Friday, February 12, 2010

Upcoming Lehigh County DA Race

UpDate: Somebody other than LVS has finally stepped up to challenge DA Jim Martin: Meet Ed Koren. Visit: Ed Koren website.

Crooked and incompetent Lehigh County DA Jim Martin has not faced a political challenger at the polls since 1999.

Martin, a Republican, ran unopposed in 2003, and again in 2007.

It's high time for a change this year on election day in November 2011.

Here's why ...

THE DIRTY FACTS
ON DA JIM MARTIN




Game On.

Essential Reading > WHY WE FIGHT

Original Post

Angie and I had a terrific breakfast meeting at West Side Diner a few months back w/ RICK DAUGHERTY, Chair, Lehigh County Democratic Party.

Rick was "all ears" about the local Dems putting up a candidate to run against crooked and incompetent Lehigh County District Attorney
Jim Martin (pictured).

Rick said it was good that I was bringing it up this early (next election is 2011), since the Dems would likely need a good head of steam to beat Martin and his connections.

But since that seemingly productive breakfast meeting, Rick Daugherty has thrice (so far) ignored this follow-up email from me, last sent Tuesday and cc'd to all the Lehigh County Democratic Party Officers: Linda Minger, Helen Sheerens, Courtney Robinson, and Celeste Dee.

On Feb 9, 2010, at 10:21:52 AM, Bill Villa wrote (for a 3rd time) ...

Hi Rick, I'd like to address your committee, some time soon. I'd like to make the case that it's the committee's civic duty (and its political party duty) to put a candidate up against typically unopposed Lehigh County DA Jim Martin next election. I have a half dozen fact-laden exposé examples of Martin's crony-crookedness and incompetence that somehow never made it into The Morning Call. There's so much political ammunition to use against Martin ...

When can this meeting be arranged?

Keep me posted, thanks Rick.

Best Regards,

Bill Villa

66 comments:

Angie Villa said...

Welcome! To all our NEW readers! Our recent coupla exposé posts have quadrupled our daily readership, so merci!

An excellent way to catch up w/ LVS quickly is to digest our post, "2009 Year in Review."

ATTN: Rick Daugherty & The Democrats: some great stuff on DA Jim in that "2009" post, if you're doing research ;D

The City Official said...

Villas, any word on Dr. Jeff Pooley's Pledged Research Project?

Angie Villa said...

We're trying to find out, oh that Bill and his emails ;D

On Feb 12, 2010, at 1:58:49 PM, Bill Villa wrote:

Dr. Pooley,

Can we meet in person? To discuss your pledged research ...

I'm just really curious to see what you're like in person.

When & Where's good for you?

Bill Villa

Web MD said...

Looks like worry shingles
on Mr. Martin's forehead ...

Where there's smoke there's fire said...

I always thought there was something HERE that, curiously, was never followed up on after "Valley Blogosphere" conveniently corralled and de-clawed most of our local bloggers.

See: "Ethics, Morning Call style"

SiteMeter(R) Spotlight said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The City Official said...

I see Jeff Pooley is still proudly publicizing his Team O'Hare membership with Der Fuhrer, wow, talk about dying on your sword (not an ultimatum) ... did Pooley ever respond to Bill's request to get together?

PandNH4 said...

Dear Villas,

At the risk of ostracizing myself and maybe some of your readership, I must say (with all due respect, of course) that this behavior by Pooley and Daughtery only typifies the very problem I spoke of the other day. Anyone can talk a good talk (especially when you have the Democratic Party of PA writing the paychecks) but when it comes to putting the boots on and walking, those same people who were making the battle cry are no where to be found. I mean no offense by these words, but it just seems to me that in typical democrat fashion, when time comes to make the hard decisions these guys are soiling themselves instead of lacing up the shitkickers and doing the job they were elected to do. Please dont misconstrue this, Im not changing sides (I was never a democrat - Ive been a registered Green since I turned 18), Im just saying that shitting the bed has kind of become the MO of the partisan backed left of this country (and also, apparently, this state)and the changes, for one reason or another, always seem to miss thier oppurtunity. I find it hard to believe that with over a year ahead of us until the election and we cant - grassroots style - find the right person with the right skills, credentials and the right attitude to make our collective voices heard - to enforce OUR laws, to execute OUR legislation, and to perform honestly and whole heartedly as EVERY public servant should - and, most importantly, to kick this backdoor-dealing, sycophantic philistine Martin out on his cushy, well-fed ass.

