There are two systems of justice: one if you're poor, and another if you're rich/powerful.

"I am tired. I am depressed. All I want is peace," Fumo said. "It's not Club Fed. It's not an easy thing to do."

That's the farking point! It's jail. It's not a vacation. You didn't complain when you committed your crimes, so stop complaining now.

TFA: And now to all those people who I may have said bad things about, I apologize.

The only thing he's sorry about is that he was dumb enough to get caught.

I reject every excuse the judge used to cushion the blow to this piece of filth. If anything, the privilege of his (former) office should demand an even tougher sentence than a normal citizen. When you have been given the power and trust of the people, there should be dire consequences for betraying that trust; not preferential treatment.

Further evidence that the entire state of Pennsyltucky needs to be burned to the ground with napalm.

A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politicians are treated better than we are.

skullkrusher: A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politicians are treated better than we are.

I have you tagged as; "idiot douche-bag troll" but for once I agree with you.

EvilBillGates: skullkrusher: A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politicians are treated better than we are.

I have you tagged as; "idiot douche-bag troll" but for once I agree with you.

that says more about you than it does about me, guy whom I've never seen post before.

kronicfeld: How does a "normal citizen" defraud the state senate?

God Dammit this.

Betrayal of the public trust for monetary gain should carry the heaviest of sentences.

skullkrusher: A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politicians are treated better than we are.

As long as there's somebody to make sure there's no physical harm, do Stocks count as a form of cruel punishment?
Because an hour a day in one (with a fresh batch of spoiled fruit nearby) in a public location should be a mandatory addendum to all judgments against politicians.

I love the Robin Hood defense they have been using for him.

//stealing from the public to help the public

Crooks take care of their own kind.

FTFA: As he did in 2009, when he sentenced Fumo to 55 months, Buckwalter noted that the former senator had not been accused of bribery, extortion, or a crime of violence.

There's plenty of people doing a lot more than 5 years in prison for selling marijuana who also were not accused of bribery, extortion, or a crime of violence, and who have the added distinction of not being guilty of 137 criminal counts of defrauding the Senate, two nonprofits, and obstructing justice. But since they're not politically connected, the system says f*ck'em.

monoski: I love the Robin Hood defense they have been using for him.

//stealing from the public to help the public


Senator Clay Davis expresses his approval at this application of the Long Con.

tomcatadam: skullkrusher: A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politicians are treated better than we are.

As long as there's somebody to make sure there's no physical harm, do Stocks count as a form of cruel punishment?
Because an hour a day in one (with a fresh batch of spoiled fruit nearby) in a public location should be a mandatory addendum to all judgments against politicians.

the stocks might not be allowed but a plexiglass container on a busy streetcorner for him to sit in where he'd be subjected to whatever insults his subjects fellow citizens want to hurl might pass muster

The INJUSTICE of actual justice.

Just where do all these corrupt politicians, Fortune 500 execs, and celebrities find all these awesome plea bargains, anyway?

⇒ At the plea market!? ⇐
(drag mouse cursor between arrows)

skullkrusher: EvilBillGates: skullkrusher: A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politicians are treated better than we are.

I have you tagged as; "idiot douche-bag troll" but for once I agree with you.

that says more about you than it does about me, guy whom I've never seen post before.

No it doesn't. It's amazing that someone doesn't have to post to be able to read.

Moopy Mac: skullkrusher: EvilBillGates: skullkrusher: A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politicians are treated better than we are.

I have you tagged as; "idiot douche-bag troll" but for once I agree with you.

that says more about you than it does about me, guy whom I've never seen post before.

No it doesn't. It's amazing that someone doesn't have to post to be able to read.

no, it really does. Fark threads are awash with "teleprompter arugula Obama hates America $200mm a day India trip socialism OMG!!!1" These are the sorts of things I have never said unless it was in jest because I don't find them important, true or worth mentioning. These are the sorts of things idiot trolls say. In fact, I rarely even criticize BO at all since I don't find the guy to be all that bad relatively speaking. So, for me to be an "idiot douche-bag troll" you apparently label anyone who merely disagrees with you an "idiot douche-bag troll" since I am clearly not.
That makes you small minded and silly. So, as I said, your label for me says more about you than it does me

skullkrusher: Moopy Mac: skullkrusher: EvilBillGates: skullkrusher: A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politicians are treated better than we are.

