Fan of Giuliani
I've been a fan of Rudolph Giuliani since back in the days when I commuted into NYC. Back when I started commuting the streets were filthy, the winos (yes, I'm not using the P-C word, I'm saying the winos) were doing dirty (defecating, urinating) and obscene (involving their private parts) things out in the open in the Wall Street/WTC area, and Times Square was a peep-show-infested hell hole, with prostitutes and drug dealers transacting business out in the open at all times of day. The subways were dirty, unkempt, smelled of vomit and urine, and were covered in graffiti. Real estate values were declining. If you want visuals, see the movies The French Connection (1971), Panic in Needle Park (1971), (both of which predate my commuting years), and Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981) (which was filmed during my commuting years), for starters.

A lot of people were not pleased about how RG cleaned up the city, and bemoaned that Times Square was losing its character. Which it did, if you consider pimping, prostitution, and drug dealing marks of "character". But Giuliani did what was right, and the city became a much more pleasant place. Giuliani, who cut his teeth successfully prosecuting mobsters before he ran for mayor, wasn't one to cower. New York flourished as a result.

On September 11, 2001, Giuliani again rose to the occasion, and not only led the city in the darkest hour, but attended funeral after funeral of the hundreds of firemen and policemen that died that day.

Last night Giuliani came out in full force, and (since I don't watch Conventions) I missed his speech -- was able to only catch bits in the TV morning news. Luckily, here's the transcript.

I'm not the only blogger who hopes Giuliani runs for office again. And it might even be fun -- a Hilary vs. Giuliani presidential race might make Alien vs. Predator look tame.

McG's new job?
Tigerhawk has the scoop!
Now, is this appointment due to McGreevey's background in biotech?
Or his stellar background as an administrator?

Corruption Junction today
As announced yesterday afternoon, Golan not suing: Gov's resignation satisfies him. Cipel's lawyer says he "has no desire to have the taxpayers of New Jersey pay for Mr. McGreevey's reprehensible conduct," certainly a nice sentiment. Interestingly, while the Daily News, the NY Times and NY Post have the story, the Star Ledger on line edition doesn't, carrying instead a story on Hypertension blamed in cold-weather heart attacks as top news, but there's no mention of hypertension incidence among NJ voters. Buzz Machine says " It' ain't over until the skinny guy sings", while Roberto wonders, is Golan Cipel To Fade Away??

The NY Times story states

At a breakfast meeting during the Republican National Convention in Manhattan, New Jersey delegates voted for a resolution calling for Mr. McGreevey to step down immediately and allow for a special election.
The Republican state chairman, Joseph Kyrillos Jr., said Mr. McGreevey still owed voters the chance to choose his successor in a special election. "This 'he said, he said' tale makes for interesting reading," Mr. Kyrillos said, "but we've got a government to run."

The Jersey Journal has more details. The Trentonian thinks that the McGreevey saga takes center stage at the Republican Convention, but it looks to me like the center stage was already pre-empted.

A Trenton Times editorial writes about the problems of replacing a governor. da Hiller notices that

In the last four years, the Garden State has had four - four - unelected governors!

Jim comments,

Meanwhile, the Governor remains in office, and there are no signs that he has any plans to leave before September 3rd, the date after which we lose our right to elect a governor to serve for the next fourteen months.

Contact the politicians and complain today. There's only two days left before the deadline. (scroll down for post with info).

In the "ah, the ironies of life" department:
Bill Clinton hammered Republicans from a Manhattan church pulpit yesterday as a group of right-wingers bearing "false witness" against the Democrats.

I guess they didn't read Hitchens's book.

Back to Corruption Junction
Unlike yesterday, when I was laughling about a particularly poor article in a local paper (laughling because a dozen or so links spoke louder than the article's words), today I'm back to rounidng up the NJ scandal articles. But before we start, Jim has McGreevey at the bakery

Starting with the NYPost: JERSEY POLS PUSH FOR BACKUP GOV POSITION, and the Star Ledger says this is The moment for reform. John McLaughlin sees it as A chance for Codey, a loss for the bosses, while Roberto notices that Codey Has Work To Do since Cipel's cousin still has his job. Bob Ingle believes McGreevey hangers-on will sink Codey's ship. The Jersey Journal wants to First get the governor out of office

Assembly Speaker Albio Sires, D-West New York, is pushing legislation to create the post of lieutenant governor, who would be next in line should the governor be unable to serve.
It is all nothing more than an attempt by the state Democratic Party to make the public believe they are ahead of this scandalous issue. The real first order of business, as this newspaper has insisted, is to get McGreevey out of office now and not on a date of his choosing. McGreevey's resignation is about as selfish as picking a completely unqualified individual, for purely personal reasons, to head up the state's homeland security agency. It is too lengthy to even discuss his administration's problems with a federal probe

Were it only one federal probe.

The Glouster Times finally noticed that when it comes to the state budget, the Governor takes hit on math, but we were talking about it here last week.

The Trenton Times also has a most interesting headline: Looks like Cipel lawsuit was a bluff

The most unfathomable aspect of L'affaire McGreevey is that Golan Cipel and Allen Lowy apparently bluffed the governor into resigning.
For almost three years, Gov. James E. McGreevey gave every indication they would have to pry his cold, dead hands off the governor's desk. And then with lightning strike in an empty sky, McGreevey announced he was gay, had had an adulterous affair with a man and was resigning.
The bolt was sparked by Cipel, McGreevey's erstwhile "special counsel for nothing" threatening a sexual harassment suit against the governor. McGreevey maintains the relationship was consensual and the lawsuit threat was blackmail. Cipel and his lawyer, Lowy, claim McGreevey attacked and intimidated Cipel.
Today is the apparent deadline for Cipel to file a claim and it appears no suit will be brought.

The article points out

When Richard Nixon resigned, he was gone the next day. As president, Nixon didn't have much going on at the time - the Cold War, Vietnam, the oil crisis, soaring unemployment and a stalled economy - so a responsible transition was easy to facilitate.
McGreevey is busy appointing commissions, signing bills and flirting with campaign finance reform.

The Trenton Times this headline: N.J. GOP focus is on 2 races, the presidential and the gubernatorial. Not that the gubernatorial is going to take place this year unless the people of NJ persuade Gov. James E. McGreevey to leave office and allow a special election to be held to fill the remaining year of his term. As this article explains, Scandal-weary N.J. shrugs off controversies: "People have left the civic world," said Heather Taylor, spokeswoman for Common Cause, a political reform group. "Citizens are not taking care of their own house". It's time to take care of our own house:
To prod Gov. McGreevey, and the Democrats, in the direction of this unfamiliar moral high ground, we urge the public to flood them with letters, telephone calls and e-mails demanding an early exit. Time is of the essence. A selection of addresses and numbers follows:


Gov. James E. McGreevey, P.O. Box 001, State House, Trenton NJ 08625-0001. Telephone, 609-292-6000. Fax, 609-292-3454.

Sen. Jon Corzine, U.S. Senate, 502 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510-3004. Telephone, 202-224-4744. Fax, 202-228-2197.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Senate, 324 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510-3003. Telephone, 202-224-3224. Fax, 202-228-4054.

Rep. Rush Holt, 1019 Longworth Building, Washington DC 20515. Telephone, 202-225-5801. Fax, 202-225-6025.

Sen. Shirley Turner, senturner@njleg.org, 1440 Pennington Rd., Trenton NJ 08618. Telephone 609-530-3277. Fax, 609-530-3292.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, asmgusciora@njleg.org, 226 W. State St., Trenton NJ 08608. Telephone 609-292-0500. Fax, 609-633-2179.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, aswwatsoncoleman@njleg.org, 226 W. State St., Trenton NJ 08608. Telephone, 609-292-0500. Fax, 609-633-2179.

