Tuesday, June 22, 2010

AGAIN WITH THE PHONES?

It must be witchcraft, the spell that Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Corbett casts upon reporters during interviews that renders them incapable of recalling contradictory statements he's made in the past.

Again, today, in an interview with Pittsburgh's KDKA, Corbett yammered on about how he carries one phone for state work one phone for campaign work.

"I carry two Blackberries. I left one out in the car so it wouldn't go off [during the interview]. The other one is sitting over on the side table over there, and I can go back and forth between the two at any time."
For those of you keeping track, this back-and-forth, does-he-or-doesn't-he, why-can't-he-keep-his-story-straight ridiculousness started in September, with Corbett bragging to ABC27 News that he carries two cell phones:
"He says he has a separate BlackBerry for his campaign work and one for his 'work' work. Separation of government and campaigning is big with this attorney general." (Stop, you're killing us.)
But when ABC 27 confronted him with cell phone bills that showed calls between Corbett's sacred campaign-only phone and state workers on state phones during state time, he claimed, "It's easier to keep it on one."

Then why did you claim that you use two? (A journalist might have asked, if one could have been found.)

He had no defense, we remind you, for the hundreds of calls between those state workers (on state phones during state time), the state staff of Republican legislators (on state phones during state time), and the cell phones of his campaign staff. Not that he needs a defense, apparently, when no one dares to question anything he does.

In November, in response to a question from Associated Press reporter Mark Scolforo, Corbett again claimed he uses his "personal" cell phone (the one his campaign is paying for) for both state and campaign business, and he doesn't even know the number of his state-issued cell phone. (Again, no one bothered to ask why he changed his story.)

But he must have remembered the number by January, when he was back to bragging about his double-fisted technology. On WITF-FM on Jan. 7, Corbett said technology - "cell phones, BlackBerries" - allows him to simultaneously prosecute members of the legislature while seeking their support for his gubernatorial campaign. "I carry two, by the way," he said. (But he doesn't know the number of one of them, which he claims he never uses, except when he does.)

Then, in a February interview with the Patriot-News, Corbett's team went back to claiming he uses only one cell phone. "If anything, [Deputy Attorney General Marc Costanzo] said, Corbett is saving the taxpayers money by not using his state phone." (Remember? He doesn't even know the number!)

By now Corbett may have settled on sticking with the two-phones story, since it's been pointed out to him (you'd think he'd have known it before) that using his campaign-paid phone for anything other than campaigning is a violation of campaign finance and reporting laws.

Good thing for him nobody noticed. Or ever notices. Anything.

95 comments:

  1. Not sure what you mean by "again". That video says the interview was in March.

    Not that Casablanca was ever a pinnacle of journalistic quality, but ever since Brett and Mike things here have gotten real sloppy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Will someone go through the Kimment and Bellaran Dispositions and record how many I Don't knows, I Don' Recall, Or I can't remember Statements and number here on CasblancaPA.

    The voters of Pennsylvania need to know a number of answers he cannor recall, remember, or just does not know.

    You Corbett has about a half of bubble off his plum!

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  3. "Not sure what you mean by 'again.'"

    September (two phones) + October (one phone) + November (one phone) + January (two phones) + February (one phone) + MARCH (two phones) = AGAIN!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is the Courts and Media that are not doing their jobs as well as Federal Institutions, while State Corruption runs wild.

    By men and women of ambitions that are in their and their families self-interests, not the people of Pennsylvania.

    Look what is happening in Northhapton County, no one can even investigate how people are being paid?

    Who Is Claiming Full Time Pay for Part Time Tipstaffs?

    Last week, I told you that virtually all of Northampton County's nineteen or twenty tipstaffs are paid for 80 hours every pay period, regardless whether they are here.

    They are paid as hourly, not salaried, employees.

    Most of them put in twenty or less hours per week. But somebody is filling out time cards giving each of them 80 hours per pay period.

    Who?

    Court Accountant Badaoui Boulous, who takes care of the payroll for judicial employees, referred all questions to his boss, Court Administrator Jim Onembo, who did admit tipstaffs are paid for hours not worked. But I neglected to ask him just who is signing off on those time cards.

    Yesterday, I filed a "Right to Know" request with the Court's "Right to Know" officer, Jill Cicero. "I am requesting a copy of the time card submitted for tipstaffs, which I believe are classified as CS8 full-time hourly employees, over the most recent pay period." I told Cicero she could redact social security numbers and only asked for one pay period, but wanted to see those time cards.

    After making my request, I bumped into Cicero, and she told me everything I need is at Payroll. I should just go there and get it, if I can.

    Payroll, however, has no time cards. Boulous enters all the data, and forwards the payment requests for all judicial employees, including tipstaffs. Interestingly, Payroll tells me Boulous gets his information from Jill Cicero, and they think she has the time cards.

    So basically, the very person who told me to go to Payroll may have the time cards herself.

    I will renew my request with Cicero today. I think it is important to learn who is authorizing hours that are not worked by County employees.

    LINK:
    http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2010/06/who-is-claiming-full-time-pay-for-part.html

    THESE AMOUNT TO REALLY GHOST EMPLOYEES ALMOST IN EVERY COUNTY DOING PERSONAL SERVICES FOR MANY JUDGES.

    MANY ARE RETIRED WITH PENSIONS AND BENEFITS BUT WANT MORE COVERAGE AND ARE A BURDEN ON EVERY STATE AND COUNTY BUDGET.

    YET, NO INVESTIGATION, NOT MONITORING FROM THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT BOARD, AND NO REPORTING FROM ANY NEWSPAPERS WHILE THE COMMONWEALTH IS OVER $1 BILLION IN DEBT?

    THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, OUTRAGEOUS!

    If Veon and Cott are in Jail on claims they had Employees working on campaigns and personal errands why no investigation on Judges?

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  5. Bragging about using phones one time on campaigns and still doing your job as AG and not remembering when, plus OAG Employees that go from State Jobs to Campaign Jobs from hour to hour or day to day, is exactly what the Grand Jury investigated on the House Employees, but no investigation on Corbett even with these contradictions and obvious admissions he is not able top remember what he doing from day to day.

    It is not embarrassing to for Corbett as a Candidate but quite clearly an abuse of his office and misuse of taxpayers’ dollars.

    Where are the good people that need to stand up and stop this hypocrisy of illegal activity with an investigation.

    WE THE PEOPLE, cannot depend on the Courts, Disciplinary Boards, Judicial Conduct Board, or Federal Authorities, so the corruption goes on and on, selective and abusive in their nature.

    There is soomething very rotten in Pennsylvania.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous said...Not sure what you mean by "again". That video says the interview was in March. Not that Casablanca was ever a pinnacle of journalistic quality, but ever since Brett and Mike things here have gotten real sloppy. June 22, 2010 11:37 PM....


    Maybe Team Casa is not a pinnacle of journalistic quality, but it has revealed more about what is happening on the higher levels of all three branches and the legislator and senator than any newspaper anywhere.

    One reason why AG Corbett's Minions tried to shut it down with judges approvals, but they failed to realize, their smugness is their own weakness.

    If they are selecting a few to be held accountable, the headlines are starting fill up with the many that need investigated, and if it does not happen, more and bigger problems are going to develop and be revealed.

    When you cannot depend on fairness from the Courts, you must seek out the corrupted and stop them.

    There is Pulitzer Prize out there for those seeking the truth.

    When Law Professors are, threaten from speaking out on corruption, abuses, and misuse of Commonwealth Dollars by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, well, you know a reckoning is coming and cover up in not possible anymore.

    Add in abusive and violations of legal ethics by Prosecutors when conducting runway Grand Juries, and only expose half the truth for one Political Party gain for control there must be an equal opposite action by telling the truth.

    This is what Team Casa is doing and have right to do it under the First Amendment.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Federal Lawsuits alongside Tom Corbett for being a bungling Attorney General go on making their way through federal court and the depositions are interesting for what they demonstrate about Mr. Corbett.

    Corbett’s Office is incredibly mismanaged and clearly political towards helping his contributors and investigating his opponents.

    Why would Corbett assume he could handle the entire commonwealth if he cannot even supervise his Office?

    Huge amounts of taxpayer money have been misspent or squandered, partly to Corbett’s privatization to his contributors, partly to ineptitude as he prosecutes legislators but not senators for what amounts to petty thousands in comparison to millions worthless misuse of immunity witnesses.

    Corbett needs to unsoiled his own office and come clean about his malfunction as Attorney General.

    Yet, no one expects him to do it so long as the election is just 5 months away.

    I hope that Onorato Campaign will be able to point out Corbett’s problems with the truth and let the FBI look into Corbett’s campaigning on state time.

    Plus, Corbett's failure to investigate his own staffers that got the highest bonuses for campaign work on state time when they worked for Republican Senators he has ignored to date?

    Hell, Corbett has not been able to discharge hisduty in accordance with Open Records requests.

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  8. The House and Senate Republican caucuses ran campaigning on commonwealth time operations but Attorney General Corbett allowed them a two-year holiday in which to destroy evidence and so no members of the GOP have been indicted for similar crimes, except where another District Attorney did a proper Grand Jury Investigation against Senator Jane Orie.

    Funny, even after this was conducted the Attorney General's Office has not been able to bring one Republican or Democratic Senator or their staffers to a Grand Jury, and has not provided any charges to date.

    Yet, those same Former Staffers are working and contributing to Corbett's Campaign.

    Republican Judge Lewis refused to even have the Stetler Motion evidence be read in a court of law and now has recued himself from Veon's B.I.G Trial?

    After all, Judge Lewis is now retreating in the face of Jurors opposition to his rulings and sentencing.

    Meanwhile, the highest court in Pennsylvania that could eventually rule on Judge Lewis's mistake and errors at Trial has two Justice under investigations themselves.

    They were elected with help by State Senators and State House Members but now are calling for Merit Selection by the Big Law Firms that got them in trouble in the first place.

    Hypocrisy is not limited to Corbett it seems.

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  9. What earthly difference does it make that the interview was in March? By March, Corbett already had give five different conflicting accounts. And the story ran yesterday, so it's not like this information was unavailable. If CasablancaPA - a simple blog, after all - is no "pinnacle of journalistic quality," what does that make the professional reporters and editors who are letting this stuff slide?

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  10. Once again, an outside Law Enforcement Agencies by way of the FBI and IRS have decided to investigate something AG Corbett has not been able to do to date....investigate State Senators!

    This makes the Office of Attorney General 0 for 2 on Investigations of State Senators after 4 long years.

    Allegheny DA Zappala has charged Jane Orie and is holding a new Grand Jury into Supreme Court Joan Orie Melvin.

    The FBI & IRS are looking into Senator Mellow.

    But no results or even a peep from Attorney General Corbett?


    The Times Leader Article:

    IRS and FBI Raid Senator Mellow's Office And Home:

    HARRISBURG -- Lisa Scullin, a spokesman for Sen. Robert J. Mellow, D-Peckville, said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted Mellow this morning prior to their visits to his home and district office informing him of their intentions.

    The FBI and Internal Revenue Service arrived at his Peckville office and Blakely home just after 9 a.m. with search warrants. They did not show up at Mellow's Mount Pocono or Harrisburg offices.

    "We don't know what their inquiry is in relation to," Scullin said, noting that Mellow was already scheduled to be in the district for the day. "The senator is cooperating fully with all their requests and is willing to provide any information to help them with their inquiry." She said she was unaware if agents had taken anything.

