Sunday, March 28, 2010

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?



It may not mean much as a legal argument, but the "everybody does it" defense seems to be putting Tom Corbett in the hot seat. Proceedings against former House Democratic Campaign Chair Steve Stetler have been delayed while the prosecutorial arm of the Corbett campaign scrambles to answer charges that Corbett himself used state resources to campaign.

As reported by ABC 27 back in October and again by the Patriot-News in February, taxpayer-funded state Attorney General staff exchanged hundreds of phone calls during work hours on their state phones not only with Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Corbett himself, but with campaign workers Marie Conley and Joe Murzyn.

Curiously, Corbett has chosen to defend himself against accusations of one crime - using state resources for campaign purposes - by confessing to another: using campaign funds for non-campaign purposes. “This has nothing to do with using government resources for campaign purposes. It’s the exact opposite of that,” [Corbett spokesman Kevin] Harley said. Yeah, that's a crime, too, Kev. There are laws restricting the use of campaign funds to, you know, campaign work.

The defense is not only ludicrous, but incomplete: "As for why calls appear to be made from others in Corbett’s campaign staff to state phones, Harley said he didn’t know."

Six months' worth of itemized bills from Marie Conley's campaign phone and two months' worth from Joe Murzyn's phone show hundreds of calls to and from at least a dozen state phones during work hours - not only in the Office of Attorney General, but also the state offices of Sen. Domenic Pileggi, Sen. Jeff Piccola and Rep.Dan Moul. View the itemized bills and copies of the campaign checks here.

The Corbett campaign may think it's plausible enough that Corbett could have been discussing state business with state workers on his campaign-funded phone (did we mention it's a crime to spend campaign funds for non-campaign purposes?), but we are just dying to know what these state workers were discussing with campaign staffers.

Whether Corbett will face charges based on the accusations remains to be seen. But the blatant hypocrisy could and should be a factor Corbett's gubernatorial campaign. After all, those taxpayer-funded state OAG workers probably weren't discussing the weather during their hundreds of phone calls on state time with campaign operatives.

What were campaign operatives Marie Conley and Joe Murzyn discussing with state workers on state time on their state phones? Will we ever get more than a feeble "I don't know" from the Corbett campaign? (Or from Pileggi, Piccola and Moul, for that matter?) If they worked for anyone in the Capitol other than Tom Corbett, they'd have been hauled before a grand jury and forced to answer under oath.

Side note: While it may not rise to the level of a crime, we're disturbed by Corbett's repeated and disputed claim that he uses two phones - one for state work and one for campaign work. He first made the claim to ABC 27 in September. Then in November, under questioning from the Associated Press, he claimed he uses his "personal" cell phone for both state and campaign business, and he doesn't even know the number of his state-issued cell phone. But in January he again made the claim on WITF-FM ("I carry two, by the way"), and then denied it again to the Patriot-News, saying he uses his "personal/campaign Blackberry" to make and receive all calls (did we mention it's a crime to spend campaign funds for non-campaign purposes?) If he thinks it's all hunky-dory to use one campaign-funded phone for both state and campaign calls (it's not), why does he keep claiming to use two?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

The real Catch 22 is when AG Corbett responds before the Court to defend himself and his staffers in these allegations.

Once it is submitted and later proven they lied against real empirical evidence easily understood, they just broke the law by their responses.

It will be interesting how they respond to this Motion, and the EXACT Language they will use, it needs to be carefully presented, it can come back to really put them in a heap of trouble.

The Civil Lawsuit pending by Pennsylvania Senior Deputy Attorney General Kimmett, is not going away anytime soon.

I see even if Corbett is able to carry out cover-ups now to win the election in November, his Governorship will be dogged on the same basis he created for others.

It happen in New York, Illinois, and Connecticut, Governors were elected, but later had to resign or walked out in Handcuffs, and convicted.

Once outside authorities investigate staffers, the staffers crumble to save themselves, then Corbett real trouble begin.

It has been far too quiet, something is up, something big to Big to BIGGER is going to break, I don't have any inside information, but something is out there ready to happen.

Just a feeling.....Corbett is in for a woe of trouble, and it will come from within the Republicans Party and friends he thinks he knows.

Anonymous said...

I recall how distraught Corbett was when he came out and said the misuse of Tax Dollars has sadden him so much upon investigating the HDCC.

