NJ news and opinion roundup

Roberto’s DynamoBuzz has a roundup from yesterday. Among his items is this article from The Trentonian,

A Democratic insider yesterday said there is evidence to believe McGreevey’s troubled top fund-raiser Charles Kushner is pushing the buttons of revenge, and exercising his power as a Democratic Party force.

The insider told The Trentonian on Friday that Kushner was upset by the way McGreevey dealt with the alleged videotaped hookers for blackmail scheme that caused federal agents to descend on Kushner last month.

According to the source, Kushner is paying for Cipel’s lawyer and forcing the issue with the former anti-terrorism czar and confidential aide.

. . . He was linked to the scandal yesterday, after published reports alleged that Lowy tried to negotiate help in fast-tracking an application for Touro College. The Manhattan-based Jewish college has been looking to build a private medical school in New Jersey for some time, according to published reports.

Kushner — a real estate developer who gave millions to Jewish organizations and politicians, including McGreevey and former Sen. Bob Torricelli –sits on Touro College’s board of directors.

“The Touro thing came the last day,” a high-placed administration source said in published reports yesterday. “I know they wanted to build a medical school in New Jersey. Kushner was on the board. But Touro never put in an application.”

Turns out the lobbying firm hired by Touro College is run by Bob Torricelli, another democrat “not happy” with McGreevey.

Roberto also points out a poll that shows McGreevey’s approval rating going up, which made Roberto “totally convinced now that New Jersey voters are the stupidest voters in America”. He has a point:

Former Acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco says he is thinking about running for Governor. DiFrancesco made his thoughts known on CBS’s Sunday Edition with Marcia Kramer, which was taped today. DiFrancesco, who ended his 2001 gubernatorial campaign [as a Republican candidate] amidst a series of scandals involving his private financial dealings, said he has received calls from party leaders asking him to consider becoming a candidate.

and Paul Mulshine asks “How will the Republicans screw this up?”.

Today’s Wall Street Journal points to several factors as to Why New Jersey is a pit of corruption:

• The state’s Byzantine proliferation of hundreds of self-governing towns, which they say allows the perpetuation of local machines
  

• The voters (see Roberto’s comment above)
  

• The media
  

• The state’s imperial structure: As the only statewide elected official, the governor appoints the attorney general, the treasurer, all the county prosecutors and almost all the judges.
  

• The minority party: “In 1993 the GOP won the governorship with a pledge to cut income taxes 30%. After honoring that pledge, Republicans decided that rather than drain the Trenton swamp they would turn it into their own private hot tub”.
  

• The county chairmen, who dominate local politics in the state’s 21 counties.

Time and Newsweek have articles. Paul Jacob writes about The Governor’s whole truth.

A new development: Democrats urging McGreevey to leave: With Corzine’s support growing over weekend, senator reportedly agrees to run in special election, and Some Democrats Are Said to Want McGreevey Out Fast. McGreevey’s skipped town for now (Update: He turned up in Rahway). Barista noticed that the official State of NJ Website hasn’t heard of the Governor’s resignation. At least they updated the Lotto numbers. I also notice that the State’s heading ” McGreevey Signs Landmark Ethics Reform Legislation” links to a Governor Unveils New Program: College Credit for Trade Apprenticeships — a tie-in to the Touro College story, maybe?

NJ Politics says that

The editorial boards of New Jersey’s daily newspapers seem strong in their calls for Gov. James E. McGreevey to resign in time for a November 2, 2004 special election. The Star-Ledger, The Record, Trenton Times, New York Times, Courier-Post, Home News Tribune, Daily Journal, Gloucester County Times, Express-Times and the Trentonian. Only the Philadelphia Inquirer suggested that McGreevey’s timing is fine.

Let’s make clear to the governor that we want change now. There’s only 18 days left. Contact the politicians and insist that we are allowed to vote for a change:

New Jersey Democratic Party Contact page

Phone the Democratic Party: (609) 392-DEMS (3367)

Snail mail: McGreevey

The State House

P. O. Box 001

Trenton, NJ 08625

(609) 292-6000

email contact page