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{{ForumNewPost|UserID=Jerrykern|Date=11 September 2009|Text=If you're easily insulted, please don't view this, but all you tax pros should use this to train staff on how NOT to consult with your clients.  "Performing Artist" classification is hilarious!

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2009/09/acorn-gives-tax-.html}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=11 September 2009|Text=Those two should win a "Darwin Award."  They, along with the South Carolina Congressman are in the running for "Idiots of the Year."

Personally, they should win.  After watching the video, I just could not believe what I heard.

Tom}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=11 September 2009|Text=OH    LORD  HELP   US.    I did not know Acorn now was the town square for these kinds of services, do they keep a "doctor" on staff too?  A witchdoctor?    

It's deplorable.  I agree that if the DNC or any candidate associates with these people, they deserve what they get.

How did 8k a month keep making it down to 800.00?  Where did the $7,000.00 in expenses come from, thin air?  Is this a criminal conspiracy to evade taxes?  This has it all, underage minors, potential kidnap victims...

What would they do with a contract killer?}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Jerrykern|Date=11 September 2009|Text=You haven't even heard the best part, yet.  This guy went to the Baltimore office of ACORN and got the above advice on how to set up a brothel "legally."  He released the video.  ACORN fired those staffers, and called it an isolated incident.  The filmmaker then released a second video of him getting similar advice from the D.C. office of ACORN a few days later!}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=11 September 2009|Text=To be fair, this happens with our "poorest"* and our richest taxpayers.

ACORN essentially preys on the poor (and the outcast types, let's add criminals), and ACORN collects money from non-profit agencies and other non-profit front agencies to deliver votes (at least that's how I see it).  At the root of it is money.  

Yet, there is another industry at the very top, with fine office furnishings and china coffee cups that is also steering taxpayers into foreign bank accounts to evade tax, and sophisticated highly suspect tax dodges.


Whereas the people in the middle and upper middle class are the slobs trying to obey the law and pay their tax.

.*Though at $8,000.00 supposed dollars per month, it would be hard to call the "performing artist" poor.  Oh, but it was just $800.00.....

P.S.  The news media is being careful and saying that ACORN is alleged to have done this, so I amend all my above remarks to state that ACORN is alleged to have done all this. }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Death&Taxes|Date=11 September 2009|Text=Now I know what this law professor was teaching them

[[Discussion: Maybe she taught Geithner?]]}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=11 September 2009|Text=Never heard of ACORN. Had to look them up. What I did discern is they seem to be "FOX NEWS" villian of the week. Although the conduct in the video is deplorable, coming from Fox News I would not give the story much credibility.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=11 September 2009|Text=Fox did not break this story.  It was an independent producer who taped ACORN.  He gave the information to Fox.

I would not rely on CNN or the other major media then, either.  Just look at what CNN aired today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_sFaDJ2pz8

It turns out CNN was dead wrong.  It was an exercise by the Coast Guard.  Not the brightest move by the Coast Guard on the anniversary of 9/11, I must admit.

Fox wasn't wrong.  Those idiots at ACORN were and deserved to be fired.

Tom

}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=11 September 2009|Text=CNN actually mentioned the story today, and so did Headline News.  I actually saw a piece about it on HN, and I saw a crawler on CNN.

As far as objective news, day in and day out, you won't find it on FOX or CNN.  They are pretty much entertainment in my opinion.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=11 September 2009|Text=Crow,

Agreed.  No news channel is objective anymore.  I am tired of all of them frankly.

I read and listen to all different perspectives, when time permits.  Honestly, each one has a corner on stupidity covered very nicely,  I guess I am jaded from living and working in the DC area for years.  I have too many personal stories and from contacts inside the Beltway to share with the board that would make you wonder what the heck really goes on in this town.  

Census Bureau announced today they are cutting ties with ACORN.  That's no surprise.

Forget these bozos.  Remember the heroes of today's anniversary.

Tom




  }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Jerrykern|Date=14 September 2009|Text=A third ACORN office video has been released - now Brooklyn, too.  I know it is awful, but I can't help but laugh.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=14 September 2009|Text=$8,000 a month, 12 months, that's $9,600.  You can write off $7,000 against that.

wow}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=14 September 2009|Text=The ACORN people really need to get a clue.

When the DC video showed up, it reminded me of something.  Twenty-plus years ago at my first CPA firm, I used to do audits in a DC neighborhood known to have, shall we say, "ladies of the evening."  These women in no-way, shape or form, looked anything like this young lady.  I doubt they do still.

Advice to ACORN employees: STREET PROSTITUTES NEVER LOOK AS GOOD AS THAT GIRL AND PIMPS DON'T DRESS IN THAT CLOWNISH ATTIRE!

No, I don't know from personal experience.  It's just an observation.

Now back to our regular scheduled programming.

