For all the swooning over John Perzel's indictment, we feel the need to point out that partisan Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett did not indict a Speaker of the House. He did not indict a caucus leader. He didn't even indict an influential sitting member.
It's no coincidence that Corbett chose to indict another infamous but washed-up House member, while creating the illusion of drama by piling on lots of staff. Just as in the Democratic indictments, Corbett has ignored influential elected officials who are clearly culpable in the crimes he alleges others have committed.
The fact is, out of 22 people charged, only one sitting member was charged in any significant, ongoing wrongdoing. Sean Ramaley was practically an afterthought, who just happened to be running for the State Senate in a seat the Senate Republicans hoped to pick-up.
In choosing whom to indict in July of 2008, it's clear through Veon's pre-trial motions that Corbett ignored reams of evidence that incriminated active and influential Democrats, namely then-Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, then-Majority Policy Chairman Todd Eachus and Secretary of Revenue Steve Stetler.
History repeats itself with Corbett's Republican indictments. The most egregious example is how Corbett lets House Republican Leader Sam Smith slide by.
How can Corbett grant immunity (which implies she committed crimes for which she would otherwise be charged) to former full-time Smith employee Sheila Flickinger, yet not charge her boss Sam Smith?
Flickinger was a full-time "Special Projects Coordinator" for Smith in 2006, earning $58,539. She appears over and over in the Republican presentment as an insider who knew everything that was going on under Perzel's and Feese's watch at both the House Republican Campaign Committee and the Republican Caucus' Office of District Operations.
Yet, we're supposed to believe that not once did Flickinger discuss any of it with her direct boss Sam Smith?
Did Smith actually say to Corbett, "I had no idea," and did Corbett actually believe him?
This is simply not plausible.
This is just more of the same from Corbett. He is a tough guy when it comes to arresting staff people and a washed-up member or two, but when it comes to any elected official with juice you can just imagine the shrinkage going on in the collective shorts of the Office of Attorney General.
Corbett's efforts in the presentment to excuse Smith's conduct are eerily similar to his bizarre aside in the Democratic presentment, in which he admits that DeWeese did in fact, direct a state contractor to perform campaign work, but he used his campaign e-mail address to do it.
Smith and his supervision of the post-Perzel Office of District Operations:
"After issues regarding legislative bonuses paid for campaign work came to public attention in early 2007, a gradual shift in the culture in District Operations occurred, for the first time in many years placing a specific focus on a stark separation between legislative work and campaign work. For example, in the 2008 campaign cycle Ms. Uliana only was aware of one or two District Operations employees who worked on a campaign." (Page 172 of the Republican Presentment)That's a lie and Corbett knows it.
The Office of District Operations did not skip a beat after Smith took over. A quick analysis of campaign reimbursements to the director of the office, John Hanley, and the Regional Coordinators he supervised didn't change one iota from when Perzel oversaw the office. Compare Perzel-era expenditures here with post-Perzel expenditures here.
Daphne Uliana is shameful liar who not only escapes prosecution by Corbett but continues greedily gobbling up money from the House Republican Caucus with her $5,500 per month contract with the House Republicans.
Will Smith cancel this contract now that Uliana has admitted that most of her work for the caucus was political? Remember, DeWeese never fired Angela Bertugli after she admitted she did no work for the caucus. These payments were apparently felonious when others were responsible, but they go on with impunity.
More importantly, we may never know why some people were charged and others were not.
Did Corbett have a meeting with Smith just like the one with Perzel (Philly Daily News 11/12/09), but the result of the conversation was different?
25 comments:
CasablancaPA makes a great point:
"Remember, DeWeese never fired Angela Bertugli after she admitted she did no work for the caucus. These payments were apparently felonious when others were responsible, but they go on with impunity."
Franklin Roosevelt said it best.......Confidence... thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.
I'm not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick smart colleagues.
In our seeking for economic and political progress, we all go up - or else we all go down.
It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.
If those responsible for reforms fear to reform, then they need to be reformed or removed, they cannot have it both ways, progress demands such action even among close friends that let the other down.
One thing is sure. We have to do something. We have to do the best we know how at the moment... ; If it doesn't turn out right, we can modify it as we go along.
There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.
One can easily sum up Bonusgate, Computergate, and BIGgate with the best quote of them all from Franklin Roosevelt.
"In Politics Nothing Happens By Accident If It Happens You Can Bet It Was Planned That Way!"
The real sin of both Veon and Perzel: losing. Veon lost his House seat, Perzel lost his leadership slot, and both became vulnerable to Corbett as a result.
"Anonymous said...The real sin of both Veon and Perzel: losing. Veon lost his House seat, Perzel lost his leadership slot, and both became vulnerable to Corbett as a result. November 17, 2009 3:18 PM"
There use to be a saying when scandals happen in Governments:
"Elected Officials Retire, Resign, Or Do Not Run Again For Office...But Appointed Officials Go To Jail."
Perzel broke his pledge to Veon and once Veon lost, Perzel lost his Speaker ship, and now is about to lose his freedom.