    "Sen. Mellow is confident that in his 40 years serving Northeast Pennsylvania, he's done nothing wrong," Scullin said.

    Where is Tom Corbett these days, campaigning or investigating, his political opponents, or going after Bloggers against the First Amendment?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous said...If CasablancaPA - a simple blog, after all - is no "pinnacle of journalistic quality," what does that make the professional reporters and editors who are letting this stuff slide?
    June 23, 2010 7:53 AM

    Co-Conspirator I hope someday.

    The Newspapers think the best thing is let incompetent Corbett run wild so a Constitutional Convention can change government for a Pert-Time Legislature in their image, and want Merit Selection for Judges, and take away the rights for voters to elect anyone.

    Believe it or not, Mike Veon often protested with Striking newspapers Employees in his home county and throughout the state. The Philadelphia Inquirer Owners have retained Dilworth Paxson Law Firm for their own problems.

    Even the Supreme court is now considering eliminating the Register Of Wills, Clerk Of Court, and Prothonatary from being elected to Court Appointed Bureaucrats and making all District Justice shave Law Degrees.

    These ego elitists’ editors that the voters reject their endorsements every election, actually think they can solve all the problems when they are actually the problem by taking the vote away from the people.

    ReplyDelete
  12. WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT IS THE FOLLOWING:

    LINK TO THINK:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8&feature=player_embedded

    THINK FROM THE LINK:
    http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking

    A Republican Governor, Senate, and House with a Republican Supreme Court will make Drilling for Natural Gas a disaster to our ground water.

    Some big guys and gals that want to regulate it so it is safe and to pay their fair share to the taxpayers, consumers, property owners, and counties, and communities are being indicted or eliminated by not running again.

    ReplyDelete
  13. anonymous said...The FBI & IRS are looking into Senator Mellow.

    But no results or even a peep from Attorney General Corbett?

    It's a Federal case for god's sake. You can't have it both ways. Face it, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. The OAG has more to do than just investigate the thieves in the House and Senate. They also have capital murder cases, child abuse cases, and plenty of felony cases covering this entire state. DA's from every county in Pa are daily referring cases up to the OAG due to conflict of interest with their local prosecutors who once defended the perps. It seems you have no idea how many cases are handled by the OAG's office, nor do you seem interested.
    Only a small handful of DAGs are available to work at scrubbing the bathtub ring (scum) that lines the dome in the capital and most have regular case loads as well.
    This blog's writers take random facts and innuendo, then bend it to suit the particular agenda being touted as "truth".
    Political spin is political spin no matter which side it comes from. You are no better than those you criticize. The only difference is that your side is backed into a corner right now. Give it some time and you can give tit for tat as the country goes to hell, with partisan politics at the wheel.

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  14. Why is it, every time you can do some good, the nice people come in and mess you up?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tell me why a Judge that looked so judicial. How could he be so corrupt?

    Is it that the sweater unravels?

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  16. Anonymous said...anonymous said...The FBI & IRS are looking into Senator Mellow. But no results or even a peep from Attorney General Corbett? It's a Federal case for god's sake. You can't have it both ways. Face it, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. The OAG has more to do than just investigate the thieves in the House and Senate.

    The OAG has 800 employees and after 4 years has not reported on any investigation of any state senator, NOT ONE, the so-called thieves as you named them in the senate, have gotten a free pass by Tom Corbett and the 800 employees of the Office of Attorney General.

    AM I RIGHT?

    OR IS 4 YEARS INVESTIGATING 50 SENATORS NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR CORBETT?

    ZAPPALA DID JANE ORIE INVESTIGATION IN 4 MONTHS?

    Or do you have another excuse for Corbett's Incompetence?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous June 23, 2010 8:33 AM said.....They also have capital murder cases, child abuse cases, and plenty of felony cases covering this entire state. DA's from every county in Pa are daily referring cases up to the OAG due to conflict of interest with their local prosecutors who once defended the perps....June 23, 2010 8:33....

    Yeak, I forgot, Corbett cannot manage the Collection Agency Accounts for State Taxpayers according to the Federal Lawsuit either.

    Maybe you are right Corbett has too much on his table, and why he needs two cell phones, he cannot remember to use properly or legally.

    Why did Corbett hire two Former State Senator Staffers if he was suppose to be investigating the State Senate?

    Is this not an Appearance of Impropriety and Conflict of Interests, or do you feel he had no time to do a background check on State Senator Staffers Corbett claims he is suppose to be investigating?

    Forgive me; everybody will give you ideas on how to get out of trouble cheaply and fast.

    Moreover, they all come down to this: deny your responsibility.

    John F. Kennedy said, "An error doesn’t have to become a mistake, until you refuse to correct it." But Kennedy was a Democrat!

    TOM CORBETT INTENTIONAL MISUSE OF HIS OFFICE AT THE OAG WILL FOLLOW HIM INTO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION, NONE OF YOUR EXCUSES CAN CORRECT WHAT CORBETT HAS BEEN DOING SINCE HE WILL NOT ADMIT HE MADE THEM.

    If Corbett cannot manage 800 employees and investigate 50 Senators in 4 years and has no memory how his Office works, do you think Corbett can do any job?

    After all, he was pretty bad as a college and law school student according to his own father.

    Corbett even made big mistakes at Waste Management whereby Governor Ridge had to scold him.

    Waste Management is a company known to hire garbage and was glad to support him for higher office to get rid of him in private industry and use him in government now!

    I'll wait for your answers to my questions?

    Why hire Foremer State Senators Staffers you are suppose to be investigating?

    Is his caseload too high and he could not pay attention to it?

    ReplyDelete
  18. The only thing new about this world is the history we dont know.

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  19. Anonymous June 23, 2010 8:33 AM
    said...It seems you have no idea how many cases are handled by the OAG's office, nor do you seem interested.June 23, 2010 8:33 AM


    Why don't you give me that number, and tell me how many did Corbett work on himself?

    Because he stated under oath he did not know, cannot recall, and does not remember?

    Corbett cannot keep track of his Cell Phones, nor knows not its number, so how can Corbett keep track of his Office?

    Tell me please, love to know!

    Tell me, do you think Corbett has met Campaign Workers at his Office of the Attorney General and asked for Campaign Contributions there too?

    I am told some people have been asked to contribute to his campaign right in the Office Of Attorney General by Corbett himself.

    Apparently, Corbett has time for that campaign task among all those cases you cannot number for me?

    ReplyDelete
  20. All Politicians, Legislators, Senators, and Judges have to worry about their power?

    What good are you to the people without it?

    Yet, down deep you know there is a line you cannot cross, and after a thousand trades, and one deal too many, the line is rubbed out.

    Are you telling me, Tom Corbett is not vulnerable to the power he holds over others, and now commands to go higher?

    Because if you say he is immune, you are pissing on my leg and telling me it is raining!

    Corbett has been horse-trading all his life, and he has rubbed out his own lines, by hiring Senate Staffers he is suppose to be investigating.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous June 23, 2010 8:33 AM said...Only a small handful of DAGs are available to work at scrubbing the bathtub ring (scum) that lines the dome in the capital and most have regular case loads as well. June 23, 2010....

    Really, these small group of DAG'S cannot scrub very clean if they worked with the very Former Senate Staffers hired by Corbett for his campaign.

    Or do you disagree they can do it?

    Moreover, if they could do it, why no action on State Senators after 4 years, just explain it to me, and I will apologize.

    In addition, are these same DAG's that decided to work to bring over 159 charges even knowing some acts were very legal, but like a Juror said, they threw way too much mud so they could see what could stick?

    Are these the same DAG's geniuses that bullied and used the F-Word at the Grand Jury Hearings and refused to record themselves unlike Zappala boys did it to show they were not violating any Grand Jury Rules.

    I mean if Corbett knew these cases and this investigation was is big like he claimed he cried about at his first Press Conference, why did he not hire more DAG's to investigate his friends in the Senate?

    Do you call that an honest Attorney General or a Capable one, too stupid to hire the people he needs to clean up government on cases he calims he is investigating?

    Are these same small minded DAG's that spent time to seek out First Amendment Violations to find out about Bloggers and that the ACLU had to show up, to see these DAG's run away like scattered rats before an Honest Cat?

    I mean this small group of DAG's actually found the time within weeks to sue for First Amendment Violations but cannot find time to invetsigate 50 senators?

    Are these the same DAG's that gave a Judge a inacurate case about how to replace Jurors and did not keep Jurors from going to an alleged scene of crime that is violating of Juror Instructions?

    These smaller minded DAG's worked on 159 Charges they made up, and many more on the 3 other defendants and could prove only 16% of the charges, so they wasted more tax dollars for a 6 week trial?

    Are you defending these DAG's idiots who wasted time on charges that should have never been brought?

    Are these same DAG's that used Immunity Witnesses that admitted to crimes and said they did no jobs just campaigned, but are still working at the Capitol and collecting pensions under these DAG's judgment wasting millions on jobs they never had, just campaigning work?

    Alternatively, instead Corbett was busy firing Career Senior DAG's that had over 20 years of experience because he went to the Federal Agencies to make sure he was not going to be part of Corbett’s alleged cover up on the mismanaged collection monies?

    So let me see if I got this right, you are saying there is only a small number of DAG's that spent most of their time working on charges they could not prove against 4 people, while letting 50 senators and there staffer go without an investigation for 4 years.

    AND WHEN THE ONE CAREER SENIOR DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT WAS DOING HIS JOB ON MAKING SURE COLLECTION AGENCIES PAID THE STATE THAT COULD MAKE MILLIONS FOR THE STATE WAS FIRED IN THE JUDGMENT OF TOM CORBETT AND NOW THAT IS TAKING UP MORE OF CORBETT'S TIME NOT TO INVESTIGATE STATE SENATORS?

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  22. It is too late for Corbett and his Prosecutors, the dies been cast; it was cast a long time ago when they went Campaign Advisors to make Corbett Governor on bringing many baseless charges over Professional Prosecutors judgment based on the evidence.

    Once this catches up with Corbett, many will want to go easy: give him a blindfold and have mercy.

    This would be his due if he was a tough man, but he was not a tough man, and he was unfair.

    The people once they know, will give back the same, no?

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  23. Anonymous June 23, 2010 8:33 AM said...This blog's writers take random facts and innuendo, then bend it to suit the particular agenda being touted as "truth".

    Not really, the Prosecutors do that in front of the Grand Jury Findings and refuse to provide the Grand Jurors with exculpatory evidence.

    The Prosecutors then have to write a Grand Jury Presentments and they bend many facts they cannot later prove at trial.

    Everyone saw this to be the case when Corbett Bungled DAG's Boys could only prove 16% of the charges at bests by confusing the Jurors that admitted later they made some wrong calls.

    Notice how the FEDS did the Fumo Case, they proved 137 of 137 charges, and Fumo got 4 years?

    Corbett proved only 3 of 42 charges on Brett Cott and the Judge unwisely gave Cott 5 years based on Corbett's unprofessionalism.

    Moreover, Veon was convicted on 14 charges and got 8 to 14 years by a Judge running away from this case now because he knows he will be investigated too now?

    Every Press Conference Corbett has called he has bended the truth ahe could not prove at trial.

    Corbett's Grand Jury Presentments were refuted far more on charges he brought that were later proven bogus, all to become governor.

    Once again, if Corbett wanted to become Governor he should have resigned as Attorney General and let someone else take on the cases.

    If Corbett was good manager of people he would have collected millions with interests from Collection Agencies.

    Instead he let them go because they contributed to his campaign, and fired the career DAG that knew how to do his job.