Tom

PS: Kevin, check your math.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=14 September 2009|Text=Tom, that is the math from the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtTnizEnC1U video] }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=14 September 2009|Text=Kevin,

I didn't see that until now.  Sorry about that.  I was laughing too hard at the time.  I lost it at the search through the business classifications.  Thetax expert" comes up with "performance arts" and tells her "which is what you are, performing arts."  That's when the money comes into the discussion.

The outright fraud discussed openly on the tapes is just too rich.  Of course, now ACORN is claiming they were the victims.

Go figure.

Tom}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=14 September 2009|Text=What is this the FOX NEWS? Glen "Nutcase","Birtha Beck forum? I have yet to see any news on ABC,NBC,ABC,or CNN concerning ACORN. Granted I dont get to watch news until evenings. But this is a "Fixed News" driven story.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=14 September 2009|Text=LM, you can watch the youtube videos and make your own conclusion without the benefit (?) of any news program.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=14 September 2009|Text=LM,

This is not about Fox News. Read the above posts.  Again, Fox News did not start the investigation.  You are a smart guy.  Read some background information before you jump to conclusions.  

FYI, at least one ABC journalist covered it and here's what he reported:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/census-severs-relationship-with-acorn.html

The reason the mainstream media hasn't picked up the story is simple: they don't want to give Fox News their due.  By doing so, they would legitimize them as a news organization.  The "Big 4" are happy to allow them to be bashed as the "network of the right-wing lunatic fringe."  The Van Jones story was a fabulous example and Judy Miller, a former NY Times reporter and Fox News analyst chided her former employer for not covering it.

However, there are legitimate concerns in this story that should alarm you and everyone here as professional tax preparers.  The level of fraud being openly discussed by these "tax experts" of ACORN is astonishing.  Watch those tapes and tell me you are not disturbed by what you hear.  While I laughed until I cried, I was stunned at the outright fraud discussed on the tapes at all three locations.  

You should be as well.

Tom

  }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=15 September 2009|Text=ACORN(as a organization) is something that the Dept. of Justice and or IRS criminal investigating arm should pursue if there is criminal wrong-doing. However, between switching between football and news this weekend, I did not see any mention of ACORN but on Fox News. It was like ACORN was Fixed News "talking point of the weekend". Any program Fixed News had on had some so called "breaking news on ACORN". I got the "Fixed News" thing from Keith Orbermann.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=15 September 2009|Text=As I said above..."Yet, there is another industry at the very top, with fine office furnishings and china coffee cups that is also steering taxpayers into foreign bank accounts to evade tax, and sophisticated highly suspect tax dodges."  The tax dodges are not quite as easy to market as they once were, but you get the idea.

This guys name is James O'Keefe (the "Pimp" and supposed instigator) who is behind this, there's some more information on biggovernment.com about him.  He's done some other things, like tried to get Lucky Charms taken out of his college cafeteria due to Irish discrimination.

The tapes do appear to be edited.  Mr. O'Keefe provides a transcript for some of this to his credit, and to me, it does not always match up.

Regardless, ACORN knows that the heat is on.  Yes, considering that the big banks and financial institutions of this country have basically stolen us all blind, and taken our tax dollars to boot, the smear campaign of the far right is against ACORN.   The banking crisis is not really solved to this day.

ACORN has to be beyond reproach going forward, and pay for it's past sins.  Too bad we did not take the same approach, and apply the same standards, when dealing with the pillars of capitalism.

CNN has covered this.  The media is being careful because these are prank type events, the whole story is still coming out, and they don't want egg on their faces.

There's more coming out, or at least Glenn Beck says he's got something big for tommorrow night.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Death&Taxes|Date=15 September 2009|Text=Were that Tom Wolfe 40 years younger to write a piece about this!  Anyone remember "Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers," and "Radical Chic," two of the best pieces of social ccmment from an era long gone.

"Judy Miller, a former NY Times reporter and Fox News analyst chided her former employer for not covering it."  Judy Miller, that same person who helped create Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction?  Her commenting on the news is rich.   }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Mikex2e7n5|Date=15 September 2009|Text=Wow, this is fun....Let's talk about abortion next.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=16 September 2009|Text=That's not remotely the point.  We are talking about an organization that has some volunteers openly discussing tax fraud.  

}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=16 September 2009|Text=I am sure there are some IRS officials who watches "Fixed News" Fox. If there is that much fraud or criminal activity, then Special Agents of the IRS or either the FBI will show up at ACORN door. }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=16 September 2009|Text=I don't think any tax fraud has occurred yet.  I think it is just the fact that this quasi-sanctioned agency is giving out fraudulent advice.  You and I would be suspended from practice before the IRS had this been us.  What will the government do to ACORN/these advisors?}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=NoVATaxes|Date=16 September 2009|Text=Give them more government grants so they can "educate" their employees / volunteers better.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=16 September 2009|Text=This stuff is highly entertaining, but you are not getting the truth in these videoes, in my opinion.

