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