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, aswgreenstein@njleg.org, 7 Centre Dr., Suite 2, Monroe NJ 08831-1565. Telephone, 609-395-9911. Fax, 609-395-9032.

Sen. Ellen Karcher, senkarcher@njleg.org, 400 W. Main St., Freehold NJ 07728. Telephone, 732-462-8883.

Assemblyman Robert Morgan, asmmorgan@njleg.org, The Galleria, 2 Bridge Ave., Bldg. 2, 2nd Floor, Red Bank NJ 07701. Telephone, 732-741-5599. Fax, 732-741-0012.

Assemblyman Michael Panter, asmpanter@njleg.org, The Galleria, 2 Bridge Ave., Bldg. 2, 2nd Floor, Red Bank NJ 07701. Telephone, 732-741-5599. Fax, 732-741-0012.

Cliches vs. reality
An op-ed article in Friday's Packet on How to identify Real Republicans lists all the cliches. While pretending that McGreevey has contrived a security threat, it asserts that the real security threat are the Republicans.
The article states: Republicans are white, a "conservatively dressed man with a younger woman [who's] in a Stepford-like trance, awed by his every utterance, [and who] is most likely his mistress"; "Identifying Real Republican women is simple. If you spot a female, of any age, who looks and dresses like Lynne Cheney"; but there are also those who wear the flag (because of course anyone wearing the flag must be a Republican). "If the Republican follows you, proceed to the nearest homeless shelter or AIDS clinic, as they're not known to enter those places." The article also asks "Where's the best place to avoid Real Republicans? The theater is an ideal sanctuary, as Republicans do not support thespians."

I couldn't stop laughing, that's how good the article was.

Such jokes might be why people like Roger L Simon have a "Fear of Republicans": that Republicans are really and truly square. Fear not, Roger.

Adam Bellow, on the other hand, explains My Escape From The Zabar's Left: How a pedigreed upper west side liberal came out as a conservative warrior

This exposure to liberal opprobrium and moralism confirmed for me the rightness of my judgment. If I hadn’t started out as a committed conservative, my years on the barricades defending the books I had published—and observing up close the dishonest tactics used by their liberal adversaries to marginalize and discredit them—moved me the rest of the way.
Finally, the liberal elite in New York woke up to the fact that there were conservatives in their midst. After the success of The Bell Curve, I was widely interviewed in the press, written up in The New Yorker, and even appeared with a group of other young conservatives on the cover of the Times Magazine. The story (written by James Atlas in a curious tone of anthropological detachment) instantly became a legend among New York conservatives, mainly for its weirdly lit inside portraits that made us look like alien invaders.
The Times story, of course, reflected the cognitive dissonance involved for liberals in the very idea of a young conservative. How could there be such a thing? Young people were supposed to be passionate leftists. Only in middle age were they expected to become more sober and moderate. The only possible explanations were psychological—we were rebelling against our parents—or pecuniary—we were unprincipled careerists selling out to the Republican ascendancy. No suggestion was ever made that we might actually be passionate about conservative ideas, or that our liberal teachers, through their dogmatism and stridency, had called their own views into question.

Readers might say that I'm being unfair in pitting a Packet article against a Bellow article. To which I reply, life is unfair. Even Christopher Buckley makes it into the NYTimes, that's how unfair life is.

Cause and effect?
Annoying parking fines fatten borough's coffers

Princeton Borough and Palisades Park in Bergen County are the only two New Jersey municipalities that have fewer than 30,000 residents and wrote more than 30,000 parking tickets.
"It's a cash cow" in Princeton Borough, said Princeton retailer Jorge Armenteros. "You definitely get the feeling that it's an important form of revenue."

while at the same time Merchants seek new ways to keep 'Main Street' thriving.

Five days: New Jerseyans have five days to persuade Gov. James E. McGreevey to leave office and allow a special election to be held to fill the remaining year of his term. Unless that happens by Sept. 3, an unelected politician will serve both as acting governor and Senate president until January 2006.

A friend sent the scorching op-ed article “Gay” Gov. Jim McGreevey Gives New Jerseyans the Shaft by Nicholas Stix of Mens News Daily. Stix goes into details of, in addition to the Kushner and Cipel scandals, the scandals involving

• William Watley
  
• David D'Amiano
  
• Joseph Santiago
  
• Billboardgate
  
• Rajesh “Roger” Chugh

The article also has questions involving the indifference of the State Attorney General's office.

NJ taxpayers will therefore be less than pleased to read that Pension of $54,000/yr awaits McGreevey in 2017: Governor's retirement pay comes from 19 years of public service, particularly in view of

He could still add to his retirement pay if he takes any other job that is covered by the state retirement system, such as a post at a state college, in a government authority, as a town attorney or as a member of a municipal council

No word on the amount he'll get as allowance for "to pay for the cost of putting his gubernatorial papers in order and otherwise closing up shop", for which DiFrancesco was allotted $81,000 in state funds.

Roberto's post Generalisimo Jim McGreevey is Still Governor, Part 3 points to the ultimate in collegiate cluelessness, a Howard U op-ed article Holding Politicians to Human Being Status: Our View: Political officer's sex lives should be private unless it hinders job performance. Obviously the kid that wrote the article hasn't been doing her/his homework, or she/he would know the gay issue is the red herring

Jackman the rat
Following his successful run in The Boy From Oz, Mr. J will play Roddy the posh rat in Flushed Away.

This public service announcement has been brought to you, all visitors to this site, who have had it up to "here" with NJ corruption posts, by me. Please continue to visit often.

Saturday at Corruption Junction
Paul Mulshine takes a walk down Trenton's memory lane and concludes

I can't help but note that the drunks and lotharios of that era ran the state just as well without an income tax as the current drab crowd does while raising taxes every year.

Jim looks at Golan Cipel -- a day at the office. You know things have been rough that this headline is news Friendly reception for McG at bill signing. Mark Steyn says Kerry has made a big mistake in campaigning on his Vietnam war record, and compares Kerry to McGreevey,

The Kerry campaign’s bumbling ineptness this last month is a bit of a stunner to those of us who followed Bill Clinton for eight years. The Democrats may not know how to run a school district or a highway department, but they’re supposed to be able to run scandals.
Consider, by way of comparison, James E. McGreevey, Democratic Governor of New Jersey. A couple of weeks ago, Governor McGreevey turned up for a 4 p.m. press conference with his wife loyally standing by his side and declared, ‘My truth is that I am a gay American.’
The following day it emerged that other folks’ truth is that McGreevey’s a corrupt sexual predator who got the hots for an Israeli poet, put him on the payroll as the state’s $110,000-per-annum homeland security adviser, a position for which he had no obvious qualification, and allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on him as well as other acts, one of which may or may not have been responsible for the Governor mysteriously breaking a leg on the beach this summer.
I thought McGreevey’s moment-of-truth press conference performance was completely revolting, even before it emerged that ‘I am a gay American’ was a phrase ‘developed’ by the Governor in consultation with a gay rights group that tested it in focus groups.
At one level, this is utterly contemptible. But at another it’s magnificently professional. The New Jersey Dems have arranged things to deny the people an early chance to vote on McGreevey’s replacement and, by the time they do get their say, the hack machine pol who’ll be taking over from him will be running as an established incumbent.

John McLaughlin says that as long as the governor keeps his pledge to stick around, John Kerry ought to be able to carry New Jersey easily. Corzine's off to Sudan this weekend -- maybe. Update: Meanwhile, the GOP turns up heat on McGreevey to leave, while a website wants him to stay.

In the "is this news?" department, the Star Ledger says

Republican politicians vying for their party's nomination next year are using the convention as a profile-boosting opportunity, hitting pre- and postconvention parties, making contacts with potential campaign contributors and showering New Jersey delegates with favors large and small

One only hope the favors are not too large.