    Corbett has proven he cannot manage 800 OAG Employees and can only investigate about7 to 8 people over 4 years, a terrible performance and record.

    In addition, Corbett by avoiding his senatorial friends make him accomplice not an Attorney General.

    Corbett and his DAG's have not been honest, fair, or professional and that is why they will be caught eventually.

    This was never about justice it was about Corbett's Campaign for Governor!

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  24. One keeps keep looking at this investigation as if it were kosher.

    A cut of meat is kosher. A piece of fish, savory foods, and all kinds of dang things are kosher.

    An investigation is merely an investigation.

    What was wrong with these investigations too rotten and very selective for the House and none for the Senate.

    One day some people at the OAG will hear, its out of our hands, do the RIGHT thing, will you? Make it easy for yourself.

    They will become Immunity Witnesses and wonder why and how all this happen!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous June 23, 2010 8:33 AM
    said...Political spin is political spin no matter which side it comes from. You are no better than those you criticize. The only difference is that your side is backed into a corner right now. Give it some time and you can give tit for tat as the country goes to hell, with partisan politics at the wheel.
    June 23, 2010 8:33 AM


    I agree with you, if your pushed, one will push back.

    If I didnt know better, I would be bursting with admiration.

    Oh, its just a reflex, its still good to hear you say it... the way you say it, too.

    But it is wrong that Cott and Veon are in Prison with those sentences, and it is wrong the Senate has escaped for doing the same things, because Corbett won't or can't do his job.

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  26. Let us focus on facts and not foib les in Casablanca's reporting or for that matter the main-stream media's reporting or lack of it. The bottom line is: There is corruption and mismanagement in the OAG and the very highest courts of our state and nothing is being done to investigate it. The fox is truly in charge of the henhouse

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  27. Is Corbett a Time Traveler, able to shift in and out of situations and spaces. WHEN HE IS ON HIS STATE PHONE DOES HE DETACH HIMSELF AND WORK ONLY FOR THE STATE> WHEN HE IS ON HIS CAMPAIGN PHONE IS HE SUDDENLY LEVIATED INTO A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ENVIRONMENT> MAYBE WE SHOULD ELECT HIM GOVERNOR> WITH ABILITIES LIKE THIS IMAGINE WHAT HE COULD DO FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE STATE> HE COULD TAKE THEM OV ER AND TEACH OBAMA HOW GOVERNMENT COULD RUN THEM> PENNSYLVANIA COULD BE A WORLD LEADER WITH THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL ABILITIES OF TOM CORBETT>
    I GUESS I BETTER SNAP BACK INTO REALITY AND VOTE FOR ONORATO>

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  28. So, if he's decided to stick with the two-phones story, what's his excuse for why he's using the campaign phone to conduct state business?

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  29. Anonymous said...So, if he's decided to stick with the two-phones story, what's his excuse for why he's using the campaign phone to conduct state business?
    June 23, 2010 3:08 PM

    The moral problem is that Corbett is the highest Law Enforcement Person in the Commonwealth, and he is being caught in his own lies, and he going after people that he claims broke the laws, but does not apply it to himself or his senator friends or contributors....this is just plain out wrong, and all due to taking power, using power, and this kind of corruption is worse than what he claims of others.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous said...
    Is Corbett a Time Traveler, able to shift in and out of situations and spaces. WHEN HE IS ON HIS STATE PHONE DOES HE DETACH HIMSELF AND WORK ONLY FOR THE STATE> WHEN HE IS ON HIS CAMPAIGN PHONE IS HE SUDDENLY LEVIATED INTO A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ENVIRONMENT> MAYBE WE SHOULD ELECT HIM GOVERNOR> WITH ABILITIES LIKE THIS IMAGINE WHAT HE COULD DO FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE STATE> HE COULD TAKE THEM OV ER AND TEACH OBAMA HOW GOVERNMENT COULD RUN THEM> PENNSYLVANIA COULD BE A WORLD LEADER WITH THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL ABILITIES OF TOM CORBETT>
    I GUESS I BETTER SNAP BACK INTO REALITY AND VOTE FOR ONORATO>
    June 23, 2010 1:47 PM

    It is worse than time traveling, Corbett is crossing the lines from legal to illegal everyday of his campaign, and rounding up anyone that points it out, or may be a problem for him, when he is Governor.

    A Special Prosecutor needs to be selected to investigate Corbett so all can see what was fair and unfair in his minions doinghs and himself.

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  31. "there’s nothing illegal or unethical about Corbett using his campaign phone during work hours to make or receive calls from the attorney general’s staff. "

    you know, a phone is just a phone. They transmit sound from one end to the other.

    explain to me again how using private resources to call into an office equates to "campaign business was discussed"?

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  32. "explain to me again how using private resources to call into an office equates to "campaign business was discussed"?"

    Explain to me how state workers on state phones on state time are private resources?

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  33. If the state workers were discussing politics with the campaign workers, they're guilty of campaigning on state time.

    If the campaign workers were discussing anything other than politics with the state workers, they're guilty of campaign finance and reporting violations.

    It's quite a conundrum! You can understand why Corbet doesn't quite know what to say.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great blogging on CasablancaPA!
    OK i firmly believe Corbett is in fact, CORRUPT, however more and more I am coming to the conclusion, he is (the U's...): UNCAPABLE, UNQUALIFIED AND UNCOMMONLY self aborbant....honestly I believe he thinks he is Adolf Hitler reincarnated!!!!

    Corbett is truly SCARY!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous said..."there’s nothing illegal or unethical about Corbett using his campaign phone during work hours to make or receive calls from the attorney general’s staff. "you know, a phone is just a phone. They transmit sound from one end to the other.explain to me again how using private resources to call into an office equates to "campaign business was discussed"? June 23, 2010 5:33 PM

    Yes there is, he working on state time, not suppose to be campaigning.

    He using State Offices as he speaks for Campaigning if he is talking on his Campaign Phone.

    If he is aking people for money in his office and some are willing to testify to any investigatoer, he is campaigning on state time.

    Corbett has hit up Lawyers for Campaign Contributions on state time while discussing invetsigations.

    If he cannot remember what he is doing in his office as the Depositions show, how can he keep track of what phone he is using for campaigning?

    Why carry your Campaign phone when you are suppose to be working in your Office on State Time?

    Finally, why did he hire Brian Nutt and Mike Long when both should be under investigation for Senate Bonusgate Investigations?

    This a Conflict Of Interest violation of using state resources for campaigning and Corbett is saying he is above the law he is saying he is enforcing against all except himself.

    If Cott and Veon are in prison for doing the same thing, should not Corbett be next to them?

    In the words of Judge Lewis,
    The judge told Veon his actions constituted "a clear and damning violation of the public trust" and "a flagrant and glaring abuse of power" that subverted the electoral process and damaged the reputation of the Legislature.


    Prosecutors said neither defendant showed genuine remorse for their actions.

    "They were trying to put themselves in the best light," Costanzo said. "Neither of them wanted to talk about what they did. Neither of them wanted to explain why they did it. Neither of them want to specifically say they were sorry for the specifics of what they did."

    So far no one has gotten a proper response from Corbett either using his job to campaign, why has not Costanzo arrested Corbett yet?

    ReplyDelete
  36. fancynance said...Great blogging on CasablancaPA!OK i firmly believe Corbett is in fact, CORRUPT, however more and more I am coming to the conclusion, he is (the U's...): UNCAPABLE, UNQUALIFIED AND UNCOMMONLY self aborbant....honestly I believe he thinks he is Adolf Hitler reincarnated!!!! Corbett is truly SCARY!!! June 23, 2010 5:56 PM

    I agree, what is even more scary not one newspaper reported has asked Corbett how he can hire Mike Long for his campaign activity while Mike Long as a Former Bonusgate Staffer for Republican Senator is suppose to be under investigation as we speak.

    Why has it taken 4 years to still wait for Republican Senators Bonusgate investigations all the while Corbett is running for governor nor and not doing his job as Attorney General?

    Why not one Newspaper?

    German Newspapers backed Hitler rise to power too, you know!

    The German Editors regretted years later, and do not forget Fascists Mussolini was a Publisher!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Yes, there is life after public office for retiring legislators and staff without being investigated by Attorney General Corbett on their large bonuses and working on campaigns on state time.

    Former President Pro Tempore of the Senate Robert Jubelirer formed a lobbying and procurement consulting business called Jubelirer & Associates based in Altoona.

    Long-time Jubelirer political operative Mike Long will leave the Senate to join the political consulting firm of Hallowell & Branstetter which will add his name to its letterhead.

    Branstetter got a No Bid Contract from Attorney General Corbett, and no one said dared said a word!

    Mike Long works on Corbett Campaign now even though he is under investigation by AG Corbett 800 Employee but very sm,all DAG Staff on Long's role in Senate Bonusgate Bonuses, that has yet to be released aftre 4 "LONG" years?

    Gives a whole new meaning to Long Shot these days!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Castille's handling of the process to build a new Family Court and calls into question his ability to manage the state court system, is now front page news.

    The latest revelation is that the double-dealing lawyer Castille paid to spearhead the project also represented the Foxwoods casino in cases before the state Supreme Court.

    That raises serious conflict-of-interest issues that undermine trust in the chief justice's impartiality surrounding legal matters.

    It's amazing that Castille doesn't see a problem in hiring a lawyer to work for the courts, play golf with him, and then allow the same lawyer to appear before him in court.

    In a nutshell, that's why Castille should step aside.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Why are most comments all from 'anonymous'?? Just wondering...

    ReplyDelete
  40. Great job, on educating the public. Democrats , Republicans and Independents, Green Party and Libertarians are all organizing. Just saw "Republicans for Dan Onorato" on Facebook. Here is the link

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=130772353615317&ref=ts

    ReplyDelete
  41. fancynance said...Why are most comments all from 'anonymous'?? Just wondering...June 23, 2010 9:12 PM

    We follow in the traditon of the Founding Fathers when they had to fear for their lives, families, and farms, in the face of tyranny by the King that thought he was above all laws.

    ReplyDelete
  42. What about Senate R Bonus-gate Mike Long's involvement in the House races in the Southwest - the republican candidates have been “hand-picked” by Republican Party Leaders and Republican Operatives. If elected, they will be forever indebted to the Republican Party and void of any independent thought, not to mention their link to Harrisburg corruption and the senate bonus-gate scandal.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous said...What about Senate R Bonus-gate Mike Long's involvement in the House races in the Southwest - the republican candidates have been “hand-picked” by Republican Party Leaders and Republican Operatives. If elected, they will be forever indebted to the Republican Party and void of any independent thought, not to mention their link to Harrisburg corruption and the senate bonus-gate scandal. June 24, 2010 1:29 AM


    The clear Conflict of Interest and outright COMPROMISED INVESTIGATION is how Tom Corbett the Attorney General has hired for his Campaign a person he is suppose to be investigating since Mike Long was a Senate Staffer that received BONUSES and Tom Corbett has said he is investigating the SENATE CAUCUSES?

    HOW CAN HE INVESTIGATE SOMEONE WORKING FOR HIM???

    IT IS ILLEGAL, UNETHICAL, AND PROVES CORBETT'S INVESTIGATION IS A SIDESHOW FOR GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN.

    Mike Long should be immediately dismissed from Corbett's Campaign since he is part of the Office of Attorney General Investigation into the Senate Caucuses.

    The same for any State Senator that is raising money for Corbett or any Former State Senator Staffer that received Bonuses when they worked in the Senate.

