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When President Obama nominated former Senator Tom Daschle to be his secretary of health and human services, it seemed to be a good choice. Mr. Daschle, as the co-author of a book on health care reform, knew a lot about one of the president’s signature issues. As a former Senate majority leader, he also knew a lot about guiding controversial bills through Congress, where he remains liked and respected by former colleagues.

Daschele removes name from nomination for HHS

Tom Daschle withdraws over tax problems...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Tom Daschle has withdrawn his nomination to be Health and Human Services secretary.

Just breaking on Fox

When President Obama nominated former Senator Tom Daschle to be his secretary of health and human services, it seemed to be a good choice. Mr. Daschle, as the co-author of a book on health care reform, knew a lot about one of the president’s signature issues. As a former Senate majority leader, he also knew a lot about guiding controversial bills through Congress, where he remains liked and respected by former colleagues. Unfortunately, new facts have come to light — involving his failure to pay substantial taxes that were owed and his sizable income from health-related companies while he worked...

A look back at the voting record of former Sen. Tom Daschle, Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, shows a lifetime average score of just 7% on America for Tax Reform's annual Congressional Scorecard. Tom Daschle, like Loretta Helmsley, believes 'only the little people' should pay taxes. He thinks he's too important for that, and he gives the word 'hypocrisy' a bad odor. He never saw a tax he didn't like.

WASHINGTON – Tom Daschle said Monday that he's "deeply embarrassed and disappointed" about his failure to pay more than $120,000 in taxes. President Barack Obama's pick to head the Health and Human Services Department apologized for his mistake in a letter to the Senate Finance Committee released Monday. Daschle is expected to answer questions from the panel later in the day in a closed session. Daschle said he profoundly regrets the errors that the committee has had to deal with and he is willing to answer any questions. The committee reported that Daschle recently filed amended tax returns to reflect...

....Speculation about Daschle's ascension to the White House staff chief's job has been simmering for months. "It's way too early to make any comments about it," Daschle recently told the Los Angeles Times. "It's always a possibility, but I've not had any conversations with anybody about future positions and don't intend to." Daschle is also rumored to have his eye on a less demanding position, perhaps secretary of state. That could help him avoid the inevitable criticism that would greet his selection for a White House job, since that would violate the spirit of one of Obama's signature campaign pledges....

Daschle Considering '08 Presidential Bid By JOE KAFKA, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, accusing the GOP of spreading a message of fear, says he is considering a 2008 presidential bid. "I haven't ruled anything out or anything in at this point," Daschle said in an interview Saturday night after a hometown dinner in his honor. "I'm encouraged by the strong support many people have voiced for my candidacy around the country and in South Dakota. I'll make a decision at some point later on this year," he said. Daschle said President Bush and...

Born on December 9, 1947. Birthday wishes, comments, and gloating welcomed . . .

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Congress's top Democrat, Tom Daschle, lost his bid to be reelected to the Senate, US networks reported, capping a night of defeats his party, which also failed to win control of either chamber of the US legislature. Daschle, arguably the most powerful Democrat in the US Congress, lost the Senate's most closely-watched election in a 51 percent to 49 percent squeaker to Republican challenger John Thune, a former member of the House of Representatives. In failing to hold on to the seat he first won in 1986, Daschle becomes the first Senate leader to lose reelection...

http://www.johnthune.com/game2/dueling21.html"It probably takes a long time to download on a modem connection - probably best to click the link if you have a fast connection

NEW YORK (Talon News) -- An internal poll shows that Rep. John Thune (R-SD) has gained enough momentum to pass Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) in the most closely watched Senate race of 2004. The Republican numbers indicate that Thune is moving up in the polls and is at or near 50% while the incumbent remains stalled at 48%. National Senatorial Committee Chairman Sen. George Allen (R-VA) announced the new numbers at a breakfast for South Dakota's delegates to the Republican National Convention on Tuesday. He told delegates that South Dakotans have the ability to "transform the United States...

I have created a public register of "bump lists" here on Free Republic. I define a bump list as a name listed in the "To" field used to index articles. Free Republic Bump List Register

A new memoir by Minority Leader Tom Daschle says Senate Democrats were actively courting two Republicans — John McCain of Arizona and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island — as most likely to switch parties and give them control of the evenly divided Senate when Jim Jeffords of Vermont informed them he was ready to do so. The heretofore untold sequence of events that led to Jeffords’ dramatic decision to bolt the Republican Party in May 2001 and become an Independent is disclosed for the first time in Daschle’s book, which covers the tumultuous two-year period following President Bush’s disputed election...

Loving Tom Daschle By Nathan Porter BSNN.net Dear Senator Daschle: As a longtime listener to talk radio—Rush Limbaugh included—I feel compelled to write simply to say I love you. I understand what it’s like to receive harassing and hate-filled letters, although most of mine come from anti-religious, leftwing zealots. But since so many folks from my side of the political spectrum are hell-bent on threatening your physical well being, I simply wanted to let you know that many of us who oppose you politically still find it in our hearts to love you. I love the way you compared Osama...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic lawmakers would block in the new Republican-controlled Senate the White House's plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said on Sunday. While Republicans will control Congress following big wins in last week's elections, they are still short of the 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to cut off debate and vote on controversial bills like giving energy firms access to the refuge. Democrats John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut -- both possible presidential candidates in the 2004 election -- have promised to filibuster...