Right and Wrong


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 05:37:44 AM EST

I believe that the main problem with politics is the idea that if your "side" is breaking the law and you are benefitting that is is perfectly ok. The current Republican Party is an excellent example of this. Albany Democrats belong in the hall of fame when it comes to this and any idiot who opens their mouth and says how great Joe Bruno was for the region, is practicing this as well. Joe Bruno is a liar. That is wrong. He took bribes. Wrong. This isn't a gray area. Everyone of us with a brain knows that he crossed the line all the time. Some of us think that is great because we got some of the spoils. Too many of us.

On a similar note it is shameful how if you are connected to the right politicians, you are above the law. Glen Suddaby appears to have a habit of not prosecuting crimes if they were committed by people he likes. It was reportedly his decision to not prosecute the gun store owners who illegally sold machine guns that they purchased from members of the Albany Police Department who had themselves committed a whole host of crimes by using the APD as a front to buy those guns. When this exact thing happened in other states, it was prosecuted and people went to jail. If I did this, I'd be on a ten year blogging hiatius. In Albany they do nothing, the chief of police puts himself in charge of the "investigation" and you never hear about it again. There was one article that gave us a glimpse of the truth where an unnamed source said they chose not to prosecute because it would be a political mess. Not surprisingly, Glen Suddaby also is the person responsible for not prosecuting Bruno .
Several months ago, FBI agents from Albany met with prosecutors from the Southern District regarding the Bruno investigation, a person with knowledge of the meeting said.

The agents made an informal overture to the Manhattan-based federal prosecutors at a time when the FBI and prosecutors in New York's Northern District, under U.S. Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby, have been at odds about the handling of the Bruno investigation, which sources believe has been dogged by unnecessary delay.

Suddaby is awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate to a position as a federal judge in upstate New York. He has declined to comment on the Bruno investigation.
I wonder what Suddaby gets in return? Have there been conversations where they say, "How does Judge Suddaby sound?"

I don't know about you but I personally have zero faith in the justice system in NY. If you are ever in front of Judge Suddaby, make sure to donate to all the right politicians. It is the right thing to do, right?

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Right and Wrong | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
By and For The People (none / 0) (#1)
by A Muse on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:25:25 AM EST
By and For the People

It should not matter if a bill gets through the Republicans of Democrats.  Bruno always said "we are doing the peoples business."  It is by the people and for the people.  The difference is that the business of the people is to try and benefit all the people, not just your buddies.  I do not know if Joe Bruno did anything wrong, however, a plow contractor told me last winter that he was protected by Bruno.  Ran the plate and it did not match the truck.  Ran down the address in Troy and it was an empty apartment.  Checking the mail is a Federal offence, however, mail sitting on the stairs for anyone to see could have been trash indicated also that no one lived there.  This contractor was hired by Diamond Realty Management Co. to plow in an Albany Development.  This
Company also recommended and the Association hired PKM, a company at the time was indicted for fraud theft and grand larceny. A homeowner reported that the contractor she had do some painting was upset he had to kick back money to the President of the Management Co.  Joe Conlon.  This company in the past has failed to get work permits for roofing (roofing blew off day one - never repaired), and electrical work.  They didn't even hire an electrician.  They were cited for some of the violations but their City connections reduced the number and the amount of the fines.

This is the Albany underground economy.   If workers required to get work permits were fined when they failed to do so, and preferential treatment not given by the City, Albany would be in better shape financially, On straight commission someone could make a hefty income from these failed permits and persons not licensed to do specialized work.  What it really means is that shoddy work is done so the taxpayer loses, income is lost to the city so the taxpayer loses, federal, state income, and school taxes are not paid on the income not reported (no 1099 issued) and the taxpayer loses again.  The taxpayers end up footing the bill for school, local, and federal programs for people who have not paid in.  I forgot the drug dealers.  They don't pay taxes on their sales.

All I have to say to this is (none / 0) (#2)
by mailer daemon on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 01:32:24 PM EST
If you only knew the half of it....

The back stabbing, dirty dealing, and fraudulent activities are rampant in every aspect of government. Not only the city machine. (Which is non existent, by the way.I have said that if you want to see a machine in Albany now, look at the Brothers, Breslin)

from what I see, workers who are fed up with it won't say anything lose out of fear of retribution.  when actual illegal activities are revealed and its against those who are really liked by the press, they do not cover it, or only print half the story.

Its very frustrating..

And the keep electing these fakes over and over and over..Why?  Because usually, the ones with the most money in their campaign chest win. Election districts were drawn so these idiots do not lose their seats.  Why else would some of these guys still be in office when they have done NOTHING for years.
Jesus, Hevesi wins by a landslide when everyone knew he was a crook at the time of the election..

Voter are famous for short memories and their sheep like tendencies. It makes me sick.

 

[ Parent ]

DIA: Sorry you have no faith in the justice system (none / 0) (#3)
by TerryONeillEsq on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:08:50 PM EST
In 1990, I was asked to draft a speech for Governor Cuomo about a change in direction of our justice policy.  In it, I wrote: "Our criminal justice system is a thing of grandeur.  It is how the best in us does its best to control the worst."  One of the governor's wise-ass speechwriters cut the line.  "Have you seen the budget?  We can't afford a 'thing of grandeur.'"