James O'Keefe said on Beck yesterday that he and Hannah had spent around $1,400 dollars on this whole affair.  That defies logic, to me.

These videos are being rolled out in a well orchestrated plan.  So, I want to know the rest of the story, and then I'll make up my mind.   There are more videos in the pipeline, I think.  I want more information on how this was put together, and how it was rolled out.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=16 September 2009|Text=LM - I never said ACORN committed fraud.  I said the volunteers were discussing it openly on tape.  They were giving suggestions to the two on how best to define their business.  As I said, if you are getting your information from Olbermann, check your facts.  I've watched his show and he really stretches the truth as well.

Kevin is absolutely correct we would be suspended from practice for this advice.  

Crow, I read the transcripts and while I agree somethings are left out, I do believe the context of the videos are mostly accurate.  I also read they are doing everything from Saul Alinsky's "left-wing" playbook, ''Rules for Radicals''.  I believe it's Rule #8, "Keep the pressure on.  Never let up."  

It appears now ACORN is changing its tune.  They are undergoing an internal review. Smart move.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27236.html

Tom}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Death&Taxes|Date=16 September 2009|Text=Check the Jon Stewart segment at http://taxprof.typepad.com/}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=16 September 2009|Text=Tom, they don't need Saul Alinsky's book, they can get this from Nixon's book of dirty tricks.

I too get a chuckle from these videos, and I feel certain that ACORN is going to pay the price.

But, there was a lot of taxpayer money that was stolen by banks, call it what you will.  The committee overseeing the TARP basically got an admission from Treasury Sec. that the first $250 billion of TARP money disappeared into the ether.  I believe some of that money has now been converted from debt into equity in the banks that is held by Treasury to pay us back.  If that equity becomes worthless, and there is still an excellent chance that it will, it makes ACORN look like mighty small potatoes.

}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=16 September 2009|Text=I also remember all of that racket about those truckloads of cash that disappeared into Iraq a few years ago. 

Seems quite a bit of it went to the informants who ratted out Hussien.  And now the US has posted a bounty of some $25 MILLION for the pelt of bin Laden in Afghanastan.  Lots of money goes out with very little accounting.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=16 September 2009|Text=If I'm not mistaken, the actual CASH money that disappeared was in the billions, I heard 12 Bil, but I can't put my  hands on it.  It actually arrived in pallets, and the strangest thing about this money is that there is some evidence it never left American control:  i.e. it seemed to disappear from the base, into the hands of....Americans?

It seems some of our Armed Forces, or more likely various military contractors, might have come home with more than the usual contraband associated with war time.

All of this was blamed on minor problems with "accounting controls". 

}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=16 September 2009|Text=that was a Republican Stimulis Plan, I think}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=16 September 2009|Text=and look, it worked}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=16 September 2009|Text=Maybe this is where that money came from that ended up in the Swiss bank accounts....}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=16 September 2009|Text=I never understood why anyone would trust the Swiss to protect their money, myself.  They can't even protect their cheese from whatever is making all of those holes.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=16 September 2009|Text=This is how a country becomes a banana republic.  The corruption becomes so generalized that you feel like an idiot if you are not corrupt yourself; then, all bets for civilization are off.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Joanmcq|Date=16 September 2009|Text=Well, think of it, what would you put on your sch C if you were a prostitute? "Ho", "streetwalker"? Is a drug dealer going to put 'drug dealer' or 'pharmaceutical salesman'. 'performing arts' is pretty good, when you think of it.  'massage therapist' would be another.  I had a client that was a massage therapist that wanted 'health consultant' on her return because of the bad connotations that 'masseuse' can have. And you are supposed to report all that illegal income? And hey, they arent' under circular 230...not that I condone giving out bad tax advice, but the right wingers do have it in for ACORN.  Now I'd like to hear the recording a reporter made of Sarah Palin's church when they were all speaking in tongues}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Genskitty|Date=September 16, 2009|Text=I just found these two links on youtube for the Bronx location.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrpRGZq7Z-U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JreAUzmf6VM}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Lskeys|Date=17 September 2009|Text=Taocpa,

"The reason the mainstream media hasn't picked up the story is simple: they don't want to give Fox News their due" your quote. I guess info comes from Glen Beck, Bill O'Rielly, Shawn Hannity.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=17 September 2009|Text=LsKeys - No it does not.  It comes from my interpretation of what I read in this article here:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27186.html

Read the whole article and see what I mean.

What ACORN was saying before they funding started drying up was "These kids are to blame, so is Fox News, wah, wah, wah.  Poor us."  Then that nonsense with the former escort It's the equivalent of the politician accepting bribe money on camera two days after he's caught saying "Oh that... uh, see what I was doing there was I was investigating them."  