John, however, writes about the new NJ jokes, while Barista -- in a not-totally-unrelated post -- plugs Weird New Jersey. Kathleen offers support.

Six days: "New Jerseyans have six days to persuade Gov. James E. McGreevey to leave office and allow a special election to be held to fill the remaining year of his term. Unless that happens by Sept. 3, an unelected politician will serve both as acting governor and Senate president until January 2006"

One week
To use the words of the Trenton Times, New Jerseyans have seven days to persuade Gov. James E. McGreevey to leave office and allow a special election to be held to fill the remaining year of his term. Unless that happens by Sept. 3, an unelected politician will serve both as acting governor and Senate president until January 2006.

However, a lawsuit contends that McGreevey need not physically leave office prior to September 3 for the special election provision to take effect: Emergency election hearing scheduled. A federal District Court judge in Trenton yesterday scheduled an emergency hearing to hear arguments concerning a special gubernatorial election, after Gov. Jim McGreevey announced he was resigning in November.

The hearing comes after the Sept. 3 deadline for a special election to be held this November, but the group who filed the case says the September deadline is not important in this case. . . .
"His resignation announcement on August 12, is sufficient to trigger the vacancy provision for purposes of a special election even though the Governor ..will continue to exercise his full powers through November 15, at which time his elected successor will take office," the brief states.
Other state courts have reached the same conclusion

The article also points out that the New Jersey Supreme Court allowed Frank Lautenberg to be put on the 2002 ballot in place of scandal-tainted Sen. Bob Torricelli about a month before Election Day. Jim at Parkway Rest Stop however, points out that

It would appear that there are more than a couple ways to distinguish the Torricelli case from the present situation created by the governor’s resignation, not the least of which is that this case implicates the New Jersey State Constitution, rather than just state election laws and regulations, which were at issue in the Torricelli debacle.

NJ voters are not the only ones in limbo, as the NYTimes says, Legal Action in Limbo in McGreevey-Cipel Case. Not in limbo any longer, however, is the State Commerce Secretary position, which was vacant since the July 14 resignation of the prior Secretary amidst (you guess it!) allegations of fiscal improprieties.

In the Trenton Times, N.J. becomes wealthiest state, census data shows

The Garden State may be a contender for the dubious distinction of most politically corrupt state and the state most frequently the butt of jokes. But word came yesterday from the U.S. Census Bureau of a title that, although it comes with caveats, could be a source of pride: New Jersey is the wealthiest state.
According to numbers in a new survey, the median household income - meaning half of households made more and half made less - for 2001 through last year in New Jersey was $55,221.
"The key point would be, if New Jersey seceded from the U.S. and became a separate nation, we would be the wealthiest nation on Earth, just ahead of Luxembourg," said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

Unlike Luxembourg, which is a tax haven with lower taxes than its neighbors, we are taxed through the nose and have the highest aggregate tax rates in the area. But fear not, Governor McGreevey Announces Appointments to Property Tax Convention Task Force, and Barista points out that Home costs lock Montclair manager out of market; Since his annual $120,000 salary isn't enough, the township will give him an allowance
Cipel's former job -- with a salary that doubled the NJ median household income (and which got him two mortgages through gubernatorial intervention) -- is in the spotlight: Cipel's $110G job decried as `special counsel for nothing'

Shortly after taking office in 2002, McGreevey spent $190,000 to set up Cipel and two aides at the State House. . . .
As further evidence, they point to McGreevey's choice of Kathryn Flicker, a former Mercer County prosecutor with little security experience, to run his Office of Counter-Terrorism.
"Some of the people responsible for counterterrorism didn't have the right credentials, particularly in the wake of 9/11," said a former administration official, adding that it made the governor "very vulnerable politically."
During that period, health officials in the state embarked on an exhaustive effort to prepare doctors and hospitals to spot and manage a bioterrorism attack. New Jersey law enforcement officials were working with the FBI, aides said.

It made the governor "very vulnerable politically, but never mind how vulnerable to terrorism it made the state's taxpayers. Jane writes about it.
McGreevey has shown grace under pressure, though. When Baseball employees fired for jokes about McGreevey, he insisted they get their jobs back: With Two Men Out, McGreevey Steps Up to the Plate and Saves the Day. Joe Territo says, "Only In America!". Sadly, Anti-McGreevey rally falls short, which is hardly surprising, considering it took place in the middle of the week, and during peak vacation season, at that. John Shabe talked to the organizer, Derek Lucas.

As I quoted Wednesday,

What needs to happen now is a concerted effort by the leaders and elected officials of the Democratic Party to convince the governor that by clinging to his office past Sept. 3, and depriving the people of the opportunity to elect his successor, he is doing a profound disservice to the democratic process.
To prod Gov. McGreevey, and the Democrats, in the direction of this unfamiliar moral high ground, we urge the public to flood them with letters, telephone calls and e-mails demanding an early exit. Time is of the essence. A selection of addresses and numbers follows:


Gov. James E. McGreevey, P.O. Box 001, State House, Trenton NJ 08625-0001. Telephone, 609-292-6000. Fax, 609-292-3454.

Sen. Jon Corzine, U.S. Senate, 502 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510-3004. Telephone, 202-224-4744. Fax, 202-228-2197.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Senate, 324 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510-3003. Telephone, 202-224-3224. Fax, 202-228-4054.

Rep. Rush Holt, 1019 Longworth Building, Washington DC 20515. Telephone, 202-225-5801. Fax, 202-225-6025.

Sen. Shirley Turner, senturner@njleg.org, 1440 Pennington Rd., Trenton NJ 08618. Telephone 609-530-3277. Fax, 609-530-3292.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, asmgusciora@njleg.org, 226 W. State St., Trenton NJ 08608. Telephone 609-292-0500. Fax, 609-633-2179.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, aswwatsoncoleman@njleg.org, 226 W. State St., Trenton NJ 08608. Telephone, 609-292-0500. Fax, 609-633-2179.

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, aswgreenstein@njleg.org, 7 Centre Dr., Suite 2, Monroe NJ 08831-1565. Telephone, 609-395-9911. Fax, 609-395-9032.

Sen. Ellen Karcher, senkarcher@njleg.org, 400 W. Main St., Freehold NJ 07728. Telephone, 732-462-8883.

Assemblyman Robert Morgan, asmmorgan@njleg.org, The Galleria, 2 Bridge Ave., Bldg. 2, 2nd Floor, Red Bank NJ 07701. Telephone, 732-741-5599. Fax, 732-741-0012.

Assemblyman Michael Panter, asmpanter@njleg.org, The Galleria, 2 Bridge Ave., Bldg. 2, 2nd Floor, Red Bank NJ 07701. Telephone, 732-741-5599. Fax, 732-741-0012.

Claudia Rosset's reading list
With the battling veterans reach new heights of absurdity (with one veteran who's a political appointee of GWB coming with a letter*, but rejecting a letter from another veteran who isn't a political appointee); with the MSM ignoring the Democrat's candidate stance in foreign policy, economic policy, defense, and intelligence; with one candidate going on the Comedy Channel instead of answering 46 questions, Claudia Rosset invites us to draw spiritual strength through reading:

• The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
  
• Henry V, Act IV, Scene 3
  
• The Gettysburg Address
  
• Charles Krauthammer's brilliant speech Democratic Realism: An American Foreign Policy for a Unipolar World

She also wants us to write letters and watch Fritz Lang's film "M".

*Note: NJ residents will be interested in reading that both senators from NJ, Corsine and Lautenberg, signed the letter.
Tom Harkin, another politician prone to exaggeration, also signed

It annoys you to no end that Afghanistan and Iraq are going to have national balloting before you have a chance to whack at the next crony installed in Drumthwacket?
asks TigerHawk

Corruption Junction today
The Daily News says "There wasn't a great deal of chuckling yesterday at McGreevey's embattled press office." Click on the photo for the rest of the story.

