In the "old days," newspaper journalists were pictured as hard-nosed, cigar-smoking men with press cards in their felt hats running around trying to expose the bad guys and bring down corrupt governments.

Newspapers have come a long way since then but thankfully, some things never change.

In a series of investigative pieces done during several weeks, The Philadelphia Inquirer exposed Democrat William Stinson for stealing the 2nd Senatorial District election in Philadelphia from Republican challenger Bruce Marks. Stinson's campaign workers forged absentee ballots and hoodwinked voters unfamiliar with voting procedures -- many who don't speak English.

Finally, a federal judge overturned the election last week, removing Stinson from office and declaring Marks the winner.

It is because of this sort of dirty pool-politicking that voters don't trust elected officials. We deserve better. And thanks to the Inquirer and many other journalists unwilling to let corrupt politicians lie to their constituents, sometimes, we get it.

Stinson, who is appealing the decision, claims the judge's action infringes on state sovereignty, and some state Democratic legislators have complained that Marks' taking office will take away the Democrat's majority in the state Senate. To top it all off, Lt. Gov. Mark Singel has refused to reconvene the Senate to swear Marks in.

Singel's action, as well as the sniping of the other legislators, are cowardly acts by a bunch of sore losers. And no wonder: The Marks victory breaks the 25-25 tie in the Senate, giving Republicans a majority.

Stinson didn't earn the votes that got him elected, he stole them. It is time for him to shut his mouth and get out of Harrisburg because he doesn't deserve to be there.

And although the Inquirer has been accused of "crusading," the publication performed one of the most basic and traditional jobs left over from the "old days" -- exposing bad guys and bringing down corrupt governments.