Time to consider "Worst Administration Ever"?

[onan]

I'd ask, and I don't know the answer - did those hospitals in Raleigh actually make more profit?  Or did they have additional expenses they had to cover and that's the reason for the reduction in staffing? 



Time Warner, at least the cable division, is another example of a corporatist monopoly.  Why do city governments restrict who can provide cable service?

The first question... absolutely yes. We were the most successful in the string of hospitals owned. But the lesser producing ones had better percentages of profit. they made x dollars to our x+++ dollars but the percentage became more important than the actual dollars.


the second question... I dunno. I can tell you that Time Warner did come in and lay all the cable... they like telling that part of the story. What they leave out is that all the lines are laid on county and state properties.

[NowhereInTime]

We're done for. The only question is who will own us.

Wow.  Always with you its an end-of-times scenario.  You're right.  No one on the left respects the ridiculous valuation you try to tie to the dollar.  There is no gold standard, nor will there ever be again.  Instead, we are using the market system to dictate the value of our currency based on 1) how actively it is traded and 2) how many people around the world STILL invest in our treasuries.   It's always people like you and Ron Paul who have this fairy dust mentality of tying currency to magic metal.  It's preposterous and elitist. 
As to who will own it?  How about the next ten percent.  The current 1% have screwed it up so much its proven they aren't the intellectual lords of creation Ms. Rand (fascist white russian) would have us believe.  Are the next ten percent really less talented?
Why don't we find out?

[onan]

We are using the "oil standard" these days. Any country that buys oil from the opek people have to buy that oil with american dollars. Which means other countries have to buy our dollars. When that falls apart have your bomb shelter stocked.

[Juan]

We are using the "oil standard" these days. Any country that buys oil from the opek people have to buy that oil with american dollars. Which means other countries have to buy our dollars. When that falls apart have your bomb shelter stocked.

Yes.

[onan]

We are using the "oil standard" these days. Any country that buys oil from the opek people have to buy that oil with american dollars. Which means other countries have to buy our dollars. When that falls apart have your bomb shelter stocked.

it is actually opec... my bad

[PB the Deplorable]

We are using the "oil standard" these days. Any country that buys oil from the opek people have to buy that oil with american dollars. Which means other countries have to buy our dollars. When that falls apart have your bomb shelter stocked.

This is already starting to happen.  China and others would love to see the end of the dominance of the dollar in world trade, and due to our fiscal and monetary policies and current situation, are quite concerned about it.

China has deals to use Renminbi (Yuan) with several countries, including Russia, Brazil, Australia, Hong Kong (of course), Japan I think, and a few others.  They are working on similar deals with others.  Some agreements are for specific goods, other agreements are for small amounts as first steps.  China is trading their currency with others for both to keep as reserves in addition to $US.  I think all trade between Russia and China is in Yuan and rubles

There are other countries that are beginning to bypass the use of dollars.  India recently agreed with Iran to pay for oil with gold.

This is probably healthy if done gradually.  As bad as our situation is, I don't see any major currencies out there that will be able to step up and replace the $US as the international reserve currency anytime soon.

[Sardondi]

Two Americas:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/june_2013/26_of_obama_supporters_view_tea_party_as_nation_s_top_terror_threat

[Sardondi]

IRS targeted 292 conservative groups for tax exempt scrutiny, but only 6 "progressive" groups: http://washingtonexaminer.com/treasury-irs-targeted-292-tea-party-groups-just-6-progressive-groups/article/2532456

Even some 45 days into the greatest scandal of the IRS's history, and I'm still waiting for the widespread roar of outrage by the American left at the IRS's abuses of the rights conservative organizations.* Yes, there have been a few national commenters on that side whose principles and ideals have compelled them to object, just as there have been some here to do likewise. Not many.

I'm beginning to wonder: were all those decades of the left's marches and demonstrations about free speech, equal protection and fairness, and particularly the animus poured out on Nixon for just considering using the IRS as a political weapon (it never came about)...was all that just about whose ox was being gored? I particularly note the years of being harangued about how dissent was the most noble of American virtues. Well, at least when it was when the left was dissenting about killing Islamic terrorists (I note as well the left doesn't much seem to care about the killing of those deemed US enemies now- even if they're US citizens - so long as it's Obama is doing the killing that is. Same about Guantanamo: it's baaaaad...well, unless Barack is doing the waterboarding, then it's Yawn City.)

