Chapter 53, in spite of all the nasty things we've had to say about Charles Rossotti, was honored to be among the select few to be invited to a last press conference before he rides off into the sunset.  The questions are printed and you can click for the answers.

Mr. Commissioner, can you give us your lasting impression of five years of dealing with the career IRS  managers in Washington?

I see, and can you describe your feelings as the IRS falls further and further behind the tax cheats?

Surely, sir, there must have been some theory behind your's and Booz-Allen's  decision to break the IRS up into separate operating divisions?

There was great enthusiasm about the re-organization at the start but many of your external appointees bailed out on you very quickly.  How do you explain that?

It seems to NTEU that there are a great many managers travelling around aimlessly.  How did that come to pass?

It has been suggested that Booz-Allen told you that you would have to throw a big load of bullshit  to get the Re-Org through Congress?  Do you recall what you said to them at that time?

What is your greatest fear about the Re-Organization and how it will impact your legacy?

Mr. Commissioner, you know that Chapter 53 feels that you put one of Brooklyn's former Directors on the management bargaining team just to annoy the union.  How do you respond?

There was plenty of evidence of tension in the upper echelons of the IRS.  The Deputy Commissioner, who will be taking over when Rossotti leaves, made a grand entrance to try to steal the spotlight.

The Deputy briefly grabbed the microphone....

...before being hustled out of the room.  Just then, a call came in from the White House over the PA system.

Mr. Commissioner, can you tell us what the President said when you asked him why he had not appointed as your successor the applicant submitted by the IRS Oversight Board?

Is it possible to re-energize your management team to salvage the situation?  What can your successor say to get them moving forward?

Sir, if I were to tell you that I, as just an average bargaining unit employee, were to say that you have screwed the IRS to a fare-thee-well, how would you respond?

So, you still think there is some hope for survival?

Mr. Commissioner, as you begin your final days, what do you think will become of the IRS once you have departed?

Thank you for your time, sir.