    Onerato should file an Ethics Violation Immediately and outside Law Enforcement Authorities should be investigating why Corbett hired instead of investigated Mike Long?

    This is really easy to understand and convey to the voters, even members of the previous Grand Jury would be upset about this kind of duplicity. Corbett has violated his own code of ethics and compromised his own investigation into Senate Caucuses and should be dismissed or investigated immediately?

    Where are the Newspapers Reporters, Ethics Commission, and Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board?

    This should be an immediate investigation by the Federal US Attorneys as well.

    ReplyDelete
  44. If you vote for Tom Corbett in Nov. (not that Onorato is much better), you get what you voted for, someone not equipped to be governor of this state. Enough already. Taxpayers in this state deserve better.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Corbett is laughing because Casablanca is the minister preaching to the choir. There is nothing wrong with a good revival meeting, but you have to get out and spread the gospel to every voter. You need to get door-knockers inviting them to the service. And I don't see it happening.

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  46. LOOKS LIKE THE SUPREME COURT HAS THROWN OUT CONFLICT OF INTERESTS LAWS AND CAN BE REVERSALS OF THE CONVICTIONS OF MIKE VEON AND BRETT COTT DEVELOPING IMPACT BEING READ AS WE SPEAK.....

    LINK:
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704911704575326644174012942.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

    High Court Sides With Skilling, Black:

    WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow Thursday to the federal government's high-profile convictions of Enron's Jeffrey Skilling and former media mogul Conrad Black, sending the cases back to lower courts for possible reversal on at least some charges.

    The high court, in opinions by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, found fault with a federal law that gives prosecutors the authority to bring cases against executives who deprive companies of their honest services.

    The rulings could have a significant impact on some white-collar crime prosecutions. The honest-services law has been a darling of government lawyers because it is broadly worded and gives them room to prosecute a wide range of conduct.

    Justice Ginsburg said the honest-services law should be confined only to cover fraud schemes involving bribery and kickbacks. Justice Ginsburg said parts of Mr. Skilling's conviction were flawed, but said the flaws did not necessarily require reversal of his conviction on conspiracy charges.

    Based on the court's ruling in the Skilling case, Justice Ginsburg said in a second opinion that the jury instructions in Conrad Black's case were incorrect.

    The court expressed no opinions on whether the errors in the Skilling and Black prosecutions were harmless, and instead ordered lower courts to consider those issues.

    In a second part of the court's Skilling opinion, the justices rejected the Enron executive's other attack on his conviction, based on the argument that he did not receive a fair trial.

    Mr. Skilling's lawyers had contended that the economic damage Enron wreaked on its home city of Houston had so poisoned the jury pool that his trial should have been moved elsewhere. At the very least, Mr. Skilling argued, the trial judge should have scrutinized potential jurors more closely to guard against possible bias. Jury selection in the case lasted just five hours.

    Justice Ginsburg said that Mr. Skilling failed to establish that actual bias infected the jury that tried him.

    The court's 51-page Skilling opinion produced different lineups of justices on different legal questions.

    Five justices joined Justice Ginsburg in ruling that Mr. Skilling's honest-services conviction was flawed.

    Another three justices, led by Justice Antonin Scalia, concurred in that result, but would have gone further and invalidated the federal honest-services statute as unconstitutionally vague.

    CONTINUED ON BELOW....

    ReplyDelete
  47. Maybe Annonymous should get a blog of his own instead of clogging up this blog and all of the other blogs with all kinds of stupid shit.

    ReplyDelete
  48. CONTINUED FROM ABOVE....
    The court voted 6-3 that Mr. Skilling received a fair trial.

    Five justices joined Justice Ginsburg's opinion in favor of Mr. Black, while another three justices concurred in that ruling.

    Mr. Skilling was sentenced in 2006 to 24 years in prison for misleading shareholders about Enron's dire condition as it slid toward bankruptcy, even as he made millions of dollars selling shares.

    Prosecutors had argued that Mr. Skilling, who was convicted on charges of conspiracy, securities fraud, insider trading and lying to auditors, violated the honest-services law when he allegedly participated in a scheme to deceive the public about Enron's financial health.

    They said Mr. Skilling's actions benefited his own financial interests because his compensation was tied to the performance of the company's stock.

    Mr. Skilling's legal team had argued that his actions were taken to protect Enron and weren't motivated by personal gain. His lawyers said the crime of "honest services" fraud was too vaguely defined to be constitutional.

    In Conrad Black's case, prosecutors had alleged that Mr. Black, the former chairman of Hollinger International Inc., and other executives supported lavish lifestyles by siphoning off millions from the company through bogus management fees and noncompetition agreements as Hollinger sold off many of its smaller newspapers.

    The prosecution alleged that the Hollinger executives stole the money, but in a related legal theory, also alleged that the executives deprived Hollinger of their honest services as managers of the company.

    Mr. Black, who was convicted in 2007 and is serving a 6 1/2 year prison sentence, had argued that the government's reliance on the honest-services law meant that the jury could have convicted him even if it didn't believe he stole anything.

    A jury convicted Mr. Black on three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice, though it acquitted him on nine other fraud counts.

    Mr. Black and the other executives said they did not steal from the company, but instead sought to structure certain management fees in a way that the payments they received would not be taxable.

    Mr. Black built Hollinger into what once was the world's third-largest newspaper company.

    At one time it operated more than 300 newspapers, including the Daily Telegraph in London, the Jerusalem Post in Israel, the Chicago Sun-Times and Canada's National Post.

    The company is now much smaller and operates under the name Sun-Times Media Group Inc.

    Write to Brent Kendall at brent.kendall@dowjones.com

    ReplyDelete
  49. MORE FROM SCOTUS....The justices did not rule that law was unconstitutional, but did narrow its scope. Therefore, The Supremes' ruling doesn't get those convicted or waiting for trial off the hook, but it does give them a stronger position for appeals and dismissals of charges for others waiting trial.

    This is good news for Chief Justice Castille too!

    LINK:
    http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2010/06/24/supreme-court-decision-leaves-questions-over-brunos-fate/

    Supreme Court Decision Leaves Questions Over Bruno’s Fate
    June 24, 2010

    A lawyer for convicted former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said Bruno’s legal team will be meeting with prosecutors and the judge as soon as possible to determine what impact a series of U.S. Supreme Court rulings today will have on Bruno’s pending prison time.

    In three decisions today, the Supreme Court ruled that the theft of honest services law could not be used in the convictions of three businessmen and politicians. Bruno’s two-year prison sentence, which was not one of the cases before the Supreme Court, has been delayed until the Supreme Court ruled.

    But it’s unclear whether the ruling will mean Bruno will avoid prison time.

    “This is a decision that is going to require that we have further discussions with the prosecution and then meet with the court and we are going to try to do that as soon as possible,” said Bruno’s attorney William Dreyer.

    Asked if the Supreme Court’s ruling to limit the use of the law is positive for Bruno, Dreyer said, “We’re reading it that way.”

    The court stopped short of Bruno’s ultimate hope that the court would set aside the statute altogether. There was no immediate comment from prosecutors in the Bruno case.

    Bruno, 81, the longtime Republican leader of the Senate, was sentenced in May to two years in prison on two corruption convictions in federal court. Yet U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe ruled that his time behind bars wouldn’t begin until the Supreme Court ruled on appeals of the same federal statute used in Bruno’s case.

    Bruno, who retired from the Senate in 2008, was convicted of two felony counts of mail fraud last December.

    A jury found Bruno had robbed state residents of his honest services by accepting $280,000 in payments from Albany-area businessman Jared Abbruzzese in exchange for political influence.

    Here’s the decision involving former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Lady Elaine said...
    Maybe Annonymous should get a blog of his own instead of clogging up this blog and all of the other blogs with all kinds of stupid shit. June 24, 2010 1:49 PM

    I like reading all these views; they are interesting, responsive, and informative.

    Unlike your own PMS Complaining Post that added nothing at all here.

    Get some PMS Tea and comeback when you are less emotional and can comment with some substance.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles — The Supreme Court on Thursday made it much harder to prosecute corruption cases against public officials and corporate executives, ruling that a law used to help convict former Enron Corp. Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling was far too broad.

    The decision narrowed but did not overturn a 1988 law that makes it a crime to scheme to deprive the public of their "right of honest services."

    All nine justices agreed that public officials and corporate executives cannot be convicted of defrauding the public unless they enriched themselves by taking a bribe or a kickback. Secret deals or conflicts of interest are not a crime unless they involve a direct payoff.

    "The court has clearly raised the bar," said Patrick Collins, a former public corruption prosecutor in Chicago. "The easy case is the official who takes $10,000 from a contractor and then awards him a contract.

    "But what about the guy who secretly goes on a vacation paid for by the contractor, and then several years later awards him a big contract," Collins said. "This is a gray area now if you can't show a direct connection."

    Peter Zeidenberg, a former public corruption prosecutor in Washington, called the decision "a big deal."

    "It's going to weed out a whole host of cases," he said.

    He cited examples of members of Congress and their aides who were prosecuted under the statute for taking golf trips, expensive meals and sports tickets from lobbyists.

    Defense lawyers welcomed the ruling. "It effectively takes a bludgeon out of the hands of aggressive federal prosecutors who viewed every conflict of interest as a theft of honest services," said Jack Falvey, a white-collar defense lawyer in Boston.

    Jacob S. Frenkel, a formal federal prosecutor now in private practice in Potomac, Md., said prosecutors have "plenty of theories and statutes" to cover corporate criminal conduct without the need to resort to "contorted or extended honest-services fraud." And by the time appellate courts reject those efforts, he said, there are "a lot of devastation and many guilty pleas and convictions along the way."

    This will apply to State Laws as well.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Philly mag piece on Rendell affair w a state employee quotes him saying as he gets to end of term it's harder for him to raise political money so he takes his beauty queen to fundraisers because she has "pizzazz" and people want something more in the room now to give big $. Isn't that the one thing bonusgate charges allege: using state employee for political purposes. And, btw, does anyone think Rendell never had an affair (Kinzer, McCombs).

    ReplyDelete
  53. Corbett might not know his number but the voters of Pennsylvania have his number...and, he will be lacking in the numbers come November 2nd.

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  54. I'll bet this springs Fumo and the BIG case never goes to trial.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Can I hear an "AMEN" ?

    ReplyDelete
  56. Can I hear an "AMEN" ?

    ReplyDelete
  57. Concerning the 'NO BAIL' pathetic reason, for Mr Veon, the AG & Judge had to give to the higher court was they felt Mr. Veon was a "flight risk"...oh big flight risk, after convinctions were handed down the man moved to Harrisburg!, not Montana or Miami, Harrisgurg,how absolutely PATHETIC!
    PS and i give an AMEN to above comment by anonymous.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Lawyer cheers limits on federal fraud law
    Friday, June 25th, 2010

    By: Scott Detrow
    scott_detrow@pubradionews.net

    ShareThis
    A lawyer representing two Pennsylvania state lawmakers facing conflict-of-interest charges says he's heartened by Thursday's
    U.S. Supreme Court ruling narrowing the scope of a federal corruption law.

    The high court ruled that a federal "honest services" law can only be applied when officials are receiving bribes or kickbacks.

    Attorney Bill Costopoulos says the ruling will help him challenge the charges Rep. Bill DeWeese and Sen. Jane Orie are facing for allegedly using state resources to conduct campaign work.

