FBI Raids 3 City Agencies, Street Fund-raiser's Office (Philadelphia)

[Pale Blue Dot]

Ratcheting up the federal investigation that has engulfed the mayoral election, FBI agents crisscrossed Center City yesterday to search three city agencies and the office of a lawyer who is a top political ally of Mayor Street's and has earned millions from municipal legal work.

The extraordinary raids targeted the city Finance Department, the city treasurer's office, and the city Board of Pensions and Retirement, as well as the law office of Ronald A. White, a major player in the city's lucrative government bond business.

The execution of search warrants inside city offices yesterday by FBI agents seemed to paralyze municipal business. At a hastily called news conference last night, Street complained that the timing of the raids was "curiously suspicious" - as if designed to harm his reelection.

Street said it was "unfortunate that these events, conducted in this way, have in effect hijacked this election."

more here: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/7032599.htm

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. My take:

This may or may not have started as a politically motivated investigation. But John Street and his team have successfully portrayed it as a political attack, and therefore his lead over Republican Sam Katz has actually widened since the scandal broke.

I think the FBI is in a hurry now to prove their allegations, in order to prove that their actions were not politically motivated.

BTW, Sam Katz is also under investigation by the FBI, for embezzlement, but that investigation has had none of the fireworks of the Street investigation.

[CWebster]

2. Considering the investigation of Katz

has had none of the "fireworks", Street's claim of a suspicious political attack has weightier credibility.

The Republicans will brazenly use whatever means possible--redistricting, recalls, FBI police-state style probes searching for something to use, to tip the scales.

[NoKingGeorge]

4. Take Philly and you take the state.

As I understand it. These raids are media events. The Street people have been handing over everything.No need for supenas,raids,media.
Facinating to watch the Federal Government (and Rick Santorum) pull this off.

[malachi]

6. Local politics only

Even if Katz wins the mayoral race there is no way in hell that chimpy has a chance in Philadelphia. This city has voted overwhelmingly for the Democrat nominee for as long as I can remember and will do so again in '04.

[WENSTJDON]

7. I'm not sure,

but I thought it was 'Democratic nominee' not Democrat
nominee. Does anyone know??

[Donna Zen]

3. Think Pennsylvania

Think electoral votes.

First came the redistricting of states....

Next came the recall...

Now comes the witchhunt...

Asscrap's raiders can bug and harrass any big city government and find irregularities; so why Street and why now?

The only question that this poses: are Philadelphia's voters as dumb as California's.

[readmylips]

5. White people don't want Black/Minorities in Power.....

except for Colin Powell and Condi Rice. White repig rich people control the media and they have done a great job in turning middle income and poor whites against blacks/minorities in power. It's all part of destroying affirmitive minority programs and civil rights laws. It's white jebby bush pushes ans 'One America.' Open your eyes, blacks and minorities will be pushed to the back of the bus again.

White people (repigs actually) are pushing for whites to register to vote, and to vote for whites only. They will not need the black/minority votes to win.

[Ella]

8. Street gets a wakeup call

Street has been a major Bush ass kisser; it's hard to feel sorry for him now that he's being stabbed in the back. The fool thought Bush kept coming to Philly because he was being recruited as a showpiece for Bush's faith-based gubmint campaign. Maybe he thought the bible thumpin' Repubs were his friends; his eyes should be open now.

[Demoiselle]

9. Highly original take, Ella...

John Street is a Bush ass-kisser! Wow. When is your novel coming out?

[Ella]

10. The story has already been written. Here are a few chapters

Bush hails Street as the kind of guy who understands faith-based gubmint

Bush gives Street special mention in 1st address to Congress (isn't that special!!!)

Bush headlocks Street at block party

Bush meets with more black mayors (including Street) who think they're gonna get some of that faith-based action

And this from just a cursory google. When it looked like Street was going to be Bush's favorite poster boy when it came to the faith-based scam, he was more than willing to be seen in flagrante delicto with the Resident Scumbag. Now Rove has decided that Pennsylvania can be taken ind 2004 with the right combination of racebaiting and vote tampering, and Street is gonna be the boogie man for suburban and rural voters in the state.

Street lay down with cobras and got poisoned. I just hope all those other mayors in the last link see what's happening and take precautionary measures.

[jiacinto]

11. Street is in trouble

But his tenure has been marred by scandal. So the claim that this "politically motivated" is harder to prove.

[Don_G]

12. Something Similar Happened In Kentucky

Gov Paul Patton-D had his hands full with an affair and our teaching Physican Lt Gov Steve Henry was chased by Medicare/Medicaid for allegedly overbilling through the hospital at the same time.

I wonder how much of this crap is happening throughout the country?