You are right, they were ripe for Tom Corbett to follow the evidence and nail them both and to crosses, and they purchased and carried for each other.
It is not well known but most Mob Bosses that survived indictments, shootings, and were able to retire, did so by going to Hot Springs, Arkansas.
I wonder where ruined, scandalized, and lost reputations of Politicians retire.
Is there a special place they go to talk old times or do they fade away as Macarthur said he would?
This I so sad, men of great prowess and power reduced to defendants and candidates for felons, all because they could not work each other?
I disagree, Perzel & Veon both lost because they passed a Pay Raise the Public, Media, and Citizens refused to accept after passing 5 others before the one that got them both.
I am writing Jesus Christ Super Star into Bonus Gate Super Stars!
Here Is One Songs:
II. Heaven Pay Raise On Their Minds:
Sung By Frank LaGrotta:
My Mind Is Clearer Now
At Last All Too Well
I Can See Where
We All Soon Will Be
If You Strip Away
The Myth From The Legislature
You Will See Where
We All Soon Will Be
Mike Veon!
You've Started To Believe
The Things They Say Of You
You Really Do Believe
This Talk Of 34% Is True
And All The Good
You've Done Will
Soon Be Swept Away
You've Begun To
Matter More Than
The Things You Say
Listen Mike,
I Don't Like What I See
All I Ask Is
That You Listen To Me
And Remember
I've Been Your
Right Hand Man All Along
You Have Set Our Pay On Higher
They Think They've
Found The New Madsiah
And They'll Hurt You
When They Find They're Wrong
I Remember When
This Whole Thing Began
No Talk Of Pay Raise Then
We Called You A Man
And Believe Me
My Admiration For You Hasn't Died
But Every Word You Say Today
Gets Twisted Round Some Other Way
And They'll Hurt You
If They Think You've Lied
Beaver County Your Famous Son Should Have Stayed A Great Unknown
Unlike Joe Namath Throwing Passes
He'd Have Made Good
Losing HDCC Election,
After Election With 5 Pay Raises War Chests Would Have
Suited Mikey Best
He'd Have Caused Nobody's Harm
No-One Alarm
Listen Mikey Do You Care
For Your Place?
Don't You See We Must
Keep In Our Place?
We Are Politicians -
Have You Forgotten
How Put Down We Are?
I Am Frightened By The Crowds
For We Are Getting
Much Too Loud
And They'll Crush Us
If We Go Too Far
Listen Mikey To
The Warning I Give
Please Remember That
I Want Us To Live In Luxury
But It's Sad To
See Our Chances Weakening With Every 3AM Hour
All Your Followers Are Blind
Too Much Pay Raises On Their Minds
It Was Beautiful But
Now It's Sour
Yes It's All Gone Sour
I Am Frightened By The Crowds
For We Are Getting
Much Too Loud
And They'll Crush Us
If We Go Too Far
Don't You See We Must
Keep In Our Place?
We Are Politicians -
Have You Forgotten
How Put Down We Are?
Forget The Pay Raises For Now
Hire My Niece & Sister The Clowns
In That Way
I Take Care Of Family As The Head
And I Can Get It Back Instead
We Are Politicians -
Have You Forgotten
How Put Down We Are?
anonymous said;
"The real sin of both Veon and Perzel: losing. Veon lost his House seat, Perzel lost his leadership slot, and both became vulnerable to Corbett as a result."
I agree. Throw in the fact that Corbett charged staff people who (not all, but some) had little or nothing at all to do with bonuses, and others who simply followed directions of the elected officials who are still there and still in power, puts Corbett on the same level as a guy who punches women in my book. He's a coward.
THE GROUNDHOG DAY MOVIE QUOTE PRESS CONFERENCE:
(Phil Connors: It's The Same Things Your Whole Life. "Clean Up Your Room!", "Stand Up Straight!", "Pick Up Your Feet!", "Take It Like A Man!", "Be Nice To Your Sister!", "Don't Mix Beer And Wine, Ever!", PUT NEW REFORMS IN HARRISBURG. Oh Yeah, "Don't Drive On The Railroad Track!" Gus: Eh, Phil. That's One I Happen To Agree With.)
(NOW THAT WE KNOW, WHY DOESN’T THE LEGISLATURE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
(MY COMMENTS IN (CAPS) AND AS I READ the POST-GAZETTE ARTICLE ON WHY STAN SMITH NOW CHANGES HIS MIND :) MOVIE QUOTES IN TITLE CASE, YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THE MEANING OF THE SCREEN PLAY QUOTES AS RELATED TO REPUBLICAN COMPUTER GATE.)
GOP Leader Says He Was In The Dark On Bonus Program:
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
By Tracie Mauriello, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau
Carolyn Kaster/Associated PressHouse Republican Leader Sam Smith, R-Jefferson.HARRISBURG --
When House Democratic lawmakers and aides were arrested in a corruption scandal two years ago, Republican Leader Sam Smith said he found it hard to believe his Democratic counterpart didn't know what was going on under his nose.
