Posts Tagged ‘Tom Daschle’

So South Dakota’s own, or shall I say, DC’s own Tom Dashcle will be in Aberdeen on August 18th to discuss Healthcare in a Town Hall meeting…or at least that is what the calling it…”Town Hall” or a “Panel.”  There will be other panels throughout the state this week.   

The questions for this panel have to be submitted in advance which is a joke.  We wouldn’t want ole Tommy Boy to have to be asked the tough questions in front of a statewide audience(it is to be aired on PBS). 

I am sorry, but this panel is a joke, Daschle is a joke(taxes) and so is the healthcare plan.

I was going to ignore Dachle’s recent problems, but my sister Carrie informed me that ignoring it will not make it go away. Here we go.

Daschle had not declared the car and driver services as income, meaning he had back taxes to pay. The statement made said that he considered it a gift and did not think about it until he was vetted. (Daschle’s tax problem) This very well could be true. If it is, it isn’t the case that he “forgot” about these taxes; it would be that he never considered it taxable income.

The cynic in me does not want to believe this, but it actually makes sense. Why would he bring this up now if he had been hiding it? There was not doubt that if Obama was elected Daschle would have a large role in his administration. Daschle knew this. If he knew he had something to hide, he would have remedied this situation much earlier.

It was, as Dr points out, the right move to step down. Something like this only serves as a distraction, and Daschle made the right move ending it. I believe this is evidence that he is still a good man. He had the votes to go through with the nomination process and become a member of Obama’s cabinet, but he didn’t want to put Obama in that situation.

I’m still disappointed.

Adam Feser

Tom Daschle has apparently accepted an offer from president-elect Barack Obama to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. It appears Daschle will have some additional pull in drafting legislation, as well. Here is a link:
Daschle Accepts Offer

Enjoy the return of a legend.

Congratulations, Secretary Daschle,
Adam Feser

I promised myself I wouldn’t do it, not this year. I swore I wouldn’t believe in a victory until it was absolutely certain. But it’s been building for a while. Now I am almost positive that Obama is going to win tomorrow. I cannot see any way for McCain to possibly pull this off. This is what is scaring me.

I remember what happened four years ago. It was supposed to be a great night. The world was finally supposed to be corrected. Bush was going to be booted for screwing up the country. Kerry was going to bring some sanity back to the country. It was supposed to happen, but it didn’t.

That wasn’t the only thing, either. Somehow Tom Daschle, the most powerful politician South Dakota has had, lost to a neophyte. A neophyte that had lost to Tim Johnson.

I remember that night all too well. I was with my fellow believer, Trace McKellips. We were not yet of age, so we bought several bottles of sparkling grape juice in preparation, as well as various sodas and such. We wanted to be fully prepared to toast and toast and toast until our stomachs hurt from the sweet, sweet sparkling grape juice. But as the night went on, we realized that the toasts would be dark. Our stomachs would hurt, but not from grape juice. The dawn would come, but darkness would reign.

I do not know if I have ever seen a bigger pity party.

This was all before I walked home. I was still up with the sunrise, watching the results. I realized Daschle had officially fallen. It is not easy to admit, but some tears did fall. I have never felt so lost. That is as close to breaking my “never cynical” rule I have come.

It was at this moment that I decided to never feel confident in a political race. Karl Rove had destroyed what smidgeons of hope were left in me.

I thought this hope was destroyed, but it only lay dormant. It was waiting for the right man to show up in the right hour to begin glowing. My hope is back, and I am scared poo-less.

It seems inevitable that history will be made tomorrow. It will likely be one of the biggest days in the history of the United States. It will mark not only a first for the White House, but a turning point in the direction of our superpower. We can regain our standing and our moral authority to lead. It will happen.

Do you see how I’m talking? I am far too excited and far too confident. And now I’m scared.

Enjoy the sleepless night, if you’re anything like me.

Always skeptical, never cynical
Adam Feser

I must admit that I missed the debate last night.  I apologize if anyone was looking for some live blogging.  I had baggo league and it could not be avoided.  In brighter news, I played my best bags games of the year, twice sinking all four bags leading to an automatic victory.  It felt almost like making a three-point shot against Roncalli in a packed gym, except that no one cared.  But enough boring you with my baggo exploits.  On to the debate.

I have it on my DVR but have not watched it in its entirety.  I did watch some highlights.  I am doing this post about others’ reactions I have read.  It seems like Obama won.  I have trouble defining a win in a presidential debate, but there are numbers that work for it I guess.  Here is a link with a lot of said numbers:
Debate Numbers and Reactions

Many saw this as McCain’s last chance to change the momentum, but it did not happen. McCain will need something huge to get back into it now. After 2004, I am hesitant to get my hopes up. Kerry’s loss hurt, but Daschle’s loss almost broke my spirit. I fear another heartbreak, but I think I’m ready to get back out there. I am starting to believe that change is a-comin’.

Enjoy yet another Red Sox comeback.

Always skeptical, never cynical
Adam Feser

Too often in South Dakota (or Nebraska) you will hear Democrats talk about their vote not counting in the presidential election because South Dakota always votes Republican. I have had enough of this attitude. I propose that we think of the presidential race by county. Brown County Democrats, let’s win Brown County.

I was looking around today and found that in 2004, John Kerry lost Brown County by 2,443 votes. First of all, that was John Kerry, the man that managed to lose to W. Secondly, this is Barack Obama we’re talking about. He is an amazing candidate. Finally, the timing is right, after eight years of failed policies.

I think if everyone puts forth some effort, convinces a few people to vote who normally don’t, and does some campaigning with their family/friends (I’m looking at you, Johnson family), Obama can carry Brown County. We produced Tom Daschle and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, people! I don’t know what the numbers are in Brown County, and I doubt they exist, but we can take it. Maybe I’ll call up Howard Dean and introduce my strategy. He says, “Knock on every door!” I say, “Win every county!”

If we get Brown County, eventually more will go from red to blue (or at least purple (blog name reference, boo ya!)). Eventually South Dakota can become, at the very least, a swing state. Let the power of positive thinking persuade you.

Enjoy pre-season NBA basketball (just kidding).

Always skeptical, never cynical
Adam Feser