September 5, 2004
THE COMEBACK KID:
McGreevey Stays Put, and Intrigue Builds (DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI, 9/05/04, NY Times)
Gov. James E. McGreevey's uncharted, uncertain journey toward resignation reached two important milestones in recent days, yet with each new fact that emerged, the entire ordeal seemed to grow more puzzling.The first came on Monday, when lawyers for Golan Cipel, the former aide who prompted the resignation by threatening to file a lawsuit against Mr. McGreevey alleging harassment and sexual assault, announced that he would not sue the governor after all.
Then at midnight Friday, Mr. McGreevey - who vows to remain in office until Nov. 15 and allow the Senate president to complete the final 14 months of the governor's term - outlasted the constitutional deadline that would have led to a special election this fall.
That sequence of events has bewildered many of Mr. McGreevey's supporters and left political analysts intrigued.
He's not really going to resign after all, is he? Posted by Orrin Judd at September 5, 2004 5:22 PM
if there is not going to be a special election then all the better, he'll be so tainted in two years that we'll for sure win the governership there, as right now we probably lose to Goldman Sachs and in two years we may/may not lose depending on the lieutenants job.
Posted by: neil at September 5, 2004 5:29 PMThe was things are going, the Kerry campaign's itenerary may not allow them to even land at Newark International Airport between now and Election Day, let alone actually campagin in New Jersey, less they are forced to say something about the state and its governor before their motorcade can hightail it through the Holland Tunnel.
Posted by: John at September 5, 2004 5:40 PMI smelled a rat when, a week or so after his press conference, I read that he had not submitted a letter of resignation. Et tu, Cabana Boy.
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at September 5, 2004 6:42 PMHe announced his resignation in public fora with the tapes running. It's not like changing your mind on bouncing up the tolls on the Turnpike.
There is no Republican challenger on the horizon of any real merit. There are organization men who are part of the problem like Forrester and cruel jokes like Schundler.
Posted by: Bart at September 5, 2004 6:50 PMHa ha! You have to admire this kind of shamelessness.
Posted by: Amos at September 5, 2004 7:04 PMIs McGreevy really gay? I'm starting to wonder about that too.
Posted by: AML at September 5, 2004 7:59 PMBart's correct - he announced in it public and everybody expected him to do it. Then again, given NJ's sorry political history, he could not resign and win the next election by 25pts.
Posted by: AWW at September 5, 2004 10:29 PMBart: Do you really think the New Jersey Supreme court cares about that detail. McGreavy will tell them he had King's X on that press confrence and they will say, worked for the Torch, Works for Me.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at September 6, 2004 12:10 AMThe NJ Supreme Court will give you the decision you want in exchange for free bus fare, $10 in quarters and a $5 food credit in Atlantic City. However, there are very few people who support McGreevey now and many of his cronies are on the skateboard to the hoosegow. While mere criminality and backsliding have never been impediments to NJ political careers in the past, this is more serious. The voters won't forget and McGreevey will never get through a primary.
Whether any of the buffoons the GOP looks to be running have any kind of shot is anyone's guess.
Posted by: Bart at September 6, 2004 8:20 AMApparently he's had his way with Golan Cipel again.
Posted by: genecis at September 6, 2004 11:29 AM