Did anyone here even care to read the bill of particulars? No wonder they didn't pursue the charges because they were a joke! The bigger waste of taxpayer dollars was the money spent putting together that Mickey Mouse list of charges against McNally and Sciortino--the Feds might as well call themselves Stretch Armstrong because every one of those charges at best were a major stretch.
I'd tell you not to quit your day job Bertram, writing this kind of drivel, but seeing as how it IS your day job, you might want to consider quitting and signing up for unemployment to spare the rest of us from losing any additional brain cells by reading your columns.
At the end of the day, an indictment is not a conviction, and to date there has been zero evidence of wrongdoing of any kind by McNally.
Maybe Obama would set a better example for Americans by cutting back on all of his vacation time, because a paltry $20,000 a year paid back by him pales in comparison to the estimated $20 million it has cost taxpayers the last four years for his vacations. With the costs associated with using Air Force 1, the security, the staffers, and the lodging expenses, they really do add up.
The idea of him giving back $20,000 is a joke and is more likely about throwing a bone to the public, but really it is more insulting than benevolent.
Look, it is doubtful the body got down the Mahoning to the Ohio River, and then all the way south past Wheeling all by itself. Not without some help getting there by someone. Condolences to the family, I am glad there can finally be some closure, but something is not right about this whole thing. Sadly this is not the first time this kind of thing has happened in this town.
You know, you really do give a lot of crap to the Cafaro Family who has invested more money in the Mahoning Valley than you will in 1,000 lifetimes Bertram.
This looks like a witch hunt if I ever saw one, the Feds and the AG can't make a case when there isn't a case to be made. The Feds tried to trump up some charges, that at best could be considered flimsy, because the targets were high profile--and being in Mahoning County, they love the high profile stuff because deep down I think they were hoping to make another high profile case that could make national news like they did in 1999.
Bertram, I rarely compliment you, but I will say this was a well thought out and researched article, examining the effects of statewide issues on the outcome of who will win in statewide races.
You know, I do recall saying in Mr. de Souza's column last week that his next "column" would take a few shots at the Mafia. I guess I called this one. Bertram, you are so predictable.
There are parts of me that would want the Mafia to return just to spite Bertram and put another crimp in his style. It is funny, I do recall the Vindicator endorsing certain Mafia connected politicians in the past. Wonder if Bertram would care to comment on those endorsements.
"In a few weeks, we will go back to Mafia bashing, and then take another few shots at Traficant. That should put us about two months into FY 2013, closing in on filing deadlines, so naturally we will then take a course to remind everyone of why John Kasich is such a bad governor and bash Republicans again, despite there not being an elected Republican officeholder in Mahoning County.
Which will bring us back to bashing the local GOP, despite Mr. de Souza's lack of basic comprehension of understanding of running campaigns and understanding numbers across the county."
In a few weeks, we will go back to Mafia bashing, and then take another few shots at Traficant. That should put us about two months into FY 2013, closing in on filing deadlines, so naturally we will then take a course to remind everyone of why John Kasich is such a bad governor and bash Republicans again, despite there not being an elected Republican officeholder in Mahoning County.
Which will bring us back to bashing the local GOP, despite Mr. de Souza's lack of basic comprehension of understanding of running campaigns and understanding numbers across the county.
And the cycle continues. Mr. de Souza, I tip my hat to your sophomoric efforts and mediocre writing style.
Betram is trying to justify his job, that is why he writes this drivel.
Have no fear, when The Vindicator decides to pay the healthcare fine and drop its employees' healthcare plans to save a few bucks in 2014, I guess we will see if he continues to take such an avid Democratic viewpoint.
Oakhill haunts McNally
Did anyone here even care to read the bill of particulars? No wonder they didn't pursue the charges because they were a joke! The bigger waste of taxpayer dollars was the money spent putting together that Mickey Mouse list of charges against McNally and Sciortino--the Feds might as well call themselves Stretch Armstrong because every one of those charges at best were a major stretch.
I'd tell you not to quit your day job Bertram, writing this kind of drivel, but seeing as how it IS your day job, you might want to consider quitting and signing up for unemployment to spare the rest of us from losing any additional brain cells by reading your columns.