ACORN's people put themselves in this position, not O'Keefe, Giles or Fox News.  

Tom


PS: Crow - FYI, I also didn't think TARP was a great idea either.  I felt that money would have been better spent elsewhere.  I feel the same way about the Stimulus Plan and the Iraq War.  }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=17 September 2009|Text=We need to get the Pimp and the Ho on this Banking scandle.  I want to know why some of these CEO's are still on the job.    Fox is over the top, but the truth is, all media today is totally corrupted by it's ownership:  why would one mega-corporation cast blame on another mega-corporation?  It's much easier to loot the public when they work together.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Death&Taxes|Date=17 September 2009|Text=The point about the Mainstream Media is very relevant, but it always amazes me that no one on the one side will investigate stories like the looting that took place and is taking place now by people with pens, not guns, unless of course, the looting is at Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, which are seen as strongholds of the opposition party.  

http://www.askbutwhy.com/2009/08/william-k-black-great-american-bank.html

I love the title of his book:  The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One

And it is not just Fox but the screamers on MSNBC like Olbermann, Chris Matthews and now Maddow.  They, and Fox and others have reduced news to sound bites.  Can anyone imagine Chris Matthews, Hannity, Olbermann, O'Reilly and company doing a segment poking fun at themselves and their attitudes as Jon Stewart does above?  

Here is a decent source of media criticism, and not Fox criticism but of WAPO, the NY Times and others: http://www.dailyhowler.com/

I have this memory of a night in June, 2006, laying in a hospital bed after a prostate operation.  My neighbor played his television all night, and yes it was Fox News, reporting on the killing of a major Al-quaeda operative, Al-Zarqawi, in Iraq.  Hour after hour they brought out talking heads, former military and from the administration and Dick Cheyney's bunker, telling us of the importance of this event, which would surely cripple the enemy and bring a quick end to the war.  Well, that was the story that night.....what a lot of piffle, but fed to us almost like Big Brother in 1984.  I doubt the other networks were any better but my neighbor did not use his remote.  To escape, I found some old movie channel and turned up the volume. 

}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=17 September 2009|Text=What comes to mind is something of the climate in Germany before Hitler came to power.  There was no middle ground.  People need to understand that stirring up the lunatics a little bit can be a fun sport, but when you really set their tails on fire, then the outcome is less predictable.

Hitler was well aware of this himself, and after he used his most dispicable thugs to gain power, he...eliminated them.

This was referred to as the "Night of the Long Knives". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives

Moral:  you only need the Teabaggers and the other rednecks to take back power, once you get that power back...you don't need them, they're inconvenient.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=17 September 2009|Text=Crow, the Hitler analogy doesn't really wash.  Hitler was chancellor of Germany at the time (1933).  He used the event to gain more power, i.e., he needed control of the Army.  As a result, he got what he wanted.  

The TEA Party movement does not have anyone in power and has no military power.  That makes a big difference.

Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, et. al., have host and pundits who scream.  The pundits all talk over each other and it makes your head hurt.  Each one has an agenda and each changes facts to fit their audience.  

But I have one question: would NBC, CBS, et. al., have held up a video made by two young people, similar to O'Keefe and Giles with a similar axe to grind, of a Christian based group loosely tied with say, Sarah Palin?  Just wondering...

Tom

}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=17 September 2009|Text=Glad to see that some of the state AG's are getting involved. Maybe the IRS and FBI will join the investigation. See if any criminal violations has occurred. Any ACORN people who committed crimes should be prosecuted. Now we will see who FOX NEWS villian will be for next week. Too bad Fixed News the were not as outraged when AIG, Bank of America and all the big banks committed fraud and got all the TARP money. Of course Fixed News is just an extention of the Republician Party. Like when the late Tony Snow left Fixed News to be President Bush's press secretary. He was just going from one branch of the Bush Admin (Fixed News) to another(Press Secretary).}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=18 September 2009|Text=We are not at the stage of Hitler, yet.  So that is a difference.  But, the analogy is exactly the same.  Hitler needed a goon squad to get into power, and that was the SA: nationalist, reactionary, "the betrayed".  They stood for "racial purity" (Blonde Aryan on the Hill).  

Now to America.  The Republican Party.  The Party is really about money, '''Big''' Money.  The people that control this party could care less about morals.  In fact, the people that control the Republican party are not even politicans, for the most part.

But, there are not enough rich people to elect a candidate ''of'' the rich to office.  The question then becomes in a democracy: how do you trick a large enough group of people to vote against their own economic interests and to vote for the interests of the rich?

The answer? You use:  "morals", racial purity, nationalism, "religion", gay bashing, (for years, they were against women too), conspiracies, unchecked greed... you use these things to appeal to the most base instincts of the majority.

