In its Sunday editorial, the Chambersburg Public Opinion called partisan Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett's bonusgate investigation "politically lopsided."
The Public Opinion also questioned Corbett's fitness to be Governor by stating, "It doesn't bode well for the state's highest office when a leading candidate seems to mix the pursuit of justice with his own ambition."
You can read the editorial in its entirety here.
7 comments:
Sherlock Holmes Silver Blaze
“Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?”
“To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”
“The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
“That was the curious incident,” remarked Sherlock Holmes.
With all the evidence of Democratic perfidy on this blog and in the public domain, is it not curious that the Republicans do nothing? A golden opportunity to demonstrate, dramatically, with righteous indignation, publicly, repeatedly ad nauseum, the corruption of Democrats and, yet, curiously, they do nothing.
This is Tom Corbett’s Vietnam and he does not have 8 years to stay in such a war.
Even if Tom wins it, he will be accused of political aspirations on the backs of not just Democrats but fellow Republicans.
Tom does not deserve such accusations but they come with the duty of job and he can let the people decide.
The smart thing to do is to get out of this by having both Political Party Leadership hold Hearings on Bonusgate.
A Bi-Partisan Investigative Committee can then write a Report on the Findings based on Witness Testimony, Defendants with Immunity, Experts, Citizens, Staffers, Judges, Former Prosecutors, and Elected Officials.
Report on what was found and suggestions to avoid future misunderstandings.
Recommend any new Reforms not implemented to date.
Set up system of future procedures to hold state employees accountable if violations of future actions.
Recommend solutions to violations of ethics not crimes.
Recommend ways to payback bonuses, expenses, or cost that used state resources. (This can include deductions of legal fees from the bonuses paid out to avoid unnecessary cruel repayments to current Defendants and where proper reimbursements deem by Judicial Review at a later stage.)
In this way, we can a nightmare quagmire that will have no end in sight and Attorney General Corbett will be given credit along with many others in using a thoughtful way to determine proper means to arrive at proper justice.
If Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford could go back in time, all would agree, America should have worked with Ho Chi Minh to achieve Independence from French Imperial rule. Avoid aide and advisers, and avoid sending troops that took 50,000 American lives.
If the public or media feel the Legislature and AG is too close to this investigation of itself, then choose a Blue Ribbon Panel of Experts and Citizens to Report to the People.
It is not too late for Corbett and all Legislative Caucuses to avoid the Bonusgate Quagmires of Harrisburg that will linger for years if we cannot resolve them in the next few months.
Let us be sensible, practical, and fair and find ways to solve Bonusgate accusations and charges so government can seek out real solutions to real problems our people of Pennsylvania need now.
Why did it take months to indict Democrats and it is taking YEARS to indict Republicans?
Either Corbett has the evidence, or he doesn't. Evidence, unlike wine, does not improve with age. It degrades or is conveniently "lost" while prosecutors follow meaningless tangential minutiae; pursuing a zebra by the light of a blue moon. This is lunacy. Every Pennsylvanian should be scared wit-less by this clear politicization of the administration of justice.
Tom Corbett is not fit to be dog catcher.
If this proposal had even the most minimal chance of success, there would have been no Bounusgate. The Budget Impasse, budget negotiations by less than people, gives us some insight into what would happen with a Bi-Partisan panel or Blue Ribbon panel. The Forgotten Taxpayer screwed again.
And we did have a Speaker's Commission on Reform and there was not a single mention of Bonusgate or the mindset and system that set the state for the what appears to be the theft of government taxpayer money.
Bobguzzardi said...If this proposal had even the most minimal chance of success, there would have been no Bounusgate. The Budget Impasse, budget negotiations by less than people, gives us some insight into what would happen with a Bi-Partisan panel or Blue Ribbon panel. The Forgotten Taxpayer screwed again. And we did have a Speaker's Commission on Reform and there was not a single mention of Bonusgate or the mindset and system that set the state for the what appears to be the theft of government taxpayer money. August 29, 2009 6:01 AM"
Dear BobbyG,
I have read your thoughtful posts and I am glad we have a place to discuss these issues.
I am told the AG Office was offered a chance to resolve these questions with similar proposals from consent degrees to ethical repayments to admissions to summary offenses with reimbursement options. The AG Office refused preferred Perp Walks and Big Media Show. Now this seems so right until you read later what has gone so wrong.
Sure, it looks like the AG caught a bunch of alleged thieves; this was right after Senator Fumo's Charges as well. Yet, as the Veon Filings show it is actually night and day, with many not having the practices, long-term abuse and many of the defendants never knowing they were breaking laws as far as campaigning and fundraising even on leave.
Senator Fumo as seen by his 137-count conviction without a doubt was abusing government expenses, employees, and regulations for years. Fumo's actions were unnecessary since he was an earning millionaire, but Fumo now knows his beliefs, practices, and misjudgments were found to be outright wrong. The Defendants do not come close to doing things Fumo made his employees do on an everyday basis.
