Effort to Push McGreevey Out Is Collapsing

[Scro]

The effort to force embattled Gov. James E. McGreevey to leave office in time to schedule a special election appeared to collapse on Thursday, as Democratic leaders indicated they feared an escalating and increasingly personal fight with the governor.

Mr. McGreevey's aides said he was determined to remain in office until his self-imposed resignation date of Nov. 15, and Democratic leaders said it appeared that the governor's supporters had gone on the offensive against those who are seeking to force him to leave sooner. The leaders cited a WCBS-TV Channel 2 news report as a sign that the governor's office was fighting back.

On Wednesday, six days after Mr. McGreevey said he would resign because of an extramarital affair with another man, Channel 2 reported that an unnamed administration official was warning United States Representative Robert Menendez to stop criticizing Mr. McGreevey because Mr. Menendez himself had engaged in an affair. The official cited in the Channel 2 report accused Mr. Menendez of setting the woman up in business and referring clients to her.

State Democratic leaders said the report sent a chill through party officials, who had been bracing for new revelations about Mr. McGreevey but feared that the political standoff would descend into broader personal attacks and public embarrassments.

"This could turn into a bloodbath," said one county leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/20/nyregion/20jersey.html

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. If people knew how scabrous and leprous this effort is...

They would can the outrage at McGreevey and go looking for new targets for their wrath. Fact is, this is an effort by George Norcross, a machine politician and banker, from South jersey, to hijack the party and Menendez, to get out of The House and into The Senate.

When the truths come out about this whole thing, it will boggle the mind at the byzantine twists and turns.

The one good thing that could come of this is that the NJ State Dems will ultimately jettison some of their hackery.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Cody's Essex County...

so you know Sharpe James has a horse in this one. And Lesniak's behind McG. Haven't heard much from the North Bergen and Paterson boys. Camden and Atlantic counties are seriously pissing in the wind.

Corzine's staying out of it, Cipal has another boyfriend, and no one will ever know what's in Christie's files now that Kushner plead out.

This is really good stuff. You just couldn't make it up.

[Voltaire99]

2. Was Mrs. McGreevey a knowing beard or a Stepford Wife?

She certainly wore an Oscar-winning grin at the Gov's coming-out press conference.

[sleipnir]

3. According to all the press I've read, she had no idea.

He told her three days before the press conference and of couse she broke down crying. Though, I'm sure she must have suspected something. It's such a sad story all around, a lot of people have gotten hurt.