But, every once in a while, you have to get rid of the lunatics because they start going too far.  Just like Buckley had to get rid of the Birchers.  They serve their purpose (God forbid they blow up a federal building (the para-military wing) or do some other outrageous act), then you must get rid of them.

Most of these Teabaggers (or other hangers on) are just being used.  They are puppets really.  The job of Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, O'Riley etc. is to stir up this group of goons so they go on the attack.  Keep their eyes on everything but that fact that they are being used.  And they are well paid for doing this.

[Tom, there are some people who are Republicans because they really do believe in certain moral issues.  The problem is is that they don't realize that the people that run the Party could care less.  Even some Bishops have been fooled by this (Abortion example).  My argument would be:  let's make abortion rare through education and a fight against poverty and in favor of hope.] 

}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=18 September 2009|Text=LM - many of the talking heads on television served in prior administrations: James Carville, Paul Begala, Mary Matalin, Pat Buchanan, Ben Stein, Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopolous and on and on... Your point is irrelevant about the late Tony Snow.  

Congress has acted and cut off ACORN realizing they are poisonous.  It's too bad it had to come to this for ACORN.

Crow, this is the same tired rehash I've heard before about the Republican Party.  I am not a Republican.  I am what you consider a blue dog Democrat.  I have worked for parties of political stripes.  I have also worked with libertarian groups.  It comes from working in DC, I suppose.  I've mentioned it before, but I've seen this stuff in action first hand working for a powerful political operative in DC and yes, they were conservative.  Before that, many clients at a firm I worked for were staunchly left-wing operatives and I learned much from them.  

Both sides have an axe to grind.  While I understand your point, I believe it's far-fetched.  Look what happened when Timothy McVeigh blew up the Murrah Building.  No one wanted any part of him.

The far left has its crazies just as the far right.  Look at all the violence back in the 1960's and '70's.  Who committed those acts?  It wasn't the right-wing nut jobs, but the radical left, some of whom are in positions of power today.  They have blood on their hands from that time.  Before you bring up the obvious retort I know is coming about certain right-wing extremists, I am dead set against that as well (read your last sentence).

This really is not about that in the end.  What about people who ACORN openly commit fraud on their tax returns?  Who speaks for those poor individuals?  Let's say a tax preparer at ACORN says, "Let's get you a better refund.  You have two dependents, not one" or creates a phony Schedule C as a "performing artist" to take losses against income?  Is ACORN going to be responsible to pay back the money?  Not on your life.  That's where I am mad about this more than anything else.  It really has nothing to do with media coverage.  Who is going to speak for the poor if they are victims of these "tax preparers" if they are willing to assist two lily-white kids masquerading as a pimp and a prostitute in committing fraud?

Tom






}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Derwood|Date=18 September 2009|Text=I predict that the guy & girl that made the videos of the Acorn corruption ... will both be millionaires within 6 months. They will write a book and receive $millions from a pubisher.  Look for them on all the talk shows and magazine covers. Neither of them will have to work for the rest of their lives.  They may be good ole americans now, but when those $millions start rolling in there priorites will certainly change. They may not realize it now, bur making those short films with the hidden camera will soon put them on easy street. In a year they won't care  2-cents about corruption, our economy, or health care.  It all boils down to self-interest. Wait and see.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Snowbird|Date=18 September 2009|Text=Crow, You have really gone over the edge on this one ... Hitler.  Let's not forget those great progressive liberals: Lenin, Stalin and Mao.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=18 September 2009|Text="What about people who ACORN openly commit fraud on their tax returns? Who speaks for those poor individuals? Let's say a tax preparer at ACORN says, "Let's get you a better refund. You have two dependents, not one" or creates a phony Schedule C as a "performing artist" to take losses against income? Is ACORN going to be responsible to pay back the money? Not on your life. That's where I am mad about this more than anything else. It really has nothing to do with media coverage. Who is going to speak for the poor if they are victims of these "tax preparers" if they are willing to assist two lily-white kids masquerading as a pimp and a prostitute in committing fraud?"

Toacpa, I think this is exactly why some kind of license for tax-preparers is a good thing. Make sure all preparers have a PTIN so they can be tracked and prosecuted if wrong doing and fraud has occured. Any kind of fraud in the tax prep business makes us all look bad. And we know there is a lot of fraud with "EIC".

As far as the "two lily-white kids masquerading as a pimp and prostitute", I am sure at the end of the day, when the truth comes out, they will have some kind of connection with Glen Beck and Fixed News.
}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=18 September 2009|Text="We are not at the stage of Hitler, yet. So that is a difference. But, the analogy is exactly the same."

I hope I've gone over the edge Snowbird.  Remember, a federal building got taken out during the Clinton administration.  Of course, we all know that McVeigh was a libertarian....(paramilitary right wing nut), a Republican would never do that.

