Say Anything Blog

Here’s an interesting article about the departure of ‘Fumo the Democrat’ from a 30 year career in state politics.

HARRISBURG - Every man needs a little madness in life, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free.

With those words, culled from the exuberant character in the book-turned-movie Zorba the Greek, an emotional State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo bid farewell to his colleagues in the Senate yesterday, in what was likely his last speech from the floor he has commanded for almost three decades.

The Democratic senator from Philadelphia said he was not resigning early - he will stick by his plan to serve out his term, which ends this year.

But he said he wanted to give his goodbyes because he did not believe he would be back in Harrisburg in the fall, when lawmakers return from summer break.

At that point, he will be fighting a raft of corruption charges awaiting him in federal court in Philadelphia. He is accused of using his position and staff to live lavishly at the expense of taxpayers - and of trying to block an FBI investigation into his conduct. His trial is scheduled to begin in early September.

“I will miss it terribly,” Fumo said of being in the Capitol. “I’ve spent half my life here, and I’ve spent it here with every fiber in my body. I’ve loved it, I’ve hated it, I’ve had great experiences and very sad ones.”

In many ways, it was an unlikely end to a 30-year career in Harrisburg, where Fumo left his mark with an unapologetically aggressive and swashbuckling style that people only half-joked was vintage Philadelphia.

His farewell speech came on a holiday in a near-empty Capitol, where the focus of anyone left working was almost exclusively on completing the state budget in time to catch the July Fourth fireworks.

Two of Fumo’s friends and colleagues - Minority Leader Robert J. Mellow (D., Lackawanna) and Gib Armstrong (R., Lancaster) - talked about his career and told a few stories about him. And there was a resolution honoring his Senate service.

But his exit was low-key and in many ways did not seem to fit the fiery brand of politics and the love of winning at all costs that he came to be known for.

“It’s sad,” Gov. Rendell said. “This is not the way he would have wanted to go, or the way people who admired him would have liked him to go. He’s done a lot of good here.”

Fumo was one of the most powerful Democrats in the Capitol and in Philadelphia. Over time, he expanded his political sphere to exert control over the election of city judges, City Council members, Democratic City Committee members, and ward leaders.

Fumo would use that power relentlessly for things he wanted, large or small.

Well, ‘Fumo the Democrat’…

good fucking riddance buddy. I guess your ‘funtime’ is over. Thanks though, the city tax in Philly is fucking crippling, douche. Now at least we know what you did with it after admonishing everyone to spend it. “Its needed.” If hell were real, two-faced Janus’s like you’d be the fuel.

I hope the FBI cracks their knuckles and keeps right on at it. We need about 80% of our ‘big party’ politicians sent upstate. On both sides of the isle.

Oh, and someone give Governor Rendell a hanky. He’s teary over the whole ordeal. “It’s sad.” Yep, a 139 charge indictment. I’m just not as upset as the governor.