Now he has become smug, joking, arrogant, and especially a Holy than Thou Persona as seen in his Veon Press Conference.

Just a perfect candidate for Jesus’ Teachings, Pride before The Fall, he is a plum ripe for picking and rotten within his own judgments based on his ambitions not justice.

Corbett thought he was going to gain way more convictions to give him a mandate to charge more Lawmakers, now he is hiding behind his laughter in a cautious look on incredulity, and he is entering into a darkness of which he knows not what he is doing, and a smile will not hide it.

I would not be surprised Corbett is wearing Diapers these days!

Anonymous said...

Friday, 30 April 2010, will be an interesting day!

Anonymous said...

PRESS CONFERENCE:
What's the buzz?
Tell us what's a-happening.

CORBETT:
Why should you want to know?

Don't you mind about the future?

Don't you try to think ahead?

Save tomorrow for tomorrow;

Think about today instead.


REPUBLICAN JUDGES:
What's the buzz?
Tell us what's happening.

CORBETT:
I could give you facts and figures.

Even give you plans and forecasts.

Even tell you where I'm going.


REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES:

When do we get to vote into Harrisburg?


CORBETT:
Why should you want to know?

Why are you obsessed with fighting

Times and fates you can't defy?

If you knew the path we're riding,

You'd understand it less than I.


BRIAN NUTT:

Let me try to cool down your face a bit.

CORBETT:

Brian that is good,

While you prattle through your Taxpayer's supper,

Where and when and who and how.

Brian you alone has tried to give me,

What I need right here and now.


PUBLIC:

What's the buzz?
Tell me what's happening.

Anonymous said...

"What were Marie Conley and Joe Murzyn discussing with state workers on state time on their state phones? Will we ever get more than a feeble "I don't know" from the Corbett campaign? (Or from Pileggi, Piccola and Moul, for that matter?)?????"

The governor said the state constitution gives him the leeway to appoint a special attorney general if the elected attorney general fails to carry out the wishes of the governor…but I think Zappala Grand Jury and Jane Orie Computer Drives will catch these people in a place where they will not lie for the Corbett Campaign.

One thing about Republican Office Holders, when trouble comes, they run like cats, going in every direction so they can save themselves, as others make a mistake that snares them.

Plus, one think about Republican Voters, even the small smell of scandal and you are voted out with enmity and forgotten like a toad in heat.

Just ask Preate, Dwyer, Asher, Scooter Libby, Delay, Cunningham, Wayne Hays, Abramoff, and Elliot Abraham!

The Republican Party of the past two decades has distinguished itself as the Party of Penultimate Corruption, working steadily toward subverting the law and preventing due process as well as oversight in their quest for dominant power.

This, too, is an example of Republican strategizing: pre-planning an excuse, a workaround or a loophole in order to ensure a degree of plausible deniability.

It's the Republican way of having to avoid the prevarications required to figure out how to blame othesr while hiding their own sins.

Anonymous said...

Corbett's Reich-Wing is more like to crumble just like Hitler's did, when confronted with honest questions, and then they resort to bigger crimes.

Well, this ain't Germany and oCorbet's Reich-Wing cannot get away with it.

Lets remeber the Republican Hall of Shame:

Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.

Republican Congressman Donald "Buz" Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.

Republican Congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.

Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.

Republican politician and former GOP Committeeman Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.

Republican campaign chairman Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child and was arrested again five years later on the same charge.

Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.


Republican Party Chairman Donald Fleischman was charged with two counts of child enticement, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child and a single charge of exposing himself to a child.

Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.

Republican legislator Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children).

Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was found guilty of raping a 15-year old girl. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women.

Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced prison after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.

Republcan pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.

What's The Buzz, more like a Buzz Saw coming, some say Corbett's has Staffers, Friends, and Contributors with the same problems above, and it ain't going to look pretty when the whole truth comes out.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous...12:51 AM, you might not be far off, A former Pennsylvania state Senate staffer has been arrested on charges that he wanted to engage in sex acts with a 15-year-old boy while dressed in a panda costume, according to state Attorney General Tom Corbett.

Alan David Berlin, 40, who worked for Republican Sen. Jane Orie, used Internet chats and instant messages to proposition the Harrisburg-area boy, including talking about dressing up in animal costumes and engaging in various sex acts, Corbett said in a statement Friday.

