"Do I believe a lot of people out there are saying things that they're going to have to eat their words? Absolutely."
So sayeth Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Corbett in an interview with the Associated Press.
Could Corbett be talking about li'l ol' us? We can't wait to find out which of our tasty words were going to have to eat.
Will he charge Bill DeWeese with crimes related to bonuses and use of state resources for campaigning and disprove our theory about a secret immunity agreement?
Will he indict Steve Stetler, finally laying to rest the question of how Stetler avoided responding to a grand jury subpoena?
Will his next round of indictments shock the conscience because of all the money involved? (Presumably that amount would have to be more than the estimated $10 million the Bonusgate investigation already has cost the taxpayers.)
If Corbett thinks charging a token Republican or two qualifies as making us eat our words, he hasn't been reading us very carefully. (Also, kudos on allowing petty grudges against anonymous bloggers to influence prosecutorial decisions. The citizens who elected him must feel very reassured.)
We do think it's awfully courteous of Corbett to give those lawmakers who aren't indicted the opportunity to express their gratitude: "...he said he might accept donations from sitting lawmakers once targets of the investigation are clear."
Corbett seems to think he can escape accusations of politicking by laying off responsibility onto noble "career prosecutors" who are above such grubby concerns: "... these guys would scream bloody murder. They'd go right to the federal government and say, 'Hey, there's something wrong here.' I know they would. I would expect them to."
Oh, indeed. They're all just dying to piss off the guy who might be the next governor. And of course career prosecutors are notoriously independent of their politician bosses. Just ask Michele A. Brown, the assistant U.S. attorney who accepted a $46,000 loan from her boss, New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie. Look how eager all the career prosecutors who served under Alberto Gonzales were to challenge their boss after colleagues were fired for insufficient loyalty to the Republican party.
Did these career prosecutors upon whom Corbett relies to keep him honest "go right to the federal government and say, 'Hey, there's something wrong here,'" when Corbett declined to prosecute Republican York County District Attorney Stan Rebert or Republican Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins?
(Ooh, maybe those are the words we're going to have to eat. Maybe he's going to announce indictments of Rebert and Higgins!)
At this late date, Corbett could indict every member of the House and Senate Republican caucuses tomorrow and it wouldn't prove that he hasn't been motivated by politics. We guarantee that no one will scream louder that he or she was targeted for political reasons than a Republican legislator who faces indictment.
If Corbett truly were motivated by anything other than his own political ambition he would have appointed a special prosecutor in January of 2007. He didn't. Because he's not.
Are your egos that huge, that you think you're actually pulling the strings on what Corbett will or won't do?
ReplyDeleteOf 12 million Pennsylvanians, how many do you think actually know of your blog, let alone read it?
I've started asking my friends if they have heard of CasablancaPA. I'll let you know the next time someone replies,"Yes."
You probably have a dedicated but small audience. But the masses really don't give a crap what you say.
Neither does Corbett, to his credit.
What you have is a bunch of opinions. And opinions really are like ---holes: Everybody has one. Yours just come with clever titles and some catchy artwork.
I'm no fan of RepubliCrats. You clowns have watered down our democracy to make elections a joke, and attract only the scum of the earth to run for office under your shameful banner. But I'm glad clown RepubliCrat Corbett is going to put more of you in jail. Then, hopefully, someone will put him in jail.
ReplyDeleteUh, Anonymous 8:33, you're reading this blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd, you've been telling all your friends about this blog.
You must give enough of a crap if you comment here.
Hey, do you work for Corbett? Is this Krastek, Fina or Reeder?
Corbett apparently does care, otherwise why would he bring it up in an interview. Keep up the good work CasablancaPA!
It's entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less. Sort of like "The Jerry Springer Show," only without the on-stage scuffles.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is a valuable resource not only for very specific information, like the Veon Brief, but as an aggregator of what seems like every news article on Bonusgate as well as useful commentary pointing out things that a concerned citizen, like myself would miss.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who knows anyone who knows anything about how Harrisburg works knows Casablancapa is on track. I don't know who is guilty of what, exactly, but many are guilty of using The Forgotten Taxpayers' money for unauthorized purposes and gained power, status and money from this misuse.
