More Tea Party Madness: Chicago

My most recent post (What Happens in Vegas: Tax Day Tea Party a Dainty Affair) was about the paltry turnout for the tax day tea party here in Las Vegas. I found this writeup on Chicago's event entertaining reading, and thought you might as well. [Plus, I'm still test-driving my new blogger software and working out the kinks. It would seem that FireFox is the only reliable browser to write on at the moment. And even that is a little hinky.]

[Excerpt]

Tea Party 'revolt' looks like a pity party to me 

'Chicago Tax Day Tea Party," read the colorful card handed to me as I emerged from Union Station into the soft, summery day Thursday.

"Liberty" it continued, in spidery, colonial-era script. "Constitutional Principles. Fiscal Responsibility." Then, in bright-red type -- the blood of patriots, no doubt -- "Repeal it! Replace Congress." And finally: "Chicago. Daley Plaza. 12:00 Noon. . ."

Read more at: Chicago Sun-Times

Tax Day: Best One Ever?

Image from source, Newsweek

For all of the tax day tea party rallies (poorly attended, it would seem), taxes must have really gone up since President Obama took office. Right? Apparently not.

[Excerpt]

Today Is the Best Tax Day of Your Life

Almost nobody likes tax day, but people may look back nostalgically on tax day 2010 and those of earlier years because, almost certainly, taxes are going up in the future, and they may go up a lot. With hindsight, tax day 2010 may seem almost dreamy. . .

Read more at: Newsweek

FOX "News" Scolds Hannity, Cancels Tea Bagger Event?

Fetch me some popcorn, this is getting interesting!

[Excerpt]

FOX News scolds Sean Hannity and then pulls him from hosting Cincinnati Tea Party. UPDATED

Angry Fox News executives ordered host Sean Hannity to abandon plans to broadcast his nightly show as part of a Tea Party rally in Cincinnati on Thursday after top executives learned that he was set to headline the event, proceeds from which would benefit the local Tea Party organization.

Rally organizers had listed Hannity, who is on a book tour, as the headliner of the four-hour Tax Day event at the University of Cincinnati. The rally, expected to draw as many as 13,000 people, was set feature speakers such as “Liberal Facism” author Jonah Goldberg and local Tea Party leaders. Participants were being charged a minimum of $5, with seats near Hannity’s set going for $20, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, which reported that any profits would go to future Tea Party events. Media Matters for America noted that Hannity’s personal website directed supporters to a link to buy tickets for the Cincinnati rally. . .

Read more at: Crooks & Liars

Private IRS Collectors Costing Us Money

Well, that's just super. The Republicans' very strange desire to privatize everything once again proves to be less efficient than if it was just left alone. And these guys were sent out to get $1 billion, why did they only come back with $49 million? Can the Bush administration do anything right?

[Excerpt]

Collectors Cost IRS More Than They Raise

The Internal Revenue Service expects to lose more than $37 million by using private debt collectors to pursue tax scofflaws through a program that has outraged consumers and led to charges on Capitol Hill that the agency is wasting money for work that IRS agents could do more effectively. . .

Read more at: Washington Post