Despite all this, I am unfortunately aware of the buying power of the democratic party, and even though it makes me angrier than hell that we have to oblige our socio-political voices to those with the deepest pockets, a left-leaning dem giving Martin a run for his money is far better than no one at all (a la 2003).

It is my sincerest hope that the truest sense of public servitude finds its way to the hearts of Daugherty and Pooley and they reconcile thier pussilanimousness with some Action, instead of just the same old empty rhetoric. Thanks for letting me borrow the word, I like it...

Bill Villa said...

PandNH4, Angie and I share, exactly, your beliefs about the Democratic Party. We think President Obama does too, to a degree-- he mentioned Democrats (who have the majority) inexplicably "running for the hills" in his State of the Union address. The word "pusillanimous" would have suited that segment of his speech well.

Locally, in addition to there being a rampant "Shit-Lover Syndrome," where our Lehigh County majority puts up w/ crooked, incompetent, and mediocre service from the likes of our only "newspaper," our stumble bum DA, and gold bricking do-nothing egomaniacs like Chamber of Commerce head Tony Iannelli, there's also a raging epidemic of "Pusillanimous Syndrome" happening too. These are the cretins like Jeff Pooley, Dave Najarian, and Bernie O'Hare who enjoy preemptively dishing it out, but when you stand up to them they soil their diapers and run crying to Jim Martin and John Morganelli braying about threats and harassment.

Jim Martin "won" "reelection" unopposed in 2003 AND AGAIN in 2007. He was originally handed the job by the Lehigh County Commissioners in '97-'98 when his far superior predecessor as DA, Bob Steinberg, decided to become Judge Robert Steinberg. In '98, Glenn Clark opposed Martin for DA and from what I understand Martin had to outspend Clark 9-1 to squeak past him-- and those Martin direct mailers depicting a lineup of all black criminals, followed by a picture of Martin's opponent Glenn Clark, a black man himself, were apparently very effective w/ Martin's traditional voting block of skittish seniors who Martin panders to regularly and unethically w/ the help of The Morning Call "newspaper."

I've learned in my travels these past 4 years that everybody in Lehigh County--except me--is scared shitless of Jim Martin. Which I do not get at all, because Martin is your Classic Neighborhood Bully. Stand up to him, as I have, and he's the one running for the hills wearing the wet panties.

Like the heavily favored "Big Bear" Sonny Liston (seen laying on his back) Jim Martin's got nuthin'.

So which civic minded local Democrat lawyer is gonna march down from the hills to whup Jim Martin?

FYI, you'll have lots of help from me.

Bill Villa said...

"... did Pooley ever respond to Bill's request to get together?" -The City Official

Nope. Not yet. Maybe he's researching it.

Ditto Rick Daugherty.

The City Official said...

WORTH REPEATING DEPARTMENT

"It is my sincerest hope that the truest sense of public servitude finds its way to the hearts of Daugherty and Pooley and they reconcile thier pussilanimousness with some Action, instead of just the same old empty rhetoric." -PandNH4

Well said. I second this. And it brings up another epidemic that's always been prevalent 'round these parts. It's called the "Don't Tell Me Hau To DO my Chob!" syndrome.

Okay. Fine. But then > DO YOUR JOB, MR. DAUGHERTY.

Bill Villa said...

Touché.

Re: "Don't Tell Me Hau To DO my Chob!" syndrome.

Jim Martin suffers from this disease too.

We tried to teach Martin about malice and third degree murder but he chust couldn't get it.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bill Villa said...

Well said.

Esq. said...

I clearly recall The Morning Call reporting that Sheena's killer, at his guilty plea hearing, volunteered the following information to Judge Steinberg:

that he knew he was a blackout drinker
and that he was in a blackout during the crash that killed Sheena.