You let some people get an earful of the half-baked stuff Beck spews out night after night, and some of the other right wing whackos, and you don't know what can happen.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Deback|Date=September 18, 2009|Text=<Crow said: The people that control this party could care less about morals.>

How much less could they care?}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Jerrykern|Date=18 September 2009|Text=Every internet discussion eventually devolves to the point where someone is compared with Hitler.  It is unavoidable.  Every politician since WWII has been compared to Hitler on every issue from genocide to diaper recycling.

Crow, do you think the Democrats are different?  Do you not think they pander to extremists during election time, and then cast them aside afterwards?  You make it sound as if Republicans and/or conservatives have a corner on the dishonesty market.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=18 September 2009|Text=As long as the Teabaggers confine themselves to throwing tea in the swimming pool at the Country Club as their protest, we might be ok.

The corporate interests that control the Republican Party have cost these same Teabaggers around 2 Trillion dollars in increased taxes due to their recklessness on Wall Street, but ACORN is the danger.

ACORN needs to be investigated, no doubt.  But this is like a magic act, they get you watching ACORN to take your eyes off the real trick:  the corporate malfeasance that got us here.

In fact, I heard this week that we might not get to financial regulation this year, and maybe not at all.  Can you imagine that?  You can steal 2 Trillion dollars, and suffer no consequences at all.

[Trust me Jerry, I am disgusted with some of the Democrats too.  A lot of them are on the $ corporate take as well, Republican lite.  For God's sake, The Baucus Plan is a Democrat plan, worked out with the Republicans.  It's nothing more than a gift to the health insurance companies]}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Jerrykern|Date=18 September 2009|Text=As for the ACORN thing, it is possible that it was Republican/conservative orchestrated, but the cost of the project doesn't necessarily prove it.  For $1,400, I'm pretty sure I could buy the appropriate costuming, hidden camcorder, and basic editing software.  With even rudimentary filmmaking skills, I could produce those videos, and I'm just an accountant, not in any way adept at producing video or film.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=18 September 2009|Text=LM - I am opposed to the feds licensing preparers.  The states should handle that issue. 

As far as I've read & heard, those two kids have no ties to Beck.  However, to show you how "unbiased" the media truly is, here is how the Washington Post described O'Keefe and Giles, "O'Keefe, a self-described filmmaker, and Giles, the eldest daughter of a conservative Christian minister in Miami, visited ACORN offices in the summer....Giles is a journalism novice who has written two columns for the conservative Web site Townhall.com. Her father, Doug Giles, serves as minister of the ultra-conservative ClashChurch near Miami, where he proclaimed that liberals "spit on the Word of God,".  Now what that has to do with anything is beyond me.

Compare that with what they never said about ACORN's board of directors and who is on it, for example, Henry Cisneros.  A former Clinton cabinet official, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in his background investigation.  He was later pardoned by Clinton.  

Complain all you want about biased media coverage by Fox.  It works both ways.  The Post does it as much as Fox.

Crow - I already mentioned McVeigh, but what about all the left-wingers back in the day who tried to bomb the Pentagon who are not remorseful in the least?  What about the violence at left-wing protests, such as vandalism, riots, burning of cars, confrontations with police?  That doesn't count?

Both sides are equally guilty of horrible distortions of the truth, which is why you cannot rely on anything you hear on any channel.  You have to look at the legislation, read veteran writers and reporters and not listen to these talking heads.  Do your own homework, your own research and find out the truth.  It's easy to find the most current & correct information, not the spin version.

Yesterday, Nancy Pelosi got emotional.  She didn't help any by calling protestors "un-American."  Joe Wilson didn't help any by yelling out "You lie!" to Pres. Obama during his speech.  It just goes around and around.

By the way, I can't stand Beck.  He's the worst.  Hannity is another.  He's not that well thought of by some in conservative circles.

GE stands to make a lot of money off cap and trade from what I've read.  No wonder they love Obama.  Talk about corporate greed. 

A friend of mine, who worked as a House & Senate legislative writer on Capitol Hill said it best, "Bush pushed the economy to the cliff while drunk.  Obama just did it with steroids."

Tom
}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=18 September 2009|Text=Taocpa- How will the state be able to license Federal Tax preparers? Enrolled or non-enrolled preparers is not a state issue, unless states license preparers in their individual states. The IRS is charged with collecting federal taxes. 

As far as Glen Beck is concern, it has been shown over and over how much of liar he is. I did not like him when he was on CNN.And at Fixed news he is right at home with the other right-wing liars(Shawn Hannity, Bill O'Rilley, Dog face Gretta.
 Now Bush was a total clueless draft-dodger (Like Clinton & Cheney). I served under Bush Senior command during the first war with Iraq. In fact, he was the first President I voted for. Hated to see him lose against Clinton. Then voted for Bob Dole(he lost against Clinton also). I then switch and went for Al Gore and John Kerry. 'Military men. I even voted for McCain. Prayed to God that if McCain won, The Good Lord would keep him alive. Could not see that dumb "Twit" Sarah Palin one step away from the oval office. I have not made up my mine on Obama yet. If a military man or woman runs against him, they will have my vote. If not I will be praying for "devine" gudiance again.

