Tom Martino, self-declared Troubleshooter, talks about his bankruptcy, being humbled

I've been overseas working for a few years and just recently returned. I grew up in Colorado and remember Martino's name from my childhood days. I heard he filed bankruptcy, so I did a few Internet searches to get caught up and stumbled across this article.

I just spent the last 30 minutes going through these comments, and a few things are very clear:

1) Trouble Defender is clearly Tom Martino. I have worked with CEOs for about a decade now, and I can say with 100 percent certainty that not one of these "job creators" would spend time commenting on a weekly alternative newspaper's website about a story that doesn't directly concern them. They would be, uh, working. And they certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to use this type of language. So it's hard to believe claims that Trouble Defender is some business titan, or even an executive at all. The tone and style of Trouble Defender's posts (the ones where he's trying to make a point, not attacking someone on the site) are similar to Martino's postings on his own website.

2) Guest's post about printing out these comments and giving them to creditors spooked Martino, as he comes across as a bumbling, insensitive, insulting, arrogant and crass fool. If the Trouble Defender's comments are traced to Martino it would be very damaging. In fact, it would completely destroy Martino.

3) Any true "captain of industry" would never act this way on a public forum, calling people  "pusses," "losers," "socialist commies," "queers," "druggies" and "POS liberals." Yup, a regular ol' Jack Welch we got here.

4) When a commenter has backed him into a corner, he unleashes a rant about what he assumes is the background, lifestyle and political leanings of the poster - without actually addressing the point.

5) Case in point: "Only under Obama it does since all he does is bail out banks and companies with our tax dollars." Yet when several people point out that the banks were bailed out under Bush - pointing out a clear, striking error in his statement..again, HIS statement - he doesn't actually address the comments and just goes on a rant about this being a site for Obama-loving liberals. Sorry, Mr. Martino, but people pointed out the logical error in your sentence. And it's a rather huge error.

6) He clearly doesn't understand why some people would take issue with paid endorsements (as opposed to advertising). I don't have a problem with his site - as long as it clearly states that the companies have paid to be on the site and that they are not recommended based purely on personal experience with the business. But if that's not clear, and people are duped into thinking that Martino recommends these companies because he truly investigated them and their services, then I have a big problem with it.

7) There might be some value in his site. But his arguments on this site don't stand up very well. For instance, he says the biggest problem with review sites like Yelp is that people don't know they're getting ripped off. How is it any different on his site? For instance, one of the companies on his site is Applewood Plumbing and Heating. Guess what? They tried to rip me off royally twice last year. They charged me $750 to snake a drain in my kitchen. I had no choice once they came over, given that I was renting my place out and was overseas at the time, so I had to get it fixed quickly. After they finished, the buy said I likely need new disposal too, and he gave me a quote of $800 for that project. I was able to have another company come over that same day and do it for $150. The second company told me that most plumbing businesses typically charge $100-$200 to snake a drain. So I got royally screwed, yet the company is on Martino's list.

8) I have no doubt that Martino genuinely wants to help consumers, or at least at one point in his career he did. But somewhere along the way he succumbed to greed and hubris. Making lots of money became the main goal. Instead of blaming everyone else for his troubles  - the banks, the president, the economy, etc. - he should take a hard look in the mirror.

You are in your 50s, Mr. Martino. It's not too late to change. Get back in touch with what really matters. You have destroyed your reputation, and you have no one to blame but yourself.

Tom has always been a thin-skinned prick. It's only increased now that he's exposed as a phony.

Trouble Defender, we all know you're Tom Martino. We all know that you just got handed you ass in public. In court and here. So sit down, shut up, and try to pay some of that $78 million you owe. Your own ponzi scheme/house of cards came tumbling down. You're a liar and a whore and god knows what else. Your "humble" shtick convinced no one. You are a sad, greedy, opportunist. Did you really think it wouldn't catch up with you someday? You're Denver's Bernie Madoff. You screwed many people, but you screwed yourself the most, just like Bernie. I hope you do prison time like he is doing. And I know you're scared of that.

That's all you could come up with? Wow!! I'm certainly impressed!!

