Swiss Miss with a side of Teahadist

Michelle may have crazy eyes, she may say crazy things, but did you ever think she'd apply for dual citizenship with a European country with mandated health insurance? Former Presidential nominee and perpetual font of amusement, Michelle Bachmann is now officially a Swiss citizen.

(edit: OK Maq, that's just inappropriate)

Odd. That's the second big story about US citizens getting Swiss citizenship that's come up in the past couple of days.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...

Corporate CEOs are becoming Swiss and renouncing US citizenship in record numbers due to tax complications. Apparently there was a recent scandal w/ UBS and expatriots hiding taxable income and the solution seems to be giving up US citizenship. It doesn't seem to apply to Swiss Miss Teahadist, since she's keeping her US passport as well.

Oso wrote:

Corporate CEOs are becoming Swiss and renouncing US citizenship in record numbers due to tax complications.

I'm surprised there's anyplace in the world where the wealthy pay less taxes than the U.S.

Funkenpants wrote:

I'm surprised there's anyplace in the world where the wealthy pay less taxes than the U.S.

It's more of an issue that US tax laws require US citizens to pay US taxes regardless of where they live. The norm appears to be that most nations have people pay taxes only in their country of residence, not to the country they hold citizenship in. This is why a *LOT* of footballers and F1 drivers relocate to Monte Carlo with its relaxed tax structure.

Swiss banks have recently been penalized for hiding assets from the IRS on behalf of US citizens who live in Switzerland. http://genevalunch.com/blog/2009/09/... Many are responding by giving up their US passports.

I actually thought that unless you were born in Switzerland right and proper, obtaining their citizenship was extremely difficult.

Oso wrote:

It's more of an issue that US tax laws require US citizens to pay US taxes regardless of where they live. The norm appears to be that most nations have people pay taxes only in their country of residence, not to the country they hold citizenship in.

Oh, I know ex-pats complain about that. My brother lived overseas for years and complained about it, but he never took the step of trying to avoid being an American.

I don't mind this at all. I just know we're going to get a slew of articles from the media declaring that this is a sign of America in decline and that all our job createrz will soon be gone.

I thought that in most cases US law forbid dual citizenship except in certain cases. I would imagine that would be especially true of a member of Congress who would now have more than one allegiance. Her political opponents should be able to use this to their advantage.

US law doesn't "forbid" dual citizenship, but it doesn't "recognize" dual citizenship. In other words, unless you explicitly forgo your American citizenship, you still owe taxes here.

Security matters are another thing entirely, in that to get certain clearances, you must forgo any citizenship other than American. I do not know if there are exemptions for congresspeople, but since Michele is on the Intelligence Committee (insert irony jokes here), if there isn't some exemption, she will have to remove herself from any committee which requires a secret clearance.

Note that, in an extra bit of irony, she's carefully applying for citizenship only for her girls, because the boys would have to serve in the Swiss military.

Nothing like upholding the social contract, eh?

Malor wrote:

Note that, in an extra bit of irony, she's carefully applying for citizenship only for her girls, because the boys would have to serve in the Swiss military.

Nothing like upholding the social contract, eh?

It is like you read this stuff and the reality is almost too difficult to believe. I mean I play video games and read fantasy novels, so I have a pretty active imagination, but the sh*t that goes on in politics is sometimes more unbelievable than a dragon seducing a mini-van.

From what I've been reading, she technically became a dual citizen decades ago when she married her husband. They didn't register their marriage with the Swiss government, so it wasn't official until they updated their paperwork earlier this year.

Malor wrote:

Note that, in an extra bit of irony, she's carefully applying for citizenship only for her girls, because the boys would have to serve in the Swiss military.

Nothing like upholding the social contract, eh?

So wait, the same woman who was on Hardball during the last Presidential election campaign pushing the idea of a "citizenship test" has now become the citizen of another country. My head hurts.

This isn't really surprising though, there seems to be a pretty good correlation between elected officials (and their children) and the avoidance of military service. I'm starting to think that maybe it should be a requirement.