But now? Dissent against a US policy? Are you a fucking traitor? How dare anyone not get behind the President and be a 100% Loyal American?! Treason! TREASON!!!!! Damn disloyal Tea Partiers. They ought to love it or leave it!

Am I even exaggerating? Hardly, according to the Rassmussen Reports as noted in my post immediately preceding this one. Their poll of June 22-23, about terrorism and nuclear weapons, posed this question:

       "Which is a bigger terrorist threat to the United States today â€" radical Muslims, the Tea Party, local militia groups, the Occupy Wall Street movement, or other religious or political extremists?" Most of America thinks radical Muslims the greater threat of that group. (51%), and only (13%) [still a distressingly large number, inflated no doubt by the famous low-information voter] think the Tea Party the problem.

But here's the chilling bit. Of those who approved of how Obama is performing in office...
29% view radical Muslims as the greater threat
26% view the Tea Party America as the greater threat.
Most interestingly, "(a)mong those who Strongly Approve of the president, more fear the Tea Party than radical Muslims."

Sweet Jesus, Mary and Joseph. What is wrong with those people? Have they gone insane? I was more right than I thought when I made the "Two Americas" comment.

My overall main point in almost everything I post politically is this: we are in a period of hardened political and cultural division unlike any in living memory, and it is the left which has by far done the most moving and the most hardening. Ordinarily I take the long view on these kind of comparisons of eras or decades, often deriding people when they make "never before" statements, because usually they just don't take enough into consideration. But that's why this kind of poll is so startling to me. That's a major change in attitude. Folks, the Tea Party people are nothing more than Middle America. Their espousal of the necessity of reliance on the Constitution and the rule of law are exactly what Americans were taught in school, at least until the 80's or so. It's just bizarre to believe that in a generation the American left has changed so much that it now views those as dangerous terrorist beliefs.

And I say without embarrassment, the hardening has come almost all from the left. That's why I continually point out the discrepancies between the left's former positions in the 60's-80's, even as late as the 90's, and today. The left has completely flip-flopped on so many things, and isn't the least discomfited over how nakedly utilitarian has been their abandonment of principle for ends-justifies-the-means-to-power. It's as if they're saying to each other, "Hey, we're in; we have almost all the media; we don't need to bother with all that horseshit about principle now." It's all about getting and keeping power. And hardly a sheepish look from the national left.

Can those of you who have different political views not see why I'm very concerned for this country? Look, try something. Instead of immediately flying to the defense, try to make my case for me. It's something lawyers do all the time to try to seek out weaknesses in their cases. It's difficult if not impossible to even conceive for many folks, but it is an invaluable tool if have the intellectual objectivity to do it. So just try to see if you can make my case. And see if you have any insights. You may learn something surprising.






*And I'm sure it was a coincidence that the powers abused by the IRS were abused in the manner, degree and nature they were so that effectively neutralized thousands of Tea Party activists in the 2012 election cycle - Gosh, that sounds just like a Rahm Emanuel tactic, but he's the Mayor of Chicago, and there was no contact between him and the Obama Campaign I'm sure. Besides, no one is left in the Obama camp who thinks and acts like Rahm, I'm sure.

[onan]

Actually Sardondi, and I say this without the want of disagreement, I think your bias is clouding your perspective.


Both sides have changed dramatically from the 50's and early 60's. Both sides have had their run ins with the IRS... that isn't news. What I find interesting about the latest IRS stuff is information is coming to light about many left leaning agencies have also been targeted. That part of the story seems to be getting little play.


And win at all costs... are you serious? I say this with sincerity, you can't possibly not see how both sides have taken this strategy for decades.


I can see how your belief system would have your side fare better, just like I see my side in a better light... but the reality is both sides are playing you.


The cancer here is not the politics. It is the money in politics that has the kiss of death. If we can all agree that money isn't speech and take the lobbyists out of the equation, we may be able to bring some semblance of decency back to political discourse.

[West of the Rockies]

Just heard Ted Koppel say that the biggest problem with the media today is that they now only focus on profit, and partisan news reporting creates profit.  The cost is, of course, that we focus only on our differences with each other and not any common ground.  We all have our trusted sources.  Sardondi sees Rasmussen as a solid polster, I'd say; others see Rasmussen as frothingly rightwing.  If someone only quotes World News Daily, the Drudge Report, Rush and Sean and Glenn, then he/she is definitely drowning in uber-partisan stuff.  The same can be said if I got all my news from Daily Kos, Mother Jones, and John Stewart. 

