home after a quick NYC trip. The Geithner Senate Finance Committee vote is over. He sailed through despite his “tax goofs” and legal “trivialities.”
I joked the other day about the capitulationists I’m now calling the “B.O. (Barack Obama/Bend Over) Republicans.”
Here they are:
Mr. Geithner’s abilities and credentials were never at issue, and even those conservative Republicans who differ with Mr. Geithner ideologically said they were glad to support him.
“I’m not sure he comes from where I come from, but he’s the president’s nominee,” said Senator Mike Crapo, Republican of Idaho.
Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, said he was sure Mr. Geithner was “a person of great integrity, even though he’s made these mistakes,” an allusion to the back-taxes issue. Mr. Hatch praised Mr. Geithner as “non-ideological, which to me is very important.”
Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, said he was “willing to give Mr. Geithner the benefit of the doubt” on his tax mistakes. But, he added pointedly, he was not willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the so-called “masters of the universe,” apparently meaning the once-mighty Wall Street figures who have borne much of the blame for the current economic troubles.
The other Republicans who endorsed Mr. Geithner were Olympia J. Snowe of Maine and John Ensign of Nevada.
And here are the GOP Senators who will be able to point back proudly to their votes when the B.O. Republicans start panicking in the wake of more Geithner-engineered failures:
The five senators who voted “no” are all Republicans: Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, Jon Kyl of Arizona, Jim Bunning of Kentucky, Pat Roberts of Kansas and Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming.
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Categories: Tim Geithner
So now we have a head of the IRS who can’t do his own taxes. I suddenly feel all hopey and changey….
Must be the drugs….
Now that he will probably get confirmed, does that mean we can all start to cheat on our taxes, and only pay “if” we get caught? After all, I’m just taking example from the guy who’s potentially leading the IRS in the near future.
What do you think we are? Democrats???
We would be in the slammer so fast your head would spin
Tell me something: If unethical Ivy League Educated bankers brought about this crisis, why is everybody so sure unethical Ivy League educated bankers are going to fix it?
OMIGAAAAAAAWD.
Orrin, go away already!
I like the term ‘Vichy Republicans’, but then again, BO Republicans captures the same idea.
As Bill Grant would tell you, “Democrat is the new Republican.”
What’s with the meme that Geithner is such a rocket scientist? From where I sit, he’s got nothing but a string of failures to show for his supposed talents. The banking system practically collapsed on his watch, he was instrumental in the brain-dead TARP scheme, and he can’t even do his own taxes. Oh yea, he’s a genius.
Here Fido, here Fido, sit, roll over, up, up, up – that’s a good lapdog!
Yech!!!
A great deal is being asked of him and, he just better know what he is doing . . . this time.
For the record, if this ‘bailout money’ must be spent, I support a Resolution Trust Corporation type of structure. No more money directly to the banks. Get the bad paper cleaned up. Restructure and deal with some personal responsibility. No freebies. No giveaways.
That is what we were told the first chunk of change was going to do. My hope is that what we are told this time is actually what is done.
RTC worked before and it can work again.
Geithner, no more honest mistakes. Dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’. You’re getting a really big second chance, buddy.
Atta boy Chuck!! My man!!!
I prefer “BOATT” Republicans: Bend Over and Touch Toes. Gives a better image of the full extent of their boot-licking. LOL.
Your highly touted quarterback throws 6 interceptions in a game and your team gets routed. After the game you also find out he bets on football games, but admits his “mistake.”
Good idea, let him start again and bet all your money that he will somehow pull the game out so you do not lose your savings.
HUH?
Yep, they stink alright.
Major kudos to Jon Kyl, though it didn’t make much difference in the end.
HAH!!!
Get this:
Maybe Geithner’s still looking for his Deputy?
My letter (that I just sent) to Cornyn (verbatim):
What in the hell were you thinking when you gave the thumbs up to Geithner? Are you out of your mind?
It’s no wonder we, the GOP, got our asses kicked in the last election. You RINOs NEED TO RETIRE FROM PUBLIC SERVICE AND NEVER SHOW YOUR FACES AGAIN
You think Hussein wants to work the the right. He doesn’t. You think America is united. It’s not. You think his appointments will do what is in the best interest of this nation. They won’t.
You’ve screwed us, again! And I’m sick of it. I’m sick of the cowardly GOP not taking a stand on principle. I’m tired of the GOP lack of leadership. And I’m sick of RINOs like you calling yourselves Republicans.