Ironic how the most frothy, "patriotic" American's in congress never had the guts to put on a uniform. I guess defending the Constitution and our way of life is a role best reserved for others.

I sincerely wish we could revoke her citizenship.

Nevin73 wrote:

Her political opponents should be able to use this to their advantage.

Don't count on it. Her political opponents have generally been terrible.

Bear wrote:

So wait, the same woman who was on Hardball during the last Presidential election campaign pushing the idea of a "citizenship test" has now become the citizen of another country.

Not just any country. But one of them limp-wristed European countries that have free healthcare, trains, and all the other horrible evils of socialism.

SallyNasty wrote:
Malor wrote:

Note that, in an extra bit of irony, she's carefully applying for citizenship only for her girls, because the boys would have to serve in the Swiss military.

Nothing like upholding the social contract, eh?

It is like you read this stuff and the reality is almost too difficult to believe. I mean I play video games and read fantasy novels, so I have a pretty active imagination, but the sh*t that goes on in politics is sometimes more unbelievable than a dragon seducing a mini-van.

you don't even have to change the acronym: MILF

Good to see you back, Ducki.

This illustrates there's one set of rules for us, and one set of rules for them.

Protip: To win big at teh politickz, convince a lot of "us" that we can become one of "them."

Ahahahahahahahaha! Apparently, someone mentioned to her that she'd have to leave committees that require security clearances, or she figured out that her voters weren't gonna be too happy about voting for someone who "weren't a real 'murkan": Upon news media discovering her little trip to socialismville - Michele moves to withdraw dual citizenship.

So, yay...one less group of people I have to apologize to when I visit Europe.

BACHMANN FLIP-FLOPS, DECLARES WAR ON SWISS CITIZENSHIP

This whole thing is just bizarre.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

This whole thing is just bizarre.

I have yet to read any news article about Michelle Bachman that doesn't sound like some kind of modern adaptation/satire of Lewis Carroll.

OG_slinger wrote:
Bear wrote:

So wait, the same woman who was on Hardball during the last Presidential election campaign pushing the idea of a "citizenship test" has now become the citizen of another country.

Not just any country. But one of them limp-wristed European countries that have free healthcare, trains, and all the other horrible evils of socialism.

And Nazi gold. Lots of Nazi gold.

Dammit, media! We almost got rid of her!

duckideva wrote:

Ahahahahahahahaha! Apparently, someone mentioned to her that she'd have to leave committees that require security clearances, or she figured out that her voters weren't gonna be too happy about voting for someone who "weren't a real 'murkan": Upon news media discovering her little trip to socialismville - Michele moves to withdraw dual citizenship.

In addition to the background check and other screenings, shouldn't a basic competency/intelligence test be required to get an intelligence clearance? Like, what a clearance is, why you need it, and, perhaps, HOW YOU CAN LOSE IT! I can't imagine what it must be like to be the congressional liaison for one of the intelligence agencies that has to dumb their sh*t down to "See Jane run" for the people we elect.

Malor wrote:

Note that, in an extra bit of irony, she's carefully applying for citizenship only for her girls, because the boys would have to serve in the Swiss military.

Nothing like upholding the social contract, eh?

Wouldn't that cause an issue if both the Swiss and American governments demanded that they serve simultaneously?

I do wonder why "Love it or Leave it" Bachmann decided to to Leave it.

rosenhane wrote:
Malor wrote:

Note that, in an extra bit of irony, she's carefully applying for citizenship only for her girls, because the boys would have to serve in the Swiss military.

Nothing like upholding the social contract, eh?

Wouldn't that cause an issue if both the Swiss and American governments demanded that they serve simultaneously?

I do wonder why "Love it or Leave it" Bachmann decided to to Leave it.

Maybe it finally got through her head that she is not going to be the next president.

Not of the US, anyway. Hope springs eternal!

Too bad we don't export more of our crazy ;P

Yeah, because the world needs more abortion clinic bombers and goldbugs...

Robear wrote:

Yeah, because the world needs more abortion clinic bombers and goldbugs...

Let's not forget more "Pray Away the Gay" camps.

I was *trying* to forget them, Nevin...