We shall see but indicting a few Republican small fry, Matt Wright comes to mind, won't do it. Perzel, Preski, Long, Crompton, who knows Jubelirer and Brightbill - they had to know what Crompton Long and gang were doing like Bill DeWeese had to know what his team was doing.
Does Tom Corbett think not indicting Republicans will help his chances in winning the primary? or the general election? Or does he think Jim Gerlach is an ineffective campaigner who won't make an issue of a very, very glaring defect in Corbett's law enforcement record?
Pound the Rock, Casablancapa. Your voice is being heard. and this Forgotten Taxpayer says thank you.
PS I would like to be wrong about thinking that the Attorney General has politicized this prosecution. Happy to eat may words. I am more afraid that I am right than I am afraid of admitting my pessimistic opinion of Tom Corbett is wrong.
ReplyDeleteanother point I don't agree about a Special Prosecutor. Tom Corbett, necessarily, is concerned about politics because he is elected and not appointed, which means to me, he needs to be concerned about what voters think. Obviously, he, like a Special Prosecutor, would have career motivations.
ReplyDeleteThe failure is we, the people, to hold these elected and appointed and career prosecutors accountable. Casablancapa is the model of citizen activism even if some, it is said, have private motivations. ( I am Free Market conservative: serving self interest, without coercion, is to my benefit even if that is not your intention. I read this blog because I, voluntarily, choose to read it because I think I get value regardless of your motivations.)
I think naming some names, like Frank Fina and who are all these people? http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/The_Office/orgchart.pdf
and I would think they would be concerned about their reputations and their careers. Have they no obligation to the citizens whom they are to protect?
What do we know about our bureaucratic and very silent protectors?
Congratulations, Casablancapa!
ReplyDeleteThe Inquirer story links to you, as well as the Corbett and Gerlach websites.
You guys are having a major impact, which you should be proud of. You deserve great credit for provide intellectual leadership to a political community--including reporters--that started out all too ready to accept Corbett's biased narrative.
I think the chances of Corbett being forced to either drop the charges, turn the case over to a neutral special prosecutor, witdraw from the race for Governor, or resign as Attorney General are increasing every day this charade goes on.
This Inquirer article is the first time I have seen Casablancapa used as source. Bonusgate and its implications have not been a high profile story in the southeast.
ReplyDeleteAP's Mark Scolforo did a solid, workmanlike piece of reporting as he usually does.
AG Corbett does not contradict any factual statements made on any posts.
I cannot see how it helps AG Corbetts campaign for governor to be so obviously partisan and it is curious that no Republican is quoted blasting Democratic corruption. The Republicans are doing nothing with this. Curious, isn't it?
One thing is for certain - this blog will cease to exist once you guys are locked up...don't forget to bring some smokes...they're like cash in there.
ReplyDeleteI am not in agreement with casablancapa casting a wide net full of holes to put up more Democratic Lawmakers and Staffers, to re-election campaigns.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am satisfied they have a right to speak out, the big problem is the truth, and how it it is being used or misused.
A truth that's told with bad intent Beats all the lies you can invent- William Blake
"Anonymous said...One thing is for certain - this blog will cease to exist once you guys are locked up...don't forget to bring some smokes...they're like cash in there. August 31, 2009 9:10 AM"
ReplyDeleteOh Come On, none of the people charged deserve Jail Time. Even Judges will see that in all honesty.
I respect and admire all of them, and I hope we all can find a way to help them without hurting them.
I disagree with many of their opinions and accusations, but once everything comes out, supporting them will be no vice.
"Bobguzzardi said...PS I would like to be wrong about thinking that the Attorney General has politicized this prosecution. Happy to eat may words. I am more afraid that I am right than I am afraid of admitting my pessimistic opinion of Tom Corbett is wrong.
ReplyDeleteAugust 30, 2009 10:47 AM"
All fair minded people think like that and doubts will exist until all charges are concluded.
I prefer to use that time to work on a reasonable, viable, and just solution for all concern.