You’re nothing more than lackeys for Hussein.
You’re lower than cockroach feces.
Just. Leave. Office!!
Can we get a Transportation Secretary nominee with some DUI arrests/convictions, or other such “trivialities”?
wow…..
We could have a appointee to head the ATF who has a prior conviction for bootlegging?
I don’t mind Republican legislators bending over backwards to assist the transition.
Backwards Only, however.
HAHAHAHAHAHA! Perfect. Don’t forget that they could not have brought about this crisis without their omnipresent congressional democrat enablers, all of whom should, but will not, be on their way to jail right now.
No, I like your first characterization better. Vichy. It captures so much more.
Michelle, those Republicans aren’t the ones bending over; we are. They don’t have their backs turned on Obama, they are on their knees facing forward.
The only reason he paid the taxes is because he caught. PERIOD
He’s a perfect fit for the new administration.
This puts an exclaimation point on something I have felt for a long time. We DO NOT have a two party system we have the Democratic wing and the Republican wing of the political class. there are no longer significant differences between them. Just like the NFL and AFL combined into the NFC and AFC. Minor leagues cannot break in i.e. Libertarians or other “3rd parties”. I am relieved that there were 5 individuals willing to call wrong wrong, but do not have faith that we will ever see meaningful differences or debate again any time soon.
Crisis started by the Federal Reserve? Check. Crisis ignored by the Federal Reserve? Check. Horrible response to the crisis engineered by the Federal Reserve? Check. New Treasury Secretary to oversee a crumbling economy? Former president of the New York Federal Reserve.
Good call, my guess is he was opposed on partisan lines, and not ideologically. The government ruling class (with the exception of a scant few) all believe wholeheartedly in Keynesian Economic theory.
Cheating on your taxes (or not paying them) is NOT a crime.
We have a black President.
A country that stands for nothing, votes for nothing, becomes nothing. Nehilism has become a new political philosophy it would seem.
This is another one of those times when I’m ashamed to be from Idaho…
Cornyn caved?
Crap. Texas ain’t got nobody in Senate it can count on, now.
Reckon we should call Cornyn 62?
Well
It looks like my Idaho will be getting a new senator.
Are you with me Boomer?
None of this matters anymore, y’all! The president is BLACK! BLACK! BLACK I TELL YA!
Let’s all hold hands and skip down the street singing gospels and hugging everyone!
The minute I think I can count on my senator Cornyn, they cave. Just wait dear senator to ask me for money and your vote. I actually thought your had a tiny bit of the people who voted for you in your mind. Bad me! So now, we all can cheat on our taxes and get a
atta boy’!
L
There’s more coming out…I know this is off topic of this thread, but Ms. Kennedy also had problems with paying taxes and workers comp on her nanny (no word if she was an illegal), as well as her marriage to her husband.
So when she says it was for personal reasons, looks like it probably was.
The part that’s interesting is, did she think she would just roll into this job without any vetting or scrutiny? She obviously thought so.
Otherwise, she would’ve known better. I guess the arrogance of someone like Ms. Kennedy is galling. One is to assume the only reason she thought she could grab that Senate seat was because of her name recognition and the public’s sympathy for JFK.
And they say Palin is dumb. Go figure.
Free Wesley Snipes ! Reimburse Willy Nelson ! Pardon Marc Rich ! Oh, wait….
At least Mike Enzi (R WY) voted no. Of course Mike being an accountant knows that someone educated in finance had to take at least one income tax class. And if you use Turbo tax to do your taxes, it asks you about self employment and foreign earned income.
No excuses. Then again, lawyers are supposed to understand tax law also.
Just a thought… wasn’t Caroline one of the choosen to vet Obama’s Vice Presidental choice? Wonder what she might have swept under the rug on Biden? Could Caroline have thought the same would be done for her?
If we can have a tax evader as our Treasury Secretary, why not get the best, and nominate Bernie Madoff for the post? He can obviously bring in more money than anyone else, and he is such a nice guy. Nevermind his trivial accounting irregularities, they were honest mistakes, right? I’m sure he could correct them in time to be confirmed.