This same knowledge of being a blackout drinker,
and which was also offered voluntarily, in the case of Joseph Levin, is what the PA Appellate Court cited in UPHOLDING Mr. Levin's conviction for third degree murder in a DUI death ... am I remembering this correctly?

Bill Villa said...

Yes. You sure are remembering it correctly.

FYI, when I started emailing the entire Lehigh Valley about the striking similarities in the Levin case and my daughter Sheena's case, The Morning Call (online) that same day changed its headline verbiage from "blackout drinker" to "binge drinker" and the "newspaper" never again used the phrase "blackout drinker" in its coverage of Sheena's death.

Whew! Way too close a call, eh, Jimbo?

Bill Villa said...

Esq., if you click & scroll down, you'll notice that Jim Martin's job pays $160,849.00. In Lehigh County, only Jim Martin's best friend in the whole wide world President Judge Bill Platt (and the other 11 judges) rake in more taxpayer money in salary.

Think about running against Martin. Platt won't be hanging on and hovering forever ...

Consigliere said...

President Judge William H. Platt.

Don't be fooled by the resume. Judge Platt is Jim Martin's best friend. 'Nuff said, re: Platt's "judgement."

Bill Villa said...

Yeow. Good one.

Consigliere said...

Merci.

Jesse Smith said...

Bill said: >>FYI, when I started emailing the entire Lehigh Valley about the striking similarities in the Levin case and my daughter Sheena's case, The Morning Call (online) that same day changed its headline verbiage from "blackout drinker" to "binge drinker" and the "newspaper" never again used the phrase "blackout drinker" in its coverage of Sheena's death.<<

Yes, but Bill, (ahem) all the Villa haters say you're IMAGINING that the Morning Crawl et.al. are conspiring and acting against you in so many tiny, subtle ways ... that this is simply a neurosis on your part.

I dare a single person reading this blog (and the SiteMeter knows who you are) to explain away this wording change.

Won't hold my breath.

Speaking of not holding my breath, if the Morning Crawl ever does put back the Welcome Mat to you, Bill, (yeah, right) add a request for an explanation of this wording change to your list of Excellent Questions That Deserve To Be Answered.

Bill Villa said...

Hey Jess, thanks, yeah the "blackout drinker" to "binge drinker" wording insta-change was high up on my list of things to discuss w/ the "newspaper." As you may know, they've since done away w/ their "Welcome Mat" policy, at least there's no wording about it on their website anymore, as there was for many years, and sadly, I feel responsible for this.

Angie Villa said...

From Commonwealth v. Levin ...

" ... the mens rea for third degree murder is malice, the definition of which is well settled:

Malice consists of a "wickedness of disposition, hardness of heart, cruelty, recklessness of consequences, and a mind regardless of social duty, although a particular person may not be intended to be injured...." Malice may be found where the defendant consciously disregarded an unjustified and extremely high risk that his actions might cause serious bodily injury."

Readers, if you'd like to see DA Jim Martin admitting--on camera--that Sheena's killer "consciously disregarded an unjustified and extremely high risk that his actions might cause serious bodily injury" (and thus qualified himself for a charge of third degree murder), watch this TV News Clip.

Note: you can actually see DA Martin squirming and LYING, as he oh so cleverly describes Sheena's screamings and pleadings for her life as her having "CAUTIONED" her killer to slow down.

Whether it was "screaming" or "cautioning," DA Jim Martin admits, on camera, that Sheena's killer "consciously disregarded an unjustified and extremely high risk that his actions might cause serious bodily injury" and this qualified Sheena's killer for a charge of third degree murder.

BTW, according to the APD's crash reconstruction, Sheena's killer was rocketing a "minimum of 85MPH" on a 35MPH-zoned street, with a .24 BAC (thrice the legal limit), knowing he was a blackout drinker, and ignoring his two passengers' CAUTIONING that he slow down.

This was a slam dunk THIRD DEGREE MURDER case.

But DA Jim Martin refused to even TRY to get Sheena's killer charged with (and convicted of) the crime he clearly committed against Sheena.

Bill Villa said...

Why?