    Costopoulos has filed motions questioning the constitutionality of the conflict-of-interest counts his clients face. Both DeWeese, a Democrat, and Orie, a Republican, represent parts of western Pennsylvania.

    "What happened yesterday isn't going to necessarily resolve the challenge here in Pennsylvania," Costopoulos said.

    "But it is authority, and I believe compelling authority, to do what I would like done. And that is, have this statute in Pennsylvania declared unconstitutional, as it is being applied."

    Nils Frederiksen, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, says Costopoulos is trying to "fit a square peg in a round hole."

    He said Pennsylvania's state statutes have no connection to the federal law.

    But Costopoulos says both laws are unconstitutionally vague. He hopes judges will take the Supreme Court ruling into consideration when they weigh his challenge.

    The Supreme Court limited the use of a federal fraud law frequently invoked in prosecutions of white-collar crime.

    The ruling affects separate cases involving former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling and ex-newspaper magnate Conrad Black.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Through the years , hasn't OAG been a dumping ground for attorneys who can't or don't make it in private practice or are rounding out at an early age.

    Might this be why the Corbett Administration doesn't think it has to adhere to the rules like everybody else?

    ReplyDelete
  60. THey must be good enough to put away your friends.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Feds Rewrite Travel Rules For U.S. attorneys:

    Sunday, June 27, 2010
    By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    Mary Beth Buchanan spent more than half of her eight years as U.S. attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania on the road, racking up at least 347 trips that cost taxpayers more than $450,000.

    Ms. Buchanan, a Republican who stepped down in November, a year after a Democrat won the White House, and other U.S. attorneys often were permitted to sign off on their own travel and then get rubber-stamp approval from the Executive Office of United States Attorneys.

    In March, however, the Department of Justice under the Obama administration changed those regulations after reviewing travel by all 93 U.S. attorneys. The department now requires approval for out-of-district travel from the director or deputy director of the executive office.

    "The previous policies and procedures were admittedly inconsistent," said department spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz. "Changes to the process were made to ensure full compliance with departmental travel policies and procedure and to strengthen controls and oversight of U.S. attorney travel."

    The idea, she said, is to improve transparency and the use of taxpayer dollars.

    Department officials would not say whether a specific incident prompted the change. Nor would they specifically address Ms. Buchanan's travel or how it compared with that of other U.S. attorneys.

    Ms. Schwartz said the review showed no particular pattern of travel by U.S. attorneys, and that the nature of their trips was dictated by expertise, as well as the types of cases being tried in each district.

    Ms. Buchanan's travel included speeches to universities, the American Bar Association and nonprofit groups, as well as trips to the Pennsylvania Society, a group of state politicians and business leaders that meets annually in Manhattan.

    The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette requested Ms. Buchanan's travel records from the Justice Department in October -- more than a month before she stepped down.

    The department, however, did not provide the records until April and May. The records show that Ms. Buchanan sometimes spent only a day or two out of each month in Pittsburgh and the rest of her time in Washington, D.C., or elsewhere while serving the department in a number of high-profile positions.

    During the seven years for which records were provided, Ms. Buchanan took 347 trips, traveling 391,324 miles. She spent 1,047 days on some form of travel, at a cost of $453,155.

    Of those trips, half -- 173 -- involved going back and forth to Washington, where she served for a year as director of the Executive Office of United States Attorneys and later as the acting director of the Office on Violence Against Women.

    "I traveled almost every week," she said. "That was no surprise to anyone."

    Ms. Buchanan also served for a year as chairwoman of the attorney general's advisory committee. In that capacity, she traveled to subcommittee meetings in Washington, Connecticut, Illinois and California.

    Ms. Buchanan said her travel requests always were submitted to the executive office for approval. Under some directors -- including when she served as director -- travel had to be approved by at least a deputy director. Directors who followed her in the office, however, delegated the approval to lower-level employees, Ms. Buchanan said.

    "Every component has a mechanism for some type of review," she said. "so that there are checks and balances in the system."

    During Ms. Buchanan's time at EOUSA, she went to Washington weekly on flights that cost nearly $600 each and spent $3,500 a month to rent an apartment there.

    "Whenever you're balancing two full-time positions, it's difficult," she said. "It requires a lot of efficiency. But it's something a lot of us did during my tenure."

    Below for more on this article:

    ReplyDelete
  62. Ms. Buchanan's Absences Article Continued:

    Michael Sullivan, the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts under former President George W. Bush, also served in dual roles.

    In August 2006 -- more than five years after he became the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts -- the administration asked him to fill in as acting director of the Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The assignment was supposed to be temporary, 90 to 120 days.

    Then Mr. Sullivan was nominated to fill the position permanently. Had he been confirmed, he said he would have resigned his U.S. attorney position. But the Senate never confirmed the nomination, so his double duty lasted nearly two and a half years.

    Trying to balance both positions was difficult, he said, but because he'd been U.S. attorney for five years before joining ATF, he was familiar with the mission of his office and the strengths of his staff.

    "My open-door policy turned into a cell call or e-mail," he said. "People felt very confident if they needed to reach out to me or contact me."

    But that didn't mean there wasn't a toll.

    "You always felt like you weren't giving full-time attention to the work that needed to be done," he said. "There was always a level of distraction."

    Mr. Sullivan said he never thought his absence had an impact on his district's cases, though it did affect the staff.

    "I think it clearly has an impact on morale -- in a subtle way that builds over a period of time."

    During Ms. Buchanan's absences, items that weren't pressing sat on her desk for weeks. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Cessar took care of such time-sensitive matters as getting indictments or other criminal charges signed. He would not comment for this story.

    But Ms. Buchanan said they were in touch constantly. She also said she spent a lot of time in the office on weekends.

    "The work had to get done, and it did get done," she said.

    During Ms. Buchanan's tenure, the office led a five-year investigation of public corruption in the Allegheny County Sheriff's office that resulted in five convictions, including that of longtime sheriff Pete DeFazio. She also targeted child pornography, gun crime and obscenity and started a task force to pursue mortgage fraud before that became a nationwide issue.

    In addition to her Washington trips, Ms. Buchanan also traveled to give 56 speeches, with costs totaling $52,690.

    Sponsoring organizations reimbursed the Justice Department for travel costs 15 times, for a total of $12,843, according to the records. Department policy dictates that U.S. attorneys not be paid for speeches.

    :

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  63. Finally, the Part Of Mary Beth Buchanan US Attorney Tours On Taxpayers Money:

    During New Jersey's recent gubernatorial election, unsuccessful candidate Jon Corzine accused opponent Chris Christie, who previously served as a U.S. attorney, of forcing taxpayers to foot the bill while he regularly exceeded the approved rate for hotel rooms during office-related travel. According to The Associated Press, Mr. Christie went over the government's allowance on 14 of 16 trips in 2008.

    Out of 217 trips for which she required lodging outside of her travels for EOUSA and the Office on Violence Against Women, Ms. Buchanan exceeded the daily rate 63 times -- most notably for trips to Washington, Cleveland and Salt Lake City.

    In May 2003 for an attorney general's advisory committee meeting, Ms. Buchanan spent $339 per night for three nights at the Mayflower Renaissance D.C. Hotel, which bills itself as a four-diamond luxury hotel. The approved government rate then for a night's stay in the nation's capital: $150.

    During an October 2005 trip to speak at a continuing legal education event, she spent $219 for one night at the Cleveland Marriott. The standard rate then was $86.

    In October 2006, Ms. Buchanan paid $229 per night for three nights to stay at the self-proclaimed "five-diamond luxury" Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The approved rate was $90.

    All of the overages were paid by the Department of Justice.

    Exceeding the per diem is most likely in Washington, where demand for rooms at government rates is often high, Ms. Buchanan said. When hotels with approved rates were full, she said her staff first followed Justice Department procedure by calling at least three additional hotels on the government list -- often more -- to seek the lowest cost.

    "I can assure you the process was followed each and every time," she said.

    When individual U.S. attorneys did go over the government rate at that time, they could approve the expense themselves.

    According to Ms. Schwartz, the DOJ spokeswoman, many federal employees seek permission to go over the recommended per diem occasionally. That is not supposed to occur frequently, she said.

    Ms. Buchanan also attended a number of conferences, including a five-day American Bar Association meeting in Honolulu in August 2006, and a six-day gathering in San Francisco in 2007. The combined cost to the Justice Department was $4,608.

    Ms. Buchanan said none of her trips was for fun. She said she flew into Honolulu late at night, gave two speeches at the conference and took a red-eye flight home.

    "I never got invited to a spa to talk about a light topic," she said. "Everything related to the work of the department and the U.S. attorney's office."

    Paula Reed Ward: pward@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2620.


    Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10178/1068627-455.stm#ixzz0s1zgIO8f

    ReplyDelete
  64. Sorry Mary Beth Buchanan Travel So Much The Articles Needs 4 Postings:

    Ms. Buchanan said the department often tapped her to attend conferences and speak on its behalf. Her most frequent topics: corporate compliance, the PATRIOT Act, human trafficking and sentencing guidelines.

    But the public could view such spending as inappropriate, said Leslie Paige of the taxpayer watchdog Citizens Against Government Waste, based in Washington.

    "We're in terrible duress financially -- individually and as a country," she said. "This kind of behavior is what fuels taxpayers' outrage."

    Allowing individual U.S. attorneys to sign off on their own taxpayer-funded travel -- as was the case up until March -- "is a problem," Ms. Paige said.

    "When a person's in charge of their own budget, they may be the most honest person in the world, but that's not the point," she said. "We have to trust the government is spending it appropriately."

    According to federal policy, a U.S. government employee "must exercise the same care in incurring expenses that a prudent person would exercise if traveling on personal business."

    The new travel regulations for U.S. attorneys also allow a random audit every six months to ensure compliance.

    Those audits likely will examine the number of times a U.S. attorney exceeds the standard government-approved rate for lodging. Rates vary among cities to reflect demand and cost of living.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Are we going to see Attorney General Tom Corbett Travel Expenses or are they Secret Grand Jury Testimony like most of his excuses these days?

    ReplyDelete
  66. Anonymous said...Through the years , hasn't OAG been a dumping ground for attorneys who can't or don't make it in private practice or are rounding out at an early age. Might this be why the Corbett Administration doesn't think it has to adhere to the rules like everybody else? June 26, 2010 6:32 PM

    They are political appointments and it shows on how they handled the Grand Jury, took 4 years to investigate only a few people, and have not investigated any Senators to date, and they will be over turned on Appeal, plus eventually investigated themselves for their behavior and political bias by not following the same Camapign rules they prosecute others for in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Buchanan Attended 'HOT TICKET' Pennsylvania Society Events; Government Paid
    Sunday, June 27, 2010
    By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    Described as the place to be for the movers and shakers of state politics and business, the Pennsylvania Society annual gathering at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City is a hot ticket every December.

    Mary Beth Buchanan, who served as U.S. attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania until November and ran unsuccessfully for the 4th Congressional District seat in the Republican primary in May, attended the event each year from 2003 to 2008.

    The Department of Justice picked up the tab each time, according to records obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by filing a Freedom of Information Act request. The total cost to the department for those trips was $7,082.71.

    According to the records, Ms. Buchanan spoke at the event once, in 2003. Her trips were approved by the Executive Office of United States Attorneys, she said.

    Ms. Buchanan said the three Pennsylvania U.S. attorneys previously requested permission to attend the annual event in their official capacities.

    "It's my understanding U.S. attorneys from Pennsylvania have always attended the Pennsylvania Society," she said.