Link:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Alan+David+Berlin&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=Z-qwS7qEM8L58Ab6ronBDw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCAQsAQwAw

Scandals like these brings down politicians faster than water over Niagara Falls, and when one talks, there is no cover up or excuses.

Anonymous said...

A formal complaint has already been filed with the US Attorneys office and Disciplinary Board for attorneys. They cannot ignore this info in the Josh Lock motion. Investigation is under way. Corbett has just too many conflicts of interest and has engaged in the same practices that he is prosecuting others for. Grand jury subpoenas will start to be served on Nutt, Costanzo, and all other staff first. They will be treated just like the legislative staff employees were treated by them. They will be granted immunity and Corbett will be sunk. It is all in the works. Thank God we have a democratic US Justice department. I cannot wait to hear the Corbett people crowing that the US Justice Department is engaging in a political prosecution just like they are doing.

Anonymous said...

"A formal complaint has already been filed with the US Attorneys office and Disciplinary Board for attorneys."

- I hope this is true. It seems too good to be, but anything is possible I guess.

If anyone has access to motions filed or correspondence of any kind related to this - KINDLY SHARE IT HERE!

Anonymous said...

Join the Tea Bag Revolution. Vote'm ALL OUT
Their all the same.
All the sluts and the saints.
Vote ALL Incumbents out of Office Specter is a politician and has to go. Cestak is a politician and has to go. Toomey is a political hack controlled by wall street and the Liksik woman has been around all the politicians AND LEARNED THEIR GAME FOR TOO LONG. IT'S TIME FOR A REAL CHANGE. MURTHA IS DEAD AND SO THERE IS SOME HOPE FOR CHANGE THERE. DOYLE HAS SOME OPPOSITION SO THAT IS GOOD. ALTMIREW AND THER
BUCHANAN WOMEN ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR. SO WE NEED TO HAVE A CANDIDATE THERE. i THINK THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE RUNNING AGAINST HER THAT IS NEW AND THAT WOULD BE GOOd.

can anyone get santorum to run as an independent> that would be good> hE COULL
D WIN AND HE WOULD BE A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT.

Anonymous said...

The fact is that all 3 US Attorneys office have received complaints alleging illegal conduct and violation of people's civil rights by Corbett and company. All 3 offices are aware that complaints were filed with the Pa. Disciplinary Board because there have been dozen of ethical violations as well. Corbett thinks that his violations are being overlooked, but the fact is these are civil rights violations that the FEDS will slam home against him in the future. Josh Lock's motion and all exhibits are to be examained too by the feds.

Anonymous said...

I must say that although it is clear that the folks at CasablancaPa have their own agenda(s), their willingness to publish all points of view -- even those that contradict their aims -- is admirable.
Despite a set of biases that must be taken with a big grain of salt, their adherence to the journalistic concept of a "marketplace of ideas" in some ways eclipses that of many media outlets.

Anonymous said...

This is why I was advocating a proper way to pursue Legislative Investigations, True Reforms, and Reimbursement to the Treasury from the start here.

The Legislative Hearings along with Attorney General Civil Fines, Repayment of Bonuses and Expenses agreed upon was the proper path best for the Taxpayers.

It left the very true jurors of all lawmakers and candidates right into the hands of the Voters.

It left Reforms right in the hands of those embarrassed by by some of the ethical but not criminal behavior.

Instead, Corbett OAG and his Campaign Staffs, left them open for future attacks buy not conducting all 4 Caucuses Investigations together.

Even worse, Corbett's political ambitions now will ensnare the Republican Judges and Republican Senators he had no time to investigate.

Government will come to a halt sooner not later, as each Political Party puts out crimes, scandals, and personal lives of many that work in the political arena.

Now Corbett's Campaign Staff will say, so what, what is important is we win the election, but when their actions fall back on Republicans, they will regret the day they chose Ambitions over Justice.

Mutual Assured Destruction of their lives will haunt them a long time.

Harrisburg will live on eggshells and when Corbett has his own sins revealed, it will all be for naught, and no one brought this on himself or herself except Tom Corbett.

A man I admired and respected until these episodes he brought forth for his political vanity.

