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5/13 Ups & Downs

A new scandal, a new poll and a new legislator. See who made this week’s list!

Down ArrowLarry Farnese. The 1st district curse strikes again. Henry Cianfrani and Vince Fumo, who collectively represented the Philly State Senate seat from 1967 to 2008, both ended up in prison. On Tuesday, Holly Otterbein of Citified revealed that Larry Farnese had been indicted on thirteen counts. Allegedly, the State Senator spent campaign cash to get a committeewoman daughter’s in a study abroad program. In exchange, she supported Farnese’s successful effort to become the leader of the Eighth Ward. So add Larry Farnese to the long list of recent Democratic officials touched by scandal.

Down ArrowKathleen Kane. Speaking of that list, Attorney General Kathleen Kane reappeared in the headlines this week. First, Brad Bumsted of the Tribune-Review uncovered that Kane had billed Pennsylvanians for $252,000 worth of legal representation for the numerous lawsuits she is fighting. Then, the newest Quinnipiac Poll found that a record high 50% of respondents want the AG to resign. Her approval rating also dropped to an all-time low of 23%. It’s getting tough to tell who’s looking forward to 2017 more, Kane or her constituents.

Up Arrow1Barack Obama. Someone who did get good news from the Quinnipiac Poll, though, was the Commander-in-Chief. President Obama’s approval rating jumped five points over a month to 49%. On top of that, 52% approve of Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court nomination and 58% want him to be considered by the Senate. A progressive think tank also found that two-thirds of Pennsylvanians want an up-or-down vote on Garland. It remains to be seen, however, if these numbers will have an effect on Senator Toomey.

 

Up Arrow1Tom Killion. Killion became Pennsylvania’s 50th State Senator on Wednesday. After spending a decade in the State House, Killion finally made it to the upper chamber after winning a special election in the 9th district during last April’s primary. Now he has restored the GOP’s majority to the 31-19 margin it stood at after last year’s SD-37 special election.

 

Down ArrowAllen West. The former Florida Congressman was a Tea Party star after the 2010 midterms, though his visibility noticeably dimmed after his defeat in 2012. Apparently he has his own website now and chose this week to go after PA’s Physician General Rachel Levine. West’s site tried to use Levine in the debate over the controversial North Carolina bathroom law. Instead, he rallied supporters behind the doctor and his attempt to smear her backfired.

 

The tweet of the week goes to the Daily News’ Clout Page.

45 Responses

  1. Together with almost everything which appears to be developing within this specific subject material, many of your opinions are actually very radical. On the other hand, I am sorry, but I do not give credence to your whole strategy, all be it radical none the less. It looks to us that your commentary are not completely justified and in reality you are generally yourself not totally confident of the point. In any event I did appreciate reading through it.

    http://circuitsage.com/blogs/blog_view&blog_id=146302

  5. Has Seth Williams given up his ex-girlfriend yet? The one that vandalized City property

  9. Frank Fina is a great guy. Trust me!! GREAT GUY. Just ignore that he is a racist and TRUST ME. He’s a great guy. What’s that? Yes …. My husband is Fina’s lawyer. Huh? Yes … My husband and Fina are suing the State for taxpayer money. Who cares? That’s not why I am saying Fina is a great guy. It has NOTHING to do with that. Just ignore who my cross-eyed husband is.

  10. This bears repeating:

    As to these lawsuits – it seems to me that they were a big part of the smear campaign. First came the illegal leaks from the “secret” investigation of Kane. Then the trumped-up criminal charges – where they found ZERO evidence that Kane illegally leaked protected material. And then the bogus lawsuits (each one getting an article from one of their co-conspirators in the Press).

    The CLOWN CAR has been desperate to take down Kane. So far they have been an EPIC FAIL. All they have achieved so far is their own personal embarrassment and the ruining of their own careers.

    The people costing the taxpayers money on these lawsuits are the perverts and racists filing the frivolous lawsuits. The only lawsuit that actually has gone to Court has been thrown out. That was Claude Thomas’ case – where he is looking for more taxpayer money.

    Any pervert with an agenda can file a lawsuit. Let’s see if anyone actually wins one of them. So far, Fina & The Corbett Pervs are 0-1 with their frivolous lawsuits.