BTW Taocpa, I see Fixed news villian for next week is that tax-evader Charlie Ranger. 
 }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Death&Taxes|Date=18 September 2009|Text=The WaPo a bastion of the Democrats?  Its slanted reporting helped bring our favorite Texan to the White House.  In my lifetime two Texans have held the Presidency and both have been disasters.  Johnson finally figured out that we could not have a war and a Great Society without trying to pay for it and instituted a surtax in his last year.  Bush never figured that out.

Here's something to warm the hearts of all, including both Snowbird and Crow, from the pen of James Grant.

"Now comes the bill for that binge and, with it, cries for even greater federal oversight and protection. Ben S. Bernanke, Mr. Greenspan’s successor at the Fed (and his loyal supporter during the antideflation hysteria), is said to be resisting the demand for broadly lower interest rates. <u>Maybe he is seeing the light that capitalism without financial failure is not capitalism at all, but a kind of socialism for the rich."</u>

The blog entry takes you back a year ago when everything fell apart.  http://patrickdeneen.blogspot.com/2007/08/socialism-for-rich.html}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=KeithR|Date=19 September 2009|Text=What really troubles me about these videos is the lack of knowledge that they show.  How many vulnerable people have been damaged by ACORN advice?  Does anyone know?  Does anyone in government (on either side of the aisle) care?  If not, why not?}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=KeithR|Date=19 September 2009|Text=Oh, and why did the Baltimore "tax adviser" not use NAICS code 711510?}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=19 September 2009|Text=But Jerrry, how were these kids paying for lodging and transportation? For food?  I'd just like to know, that's all.

But, the actual release of the videos is a planned event, there's no question about that.  It's the fire in the trash can everyone rushes to put out while the theives clean out the safe. 

It's the diversion while the Wall Street crooks and the bankers water down or eliminate financial industry regulation.  It's the diversion while they try to pull the Buacus "compromise" over the public's eyes (like a sheet you cover the dead with). 

Who wins from all this? $$  That's what it's all about.   And that's where you start looking.   There are crooks, and then there are CROOKS; and we are letting the real crooks get away with the prize.

By the way, it wouldn't completely surprise me if Obama doth protest too much.  He seems to keep throwing the game accidentally on purpose, and he might be a lot friendlier to the money intrests than anyone in their wildest dreams might suppose. }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=19 September 2009|Text=I will not be surprise when the final story of these ACORN videos come out that these kids were coached and funded by Fixed News and Glen Beck. Probably Roger Ailes. If they were legit, the would have went to a legitimate news organization. Not Fixed news which is a part of Republican National Committee.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Taocpa|Date=20 September 2009|Text=LM - as far as my earlier post about the states, EA's, CPA's, lawyers and all those already allowed to represent taxpayers by the IRS rules would be allowed.  The IRS would still administer the EA and hand out the EA, the states would then be responsible for licensing the individual practitioners in their state, much like the CPA exam.  It isn't that difficult.

As far as "Fixed News", I'm just not going there anymore, except to say, notice where President Obama is not going today on the Sunday talk show circuit.  It seems he is being a petulant child by not doing so and I thing that's just plain silly.  Even Clinton would not have carried on this way.  Every chance Obama gets he takes a shot at Fox it denigrates him more.  It makes him look childish.  So now you can say the other channels are part of the Democratic National Committee based on your logic.  It makes no sense.

KeithR - what you said is the way I feel.  Not only the poor advice, but how wrong it was and how much trouble anyone would had they followed it.  ACORN wouldn't be around to bail them out.

David - I was just point out the WaPo writer intentionally wrote his article in such a way to rile the regular readers of the Post, who happen to be liberal.  It happened they ticked off liberals a few weeks back with a "puff piece" on a conservative.  I also don't recall the Post helping Bush getting elected either time.  I recall they endorsed both Gore and Kerry.

Now, ACORN is being defunded by the government and cleaning up their act.  What is on those tapes is indefensible, no matter who made them.

Tom



}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=20 September 2009|Text=TAOCPA- We will have to diagree on licensing. I will rather see the Treasury dept. administer tax preparers instead of states. Especially when you have silly governors like our Gov. Bobby"Hagi" Jindal. He is cutting off funding for ACORN, even though our state never funded ACORN.I thought I prior democratic governor was unqualifed. This clown takes the cake. He rails and rails against the stimulus money. Now all you read about him running around to the state handing out stimulus money. Go figure. 