As I'm sure everyone on here is. Bravo oh aware one. Bravo!

Would that be "by the way"?

Why so sensitive?

Ok.

2 possibilities.......................

Either "Eric" was dropped on his head as a baby, or..........................................

"Eric" was just born plain stupid!

You might want to try to do more than researching dumbass... how about you get your face off of your bong and go back to high school for some basic education?

Fuck you!

Ok.

2 possibilities.......................

Either "trouble defender" is actually Tom Martino defending yourself through an alias, or..........................................

"trouble defender" needs to check himself out in the mirror before heading out to lunch. That mess on yer nose is from bein' a little too close to the south side of a tom martino headed north.

Also, you might want to try researching before you post, so as to know what the fuck you're talking about.

"Job creator" my ass, you fraud.

TTD, that's a sad waste of a Thursday...

Man you are just full of such funny one liners!! Hey... you should be a comedian!!

NOT!! Please just go back to the hole from which you cameth from.

What a loser....

good one tom... you stole that from someone else on this board. what an ass!

Hey buy the way... I'm looking for a good car detailer. I need my Porsche detailed. I pay top dollar??!!

Have a great day!

No.. more like sensational. Your comment is delusional.

now, we all know you are delusional.

Oh man... they sure "tore" me down didnt they! Laughing all the way to lunch!!

Little puss

Wow... you must have extra special time while you're watching Jerry Springer to "investigate" all of my level headed thinking comments. Go back to Jerry Springer now little one... grab some kleenex while you're at it so you can clean yourself off after you jerk off to the no teeth guests on there.

you haven't made a single point on this message board.. go back and read it. everytime you spout some bullshit 3 or 4 people tear you down. you have no ability to criticly think.

i guess that lunch is off again.. huh tom?

That's not the language a person would expect from a "captain of industry".

Why so sensitive?

Teabagger, elitist... all of the typical liberal commie comments. Bet you're a queer too...

Jerry Springers over Dipshit?

Concur, Lex, but our "captain of industry" is just a little slow on the old uptake.

Pretty much, dumbass!

Like I said.... everything always goes back to Bush. How long has it been since he was Pres? And Oh By The Way... I am not a Bush fan so instead of salivating at the mouth that "You got me" on something... let's stick with the facts. It's ALLLLLL BUSHES FAULT... everythign is.

In 2008, our tax dollars were used to bail out banks. Bush was the president. 

It was you who brought up bank bailouts, so I'm pretty sure you're the one who brought Bush into this.

Oh yes... now we're going to bring Bush into this. Cause you know.... EVERYTHING is Bushs fault. Obama hold zero responsibility for any of our poor economy. As a matter of fact, Obamas a victim too isnt he?

Great post!

lmao . 

Then I guess you're admitting you wasted an entire afternoon that you should have used "job creating.

That's not the time management expected of a "captain of industry"

But I'm keeping you from your paper route.

This has been fun though.

How many jobs have you created little commie? I bet money...ZERO!!

Just because I've made you look like the little dipshit you are, do you really think questioning my job creating abilities makes you look any smarter?

Ah no... thanks for playing tho!!

Let's not forget...I'm on Westword here... the land of queers, druggies, liberals, commies and socialists. It's not like I'm surrounded by greatness here. I'm the minority on here today. Very few smart people read the Westword online.

All kidding aside, taking in to account how stupid you've made yourself out to be in reply after reply on this thread, how in the world do you come off as being even dumber by thinking anyone would believe that you're a job creator?

WTF?

So now I'm a greedy capitalist? Ive employed hundreds of people and helped keep them off of welfare and now Im greedy? Hmmm... somehow that doesn't make sense. Can you elaborate?

Awwwww.... poor widdle victim. All you pos liberal whiners need to get a clue.

Sure do. Greedy capitalists who shift jobs overseas, bust unions and game the stock market until it crashes created a much greater need for them. So at least Tom Martino won't starve to death because of his poor business judgment. Of course, capitalist never take any tax breaks, loopholes, incentives or shelters from the government. Why, that would he as hypocritical as Tom Martino himself.

Food stamp debit card? Seriously? They have those?

With cash or your food stamp debit card?