I hadn't realized that Von Mises blamed Obama for the ATF. If so, I'd have to say I disagree with him: what I see is apparatchiks trying to cover their proverbials. It's not a tale of political party at all. For evidence, look no further than conservatives and liberal groups both up in arms. Be thankful for Western democracies because this would be swept under the carpet as usual in a Totalitarian regime and the protestors would disappear.

Too funny! Actually, I wanted von Mises to blame the Boston Tea Party (the original one) for Fast and Furious. That would make for one funny flowchart!

Actually, what you described ("swept under the carpet in a totalitarian regime and the protestors disappear") is actually a closer assessment of this administration's reaction to Fast and Furious and Benghazi than you realize. Those who have studied both cases will attest to this, as well as the problem of key witnesses "not being available".

And as for the IRS issue, what many don't know is that the chief counsel to the IRS (an Obama appointee) responded to Lois Lerner's frustration a few years back (about not being able to do more about increased Tea Party 501c3 and 501c4 applications that specific Democrats were complaining about, and hoping the Federal Election Commission would "save the day") by opening up a special channel where ALL applications marked "Tea Party" went directly to him. Aside from the shadiness of this, it was a violation of federal law to create new review channels without also communicating these channels within the IRS and the IRS TaxPayer Advocacy Service. And then there's that little issue where specific individuals committed perjury about this being a few rogue agents in one office.

So I'd think again about dismissing these as not having party/political motivations...I'm afraid you're either missing or overlooking some key data points.