    The Department of Justice was unable to verify that. Department spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz explained travel is generally authorized for an employee to "conduct official business," and "official business related to the department's mission."

    Ms. Buchanan said that during the Pennsylvania Society events, she and other U.S. attorneys met with law enforcement officials and district attorneys to talk about department priorities. She said she remembers discussing the federal program, Project Safe Neighborhoods, which provides harsher sentences for defendants convicted of gun crimes, at one of those gatherings.

    While the Justice Department picked up the costs for travel and lodging, Ms. Buchanan said she never submitted expenses for social events -- including the $400-a-plate dinner.

    David M. Barasch, who served as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton, has been a member of the Pennsylvania Society since the late 1970s. He said he attended its gatherings several times during his tenure, but never charged his expenses to the Justice Department.

    "My practice during the time I was U.S. attorney was to only submit expense claims when I was traveling on official U.S. attorney business," Mr. Barasch said. That included meetings with the attorney general, regional or national conferences, and travel within his district.

    "That's what I thought the policy was during the time I was U.S. attorney," Mr. Barasch said.

    Most state lawmakers make it a point to tell their constituents that the Pennsylvania Society trip is either paid for out-of-pocket or by their campaigns. In past years, several state officials have been criticized for using taxpayer funds to attend.

    Allegheny County Executive and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato does not use county funds to pay for the event, a spokeswoman said.

    State Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican who is running against Mr. Onorato for governor, regularly attends Pennsylvania Society events -- although not when he was U.S. attorney under President George H.W. Bush. His spokesman, Kevin Harley, said the costs are not covered by state funds.

    "He campaigns while he's there," Mr. Harley said. "It's a decision he made to not let the taxpayers pay for it. I don't know that it's official government business when he goes there."

    Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10178/1068325-454.stm#ixzz0s2GFswUf

    ReplyDelete
  68. Anonymous said...
    "Through the years , hasn't OAG been a dumping ground for attorneys who can't or don't make it in private practice or are rounding out at an early age.

    Might this be why the Corbett Administration doesn't think it has to adhere to the rules like everybody else?"

    Really? Where did you pull this little gem from? Any other profound generalities you'd like to profess?
    Not one self- aggrandizing statement, prophecy or threat made by the oh-so-superior authors and their fan club has come to fruition. I recently read an article about abusive personalities who can't take responsibility for their mistakes without blaming others, making excuses, and smearing those who catch them in the act. Sound familiar?

    ReplyDelete
  69. Anonymous said...
    Really? Where did you pull this little gem from? Any other profound generalities you'd like to profess?

    RESPONSE:
    Comes from Kimment Case whereby a CAREER Senior Deputy Attorney General found corruption and incompetence among the Corbett's Appointees, UNDER OATH AND WITH FACTUAL PAPER WORK.

    If you look how Corbett's OAG conducted the 4 Caucuses Investigation and has so far not been able to investigate 50 Senators for campaigning on State Time, well, what more evidence do you need that these Prosecutors are Incompetent at best and thus Political Appointments of the Lowest Kind? END OF RESPONSE


    Not one self- aggrandizing statement, prophecy or threat made by the oh-so-superior authors and their fan club has come to fruition.

    RESPONSE:
    There is no threats here we just gave 2 Factual Evidence that so far Corbett ahs nor his Prosecutors have not been able to respond to in any way?

    Once again, why did Corbett and his DAG's not collect interests and allow Collection Agencies keep millions of state money with no INTEREST PAYMENTS? You call that Professional?

    Second, why has not one Senator been investigated, and instead Corbett’s hires people from the senate he was supposed to be investigating, ANY ANSWERS HERE FROM YOU?

    If anything in your own words your "self- aggrandizing" has yet to respond to simple questions, and show you are sensitive to these questions that are coming up rather you like it or not, and Corbett still has no answers.
    END OF RESPONSE


    I recently read an article about abusive personalities who can't take responsibility for their mistakes without blaming others, making excuses, and smearing those who catch them in the act. Sound familiar? June 27, 2010 12:54 PM

    RESPONSE:
    Did it come to your mind that you are describing Corbett and his Prosecutors based on the question above, and Corbett is Campaigning On State Time so where is his Crack Staff of Prosecutors on Corbett, Mike Long and Brian Nutt?

    Oh, that’s right reading books like you about how they will duck these questions! These are simple questions, but you respond with something you read in a book and call that evidence?

    Ramaley's Lawyer proved once these poor political prosecutors are up good Attorneys they get exposed for teh political hacks they are in every way.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Anonymous said...Are we going to see Attorney General Tom Corbett Travel Expenses or are they Secret Grand Jury Testimony like most of his excuses these days? June 27, 2010 2:22 AM

    Believe it or not, Corbett is pretty good at watching his own travel, and good for him.

    However, what will haunt Corbett is what is haunting Mary Beth Buchanan today.

    When one adds up the loses of money from Collection Incompetence in the Kimment case.

    The cost of Immunity Witnesses that admitted they never had real jobs just campaigned jobs.

    The cost of the long 4-year investigation whose costs will far exceed anything brought back to the taxpayers?

    The failure to investigate Senators that spent even higher Bonuses but never investigated?

    The cost of the Ramble Trial Acquittal and Number of Bogus Charges unable to be proven, but were costly investigations?

    It is safe to say, Corbett will have to answer these questions eventually, he will say look I got convictions, but in the words of Brett Cott, IS THAT IT?

    In addition, Cott, Rosepink, and Veon will win their Appeals and Corbett will not dare Re-Prosecute them based on costs, just as Mary Beth Buchanan was wasted by her tactics and is now being investigated for her spending.

    Corbett awaits the same fate of Mary Beth Buchanan this will dog him to his ouster and his own name will be mud like MBB is today by the electorate!
    Corbett cannot claim he was trying to saving Tax Dollars by Prosecutions and spend far more money on your Investigations and Prosecutions than you recovered.

    The Average Voters, Citizen, and Taxpayers will see through his comments based on his results, and because he let the senators go, without an investigation, this will cause an investigation on Corbett and his entire Staffers and Prosecutors and then watch how they run to lawyer up to no avail.

    A Special Prosecutor or US Attorneys will eat Corbett for lunch for their next campaign especially their ambitions are bigger than his own.

    Corbett Father will not be proud of what will come out on him, nor will daughter or son.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Anonymous said...Ramaley's Lawyer proved once these poor political prosecutors are up good Attorneys they get exposed for the political hacks they are in every way. June 27, 2010 6:43 PM

    Jane Orie and Bill DeWeese Layer will tear them and entire investigation apart, and cause an investigation of the OAG under Corbett and Zappalla.

    Zappalla gave evidence against his family political opponent Cyril Wecht to Mary Beth Buchanan who foolishly believed it but could not prove it even though the Feds win 94% of their Cases.

    Once this happen Corbett will have to explain why Jane and Joan Orie were never investigated by the OAG after 4 longs years?

    Either way, these Prosecutors will be toast because Bill Costopoulos pulls no punches, either inside or outside of the courtroom, and his investigators are much better than anything the OAG can do.

    The OAG Investigators and Prosecutors will become the hunted based on they did and how they did it, under Corbett's Campaign Staff orders and Corbett himself.

    Corbett whether remaining as AG or becoming Governor will have a short reign after Bill Costopoulos uncovers his tactics that will make his political career untenable anywhere.

    Just like Mary Beth Buchanan that cannot win a congressional seat, will not be hired by the DOJ now under investigation for expenses violations, and of course, any future Judgeship is now out of the question.

    Corbett awaits the same fate, and it is odd, he brought Mary Beth Buchanan into the DOJ, just goes to show Corbett’s Professional judgment is never up to par.

    It is going to be fun to watch!

    ReplyDelete
  72. BB said there is no difference between Tom Corbett and Dan Onorato,
    Well who are we to vote for. As I have said before, this will not be the first time WE HAVE VOTED FOR THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS,

    ReplyDelete
  73. It amazes me that we have public officials in high places that do not have the moral authority and common sense to know the difference between right and wrong and then they need a PR agency to try to make them look good. MARY BETH BUCHANAN, RON CASTILLE and TOM CORBETT???What has our state come to. If they don't know the difference between right and wrong, how can they define what is right and administer the law?

    ReplyDelete
  74. What is the Pennsylvania Society anyhow? Beside a bunch of high-end parties in the Waldorf Astoria among a bunch of high-society people writing off a shopping trip on their companies and a bu nch of wannabees kissing up to them, hoping they will bless their dreams with phony endorsements. In case you didn't know, good old boys (and envious gals), Simon Cameron, Matt Quay and Boise Penrose are dead and any real political acumen went with them.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Monaca resident John Mukanos, a diehard conservative, says he’s launching Republicans for Onorato to rally GOPers behind Democratic Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato’s gubernatorial bid.

    Mukanos, a former Aliquippa resident, criticized GOP AG Tom Corbett’s handling of Quiptown crime complaints and now predicts that although Corbett leads Onorato in early polling, he “is going to hurt the entire Republican ticket,” including U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey and GOP 4th Congressional District candidate Keith Rothfus.

    Onorato “is just another Democratic politician,” Mukanos said, but he’s “not a person who wants to go after everyone who doesn’t agree with him.”

    That’s a compliment, Dan. We think.

    • GOP Beaver County Commissioner Charlie Camp has been named chairman of Corbett’s southwest Pennsylvania campaign. First task? Call Mukanos.

    J. D. PROSE

    ReplyDelete
  76. Whatever happens to Beaver County Charter-Cyber School Grand Jury Presentments?

    There Corbett gang investigated how three Board Of Directors combined with School District Directors hired each others cousins, son, daughters, and relatives.

    Republican Beaver County Commissioner Camp Campaign Coordinator for Tom Corbett's had his Wife hired at the Charter-Cyber School, all of sudden the Grand Jury Investigation disappeared???

    Contributions from Nick Trombetta Charter-Cyber School Founder helped too, make it go away like "POOF" Magic.

    Even though it was, Trombetta that help organized the Inter-locking Directors.

    So far, like the Senate Investigation on Bonusgate, not a peep from the OAG to date.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Conservationists demand Corbett return oil-tainted money

    Never thought the Gulf Oil spill fall-out would work it's way into the gov's race, but it has. Let's hope Corbett has a better PR machine than BP.

    Give It Back: Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Calls on Tom Corbett to Return Donation from One of the Companies Responsible for the Gulf Oil Spill

    The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars in damage, destroy thousands of jobs and cause incalculable damage to the environment.

    BP, which owns 65% of the well, set aside $20 billion in escrow to help compensate the victims of the spill and will spend billions more for the cleanup.

    Anadarko Petroleum, which owns 25% of the well, has thus far refused to contribute to the costs of the cleanup. It has, however, contributed to gubernatorial campaign of Attorney General Tom Corbett.

    On May 13, 2010, three weeks after the oil spill began, Corbett accepted a $3,000 contribution from the Texas based Anadarko Petroleum PAC.

    Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania calls on Mr. Corbett to return those funds and to refuse any further contribution from Anadarko until that company has fulfilled its responsibility to those affected by the tragedy in the Gulf.

    “You don’t get to light your neighbor’s house on fire and then use the hose to water your rose bushes,” Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Josh McNeil said.

    “Mr. Corbett has a responsibility to rebuke this company for its failures and to help ensure that every dollar at Anadarko’s disposal is spent to help the victims of the Gulf spill.”

    ReplyDelete
  78. .......Anadarko Petroleum PAC has contributed more than $279,000 to federal candidates in the 2010 election cycle, including donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and to the Friends of Arlen Specter.

