Grapevine: Deputy in Wyoming hanging up his boots, hat

Does not want to comply with new dress code

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...

Uncivil War

While you were likely watching "Special Report" Monday, a decidedly un-civil war was being waged just down the street from us.

It happened as the House Rules Committee was debating whether to prepare a bill to repeal ObamaCare.

That's when Democratic Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings took a shot at Republican Congressman Michael Burgess and the great state of Texas, thus, sparking a war between the states.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ALCEE HASTINGS, D – FL: I don't know about in your state, which I think is a crazy state to begin with -- and I mean that just as I said it...

REP. MICHAEL BURGESS: Madam Chairman he made a defamatory statement about my state and I will not stand here and listen to it.

HASTINGS: Well fine, then you don't have to listen, You can leave if you choose. I told you what I think about Texas -- I wouldn't live there for all the tea in China.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Burgess demanded a gentleman's apology. Hastings refused, saying he would have to wait until hell freezes over.

In the Red

As has been reported previously, civil rights leader, political activist, and Obama adviser Reverend Al Sharpton has run into trouble with the IRS on many occasions.

Now, an investigation by the National Review finds that every for-profit business Sharpton has started has been shut down for not paying taxes.

It reports financial records for the businesses weave a tangled web of companies that inevitably run into trouble with the IRS and have to be shut down.

Many, it seems, re-open -- some in the exact same location.

Quote -- "It appears that [Sharpton] does not file [taxes for his businesses], and then opens up something else," says Bernadette Schopfer, a tax expert who examined Sharpton's documents.

Quote -- "At all the entities we see he has opened up, he has not been compliant with the obligations of the owner of a business."

Sharpton told the National Review he is working with the IRS to clear up some of the money owed but it is unclear which tax debts that may include.

To read the full report, go to my blog, thedailybret.com.

New Sheriff in Town

And finally, a long-time deputy in the Wild West is hanging up his spurs because the new sheriff is imposing a new dress code that does not include Western attire.

Deputy Gene Bryson retired last Friday, after 40 years of keeping order in Wyoming.

The new Sublette County sheriff says all deputies must wear black pants, a tan shirt, black boots, and a black cap.

Deputy Bryson wears cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, and a vest.

The sheriff says cowboy boots don't get much traction on the ice, and cowboy hats can blow off easily.

Bryson says he's not going to change.