You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
You ought to list all his "clients". It is a who's who of shady pols.
ReplyDeleteAnd who was vacationing with Fleck?
ReplyDeleteIt is about time that the real culprit of all this is exposed. Fleck has been a huckster all along and took down some decent people, all in the name of avoiding rectal probes in the can. No pun intended. He was the one bullying candidates AND his staff all along. Fleck is the one who deserves federal time yet due to his singing abilities, he will probably come off rather light, if at all. He posted pictures of his grand vacations on Facebook and one had to wonder how he could afford all of this. I truly feel sorry for his son but he and his wife should get all that is coming to them. There are no strong Demnocrat consultants in the Lehigh Valley and only a couple in the state. Many of the candidates put their trust in Fleck and that became their downfall. Mayor Pawlowski has a lot of acquaintances and pretty much only one friend and that friend sold him for a few silver coins.
ReplyDeleteI am not saying the mayor is guilty or not guilty because I don't know what charges, if any are or will be levied. I just believe that he was betrayed by the one person who he trusted. Is Pawlowski guilty of bad judgment? Absolutely, but he hardly lives a lavish life, as opposed to the Fleckster who was just "living the dream."
Dudley Doright
What about the other partner(s)? I love how people claim they were not in the saddle after the horse left the barn. The poor interns could not possibly have a clue however, those founding partners benefited from the strategy that originated from that office. I am not buying this Bs.
ReplyDeleteNow maybe the investigation will be steered toward the real criminals, Mike & Allison Fleck.
ReplyDeleteBernie, thanks for continuing to expose this bottom feeder and, unfortunately, his wife who was at one time a good friend of mine. After working with Mike on some fundraising efforts, I saw firsthand his aggressive bullying and demeaning behavior and can understand how essentially good people finally give in to the tsunami called Mike Fleck. Always lies, exaggerations, and promises. Who knows? Maybe Mike can help the South rise again.
ReplyDelete"Now maybe the investigation will be steered toward the real criminals, Mike & Allison Fleck"
ReplyDeleteWithout question the real questions will be exposed. It started last week with Acosta. There is no question in my mind that Fleck was one of the chief architects. But who did he tell everyone was his best friend? Who would call Democrats and tell them to hire Fleck? Who, besides Fleck, benefited?
Bingo.
"And who was vacationing with Fleck?"
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, just he and his family were on those trips.
No decent and good man can commit crimes against his fellow man. No good and decent man becomes a nightmare after he is elected. It was in the "genes" all along. These people are what they are. Some are just stronger than others and can resist the temptation of easy money. Others are just unscrupulous bastards that reap the whirlwind and line their pockets. The real man comes out when he turns away from temptation. Allentown doesn't have many of those who are presently involved with the NIZ.
ReplyDeletePawlowski is not an innocent bystander with Fleck. He wallowed in the power he thought he had in politics in PA. He tried to control the politics in the LV and found out he was powerless. EX: Whitehall mayors race. He tried to cintrol the Party in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, with some success. He now has two County Partys, floundering rudderless at sea, without a clue as to which port they belong in. Fleck had influence in destroying NORCO DEMS thru his clueless minions from Easton led by Larry Lauritsen and wife, who works for Cong. Cartwright (a shame). Fleck started his journey in Easton during the Maza campaign for State Senate in the newly formed 24th District in Northampton County in 2002. He bullshitted his way thru and past a few influential donors during that campaign. Perhaps the Feds should start her with there investigation.
ReplyDeleteBernie, was that $300k each or $300k between the two of them?
ReplyDeleteFinally as strategic defense has developed.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is innocent.
Fleck is the only culprit.
Everyone is innocent and has been victimized.
Everything is really ok.
Everything has really been ok all along.
What a relief!
It was $300k between the two of them. The attempt to make this just about Fleck has been the defense from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI feel just terrible for the poor politicians who were duped by this evil genius.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much, but I know he switched from Bud draft in downtown Easton to single malt Scotch in Allentown; with a Perrier imported water chaser.
ReplyDeleteFleck and Ed did read the bible together in Ed's office. This is an indispensable fact,
ReplyDelete11:28...some were not duped. They actively participated. They signed campaigned finance reports. They approved their campaign literature and strategy. The Great moonwalk begins.
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe they were all innocent to a man and woman,
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced the FBI Fleck Tapes will exonerate them, one and all!
Lets start a Fleck client list. So the world will know who had such bad judgement.
ReplyDeleteMayor Pawlowski, Mayor Bob Donchez, Tom Mueller, .......
Bernie will only write about Pawlowski, the others are not on his hit list.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAllow me to tell you a couple of things anonymous 2:13. Just because someone used Mr. Fleck doesn't necessarily make them a victim of poor judgement. You have to remember he was looked upon as the only real political consultant that had any clout. I personally was introduced to him and had a couple of meetings to discuss hiring him. And yes I can prove it. I saved our emails. I was to meet with him again in June to discuss a budget etc. Bur let me say this. In the end I wan't going to use him anyway. A coupe of reasons. One he gave me some what I thought was bad advice. Even though it was free at the time. Second, I was turned off by the way he attacked Mayor HOZZA . That's not my style. When you think about it most political people used Fleck because he was like a top notch Defense Atty. His tactics were vicious but think about how many people he got elected to high positions. So, I think people used him in hopes winning their election. You can't fault someone for wanting to win. Isn't that why you throw your hat in the mix to begin with. This is a tough time for all candidates because everyone suffers when you have a situation like the one that is going on now. As with everything though, this also shall pass.
