Who is tending the comments?

This dirt on Geithner was known back in December. The Republicans are just milking it politically by making a big deal immediately before his confirmation hearing.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Is Geithner the kind of Change Obama talked about all the time during the campaign?

You know what...someone who is alledged to be an expert on the treasury and by extension tax laws can't be seen as being a tax dodge...he knew exactly what he was doing when he didn't pay those SS taxes and the rest of us can't get awat with it

Ok. Time for all the committee members to tell their own tax stories.  I have a very hard time swallowing the belief that all of the distinguished senators are current, paid up and have never made errors in their taxes over the years.

It seems to me that when smart people make dumb mistakes, it's a result of not being aware of somthing that is happening right before their eyes, but subtle enough to go unnoticed.  How many of us really pay attention to every deduction on our paystubs??  And better still, how many HIGHLY COMPENSATED individuals really pay attention to every deduction on their pay stubs?  If you are accustomed to having all statutory taxes withheld from your pay automatically, and all of a sudden your new employer has the capability to withhold some, but not all of the statutory taxes, how many people would actually notice and then remember to compute the self-employment taxes on their 1040?  Generally, when folks prepare their tax return (or have it done for them) they are mostly focused on getting it in on time and paying the balance due.  So there was a miscalculation or an omission.  It's been addressed, he's made the payments, and we need to move on.
 
Betcha, he'll never make the same mistake again.

Helloooooo....First Read...your fans are waiting

Credibility.

I'll have to agree with those who now oppose Geithner's appointment. No matter if he were guilty of anything including just making a few tax errors that he has rectified, the fact is his credibility has been shot with a large portion of the American  public. Coupled with the position for which he was nominated (Secretary of Treasury) I can't see this appointment moving forward. Obama needs to nominate someone new. And I also agree, that if this had been a Republican nominee the Dems and many on the left would be jumping on this like a hot potato. Fair is fair folks.

It's nice being an independent and objective. One can crtiicize and/or praise either side if deserved.

The definition of an honest mistake by a politician: Getting caught in a lie.  But to be sure, let's give him the benefit of the doubt and check his past tax records to see how many "honest" mistakes he has made. He might turn out to be too honest for the office. The good thing about a political office is that there is no shortage of takers, the bad thing is that there is no shortage of takers.  

Linda Chavez

Geithner

Double Standard, even if the Republicans are caving.

I don't really care if the Republicans are caving.  I just hope they aren't expecting the same kind of understanding from Democrats at some distant time in the future when the shoe is on the other foot.




Continuation of a previous conversation:

The U.S. is #1 in per capita spending (in dollar terms over entire population).  Comparing expenditures with Cuba as a % of GDP is apples to oranges and a little too cute,  C.A. Tuscaloosa.  Even Yemen has higher education as a % of GDP along with twenty other countries the average U.S. geography student wouldn’t even know existed.  I must be average, too, because I didn’t either. Cuba’s GDP has declined 35% since the demise of the Soviet Union.  The GDP comparison is meaningless in this case because there is no uniform premise, unlike comparing the U.S. deficits to U.S. GDP or other such economic comparisons.

Cuba’s average spent per capita is approximately $520 and the U.S. approximately $2100.00.  I’ll apologize now for the fact that U.S. economic success results in GDP that dwarfs Cuba and that we don’t need to spend 18% of our GDP to provide subpar education.

The U.S. is  #1 in education spending as a percentage of GDP among 18 developed nations, particularly European nations as well as Japan and Australia.

The U.S. is also #1 in per student spending in dollar terms of all countries.

I concede that supplemental military spending related to Iraq since 2003 has brought spending on the military almost even with total spending on education, but typically the standard federal budget for the military (the military is exclusively federally funded) is around $100 billion less than total national expenditures for education.  I would add that education and training is also a function of the military.  I have seen many examples where it is just as effective as four years at a university in general and just as effective at producing leaders.

Luke, Iowa, Matter of Record and others:

Education is not federally funded in this country.  It is locally funded and at the state level.   However, funding at the federal level for the Dept. of Education and other federal uses increased dramatically during the Bush administration.  Education expenditures nationwide have also increased at rates higher than inflation.