Take your pick ..

a) Crooked

b) Incompetent

c) Don't tell me hau to DO my chob!

d) All of the above

Anonymous said...

look, guys, I've gone from a frequent reader to a 'curious about the carnage' reader. You are losing credibility with like-minded people, and frankly, biting some hands that feed you. You are ostracizing artists and community activists. It is no wonder that people aren't doing your bidding - you are demanding, demeaning, and really, really rude.
Don't get me wrong. O'hare is a sadistic fuck. I hate molovinsky with a passion. don't continue to lower yourselves.

Bill Villa said...

A semi-clever attempt to give us pause (and make us stop) but we're not buying it.

The shockingly revealing facts and substance of what we've been covering lately (O'Hare, Najarian, collusion by elected officials and The Morning Call, Alex Joseph, Jeff Pooley, Jim Martin) is only enhancing our already pristine and unshaken credibility.

"Biting the hand that feeds us?" Whose hand would that be, pray tell? The missing-in-action local "liberal" community? The M.I.A. local artist and activist community? Please. We don't see any hands feeding us, just slapping us. And people like you (if you're genuine and not a Team O'Hare Trojan horse) are sitting on their hands, when your hands should be punching Team O'Hare in the face like we're doing, and to excellent effect I might (humbly) add.

We'll continue operating exactly as we please, thank you.

Our track record (i.e., undefeated) speaks for itself.

Anonymous said...

Bill, anon 6:19 thinks you guys are really really annoying.
A question for anon 6:19.... Are your hands soft and clean? I bet they are. Must be nice.
Just what is the trigger point for you to reach, before you roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty?
Bill, anon 6:19 thinks certain haters are "fucks" but anon 6:13 wants you to play well with others. Anon 6:19 fails to recognize there's a cause and effect happening there.

Angie Villa said...

Readers, in this debacle from DA Martin's office, one of two things happened, either 2 guilty killers were set free ... or 2 innocent men had been falsely charged.

Clearly, it was one, or the other, and both scenarios = Lousy DA.

Read between the lines of The Morning Call's "helpful" coverage w/ us in our post entitled, Jury Tosses DA Jim Martin's Murder Case in an Hour.

And speaking of "helpful," notice who popped in to hack away most of that post's comments. Sure hope I'm not 'biting the hand that feeds us' by mentioning this ;D

Bill Villa said...

Anon 3:24,

thank you for noticing and mentioning "cause and effect," although the double-talking double-standards people like 6:19 can dismiss even that away too w/ crap like "two wrongs don't make a right" and "oh you're ALL behaving like .. whatever."

Obviously, the "court" of public (local blogosphere) opinion is nutz (Exhibit: A).

That's why we so strongly prefer actual courts in Northampton County and Lehigh County.

They understand cause ... and effect.

Bill Villa said...

Readers, in this ridiculous buffoon of a case, DA Jim Martin is making a total fool of .. not only himself .. and the courts system .. but all of Lehigh County. Media from far and away picked up on this story and people from all over are laughing at us and our clown of a (hiccup) DA.

Enjoy this LVS exclusive ... DA Jim Martin Still Firmly in Favor of Paying for Sex

Consigliere said...

"Sheena's killer was rocketing a "minimum of 85MPH" on a 35MPH-zoned street, with a .24 BAC (thrice the legal limit), knowing he was a blackout drinker, and ignoring his two passengers' CAUTIONING that he slow down."

a.k.a.

"Malice may be found where the defendant consciously disregarded an unjustified and extremely high risk that his actions might cause serious bodily injury."

Bill Villa said...

Yeah.

Esq. said...

Commonwealth v. Levin

This knowledge [i.e., knowing he was a blackout drinker] and Appellant’s action in light of this knowledge [i.e., getting behind the wheel drunk anyway] constitutes a recklessness of consequences and a disregard for social duty. Appellant did indeed disregard the unjustified and extremely high risk that his actions would cause serious bodily injury. Unfortunately, in this case, Appellant’s actions resulted in fatal injuries. Accordingly, we find that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that Appellant possessed the requisite malice for conviction of third degree murder.

¶11 Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Bill Villa said...

Right.

Jim Martin had two (2), slam dunk avenues to a third degree murder charge and conviction against Sheena's killer.