One more thing: I think it’s time to update my email addresses with all of the remaining GOP senators, and email them when I have opinions I need heard. Writing to you guys is like preaching to the choir, I suspect. Maybe I’ll group the addresses into those whom I think will do something, and those who I know won’t. How can I tell the difference anymore, though… (sigh)
Please, oh please, somebody keep a list of the “conservatives” that voted for this sham and post it every chance you get – especially, when they run again for office. Gear up now, keeping your eye on the next election cycle. In the meantime, tell RNC to pound sand until they completely clean house. Support good people on a local level but starve the rest for cash. By 2010, there is going to be a good sized group fed up with this new administration – and hopefully, by 2012 they’ll be ready to throw their bums out too.
He would be well versed in carrying on the ponzi schemes that the Federal Government runs. Most notible among them: Social Security and the National Debt.
BTW, Motley Fool has a good blog on Bernie Madoff for TreaSec here. Read it and think about it.
Vichy is definitely appopos, but as an alternative, the imagery “Craig Republican” conveys would be difficult to miss.
As for taxes … i think I’ll just “forget” to file this year.
Who’s with me!
Interesting side story here – Sen. Bunning (voted against Geithner) is being pressured by GOP leadership to resign.
That’s right, the same Sen. Cornyn who just voted for Geithner.
I’m sure most are thinking that, after all, look at the prez. Do we know ANYTHING about him?
Sarge
Republicans in office have to figure out at some point just why it is they cannot win the majority. If conservatives wanted a liberal to run things, most certainly we would vote for a Democratic candidate. Not a penny or vote until you start voting without double standards. One for the elitist and one for the rest of the country. It is never going to change until the Beltway culture is destroyed. I truly believe those in power have not a clue as to why Sarah Palin rings a bell with a lot of conservatives.
Cornyn voted yes?
I am disappointed, Snowe is a Democrat, Hatch has been in the Senate too long. But Cornyn was fairly reliable.
Perhaps I’ll send an angry fax.
Bunning is one of the few Senators that I have any respect for. DeMint is another.
Why doesn’t it surprise me that the Vichy GOP doesn’t want them around?
Politico’s got a story on Bunning. The Vichy GOP doesn’t want boat rockers, they want supplicants.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17785.html
The scheme is nearly complete. The Obama Administration has been constructed in such a way, as to completely insulate the top tier of Democrats from any form of prosecution for malfeasance, misfeasance, criminality, and acts of treason.
The Treasury CEO/COO will begin purging his department of those deemed unsuitable, untrustworthy team players. The Department of the Treasury and IRS have more power to change a person’s life, than does God. A backwards glance at the some of the suggestions by the Clinton Administration should give you pause.
The Attorney General, Eric Holder, with power to make people go away, is shameless. He, like Janet Reno, will decide what constitutes a crime, and what bears investigations.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation…just wait for what this portends for dissenting views.
Homeland Security will be the dispenser of money, and favors for Democrat Party faithfuls. Money earmarked to keep America safe will be “re-directed” to non-security related programs…and done without oversight.
The Central Intelligence Agency? Leon Panetta…really? Be afraid…be very afraid!
Immigration and Naturalization, sewn up. Contrarian points of view will not be tolerated.
HUD now in the hands of one of the most partisan Democrats in recent history. Can you say, ‘colossal waste of money?’
Department of Education will morph into the Department of Indoctrination, and Re-Education. Our hope for the future of a free America is in more peril than ever.
And finally, remember who the Speaker of the House, and Senate Majority Leaders are. Look at who they have appointed or allowed to remain Chairmen of all those powerful “oversight” committees.
The only change to come, is the lifestyles and quality of life that the American people have grown accustomed. An insulated government protects the leadership, not the citizens of this country.
Do not expect wrongs to be righted, but covered up or ignored. Rule by Presidential Decree will become more prevalent, if this group has it’s way…and it’s not just Obama, now…it’s going to be rule by committee.
I hope the RINOs enjoy being in the minority. They are well practiced at pissing off the conservative base. I doubt hard core liberals will support them. I, as a hard core conservative, will not support them ever again. Good Luck to the Stupid Party, the permanent minority party.
Once again, my co-blogger Shoebox is proven correct when he said there was no difference between 57 and 60 Dems in the Senate. In fact, he’s changed that somewhat; there’s no difference between 50 and 60.
The deal BO and Hillary made on the millions to the Clinton causes and the obvious conflict of interest for our country is beyond belief.
Their China connections are still pretty disturbing.
What’s in it for China?
The way she sailed through confirmation was a disgrace.
Geithner,Holder, and others have no business being considered much less confirmed.