McGreevey signs bills, then makes quick exit: A.C. appearance first since his revelation -- he signed a pair of pro-casino bills. There was tax money to spend, too. Hardly surprising, then, that the pesky budget troubles are not only not going away, they're looking worse that ever Budget gap could total $4.4 billion

In a recent memo, David Rosen, the Legislature's budget and finance officer, said state officials could face a potential budget shortfall as large as $4.4 billion next year. His analysis assumed the state would find a way to make up for the borrowing prohibited by the court, and pay nearly $2 billion more for pensions, health care, education and other needs.

Rally will call for McGreevey's immediate resignation

"This is a bipartisan issue," he [Derek Lucas] said. "Democrats and Republicans alike want to have him go, and go now. I want people to be able to choose who their next governor is. I don't want an unelected acting governor for 14 months."

As Harry Blaze put it, My truth is I'm a voting American
McGreevey was saying yesterday, "Please. I've only got 80 days left." Let's make sure he only has 8 days: Join us this afternoon in front of the State House, and write and call your representatives (scroll down for information).

You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing lately . . .
Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of G-d, go!" quotes the Trenton Times article asking Where's the outrage?

What needs to happen now is a concerted effort by the leaders and elected officials of the Democratic Party to convince the governor that by clinging to his office past Sept. 3, and depriving the people of the opportunity to elect his successor, he is doing a profound disservice to the democratic process.
To prod Gov. McGreevey, and the Democrats, in the direction of this unfamiliar moral high ground, we urge the public to flood them with letters, telephone calls and e-mails demanding an early exit. Time is of the essence. A selection of addresses and numbers follows:


Gov. James E. McGreevey, P.O. Box 001, State House, Trenton NJ 08625-0001. Telephone, 609-292-6000. Fax, 609-292-3454.

Sen. Jon Corzine, U.S. Senate, 502 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510-3004. Telephone, 202-224-4744. Fax, 202-228-2197.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Senate, 324 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510-3003. Telephone, 202-224-3224. Fax, 202-228-4054.

Rep. Rush Holt, 1019 Longworth Building, Washington DC 20515. Telephone, 202-225-5801. Fax, 202-225-6025.

Sen. Shirley Turner, senturner@njleg.org, 1440 Pennington Rd., Trenton NJ 08618. Telephone 609-530-3277. Fax, 609-530-3292.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, asmgusciora@njleg.org, 226 W. State St., Trenton NJ 08608. Telephone 609-292-0500. Fax, 609-633-2179.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, aswwatsoncoleman@njleg.org, 226 W. State St., Trenton NJ 08608. Telephone, 609-292-0500. Fax, 609-633-2179.

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, aswgreenstein@njleg.org, 7 Centre Dr., Suite 2, Monroe NJ 08831-1565. Telephone, 609-395-9911. Fax, 609-395-9032.

Sen. Ellen Karcher, senkarcher@njleg.org, 400 W. Main St., Freehold NJ 07728. Telephone, 732-462-8883.

Assemblyman Robert Morgan, asmmorgan@njleg.org, The Galleria, 2 Bridge Ave., Bldg. 2, 2nd Floor, Red Bank NJ 07701. Telephone, 732-741-5599. Fax, 732-741-0012.

Assemblyman Michael Panter, asmpanter@njleg.org, The Galleria, 2 Bridge Ave., Bldg. 2, 2nd Floor, Red Bank NJ 07701. Telephone, 732-741-5599. Fax, 732-741-0012.

Special thanks to Irene for the link.

Corruption Junction today
Jim has the scoop on The Governor and the Feds

During the interview on Friday, McGreevey had his lawyer by his side. That's a good thing for McGreevey, because as we know from television detective shows (and from law school), anything he might have said during that interview can be used against him, even though the interview on Friday focused on his claim of extortion. (Note: No Miranda warnings would have been necessary, as the interview was most certainly not a “custodial interrogation.”)

Jim remarks, "Yes, he is still in office", which is not unreasonable since just yesterday the headline was Governor yet to submit resignation letter, which also probably explains why the State of NJ website still doesn't mention the resignation at all. The Post says MCGREEVEY 'EXTORTION' JUST A DISTORTION: FED PROBERS

After quizzing the principals in McGreevey's gay-sex scandal, the probers have concluded preliminarily that what was really was going on was negotiations between attorneys, law-enforcement sources said

Hardly surprising there's a Jim aide in a rage. To add to the story, NY Lawyer says Ex-McGreevey Aide's Legal Team Falls Outside the Norm.

Similarities to a former Democrat President come to mind, when reading today's Star Ledger: Troopers drove McGreevey to Cipel visits: Sources say governor's use of his security detail made some officers uneasy. Indeed. The article includes some home-financing information:

In December 2001, soon after the affair began, the security detail took McGreevey to the Amboy National Bank branch in Woodbridge where he helped Cipel secure financing for a condominium in West Windsor, near Drumthwacket.
George Scharpf, the bank's president, said yesterday McGreevey and Cipel came to the branch together.
McGreevey was known at the bank as a neighbor: his campaign headquarters had been located above the branch office in the Wilentz Building on Woodbridge Center Drive. The bank also had held some of the McGreevey campaign's accounts.
It was clear that Cipel was close with the governor, Scharpf said. "If we turned it down it would have to go through me," he said.
But in the end it was processed just like any other mortgage, Scharpf said. Cipel filled out an application and the bank ultimately gave him two mortgages worth $171,000.
McGreevey was later overheard telling Cipel that he told a bank official Cipel would soon be making $110,000 a year, according to the law enforcement source. Citing privacy concerns, Scharpf would not comment on the details of any discussions about the Cipel loan with the governor

This being NJ, where there's a name, there's a fine: The Trentonian says that

George Scharpf, president of the bank, has given $17,000 to both Republicans and Democrats since 1989. Most of his contributions have been for the Middlesex County Democratic Majority funds controlled by former Senate President John Lynch. Lynch is one of McGreevey’s political mentors. Scharpf has given $1,000 to McGreevey since his 1997 gubernatorial bid.
In January 2003, the bank and Scharpf were fined for urging bank executives to use expense accounts for political contributions. The bank agreed to pay a $60,000 civil fine to the Federal Election Commission for improperly raising money for political action committees. Scharpf agreed to pay a $24,000 penalty

In the "he doth protest too much" department -- while reacquainting himself with hundreds of the state's labor leaders, no less: Corzine won't lobby for early departure: Sen. Jon Corzine yesterday stumped for John Kerry, stood by Gov. James McGreevey's decision to remain in office until Nov. 15 and reacquainted himself with hundreds of the state's labor leaders who could be instrumental if the senator does decide to run for governor next year. Perhaps rather prematurely, someone at WPIV News wonders What's Next for McGreevey?. Obviously they haven't read my predictions.
Adding to the NJ glossary, The Trenton Times has a story on wheeling, a concept new to me, but apparently in vogue among some circles (in this case, a democrat):

"wheeling," in which savvy politicians get around the statutory $37,000 cap on what an individual can give to a county political organization by shifting cash from one county to another

9 days to disenfranchisement if we can't persuade McGreevey to leave by September 3. Join us tomorrow in front of the State House, and contact the politicians and insist that we are allowed to vote for a change. Call your State representatives, and also:
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

Two items from overseas, with philosophical update
The first one, which I find astonishing, concerns the world's most famous Zoroastrian rocker (and one of my favorites rockers of all time), and makes me wonder, did someone pull one on the ayatollahs?
Freddie Mercury gets official seal of approval in Iran

Rock band Queen, fronted by outlandish gay icon Freddie Mercury, have become the first rock band to be given the official seal of approval in Iran with the release of an album of their greatest hits, a source in the company that released the album said Monday.
"Authorities approved of the tunes that had a social theme, leaving out the love songs," an executive in the company said.