Trust me, in all candor, and not wanting anyone further hurt by these stupid actions on both side, Pandora Box is open and many good people are about to run for the hills and other kneel looking how all this got started and caught themselves.

Once again, many thought they were not breaking the law, and many were looking for a way to reforms and do a better job, but Corbett chose making them criminals and then now sees he cannot even prove most of his charges, when it comes back on Republicans and stops Harrisburg from working, Corbett will understand and even later in life when he sees he made a huge mistake of judgment.

Anonymous said...

There was time when both Political Parties worked together.

Sure they had corruption but both parties worked to weed it out.

Now one Party goes after another while ignoring the others sins, they ruin others, then get upset when they are ruined.

Corbett is playing a double game and betting he will not get caught, but he will not accomplish anything either.

In time, I agree with you, Corbett has brought on much trouble for himself, his party and his family will end being ashamed of him.

Anonymous said...

Casablanca is certainly to be glauded for providing a forum that permits freedom of the press. As I had stated prior to the verdict, I hope that hey will stay up and running. The mainstream media, print and broadcast should take a lesson from them.

Hang in there and keep up the good work.

Media, take heed, and raise your standards. Dig yourself out of the mire that yo have fallen into.

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, let me suggest here that AG Tom Corbett's power may turn out to be more of a curse than a blessing for Republicans and especially conservatives because in my view, it fosters delusions that can lead to defeat.

Recently a Gallup poll, found that Democratic numbers has (now) dramatically changed, with favorable now well above his unfavorable.

The generic Democratic vote is leading the generic Republican vote in the last Gallup congressional election survey.

The healthcare bill has passed and Democratic numbers have crept up.

Media focus on right-wing death threats is alienating political independents and motivating the Democratic base.

Nevertheless, readers of Matt Drudge, listeners to Rush Limbaugh and viewers of Glenn Beck are being fed a false dose of Republican triumphalism and a megaphone for what a majority of voters might see as extremism that is both delusional and politically damaging to Republicans.

The Republicans only reports the polls they like, which gives a warped view of the state of the nation.

Limbaugh is far out of touch with heartland America.

Glenn Beck attacks Bruce Springsteen's “Born in the USA.”

Excuse me? Attacking “Born in the USA”? What a great Republican platform — for Democrats!

Where do these delusions come from, and on what planet are these people living, mostly flunked out college boys that could not cut educating themselves, so they resort to spin, misacts’, and falsehoods?

It is true that countless lazy individuals in media just read, and listen, patronize the propaganda, and parrot the party line like robots.

On the other end, Republican Prosecution of Democrats are about o get a will dose of their same tactics from DOJ appointed US Attorneys.

The US Attorneys are looking to correct the misuse of the influence the Republicans US Attorney have been using to try and win elections the wrong way by inciting Democrats to be discontented with their own party.

This turning unquestionably worked for a while but payback on the same level is immense, especially where Federal justice is concern.

Many wrongs can turn into Rights, using the Republicans hate against them.

Let’s give Tom Corbett credit for entrepreneurial drive to have reached this summit of Pennsylvania media, without having to answer the hard questions that have not been asked so far.

Let’s give a round of boos for progressives with money who never even attempted a meaningful challenge to Tom Corbett too.

However, the today is, delusions lead to defeat and Republicans are falling into the trap.

Tom Corbett's actions, failures and questionable connections and motives are an albatross for Republicans who believe their own propaganda.

The Media so far may not report it, but the healthcare bill passing has put the president and Democrats on the upswing, Democrats lead Republicans in the Gallup poll, the negatives of the healthcare bill are starting to recede.

The Independents are alienated by reich-wing extremism, the jobs picture will soon brighten, and the Democratic base is finally being motivated again.

Soon Tom Corbett will be answering or avoid answering the most important questions from the media and journalism, and this may well be a curse for conservatives, not a blessing.

Dreams die-hard and delusions lose elections, and misuses of State Resources are crimes Corbett will have to answer for eventually.

Anonymous said...

Corbett has been a politician for a long time. Someone should ask him what he did before he had two cell phones? Where were his campaign offices located in the past? No one ever sold a fundraiser ticket, no one on his staff ever did ANY campaign work or discussed politics in his office during the pre-Bonusgate years? Really???

If anyone believes Corbett always meticulously separated campaign from AG work, I have a bridge spanning the Susquehanna I'd like to sell you.