I have you tagged as; "idiot douche-bag troll" but for once I agree with you.

that says more about you than it does about me, guy whom I've never seen post before.

No it doesn't. It's amazing that someone doesn't have to post to be able to read.

no, it really does. Fark threads are awash with "teleprompter arugula Obama hates America $200mm a day India trip socialism OMG!!!1" These are the sorts of things I have never said unless it was in jest because I don't find them important, true or worth mentioning. These are the sorts of things idiot trolls say. In fact, I rarely even criticize BO at all since I don't find the guy to be all that bad relatively speaking. So, for me to be an "idiot douche-bag troll" you apparently label anyone who merely disagrees with you an "idiot douche-bag troll" since I am clearly not.
That makes you small minded and silly. So, as I said, your label for me says more about you than it does me

well, I suppose not "you" since you weren't the original poster but you seem to agree so I guess it applies as well

Is the judge going to be one for the Penn State trial?

/electing judges is very stupid

I don't get how being an effective politician is some sort of excuse or get out of jail free card here. That was his job. We don't let bakers of the hook for breaking bread very well either.

Maybe the judge is merely setting a precedent in case he was ever in that position. Not that I am saying he's defrauding the state or county. But if I were a judge and doing so, I would certainly want to set the tone that elected officials should get different treatment (and set up a charity, funded by public money I stole and paying me a huge salary as CEO, which would still count as charitable work for the plea bargain.)

Is this the same judge who did the Vince Neil trial? Sad really that anyone with $ is in "the club."

The defense team argued that Fumo, 68, deserved a break because of his age, health, legislative effectiveness, and charitable works, and Buckwalter agreed on the latter two points.

Wait, so a corrupt politician gets a break because he was legislatively effective? Uh, fark that. And charitable works? How did that work out:

Though Fumo was found guilty on 137 criminal counts, Buckwalter said the former senator had engaged in four main schemes: defrauding the state Senate and two nonprofits, and obstructing justice.

Defrauding two nonprofits? How charitable of him. How is it that politicians don't get their sentences automatically doubled when convicted?

He called Fumo arrogant, greedy, and less than truthful, and said he lacked "a true sense of remorse" and had a "complete lack of respect for our legal framework."

Gee, I wonder why.

Isn't this the same state with a judge who was caught on the take from for-profit, "privatized," prisons? Didn't that judge sentence kids who were innocent so that the prisons could increase their profits?

DeaH: Isn't this the same state with a judge who was caught on the take from for-profit, "privatized," prisons? Didn't that judge sentence kids who were innocent so that the prisons could increase their profits?

I would not be surprised.

DeaH: Isn't this the same state with a judge who was caught on the take from for-profit, "privatized," prisons? Didn't that judge sentence kids who were innocent so that the prisons could increase their profits?

Well that was Pennsylvania, and this appears to be Philly, so yes.

Bag of Hammers: kronicfeld: How does a "normal citizen" defraud the state senate?

God Dammit this.

Betrayal of the public trust for monetary gain should carry the heaviest of sentences.

In China they kill your ass.

skullkrusher: A Democratic convict given a break by a Republican judge. We should be warmed by the fact that they are working together to make sure politiciansrich people are treated better than we are.

Not exactly a one-to-one relationship, but close.

He should not get the same sentence. He should get a more severe penalty. A precedent needs to be set.

ZAZ: Fraud and obstruction of justice do not.

You can get a federal student loan to go to college even after being found guilty of fraud and obstruction of justice. Not so with drug convictions.

/drug war keeps minorities minority
//uncle sam is one racist b*tch

...The defense team argued that Fumo, 68, deserved a break because of his age, health, legislative effectiveness, and charitable works, and Buckwalter agreed on the latter two points...

What... the f@ck.

He took money from his own non-profits and obstructed justice. He got 5 years. He lost his career. He got fined nearly $4 million which he actually paid. I know "average citizens" pay far more in fines but still...

The prisons are overflowing. The government is going broke trying to incarcerate everyone for 20 years and we are going to obsess over this guy's sentence being too light? Why exactly are people in the U.S. so obsessed with severely punishing everybody. Does it date all the way back to our Puritan roots? Is it genetic? Other cultures are not this hell bent on throwing away the key on every convict.

Guy who molested kids, 25 years sounds good. Guy who diverted funds and covered it up, 2-5 years is fine.