NJ Gov. McGreevy to Resign

[Snellius]

Heard on local news: New Jersey Governor James McGreevy to resign in November. Speculation that resignation may be tied to upcoming investigation.

[Cha]

1. Is that sad or what? We get in a Democratic

Govenor and now this? And what was that Senator's name from New Jersey..the one before Frank Lautenberg? Sorry..I'm drawing a blank.

[Hawkeye-X]

2. Torricelli

Hopefully the Lt. Governor is a Dem and a fine one.

Ah. No Lt. Governor. According to the NJ Constitution, the next in line is the State Senate President and that's another Dem by the name of Richard J. Codey

[russian33]

3. Toricelli? I think...

..that's a shame about McGreevey, he's good.

[aquart]

7. Yeah. Leading to questions about why and how this investigation happened.

[Snellius]

9. It would be a shame for N.J. Democrats

New Jersey can be an important swing state. It's been trending Democratic but after Torricelli and now this, they will have a hard time restoring their reputation. Especially bad because N.J. Repubs are some of the most inane. That guy Forrester, who ran against Lautenberg, was dumber than a shrub.

[NewJerseyDem]

14. NJ is not a swing state

One poll had Kerry leading by 20 points. The state is one of the most Democratic in the country and is the most Democratic in its elected officials.

[Wabbajack]

31. It's the only state with

0 Republicans in statewide office!

Good job.

Too bad there is so much corruption in both parties.

[Freddie Stubbs]

33. Actually WV has no statewide Republicans in office either

[Wabbajack]

44. Thanks

I keep forgeting old man Underwood lost.

[RummyTheDummy]

21. This has no effect on Kerry

He will win NJ easily. And as for the Repugs there being the most inane, they're amateurs compared to those in the south.

[napi21]

4. What investigation?

Sorry, maybe I should know this, but I don't.

[Snellius]

5. Maybe related to this:

McGreevey's ratings fall in new poll

By Robert Moran

INQUIRER TRENTON BUREAU


TRENTON - Voter approval of Gov. McGreevey has slipped in the wake of criminal charges against two Democratic fund-raisers, according to a poll released today.

A spokesman for McGreevey countered that two other polls released in the last week showed improving numbers for the governor.

But in the latest survey conducted by Quinnipiac University, McGreevey's job approval rating fell seven points - from 45 to 38 percent - since June.

The slide erased gains McGreevey made this spring after suffering from low polls numbers through most of his administration, which has been hit with a series of embarrassing controversies.

"The corruption scandal involving two fund-raisers has sent Gov. McGreevey's approval rating back into negative territory just as he was staging a comeback," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/breaking_news/9320209.htm

[aquart]

6. He's holding a news conference at 4.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. No.

It's far uglier than this. Far, far uglier. Scandal? Smear? Only time will tell.

On edit: My sources do not speak of resignation, only not running again. Source would be recognizable to all of you.

[patcox2]

17. Golan? Politics NJ says Golan has been talking.

But what about? Personal matters, or something else?

[brook]

35. I'd look...

to Rove. Deeply. Has Shrub-stink all over it, imo.

[LynneSin]

37. but why?

NJ is safe for Kerry, who has a 20pt lead. THere are no major statewide races for Governor or Senate. There serves no purpose with the Bush regime getting involved

[brook]

71. Maybe...

I'm blinded by my distrust. I've come to think that *'s administration destroys just for the fun of it. It pains me to think we live in a country where sexuality can be used against someone like this...and where someone like McGreevey has felt the need to live a life that's "acceptable". My heart goes out to him and to his family.

[Barret]

88. I suspect

they will attempt to use it make democrats look corrupt in general. That explains all these accusations coming out of FAUX all of a sudden.

Seems like they might have looked for a vulnerable dem and pounced.

[DeepModem Mom]

39. As in, how much did Rove promise, or what did Rove threaten? n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. Here is a link to an article:

NewsChannel 4: N.J. Governor McGreevey To Resign

POSTED: 2:42 PM EDT August 12, 2004
UPDATED: 3:03 PM EDT August 12, 2004

NEW YORK -- NewsChannel 4 has learned that New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey is planning on stepping down from office after more than 2 years of service.

McGreevey, a former prosecutor, came into office vowing to end corruption, but in recent months a number of his political aides and fundraisers have been accused of corruption ranging from alleged payoffs to hiring a prostitute.

more: http://www.wnbc.com/politics/3648220/detail.html

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. There is also speculation the he is simply not going to run for reelection

[ramapo]

12. Odd

Why announce in August that you'll be resigning in 3 months? Very weird.