    Anadarko’s contribution to the Corbett campaign was its first contribution to a state-level candidate in Pennsylvania in 2010 and was reported by the Corbett campaign on June 17, 2010.

    Advertisement Despite the spill in the Gulf and disasters such as the explosion of a natural gas well in Clearfield County last month, Corbett continues to advocate for a rapid increase in gas drilling in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale.

    Though Pennsylvania is one of few states that lets companies take its natural resources for free, he opposes the creation of a severance tax on natural gas drillers.

    In most severance tax proposals, a portion of the revenue would be used to ensure better regulation of drill sites and to create a clean-up fund for future disasters.

    Drilling companies oppose such a tax for obvious reasons and political contributions to Pennsylvania candidates from individuals and PACs related to the drilling industry have significantly increased in the last few election cycles.

    “Mr. Corbett’s energy plan calls for the ‘responsible development of Marcellus Shale’ but doesn’t give us many specifics as to what that means,” McNeil said.

    “What he does with this contribution will give us a hint about Tom Corbett’s real commitment to responsible drilling.”

    Built on the model of the national League of Conservation Voters, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting the health and safety of Pennsylvanians and their environment by holding politicians accountable for their actions.

    For more information, visit www.conservationpa.org

    ReplyDelete
  79. Onorato uses GOPAC against Corbett

    Tom Corbett won't be happy about this. Dan Onorato's using the conservative GOPAC's visit to the 'burgh as a way to score political points. Just don't tweet about it, Dan.

    National Republican Leaders Recognize Onorato's Accomplishments

    OPAC Highlights Pittsburgh's Economic Revival as a Model for Nation

    PITTSBURGH: The campaign of Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato welcomed the announcement that a major Republican leadership group will hold its annual summit beginning today in Allegheny County, which the group chose in part for the region's successful turnaround -- which includes being recently ranked as the "Most Livable" place in the United States by Forbes magazine.

    Onorato’s campaign welcomed the attendees personally by giving them “Greetings from Pittsburgh” postcards with a pre-printed greeting praising the region and Onorato’s success as County Executive.

    GOPAC Chairman Frank Donatelli told the Tribune Review that “Pittsburgh has a lot of interesting lessons to teach us. It is a great example of a city that is diversifying from an over-reliance on a singular industry and has blossomed in the fields of technology, health care and her great universities." The summit, Donatelli said, is "all about jobs, jobs, jobs."

    GOPAC’s goal is to provide tools for Republican leaders from across the nation to run winning campaigns.

    Under Onorato's leadership, Allegheny County now has more jobs than any other county in Pennsylvania and an unemployment rate lower than the state's and the nation's.

    In April, the region had the fastest rate of private sector job growth in the country.

    “We would like to like to thank GOPAC for the opportunity to highlight the significant transformation the Pittsburgh region has made under Dan Onorato's leadership,” said Onorato Communications Director Brian Herman. “As Allegheny County Executive, Dan has encouraged the creation of good, family sustaining jobs, and GOPAC will have a great opportunity to see firsthand the progress the city has made and the value of strong and experienced leadership in turning around an economy."

    ReplyDelete
  80. Anonymous said...What is the Pennsylvania Society anyhow? Beside a bunch of high-end parties in the Waldorf Astoria among a bunch of high-society people writing off a shopping trip on their companies and a bu nch of wannabees kissing up to them, hoping they will bless their dreams with phony endorsements. In case you didn't know, good old boys (and envious gals), Simon Cameron, Matt Quay and Boise Penrose are dead and any real political acumen went with them.
    June 28, 2010 12:23 AM

    The Pennsylvania Society is a fine organization with much history and traditions.

    However, Mary Beth Buchanan has embarrassed the Society by using Federal Funds to put her in $400 A Night Hotels. It is not the expense of going just to a $400 Dinner, Hotels in Manhattan cost $400-$500 or more during Christmas and New Years.

    Especially since her Husband Law firm actually sponsors Hospitality Rooms, Balls, and that is a Tax Deductible expense. Whatever she was thinking using DOJ Expense money is the kind of thinking that is outright wrong and she should be ashamed of herself.

    I doubt the Society is going to be happy with this disclosure and for her to say it was business and the Justice Department should pay for it, is outrageous, petty, and cheap.

    She should reimburse the government now, before she causes an investigation to go further to the embarrassment of the society.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Anonymous said...
    Whatever happens to Beaver County Charter-Cyber School Grand Jury Presentments? There Corbett gang investigated how three Board Of Directors combined with School District Directors hired each others cousins, son, daughters, and relatives. So far, like the Senate Investigation on Bonusgate, not a peep from the OAG to date. June 28, 2010 12:45 AM

    This Grand Jury is also over 4 years old and so long as Charlie Camp is working for the Corbett Campaign, do not expect anything to come from any investigation if it will look into the wife of Charlie Camp being hired by the Cyber-School, so long as Corbett is the AG.

    Corbett will not investigate his own supporters as we have seen from his absences regarding fellow senators that support Corbett.

    Remember, Senator Gerry LaValle’s wife was given a slap on the wrists for robbing the state taxpayers and United Way for $122,000 to supervise 2 LaValle Relatives with State Grants to keep them all employed for doing nothing.

    This is how Corbett operates and his very small Prosecutors Staffers had no time to investigate Senator LaValle on B.I.G. and LaValle was Chairman and as a Board of Director liable!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Anonymous said...Onorato uses GOPAC against Corbett Tom Corbett won't be happy about this. Dan Onorato's using the conservative GOPAC's visit to the 'burgh as a way to score political points. June 28, 2010 12:58 AM

    Very Strange Bed Fellows and GOPAC have the information that can bring down Corbett in the future.

    When Onorato satrts asking questions in the debates about why no Republican Senator has been investigated.

    Or

    Why AG Corbett hired Senate Staffers he is suppose to be investigating.

    Or

    How much money has been spent on admitted Criminal Immunity Witnesses with so little results in paying back the Taxpayers for the Bonuses.

    Well, it will be something to see and learn how Corbett will answer them.

    After all, under Oath, Corbett admitted he does not know much on how his office is run or operates according to Corbett's Kimment Depositions.

    His lack of intelligence was astounding, much as Corbett's father scolded him for being a lazy in College and Law School.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Anonymous said.......Anadarko Petroleum PAC has contributed more than $279,000 to federal candidates in the 2010 election cycle, including donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and to the Friends of Arlen Specter. Anadarko’s contribution to the Corbett campaign was its first contribution to a state-level candidate in Pennsylvania in 2010 and was reported by the Corbett campaign on June 17, 2010. Though Pennsylvania is one of few states that lets companies take its natural resources for free, he opposes the creation of a severance tax on natural gas drillers. “Mr. Corbett’s energy plan calls for the ‘responsible development of Marcellus Shale’ but doesn’t give us many specifics as to what that means,” McNeil said. “What he does with this contribution will give us a hint about Tom Corbett’s real commitment to responsible drilling.” For more information, visit www.conservationpa.org June 28, 2010 12:54 AM

    Some say this is the real reason why any democrat concern about workers, the environment, or a tax on resources from our state for the people, was why guys like Veon, Prezel, Stetler, and DeWeese have been taken to indictment and NO Republican Senators investigated by Corbett.

    The Oil & Gas Business want to rape Pennsylvania resources while polluting the Ground Water.

    This is why Corbett is their Boy, as he was when Corbett was in charge of Waste Management has it was polluting our state with their garbage into dumping them into our Coal Mines and especially toxic waste.

    No one can ever go down and investigate wit without big money by the government to do it.

    Corbett claims it is a new industry that needs time to grow, but these are companies that have billions and working in other states with severance tax, and the Mine Safety Act passed by DeWeese and Veon can be an obstacle if they pass one for natural Gas.

    Therefore, Corbett and 30 of 50 State Senators can protect the Oil & Gas companies not the people or our ground water. NOW YOU KNOW WHY NO SENATOR HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED ON BONUSGATE FOR THE LAST $ YEARS BUY CORBETT.

    Talk About Dirty Politics?

    ReplyDelete
  84. Anonymous said.......Anadarko Petroleum PAC has contributed more than $279,000 to federal candidates in the 2010 election cycle, including donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and to the Friends of Arlen Specter. Anadarko’s contribution to the Corbett campaign was its first contribution to a state-level candidate in Pennsylvania in 2010 and was reported by the Corbett campaign on June 17, 2010. Though Pennsylvania is one of few states that lets companies take its natural resources for free, he opposes the creation of a severance tax on natural gas drillers. “Mr. Corbett’s energy plan calls for the ‘responsible development of Marcellus Shale’ but doesn’t give us many specifics as to what that means,” McNeil said. “What he does with this contribution will give us a hint about Tom Corbett’s real commitment to responsible drilling.” For more information, visit www.conservationpa.org June 28, 2010 12:54 AM

    Some say this is the real reason why any democrat concern about workers, the environment, or a tax on resources from our state for the people, was why guys like Veon, Prezel, Stetler, and DeWeese have been taken to indictment and NO Republican Senators investigated by Corbett.

    The Oil & Gas Business want to rape Pennsylvania resources while polluting the Ground Water.

    This is why Corbett is their Boy, as he was when Corbett was in charge of Waste Management has it was polluting our state with their garbage into dumping them into our Coal Mines and especially toxic waste.

    No one can ever go down and investigate wit without big money by the government to do it.

    Corbett claims it is a new industry that needs time to grow, but these are companies that have billions and working in other states with severance tax, and the Mine Safety Act passed by DeWeese and Veon can be an obstacle if they pass one for natural Gas.

    Therefore, Corbett and 30 of 50 State Senators can protect the Oil & Gas companies not the people or our ground water. NOW YOU KNOW WHY NO SENATOR HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED ON BONUSGATE FOR THE LAST $ YEARS BUY CORBETT.

    Talk About Dirty Politics?

    ReplyDelete
  85. Anonymous said...It amazes me that we have public officials in high places that do not have the moral authority and common sense to know the difference between right and wrong and then they need a PR agency to try to make them look good. MARY BETH BUCHANAN, RON CASTILLE and TOM CORBETT???What has our state come to. If they don't know the difference between right and wrong, how can they define what is right and administer the law? June 28, 2010 12:11 AM


    Boy did you hit the nail on the head...

    Let us see, Former US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan prosecutor Dr. Cyril Wecht for using County Expenses with his Private Forensic Practice.

    Now we see Mary Beth Buchanan needs an investigation of her own for wasting half-million of tax dollars on Luxury Hotels, Trips to Hawaii, Pennsylvania Society, and other places at $400+ a night.

    Cyril Wecht proved she spent much more than anything she tried to collect and her absences help her lose the Wecht case for the Taxpayers as she claimed, but she was wasting tax dollars far more than anyone.

    Chief Justice Ron Castille says he depended on another lawyer that he golf’s with to do what was right with $12 million dollars outside the State Procedures to build new buildings.

    Sounds a lot like what Manzo, Foreman, Sidella and other Criminal Immunity Witnesses did to Mike Veon and Brett Cott, doesn't it??? The judge is now being investigated by the FBI!

    Finally, Tom Corbett has been going after anyone that used state resources on state time for campaigns, but the Steteler Motions and Kimmentt Depositions reveal Corbett is doing just that now, but so far no is investigating Corbett.

    So, all three are being looked at and have at least committed the Appearance Of Impropriety, but so far no Disciplinary Board or Judicial Conduct Board Hearing on all 3 of them to date.

