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Harry Reid - Got Caught

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by dbermanmd, Oct 12, 2006.

  1. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 12 2006, 03:42 PM) [snapback]331966[/snapback]</div>
    I'm at a loss for why you think the use of 'friend' makes for a snide remark. The second paragraph of the AP story mentions the friend. :huh:

    And, if it (Reid) were a Republican . . . I hear you man! :lol:
    If Reid were a Republican . . . the ultralibs here on PriusChat would be raking him over the coals before all the facts are out - much like they are doing with Foley and Hasert. But since he is a Democrat, it's a wait and see, and let's give him the benefit of doubt tact.

    At least in my 'friend' paragraph I started with “Apparently†. . . giving Reid a smidgen of a benefit of doubt.
     
  2. fshagan

    fshagan Senior Member

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    I'm not sure Senator Reid has done anything illegal. The AP article hints that there might be government influence at work, but to be honest, I doubt it. No one has to have "influence" to see that the Las Vegas real estate market is red hot ... it has been for the last 10 years or so.

    There is an ethics violation of not reporting the gain on the paperwork he files with the Senate, and the Senate will deal with that. He'll be told to be more careful, and to submit the right paperwork. I'd like to see the press give some stats about how common it is for members of the Legislature to have to amend the paperwork, especially in complicated real estate deals. He paid all the taxes on the gain, so he can point to that as evidence that he wasn't trying to hide anything. The article mentions that property taxes among the partners was divided up unevenly ... by a percent or two some years. It sounds like an informal partnership which isn't that unusual in land deals.

    Trying to paint this as "kickbacks", "corruption" or any of the other hyperbole we keep hearing is overstating the case at this point. Let's wait and see if there are any actual laws broken before we jump to conclusions.

    Nevada voters are exceedingly tolerant of things that would shock other voters, so I doubt ths will have any lasting impact on his career. I doubt this will rise to the level of a Senate censure, unless some laws were actually broken. I don't think Senator Reid is up for reelection this November, so it probably came to light by the normal MSM sniffing at crotches.
     
  3. dbermanmd

    dbermanmd New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Oct 13 2006, 02:23 AM) [snapback]332148[/snapback]</div>
    There were three levels of dealing here and the fact the same friend was involved in this deal that was involved with him in other "deals" raises the probability of a quid pro quo handshake agreement being involved. This smells to the highest levels of wrong doing and influence peddling. His name was even mentioned in the public proceedings when this land deal was being discussed in a public town meeting.

    He made $1,100,000.00 in three years on a $400,000 investment - NEVER filed the proper papers, never disclosed his interests in the holding company, etc, etc...

    MOST INTERESTING is the lack of play in the media. Foley who is NOT charged with any wrongdoing (at least not one person has been able to tell me he has) is mentioned on the 30 minute mark every hour, makes the front page of the NY Times and other liberal rags and Reid who possibly HAS violated ETHICS laws and rules not to mention other laws and rules does NOT get a single space of air time or print space. This speaks volumes of the media and its orientation.

    I am waiting for calls of an investigation into this wrongdoing - Reid should at the least speak about it instead of hanging up the phone on the AP reporter. Maybe even someone in a major news organization should inquire or even ask a question or two of the good Senator - probably not until after the elections... Sad, real sad.

    And how about presuming a little innocence for foley or any republican the way people have presumed mr reid is innocent - or do all dems convict in the minds eye every republican the instant an allegation is raised? That speaks volumes too...
     
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    A complicated financial deal that didn't cause anyone direct harm is certainly not as significant nor as sensational as the Foley thing. I heard about the Reid thing on CNN and it was in my local paper...I think it got adequate coverage for the subject matter. YMMV.
     
  5. dbermanmd

    dbermanmd New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 13 2006, 09:16 AM) [snapback]332193[/snapback]</div>
    YMMV?

    its not whether or not anyone got hurt - its ethics - did he use his position of power to his benefit. if the answer is yes then he should resign.
     
  6. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 13 2006, 06:31 AM) [snapback]332198[/snapback]</div>
    You mean like Dick Cheney and Halliburton?
     
  7. Proco

    Proco Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 13 2006, 09:31 AM) [snapback]332198[/snapback]</div>
    How do you determine if he used his position of power to his benefit? He could have been trying to pull a fast one & skirt the ethics rules, but not necessarily using his position to benefit himself. Or it could have been (as he claims) an honest mistake.

    That's the real question. And the answer to that question will no doubt determine the punishment he receives. If the investigation finds he intended to be unethical, he should resign. If the it was actually a mistake, then the ethics committee should punish him.
     
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 13 2006, 08:31 AM) [snapback]332198[/snapback]</div>
    I think it's a tad more complicated than that..."ethics" is a broad concept. Is it unethical to take money from drug companies during legislation for a Medicare drug benefit bill? I think so...but we'd lose almost all of our congress if all those guys with 'ethics violations' resigned.



    If it is shown that Reid used his power and influence to get the zoning changed in order to get personal profit then I'm with you, I think that's a serious enough violation that it should bring about his resignation. But this is not, IMO, on the scope or scale of child pornography/abuse as per Foley.
     