Finding a truly objective, non-partisan news source is well nigh impossible.  I have long thought that NPR makes a fairly good go of it, but read any news story discussion forum on their website, and you will see back-and-forth charges of how NPR is "clearly right-wing" or "obviously left-wing". 

We all now have our facts.  Your facts suck.  My facts are solid.  Your side stinks; my side is all sunshine and bunnies.  Show me a politician on my side who said/did something stupid or wrong and I will  a) ignore the charge; and b) point out someone on your side who did something similar.  All too often we rely on a, "Well, everyone knows that... blah-blah-blah" argument.  (Everyone knows that the media is hopelessly leftwing.  Everyone knows that the Republican party only caters to wealthy white people.)

How are we possibly supposed to create the United Federation of Planets under Starfleet Command at this rate?

[Yorkshire pud]

How are we possibly supposed to create the United Federation of Planets under Starfleet Command at this rate?

Woowwww just wait a minute there old son... You mean it hasn't yet been created? What are the documentaries on TV then? You're telling me that's all made up? Even the gravity defying racks that numerous female crew members display with pride?


I'm shaken. Nay; destroyed that you couldn't break it gently.. 

[Juan]

The cancer here is not the politics. It is the money in politics that has the kiss of death. If we can all agree that money isn't speech and take the lobbyists out of the equation, we may be able to bring some semblance of decency back to political discourse.

I think people, not an inanimate object like money, are the problem.  The politicians are open to bribery - that's the real trouble. But then, that's human nature - for a lot of humans, anyway.

[onan]

I think people, not an inanimate object like money, are the problem.  The politicians are open to bribery - that's the real trouble. But then, that's human nature - for a lot of humans, anyway.

No doubt, but we can get rid of the laws that make money speech.

[Sardondi]

No, the problem is people: you people.

Now, bring me brandy, my cigars and Nancy Astor: I need a drink, a smoke, and someone to insult.

[ItsOver]

Hahaha...you're the best, Sardondi. 

[Yorkshire pud]

I thought some might find this interesting..



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22946672

[FightTheFuture]

What I find interesting about the latest IRS stuff is information is coming to light about many left leaning agencies have also been targeted.

That is absolutely false.


There is no evidence at all of liberal/prog organizations being subjected to the same kind of scrutiny that conservative leaning groups received. None.




http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/06/05/193100/liberal-groups-say-they-dont-see.html#.UdMLLvm1GSo


http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/14/irs-tea-party-progressive-groups/2158831/


http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/4-political-takeaways-from-the-irs-inspector-general-s-report-20130515


Former IRS chief even conceded that PROG groups were not targeted:




http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/05/paul-ryan-nails-irs-commissioner-who-admits-progressive-groups-were-not-targeted-by-irs-video/






And finally, HWMC Chair, Rep. Camp, drives the point home:


http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/25/gop-congressman-hits-back-against-dem-claim-that-irs-targeted-progressives-too/

[PB the Deplorable]

That is absolutely false.


There is no evidence at all of liberal/prog organizations being subjected to the same kind of scrutiny that conservative leaning groups received. None.

When I first saw this news that the 'Progressive' groups were being targeted also, my first impression was 1) why did it take a couple months for this to come out - even though several people that would have known had already testified before Congress, and 2) this sure looks like a bunch of crap made up after the fact to cover Obama and his cronies asses.

Even if it's the clear blatant lie I suspect it is, it provides  just enough confusion and distortion, just enough of a figleaf to allow the Ds and their supporters to point to, then dismiss, ignore, and bury what really happened.  Such is politics circa 2013.

[Yorkshire pud]

That is absolutely false.


There is no evidence at all of liberal/prog organizations being subjected to the same kind of scrutiny that conservative leaning groups received. None.

Yeah, but it got your knickers in a twist didn't it?     In F t F land, left is commie, is liberal, is pinko leftist liberal commie bastards.

[onan]

To say there was no investigation of progressive groups is false...


http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/06/27/ways-and-means-irs-werfel-tea-party/2461573/




BOLO included progressive in its search parameters.

