With the indictments of 12 Democrats safely under his belt and the Republican gubernatorial primary just months away, Tom Corbett thought he'd be sitting pretty by now.
Instead, his undeclared candidacy is crumbling around him.
"The whole thing's been a joke, in my opinion," Republican Senator John Eichelberger of Altoona told the Tribune-Review.
Those indictments of which Corbett's so proud? "A first-year law student could have prosecuted" them, Eichelberger sneers.
With Election Day looming, anything Corbett does will seem politically-motivated, Eichelberger points out. And that's coming from a guy who urged Corbett to launch the investigation.
What could have prompted Eichelberger's surprising attack? As CasablancaPA noted earlier this week, Curt Schroeder's decision to hire former Senate Republican taxpayer-funded political guru Mike Long for his congressional campaign is a clear sign that Long is not on Corbett's chopping block.
Eichelberger, like anyone else with a functioning cerebral cortex, recognizes that an investigation of Senate Republicans that doesn't target Long is no investigation at all.
While there are those who delight in Corbett's obvious partisanship - "I'm confident in (Corbett) and I think he has handled this well," McCandless Republican Senator Jane Orie gushed - those with more foresight are justifiably embarrassed.
Furthermore, as Senate Republicans try to cast themselves as cost-cutters and belt-tighteners, the investigation's estimated $10 million-and-counting price tag is mortifying. It's tough to make the case for laying off thousands of state workers and withholding school funding when the bloated legislature is indirectly dumping truckloads of taxpayer loot into Corbett's gubernatorial campaign.
We still don't know whether any Republicans will at long last be indicted, even a token effort for appearances' sake. But Republicans are now being forced to choose: will they stand on the side of Corbett's blatant partisan recklessness or will they grasp at a shred of dignity?
14 comments:
Eichelberger, like Yaw, is simply a jackass. Hope the folks in Blair County give us a break in the next senate election cycle. This guy is as bright as a 15 watt bulb!
Eichelberger has his own problems coming sooner than later.
A pair of good Ears will wring dry an hundred Tongues.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO ASK TOMMY BOY CORBETT ABOUT TWO WORDS:
Kevin
Sidella
DEWEESE PAID SIDELLA WITH TAX DOLLARS TO RAISE MONEY FOR DEWEESE'S CAMPAIGN. THE GUY DID NOTHING ELSE.
IS THIS A CRIME, MR CORBETT?
Of course Corbett is aware of Sidella...he gave him immunity, and Sidella testified before the Grand Jury...get your facts straight before posting another "gotcha" moment...two words: dumb dumb.
Yes, it's well-known that former taxpayer-funded political operative Sidella has been granted immunity. The question concerns Mr. Sidella's boss, the one who paid him tax dollars to raise money for his campaign. The one who continues to pay him, only now he uses campaign dollars instead of public funds. Why no charges for the guy in charge? Or was he, too, granted immunity?
What reads in the Presentments is that it was Veon and Eachus that ran the HDC Re-election efforts for Incumbents Protection?
First, it was shown in the Presentments that Sidela had to be given immunity since he knew about alleged operations that Veon set up with Manzo such as the Cigar Shop along with alleged Cott having the same knowledge, but kept it from DeWeese.
Second, Eachus brags about running the Incumbent Protection Program and cites how he was responsible for the Democratic Majority in the House during this period. It is documented by Veon Lawyer's motion and they provided the documents within the motion citing Eachus's alleged role, confirming Eachus brag to fact. Nothing like this kind of evidence exists on DeWeese in such quantities as on Veon and Eachus
Still, if you compare the emails and incidences of DeWeese and his staff it amounts to far less in numbers and actually proves DeWeese was working on the Democratic Agenda Statewide, not having direct input in the campaigns efforts.
DeWeese's safeguards actually caught some of the illegal behavior by DeWeese Staffers that later led to the dimissal of Manzo that admitted in public he let DeWesse down by doing things behind DeWeese's back.
There is a vast difference between what Veon and Eachus were doing with state employees and state time, compared to others such as DeWeese.
DeWeese's safeguards actually caught some of the illegal behavior by DeWeese Staffers that later led to the dimissal of Manzo that admitted in public he let DeWesse down by doing things behind DeWeese's back.
There is a vast difference between what alleged Veon and Eachus were doing with state employees and state time, compared to others such as DeWeese.
The real difference between Veon & the Defendants along with LaGrotta, and Fumo are the personal and private gains of Veon, LaGrotta and Fumo.
They not only used but also benefited themselves and their relatives and cronies using state resources.
Once caught they pointed fingers at everyone but in reality once you see what went into their personal pockets under their dictates alleged using state time, employees, and resources.
One can see the difference between why they have been indicted and others have not, and it is not even close when one is being fair.
One can speculate what DeWeese knew and when but that is not guilt or direct participation on scale of private gain by Veon, LaGrotta and Fumo.
After reading the all the Grand Jury Presentments and Veon Lawyer’s motion, not such speculation can be made on Veon and Eachus, alleged deeds.
As well as, LaGrotta Guilty Pleas and Fumo's Convictions admissions and jury findings. They went far over the line and pale in comparison of Lawmakers such as DeWeese and many other employees such as Sidella.
Or ....the big difference between Eachus and Veon and DeWeese could be that DeWeese was given secret immunity in exchange for setting up his colleagues.
Signor Ferrari said...
Or ....the big difference between Eachus and Veon and DeWeese could be that DeWeese was given secret immunity in exchange for setting up his colleagues.
I must respond with all kindness.
The day alleged Veon and alleged Eachus decided to use State Resources to foster their ambitions is the day they set up their colleagues not DeWeese.
DeWeese only flaw was trusting those two to follow the rules, instead they got cheap and used state money and employees for private gain.
Attacking DeWeese while ignoring the misdeeds of Fumo, LaGrotta, Veon, and Eachus is laughable.
The only Babe with Republicans these days is Sarah Palin.
After reading anonymous 9:42 AM and 10:02 AM I must find some gatorade to replenish all the electrolytes lost from excessive vomiting.
Too bad Jane, senator Orie, was forced out of the running against Arlen, Changeover. She would so much have been an asset to Tommy Boy in an age when change will not last the year out. But then again they will raise all the money now for Sister Joan Orie Melvin's Supreme Court Campaign. Maybe, I an naive, nothing like that would go on in Casablanca. I must have it confused with Chicago.
I think only Fumo was guilty of doing great misdeeds, all the rests are more ethical violations that do rise to levels of crimes.
Eachus, DeWeese, Veon, LaGraotta and many more Lawmakers along with the Defendants should not be ponting fingers at each other and should be uniting to defend the Democratic Party and their own practices that are not crimes.
The only bucket needed is one in the media.
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