He also had PA Appellate Court precedent that his conviction would withstand an appeal and be upheld (affirmed).

And the precedent wasn't just this one case, Levin.

There were others, look 'em up ...

* Commonwealth vs. Urbanski

* Commonwealth vs. Kling

* Commonwealth vs. Pigg

* Commonwealth vs. Scales

FYI, The Morning Call "newspaper," in depicting me as "nutz" in several articles that quoted me as clamoring for a charge of third degree murder ...

never once mentioned any of these five (5) highly relevant, precedent PA cases.

Bill Villa said...

Sadly, I've likely just "lost all credibility" w/ 6:19 ...

Angie Villa said...

Oui.

In the meantime, here's another eye-opening and jaw-dropping LVS exclusive exposé ...

DA Martin Stonewalls on Stinky Garlicki Hiring

enjoy ;D

PandNH4 said...

Villas,

Although tragically irrelevant to this piece (or are the similarities between Jim Martin and Dick Cheney too much to ignore - cronyist old curmudgeon with an obvious drinking problem manuevering high end political deals for freinds and booze buddies, etc., etc.) I have to ask your take on Stiff Dicks endless psycho babble, this past weekend, about Obamas national security policies.

Didn't this guy basically ruin ALL American credibility overseas (Haliburton getting no bid contracts in Iraq; Waterboarding; The Scotter Libby Affair, etc.)??? Why is he being given ANY forum to open that forked-tongued mouth of his??? Especially considering that HES NO LONGER INVOLVED. He has had more to say since his post was given to Biden than he ever said while in office. Shouldn't he be off somewhere shooting friends in the face or something???

Bill Villa said...

PandNH4, there's no explaining why the media gives a forum and a spotlight to obvious liars who squandered their credibility long ago and who continue to make the same mistakes in full view of the public.

It's "Shit-Lover" Syndrome, I guess.

Angie Villa said...

Speaking of which ...

DA Martin: a YEAR to file charges in a DUI Death?

Readers, as far as we know (unless the "newspaper" buried it somewhere), this case remains open and unresolved, w/ no closure for the grieving family.

Bill Villa said...

When you search "Shaun Buenzly" at The Morning Call "newspaper" online, it says ...

No Results Found

Bill Villa said...

On Feb 15, 2010, at 10:12:22 AM, "Jefferson Pooley" wrote:

Hi Bill,

First of all, sorry that it's taken me a couple of days to get back to you. No internet connection and taking care of my kids by myself this weekend: a recipe for no email.

I believe that you are sincere in your desire to meet, but I need to decline because (and here I know you'll think I'm self-indulgent) of the "(for now)"-style threats and legal claims you've made on your blog.

I have spent some time looking into the last two years regarding your conflict with Bernie O'Hare and others. I had planned to spend more time, but have decided to completely drop the matter after the threatening language that keeps getting added to your site. I won't be commenting on anything related from this moment on. You effectively closed the conversation down with pre-emptive insults and threats. I'm done.

My earlier point about friendly fire seems relevant.

Thanks, Jeff

Angie Villa said...

Jeff Pooley said...

"I promise to look at the facts and decide for myself ... I think it's only fair that I look into the backstory, and I intend to ... I've promised to look into it more." -Jeff Pooley, PhD commenting at LVS on Feb 3, 2010

[Click here for the whole story]

UpDate: after making his public pledge, Dr. Pooley appears to have mysteriously vanished. Until now. We suspect fowl play.

Are you troubled by Nutty Professor Pooley's proactive, un-researched, and likely libelous Team O'Hare cheerleading & enabling? We are too.

FYI, the President of Muhlenberg College is Peyton "Randy" Helm

Bill Villa said...

On Feb 15, 2010, at 10:34:21 AM, Bill Villa wrote:

Hi Jeff (FYI), during an in-person meeting w/ me, I had been planning on giving you the opportunity to talk me out of suing you for libel.

C'est la vie.

Bill Villa

Esq. said...

Good luck to Professor (for now) Pooley in convincing a Judge & Jury that this was (wink wink) "FRIENDLY FIRE"

"Libby" said...