McGreevey has been a hugh disappointment to me, a once loyal constiuent.

[KoKo]

19. I have friends in NJ who can't stand him. But then, they are Repugs and

I thought it was because he was a Dem that they disliked him. Reading this thread, it seems he's had a rocky administration. That's too bad. I used to live up there and remember Tom Florio, whom I liked and yet he always seemed to have some problems with invesigations about ties to crime or something. Then of course, there was Tom Kean....

[tilsammans]

25. Me too . . .

He's a smart guy who's turned out to be a big disappointment.

The Repugs are gonna have tons o' fodder with this one.

[patcox2]

13. From Politicsnj.com

NBC news is reporting that McGreevey will resign, but other sources say that he will simply announce that he will not be a candidate for a second term.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

16. That is the word...

Out of DonnyD. His mouth.

[patcox2]

18. Is it garden variety corruption, no-show jobs, kickbacks,

Or is it something more tabloid-y, perhaps? Does the senator say?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

30. Far more tabloidy...

The issue is the rumors of his gayness/bisexuality, and Golan Cipel.

I have multiple inside sources on this, all good ones.

[patcox2]

32. Cipel to file sex harrassment/rape suit?

Your sources confirm this? Mine say that he says he is being "blackmailed," he will resign (effective after the date that would allow Codey to finish his term), but won't admit to being gay.

[LynneSin]

34. I've heard the rumors about McGreevey being gay

I highly doubt he would sexually harass/rape someone (male or female), but I can see folks trumping up the charges to make this look bad.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

45. Sources confirm.

Paperwork in.

[Barret]

90. I would not at all be surprised

if this guy all of a sudden got a BIG deposit in his bank account minutes prior to putting the papers in...

[iceman_419]

78. Can't feel sorry for him

At first I felt did feel sorry for McGreevey, because I though the only reason he retired was because he was gay. After reading more about him though this guy seems like a dolt. He must have done something really stupid to be in this much trouble. I just hope he doesn't cost Kerry the election, even if he has a 20 point lead there. I think it is safe to say that McGreevey's political career is all but over. The democrats should not allow him to run as a democrat ever again. He is a troubled man and seems to have a very troubled personal life. I wish him well, but what he did politically was very stupid. I think he should have told the people of N.J. what the issue(s) was/were. It is hard to believe that someone would retire because he/she is gay, and no one should have to. But I feel that McGreevey may have been a bad choice from the start. Oh well, we should concentrate on finding a new candidate and winning N.J. for Kerry, not on McGreevey.

[NewJerseyDem]

15. He may just not seek reelection

That would be more likely, I would guess, than a resignation.

[PCIntern]

22. There's been that rumor about the

guy who was involved in the abortive promotion to terrorist czar in the state.

Shame of it is, he's a personable, likable, bright guy. The Rethus will make the most of this, I can assure you.

[LifeDuringWartime]

20. from what ive heard from relatives in new jersey,

mcgreevy has been a bigtime asshole. seems odd from a democratic governor

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. McGreevey's Spokeswoman Has No Comment on Resignation Report

Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- A spokeswoman for New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey had no comment on a report by WNBC-TV that the governor will resign in November.

McGreevey, a Democrat whose popularity has tumbled amid investigations of his top fundraisers, plans to step down one year before his term ends, WNBC-TV reported, citing people inside state government.

more: http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aEt4weC.A640&refer=top_world_news

[patcox2]

24. Rumor update

Its being said that he is being blackmailed by someone (Golan?) threatening to "out" him. He is going public because of the blackmail, but is not going to admit to anything. He will resign, effective September 16 so that his successor gets to finish his term.

[Cha]

27. Tres sad! Blackmailed!?

This has all the intrigue of drama on the high seas..too bad there is so much fodder for the repukes when they don't even need any!

[patcox2]

29. Now its reported Someone filed a rape accusation.

And that someone is a man.

[EST]

26. This guy must have some lousy consultants.

What the idiot should have done is change his association to repub thug then resign.

[Cha]

28. Really!

[LynneSin]

36. New Jersey is just an all - around screwed up state

with good folks living in it.

Taxes are out of control, Insurance is out of control, Cost of Living is out of control. And to top things off New Jersey gets hit with a major homeland security bill because they have Newark, major ports along the coast and proximatity to 2 major cities (NYC and Philadelphia). I highly doubt that God could come in there and fix what really ails with New Jersey.