@7:30
ReplyDeleteOf coarse your correct, but now the faint wiff of scandal is wafting about everyone who used Fleck, even the totally clean like Bob.
This is part of Ed's legacy, him and Fleck have left the taint of shit on some good folks along with the slimy and the outright criminal.
Pawlowski is utterly finished as a pollution.
I predict he does the well scripted repentance shtick after he had served his sentence and returns to the ministry.
You heard it here first.
Mark my words.
Correction: ......as a politician.
ReplyDelete7:30, I hate to burst your bubble, but Fleck is nothing more than a loudmouthed, obnoxious boor who would do anything - I mean anything - to advance the agenda of his clients. I met him only once. It made me feel so dirty, I showered for an hour afterward. He's the type of guy who would run over his own grandmother is she was on the way to the polls to vote against one of his clients. Anyone who hired him had to be incredibly stupid or naive or both to believe otherwise.
ReplyDeleteYes, Mike and Edwin were perfect together.
ReplyDeleteEven Alan's and City Council's love and support wasn't enough.
Alias, even the most beautiful relationships must end.
Gary W. Gorman writes...
ReplyDeleteI have known Alison for a very long time, way before she met Mike Fleck. She is, by far, one the kindest, honest, loyal people I know. In fact, I trusted her so much (and still do) that I asked her to do one the most important, trusted (and consequential) jobs for me- babysit my [foster] children. I do not place this trust in people lightly. She was (is) a wonderful caretaker, a resourceful and expert juggler of childish tantrum behavior and above all, a beautiful friend.
A few years later, she met Mike and they began dating. My family often hung out with them- having dinners, celebrating holidays etc... When they got engaged, we were invited to their wedding, but couldn't make it due to other obligations. Anyway, when I first met Mike, I don't believe he was in politics (in an elected position anyway), but I might be mistaken. However, he loved to discuss politics (like me)and definitely had high political aspirations (unlike me).
He stuck me as someone like (dare I write) Ron Angle- as BOH wrote in a recent tribute about/to him; that his bark was worse than is bite, but a good, decent hardworking person underneath. I used to joke (privately) that Mike sometimes acts like my teenage foster children, but that Alison makes a good Yin for his Yang, a lid for his steam kettle.
Soon thereafter, I saw Mike in his elected council position in Easton, watched him campaign for Mayor of Easton, and buy and publish a local Easton community newspaper. The more he became involved in politics, I noticed how his friends and alliances started to change. I still attended family gatherings and such, but was (either star-struck or dumb-struck) at the guest list- it was more like an 'who's who' of the Lehigh Valley Political and Business Circles...and Mike certainly like to talk (rather brag) of his liaisons and connections, many who are in the NIZ. (hence, some of my recent posts)
It was at this time, that my relationship with Alison and Mike started to wane and we drifted a apart, but I still kept my ear to the ground and kept a close eye on Mike's rising political career. I watched him start Fleck Consulting and then H Street. I often scratched my head wondering, 'What does Mike do so right?' as a mutual friend of ours would joke that Mike and I have similar personalities, but I would retort, "No, my [perceived] personality is mostly an act, Mike really believes his Democratic bullsh*t." (i.e. In Republican circles, Donald Trump is an act. Whereas, Rick Santurom is a homophobic, intolerant, fanatical xenophobe.) But, I digress.
Anyway, I watched Mike's rising star and it was shining brightly. So much so that I briefly thought about calling him to ask for his political advice (and perhaps hire him) in my current campaign for Lower Saucon Township Council, but I decided against it. Why? Because based on some of our similarities, we couldn't be further apart personally. Sure, my bark is worse than my bite and I don't mind attacking a candidate here or there, but conversely, I also gives a lot of credit where credit is due. I've criticized BOH many times, but I've also given him a lot or praise. I also don't believe one (anyone) should be able to "buy' an election, but rather earn it. But, I wanted to launch a grass-roots campaign, not solicit donations and not go the H Street was as many politicians were doing. Those sheep. In fact, some constituent came to my home and offered me campaign contributions, which I politely refused. I also believe in transparency and at one time I was the open records liaison for Lehigh County Children and Youth. Whereas, I believe that the NIZ was everything but transparent. And, mostly, as a social worker, I prefer to help others achieve than to help myself achieve at others expense, which, it seems, what Mike Fleck and his cronies were doing.
Doc Roc and Gary pretty much have Mike down pat. But want to add that Mike also felt he was the Dems Shawn Millan. Feds gotta wade thru all of mikes Bullshit,Swagger and Ego to find evidence of criminal intent. Bernie knows the law and procedures.
ReplyDeleteMayor Pawlowski and Mr. Fleck were two parts of a whole, one depending on the other.
ReplyDeleteAny attempt to analyze one without analyzing the other misses the point.
most of you know that i have an issue with anonymous comments, but some are more pathetic than others. comment 7:30pm is a sad choice for voters; an anonymous candidate (now there's an upfront person) who claims that fleck didn't meet his/her moral compass, but did consider him anyway, in order to win. you're something to look forward to.......
ReplyDeleteGary W Gorman responds to Michael Molovinsky above...
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post. There is an 'ol saying in the Lehigh Valley:
If you're innocent of a crime, hire anybody. If you're guilty of the crime, hire John Karoly. (or John Waldron). I added the latter.
WFMZ reported that Fleck N Friends had a contract with the Democratic State Committee however terminated it days before the FBI raid. How might such a relationship with a campaign consultant influenced Primary? When question of the timingmof the termination, Burn suggested he heard rumors but the relationship was not working.
ReplyDelete