At the end of the day, an indictment is not a conviction, and to date there has been zero evidence of wrongdoing of any kind by McNally.
May 12, 2013 at 3:07 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Will Valley racino ever be built?
Lighten up Francis
April 14, 2013 at 8:36 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Community response saved a boy
Maybe Obama would set a better example for Americans by cutting back on all of his vacation time, because a paltry $20,000 a year paid back by him pales in comparison to the estimated $20 million it has cost taxpayers the last four years for his vacations. With the costs associated with using Air Force 1, the security, the staffers, and the lodging expenses, they really do add up.
The idea of him giving back $20,000 is a joke and is more likely about throwing a bone to the public, but really it is more insulting than benevolent.
April 14, 2013 at 8:15 a.m. permalink suggest removal
James Donofrio body found on Ohio River shoreline
Look, it is doubtful the body got down the Mahoning to the Ohio River, and then all the way south past Wheeling all by itself. Not without some help getting there by someone. Condolences to the family, I am glad there can finally be some closure, but something is not right about this whole thing. Sadly this is not the first time this kind of thing has happened in this town.
April 9, 2013 at 8:42 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Will AG DeWine take action?
You know, you really do give a lot of crap to the Cafaro Family who has invested more money in the Mahoning Valley than you will in 1,000 lifetimes Bertram.
This looks like a witch hunt if I ever saw one, the Feds and the AG can't make a case when there isn't a case to be made. The Feds tried to trump up some charges, that at best could be considered flimsy, because the targets were high profile--and being in Mahoning County, they love the high profile stuff because deep down I think they were hoping to make another high profile case that could make national news like they did in 1999.
And they just couldn't pull it off again.
March 31, 2013 at 5:21 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Same-sex marriage time bomb
Bertram, I rarely compliment you, but I will say this was a well thought out and researched article, examining the effects of statewide issues on the outcome of who will win in statewide races.
Do more of this, less Mafia three decade rehash.
March 5, 2013 at 7:07 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Stroll down Mafia lane with snitch
I wish I could get a job rehashing the same story over and over and over and over and over again.
February 24, 2013 at 4:32 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Feds must clean up ‘cesspool’
You know, I do recall saying in Mr. de Souza's column last week that his next "column" would take a few shots at the Mafia. I guess I called this one. Bertram, you are so predictable.
There are parts of me that would want the Mafia to return just to spite Bertram and put another crimp in his style. It is funny, I do recall the Vindicator endorsing certain Mafia connected politicians in the past. Wonder if Bertram would care to comment on those endorsements.
"In a few weeks, we will go back to Mafia bashing, and then take another few shots at Traficant. That should put us about two months into FY 2013, closing in on filing deadlines, so naturally we will then take a course to remind everyone of why John Kasich is such a bad governor and bash Republicans again, despite there not being an elected Republican officeholder in Mahoning County.
Which will bring us back to bashing the local GOP, despite Mr. de Souza's lack of basic comprehension of understanding of running campaigns and understanding numbers across the county."
December 9, 2012 at 9:57 p.m. permalink suggest removal
An attack on Catholic Church?
In a few weeks, we will go back to Mafia bashing, and then take another few shots at Traficant. That should put us about two months into FY 2013, closing in on filing deadlines, so naturally we will then take a course to remind everyone of why John Kasich is such a bad governor and bash Republicans again, despite there not being an elected Republican officeholder in Mahoning County.
Which will bring us back to bashing the local GOP, despite Mr. de Souza's lack of basic comprehension of understanding of running campaigns and understanding numbers across the county.
And the cycle continues. Mr. de Souza, I tip my hat to your sophomoric efforts and mediocre writing style.
December 2, 2012 at 10:35 a.m. permalink suggest removal
An attack on Catholic Church?
Betram is trying to justify his job, that is why he writes this drivel.
Have no fear, when The Vindicator decides to pay the healthcare fine and drop its employees' healthcare plans to save a few bucks in 2014, I guess we will see if he continues to take such an avid Democratic viewpoint.
December 2, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. permalink suggest removal