    And now we know that Fina’s own money-driven lawsuit has Bob Levant’s fingerprints on it. That doesn’t bode well for Fina’s chances of getting his hands on more taxpayer money. In fact, Fina is probably more likely to be indicted than he is to get his pervy little hands on more of our money. Don’t forget that Bob Levant is not only Frank Fina’s attorney – he is also Tyron Ali’s attorney. Rumor has it he is Seth Williams’ lawyer too.

    Tyron Ali is the criminal that Fina dealt with on the “sting” case. On that one, Fina negotiated with Levant (his own lawyer) a deal where Levant’s other client was allowed to keep over $400,000.00 he stole from PA taxpayers. Then Seth hires Levant’s totally unqualified wife who comes in and promptly starts saying GREAT things about Fina (her husband’s racist client) in the Press. Cozy, huh?

    Fina & The Corbett Pervs bit off more than they can chew with AG Kane. They have been publicly humiliated. Their careers are in a shambles. The FBI is probing their office. They better get fitted for their orange jump-suits. Seth Williams too. He may need his first.
    But maybe someone can start by making Claude Thomas pay the State back for the legal fees incurred defending his frivolous lawsuit.

    When one of these cases settles or goes to trial and Kane is proven to have done something wrong, get back to me ….

    BTW – Has Seth been asked about Fina’s behavior on the Penn State 3 case? The Superior Court just found that Fina’s conduct was “highly improper.” Why would the DA’s Office want to employ someone like that? Those guys are already suing the State based on Fina’s conduct. How much has Fina’s “highly improper” behavior cost in terms of legal fees?

  11. Can anyone here put in a good word for me with this Christopher Jones guy? Maybe Fina knows him!?! I have been slobbering on Fina;s knob here for years. Maybe it will finally pay off …

    HARRISBURG, PA — Agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section have arrested a Hanover man accused of sending child pornography to minors and using fictitious Facebook accounts to entice minors to send him sexual images.

    Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s office today announced the arrest of Alfons Joseph Augustine Jr., 44. He was arrested as part of an investigation that resulted from several cybertips submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

    According to a criminal complaint, Augustine used the fictitious Facebook accounts to primarily target males in their early teens, and to entice them to send sexual images via private message. He used a series of aliases, including Ryan Quinn, Brayden Beisser, Tyler Callahan, Ethan Bartulio, Amber Crooks, Emily Hopkins and Matt Bryce, according to investigators.

    Agents with the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the Penn Township Police Department executed a search warrant at Augustine’s residence, 4 Mountain Ash Drive, Hanover, York County, and located multiple electronic devices.
    The Office of Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit previewed the devices and located numerous images of apparent child pornography.

    Augustine is charged with 65 counts of distribution of child pornography, 30 counts of possession of child pornography, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and two counts each of solicitation of sexual abuse of children, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors. He was arraigned Thursday on the charges and remanded to the York County Prison. Bail was set at $250,000.

    Any parent who believes their child had contact with a person using one of the aliases listed above is encouraged to contact the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Helpline at 1-800-385-1044.

    >Augustine will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.

  12. I guess that’s a no. Don’t employers in NYC get mad when people waste time when they are supposed to be working. Are you following Kathleen Kane’s work schedule?

  13. I can’t help it. I am attracted to little boys. They really should castrate me this time. It’s the only way to stop me.

  14. Brett, you ever finish paying off those fines? Last I heard you were still on a payment plan.

  17. This is scary. Everyone knows who I am now. And my address is on those news articles. I gotta move my trailer … maybe to Mexico. Glad that Trump’s stupid wall is not up. If it weren’t for young boys being so attractive to me, I wouldn’t be in this mess. And there is no way David just “guessed” that I am a child predator. He must have been responsive for the AG’s Office coming for me.

  19. Speaking of pain and sadness and shame that one can bring to themselves and to their family, I wonder if Frank Fina’s wife and children have googled him recently. Yikes!!

    They would see racist e-mails he sent from his government computer. They would see e-mails suggesting that females in the workforce need to perform oral sex on their male bosses to advance their careers. They would see that their husband/father thinks statutory rape is acceptable if the female has large breasts.

    And, of course, they would see this, an e-mail Fina sent to a group of white male buddies:
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/zadock1/3580634808

  22. SpongeBob-

    You are the biggest braggart (and biggest bullshitter here) making the biggest claims. You use the word “coward” to me all the time, like you’re the one being brave somehow. But, whenever your own words are turned back on you, you change your tune (like a punk bitch).