(WELL, WHEN YOU ASSUME = YOU END UP MAKING AN (ASS)OF(U)&(ME) NOW LET ME SAY AGAIN THAT FOR THE FUMO EX-STAFFERS (ASS)(U)(ME). SO, DO NOT ASSUME THINGS WHEN YOU KNOW THEY WERE WRONG.
(Phil Connors: Can I Be Serious With You With You For A Minute? Rita: I Don't Know. Can You?)
(Phil Connors: Can I Talk To You About A Matter That Is Not Work-Related? Rita: You Never Talk About Work.)
With 10 members of his own caucus now under arrest on similar charges, Mr. Smith is changing his tune.
(I'VE CHANGE MY MIND, IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SAYING OF POLITICAL SPIN EVER INVENTED BASED UPON POOR JUDGMENT AND PERSONAL ATTACKS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPEN IF YOU WERE WISER.)
His criticism of Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese came in December 2007 after an investigation that probed the House Democrats' use of taxpayer-funded bonuses as rewards for campaign work resulted in 12 arrests.
(HE AIN'T HEAVY HE'S MY BROTHER, AND NOW WE KNOW!)
(Phil Connors: Can I Have Another One Of These With Some Booze In It?)
Continued Below: (Devils Work)
Continued From Above: (Gods Work)
"As big as that [bonus] program was they operated, I have difficulty believing he didn't know," Mr. Smith said then.
SO, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, HOLD HEARINGS, GET THE BONUSES BACK TO TAXPAYERS, DO THE RIGHT THING.)
(Rita: Why Would Anybody Want To Steal A Groundhog? Larry: I Can Think Of A Couple Of Reasons... The Pervert! Phil Connors: Do You Ever Have Deja Vu Mrs. Lancaster? Mrs Lancaster: I Don't Think So, But I Could Check With The Kitchen.)
He retreated from that statement yesterday as 10 people associated with his own caucus prepare to fight hundreds of criminal charges for allegedly using state resources to fund campaigns.
(RETREAT?) HELL, THAT IS A LONGER MARCH THAN MAO'S RETREAT IN CHINA, AND MORE LIKE A SAINT PAUL REVELATION NOW SEEING HIS OWN ACTIONS WERE PERSECUTIONS OF HIS OWN PERSONALITY TOWARDS OTHERS.)
"There's nothing worse than getting stung by your own words," he said yesterday. "I was wrong."
(FUMO BUZZZZZZ, STUNG, OUCH, AND I WAS WRONG, HECK EVEN GOD ADMITTED HE WAS WRONG ON USING WATER TO REFORM THE EARTH, NEXT TIME IT WILL BE FIRE? AT LEAST STAN SMITH IS WALKING INTO THE LIGHT OF REALITY WHERE POWER BLINDS AMBITIONS AND SECRET TACTICS ARE HIDDEN FROM HONEST LAWMAKERS.)
His associates are accused of using tax dollars for computer programs and equipment that was used to target get-out-the-vote efforts on those most likely to support Republican incumbents, including former House Speaker John Perzel of Philadelphia.
(GET-OUT-THE-VOTE WAS OK, BUT GET-YOUR FELLOW REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES IS WHAT WAS WRONG.)
Mr. Smith, R-Punxsutawney, now says he didn't know tax dollars were being used that way, and that Mr. DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, may not have known either.
(PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL THE FAMOUS GROUND HOG MAY NOT SEE HIS SHADOW AT TIMES BUT ANYONE WITH A BRAIN COULD SEE "MR. DEWEESE MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN”, IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, HELL, LOOK AT THIS WAY, DEWEESE WAS ACTUALLY A TARGET OF THESE SHENANIGANS TO OUST DEWEESE AND OTHERS IN POWER AT HDC AND NOW WE SEE IT IN HRC TOO.)
"The secrecy that existed is almost beyond belief," he said.
(Rita: Are You Drunk Or Something? Phil: Drunk Is More Fun.)
(I THOUGHT GOVERNMENT WAS OPEN HECK TEAPOT DOME, WATERGATE, IRANGATE, AND SCOOTER LIBBY GATE,, DAMN GOOD REPUBLICAN SECRET OPERATIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHEN WILL THEY LEARN?)
He said those around him led him to believe computer contracts were for legitimate legislative work, not for databases and equipment to run campaigns.
(IT IS OK TO USE THEM FOR CAMPAIGNS SO LONG AS PRIVATE MONEY FOR CAMPAIGNS IS USED TO CREATE THEM, NOT STATE RESOURCES AND EMPLOYEES, AND CERTAINLY NOT AGAINST FELLOW PARTY MEMBERS)
"If what is alleged is accurate, it bears out that I was given misleading information as to what those contracts were all about," Mr. Smith told reporters yesterday.
(IT HAPPEN TO DEWEESE TOO BUT YOU WERE WRONG AFTER ALL TOO.)
(Driving Down The Railroad Tracks Toward An Approaching Train.] Phil: I'm Betting He's Going To Swerve First.)