[onan]

When I first saw this news that the 'Progressive' groups were being targeted also, my first impression was 1) why did it take a couple months for this to come out - even though several people that would have known had already testified before Congress, and 2) this sure looks like a bunch of crap made up after the fact to cover Obama and his cronies asses.

Even if it's the clear blatant lie I suspect it is, it provides  just enough confusion and distortion, just enough of a figleaf to allow the Ds and their supporters to point to, then dismiss, ignore, and bury what really happened.  Such is politics circa 2013.

If you are going to criticise the "left" for obfuscation, you had better throw Issa in the mix from the "right" side. He refused to allow information other than what was favorable to his quest.

[PB the Deplorable]

If you are going to criticise the "left" for obfuscation, you had better throw Issa in the mix from the "right" side. He refused to allow information other than what was favorable to his quest.

Do you have any examples of this?  The Ds on committee ask questions and request witnesses too - were any of them were complaining about fairness at the time or talking about it before this story about 'equal treatment' came out? 


At the time, what I saw was a bunch of people whose jobs would almost surely have brought them into contact with the subject matter being discussed, but who either 'didn't know' or 'couldn't remember' a thing about any of it and looked to be trying to get off the witness stand before they incriminated themselves or ratted out the White House.  .

None of them ever suggested the treatment was equal, and it didn't seem like any of them were bursting with info they weren't allowed to bring up. 

No, the 'we grilled the Leftist groups to the same extent' story was made up after the fact, after these people testified.  Or it would have been brought up then.

[onan]

Do you have any examples of this?  The Ds on committee ask questions and request witnesses too - were any of them were complaining about fairness at the time or talking about it before this story about equal treatment came out?  They well could have been, the story didn't 'have legs', as they say, and the whole topic just didn't get much coverage for awhile.


At the time, what I saw was a bunch of people whose jobs would almost surely have brought them into contact with the subject matter being discussed, but who either 'didn't know' or 'couldn't remember' a thing about any of it and looked to be trying to get off the witness stand before they incriminated themselves or ratted out the White House. 

It didn't seem like any of them were bursting with info they weren't allowed to bring up.  And they weren't referring the questioners to others who hadn't been subpoenaed.

No, the 'we grilled the Leftist groups to the same extent' story was made up after the fact, after these people testified.  Or it would have been brought up then.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-06-13/darrell-issas-irs-investigation-is-falling-apart




http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-11/irs-transcript-release-would-be-reckless-issa-says.html




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/04/darrell-issa-irs-probe_n_3381462.html


Issa's office made public only fragments of that witness testimony from unnamed IRS employees in Cincinnati. None of the fragments include quotes from any witness saying anyone in Washington ordered the targeting of Tea Party or conservative groups.One witness, asked if "those directions emanated from Washington," responded, "I believe so."The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, whose audit is so far the only concrete evidence of misconduct at the IRS, found no evidence of White House or Washington involvement in the targeting of conservative groups by IRS workers in Cincinnati.

[Sardondi]

It's no secret I detest Obama. I think he's as big a cynic and liar as has ever resided in the White House; and that his style of imperial rule has seen the greatest decline in personal liberty and the greatest increase in extra-constitutional government power in American history. I find him capable of any act, and if he hasn't literally sanctioned a political murder (and I'm not saying he hasn't), it's only because he hasn't found it necessary to this point.*

But Obama also needs to be praised for his accomplishments, few as they have been. Good news has been particularly scarce in the area of foreign policy, in which Obama's so-called "Smart Diplomacy" has been more like Smart-For-The-Short-Bus Diplomacy. Under both Secretaries of State Hilary Clinton and John Kerry there have been no - that is "no"- foreign policy achievements. (Well, I guess you could claim as an achievement that even though Obama has dragged his feet for 5 years on taking out Iran's nuclear weapons program, that Iran hasn't actually nuked Israel. Yet.) 

The most recent humiliation has been Obama's backing of the Morsi regime in Egypt. You remember Morsi: he's the guy Obama backed and promised to give massive military aid to, including the unprecedented gift of F-16 fighters; after which Morsi turned right around and welcomed the Muslim Brotherhood to join in ruling Egypt with him. I see you've still got that great intel, Mr. President. (By the way, you've still got it backwards: it's Swiss-cheese coverage of all domestic communications, and 100%-capture of all communications of non-ally foreign governments. It's tough keeping that one straight, I know.) Thank Allah that the Egyptian military had enough sense to depose Morsi. But I have to admit I'm enough of an asshole to get a smile out of the prospect of the White House having to announce that the US had been forced to shoot down a couple of squadrons of Egyptian Air Force Sacred al-Qaeda Air Martyrs F-16s only a matter of days after the fighters had been given to Egypt.