Now there are some very questionable actions like renting cigar shops, sending motorcycles out west, charging meals for basketball games and other incidentals that are without question seems like legitimate charges by the AG. Yet, add them all up, you will find such minor cost that can easily be reimbursed by those responsible that are far less than any investigation and trial cost, and most can fall under ethical violations as well.
In addition, there is evidence some bonuses were paid for campaign work, but there is other evidence they were paid for legislative work, it was before the big economic crisis and bonuses were being paid everywhere in many parts of Federal, States, and Local governments. Now that may not be right or necessary but it can be argued with all HONESTY it was not illegal either. Even worse, Bonuses happen throughout State Government not just within the Four Caucuses.
Even if you add up the cost of all Bonuses and that amounts to over millions, most people are not being held accountable and just 12 Defendants to date have been indicted with 2 Lawmakers. It is very unfair and everyone can set up a repayment plan to pay back some if not all the bonuses via an agreement throughout government. If not, that is when you seek prosecution.
What I am saying, all of these violations can fall into reasonable categories that can be resolved within a Consent Degree Agreement and Payback Taxpayers and save Taxpayers cost to prosecute too. It is my opinion, these cases and even Guilty Pleas were actually caused by what I call a Fumo Frenzy, Rush To Indict Before An Election, Refusal To Be Reasonable To Resolve The Charges With An Agreement, and now Lack Of Evidence with additional documents that is not there to support Testimony that is often not enough to convict.
Even more unfair, it is my opinion Manzo, Foreman, and Lavelle pleaded too fast, many State Witnesses given Immunity were too willing to reflect on how government practices work everyday, and thought they MAY have broken Laws. When it is clear, violations that are more ethical, were the case and many never intended to break the laws? They were doing what they did for years and one has to account for a State of Mind of each Defendant to be fair too.
Bobguzzardi said...If this proposal had even the most minimal chance of success, there would have been no Bounusgate. The Budget Impasse, budget negotiations by less than people, gives us some insight into what would happen with a Bi-Partisan panel or Blue Ribbon panel. The Forgotten Taxpayer screwed again. And we did have a Speaker's Commission on Reform and there was not a single mention of Bonusgate or the mindset and system that set the state for the what appears to be the theft of government taxpayer money. August 29, 2009 6:01 AM"
Dear BobbyG Continued,
Now all these cases need to be revaluated and negotiated and the AG would be showing skills that a Governor need to have to resolve tough problems while being fair. Great politicians admit when something is not working, change when policies need change, and are fair to all people at all times. There is a better way to resolve these actions are my point and a way to payback the Taxpayers.
Most important, every Lawmaker will put himself up for Re-election before the people in 2010 Spring and November, as they and many staffers admit to ethical violations, this is not easy for them, but it does not make criminals either.
We can judge them on Election Day whether pay for a Jury on Prosecution day that may not result in convictions or will be reversed on Appeals.
"Anonymous said...Why did it take months to indict Democrats and it is taking YEARS to indict Republicans? Either Corbett has the evidence, or he doesn't. Evidence, unlike wine, does not improve with age. It degrades or is conveniently "lost" while prosecutors follow meaningless tangential minutiae; pursuing a zebra by the light of a blue moon. This is lunacy. Every Pennsylvanian should be scared wit-less by this clear politicization of the administration of justice.
Tom Corbett is not fit to be dog catcher. August 29, 2009 5:42 AM"
It is becoming very close to a violation of the Sixth Amendment Right to A Speedy Trial, even with waivers.
It is my opinion, many of the cases will be reversed on Appeal, since Courts do look at Equity even against the exact language of the law.
It something the Defendants should not hang onto for hope. Or something the AG should not stubborn insists on prosecutions on so many charges hard to prove now.
It is also, why the Legislature of both political parties should come together with the AG and Defendants Lawyers, make reasonable agreements to resolve all these accusations, allegations, and ethical violations and leave only some with Summary Offenses or Misdemeanors that can be expunged with proper repayments.
It is becoming very close to a violation of the Sixth Amendment Right to A Speedy Trial, even with waivers. It is my opinion, many of the cases will be reversed on Appeal, since Courts do look at Equity even against the exact language of the law.
It is something the Defendants should not hang onto for hope. Or something the AG should not stubborn insists on prosecutions on so many charges hard to prove.
It is also, why the Legislature of both political parties should come together with the AG and Defendants Lawyers, make reasonable agreements to resolve all these accusations, allegations, and ethical violations and leave only some with Summary Offenses or Misdemeanors that can be expunged with proper repayments.
Many Elected Officials have already lost their offices, and staffers lost their jobs, and will have to remain ever being employed in government positions in the future.
Only Ego's and Election Strategy can get in the way and that would be wrong, not just ill advised! There is a better way for thoughtful people with new reforms and the Taxpayers will be happy too.
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