Homosexuality is a capital crime (i.e., punishable by death) in Iran.

Not surprising at all, however, is the second item: France2 News has managed to report on the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Paris for several days in a row without once mentioning the role played during the war by the USA, the 28th Infantry Division, or, for that matter, any of the allies except Spain. (I didn't even know Spain was one of the allies!) Last evening a Spanish veteran told news "We could liberate Paris, so we did". Yeah, right.
The part played by America and its allies was put in perspective: During a report of the rehearsal for the "swing down the boulevards" show, Americans were mentioned once: "The Americans brought nylon stockings, chewing gum and swing music".
A chronology of events in the France2 site mentions Swedish consul Raoul Nordling, but General Eisenhower's name or General Patton's -- whose 3rd Army fought for two months before being able to reach Paris -- are nowhere to be found.
Considering that D-Day celebrations took place with a total absence of American flags in Paris, I'm not surprised.
Update: Both stories, however, may tie in to (via Roger) the philosophy of as if.

March On Trenton, Thursday, August 26, 3:00 PM
A friend just emailed with the link: The March is on!
See you there.

In today's Journal, Updated:

A good rule in politics is that anyone who picks a fight ought to be prepared to finish it. But having first questioned Mr. Bush's war service, and then made Vietnam the core of his own campaign for President, Mr. Kerry now cries No mas! because other Vietnam vets are assailing his behavior before and after that war.

David Brooks is launching a major investigation into whether the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth organization is being secretly financed by the Kerry campaign, John Podhoretz asks Is it worth knowing that Kerry lied about his one-man invasion of Cambodia?, while Adeimantus wants to let it alone -- or does he?
Meanwhile, on the subject of 527s, NZ Bear has the graph:

No wonder the Kerry Campaign is in a state of flux

Update (via Baldilocks) A Large Regular has a day-by-day account of No Way to Run a Campaign

Today's Corruption Junction Round-up
Corzine's comments spur GOP ad, which I haven't listened to yet.

At the NYPost Fed: Probe McGreevey hire:

A New Jersey federal prosecutor said yesterday the state attorney general should probe possible wrongdoing by Gov. Jim McGreevey in hiring Golan Cipel -- who's at the center of the gay sex scandal -- as a $110,000-a-year aide.
U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie confirmed that his office was looking into charges from the McGreevey camp that Cipel tried to extort millions of dollars from the governor by threatening to make public their affair.
Christie refused to say whether he was also investigating whether McGreevey was guilty of official misconduct when he hired Cipel as his homeland security adviser despite his lack of experience in fighting terrorism.

a story also at the Star Ledger: FBI agents talk with governor in probe: Feds investigating blackmail claims. The Express-Times noticed that Governor yet to submit resignation letter . The Daily Journal wants him out.

Paul Mulshine, on the other hand, says McGreevey should stick around because

at the very moment when the media are finally poised to unearth all the secrets of the McGreevey era, the party bosses want him dumped. The theory they offer is that James E. McGreevey is somehow unrepresentative of the Democratic Party.
Nonsense. He is the purest example of the Democratic philosophy this state has ever produced. The Democratic Party in this state is based on a flawed theory -- that it is possible to fight for the interests of the taxpayer while also fighting for the interests of those who live off the taxpayer. A Democrat must embrace the public employee unions, the trial lawyers, the urban political machines, the public contractors and all those others who get rich off the taxpayer. Meanwhile, he must pretend to embrace the taxpayer as well.
. . . The thought is that McGreevey's resignation precluded further probing into his aggressive fund-raising.
But is there another shoe? We may never know if McGreevey slides smoothly into retirement. That's one reason I want him to stick around. Well, that and his property tax plan. I've been waiting to hear that ever since 1997, when he rode it to a near-upset of Christie Whitman. McGreevey promised a wholesale overhaul of New Jersey's system of collecting property taxes, yet seven years later he has not offered even a hint as to what that reform might entail.

Paul has a point. But, can we afford to? Just read this Trenton Times article: $550M hole in state's budget.

Lower than expected business and sales tax collections, plus $150 million in unbudgeted aid to poor school districts, will more than wipe out the projected $400 million surplus, according to the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services.
The deficit was projected in a memo prepared earlier this month by OLS but overlooked because of the scandal gripping the McGreevey administration. The memo also forecasts a $4.4 billion shortfall in the next state budget, which will have to be drawn up before July 1, 2005.

Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Louis Greenwald, D-Cherry Hill, believes it's too early to tell, because "For example, he said, if John Kerry is elected president, the state might get more money from Washington for homeland security, special education, health care for the indigent and prescriptions for seniors." Maybe he should read this article that states "the net increase in the deficit associated with Kerry's proposals is on the order of $2.2 trillion", which means an additional $15,000 in Federal taxes for the average taxpayer.
From the same article,

Three Wall Street firms downgraded New Jersey's credit rating this summer, saying that instead of using rebounding revenues to cure the state's structural fiscal problems the administration was accelerating spending and borrowing

10 Days

New Jerseyans have 10 days to persuade Gov. James E. McGreevey to leave office and allow a special election to be held to fill the remaining year of his term. Unless that happens by Sept. 3, an unelected politician will serve both as acting governor and Senate president until January 2006

Contact the politicians and insist that we are allowed to vote for a change. Call your State representatives, and also:
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

Tuesdays, 9AM, Bon Appetit
Paul Knapp, who's running for Township Committee along with Irene White, sent this

I would like to invite every Township resident regardless of political predisposition to meet us and discover whether we are the type of people you will vote into office in November. The added benefit to meeting you is that it will allow us to understand what issues and concerns are most important to the majority of Township residents.
I would like to extend an invitation to all who are willing to join Irene and me for coffee in the Cafe of Bon Appetit in the Princeton Shopping Center on Tuesday mornings at 9:00AM.

Meet Paul & Irene tomorrow and every Tuesday.

Corruption Junction countdown: 11 days to total disenfranchisement
Yesterday's NBC NEWS' MEET THE PRESS had this Russert/Corzine exhange:

MR. RUSSERT: Why shouldn't the people of New Jersey have a right to pick their next governor and not have Jim McGreevey stay in office for two months and then hand off the governorship to the Democratic president of the State Senate?
SEN. CORZINE: Well, Tim, first of all, you know I have a bit of a vested interest in this, so I believe that the primary issue that we ought to be looking at is what is in the best interest of state of New Jersey and the people we try to serve. I don't think the issue ought to be about individuals or parties. By the way, a number of Democrats are asking for an early election. This is not a Republican-Democrat thing. There are a lot of people that believe we ought to go to a special election, which has to be announced before September 2.
I believe that as Governor McGreevey argued in the paper today, there's an argument on both sides of this, about an orderly transition, fulfilling the obligations and the policies he's put in place. I'm not going to opine personally, but I do think that there's a lot to be said about an electoral process, picking a governor, as opposed to having it be this constitutional format we have. But that is the constitution in New Jersey.
MR. RUSSERT: Orderly transition? He's been paralyzed by this scandal, and people acknowledge that on both sides of the aisle, why can't the people of New...
SEN. CORZINE: Tim, I'm not sure that that's the case. You know, he has the ability to actually clean up some of the money politics that has gone on in New Jersey, sort of "pay to play," they use the term. And the fact is he could issue executive orders with the freedom of not having to worry about what the politics of it are now, that he might not have done when he was running for re-election in 2005. I could make that case. I can make the case that he is going to be a lot stricter in how we deal with sprawl, how we implement our environmental regulations in the country--in the state. I think there are a lot of good things he could do if he chooses to truly be independent. That's the problem with politics in New Jersey. It's actually doubly overemphasized, pay to play, that we see too often here in Washington.
MR. RUSSERT: If Governor McGreevey changed his mind and said, "All right. I'm resigning immediately. There will be a special election," would you run for governor?
SEN. CORZINE: I suggested directly to the governor I was prepared to do that.
MR. RUSSERT: Did you urge him to resign immediately?
SEN. CORZINE: I think that it would have been inappropriate for me to tell him to resign. I think he needs to examine what's in the best interest of the state. I think secondarily he should look at what is at issue for his family. And I think anyone can measure those things and balance them out and come out with different conclusions reasonably. I might have taken a different decision if I were in that position. I respect the fact that he's made that decision. I accept it, and I think we ought to get on with the constitution...
MR. RUSSERT: It sounds like you wish, though, he had resigned immediately and allowed a special election.
SEN. CORZINE: No, Tim, I'm not saying--I think that he needed to examine what he thinks is in the best interest of the state. He needed to look at the implications for his family. He did that. I accept his decision.
MR. RUSSERT: By your willingness to run for governor now, if it became available, what does that say about your commitment to elect Democrats to the U.S. Senate?
SEN. CORZINE: Tim, if you check my travel schedule and where I am seven days a week, trying to both raise the resources and make sure the organization's in place and be helpful to our candidates, you'll know I'm absolutely committed, and I am. I do think there's a crisis of confidence with regard to government in the state of New Jersey, and if there is an ability to try to bring some orderliness to it, some independence and a commitment to good government and people think that I'm the one that would best do that, then I'm prepared to do that because I'm a little bit sick and tired of picking up the newspaper and seeing New Jersey not recognized for what its good people are about.
MR. RUSSERT: If there's an opening 15 months from now in the governorship, would you run?
SEN. CORZINE: That's speculative. I'm going to look at it. I love the United States Senate. There's a lot of great things we're going to work on here, like with Rick Santorum, and all kinds of things on kids' accounts. I love the United States Senate. But there is a need to make sure that we have credible, honest government in New Jersey, and I'm committed to making sure that happens.