How pathetic. These rich Democrats call for higher taxes on the wealthy to pay for their pet social programs. Some even complain publicly that their taxes are too low and should be raised. Then we find out that that at least three of them (Kennedy, Geithner, and Dingle) have not been paying their taxes. Even the Bush tax rates that “favor the rich” were too much for them to pay.
Do you need any more proof that Democrats are hypocrites and only want to help the poor if they can do it with other people’s money?
Zorro – Sorry to say they DO enjoy being in the minority. As long as the Dems throw them a few scraps and scratch their bellies now and again these lapdogs are quite content.
The Ivy League President said so.
Yep! Looks like Crap-o has assured his retirement the next time he is up for reelection. I just sent him a flaming e-mail for all the good it will do. Idaho pretty much has taxation without representation he was my last hope from this state for conservative values in the District of Criminals. Nothing like letting the fox guard the hen house. I’m sure Senator Crap-o will have our backs should we make a similar oversight with our taxes. Need I add the sarcasm tag?
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE (mo-lone lah-veh) Translation: Come and take them!
Well Jon Kyl of Arizona gives me just a bit of relief-only one of our two Senators is complete sell out.
Quite a few of these “Go along Get along” RINOs think that if President Obama screws up enough they can come back in 2010. I do not think so. The public will hold them responsible for the hyper inflation + high unemployment. But many of them will get nice cushy jobs somewhere along with their inflation proof pensions.
Treason.
Okay Senator Hatch, if something is bad and we decide it is good then it is okay. Senator pleased read the following:
Then tell me Senators how who rationalized your vote!
You remember the NIMBY mentality? This is basically the same, except with money.
Not Using My Money – NUMM Nuts
conservatism is over as a political philosophy in this country….and soon freedom will go with it…oh well it was fun while it lasted..
ever read ‘a day in the life of ivan denisovich’ by solzhenitsyn???
pretty gray…like our future….
I can’t even lower myself to start heating up the tar and ripping open the feather pillows. These spastic cretins are beneath contempt, beneath the effort to publicly humiliate them.
I’m feeling like I just read a liberal view of history: My head is full of “WTF? Is there a thought process going on here? Has the obvious been erased? Has stupidity become the law of the land?”
And has doing the right thing been outlawed?
A tax dodger running the treasury.
Republican senators bending over for him.
Room temperature IQs running the land.
Nancy Pelosi actually thinks there’s such a thing as a 10 lb anvil.
Princess Caroline kicked to the dirt (yeah!) to be replaced by Andrew Cuomo – the man who turned the Office of Housing and Urban Development into the Mafia, one of the most corrupt members of the Clinton Cabinet.
Ooops – they’re the Obama cabinet now, aren’t they?
I haven’t felt this low since the last time I saw Americans protesting outside a US Military installation – protesting their own children/brothers/cousins.
How can people be so stupid and still suck air every few seconds without being reminded?
I’ve done the best I could here in Mn as a conservative. I’ve taken invective and insults from people here about my non willingness to vote for Mc Cain…. but I did…. I got nothing but invective about Franken being the possible new Senator when I voted against him…personally I’ll do what I can…… the Republicans now in office who have approved the members of Obama’s Cabinet are stinking pieces of garbage…. I want conservatives who will vote against anything this Marxist collective of representatives wish to do…. and I am working for a revolution…. be afraid… be very afraid.
MNUSMCDavid
Brave man to have those views in Minnesota. Virginia used to be a reliably red state until we had a building boom fueled by illegal alien labor courtesy of the Bush admin. decreasing enforcement from the inadequate level of the Clinton admin.
Now we are over run with NE liberals voting in what they were fleeing: Democrats, high taxes, more regulation, less freedom , more crime. Oh, and lots of illegal aliens.
Virginia Patriot
I was born in Virginia but raised in Philadelphia… I know our history…. but the country has turned to scum….. but I won’t give up….. we will rise and the scum will be solid soon.
Yep … gotta blame that TurboTax software … it’s really the problem … not the person using it …
I have been using that program for more years than I can count and I have NEVER … repeat NEVER … had a single problem with the IRS over my submitted tax returns that it created …
Simple point is … you have to be able to read and understand what you read and then enter on the screen to not have any problems with the results …
Yes sir … really smart individual there that truly deserves to be the Treasury Secretary and in charge of the IRS …
Idiots All …
I think the whole world, starting with the U.S. of A, has lost its freakin’ mind. This is Bizarro World, and I do not want to be a part of it. I kept hoping that this was all a bad dream, but it is now a daytime nightmare. Yikes.
