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Ohio prosecutor reconsiders charges against forecasting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil
Red Alert Politics ^ | Laura Byrne and Katie LaPotin

Posted on 03/26/2013 8:30:28 AM PDT by smoothsailing

March 25, 2013

Ohio prosecutor reconsiders charges against forecasting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil

By Laura Byrne and Katie LaPotin

Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil may be able to keep his job after all!

An Ohio prosecutor is reconsidering the charges he levied last week against Pennsylvania’s most famous rodent after Phil’s caretaker admitted that he was solely responsible for the false weather prediction he relayed on February 2.

“I’m the guy that did it,” Bill Deeley, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle told Fox News. “I’ll be the fall guy. It’s not Phil’s fault.”

Deeley also added that he mistook Phil’s ”groundhog-ese” — whatever that is — for a sign that spring was coming, and that this is the second year in a row he’s failed to accurately relay Phil’s prediction.

Michael Gmoser, the prosecuting attorney in Butler County, Ohio announced earlier today that he is not only reconsidering the charges but he may even issue a full pardon to the rodent. Gmoser originally charged Phil with one count of “misinterpretation of early spring,” a charge that if convicted bears the death penalty.

Gmoser also called Phil “a cute little rascal, a cute little thing,” adding that “If somebody is willing to step up to the plate and take the rap, I’m willing to listen.”

But while Gmoser might be letting Phil off the hook, the groundhog is now wanted in Montgomery County, Md. for fraud. Police are still searching, but so far all they know is “he may be hiding in a hole.”

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Groundhog Day festivities, a Pennsylvania tradition since 1887, attracts visitors from around the world. The holiday was also the subject of the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray.

Sometime during the 1980s, New York City decided to get in on the action and created their own forecasting groundhog, Staten Island Chuck. It should be noted that he also predicted an early spring this year.

Gmoser’s original indictment can be read below:

Groundhog Indictment


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1 posted on 03/26/2013 8:30:28 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: martin_fierro

ping


2 posted on 03/26/2013 8:31:19 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing
"charged Phil with one count of “misinterpretation of early spring,” a charge that if convicted bears the death penalty."

Groundhog season is year round in Pa. I'm just sayin.....
3 posted on 03/26/2013 8:32:44 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: Slings and Arrows

Ping


4 posted on 03/26/2013 8:33:16 AM PDT by day10 (Integrity has no need of rules.)
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To: smoothsailing
No mercy for lying rodents!

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5 posted on 03/26/2013 8:33:55 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: day10

The charges need to be rescinded, after all they did not have a shadow of a chance!


6 posted on 03/26/2013 8:36:28 AM PDT by Conserev1 ("Still Clinging to my Bible and my Weapon")
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To: cripplecreek

Digusting, foul, unnecessary photo.


7 posted on 03/26/2013 8:40:54 AM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: kabumpo

((Shrug))

Reality is sometimes like that.


8 posted on 03/26/2013 8:44:20 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: kabumpo
Nothing foul about it. Here in Western PA, groundhogs do lots and lots of damage.

good puppy...

9 posted on 03/26/2013 8:45:06 AM PDT by Michael Barnes (Obamaa+ Downgrade)
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To: Michael Barnes
I tried trapping the groundhog for a month before the dog caught it without any help. I catch possums and coon around here all the time. I caught this possum the other day.

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10 posted on 03/26/2013 8:53:22 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

if you want some help getting them taken care of, my daughter (age 9) is wanting to start trying to hunt this year.


11 posted on 03/26/2013 8:58:33 AM PDT by absolootezer0 (2x divorced tattooed pierced harley hatin meghan mccain luvin' REAL beer drinkin' smoker ..what?)
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To: cripplecreek

Whatever you do... don’t bring that savage killer on a beach with baby seals. LOL!


12 posted on 03/26/2013 8:59:01 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: cripplecreek

Good dog!!! :o)


13 posted on 03/26/2013 8:59:06 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: cripplecreek
Ick! Possums!

I hear they like to go camping near the Artificial Lake.

My dog tells me that Possums like sleeping with the Catfish.

14 posted on 03/26/2013 9:21:05 AM PDT by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)
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To: smoothsailing

Tell them to back off or the groundhog gets it!

15 posted on 03/26/2013 9:25:06 AM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: kabumpo
"Digusting, foul, unnecessary photo."

R u serious??? I think Elton John had a song out about this a couple years ago. It was called the Circle of Life. I'm guessing you wouldn't read much Cormac McCarthy...
16 posted on 03/26/2013 9:41:21 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: smoothsailing

Demote that groundhog down to a hamster and then give him to Richard Gere as a pet.


17 posted on 03/26/2013 9:57:44 AM PDT by History Repeats (sic transit gloria mundi)
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To: smoothsailing

Here’s an idea. Prosecute the inept, incompetent,constantly wrong, un-scientific ‘meterologists’ who consider themselves entertainers. It’s their JOB to KNOW how to FOREcast the weather- not that of a poor, dumb rodent.So we have a bunch of degree-holding ‘meterologists’ promoting a groundhog as a forecaster of the weather that they- college educated camera-hogs- can’t manage. They get paid-the rodent gets blamed? If you can’t FOREcast, get out of weather forecasting. People’s health and lives depending on knowing what the weather will be.Get these entertainer/buffoons out of meterology and get some scientists in.


18 posted on 03/26/2013 9:59:19 AM PDT by ClearBlueSky (When anyone says its not about Islam...it's about Islam. That death cult must be eradicated.)
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To: smoothsailing

Judge probably took him aside and reminded him an Ohio prosecutor doesn’t have jurisdiciton in PA.

I do think what he did was cute - it’s just with all the bad news everyone keeps getting not many are in the mood for humor.


19 posted on 03/26/2013 10:04:48 AM PDT by reed13k (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.)
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To: cripplecreek
I caught this possum the other day

That's an opossum??? That looks just like my cat, no wonder it doesn't meow........

20 posted on 03/26/2013 10:05:30 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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