In other words, Corzine Leaves Door Ajar, in Case McGreevey Bows Out.

Politics NJ has a table that shows results from a Bergen Record survey with 51% in favor of "resign now" and 52% in favor of "resign Nov 15". NJ's the first state with 103% people -- no wonder the traffic's bad.

Commenting on yesterday's "I have work to do", Roberto asks, "The work he has done so far is bad enough, he's got more??", a reasonable question in view of articles titled Energized governor strives for big finish. John Farmer of the Star Ledger warns us to be Careful what you vote for in an article about the current NJ constitution, which was enacted in 1947. In yesterday's Star Ledger, details on last week's goings-on Statehouse fight gets nasty fast, and speculation that "Now the governor may have assured his erstwhile foe [Republican Bret Schundler] another shot at the state's top job".

Contact the politicians and insist that we are allowed to vote for a change. Call your State representatives, and also:
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

Welcome Chrenkoff readers!
And welcome all visitors. Please visit often.
Thank you.

Margaritaville's rain-out
According to the Post,

sluggish ticket sales forced organizers to reduce prices to hang with the Democratic presidential nominee and wife Teresa Heinz Kerry this weekend.
Complimentary tickets were handed out yesterday to Kerry's $1,000-a-person schmoozefest at the Alan and Susan Patricof home and the $2,500-per-plate young-professionals event at Jean-Luc East, sources said.
Today's hush-hush event for Teresa at Donna Karan's East Hampton home has been marked down from $10,000 a person to $5,000

At least the folks yesterday had Jimmy Buffett for (free) entertainment. I wonder if Donna's giving away some of the handbags in the latest ad as "goody bags".

Resignation countdown: 12 days before total disenfranchisement
In case readers of this blog don't know what I mean by mismanagement, here's an item from today's Star Ledger:
Interest on 'deficit bonds' exceeds cash to be raised: First of two sales generates $839 million to close state budget gap

The bond sale documents offer the first tally of the costs taxpayers will face for Gov. James E. McGreevey's strategy of using borrowed funds to balance the budget. They show the bonds carry a total interest tab of $847 million, meaning the long-range cost is more than the amount being raised.
More traditional state bonds carry far smaller interest tabs. For example, a $650 million school construction bond issue earlier this year generated $514 million in interest costs.

Using some new words I learned from yesterday's NYTimes (article not on line), let's put an end to the mcvgreevathon that's causing the state's mcgreebiejeebies. Only 12 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

Quiet Sunday at Corruption Junction
While McGreevey has an op-ed piece in the NYTImes today saying I Still Have Work to Do (with the expected "the best interest of the state", wanting "to finish the good work that has been started", yadda, yadda), the NYPost looks at the Lonely life of the Garden State's 1st Lady, unlike that of her husband, who was at Kushner's house in Florida a while ago and apparently put himself in front of the cameras: Secret McG's "Pool Shots"

"McGreevey supposedly spent a weekend down at Kushner's house in Florida and he had videotape of McGreevey and Cipel in a pool or something."
This new detail comes after The Post's report Friday that the FBI was eyeing "tapes and photos" of the gay governor that might have been used in Cipel's alleged extortion scheme

while a different NYTimes article says no such tapes exist. The pesky matter of Touro College keeps popping up, along with Kushner's & Torricelli's names,

Among the most perplexing developments is the unexplained appearance of Timothy Saia, a lawyer from Livingston, N.J., during the week before Mr. McGreevey stepped down. Mr. Saia arranged a meeting involving the lawyers and Mr. Lesniak, the governor's confidant, in New York on Aug. 9, three days before Mr. McGreevey's resignation. Then he delivered what he said was an 11th-hour offer from Mr. Cipel to drop the complaint in exchange for Mr. McGreevey's approval of Touro College's plan to open a New Jersey medical campus.
Mr. McGreevey's lawyers said that Mr. Saia introduced himself as a friend of Mr. Cipel's, and that they were astounded when he mentioned the college. Touro College is a favorite charity of Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and a major McGreevey campaign contributor, who once employed Mr. Cipel and was under investigation for hiring a prostitute to silence a witness in a fund-raising investigation.
. . . The college had also hired Mr. Cipel as a media consultant in 2003, and this summer, former Senator Robert G. Torricelli's consulting firm unsuccessfully sought the administration's backing for the medical school, according to the governor's aides.

The Daily News has Golden Golan's rise & fall: Pals tell of charismatic go-getter, but Tiger Hawk says The McGreevey story goes completely non-linear with the Daily News total lack of fact-checkers. Jim reminds us that Generalisimo Jim McGreevey is Still Governor, and suggests an MTV-reality show among other Job Prospects for Jim McGreevey. (Would the Daily News hire him as a fact-checker?) David Rebovich ponders the timing of the resignation:

But it's hard to imagine that, when facing the impossible task of admitting his homosexuality to his parents and wife and then resigning the office he coveted for decades, McGreevey or anyone else would be thinking about his party and its candidates. But personal finances? That's another matter. As long as McGreevey is governor, the state will pay for any legal fees he accrues in a job-related harassment case. The question of settlement money, especially that not ordered by a court, is more complicated.
Some folks suggested that McGreevey is staying in office until November 15th for two reasons. One is to have some time to put together a settlement package in the event he did face a sexual harassment suit. The other is to consider various financial opportunities, including possibly a book and movie deal and a speaking tour, that might sustain him until he finds permanent employment. As was widely reported, McGreevey does not have much money set aside and does not own any property.
What he does have is a lot of pride. McGreevey's aides told reporters that he rejected a "buyout" package presumably offered by political bigwigs who want him to leave his office now. Instead, aides and allies insist that the Governor wants to use his remaining time as chief executive to leave behind a policy legacy of which he can be proud. He wants to assure that the new stem cell research center is a success, that the Highlands Preservation Act serves its intended purposes, and that legislation to establish a commission to work on a plan for a constitutional convention on property tax reform moves forward.

Wasn't I predicting a movie deal the other day?