Continued Below: (Devils Work)
Continued From Above: (Gods Work)
He said he was baffled by some of the revelations in last week's grand jury presentment.
(FROM BAFFLED TO BABIED TO BABBLED, TO BLUEBERRY BLOOMS OF BULLWHIPS, CALLED THE REPUBLICAN TWO STEPS.)
Among those charged were Mr. Perzel; caucus attorney and former Rep. Brett Feese, R-Lycoming; and Mr. Perzel's former chief of staff Brian Preski.
(THE REPUBLICANS BEST AND BRIGHTEST JUST LIKE JFK'S & LBJ'S WONDER BOYS THAT PUT THE AMERICAN ARMY IN VIETNAM.)
Mr. Smith waffled when reporters asked him whether he believed Mr. Feese, Mr. Perzel and Mr. Preski lied to him, but conceded that "if the allegations are true" that he had been "misled" by the trio.
(Phil: You Wanna Throw Up Here, Or In The Car? Ralph: I Think... Both.)
(THE NEW THREE MUSKETEERS, ONE FOR ALL, AND ALL FOR PERZEL.)
Their arrests came during the second phase of an ongoing investigation by Attorney General Tom Corbett.
(ARRESTS ARE ONE THING, GUILTY VERDICTS ARE ANOTHER.)
The end of that phase brings no relief to House Republicans, said Mr. Smith, who considers himself and his whole caucus possible targets of the probe until Mr. Corbett says otherwise.
(IT WILL BE A LONG SPRING AND NOVEMBER UNTIL THE 2010 ELECTIONS ARE OVER ALONG WITH THESE TRIALS. THE INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE, LONG LIVE CORBETT)
(Phil: You Want A Prediction About The Weather, You're Asking The Wrong Phil. I'll Give You A Winter Prediction: It's Gonna Be Cold, It's Gonna Be Grey, And It's Gonna Last You For The Rest Of Your Life)
Meanwhile, he is trying to shore up legislative policies to prevent future transgressions.
(WHY NOT JOINT PARTY LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS OFFER IMMUNITY TO ALL THAT GIVE BACK BONUSES PAID FOR CAMPAIGNING WITHOUT LEGISLATORS KNOWLEDGE. THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH WOULD UNDERSTAND AND BE HAPPY SO WOULD THE TREASURY)
His plan -- called Pennsylvania's Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg, or PATH, -- would prevent legislative staffers from campaigning during scheduled work hours or from using government equipment for campaign work at any time.
(Phil Connors: What Would You Do If You Were Stuck In One Place And Every Day Was Exactly The Same, And Nothing That You Did Mattered? Ralph: That About Sums It Up For Me.)
(OH BOY, I THINK THE BETTER NAME SHOULD BE PATHOS-PENNSYLVANIA AGENDA FOR TRUST IN HARRISBURG OUSTER OF STATE REPS. WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE LAWS, WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE IS THE BONUS MONEY BACK, SMITH'S PROPOSAL SHOULD BE LIKE THE SHINING PATH IN PERU, BRING IN BONUS BABIES AND GET THE MONEY BACK AND RESTORE INTEGRITY TO THE LEGISLATURE.)
Both already are illegal under state law.
(NEVER COUNT OUT THE PRESS TO TELL THE LAWMAKERS THE RIGHT THING ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT)
Continued Below: (Devils' Work)
Continued From Above (Gods' Work)
PATH also would prevent public officials from starting nonprofit organizations while in office. That measure apparently was inspired by grand-jury revelations that former state Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia, and former state Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver, improperly used state grants given to organizations they founded in their districts.
(OH BOY, I THINK THE BETTER NAME SHOULD BE PATHETIC-PENNSYLVANIA AGENDA TREASURY HEARINGS AND ETHICS TO INCREASE CONTRIBUTIONS.)
Mr. Smith also is proposing an ethical code of conduct for government employees and contractors, a ban on awarding contracts to campaign contributors, audits of the General Assembly and whistleblower protection for employees who alert authorities to legal and ethical violations.
(WELL, HOW ABOUT THOSE BONUSES TOO, GET IT BACK. TOO BAD SOME DEFENDANTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES BY SAYING I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY JOB AND IT WAS LEGAL. WHERE ARE THE SECOND CHANCES FOR THEM?)
(Rita: Would You Like To Come To Dinner With Larry And Me? Phil Connors: No Thank You. I've Seen Larry Eat.)
"Our plan would help stop corruption, address various ethical issues and bring accountability and better accessibility to state and local government," Mr. Smith said. "We need to earn back the people's trust and confidence."
(ONE WAY TO DO IT IS WITH LEGISLATIVE HEARING, IT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE INFORMATION ON HOW THIS ALL STARTED AND HOW TO REFORM IT PROPERLY AND GET THE MONEY BACK AND SIN NO MORE.)
(LIKE IN GROUND HOG DAY, PENNSYLVANIA HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE AND NO NEW REFORMS DID ANYTHING, IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE CULTURE HIRE BETTER EMPLOYEES AND DUMP THE ONES THAT DID NOT SEE THIS COMING AND WENT AFTER BONUS BABY MONEY LIKE FLIES ON CRAP.)
