Scandals Engulf N.J. Govs Associates; Dems Start Thinking About a Replacem

[hightime]

Scandals Engulf N.J. Governor's Associates; Democrats Start Thinking About a Replacement

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Gov. James E. McGreevey took office as a straight-arrow former prosecutor bent on putting an end to the corruption for which New Jersey was notorious. But lately, one associate after another has been engulfed in scandal, with allegations of prostitutes and payoffs, code words and sweetheart deals.
So far, McGreevey's name has come up in an alleged extortion plot. But he has not been charged, and he has denied any wrongdoing and accused New Jersey's chief federal prosecutor - a Republican mentioned as a possible candidate for governor - of trying to smear him for political reasons.

While the 46-year-old Democrat is not up for re-election until next year, Republicans are relishing his administration's troubles. Democrats are worrying about his political future and thinking about possible replacement candidates. And New Jerseyans are wondering what other allegations are about to come out.

"Usually, New Jerseyans are fairly tolerant," said Cliff Zukin, public policy professor at Rutgers University. "But you get this sort of stuff day after day and it really seeps into the political culture. I don't know if he's hit it yet, but there's a point of no return, where public opinion just gets set and you have an image you can't recover from."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBY5QPEWWD.html

[AP]

1. McGreevey has been doing a lot to make NJ's tax structure fair and...

...rational.

I'm sure big business and Republicans would love to see him go.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. The Nazi Rethugs will do whatever it takes....

to "aquire" this seat from us.