    Are these the Three Hypocrites?

    Everything these people are preaching or prosecuting or are in charge of, they are committing while attacking any critics or anyone challenging their honesty and practices when such practices all need a proper investigations.

    All claimed they were protecting Taxpayers Dollars while misspending more dollars than anything they claimed in public?

    ReplyDelete
  86. Experts warn about football brain injuries:

    The brain of Chris Henry contained so many signs of chronic disease it showed a player can sustain life-altering trauma without a concussion diagnosis........

    Can anyone tell me, did Corbett play Football, based on Corbett's Depositions under oath, Corbett admits he cannot remember a thing?

    Now we know that is the absolute truth, because Corbett was under oath and he never lies does he unless it is on the wrong phone?

    ReplyDelete
  87. anonymous said...
    Ramaley's Lawyer proved once these poor political prosecutors are up good Attorneys they get exposed for teh political hacks they are in every way.

    By this reasoning, Veon, Cott, and AMPR had less than hacks as attorneys. Your deduction is a simplistic generalization based on bits and bobs of a lawsuit brought by a disgruntled ex-employee (who had little to do with the criminal prosecution unit), and the Ramaley Trial. Your pretension that you are somehow completely in-the-know when it comes to the OAG is dishonest.
    As to answering your questions regarding the speed, targets, or lack thereof of the OAG investigation. Those questions are irrelevant. Did the defendants do it? Were they found guilty? Did the judge sentence them within the appropriate guidelines? The end.

    If there was prosecutorial misconduct, that remains to be proved. Stetler's lawyer tried to shop those allegations and he fancies himself a celebrity. No luck yet, but who knows.

    Yes, I read. Horror of horrors...try reading something other than "how to dance on the edge of truth and distract the opponent from the real issues" and you might have a broader view of what is going on.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM
    Said...By this reasoning, Veon, Cott, and AMPR had less than hacks as attorneys.

    Response:
    Really, I am still waiting on answers to my questions that you ignored because you cannot answer them.

    Yet, I will answer your own comments. I do believe Veon, Cott, and Rosepink Lawyers made some critical errors at Trial. They agreed to replace a Juror when they did not read Frank Fina Case on replacing that Juror. Is just one example.

    In addition, Judge Lewis hamstrung the Defense Lawyers with his procedures, rulings on motions, and especially ignoring proper procedures when replacing Jurors, not enforcing a Mistrial when Jurors went to the Capitol, and hosts of other rulings that favored the OAG Prosecutors that are now subject to Appeal.


    Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM
    Said...Your deduction is a simplistic generalization based on bits and bobs of a lawsuit brought by a disgruntled ex-employee (who had little to do with the criminal prosecution unit), and the Ramaley Trial.

    Response:
    Interesting, the last time you posted you quoted an unknown book as your argument and in your own child like arguments was used against you easily.

    I see you are doing it again.

    Therefore, I will be the adult again and point out your errors of arrogance since you cannot respond with a substantive argument.

    Once again, only you provide the same simplistic generalization on even weaker arguments by dismissing under oath the allegations that outline outright OAG misconduct, and Corbett's inability to know what happen in his office as factually seen in Corbett's Deposition in Corbett's Own Words.

    1. Factually, Ramaley Lawyers beat the OAG so bad it took the Jury just 3 hours to dismiss all counts. This alone shows the incompetence of the OAG Prosecutors Grand Jury Findings. Even worse, Keefer’s Lawyers proved the OAG was just as incompetent at least and waste of taxpayers’ money by lacking the talent to prosecute properly under a Political Attorney General as in Ramaley!


    2. Factually, the OAG brought charges in an abusive conducted non-recorded using unethical foul mouth intimidation runaway Grand Jury over 100 Counts.

    In the end, 84% Counts were proven useless charges again and only 16% of these charges were able to convince a Jury some Crimes were committed, due to Judge Lewis's errors.

    This paltry number reflects OAG Incompetence on the remainder as well.

    This is why the Appeals have excellent chance of reversing even those convictions that Jurors later admitted were just mud thrown on walls to see what would stick?

    3. Only, you have made simplistic generalization once again.

    A Federal court has not dismissed any of the charges against Corbett and the OAG.

    It is going to trial so your description it is just a disgruntled employee even though he served as Career DAG for years is nonsense just like your own book arguments.

    If you were correct it would have been dismissed by a Federal Judge, but we know it is not being dismissed but going forward, kind of undercuts you flawed argument, don't you think?

    Moreover, it is Two Employees that have documented OAG Abuse and Favoritisms and No Bid Contracts by Corbett’s Office and they documented it, not just one former employee, but also a current employee.

    So once again, only you are making arguments on a child’s level and you refuse to respond to even the easiest questions put forth before you.

    Therefore, I will take great joy to expose your own ignorance with using your own words in the next posts, especially since you still have not answered any questions from the first one.

    I love especially people like you that thinks he may be smart but can only prove in his own words, the lack of your ability to look at facts, an d seek out sources before arguing an unknown book?

    ReplyDelete
  89. Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM said... Your pretension that you are somehow completely in-the-know when it comes to the OAG is dishonest.

    Response:
    I never pretended or postured I was in any know, those are your words, not mind, because you failed to answer my questions. I just keep asking question that you or Corbett or his Campaign staff or OAG Staffers cannot answer.

    The OAG has demonstrated they are not capable of investigating fairly all 4 Caucuses after 4 years?

    AG Corbett has demonstrated he is not investigating any Senators since he hired their staffers for his campaign, meaning he must of clear them of any bonuses misuse for campaigning on state time.

    The Federal Lawsuit is a Fact not made up "in-the-know" as you claim. The ignorance of the AG in Depositions was astounding.

    The AG own words in those Depositions under oath goes against everything he said in saving Tax Dollars by such No Bid Contracts, failure collect Tax Dollars with Interests, and lack of management skills at the OAG, and still going on according to a current OAG employee.

    Now that vast majority of charges have been dismissed it is clear the OAG Prosecutors conducted poor Grand Jury Presentments that are being dismissed more than proven.

    We also know, Jane Orie Brother works for the OAG, and somehow the OAG refused to investigate the State Senator Sister, a known fact, not made up "in-the-know”, as you claim!

    Can you explain of these Specific Facts, or are you going to quote me a book?

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  90. don't recall, can't remember, didn't mean that

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  91. .don't recall, can't remember, didn't mean that...sound familiar. Get used to it voters...cause that is apparently thenew sound of justice.

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  92. Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM said...As to answering your questions regarding the speed, targets, or lack thereof of the OAG investigation. Those questions are irrelevant.

    Response:
    Really, you call that an answer? LOL! You have Brain Damage as Corbett Deposition proves by his answers, is my only conclusion!


    Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM said...Did the defendants do it?

    Response:
    1. No, the vast majority of charges by the juries have rejected OAG charges, and the remainders are on appeal!

    2. Ramaley and Keefer did not do it? Charges are awaiting OAG Prosecutors at the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board as well.

    Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM said...Were they found guilty?

    Response:
    Ramaley and Keefer were not found guilty, and the State Senators have not been investigated after 4 years?

    Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM said...Did the judge sentence them within the appropriate guidelines? The end.

    Response:
    Not according to the Jurors that wrote letter regretting the convictions and sentencing.

    Judge Lewis has responded by running away from further OAG Cases by withdrawing, Me thinks he knows he is about to be exposed, and reversed.

    Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM said...If there was prosecutorial misconduct that remains to be proved.

    Response:
    Well, we have more than a few saying under oath how OAG Prosecutors abused them.

    We have Kimmentt and another OAG current Employee under oath saying OAG Incompetence and Double Dealing and mismanagement cost Taxpayers money with documents submitted as well. If it were frivolous case, it would not be going to trial.

    Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM said...Stetler's lawyer tried to shop those allegations and he fancies himself a celebrity. No luck yet, but who knows.

    Response:
    If anyone was shopping charges, it was the OAG as proven by the Jury rejection of 84% of their charges and incompetence in wasting Taxpayers’ Dollars on charges they could not prove.

    The allegations and documents Stetlers Lawyer have are real and even Judge Lewis has stated they may be relevant but only after the Preliminary Hearings.

    What I am still waiting for from you, is why the OAG has not found the time to investigate State Senators and their Staffers on Bonuses given out bigger than the Democrats?

    AND

    How can Corbett hire Former State Senators Staffers the OAG is supposed to be investigating, and come to the OAG Office while they are under investigation? Is this not a Conflict of Interests when people you are investigating are in your Offices?

    Please answer, instead of making up books to read with no titles and calling them arguments?

    If you can?

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  93. Anonymous June 28, 2010 8:28 AM said...Yes, I read. Horror of horrors...try reading something other than "how to dance on the edge of truth and distract the opponent from the real issues" and you might have a broader view of what is going on.

    Response:
    I disagree and nor do I excuse your apologies and excuses for the OAG behavior and incompetence, and if that offends you, may it do so, in all candor.

    The Horror of Horrors...is the OAG not being able to investigate State Senators after 4 years?

    The Whorers of Whorers is AG Corbett Campaign Staff making prosecution decisions and hiring Former State Senators Staffers Corbett and his OAG is supposed to be investigating?

    The Horror of Horrors...is the state paying for Lawyers in a Federal Lawsuit due to Corbett’s mismanagement.

    The Horror of Horrors...is that a DA in Allegheny County with one-eighth staff of Corbett OAG had to conduct an investigation Corbett OAG refused?

    The Horror of Horrors...is that DA held a Grand Jury in 4 months, recorded it to prove no abuse by his prosecutors, and 15 Republican Staffers without Immunity testify and handed over evidence against a Republican State Senator AG Corbett refused to investigate.

    The Horror of Horrors...is that you lack the skills, thinking ability, and refusal to answer of these questions and The Horror of Horrors...and you defend such an incompetent OAG run by a AG looking for and taking Campaign Contributions from the people he is suppose to be investigating.

    If these truths distract or distressed you, you should not be on teaching "how to dance on the edge of truth and distract the opponent from the real issues", because you do not do it any better than the AG, OAG, and his Former State Senators Campaign Aides and his Convicted Felon Fundraiser in Robert Asher, and you call this Law and Order?

    If you want a Broader View, ask Corbett to answer the questions, he cannot recall anymore, as shown under oath!

    We are still waiting on your answers?

    THE END UNTIL YOU BECOME HONEST!

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  94. Anonymous said...
    don't recall, can't remember, didn't mean that...June 28, 2010 12:26 PM

    Anonymous said...don't recall, can't remember, didn't mean that...sound familiar. Get used to it voters...cause that is apparently the new sound of justice.
    ....June 28, 2010 12:29 PM

    IMAO, I think you have the answers the Republican State Senators will anser if asked by AG Corbett and his Campaign Staffers that are Former State Senator Staffers.

    I mean after 4 years, you would think they could come up with some great answers, but it Corbett's Campaign.

    OAG Frank Fina in Court has already had a memory problem and stated in before the Court!

    Now that is what I call Preventive Ethics before an investigation?

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  95. In a Nutshell, Corbett thinks if he can out run these great questions you pose, delay the Federal lawsuit, and ignore the State Senators Investigations, he will win the Governorship and be free of all these allegations.

    Yet, the bible verse once quoted by the great Republican Abraham Lincoln, THAT TRUTH CRUSHED INTO THE EARTH WILL ONLY RISE AGAIN, will be within the same good book that swears in Tom Corbett.

    This is when Tom Corbett’s trouble will begin and follow him to the Governor's Mansions the Republican want to sale!

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