STAN SMITH SHOULD GO AND SEE PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL AND ASK FOR SOME ADVICE BECAUSE HE GAVE THE COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS NOTHING BUT TALK NOT REFORMS.)
(Phil Connors Drives (Because Ralph And Gus Are Drunk) Right Through A Mailbox.] Gus: Hey Phil, If We Wanted To Hit Mailboxes We Could Let Ralph (STAN SMITH) Drive.)
Tracie Mauriello can be reached at tmauriello@post-gazette.com or 717-787-2141. Follow her at www.twitter.com/pgpolitweets.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09322/1014320-454.stm#ixzz0XCO4brFH
It's fun to watch, but there are some things I just can't get straight. Like how anyone believes DeWeese didn't do it. And whether he did or not, how can they not terminate about two dozen staffers who clearly were implicated up to their eyeballs. And why give immunity to the boss (DeWeese) to get staffers)
No one wants to read a four- or five-installment "War and Peace" as a blog posting so I shall let the P-G story speak for itself.
Someone please let us know when Sam "I Was Wrong" Smith gets done wiping all that egg off his face.
GOP leader says he was in the dark on bonus program
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
By Tracie Mauriello, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG -- When House Democratic lawmakers and aides were arrested in a corruption scandal two years ago, Republican Leader Sam Smith said he found it hard to believe his Democratic counterpart didn't know what was going on under his nose.
With 10 members of his own caucus now under arrest on similar charges, Mr. Smith is changing his tune.
His criticism of Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese came in December 2007 after an investigation that probed the House Democrats' use of taxpayer-funded bonuses as rewards for campaign work resulted in 12 arrests.
"As big as that [bonus] program was they operated, I have difficulty believing he didn't know," Mr. Smith said then.
He retreated from that statement yesterday as 10 people associated with his own caucus prepare to fight hundreds of criminal charges for allegedly using state resources to fund campaigns.
"There's nothing worse than getting stung by your own words," he said yesterday. "I was wrong."
His associates are accused of using tax dollars for computer programs and equipment that was used to target get-out-the-vote efforts on those most likely to support Republican incumbents, including former House Speaker John Perzel of Philadelphia.
Mr. Smith, R-Punxsutawney, now says he didn't know tax dollars were being used that way, and that Mr. DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, may not have known either.
"The secrecy that existed is almost beyond belief," he said.
He said those around him led him to believe computer contracts were for legitimate legislative work, not for databases and equipment to run campaigns.
"If what is alleged is accurate, it bears out that I was given misleading information as to what those contracts were all about," Mr. Smith told reporters yesterday.
He said he was baffled by some of the revelations in last week's grand jury presentment.
Among those charged were Mr. Perzel; caucus attorney and former Rep. Brett Feese, R-Lycoming; and Mr. Perzel's former chief of staff Brian Preski.
Mr. Smith waffled when reporters asked him whether he believed Mr. Feese, Mr. Perzel and Mr. Preski lied to him, but conceded that "if the allegations are true" that he had been "misled" by the trio.
Their arrests came during the second phase of an ongoing investigation by Attorney General Tom Corbett.
The end of that phase brings no relief to House Republicans, said Mr. Smith, who considers himself and his whole caucus possible targets of the probe until Mr. Corbett says otherwise.
Meanwhile, he is trying to shore up legislative policies to prevent future transgressions.
His plan -- called Pennsylvania's Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg, or PATH, -- would prevent legislative staffers from campaigning during scheduled work hours or from using government equipment for campaign work at any time.
Both already are illegal under state law.
PATH also would prevent public officials from starting nonprofit organizations while in office. That measure apparently was inspired by grand-jury revelations that former state Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia, and former state Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver, improperly used state grants given to organizations they founded in their districts.
Mr. Smith also is proposing an ethical code of conduct for government employees and contractors, a ban on awarding contracts to campaign contributors, audits of the General Assembly and whistleblower protection for employees who alert authorities to legal and ethical violations.
"Our plan would help stop corruption, address various ethical issues and bring accountability and better accessibility to state and local government," Mr. Smith said. "We need to earn back the people's trust and confidence."
A Times-Tribune editorial (11-13-2009, "Obstruction of governance") says of the corruption charges against House Republicans: "Mr. Corbett said there were two separate conspiracies at play: one to convert public assets into private political property, and a second to obstruct justice by covering it all up."
To my recollection, Corbett's charges against House Democrats did not include obstruction of justice, a.k.a. "an attempted coverup."
Could that be because one of the guys you constantly rail against did the right thing and had the wisdom to hire an outside investigator?
The November 16 Patriot-News column of Laura Vecsey, whom you have quoted in the past, has this interesting little tidbit about your favorite blog topic:
Franklin &? Marshall College pollster G. Terry Madonna said Corbett is the first attorney general in modern history to
"vigorously prosecute" public corruption.