As far as Obama, I voted for McCain. So, dont care that much for him. I would agree with him not to go on Fixed Entertainment News. Not a real news organization anyway. Not that many journalists on that entertainment channel anyway. Only radio talk-show shock jocks. I remember Bush and Cheney used to go on that Entertainment channel all the time. Bush & Cheney avoided real news organizations.

ACORN should be disbanded. Anything that got it start in Arkansas, well that says it all. Also, I read somewhere that in certain states like California and a few of the other states, it is illegal to video tape people without their knowledge. So maybe the Pimp and prosistute actors who did the tapes will end up in "jail" with the "ACORN employees. That would really be "poetic justice". 
 }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=20 September 2009|Text=Keep your eye on what's going on while we're fussing about ACORN.  I'm telling you, it's a classic diversion.  The Wall Street hustlers and the banks have pocketed the 2 Trillion dollars we "loaned" them, and now they want a free pass to do it all over again.  Just wait and see if we get regulations with real teeth, we won't.  The public is not paying attention, and neither Fox nor any of the other corporate entertainment shows is going to tell you about it.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=KeithR|Date=20 September 2009|Text=Crow, are you really sure the two issues are connected?  Of course we won't get meaningful bank regulatory reform.  Nor will we get decent healthcare financing reform.  However, I think that has more to do with who is lining the collective pockets of Congress than it has to do with a short series of disturbing videos.  }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=CrowJD|Date=20 September 2009|Text=In my opinion, the decision to release the videos at this moment is to get the public arguing over relative trivia, while they finish up the backroom deals on health and financial regulation. 

Remember, these videos were in the "can" just waiting for an opportune time to release them.
They don't want the public paying attention to what really matters.

So, I do agree with you that it's all about money, BUT it makes it a lot easier to work out the really high dollar deals when the public is occupied fussing over something like ACORN.  The fact that ACORN is NOT related is what makes it such a great diversionary tactic, plus it's easy for the public to understand. }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=20 September 2009|Text=Totally agree CrowJD. Hey, I see are you a lawyer. Went to law school myself for 2 yrs. I got caught up in different stuff and never made it back. Always said I would go back, but not that interested in it now. More interested in studying different religions. 

To add to what you were saying. I bet some of the executives of those Banks and AIG that we bailed out with TARP: got bonuses last year more than ACORN ever got from the Fed gov. I saw a segment of the news the other day of how Bank "That Rip" off America are now ripping off people with debit cards. Nothing on Fox Entertainment News about that. Didn't Bill O'Rilley use to be on the show 'a Current Affair or Extra. Now he is Fixed Entertainment News biggest star.

I'm no fan of ACORN. What those people did in those videos were wrong. But for Fixed News to devote that much time on ACORN is telling. I see they are pissed at OBAMA for snubbing them this morning. Fixed Entertainment News has declared all out war on Obama.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Joanmcq|Date=23 September 2009|Text=I finally watched the thing and from the extreme editing, I couldn't really figure out what was being asked of the ACORN employees.  Out here at least, ACORN mostly deals with housing, so the tax questions appeared to me to be in the context of how do I qualify for a housing loan if I'm a ho?  At least within the context of what I know of ACORN, that was my first thought.

the underage south american girls made me cringe though.  Somehow I cannot imagine someone straightfaced answering a question about buying girls with 'you can claim them as dependents'.}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=LM 35EA|Date=23 September 2009|Text=Bad tax advice at that. I think ACORN provide VITA tax service in poor neighborhoods. If I can remember when I first started out doing taxes, we use to do strippers and call girls tax returns. It was in a major city. We did schedule-c's. The job title was entertainer, but I think we knew better. At least that wanted to pay and paid their self-employment taxes. Some wanted to get their quarters in for social security. }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Jerrykern|Date=23 September 2009|Text=LM, what did those clients tell you their profession was?  Did they come in and tell you they were prostitutes, and you told them to list themselves as entertainers, or did they tell you they did something related to the entertainment field?}}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=23 September 2009|Text=It is indeed important to get your quarters of Social Security earnings posted.  You never know when a disability might put you flat on your back and prevent you from working.  }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Death&Taxes|Date=24 September 2009|Text=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/acorn_tax_cheat_rGElUcHk82b5We97CU80KI
and http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i81fKPWi8LvB7KzMo3g0Te60YokQD9AT7N5G1. 

Non-payment of withholding taxes should send the responsible parties to jail if they cannot put up the money.  This includes Ms. Lewis and fellow officers.

Yet I do note the photo of Ms. Lewis selected by the NY Post.  Compare it to the photos of Conrad Black.  Anyone remember if Lord Black's trials were ever top of the hour on Fox?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/business/media/11black.html }}

{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Kevinh5|Date=7 October 2009|Text=Oh I finally found the correct tax classification for the hooker's Sch C:   Business Code 624200 Community food & housing & emergency & other relief services.

If she isn't providing 'relief' to her clients, then she is not providing a community service.

}}