Corbett versus Rendell - Which is the More Honorable Man?

I find interesting the many condemnations of Governor Tom Corbett, some Patch readers asserting that he's a bum, he's out of his mind, he's a criminal, and the belief that he belongs in jail, to cite a few. He has also been widely accused of "cutting billions of dollars in education spending" when in fact, he has done such thing, rather temporary federal stimulus money unwisely used to shore up school district budgets is no longer available through no fault of the governor.

I am not an unabashed supporter of Governor Corbett and I did not vote for him. I disagree with the advantages he has provided the lucrative Marcellus Shale drilling industry, he has been slow to act on efforts to improve our rotting roads and bridges, I am not certain that he acted as expeditiously as reasonably possible in bringing beast Jerry Sandusky to justice and I know of him expressing no interest in eliminating the property tax burden with which school districts like mine are strangling us.

I would ask the Corbett-haters, however, what they thought of Corbett predecessor Governor Edward Rendell, who reigned over Pennsylvania for eight long years. Do they seem as anything close to a model "leader"? What did they think of Rendell's:

- shattered 2002 campaign promise to reduce property taxes for all by at least 30%, "...and if the Legislature does not act, I will...";

- 10% hike in the state income tax of 2003 (after initially demanding a 34% boost), a levy which punishes those with wage earnings and which is regressive;

- using his position and undeserved prestige in going to bat for multiple felons both while in office and thereafter, arguing for lenient or no jail sentences for his former legislative kingpin pals Vincent Fumo, Stephen Stetler, and Robert Mellow;

- his enthusiastic initial approval of the infamous middle of the night legislative pay grab of 2005 because as he crudely told a gathering, "sometimes it is necessary to kiss a little butt (of the General Assembly)."

- his acceptance of the corrupt practice of providing legislators that hew to the party line with "Walking Around Money" to spread around to their constituents.

Tom Corbett has done what he said he would do, holding the line on state taxes.  He has not gone to court to argue for leniency for any of the crooks he was instrumental in convicting. He is jeopardizing his legislative agenda by refusing to allow the obscenity of "Walking Around Money".

Disagree with some of his positions if you will, but Pennsylvania now enjoys a governor that takes enforcement of the law seriously, is seeking to restrain the vast and expanding breadth of government, and who is not an embarrassment to the citizenry.