But on to the praise. Because Obama has had a success. For he has brought together two countries which, although ostensibly allies, have for most of their existence held a dagger at each other's throat. Yes, after generations of attempts by countless US presidents and world leaders had failed to bring them together, Obama has united Russia and China. The only two remaining Superpowers have announced they will conduct massive joint naval war exercises with each other. These are the largest naval war games they have ever conducted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/02/china-russia-joint-naval-drills

Well, I've got to hand it to him: Obama has given those two former deadly rivals a reason to forget their differences and join together in practicing for war. The Choom Posse would be proud.

Now, do we really need to ask who Russia and China envision as their common enemy?



*Although I wouldn't take too much comfort in that fact, Edward Snowden: Obama has also used drones to kill far more individuals whom he has declared "enemy combatants" - including at least one American citizen - than the man Obama in his campaigns has said was the virtual personification of evil, George W. Bush. The stroke of a pen by a factotum; a unilateral, self-serving pleading before a nameless, faceless, Star Chamber tribunal; and you are a "surgical strike" statistic, Snow Man. Rest well, Man Without A Country.

[Sardondi]

Oh, I remember the Good Old Days. Yes, back in January of 2009, when a certain black man who was destined to win a Nobel Peace Prize for...for...uh, using Imperial Assassination Drones at an exponential rate, stood behind a podium in Washington, D.C., and proclaimed that day as the day the seas would recede as he stretched forth his hand. I especially enjoy the memory of how he said he would bring Smart Diplomacyâ,,¢ to us, so that the nations would once again love us, because we had chosen Him to lead us. Yes, I remember those heady, halcyon days, when all things seemed possible because of The Coming of The One.

Because now Obama is getting attacked in an angry and vituperative lecture about our "espionage" (a literal quote, and one with which I don't disagree) of France and our other allies by the top security official in France. Yes, Manuel Valls, the Minister of the Interior threw a bitchy little diplomatic fit, and we had to take it. At the very US embassy. At a garden party given in Minister Valls' honor. On the fucking 4th of July. It's always special to be treated to a lecture by the French on anything more meaningful than how to wear a condom. But to be forced to listen to a propped up little terrier at our house on the day celebrating our independence, well that just goes down extra sweet. http://news.yahoo.com/french-minister-dresses-down-us-july-4-fete-145845066.html

So I like to think back to the good old days, when so many of our pundits felt tingles up their legs and shouted hosannas that a god had come down to lead us. And the arrogant little shit they were talking about did nothing to correct them. Because he believed it too. 
____________________________________________________________________________________

And in this breaking news, Obama once again sets a record: first President under which the Third Amendment is violated (the one prohibiting Quartering Of Troops), as police in Henderson, NV "arrested a family" for refusing to allow police to use their home as a lookout spot from which to perform domestic violence surveillance on the next door neighbors: http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/07/03/59061.htm.

Jesus, it's hard to know where to start. Folks, this happened in America. AMERICA. These things do not happen in a vacuum. These jackbooted thugs (a term I have never before used without irony, but which here is richly deserved) did this because they felt like they were owed the obeisance of the serfs. Hmmm, where would they have gotten that idea?

For a start mass resignations and firings in the HPD should be demanded. And then the recall elections need to get started. Holy Christ, what has happened to this country?
__________________________________________________________________________________

Anaaaand the hat trick. It seems that in the Summer of 2010, as the GOP stood ready to take the House majority and Congressman Darrel Issa, (R-CA) prepared to take the chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which has been so incredibly busy in the Obama Administration, the White House began a broad-based and extended campaign of pushing pet reporters to write negative stories on Issa. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/07/03/the-white-house-pushed-dirt-on-darrell-issa-book-says/

Why are we surprised, notwithstanding that laughable "Hope and Change" bullshit? It's the Chicago way, after all. And our President if nothing if not a Chicago pol. A cheap, dirty Chicago pol.