    You aren’t just “offering commentary” on a topics, but claiming exclusive knowledge and access to information that others don’t have. Some of it, might be considered an illegal leak or a violation of confidentiality agreements.

    I attacked Sestak openly using my own name, not hiding in the bushes (or van) like you. Because of my public criticism of Sestak, I was able to form allegiances and get information from those who knew where I stood and had some great stories about Sestak. I can’t be an unknown p*ssy like you and play both sides.

    Face it, SpongeBob, you will always be 2nd or 3rd tier poster here as long as you hide who you are. (Actually, your actual identity may be such a nobody that you’d drop to a 4th tier poster.)

    For all we know, you are a friend, employee, associate of Frank Fina (or one of Kane’s deputies) or have some other ax to grind and using this all as a smoke screen to attack Kane and hide your real bias/agenda.

    Say who you are and prove me wrong (if you can).

  23. David, lots of people comment here. Why not demand their names? You think calling me a coward hurts? Survey says…… Nope. You are a punk bitch. Like Brett and his felony background. You are a waste of space. You accuse me of being a stalker but seeing how you stalk Sestak has shown me what true stalking looks like. And now poor Brett is projecting and is pretending to know who I am. So sad. So pathetic.

  25. We know who – and what – you are.

    You are Alfons the pedophile. We know. Kane’s Office is sending you to prison where you will be anally raped and forced to suck cock got free.

    Wonder if it was David’s tip that led the OAG to you.

  26. SpongeBob-

    YOU brought up about how “Brett’s” family feels.

    So, naturally, the question comes up about how YOUR family would feel if your name was out there. No one is asking about the names of your family members. Just YOUR name, coward.

    You make all sorts of claims about insider knowledge, connections, etc. But, it’s all bullsh*t.

    If you’ve got nothing to hide, why are you hiding?

  27. Brett, projecting being a criminal onto others simply doesn’t work. You are a felon. Kane will be one too. Have fun with that.

  28. We already know who you are, Mr. Augustine. You just got arrested. They fouls child porn on your computer. Mrs. SpongeBob was right about you. You really are a sick pervert. At least you are not a school teacher anymore. Because you got fired from that job after cops found you master aging in front of little boys. You are worse than a RETARD. You are a pedophile.

  29. David, do you really want to introduce family into our conversations again? Haven’t you cried foul enough when talking family and the 90 other David Dianos in your database and whatever crap you try to make it seem like my info is bad. Leave this conversation to the adults superman. And Brett suggesting i post under my real name is rich considering his idiotic names he posts under here.

  30. Why aren’t you using his real name? That pervett using a cartoon character’s name is even more creepy now that we know that he is a sick pedophile. His name is Alphons. And he will soon be getting ass-raped in prison. Now I know why he was so obsessed with prison sex. He knows where he is headed.

    His bail was only $250,000 at 10%. I hope Prosecutor has it raised at the first listing. He needs to be in jail.

  31. SpongeBob-

    How much horror and shame have you brought to your family that you have to hide your name here?

    Must be a lot.

  32. I am going to send you to jail. That’s where you belong Alfons. You should have been there a long time ago when you got arrested masturbating around little boys.

  33. Gee the gangs all here. Once again the felon and the fraud chime in. Should we post the press releases about Brett’s arrest, trial, and conviction too? Or should we just assume that they describe the horror and shame one causes themselves and family for being caught and convicted?

  35. SpongeBob-

    HaHaHa is referring to this press release several days ago. You hadn’t posted since then. (Of course, you could be out on bail?)

    From the AG’s office:
    “Alfons Augustine Jr. allegedly used fictitious ‪#‎Facebook‬ accounts to primarily target males in their early teens, and to entice them to send sexual images via private message. He used a series of aliases, including Ryan Quinn, Brayden Beisser, Tyler Callahan, Ethan Bartulio, Amber Crooks, Emily Hopkins and Matt Bryce. Any parent who believes their child had contact with a person using one of the aliases listed above is encouraged to contact the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Helpline at 1-800-385-1044.”