"He has also become a target of both his Republican and Democratic gubernatorial opponents -- opponents who charge him with conflicts of interest for pursuing the prosecutions while running for governor," Madonna said.
I say, this just goes to prove that when you're doing the job right, you make enemies on both sides.
"I think everyone in the (House GOP) caucus is under investigation. I've got to assume that they're still reviewing stuff. And that's the assumption I'll go with until the attorney general says this investigation is closed."
-- The ever-quotable Rep. Sam Smith, House Republican Leader.
At least the Republicans didn't send any state staffers to deliver their motorcycles to South Dakota, like Veon is accused of doing.
Nor did they rent an office above a cigar store using tax money so someone could meet his mistress, like Manzo is accused of doing.
"Anonymous said...At least the Republicans didn't send any state staffers to deliver their motorcycles to South Dakota, like Veon is accused of doing.
Nor did they rent an office above a cigar store using tax money so someone could meet his mistress, like Manzo is accused of doing.
November 18, 2009 7:34 PM"
Funny, Veon at best used about $1,000 if that happen, and it is easily reimbursed as an Ethical Violation mistake at best for a personal private service.
Now compare that to $10 Million for Republican Computer Abuse by Perzel for personal political abuses against his own party?
Now that is what I call Republican Inflation!
As for Democrat Manzo, it was a mutual attraction between the two with consent from what I read. Mickey Manzo was lying to his Boss DeWeese, his Wife Eachus's Aide and others in the campaign. He ended up F*?#ing himself anyway and is now employed as an OAG Witness. The cost at best including Food Outtake, Condoms, and Cigars were maybe $20,000.
Perzel and his Republican Friends and Relatives, now Indictees, were F*?#&ing his own Party Members and using MILLIONS of State Money, Resources, and Employees. Moreover, look at the salaries of those Republicans compared to the Democrats?
Republican scandals always cost the Taxpayers much more than Democratic scandals, has been true since the days of Marcus Hanna and Richard Nixon.
When you add up everything, the Republicans misspent way more Taxpayers money than the Democrats, both did however, never gain a cent, since Attorney Fees, and Fines, while at up any Bonuses paid out. So little gained, so much loss, so stupid misuse of power, privilege, and personal character reputations!
Mike Manzo use to brag about how he made only $15,000 starting with Bud George and was up to $150,000 before he admitted wrongdoing to Bill DeWeese that cost his termination.
Knowing Manzo’s propensity towards frugality, I think he used State Issued Condoms, and this trait was verified but his retention of lower cost Legal Counsel as well as pleading Guilty to cut his legal expenses.
Frank LaGrotta and Mike Manzo know the value of a dollar, when it is there personal money they save and still have their Communion Money, when it is Commonwealth Public Money they spend like there is no tomorrow, which in the case of State Employment there is none.
Yet, they were happy to make sure relatives on the State Payroll, Niece, Sister and Wife were overpaid, and in the end it has come back to haunt both from the County of Beaver.
It is ironic; normally Beavers are very hard working, but not on State Time!
What the House Democratic Caucus needs are professionals that enjoy political civic work and not personal greedy political hacks that seek only to employ their wives, husbands, and relatives.
The sooner the HDC learns this lesson and does something about it, the sooner they will become an Institution of Integrity again.
If not, expect more trouble in the future. They are just more land mines waiting to happen for the Lawmakers.
When will the legislators ever learn, good government practices are good politics?
The land mines are the very people brought in by Veon, Manzo, Perzel, Feese, and other Indictees and learned sloppy and unethical practices from them.
Wht is dangerous now is the HDC and HRC Leadership are depending on them to right a ship they already grounded and wrecked.
I mean for God Sakes, Todd Eachus is uisng Fumo's Law Firm Dilworth and Paxson to advise him, and we know what happen to Fumo in the end!
These tainted handmates and handmaidens will do just the same.
Some are working with their former accused mentors and it is going to bite the Legislators in the ass again in next year’s elections.
Escaping an investigation by a limited resourced OAG is one thing, but to retain staffers that are loyal to those that are charged with crimes is NOT good political practices and a great political foundation to unseat current members.
Especially as Open Records Logs are being accessed by Media and Political Opponents going on right now by newspapers, civic groups, common cause, and operation research firms.
Once that misspending, excessive expenses, and collusion is reported in public the Lawmakers will be red-faced again.
After all, a recession lack of job electorate forced to pay higher taxes will have more time on their hands to be unforgiving towards Incumbents and will be looking for more scapegoats.
There is a storm brewing and it is heading towards causing more turmoil and big changes in Harrisburg than the 2005 elections.
Wait, watch, and see!
Here is my problem with believing DeWeese didn't know all about the bonuses: he was the the one who signed the bonus letter referred to in the grand jury presentment. Now this didn't happen just once or twice, but about four times over 3 years. Even if he knew nothing (awful hard to believe), after the first round he would have had at least dozens and dozens of thank you e mails, notes and people stopping him as he walked around the Capitol. Even an imbecile had to know by the second or third time.