But the McGreevey win did serve one purpose and that helped keep the Toricelli Senate seat in democratic hands. Repukes were considering trying to oust Toricelli and stepped up the pressure on that after Jeffords defected in May 2001. But when McGreevey later that year, it pretty gave repukes no hopes of ousting Toricelli and putting a repuke in his seat (Last governor before McGreevey was a republican who didn't run for re-election).

When I was in New Jersey about a month or so ago, a friend said she knew that McGreevey was gay and knew who the boyfriend was. Wasn't sure if she was full of crap or telling the truth (she's a repuke who isn't voting for Bush this year and her other friend can't stand Bush).

That state has problems and I wish luck to the next guy (fortunately another democrat). I wish Bill Bradley would run for governor, maybe he could clean up that state.

[tilsammans]

40. I absolutely love New Jersey

But you're so right, LynneSin, it's a screwed-up state.

[LynneSin]

43. I found out what my friend paid for her townhome in Central Jersey

you'd be living the highlife in Delaware with that same money. Sure, I'm an hour from the beach but there are good jobs in Delaware and I make a decent income. My one friend from NJ also lives in DE with her husband and they love NJ but swear they'll never go home because of the outrageous costs.

I hope you don't think I'm being critical - it's not the people of the state, it's just too freaking expensive!@

[Riptide]

51. My husband and I went to the University of Delaware...

He is from New Jersey, and after graduation, he decided to stay in Delaware because of the very high cost of living in NJ. We lived in Newark for 15 years, but recently moved across the state line into Pennsylvania. My husband works for the land of the big green awnings.

[tilsammans]

52. I don't think you're being critical at all

New Jersey people are great! It just costs so darn much to live here, not to mention the sprawl that's taken over so many ares.

But I stay 'cause I love Jersey folk!

:toast:

[latebloomer]

And central jersey looks like a bargain

compared to Northern NJ (NYC suburbs)! Prices for housing here are abso-fuckin-lutely outrageous!!

[Freddie Stubbs]

42. At least you have the shore!

Wildwood is my favotite.

[patcox2]

47. I don't think we are all that screwed up.

We are one of only 2 states in the US with 2 dem senators, a majority dem house delegation, dem control of both sides of the statehouse, and a dem governor. Auto insurance rates are high, people love to bitch, property taxes are high, but on the other hands, we have the second highest average income in the US, the average wage is around $50,000 per year. The immigration experience here is the best that can be, immigrants are very succesful in coming here and working and entering the middle class with relatively little prejudice. We're not all walking around under a dark cloud because its a misery just to be here, beleive me. We don't teach creation science in our schools, and even our republicans are mostly old fashioned non-whacko republicans, except for the evil Brett Schundler.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

48. The EZ Pass thing was abominable

You all got hit with retroactive increases... I forget details.
Can you shed any light on that?

[patcox2]

53. Whitman did that.

It was abominable, because she awarded the contract to a republican connected firm, the revenue source was a fantasy, the financial side of it was based on ridiculous premise. But the EZ pass technology works great, it was mostly the billing and accounting systems set up by the subcontractors Whitman used.

McGreevey inherited it. It works now, its great, very convenient, though the big brother aspects still creep me out.

[NewJerseyDem]

38. AP has confirmed this n/t

[NJGeek]

41. My father-in-law told me he was gay last year

I dismissed it, who knows where he heard that from. Not that being gay has anything to do with corruption or harassment, but wow they finally pegged this guy. The republicans in this state HATE him , more than probably any other democrat around.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

46. Yup.

Because he beat Schundler and the NJ repukes are in pitched battle, moderates v. frothers, for the soul of the party.

The stories I could tell...

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. Anyone watching the press conference?

I believe that it was supposed to be at 4PM.

[Bluebear]

50. Falwell is on CNN. Today must be the day to highlight gaybashing.

[Bluebear]

72. Falwell must be overjoyed.

[kodi]

54. the man is coming out.

.

[Bluebear]

56. This is what the fundies prefer, broken families

Forcing people to conform, now he leaves a wife and kid in tatters.

[Ediacara]

58. Are you serious?

Are you watching the press conference? Or are you just commenting on the stuff that's upthread?

[Bluebear]

61. He announced "I am a gay American."

[Kool Kitty]

55. He's resigning because he's GAY?

This is a reason to resign? This is too strange.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LynneSin]

60. Did he actually admit it?

I would hate to think that's the only reason!!!!

[Bluebear]

62. You don't 'admit' you're gay :)

He did admit an extramarital affair with a man though.