    Link to full press release
    http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/Media_and_Resources/Press_Releases/Press_Release/?pid=2491

  36. Brett,
    I think it’s sweet that you miss me when I don’t post. Sorry, I have one of those things a felon like you has trouble having….a job. I can’t wait for Kane to start losing some of these cases to see what conspiracy you blame then…

  37. Wait?!? The Senator had to use campaign cash to get someone in a Study Abroad campaign. I’m not sure what part of that is stupider. Study abroad programs are not that hard to get in at Temple, Drexel plenty of Philadelphia univeristies. A letter could have sufficed. Sheesh

  38. Things are so much better here with SpongeBob in jail for being a child predator. True story.

  40. Has anybody asked Cynthia Baldwin about her unethical behavior on the Penn State 3 case?

  41. Is it just coincidence that all these corrupt guys representing the 1st District have Italian names?

  42. The battle over Farnese’s seat has already begun. He’ll be forced to resign if there is a plea deal or conviction. The ward leaders pick the replacement. Rep. Brian Sims is already lobbying hard, trying to be Johnny Doc’s pick to fill the seat. Wonder who else will come out of the woodwork??

  43. Maybe they are waiting until next week to talk about this:
    From “The Nation” —

    “For [Seth] Williams, killer cops deserve much more leniency under the law. In December of 2014, two Philadelphia cops gunned down a 26-year-old African-American man named Brandon Tate-Brown at a traffic stop, sparking popular protest against the excessive use of police force. While Williams asserted that he understood “what happened with the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and what happened in Ferguson,” he claimed what happened in Philadelphia is “different” because Tate-Brown had a weapon in his car. “The officer’s actions here do not constitute a crime,” he said when announcing that he would not bring charges against the police.”

    Everyone knows that the gun in Tate-Brown’s car had nothing to do with his murder. In fact – smart money is on the Police putting the gun there after they murdered him.

    Will the bad news ever end for Seth Williams? Perhaps when he dons the orange jump-suit.

  44. I look at 50% for Kane as a positive. It means that half the people have seen through the high-octane smear campaign.

    As to these lawsuits – it seems to me that they were a big part of the smear campaign. First came the illegal leaks from the “secret” investigation of Kane. Then the trumped-up criminal charges – where they found ZERO evidence that Kane illegally leaked protected material. And then the bogus lawsuits (each one getting an article from one of their co-conspirators in the Press).

    The CLOWN CAR has been desperate to take down Kane. So far they have been an EPIC FAIL. All they have achieved so far is their own personal embarrassment and the ruining of their own careers.

    The people costing the taxpayers money on these lawsuits are the perverts and racists filing the frivolous lawsuits. The only lawsuit that actually has gone to Court has been thrown out. That was Claude Thomas’ case – where he is looking for more taxpayer money.

    Any pervert with an agenda can file a lawsuit. Let’s see if anyone actually wins one of them. So far, Fina & The Corbett Pervs are 0-1 with their frivolous lawsuits.

    And now we know that Fina’s own money-driven lawsuit has Bob Levant’s fingerprints on it. That doesn’t bode well for Fina’s chances of getting his hands on more taxpayer money. In fact, Fina is probably more likely to be indicted than he is to get his pervy little hands on more of our money. Don’t forget that Bob Levant is not only Frank Fina’s attorney – he is also Tyron Ali’s attorney. Rumor has it he is Seth Williams’ lawyer too.

    Tyron Ali is the criminal that Fina dealt with on the “sting” case. On that one, Fina negotiated with Levant (his own lawyer) a deal where Levant’s other client was allowed to keep over $400,000.00 he stole from PA taxpayers. Then Seth hires Levant’s totally unqualified wife who comes in and promptly starts saying GREAT things about Fina (her husband’s racist client) in the Press. Cozy, huh?

    Fina & The Corbett Pervs bit off more than they can chew with AG Kane. They have been publicly humiliated. Their careers are in a shambles. The FBI is probing their office. They better get fitted for their orange jump-suits. Seth Williams too. He may need his first.
    But maybe someone can start by making Claude Thomas pay the State back for the legal fees incurred defending his frivolous lawsuit.

    When one of these cases settles or goes to trial and Kane is proven to have done something wrong, get back to me ….

    BTW – Has Seth been asked about Fina’s behavior on the Penn State 3 case? The Superior Court just found that Fina’s conduct was “highly improper.” Why would the DA’s Office want to employ someone like that? Those guys are already suing the State based on Fina’s conduct. How much has Fina’s “highly improper” behavior cost in terms of legal fees?

  45. the Farnese case opens new ground when you can get whacked for messing around with a ward leader election? Bob Brady on line 2?

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