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    Gotta love this (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by MO Blue on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:02:04 PM EST
    The C Street Center, a boarding house for Christian lawmakers made famous by its role in the Ensign and Sanford scandals, is facing two complaints from a group of Ohio pastors. The pastors allege that the center is improperly using its tax status to offer below-market rents to members of Congress -- a charge that could ensnare the members as well.

    The 13 pastors, who say they're concerned about the separation of church and state, filed one complaint with the IRS arguing that C Street has improperly declared itself a "church" for taxation purposes on February 23. Their second IRS complaint, filed this week and obtained by TPM, alleges that C Street's rent is much lower than market price. The problem, according to the complaint, is that the members are either not paying taxes on that extra income, or that they're receiving unreported gifts. link



    How did this house figure in the Sanford (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:09:46 PM EST
    story?

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    Counseling (none / 0) (#6)
    by waldenpond on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:17:59 PM EST
    Sanford's statements indicate he was receiving assistance from C streeters to deal with his cheating.

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    Stayed there on occasion (none / 0) (#7)
    by MO Blue on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:22:42 PM EST
    and went there for counseling when his affair was disclosed.

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    Ah, The Fellowship (none / 0) (#9)
    by squeaky on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:48:48 PM EST
    AKA the family runs the joint. They are akin to the illuminati, a veritable fortune 500 club where power (and christianity) are the currency, not money.

    Although the C Street house is known to have ties to the Fellowship, a secretive Christian group also known as the Family, the director of the Fellowship denied this to the Columbus Dispatch. The house "is simply not a part of anything we do," he said.

    But, as the Dispatch points out, the house's property deed was signed by the Family's secretary, and the Family described the house as an affiliated organization on recent tax forms.

    At the heart of their complaints, the pastors say, is the concern that the separation of church and state has been breached, with the Fellowship using below-market rents to buy the influence of the lawmakers.

    Another pastor who signed the complaint, the Rev. Al Debelak of the Redeemer Lutheran Church, told TPM he decided to sign on after reading a book about the Family.

    More on the Family here.

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    The Family (none / 0) (#14)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:17:38 PM EST
    didnt Ed Sanders write a book about them, some time back?

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    No (none / 0) (#15)
    by squeaky on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:25:02 PM EST
    He wrote about a different group of cult murderers known as the Manson Family.

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    And he invented the talking tie (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:29:00 PM EST
    per Wiki.

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    I always thought (none / 0) (#20)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:42:37 PM EST
    thought he just saw one once..

    He also wrote a marvelous book about Chekhov, which, at the risk of being rounded up by the "creative class" police, I cant recommend too highly.

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    And the major difference is.. (none / 0) (#18)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:33:45 PM EST
    Jail Time (none / 0) (#21)
    by squeaky on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:50:38 PM EST
    Capitalism (none / 0) (#17)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:32:38 PM EST
    is sanctioned by God, therefore capitalism is love..under which "we are saved by faith, not works"

    I dont know about church and state, but they've certainly got the marriage of self-serving, megalomaniacal delusion and church down pat..

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    THE EARLY DAZE, part 9 (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Dadler on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:33:21 PM EST
    One more time with the new memoir blog post.  

    Go Butler in the Final 4!

    Just got back from Grand Canyon.  Just beat the crowds, it seemed, and the snow, which was supposed to start falling again today.  Hiked about 1200 down into the canyon on the South Kaibab trail, and made it back up alive.  And Eli, at nine years old, wanted to carry our backpack the whole way.  Never thought he'd make it, but he carried it from top to bottom and all the way back up.  What's a kid for if not al little Sherpa time.  Take advantage while they're small and overmatched, that's always been my motto.  Lol.  What a kid.  I'm so lucky.  Though, I must say, I almost wanted to scream at a few people -- mostly the guy who was throwing rocks off the rim with his kids.  Dopes.  

    Hillary in Canada... (none / 0) (#1)
    by masslib on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:00:18 PM EST
    Cannabis Country? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:00:19 PM EST
    Interesting local paper article about the possibility of legalizing marijuana on Mendocino county.  The loss of jobs, prices and the new tourism:  Smoke tasting tours. The niche industries of organic, hand picked.    

    Interesting quote: (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:11:04 PM EST
    Mendocino County Supervisor John McCowen, who favors legalization if it's nationwide, said state legalization will not bring the kind of business citizens want.

    "The tourists already are coming here. Unfortunately, they're bringing guns with them," he said.

    I was just in Mendocino County.  Lots of empty store fronts.  Not many tourists.


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    Off season (none / 0) (#10)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:52:57 PM EST
    They come in the summer in droves.  But in all these 'quaint" areas are hurting.  

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    I did my part. Bought a beautiful (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:58:35 PM EST
    console table at a gallery in Mendocino.  To display recently-acquired pottery.  Beautiful.

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    BTW did you visit (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by MO Blue on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:06:35 PM EST
    the Mendocino Art Center. Great studios for teaching and workshops. Nice gallery.

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    Yes. And a woman whose (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:13:14 PM EST
    parents helped set it up showed us all around and explained the history.

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    I made some really nice pots (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by MO Blue on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 01:40:35 PM EST
    during a workshop there about 3 years ago. Don't have a flicker account or the equivalent to show them to you.

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