  9. dbermanmd

    dbermanmd New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Oct 13 2006, 09:41 AM) [snapback]332200[/snapback]</div>
    please stick to the topic. remember cheney relinquished his shares and has for a while had no connection at all with the company.

    dont you ever get tired of that same old chant??

    and it has no similarity at all to cheney.
     
  10. dragonfly

    dragonfly New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 13 2006, 09:09 AM) [snapback]332215[/snapback]</div>
    You're making stuff up again! Cheney owns $8 million in Halliburton stock options! Jeez!
     
  11. dbermanmd

    dbermanmd New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Proco @ Oct 13 2006, 09:44 AM) [snapback]332201[/snapback]</div>
    Mistake? How is depositing $1,100,000.00 IN PROFIT a mistake?? He turned $400k into that in 3 years and through the creation of three different companies - one of which he did not invest anything in to obtain partial ownership rights!

    Geez - are we bending over a little backwards here. Just the quick perusal of this looks REAL BAD for old Harry. He should step down as Minority Leader until his name is cleared - unless of course it is ok for a Dem who violated or has appeared to have violated major rules and laws to maintain his position of power he used to do so with? Kind of like Kennedy of the ethics panel :lol:

    How long has old Harry been in the Senate? You would think he knows the rules by now - how many others has he seen crash and burn? And obviously ignorance is NO defense.

    He should start acting ethically and step down - NOT resign - just step down until he is cleared or not.
     
  12. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Greater profits have been realized on lucky speculatioin or via keen insight. Again, this isn't that life & death and judgement certainly can wait for the proper courts and committees.
     
  13. Proco

    Proco Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 13 2006, 10:14 AM) [snapback]332218[/snapback]</div>
    From the CNN article:
    Look, I'm not trying to defend him. The question is was the way he transferred the ownership an deliberate attempt to skirt the rules. That's the point I was trying to make. Personally, I don't think it was a mistake. But I can almost always see another side to an argument.

    I agree he should step down from his leadership position until the investigation is complete.
     
  14. dbermanmd

    dbermanmd New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 13 2006, 10:27 AM) [snapback]332225[/snapback]</div>
    It is really bothersome that we contineu to agree :D
     
  15. dbermanmd

    dbermanmd New Member

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    Falsifying federal documents, which he might have done, is a federal offense punishable by jail time.

    Never mentioned its sale in 2004, turns out profit may have been gifted back to him to avoid taxes, Reids son now may be involved ... more and more coming out...

    I am waiting for some real MSM investigative reporting on this.
     
  16. Proco

    Proco Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 13 2006, 12:39 PM) [snapback]332313[/snapback]</div>
    Unfortunately that's probably not going to happen. Right now the details aren't salacious enough for them. Now if it comes out that a hooker was somehow involved, you'll see lots of front page coverage.

    Falsifying federal documents, while not "sexy", would certainly be interesting enough to get the media involved, too.

    I agree there should be more coverage as details become available.
     
  17. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    If it turns out that Reid's Son was in fact involved in the Zoning Waiver which increased the value of the property, while Reid was hiding his interest in the property behind the LLC, it could turn out quite badly for both of them.
     
  18. dbermanmd

    dbermanmd New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Proco @ Oct 13 2006, 01:40 PM) [snapback]332354[/snapback]</div>
    Maybe he sent an e-mail to his son that we can publish?

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Oct 13 2006, 01:42 PM) [snapback]332356[/snapback]</div>
    Still amazed at how little press this is getting - MSM is truly biased.
     
  19. Proco

    Proco Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 13 2006, 01:58 PM) [snapback]332368[/snapback]</div>
    Nah. That won't do it. Not unless he was asking his son about his "franks & beans". :eek:
     
  20. daronspicher

    daronspicher Active Member

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    This is fraud. I'll call it fraud because it is.

    Reid does not have enough holdings and other things going on that this tiny little 400k transaction slipped his mind. I'm not a financial genius on the level where I can tell you why it makes sense to slip the sale to the LLC under the radar, but I can be assured there is a reason to do it that benefits Reid and screws someone else.

    Then, if that had been a mistake, you correct it as part of the land sale. Whoops guys, I have been incorrectly stating that this 400k land was mine and really it was sold to the LLC... Now we are selling the land (the LLC is), and I'm taking my % of the profits on that deal..


    But, NOOOOOO... that didn't happen... They did the sale and tried to slip another fast one on everyone as if he just did a private sale. Again, I don't know the tax ramifications or other weird problems here, but it's fraud on both ends of this.

    Would someone like to contend that Reid had other more significant issues he was dealing with and this little 1.1 mil deal slipped through the cracks on him again?

    No way... the guy is filing fraudulant paperwork, and someone should figure out why and tell us all.

    Did Reid take tax deductions on whatever it cost to maintain the 400k in land over the years? Did the LLC own the land, but Reid was taking interest and expenses tax deductions over the years for property expenses that he didn't even own?

    If you think this was a simple reporting mistake, you just go make the same mistake yourself and see if you get some real problems from the IRS. One up that because Reid is supposed to be under higher scrutiny for being a public official.

    The guy's a crook and a fraud, but since he's liberal democrat, the news need not report on this.

    which makes the media a corrupt laughingstock of an organization.