They can dish it out but they can't take it.

The Blogging Pastor said...

“Give, and it shall be given to you. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return.” -The Bible

Bill Villa said...

Well said, X2, thanks.

CIVIL & POLITE REQUEST #4 DEPARTMENT

Email sent (again) today to Rick Daugherty & The Democrats, subject heading: Lehigh County DA Race

On Feb 15, 2010, at 12:11:07 PM, Bill Villa wrote:

Hi Rick, I'd like to address your committee, some time soon. I'd like to make the case that it's the committee's civic duty (and its political party duty) to put a candidate up against typically unopposed Lehigh County DA Jim Martin next election. I have a half dozen fact-laden exposé examples of Martin's crony-crookedness and incompetence that somehow never made it into The Morning Call. There's so much political ammunition to use against Martin ...

When can this meeting be arranged?

Please let me know, thanks Rick.

Bill Villa

Anonymous said...

Jeff Pooley said...[in a comment here at LVS on Wed Feb 03, 03:14:00 PM 2010]

"Regardless of the taunting, I promise to look at the facts and decide for myself what happened ..."

Anonymous said...

POOLEY > "tragically non-civic-minded and sadly self-absorbed"

Bill Villa said...

Yep. Just like Professor (for now) Donovan ...

Bill Villa said...

Curiously, both "men" insist on being O'Hare Shit Lovers (?) to the bitter end (not a threat), what'z up w/ this?

PandNH4 said...

As you said Bill...unexplainable shit-lover syndrome.

Bill Villa said...

Yeah.

There's no rational (or even irrational) explanation for it.

Both "men" claim to be "liberals" who are both way (WAY) to the left of Angie and me.

Both "men" are college professors for now (i.e., seemingly "intelligent" "men").

And yet both "men" resolutely (like George W. Bush) refuse to acknowledge any mis-deeds by defendant O'Hare ...

past ... or ... present ...

AND ...

both "men" continue to libelously perpetuate the myth that the Villas engage in "criminal harassment" against their beloved Team O'Hare ...

even though we were found resoundingly NOT GUILTY of that crime in both Northampton County and Lehigh County.

I mean ... just how fuckin' thick and D-U-M-B
can two "liberal" "guys" be?

Bill Villa said...

My EIGHT (8) year old son Gianni just emailed me this photo ...

Gianni's EIGHT (!) and he gets it.

Sondra Wise said...

Bill, looks like you and Angie have the succession thing covered ...

Bill Villa said...

Yeah (just in case) ...

The City Official said...

"Liberal" Pooley is blocking dissent again ... "Comments Closed"

Bill Villa said...

"Here is my reply, which is the very last thing I plan to ever say about the Villa-O’Hare dispute ..." -Jeff Pooley

Correction, Doc. This is the 2nd last thing you'll have to say on the subject. The last thing will be what you say in your court testimony in your libel trial. Just sayin'.

The City Official said...

" ... the threatening language that keeps getting added to your site." -Jeff Pooley

Which he, curiously, does not link to :) wonder why?

PandNH4 said...

If O'hare is der scheißeessen fuhrer, I believe that then makes Pooley Adolf Eichmann.

Anonymous said...

In poring over this "site" looking for perceived insults to use as his "out," did Dr. Pooley per chance happen to notice any of the issues of crookedness and incompetence that are stated here so eloquently involving DA Jim Martin; the matters pertaining to malice and third degree murder; the Morning Call changing "blackout" to "binge" .. the M.I.A. LC Democratic Committee; anything? Did Pooley notice ANYTHING at this post (not involving HIM)?

Bill Villa said...

Nah. Pooley's all about Pooley,
like Donovan's all about Donovan.

Consigliere said...

Those 2 idiots would make for an appropriate "2 birds w/ 1 stone" (not a threat) twin-killing in a libel suit. I'd seriously consider that. They're like O'Hare Duped Dunce "Bookends" (identical in so many ways) and a jury would surely perceive them as such and loathe them equally. Just sayin'.

Bill Villa said...

Good idea, merci.

Mahatma Gandhi said...

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."

Bill Villa said...

Cool, so we're right on schedule ...