Let's Swirl Up Some Journalism

Stephen has a new addition to his set. It's a Scandal Booth. Stephen hopped in to select the first scandal. And.... the first scandal to be scrutinized was Benghazi. In a recent poll, 41% of Republicans think it will be the biggest political scandal in US history. That number was 10% for Democrats and 20% for Independents.

(For those deficient in math, please realize that those numbers are not saying 61% of people think it is the biggest scandal. Don't make me get out my calculator. Don't make me do it. Fine. I'm getting my calculator. If you think that 61% think it is a scandal, then, using those same calculations, at least 229% of people do Not think it's a scandal.)

Next poll. Where is Benghazi? Among Republicans who believe it's the biggest scandal in US history, 10% think Benghazi is in Egypt, 9% think Benghazi is in Iran, 6% think Benghazi is in Cuba and 1% think Benghazi is in North Korea. Those numbers can legitimately be added and it tells us that 26% of Republicans who think Benghazi will be the biggest US scandal don't have any idea where Benghazi actually is located.

We got a hint at who one of Stephen's future interview guests will be. Jonathan Karl. He is someone who quotes quotes but not verbatim and not actually factually. Tuesday night (tonight) Stephen will have an exclusive interview with Jonathan Karl to discuss the Benghazi emails. Stephen shared the confirmation email with us.

"I would love to appear on The Colbert Report. My Name is Jonathan Karl.
P.S. My lower body is mostly raccoon."

To quote Stephen about that email: "Is that email real? Yes. Did I write it myself? Perhaps."

But Stephen also had other technology to confirm the content of that email so I'm convinced.

What a treat - another trip into the Scandal Booth. "Jimmy, let's swirl up some journalism" This time the scandal turns out to be IRS. By the way, for tax purposes, that Scandal Booth is Stephen's home office. You may have heard that some groups, especially tea drinking groups, have found themselves under scrutiny by the IRS. Funny thing is - there was no need for any of this to happen. The groups filed with the IRS but they didn't even have to do that! Friend of the show and Stephen's personal lawyer, Trevor Potter of the firm Caplin & Drysdale, was there, in the Scandal Booth, with briefcase in hand. He came out of that Scandal Booth and explained it all for us.

You may remember that Stephen has a Super PAC.  His tax exempt status was never granted because he never filed for tax exempt status. He doesn't have to file. Wow! All those tea groups that filed for tax exempt status had no legal requirement to file with the IRS but they did anyway? You can form a 501 (c) (4) without asking to form one.

I'm quoting Stephen here: "These Tea Party anti big government organizations didn't have to ask big government for permission, but they did anyway?"

I'm quoting Trevor Potter here: "Right."

I'm quoting Stephen here: "What a bunch of pussies."

Now the IRS is under scrutiny for putting others under scrutiny and this is Stephen's big opportunity. He now wants to apply. The IRS would be under pressure to approve applications going forward.

Trevor Potter just happens to have a 1024 with him and Stephen is ready with a nickname, a "Doing Business As" name. Stephen chose the following name in order to put just a little bit more pressure on the IRS.

---  Making America a Better Tea Party Patriot 9/12 Place to Constitution America Tea Party Nominally Social Welfare Conservative Political Action Tea Party Secret Money Liberty I Dare You to Deny This Application of America Tea Party  ---

It's a good thing.

The guest last night was David Sassoon of Inside Climate News. They had a discussion that was quite a bit of back and forth, give and take. Stephen prevailed when he said to the guest, "See this air between us. That's climate. Nothing happening." David Sassoon talked about the Dilbit Disaster and the two men sort of agreed that you "don't eat fish from Kalamazoo."

Stephen reminded us all that if we ignore the environment, it will just go away.