At some point, resources have little or nothing to do with performance, as many countries with fewer resources devoted to education get equal or better results, apparently, than we do.  

I’m comfortable with my facts.  At the very least I’m as comfortable as you are with yours.

which is it? cnn just said that it would not be delayed.

So all of these Republicans don't see a problem with Geithner's confirmation but they want to delay it? Why? If he is okay than why delay? Grandstanding on the part of GOP Senators seems to be the reason.

I made a major mistake on my taxes in 2002...the ONLY year I had an outside service do them.  $4500.00 later with the IRS, and trying to get it down from $7700.00, and it is done and over with.  I hope my mistake does not show up when I try to get back into the Federal Government myself shortly.  Bottom line...it is so easy for someone to make a mistake on their taxes...even for someone who used for WORK FOR THE IRS many years ago.

The GOP could not possibally have a problem with Geitner, he is guilty of what they have always done, but it might take a little shine off of President Obama's first month, and it might distract the country and media when all the real dirt starts coming out about Bush's and his administraton - that is why they want to postpone it, yes he will be confirmed, his sins are minor compared to those of the GOP.

Anybody heard the news of what happened in the TN legislature yesterday?  It is a hoot!  check it out on www.tennessean.com.  I absolutely love the way one republican crossed the party lines, hooked up with the Dems, and got himself elected speaker of the house.  The repugs have publically stripped him of his republicanism (probably the best thing that has ever happened to him), but the embarrassment to the Tennessee GOP is priceless!

Richard, Washington State:

Glad you are comfortable with your facts Richard but they are wrong. Austria, Switzerland and Denmark spend more on student education (in dollar terms over the entire population). The U.S. is ranked forth spedning $6,043 per student.

Also see you think leaders can be produced like robots off an assembly line. Are those facts correct as well Richard? Sorry Richard, leaders are not produced, they are born. They may receive higher education and training to learn how to use and round out those leadership qualities, but if you don't have those leadership characterestics and dispositions for leadership from birth you just don't (and will not) have it.

Another thing you need to think on Richard. We no longer teach our kids in a one room school house.   Resources today have everything to do with performance if we are to expect our kids to compete  in this technically advanced global market. Resources are critical in the world of education today and have a huge impact on the ability to perform. Don't think so Richard. Put away your computer and send us your response snail mail. See if we all will wait on the U.S. Postal Service to read it. A lack of resources will also have a negative impact on a kid's desire to learn Ricahrd. Get a clue will you.  

We'll await your response tomorrow after you have done your research for information from another source.  

OBAMA SHOULD FORGET GEITNER --- AND SEARCH THE FEDERAL JAILS FOR A MORE QUALIFIED PERSON TO BE TREASURY SECRETARY!
OBAMA DOESN'T MIND PRIOR INFRACTIONS.

A whole lot of nothing about nothing.  I guess it's a distraction for repubs to rail on someone else since they've been the whipping post lately - although there's is well deserved.  This is just hooey.

First, I think it's about time that someone lay the facts on the line before this conversation goes any further.  That tax that Geithner supposedly, mistakenly forgot to pay, was social security tax he earned while working for the IMF (International monetary fund).  His salary was not subject to employer withholding for social security tax.  However, he signed a paper every year stating that he would receive funds in addition to his salary to cover the cost of his social security taxes.  That paper also stated that he was responsible for paying those taxes from that money on his own.  So please tell me why when he received those funds he did not turn them over to social security for payment.  Also it has been stated over and over that it was an honest mistake and that the funds were recently paid (I believe somewhere in the the neighborhood of $35,000).  But it has come to my attention that he paid no penalty.  My second question is, why is it when you or I make "a simple mistake on our taxes" our funds are locked, we need an attorney and when it is all said and done we are required to pay our taxes plus interest and fines?  I also have a problem with the fact that PE Obama and the democrats knew about this before they offered him up for the position but that it only became a late quarter announcement just before his hearings.  No one is denying the mans qualifications however, given the complaints of how things were done over the last eight years, anyone taking this type of position at this time should be squeeky clean.

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