The email where one of the indicted co-conspirators thanked him for the bonus for her campaign work, that couldn't have been the only one (nor can you believe it was only 10 or 20 considering the hundreds and hundreds of bonus awards all coming with a letter from DeWeese), And where did all those e mails go?
Even if the AG originally gave DeWeese immunity, it has become clear DeWeese didn't come clean to the AG. No obstruction charges against DeWeese YET!
BREAKING NEWS OR RUMOR.....George Kenney is going to join the Perzel for Jail team as will retain counsel.
God Bless Corbett, if not for him, many Lawyers would be unemployed.
SECOND BREAKING NEW OR RUMOR...Arlen Specter will be out for health reasons but the real truth is it is not in the Polls!
Governor Rendell will be consiering stepping up maybe to the Senate and stepping down as Governor!
All here on CASABLANCAPA!
All The News Fit To PRINT AND WE AIN"T TALKING FINGERPRINTS!
TO ANONYMOUS NOVEMBER 19, 2009, 1:23PM
I WILL RESPOND IN (CAPS) BASED ON WHAT I READ AND UNDER EACH COMMENTS SO YOU UNDERSTAND BETTER YOUR QUESTIONS AND LOOK FOR THE ANSWERS AS I FOUND THEM TOO.
I LIKE YOU FELT DEWEESE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BUT AS I READ THE PRESENTMENTS AND VEON PRE-TRIAL PAPERS I FOUND EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY.
"Anonymous said...Here is my problem with believing DeWeese didn't know all about the bonuses: he was the the one who signed the bonus letter referred to in the grand jury presentment. Now this didn't happen just once or twice, but about four times over 3 years. Even if he knew nothing (awful hard to believe),
I THOUGHT THE SAME THING UNTIL I READ HOW IT WAS DEWEESE' CHIEF OF STAFF, MIKE MANZO (WHO REALLY WAS MIKE VEON OPERATIVE BOTH FROM BEAVER COUNTY) THAT TOLD DEWEESE WHY CERTAIN EMPLOYEES EARNED BONUSES FOR WORKING LATE, GIVING 110% AT WORK AND YOU CAN READ IT IN THE VEON PAPERS GRAND JURY TESTIMONY.
DEWEESE RESPONDED TO OUTLINE A SYSTEM THAT WOULD JUSTIFY IT, MANZO DID BUT IT WAS NEVER ABOUT CAMPAIGNING ON STATE TIME, IT WAS ABOUT WORKING ON MANY LEGISLATION ISSUES AFTER HOURS.
THE BIG PROBLEM FOR DEWEESE LIKE SAM SMITH IS RELYING ON YOUR PEOPLE TELLING YOU ONE THING AND NOT TELLING YOU ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW.
IN ADDITION, DEWEESE SIGNATURE WAS FORGED AND THAT WAS PROVEN BY INDEPENDENT EXPERTS AND THE CTS COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS CHANGED BY EACHUS AND DEWEESE NEVER KNEW AND ALL OF THAT IS IN GRAND JURY FINDINGS.
"Anonymous said...after the first round he would have had at least dozens and dozens of thank you e mails, notes and people stopping him as he walked around the Capitol."
TRUE, BUT BONUSES PAID AT CHRISTMAS HAPPEN EVERY YEAR AND DEWEESE WAS OFTEN THANKED MANY AS ANY BOSS AND ALL LEGISLATORS WERE THANKED BY THEIR STAFFERS TOO.
DEWEESE DID ADMIT SOME MISTAKES AND AFTER HIS OWN INVESTIGATION.
DEWEESE ACTUALLY TURN THEM OVER TO OAG, BUT THEY DID NOT RISE TO CRIMES IN NUMBERS OR THE EXTENT OF OTHERS AS SEEN IN DOCUMENTS.
DEWEESE LIKE ANYONE ELSE BEING MISLED BY STAFFERS WAS AS MUCH A VICTIM AS OTHERS BETRAYED BY HIDDEN AGENDAS, MISDEEDS, AND FALSEHOODS AND WHY HE FIRED SOME STAFFERS THAT ADMITTED IT TO HIM.
FINALLY, IT IS WELL KNOWN DEWEESE STAFFERS OFTEN ANSWER HIS TEXT MESSAGES OF THANKS AND OTHER DETAILS.
IN FACT, ONE OF HIS STAFFERS KEPT HIS ENTIRE SCHEDULES AND PROVED HE WAS WORKING ON AGENDAS IN MANY PARTS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THE HDCC CAMPAIGNS WERE BEING RUN BY VEON, MANZO, EACHUS AND OTHER PEOPLE AS SEEN IN VEON PAPERS AND GRAND JURY TESTIMONY, NOT BY DEWEESE.
PART TWO:
"Anonymous said...Even an imbecile had to know by the second or third time."
