IRS says GOP nominee for Calif. governor among dozens of participants in suspect tax shelters

Associated Press ^ | 7-12-02 | MARK SHERMAN

[The Vast Right Wing]

Your right, but when you have civil servents that are appointed by the previous administration you can't just fire them. Sometimes they do things that are intentionally damaging to the administration.

[The Vast Right Wing]

Oh, and all the sudden the Rats would play nice if Riordan was the candidate. Why don't you ask Riordan about how nice the Rats are? Get a clue. You don't win elections by putting Gray Davis-lite up against Gray Davis.

[Gophack]

I think what people are missing here is that the IRS has released the names of PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF ANYTHING WRONG!!!!!!!!! Simon and the others aren't being investigated for fraud or anything, the IRS is on a fishing expedition. This too big, too powerful and evil government organization needs to be CLEANED OUT. This could happen to any of us.

[ElkGroveDan]

Most importantly why would you want someone MORE liberal than Davis to be governor?

I wouldn't.

Sounds like it to me. You just went on and on about how you wanted Riordan to be the nominee and win.

As for Simon being unelectable, he's up 8 points in a poll taken last weekend and up 9 points in a poll commissioned by Democrats 2 weeks ago.

I'll talk to you in November. No....I think I'll just ignore you. Your is a stock line that has been used on conservatives since before Reagan.

[Redcloak]

Leftover Clintonistas at IRS?

[steve50]

Heresy, Snowball and his covert agents are everywhere.

[andy_card]

As for Simon being unelectable, he's up 8 points in a poll taken last weekend and up 9 points in a poll commissioned by Democrats 2 weeks ago.

I'm aware of that. If you think polls in July mean much of anything, you're playing in the wrong ballpark. The Dims have a ton of material to use on Simon that they wouldn't have had on Riordan.

I'll talk to you in November. No....I think I'll just ignore you

Be my guest. But at least remember my admonition when Simon gets crudely stomped.

[Guillermo]

Thats gotta hurt.

Davis is gonna latch onto this like a pit bull.

And you know the wackos out there are gonna buy it.

[SCalGal]

"I think what people are missing here is that the IRS has released the names of PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF ANYTHING WRONG!!!!!!!!! "

I find this particularly interesting in view of their refusal to work with the INS on the grounds that they can't release confidential information.

[Carry_Okie]

Are we down to dirty tricks against our own Party in order to save our political carreer by proving that conservatives always lose?

Mr. Rove?

[DodgeRam]

I agree Simon has'nt been accused of any thing wrong. Unlike Davis and the oracle scandal. Has there been any more info on the investigation into Davis's oracle dealings?

[Free Vulcan]

J. Peter Simon, the candidate's brother and chairman of the family investing firm William E. Simon and Sons, said the Simons relied on professional tax advice from KPMG and others.

"The matter at hand is between the IRS and KPMG," J. Peter Simon said in a statement issued by his brother's campaign. "Like many Californians, because of the technical complexity of IRS regulations, we have utilized the advice and guidance of tax professionals, including KPMG, other accountants and tax attorneys."

Simon's brother has handled this very,very well, this is about the best way he could put it. I don't see this hurting Simon much, he could even flip this around in Gray's face if he pushes it.

[Wolfstar]

It would be mighty nice if the candidate, himself, starts campaigning. Maybe he's going around makeing personal appearances here and there, but he sure isn't campaigning with any vigor. Here in the South Bay/Beach Cities area south of L.S., he has no ads out, no signs, nothing. In fact, I haven't seen any signs of political life from the candidate. Four years ago, Dan Lungren ran a terrible campaign, but at least he ran a campaign. So far this cycle, Simon the candidate doesn't seem to exist!

[Free Vulcan]

Pfffff. Bluff, bluster, and speculation. Besides, even if Riordan doesn't have dirt, they will make it up, or distort his positions, or lie, or lie, or lie, and maybe lie some more. It doesn't matter who runs, Democrats always fight the same way. You are politically naive and blowing smoke.

[Wolfstar]

Typo corrections: makeing = making. L.S. = L.A. Sorry, I'm at work, typed my post too fast and didn't get a chance to check it.

[Iconoclast2]

From the Wall Street Journal:

"Names were included to establish for the judge the basis of our allegation," said IRS spokesman Frank Keith

So the first step is to fire Mr. Keith and whoever told him what to say. Anyone want to bet whether that will happen?

[Iconoclast2]

Mr. Keith previously distinguished himself as an apologist for Clinton-era attack audits. See http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj19n2/cj19n2-8.pdf

[Dan from Michigan]

Dick Riordan makes Davis look CONSERVATIVE.

I'd be voting for the more conservative candidate if I lived there. Riordan isn't a RINO. He's a dem in all but name only, and WORSE than Davis.

Riordan backed Klinton twice, Boxer, and his business partner Feinswine.

Good riddance to that gun grabbing POS.

[Gophack]

Has there been any more info on the investigation into Davis's oracle dealings?

Hmmmmm ... Dean Florez, the DEmocrat chair of the committee that investigated Davis has been removed from his post ... maybe he did too good a job???? The liberal Democrat Attorney General is "investigating" to "determine if there was any wrong-doing." Would it bode well on his own re-election if the Democrat Governor was involved in something illegal? Doubt it ....

Don't expect to see or hear anything about Oracle in the near future ...

[Teacher317]

GEPHARDT RECEIVED TWO UNSECURED LOANS FROM MCAULIFFEBANK
Klayman goes after VP Cheney

A bad week for every pol's financial history.