Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Five years away, and so much to catch up on

As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, that Mike Nutter is quite a . . . ah, never mind. He's gone and I am back.

As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, that Mike Nutter is quite a . . . ah, never mind. He's gone and I am back.

A few close readers may recall my byline. But after a five-year hiatus, I'm happy to rejoin the Inquirer's Editorial Board.

What did I miss?

Let's see, Vince Fenerty, the former head of the Philadelphia Parking Authority and a Republican ward leader, was an admitted serial sexual harasser, but the board was OK with it until it made the newspaper. In fact, board member Al Taubenberger, who is also a city councilman, initially likened Fenerty's harassment of one employee to "puppy love." Thanks, Archie Bunker.

Then there is State Rep. Leslie Acosta (D., Phila.), who is running for reelection despite pleading guilty to a felony charge in March. A convict running for office is a new low even by Harrisburg standards.

In August, Attorney General Kathleen Kane was convicted of nine criminal charges, including perjury and criminal conspiracy. She had a quick rise and fall. Turns out Kane doesn't like negative stories about herself. Arrogance and a thin skin are often a deadly combination for a public official.

Kane did manage to drag down two Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices by exposing them and others in Harrisburg as a bunch of porn pushers. The entire saga felt like something from The Good Wife. It gave the public an ugly peek into the inner workings of Harrisburg. For close watchers, the view was worse than imagined.

Fortunately for Kane, District Attorney Seth Williams jumped into the legal crosshairs. Only in Pennsylvania are the top law enforcement officials the ones who get investigated.

In the midst of the federal probe, Williams suddenly remembered that he should disclose $160,050 in cash and gifts he has received from a variety of friends and supporters since 2010.

The gifts included junkets to Key West, Las Vegas, and other resorts, along with tickets and passes to sporting events, liquor, boxing lessons, a couch, a watch, and thousands of dollars in cash.

One New Jersey builder buddy made $45,000 in repairs to Williams' house, including a free roof. Williams' list of gifts seemed to include everything but a real kitchen sink.

Even more amazing, accepting such gifts is not against the law in Pennsylvania. But the gifts must be disclosed on statements of financial interest. With the feds poking around, Williams' effort to clean up his financial disclosures may be the least of his troubles.

Speaking of trouble, federal investigators raided the home of electricians union boss John Dougherty; his sister's home next door; the headquarters and hall of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98; the New Jersey home of the union's president; and the City Hall and district offices of Councilman Bobby Henon (D., Local 98).

The feds investigated Doc a few years back and went away. But this time they returned with a Penske truck to haul away boxes of documents.

That seems ominous. But as federal agents rummaged through Dougherty's house, he hung around outside sporting a Sixers ball cap, khaki shorts, and a white oxford shirt, while striking a pose that seemed to say: "What - me worry?"

Dougherty even sent iced tea and doughnuts to the gaggle of reporters camped in the summer heat outside his house. Yo, Doc, that was bee-yood-ee-ful.

In June, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.) was convicted on federal racketeering and bribery charges. He was scheduled to be sentenced this month but that's on hold while he appeals his conviction. Initially, Fattah planned to remain in office until he was sentenced, a sign that even a conviction failed to humble him.

That covers the highlights, or lowlights, from just the last few months. I didn't even get to the braggadocious Donald Trump.

It's mind-boggling that Trump became the GOP candidate for president, given that he has spent the campaign spewing racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic, and misogynistic hate and lies. And that's just when Trump is on message.

Never mind Trump's apparent admiration for dictators, his disdain for the First Amendment, and his shifting position on immigration. Toss in Trump's long line of failed businesses, bankrupt casinos, and the recent report that he likely hasn't paid federal income taxes for years, and all of a sudden Richard Nixon seems worthy for Mount Rushmore.

No doubt Hillary Clinton comes with her own set of well-worn baggage. Some of it is real. But the bulk of it is has also been ginned up by 20 years of faux Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and others who traffic in conspiracy theories masquerading as news.

The November election is important. Many voters are turned off by the choice between Clinton and Trump. But as the first debate showed, there's a world of difference between a candidate who has the temperament and experience to be president and an unhinged, narcissistic Apprentice.

Ah, it's good to be back.

Paul Davies is the deputy editorial page editor of The Inquirer Editorial Board. pdavies@phillynews.com and @pauldavies04