DesertLover, do you really think this elitist, highly educated, government scum sucker really does his own taxes?
No doubt if he has any kids in grade school he didn’t have them do his taxes, sure they would have notice the alert from Turbo and asked…”hey dad, did you make money that wasn’t taxed at work?” Yep, he’s the guy to run the Treasury, dumb followed by dumber. Is there a show titled something like that? It fits.
No for the traitorous RINO’s…sorry, all I do is get sick when I think of them.
People be prepared, it’s going to get ugly out there.
Too bad, really. If Geithner was ideologically opposed to paying taxes to a govm’t that can’t get its poopie together, I’d have shared in that ideology.
Yep, said it last November…”Bend Over Here It Comes Again”…BOHICA.
Gad, we’re screwed…
If I screw up my taxes, you better believe the IRS will be all over me. I suppose the best way to avoid taxes is to turn democrat and run for government office. Well, I certainly won’t stoop that low. Today, anything short of being a serial killer, will get you a “pass” in our new government.
Just like dog crap…it hardens and you can pick it up and throw it away much easier. Or it decomposes naturally and blows away with the wind.
I share your prayer, my friend.
First, I think Turbo-Tax should sue the pants off Geithner.
Second, why have hearings? The man could not have demonstrated more ineptitude as the principle overseeing entity over the banking industry, yet he is given the green light to oversee this entire bailout disaster? He was and remains ridiculously incapable of handling any crisis big or small in the financial sector, as demonstrated by his past complete failure as the ny area banking guru.
I would like to think that if Geitner were a Republican he would withdraw his name in embarrassment, but even that is not true for our Republicans anymore. The whole lot is corrupt and don’t care who knows it!
That’s “doesn’t know it” Sorry!
“doesn’t care” Damn!
This appointment in itself is a crime. The system is so corrupt that it only promotes corruption. Throw the old bums out. We could find a homeless person on the streets with more personal integrity.
Time for American Conservatives to divorce the GOP. It’s now or never.
Tell me, what incentive is there for any American to continue paying taxes?
So who would like to join me in not paying taxes in the next 4 years?
do any of our elite political leaders actually pay taxes and follow the rules. no one in new york seems to be able to remember they have to pay their illegal immigrant nanny’s soc sec tax and medicaid tax. both mrs schlossberg nee kennedy and her main proponent in gov paterson’s cabinet as well as congressman rangel, mr giethner, and at least 17,000 new yorkers being named who have hidden income in swiss accounts, not to mention mr maddoff who will obviously have one hell of a tax bill for his theft. and our government EXPECTS us to follow the rules and pay our taxes when they conveniently FORGET!
Hey! Grassley didn’t disappoint me for once.
Obama is now claiming that his planned extraordinary actions are necessary because of our “unprecedented economic times”. Wake up people and remember that “unprecedented economic times” also produced Lenin, Hitler, Castro, Chavez and other memorable totalitarian figures.
Reading thru here about every 5th comment questions paying taxes. I am of the mind that this “stimulus package” is taxation without representation and anti-constitutional BECAUSE it unfairly taxes the next several generations, including those yet unborn, who these politicians DO NOT represent. ERGO they cannot pass any taxes that will obligate future generations to exhorbitant lifetime taxes–numbers I have heard at anywhere from $110,000 to $400,000 for anyone born the day the package is passed and thereafter.
While paying taxes has been proved thru the courts to be constitutional via the 16th amend. taxation without representation IS still a defence against UNLAWFUL taxation as defined in the Declaration of Independence “Imposing taxes without our consent”, which they have already done when they passed the first bailout. (remember Feinstein stating that the calls she was received was 95% against passage?) I would never condone anyone not paying their taxes when due (sarc)but imagine the repurcussions if even 1,000,000 taxpayers sent tea bags instead of a check on April 15th.
Personally, with the down turn in the economy and our business tied to construction, paying taxes is the least of our worries–we’re struggling to keep a roof over our heads and our employees working. Besides, I will claim I used Turbo Tax and missed the red flag……….
I’m really tempted to send all of the “no” voters $5 and then write to and tell all of the yes voters what I’ve done and why.
Hey, hey, there’s a silver lining to every cloud…
Now I can exchange my unopened TurboTax 2008 for a copy of Guitar Hero: Metallica… and fiddle while Washington burns…