Corruption Junction today
Closing the barn door after the horse ran out, McGreevey Seeks Limits on Donations

In the week after Gov. James E. McGreevey announced his resignation amid reports of sex, blackmail and political fratricide, the attention of the governor's office turned to, of all things, campaign finance legislation.

In the same barn-door-closing vein, Gov out of Jersey tourism ads.

In today's Daily News, 'File this suit,' McG pal tells Cipel

A close friend of New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey said if the man accusing the governor had embarrassing tapes or photos he should stop stalling and "bring it on!"

Note to all politicians, regardless of political affiliation: Any time you feel the urge to speak out the words "bring it on!", take 2 aspirin, lie down someplace quiet and wait until the urge goes away.

While on the subject of timely phrases, Buzz Machine uses the phrase Reporting for duty to talk about sperm.On more family-friendly news, Politics NJ says that Joe Piscopo's contemplating running for governor as an independent. He's no Ahnold but maybe he'll wear that fake muscle suit he used to wear in SNL. Adding to the comedy, Politics NJ has a take on Dr Seuss

The Star Ledger has a plethora of headlines: Bizarre boasts land doctor behind bars: Man who said he had sex with Golan Cipel is ordered to have a psychiatric evaluation, FEC says Corzine can give unlimited amounts to get-out-the vote groups -- he's been busy: Corzine shuts down the rumor mill: Senator tells Jersey delegation he's not interested in McGreevey's job

Wally Edge analyzes the political poker: In high stakes poker game, four aces fold to a big pair

For the second time in four years, a United States Senator viewed as a sort of political 800-pound gorilla, was outmaneuvered in a bid for Governor of New Jersey. The Seven Days of Corzine proved to be almost as dramatic as the Twelve Days of Torricelli. The result, it seems, is that New Jersey avoids a ten-week campaign for Governor this year

From Gay City News

McGreevey’s action in hiring Cipel cannot be defended, and the governor’s lingering in office will not help the gay community, it will not help the Democratic Party, and it will not be in the long-term interest of his own reputation. He should vacate the governor’s mansion by September 1, to allow for a special election this November.

Only 13 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

This is a huge mistake:
Kerry: Vets' book should be withdrawn: 'Unfit for Command' publisher distributing 'falsehoods,' 'smear'

Sen. John Kerry's campaign is calling on Regnery Publishing to withdraw a best-selling book by a veterans group challenging the presidential candidate's Vietnam war record

Kerry campaign spokesman Chad Clanton told Salon.com

“No publisher should want to be selling books with proven falsehoods in them, especially falsehoods that are meant to smear the military service of an American veteran,”

Rather than ask for censorship, Mr. Clanton would be better at his job if the campaign had focused on the war we're fighting today. By focusing on Vietnam, Kerry made a critical mistake. Asking for censorship only makes it worse. If the Unfit For Command book is stating "proven falsehoods", then address the issues the book raises.
Don't go calling for the book's withdrawal.

Meanwhile, here in the Principality,
we're still getting fewer services for more taxes. Township Brush and Leaf Pick-up Service Could Be Reduced, Public Works Report Says. Unlike the Borough, the Township doesn't pick up garbage, and apparently now they won't pick up leaves. I won't go into the subject of potholes and the deplorable road conditions.

One of these days we're going to open the paper and read that we'll have to buy snowblowers and start plowing the streets ourselves when it snows.

But, not to worry. Reese Witherspoon's been invited to the grand opening of the plaza on Witherspoon street next to the parking-building-built-on-a-stream. It must have something to do with that dawn of a bright new day in [The Principality's] downtown they were talking about last April.

Today's Corruption Junction round-up
14 days "New Jerseyans have 14 days to persuade Gov. James E. McGreevey to leave office and allow a special election to be held to fill the remaining year of his term. Unless that happens by Sept. 3, an unelected politician will serve both as acting governor and Senate president until January 2006". In the same issue of the Trenton Times, A splendid example praises the State Investment Cuncil for adopting tough rules against the pay-to-play system of awarding public contracts, while saying

On the other hand, Gov. James E. McGreevey's effort to claim a share of credit is pathetic. "We're very pleased," said the governor's spokesman, "that we have been able to address [state employee unions'] concerns as far as keeping politics and campaign contributions out of the investment process." That's a hoot. Gov. McGreevey has been nothing but an impediment to effective campaign finance reform since he ran for office disguised as a reformer. In fact, the very rules the Investment Council adopted this week would have been adopted a month ago if the governor - who had a bit more political clout then than he has right now - hadn't intervened to cancel the council's scheduled meeting.

Last night Keith Oberman of MSNBC had Michael Musto of The Village Voice dishing out more dirt on the McGreevey red herring, so of course I had to look up Musto's article, titled Alien vs. Predator: What the McGreevey mess means for closets, corruption, and casting couches

Either way, the upshot is that the carefully chosen words "I am a gay American" have been resonating beyond all the pulp-fiction details of the story. "A lot of people will find sympathy with that," says Signorile. "People are beginning to distinguish between the fact that he's gay and these other issues. In that sense, it's a good thing."
And you certainly have to find sympathy with the fact that, as of last Friday, channels were still showing the suddenly riotous commercial for New Jersey tourism that has McGreevey and his family cavorting on a beach (no, not in Fire Island) as the shark-mouthed gov urges, "Come out and see what's new in Jersey." Thanks, honey, but I came out and I'm staying right here.

I was watching Letterman the day McGreevey outed himself, and, right after Letterman made a McGreevey joke, the station played that ad -- so I thought it was something the Letterman people had come up with. Silly me.

Jersey bloggers Buzz Machine and Barista are writing about the weird guy in yesterday's Daily News who claims to have been Cipel's lover. The dude, according to police, is deluded, which comes as no surprise. John Shabe found Golan's Assistant Still On The Payroll, though. Suzette notices how pronunciation goes hand-in-hand with respect. No respect from the Post and its front page blaring "Secret Sex Tapes".

Today's must-read, however, is Jim's The Jersey Political Swamp: How it works (go to his link), and Jim sees a silver lining,

Nevertheless, I would like to publicly thank Jim McGreevey, because, but for the latest disgraces, I would not have taken the time to see how truly rotten-to-the-core the political system in this state is. I have lived here all my life, and I am embarrassed to say that it was not until the last few days that I fully appreciated the extent to which we are being royally screwed by the unholy alliance that exists among our state legislature, the governor and a handful of well-moneyed political bosses

Jim has a point: This week's article in The Econonmist McGreevey's bombshells: Out of the closet, but still in office—just has nothing new to us, but another article points out "the most plausible explanation for the sudden burst of convictions is that, until recently, nobody really minded". That article is dated May 8th, 2003.

While a cousin of McGreevey's wife is running for Council in Elizabeth, McGreevey himself, according to the Star Ledger, "is now rushing to finish six to nine months of work in the next 88 days", as Energized governor strives for big finish, since it's "very liberating to not be beholden to the party bosses."
Heh.

McGreevey claims efforts to oust him are "a witch hunt", while at the same time "a McGreevey administration official was believed yesterday to have ratted out U.S. Rep. Bob Menendez, concerning a tryst the congressman allegedly had with a woman", according to the Trentonian's State Dems splintering over McG: There is an unholy, and totally uncivil, war being waged within the Democratic Party as factions spar over power and prestige, but the NY Times claims Effort to Push McGreevey Out Is Collapsing

Only 14 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

Olympian NJ blogger wins gold
Read all about it!