REALLY, SAM SMITH'S COMMENTS YESTERDAY SEEM TO CONTRADICT YOUR ASSUMPTIONS, MAYBE YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE ASS+U+ME PEOPLE. WHEN YU ASSUME THINGS, YOU MAKE AN ASS out of U and ME! IMBECILES OFTEN ASS-U-ME SUCH THINGS! I AM JUST TRYING TO WARN YOU THAT YOU SHOULD READ ALL THE FINDINGS BEFORE CALLING SOMEONE AN IMBECILE.
"Anonymous said...The email where one of the indicted co-conspirators thanked him for the bonus for her campaign work, that couldn't have been the only one (nor can you believe it was only 10 or 20 considering the hundreds and hundreds of bonus awards all coming with a letter from DeWeese),"
WELL, AGAIN THAT IS YOUR ASSUMPTIONS AS YOU ASS-U-ME AGAIN, WHY COULD NOT THERE BE?
...AND JUST BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BELIEVE IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE CORRECT AND THAT IS NOT EVIDENCE SINCE YOU PRODUCED NEITHER AND JUST SAID IT. YOU NEED MORE DON'T YOU TO BE FAIR?
EVERY YEAR THE ENTIRE CAUCUS GOT CHRISTMAS BONUSES AND EVERY YEAR A FEW SEND THANKS THEY JUST TAKE THEM AS MOST EMPLOYEES EVERYWHERE.
"Anonymous said...And where did all those e mails go?
TELL US, SINCE YOU ASS-U-ME SO MUCH, YOU HAVE MADE UP MUCH OF YOUR ARGUMENT FROM QUESTIONS YOU ASKED YOURSELF AND ANSWERS YOU HAVE CREATED, NONE OF IT EVIDENCE???
"Anonymous said...Even if the AG originally gave DeWeese immunity,"
FUNNY, YOU MAKE A GUESS HE WAS GIVEN IMMUNITY OR BELIEVE THE MYTH MADE UP BY TEAM CASA AND YOU EXPECT US TO BELIEVE YOU ON WHAT, YOUR FARTS IN THE WINDS, WE CANNOT SEE?
NOW I AM UPSET THAT SOME GOT INDICTED FOR THINKING THEY WRE DOING THEE JOBS, AND I DEFEND THEM, BUT I DO NOT ACCUSE OTHERS ON MYTH, RUMOR, AND HYPO ANSWERS MADE UP BY HYPO QUESTIONS, LIKE YOU JUST DID.
"Anonymous said...it has become clear DeWeese didn't come clean to the AG. No obstruction charges against DeWeese YET! November 19, 2009 1:23 PM"
NO, IT IS CLEAR YOU HAVE NOT READ ALL THE PRESENTMENTS, VEON PRE-TRIAL MOTIONS, AND WORSE OF ALL MADE UP EVIDENCE TO SUIT YOUR ARGUMENTS BASED ON YOUR ASSUMPTIONS.
I ONCE I WAS SO RIGHT TOO, BUT AFTER READING THE NEWSPAPERS, PRESENTAMNETS AND VEON PAPERS, I COULD SEE HOW DEWEESE LIKE SMITH WERE VICTIMS OF OTHERS SEEKING MORE POWER.
DEWEESE INVESTIGATED HIS OWN OFFICE, CAUCUS AND TOOK ACTION ON ANY WRONGDOING HIS LAWYER/INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND, AND TOLD ALL EMPLOYEES TO COOPERATE WITH THE OAG.
THOSE ARE NOT ASSUMPTIONS OF A CRIMINAL THOSE ARE ACTS OF A LEADER LOOKING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPEN.
The first step for any leader is to truly live a good and fearless life.
This is not easy, because one must be accepting responsibility for your actions at all times. Accepting what part you had in any situation.
Difficult, to say the least, but liberating if you are true to yourself.
There are without a doubt mistakes in one’s life but it how you handle them by confronting them, not hiding from them.
Often events are brought upon ourselves and sometime we bring them on ourselves, no matter how unpleasant and these are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn, to become even better as a leader.
Whatever steps we take, they are necessary to reach the places we have chosen to go.
Simultaneously, the terrible thing about the quest for truth even when it may embarrass you is that you find it.
This is only done by never doing anything against your conscience even if the state, colleagues, or friends demand it. Always remember, the man who fears no truths has nothing to fear from lies.
Truth is always exciting, speak it and life is dull and empty without the truth. There is no man so friendless but what he can find a friend sincere enough to tell him disagreeable truths.
What made Bill DeWeese follow the truth after learning many things were kept from him as Majority Leader?
Bill DeWeese held himself to an ideal of conduct even when it was inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so, because he knew no other way.
Bill DeWeese chose the wisdom of knowing what to do next by bringing in an Independent Investigator even if it meant he would have to admit mistakes, land lose people he once trusted. Give Bill DeWeese some credit; he still had the virtue in doing what had to be done.
He just refused to sin by silence or cover up or destroying evidence for he knew he had to protest the unfounded allegations that he had to know, and defend his actions to find out what happen because he needed to seek the truth as anyone.
I give him credit in acting instead of hiding.
I agree, Bill DeWeese did the right thing and it was not easy.
The AG so far has seemed to see it too, good for them.
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