By Tom Ferrick

Of all the words I would use to describe Vincent Fumo, shy, awkward and introverted are not among them, but that’s how Fumo portrayed himself yesterday in his testimony in federal court.

That Vincent I do not know.

I know the rambunctious, over-the-top, master-of-the-universe Vince — the profane, funny, smarter-than-smart guy who fought with the political brass knuckles when the occasion called for it — and often when the occasion did not.

But, that Vince got the shy-and-awkward Vincent into a heck of a lot of trouble. Which is why he is spending his time these days a federal courtroom, defending himself against corruption charges in connection with how he ran his state senate office and his non-profit, Citizens Alliance.

It was a pale, wan Fumo who took the stand yesterday trying his best to appear humble.  Another word I would never have used to describe Vincent.

For decades, I have tried to figure out Vince Fumo.  It’s almost a pastime for political and government reporters. Then I gave up, still baffled after all these years.

There was a side of Vince that was admirable.  He was truly the brightest guy in the room, a master at getting things done and someone who was not afraid to think big or do big.  Unusual in politics and even more unusual in a legislative body.  But, there was always the dark side - that feeling I had that Vince lacked an anchor. Specifically, a moral anchor.

After a while, I decided to split the difference and use my Shiva model to think of Fumo.  Shiva is the Hindu god who has different manifestations.  There is Shiva the Destroyer and Shiva the Creator, Shiva the ascetic and Shiva the sybarite  He is the god who represents the duality of nature - and of human nature as well.

So, I divided Fumo into two.  There was Good Vincent, who worked earnestly and effectively on many worthy projects that benefited Philadelphia.  And there was Bad Vince, who was secretive, bullying, imperious and probably up to no good.

It was the Good Vincent whom Gov. Rendell praised in his court testimony yesterday, as a guy who lived, breathed and ate politics - just like Ed Rendell. Rendell was kind enough to laugh about the antics of the Bad Vince, who spent considerable time and energy trying to defeat or otherwise screw Rendell.

In a way, Fumo embraced that duality in his testimony yesterday (the first of probably many days he will spend on the stand).  He was, he said, an introvert - awkward in crowds, shy about women - who sort of went off his nut when one of his girlfriends left him and…well, the next thing you know, a private eye on Fumo’s state payroll was spying on her.

“I think anyone who has been in that situation would understand,” Fumo said on the stand. “Not forgivable, but it is what it is.”

As to using his state and non-profit staff to perform domestic chores.  Hey, they put in a full work week on their regular jobs.  That other stuff they did? That was on their free time - out of respect and affection for Vince. It was like one big, happy family and Vincent was the Poppa.

I don’t know if the jury is going to buy these explanations.  My guess is they will not.  He’ll have his time on the stand to convince them.  Though looking at pictures of Fumo’s face tells me he realizes how deep a hole he is in.  He too smart not to know.

The reality is, the judge and jury cannot take Fumo’s duality into consideration in weighing the facts in this case.

They cannot find Good Vincent innocent and send Bad Vince to jail.

In the eyes of the law, there is only one Vincent Fumo. And only one cot in the prison cell that awaits him if he cannot testify his way out of this fix he is in.