Corruption Junction
Barista asks, Why is NJ Government so bad?. Jim's examining NJ's Political Swamp, and also has a post on Olympic Synchronicity suggesting new sports:

Synchronized Lying Basis for Judging: In order to score high points with the judges in this event, the partners must tell the world a completely outlandish story (again, in unison), which could only be believed by someone with the maturity of a three-year old and yet maintain a straight (non-red) face for the duration of the event.
Suggested US Team: Bill and Hillary Clinton. (Possible Alternates – Johnny Cochran and OJ Simpson. Other alternates, if necessary, can be chosen from a large pool of New Jersey politicians)

As Jim points out, there's even a Corruption in New Jersey website. There's also a site with the McGreevey Scandal. Louisianans have taken umbrage at the WSJ's comparison:

"It is finally time for the national media to stop dragging Louisiana through the mud and leave New Jersey in a category by itself, where it belongs, as the corruption capital of the country."

On TV, KYW TV has video reports. You can watch us Tuesday protesters at NJN (we're 9 minutes into the program).

While apparently there's a lot of back-room politics taking place, the Star Ledger headlines tell us that the heavyweights won't run were McGreevey to leave before September 3: Kean, Whitman say no and Corzine will not force governor out, but maybe yes?

The senator [Corzine] still wants to be governor, his aides say, and he did not rule out a run this year if circumstances change and McGreevey departs early.

Tabloids have a 47-year-old New Jersey doctor claim he is an ex-lover of Golan Cipel. McGreevey's slinging mud -- saying U.S. Rep Bob Menendez shouldn't ask for McG's resignation since Menedez has/also had affair(s) -- and staying put

"The governor told me that the party bosses can cut out his heart and drag his body through the streets of Trenton and he's still not going to leave early," said Democratic state Sen. Raymond Lesniak

while the pressure mounts, both locally Hudson County Democratic Organization leaders to call for McGreevey to step down now, Democratic power brokers on Tuesday began attempting to entice Gov. James E. McGreevey into hastening his exit from office but McGreevey has refused to bite and (perhaps) nationally:

IS MCGREEVEY HURTING KERRY IN NEW JERSEY? [08/18 07:24 PM]According to this report, Judge Andrew Napolitano on Fox News said that internal Democratic polls in New Jersey show Kerry's lead dropping from 18 points to one point in the fallout from the McGreevey scandal. I'm a bit skeptical — would New Jersey voters take out their anger on the national candidate instead of the state Democratic party? On the other hand, maybe McGreevey's arrogant "I'm putting my lover in charge of the state's homeland security and defending us from terrorism" strategy is the straw that will break the camel's back.

It's hard to tell if McG will be forced out before Sept. 3 -- as Roberto said

The governor has set such a low ethical standard that anything short of treason and cannibalism will be met by yawns and shrugs.

Today's understatement: Senator's choice briefly halts backbiting: It may not be over yet.

Since this is New Jersey, where there's a controversy there's a lawsuit:

Gov. James E. McGreevey violated the federal voting rights of New Jersey citizens by announcing he will resign but refusing to do so before Sept. 3 so a special election can be held to choose his replacement, two Princeton Township attorneys allege in a federal lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Trenton by civil rights attorneys Bruce Afran and Carl Mayer, asked a judge to declare that by announcing he will resign on Nov. 15, McGreevey has effectively vacated the governor's office, triggering the need for a special election during the Nov. 2 general election to chose his replacement.

In the trivia department, McGreevey on eBay The bidding was $33 last night on eBay for a 1973 yearbook from St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen. Meanwhile, L. A. Parker seeks solace in badminton. Michael Goodwin says "We haven't had this much sex talk in Jersey since Bianca Jagger dumped Robert Torricelli."

Enough of trivia. We want change now. There's only 15 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

The Bad Hair psychic?
Am I psychic or have I lived in NJ for a long time? Just last week I was saying,

By framing his resignation in confessional, "gay American" patriotic terms, McGreevey's hiding behind smoke and mirrors. His speech lays the groundwork for a comeback. Anyone not familiar with the corruption scandals of his administration (as most viewers of international cable TV are not likely to be), or the ruinous overspending, would be sympathetic. Commentators are already admiring his courage. Magazine covers will follow.
My prediction is that after a hiatus of a few years (if that long), McGreevey will be back in the national scene. Larry King and Barbara Walters will run interviews, with snippets of yesterday's speech, McGreevey's speech at the 2004 Democrat Convention, and other photogenic moments.

Didn't even have to wait for a hiatus. Straight from the Star Ledger,

McGreevey meanwhile has been besieged by media inquiries from across the nation.
His aides said they have received requests for interviews from producers for Oprah Winfrey, Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters. CNN's Larry King phoned personally, as did NBC's Katie Couric, who made an appeal from the Olympics in Athens. One adviser also said People magazine was also "pushing very hard" for an interview.

I like that "appeal from the Olympics" bit -- very Greek-Goddess-like.

Getting paid for the interviews should do something about that "losing his job, his home, his transportation" problem, too.

My next prediction: After the celebrity interviews and magazine covers, a book deal! Ghost writer, book, interview on 60 Minutes. Movie rights to follow.

Round-up follow-up
In case anyone was wondering what did Al-Jazeera had to say about the NJ scandals, Jeff Jarvis of Buzz Machine has a link to Was McGreevey ‘sex scandal’ an Israeli Intelligence operation?! where some columnist says

This was a blackmail scheme intended to place Golan Cipel in a position of intense interest to Israeli intelligence.

More al-J accurate and insightful reporting coming up soon, I'm sure.

In the meantime, Kushner will plead guilty today to tax and campaign charges: Key Democratic contributor to admit retaliation against witness

Under the terms of the deal, Kushner will admit to retaliating against Esther and William Schulder, his estranged sister and brother-in-law, for cooperating with federal investigators. Prosecutors charged that Kushner arranged for a prostitute to seduce William Schulder, then sent a videotape of the encounter to Schulder's wife as humiliating payback.
Kushner also plans to acknowledge that he defrauded the IRS of $300,000 by improperly claiming about $1 million in charitable donations. And he will plead guilty to filing false statements with the Federal Election Commission to conceal unauthorized campaign contributions.

While on the subject of money, Kathy Matheson of Asbury Park Press points out that Acting governors can draw 2 paychecks. NJ taxpayers already need two paychecks to keep up with the tax burden, so why shouldn't the acting governors? (In case any NJ taxpayers are thinking of run off to a monastery, the Tax Prof Blog says "Vow of Poverty" No Shield Against Tax Liability for Federal taxes -- state & local taxes can't be far behind. So maybe the monastery is not a good idea.)

Turns out we aren't the only ones wanting McGreevey to leave immediately. According to an AP story in today's Trentonian Party feeding frenzy: Dem bigs hope to force special election

Gov. McGreevey’s departure from office has turned Democrats into cannibals as they scratch and claw at each other to fill the voids of power.
Democratic power brokers are finalizing a deal that would have McGreevey step down as early as the end of the week to pave the way for a special election in November.

Steve Kornacki has details.

The above photo, BTW, is from Monday's demonstration. Yesterday's had twice the number of people. Which is more than at a Kerry Front-Porch Chat, especially if you don't count the bodyguards and Kerry's staff.


But moving right along. In The Town Topics front-page story,

Members of Princeton University's Pride Alliance said they felt that the governor leaving office after declaring that he is gay could reflect poorly on the gay community.
"I feel that the focus of [Gov. McGreevey's] resignation will be on his coming out, rather than on issues of political patronage," said Jessie Weber, co-president of Pride Alliance. "It would be really unfortunate if Americans were led to believe that he had to resign because he is gay."

Glad to see I'm not the only one that sees the coming-out story as a red herring.
While on self-congratulatory mode, my thanks to Jim for his kind words, but please keep at this story, Jim.

The world's smallest violin plays on, since the NJN commentator/reporter also stated that McG's going to lose "his job, his home, his transportation". daHiller noticed, and suggests McG try Craig's List.

There are at least two on-line petitions calling for McGreevey to step down: Blog visitor Jeff has this one, and Roberto links to this one. Also don't forget to call, email or snail-mail McGreevey if you haven't already (scroll down for links).