I wonder if Tweety has a personal beef against the IRS.

[grasswire]

Tweety has been very emotional this past week about the IRS "scandal" -- very critical of the agency and sort of "hopped up" in discussions about it. Determined to find fault, talking over anyone else who spoke more moderately.

This makes me wonder if he has a personal beef with the agency.

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Does he need a reason?

I view Matthews as a political weathervane - going whichever way the wind blows. 'Hopped up' is about his baseline, as he talks over practically everyone who visits his show.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. More likely that he's just being his usual hysterical self

about a bit of controversial news. It's just another Matthews hissy fit.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Agreed, he's been frothing at the mouth

Your hypothesis might be correct.

[napi21]

4. Although he is always quite hyper, this particular issue doesn't warrant it.

I find it hard to believe that any rational people are still upset with the IRS after they found out that there were over 3,500 apps by "tea party" groups to get tax exemption status, thousands more than normal, and the Dept. HAD to do something to narrow down the group that mandated closer scrutiny.

[Honeycombe8]

5. Everyone's outraged by the IRS thing. First, no one likes the IRS.

Second, it is the fear of a lot of people that the IRS will audit them or go after them in some way. Third, there are few agencies that have the power that the IRS does; if it chooses to be corrupt, it can do a lot of things and damage to a person or company.

I think he was just as outraged about the AP story. All the media are over the top ticked about that, which is of course because it affects them directly.

[DuckBurp]

6. Honey, you are totally incorrect and off base making those kinds of statements.

Did you bother to listen to the hearing on CSPAN? The IG's characterization of "targeting" was misleading. The IG is a Bush appointee clearly with an agenda. Did you see him squirm under questioning? The screening technique used by the IRS was improper. But it did identify groups with a high probability of conducting political activities which should disqualify them. Get your facts right before posting trash like that. You have nothing to fear from the IRS unless you have something to hide. The IRS operates in a fish bowl with the knowledge that every bad decision will make the news. Corruption is not a factor in the IRS. They are scrutinized from all angles. If anything, Congress prevents them from doing their jobs by by tying their hands through budget cuts or poorly written tax laws.

And, yes, I noticed that Tweety does seem to lack objectivity in covering this situation. It does make you wonder what his beef is and why he is covering this topic so poorly.

[grasswire]

7. perhaps he has been listening to his neighbor Jack Welch.

Welch is a notorious ranter with a RW bent.

[Honeycombe8]

12. Yu didn't read my posts, either. Or my name...."honeycomb." Not a "he."

Point is: the GOP got the first, loud word...and the Dems didn't send the dogs out to fight it. The first, loud word is what lasts in the public's mind. Most people don't follow the news closely. They hear or read a headline, talking point...and that's all they'll ever know about the story.

The story is....Obama's IRS was targeting the Tea Party and other conservative groups. In the absence of an opposing headline, this is the one that has stuck. Partly because the IRS DID in fact zero in on Tea Party groups and ask for donors, etc. There are all sorts of facts and exceptions associated with that, but the public will never know about those.

How much it'll hurt the Dems in future elections, hard to say. The public forgets quickly and focuses on the next headline.

[Honeycombe8]

9. You didn't read my posts on this topic, did you? Let me explain it to you like you're a 4 yr old.

It doesn't matter if the IRS was targeting or not. What matters is that THE PUBLIC THINKS THAT.

The GOP has won the messaging on this so-called scandal.

Hence, the outrage. Get used to it. It's here to stay. Regardless of what happens legally, the GOP has won this particular battle. The word is out. Obama's IRS was targeting conservative charity groups. The head of the IRS has been forced out. Other heads will fall.

Facts are for those nerd types, like those who participate in political forums. Most people hear a story once or twice, and that's it. They don't follow the news closely. They get, at most, the headline and the spin.

(and don't call me Shirley)

(Note: the 4 yr old comment is a ref. to the line in Philadelphia.)

[DuckBurp]

11. No, I didn't read your posts.

Where are they? I will read them. You are right - perceptions are more important than facts. If that is what the public thinks, then that trumps the facts. Most people don't bother to seek the truth anyway. It takes too much time and effort.

I probably overreacted to your statement that no one likes the IRS. Some of my best friends work there.

I need to go now. It's bed time for 4 year olds.

[TheKentuckian]

10. The screening technique was improper, that is the bottom line.

You admit that and then go on to defend what you know is improper and further state that despite this no one (the universal appeal of over reach) who doesn't have anything to hide has reason for concern.
Really, pretty much anyone leaning on the logic in all of history has either been proven a liar or turned out to more wrong than they could have imagined.

A haughty decree that a human endeavor that is organized and performed by humans is beyond corruption is open declaration of fundamental dishonesty. No one in flesh and blood would ever make a such a statement honestly except the deeply naive or the profoundly dull. Human history is devoid of such models and anything even ballpark close didn't center around money in capitalist dominated economy.

You just drove into thou protest too much territory with that addition. Underfunded, under staffed, and overly handcuffed to perform the mission are all reasonable arguments to me but beyond reproach is absurd by definition in my world. Pure crazy talk far more wacky than any bright eyed conspiracy theory.

[Honeycombe8]

13. I have no idea what your post means as it relates to my post.

Maybe you were trying to respond to someone else.

[grasswire]

8. No, only *some* people do not like the IRS.

And not everyone is outraged.

*Some* people are glad to pay their taxes and share in the social responsibility of a democracy.

[Whisp]

14. He was a real jackass toward Joy today.

Frothus Interruptus he always is but he had some really mean looks shot her way.

What an asshole. I bet he just can't stand she's about 33 times smarter and better than he is.

[grasswire]

15. I don't think Alex Wagner is very fond of him either.

He is continually cutting her off, correcting her, putting her down. I've seen her chafe under his remarks.