[stevesh]

____________________________________________________________________________________

And in this breaking news, Obama once again sets a record: first President under which the Third Amendment is violated (the one prohibiting Quartering Of Troops), as police in Henderson, NV "arrested a family" for refusing to allow police to use their home as a lookout spot from which to perform domestic violence surveillance on the next door neighbors: http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/07/03/59061.htm.

Sweet Jesus. If Henderson, NV isn't named Mitchell, NV when this trial is over, I'm living in the wrong country.

[PB the Deplorable]

... Because now Obama is getting attacked in an angry and vituperative lecture about our "espionage" (a literal quote, and one with which I don't disagree) of France and our other allies by the top security official in France. Yes, Manuel Valls, the Minister of the Interior threw a bitchy little diplomatic fit, and we had to take it. At the very US embassy. At a garden party given in Minister Valls' honor. On the fucking 4th of July...

He's also getting lectured by the brave Egyptians who just threw off the terrorist that he helped install there.  A person they are referring to as Obama's 'bitch'

This person has done everything in his power to alienate our allies, friends, and trading partners.  Right up to the point that it would be obvious even to a Lib.  Also yesterday - July 4 - the anger towards us over what is best described as air piracy in forcing down the Bolivian Presidential airplane boiled over among the Latin American counties.

... These jackbooted thugs (a term I have never before used without irony...

Well, there was the firebombing at Waco, the Ruby Ridge incident, and the kidnapping of Elian Gonzalez, all under the last President we had that was just so smart and wonderful.

... Why are we surprised, notwithstanding that laughable "Hope and Change" bullshit? It's the Chicago way, after all. And our President if nothing if not a Chicago pol. A cheap, dirty Chicago pol.

Remind me again why this person was elected to a second term.  Oh, right, because the other guy actually worked and made a lot of money.  It was much better to re-elect a Marxist that hates us, our country, our system of free exchange, our form of government, and is doing everything possible to destroy as much as he can as fast as he can.

[Sardondi]

Sweet Jesus. If Henderson, NV isn't named Mitchell, NV when this trial is over, I'm living in the wrong country.

Heh. As I recall, cities don't have "sovereign immunity" which ordinarily protects the feds and the states from the consequences of their heinous acts. I certainly hope that is the case, because Henderson, NV needs to be vigorously sued. I see the process has already begun with the legally required "claim" which must precede a suit.

If I were the family's lawyer, I would urge them to make a never-to-be-repeated offer, good for 24 hours only, in which, in return for dropping all claims, the mayor, city council, police commissioner (or equivalent) police chief, and the entire police chain of command down to the individual officers participating in that fiasco (unless they can conclusively demonstrate they 1) were absolutely opposed to the illegal entry, taking and arrests, and 2) did not participate therein) be forced to immediately resign AND perform landscaping and yard maintenance for the family once a week for a year. If the offer isn't accepted and resignations received within 24 hours, the next demand starts at $1 million and will rise by that amount per week.

If this story is even close to accurate, a jury will absolutely devour Henderson, NV. Seriously, they will bankrupt the city. And they should, because any city PD that recklessly and dangerously run must be destroyed.

[PB the Deplorable]

... "Hope and Change" bullshit? It's the Chicago way, after all. And our President if nothing if not a Chicago pol. A cheap, dirty Chicago pol.

Remember when it was 'Cool' to vote for Obama, and 'Racist' to oppose his destructive policies?

[Sardondi]

...Remind me again why this person was elected to a second term....

Because in 2009 he and his advisors came up with the plan to use the IRS to punish hundreds of Tea Party groups and individual conservative taxpayers , drowning them for years in an avalanche of onerous administrative demands and even financially crushing some. And also taking the single-most powerful and organized opposition movement almost completely out of the 2012 campaign. As intended.

In all seriousness I'm beginning to think this was the primary reason behind using the IRS as a partisan weapon; and simple political punishment of Obama's ideological opponents was a secondary reason. Obama's top three causes have always been Election, Election and Election. Job One after seizing power in 2009 was the campaign for 2012. And "preparing the battlespace" was begun soon after, with a three-year bombardment of the enemy positions using the newly-acquired massive weaponry of the US machinery of government. It is a travesty of almost unimaginable proportions. If you ever think that Obama "just couldn't bring himself" to do something because it would be so heinous, outrageous or even downright evil, you have made a terrible underestimation of him.