Indeed (none / 0) (#4)
by black templar on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 07:11:06 PM EST
I agree fully with DIA here. I have heard a lot of "Even though Joe Bruno was _____, we are sure going to miss his influence. He was great for the region" BS lately. The corruption goes unnoticed when we are the beneficiaries, but when it occurs outside of this region, we are ready to burn the perpetrators at the stake.

Bruno, Silver, Jennings, Tuffey, Suddaby, Brazell, Clyne, City of Albany "machine", etc. It's enough to make you want to gag, the level of incompetence and/or corruption around this area.
--BT

Black Templar (none / 0) (#5)
by A Muse on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:27:14 AM EST
Your name is ominous sounding.  A 6'6" black man with shaven head and tattoos, out of one of those save the world type movies.  The protector of mankind.  Well we could use a few protectors here in Albany.  I believe they exist which is why an organization outside the Albany City Government needs to be formed to address the youth issues.  This could become quite a powerful group and be able to control Common Counsel seats and the Mayor's seat as well.  No it can't be the Democrats.  Like Color and the absence of it, there is a lot in between and they all count.  When your government has failed under the Constitution all citizens have an obligation to take over control by any means necessary.


[ Parent ]
It's always a conspiracy. (none / 0) (#6)
by AlfredMoisiu on Sun Jun 29, 2008 at 10:37:48 AM EST
I love how you throw around information from the Times Union as absolute truth. Legally admissible evidence in a courtroom isn't the same as what a TU editor decides to print.

Ditto with Bruno. The FBI has been investigating the man for three years. Maybe he's committing crimes, maybe not. The law is complicated.

But, of course, since what you wanted to happen didn't happen, President Bush is covering for the Chief Tuffey by giving the US Attorney a Federal Judicial position. Sure.

9,339 weapons cases in 2002 were sent up to the US Attorney from the ATF, and only 4114 resulted in convictions. Cases get turned down every day for a myriad of reasons.

If you look at the statistics, only 42-54% of weapons charges referred to the US Attorney's office from 1998-2002 actually resulted in a prosecution. There's a great analysis here.

And I love in your world, Republicans and Jennings are the only sources of evil or corruption. I guess you didn't notice that everyone's favorite "Progressive", Congresswoman Gillibrand, got a couple of thousand bucks from telecom lobbyists and flip-flopped on the FISA Bill.

AM (none / 0) (#7)
by DIA on Sun Jun 29, 2008 at 12:39:59 PM EST
Maybe you should do a little research on the pro gun blogs and see what they are saying about the case with the APD and the machine guns.  or maybe you could find out how many people who sold illegally purchased machine guns to gun shops and were never charged with anything instead of citing stats that are not relevant.   If 50% of those who were known to have purchased and resold illegal machine guns were never charged, I think you have a very valid point.  

Talk to the pro gun people. Don't take my word for it being something that most people would be locked up for, take theirs.

Oh, i know.  Everything isn't black and white in the real world.  We have to realize that when people we like commit crimes, it is ok.  And anyone who criticizes them is the real problem.

Remember when Spitzer was supposedly caught with a hooker and said he was an idiot and should resign?  He hadn't been charged with anything.   Remember when other democrats were saying he shouldnt' quit, that he'd been framed. Remember when i ridiculed them?

when you support Bruno, you are just like them.  Only worse because Bruno steals tax payer dollars.  Spitzer just hired a hooker.  When you don't speak about about someone like D'Antonio being appointed to run the division he was part of when he was stealing taxpayer money, you are worse.  but you don't speak out about these things.  You just say i'm the problem.  the grand conspiracist.  

Dick Cheney has never been charged with anything either.  I'm sure you think he is as pure as driven snow.

Of course, I know that you know the truth.   You just don't like it getting out in public because you are one of the people who doesn't care if your side cheats.  And thus you put up these silly posts on a silly little blog defending joe bruno and his ilk.  

I'm quite sure if you had anything of value on the line and someone asked you if you thought Joe Bruno had take bribes and your answer would result in you keeping or losing that thing of value, I'm very very sure I know how you would answer if you were playing the odds.  And so do you.

And if you were asked if there was enough evidence to prosecute those involved in buying and selling those guns, I know what your answer would be.

And if someone asked you if you believed Sweeney had beat his wife even though Sweeney and his wife said it didn't happen, I know what you would say if there was anything truly on the line.  

but since you have to risk nothing to continue to support those engaged in criminal activity because you can personally gain from them staying in power, you don't tell the truth.

We both know how it is.  You are complicit in it all by defending it.  I prefer to try to do what is right.

And yes, I'm an arrogant fuck.  No need to point that out again.

cheers

also like to point out (none / 0) (#8)
by DIA on Sun Jun 29, 2008 at 01:28:45 PM EST
that i was saying Tom Delay was a crook long before he was arrested.

I was outlining why Sweeney was a criminal (abramoff, wife on the payroll, Siena, etc) long before the FBI investigation was announced and we heard they were looking into those same things.  

If i'm just a conspiracist I've got a good track record. Perhaps Bruno should be worried.  Of course, you know he should be.  

Just like there are some other nervous people in Albany these days. "what's this?  FBI investigating corrupt politicians?"  

All good things must come to an end.

cheers.

Right and Wrong | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
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