Fausta's Blog

American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture

August 17, 2004 By Fausta

Today’s roundup of NJ news & opinion

Following yesterday’s news that Democrats are said to want McGreevey out, The Trenton Times reports that it has to do with patronage, contracts, and mudslinging. Just another day in the neighborhood:

Almost immediately Democratic factions, at odds with McGreevey’s heir apparent, state Senate President Richard Codey, began an effort to pressure McGreevey into an earlier departure, setting the stage for a special election. Were McGreevey to leave office before Sept. 3, voters would decide who would serve out the last 14 months of his term in November. If McGreevey stays past Sept. 3, Codey would finish McGreevey’s term.

“This is all about patronage and contracts, from people who think Codey would be bad for business,” said one McGreevey loyalist. Codey has long been at odds with several Democratic county leaders, who also feel Corzine being on the ballot this fall would help their candidates in local and county elections.– — —

Those wanting McGreevey out have circulated rumors that the governor had carried on sexual relationships with other political appointees, including Curtis Bashaw, executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. McGreevey supporters responded to that chatter with gossip about the sex lives of several of the men pressuring the governor.

Bradshaw’s a longtime real estate developer — yet another one. The same article says that several Republicans would rather have McGreevey’s appointed successor deal with the “miserable budget and a civil war within Democratic ranks” and wait for next year’s election.

Some of my neighbors aren’t as patient, though, and claim the governor has damaged the state’s reputation, which is sort of a stretch, but never mind that. I feel their pain.

IF McGreevey were to get out before September 3, the Democrats’ top candidate appears to be Jim Corzine, who spent $63 million of his own pocket for his senatorial campaign, and the Republicans appear to have Douglas Forrester, who reportedly would be willing to spend upwards of $10 million on a campaign. Nice to see a plutocrat/plutocrat ballot. At least in theory it looks like some of the corruption might decrease.

Steve Kornacki sees a deal in the making:

Most insiders see a Corzine-Norcross-Lynch-Menendez alliance developing, with a deal being cut that would satisfy each party: With the other three doing the dirty work, Corzine would get the governorship this November while being able to say he had no role in forcing McGreevey out; Norcross and Lynch would avoid a lengthy Codey governorship; and Menendez would get a U.S. Senate seat, with an understanding that Norcross would not recruit a South Jersey Democrat to oppose him in the Democratic primary

The Trentonian says some Dems are worried a Federal investigation will expose even more damaging details (I have been speculating if there was some kind of McG-Feds deal myself). Jim believes that “the prospect of any republican beating Jon Corzine and the well-oiled Democrat machine in New Jersey is, at best a long shot. But one can always hope.” The Christian Science Monitor is optimistic for the prospect of change, but, as Roberto says, “My guess is no, unless there are some serious indictments soon”. Also via Roberto, a link to an article that wants to see the end of the “Political Wee Wifey”

I want to see an end to the wronged political wife as prop. In the most anguishing of circumstances, you see her, chin held high, looking without fury at her cheating husband, telling America by her very presence that if she can forgive him, surely voters can forgive him.

and “Better yet, [have her] show up at the press conference with a barracuda of a divorce lawyer.” Now, that would be refreshing.

But not so fast — McGreevey’s staying put and, claiming that Duty trumps personal issues (after having ignored his duty as husband, and as elected official), writes in USA Today

Our constitution in New Jersey establishes a process for allowing the public to select a new governor.

It prescribes a nominating period next spring and a general election in the fall of 2005 so that voters are exposed to a full and unfettered debate on the critical issues affecting their future and quality of life.

We should allow that process to work

while an article in the Star Ledger, Added to his burden are crises of material and spiritual nature, plays the world’s smallest violin,

But now as he prepares for life after Drumthwacket with no political capital and a modest bank account, he faces more practical but no less troubling concerns: the loss of his $150,000 per-year job, his home (the governor’s mansion) and even his transportation (the black sedans and sport utility vehicles in his motorcade and a state helicopter.)

as if the house, the limos, and the helicopter were McG’s personal property. As Roger L. Simon put it,

I couldn’t care less whether this guy’s gay, straight or a paramecium, he’s a world-class drip with a sense of entitlement up there with the Bourbons.

.

Not only are the house, limos, and helicopter paid by the beleaguered NJ taxpayer (whose bad haircut will continue to get worse) the Trenton Times (in a major understatement) says Harassment suit could cost a lot, because of taxpayers having to pay to defend the Governor (which would cost at least $1 million), but also being liable for any payment agreed to through a settlement or ordered by a jury. Let’s not forget that NJ has one of the more aggresive Bar Associations.

The Trentonian’s top story is that Gov. Jim McGreevey snubbed former FBI director Louis Freeh for the post of state anti-terrorism czar to appoint his alleged lover Golan Cipel. To add insult to injury, the article says “Freeh offered to assume the post free of charge, but McGreevey opted instead to put Cipel into the job with an $110,000 salary”. The venality of McGreevey’s actions are illustrated best by this example. As I pointed out Sunday, NJ has the 2d-largest number of victims of the September 11 attack, and was in the crosshairs of the anthrax attack, too. Not only were anthrax letters mailed from a mailbox a mile away from the Governor’s Mansion, anthrax was found in the downtown Princeton, Hamilton, and West Windsor post offices, which were closed for several weeks (the Hamilton one for year +).

Enough of this. Let’s make clear to the governor that we want change now. There’s only 17 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

Share

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Tweets by @Fausta
retirees_raise-2015_300x250

Pages

  • About
  • Email

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Previous Posts

  • Mrs. Maisel goes full Alinsky on Mrs. Schlafly
  • Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • You need to unfriend me
  • Go ahead and Kiss the Girl, if you dare
  • Ashamed

Recent Comments

  • John on Mrs. Maisel goes full Alinsky on Mrs. Schlafly
  • Today’s hot topics: Democrats’ collusion shift, tax-return rift, Venezuela drift, and more! – PoliticalWitchDoctor.com on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Today’s hot topics: Democrats’ collusion shift, tax-return rift, Venezuela drift, and more! - AmericanTruthToday on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Did Venezuela’s Minister of Defense Back Out At The Last Minute? on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Roseanne Not Back, Khan not Invited, Operaman’s back, Jobs back, Fausta’s back (but not here yet) Thoughts under the fedora – Da Tech Guy Blog on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?

Archives

  • 2019
    • December 2019
    • May 2019
    • January 2019
  • 2018
    • December 2018
    • October 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
  • 2017
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
  • 2016
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
  • 2015
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
  • 2014
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
  • 2013
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
  • 2012
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
  • 2011
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
  • 2010
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • May 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
  • 2009
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
  • 2008
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
  • 2007
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • September 2007
    • August 2007
    • July 2007
    • June 2007
    • May 2007
    • April 2007
    • March 2007
    • February 2007
    • January 2007
  • 2006
    • December 2006
    • November 2006
    • October 2006
    • September 2006
    • August 2006
    • July 2006
    • June 2006
    • May 2006
    • April 2006
    • March 2006
    • February 2006
    • January 2006
  • 2005
    • December 2005
    • November 2005
    • October 2005
    • September 2005
    • August 2005
    • July 2005
    • June 2005
    • May 2005
    • April 2005
    • March 2005
    • February 2005
    • January 2005
  • 2004
    • December 2004
    • November 2004
    • October 2004
    • September 2004
    • August 2004
    • July 2004
    • June 2004
    • May 2004
    • April 2004
    • March 2004
Content Copyright Fausta's Blog

Site Developed and Managed by 300m.com