[Kool Kitty]

64. Yes, he did admit it.

But I think there's some kind of a lawsuit coming out, about rape. I'm not real sure about it. Dammit. (It's funny, the first post I ever made at this site was in response to one of your's, Lynne, about getting rid of "Schundler for Governor" signs, about how much we liked McGreevy. And I still like him. Guess we've come full circle, huh?) Dammit. I wish he wouldn't resign.

[Window]

84. I, too, wish he wouldn't resign.

.

[Pachamama]

65. Yep, under general discussion, I posted it before he said the word...

I knew it, especially after he said something along the lines of we have to come to terms of our own realities....funny since with you and others in another thread we were talking about the Gay Marriage Debate.....

[GRClarkesq]

69. I had the same thought

Sounded like he was coming out, but I thought there would be more as justification for resignation.

[NewJerseyDem]

73. He is being sued

He apparently had sex wit a male employee and is beeing sued for sexual harassment.

[TheDonkey]

59. Sad.... Society in it's homophobic ways creates scandals like this

very shocking and sad.

[Rockholm]

63. Wonder if Brit Hume will be covering this story?

[Pachamama]

66. Maybe Brit was his lover?

:eyes:

[KamaAina]

75. Actually I hear it's been assigned to Shepard Smith

Not to worry, though. I'm sure Brit can come up with the angle on how all this is Clinton's fault.

[Rockholm]

76. Actually referring to Brit's son committing suicide.......

because he was having an affair with a NY Represntative.

[KamaAina]

79. Let me guess... the rep was an (R)?

'Cause I never heard boo about it. If it had been a (D) rep, that would've been bigger news than a shark attack!

[Rockholm]

87. Bingo. A Congressman from New York. Go figure.

[Pachamama]

68. I think its' the sexual harrasment charges - by a male aide that is the

problem...not his being gay....

[Bluebear]

70. Some 33 year old Israeli guy....

Who was put on payroll and people said an Israeli coudn't be on payroll due to security clearance and the guy is about to file suit....on face value that was the reported lover.

[GRClarkesq]

67. Christmas come early for the media

Does his gay relationship and the sexual harassment charge dovetail in any fashion?

Got to be more than I'm gay and had an affair?

[goodhue]

74. Golan Cipel

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/US/mcgreevey_040812.html

Even as he made the announcement, a lawsuit is being filed this afternoon by the former adviser, Golan Cipel, in Mercer County, N.J., Court, three sources told ABC News.

* * *

Cipel is a poetry-writing former Israeli Defense Force soldier who, despite being a foreign national, was appointed by McGreevey to the homeland security post and subsequently was forced to resign the $100,000-a-year position.

[Logansquare]

81. Gay or not, you DO NOT give your lovers jobs at taxpayer expense

That goes for you too, Jeb. McGreevey hired a cute young Israeli guy to be his "homeland security" advisor, despite the fact that the man had no experience other than serving in the IDF. He apparently ditched him for another attractive "advisor," and hell hath no fury...

[goodhue]

85. some more background on Cipel resignation . . .

http://www.thnt.com/thnt/story/0,21282,602598,00.html

McGreevey adviser Golan Cipel resigns

Published in the Home News Tribune 8/15/02
By BOB INGLE
GANNETT STATE BUREAU

TRENTON -- Golan Cipel, the controversial and highly paid adviser to Gov. James E. McGreevey, has resigned for personal reasons, the Governor's Office said yesterday.

* * *

Cipel, 33, an Israeli citizen, was originally hired as McGreevey's lead security adviser in February. He resigned in March after questions about his background, but was kept on the government payroll at $110,000 a year.

The administration declined to give a formal job description or allow Cipel to be interviewed by the media.

McGreevey has said he met Cipel on a trip to Israel in 2000 and decided to bring him to the United States. Cipel was first hired by the Democratic State Committee, which also paid his $1,100 registration fee with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

* * *

http://www.thnt.com/thnt/story/0,21282,602598,00.html

[KamaAina]

77. Is this payback for Rowland?

Do not put anything past the repukes...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20040812/ap_on_re_us/nj_governor

McGreevey would be the second governor to resign in weeks, following the resignation in June of Connecticut GOP Gov. John Rowland amid corruption investigations and threats of impeachment.

[IconoclastIlene]

80. Poor guy, feel sorry for him

as if life isn't difficult enough...let they that are without sin....

[Logansquare]

83. I don't--see my comments above

There's a considerable back story to this, and he's out of the closet after screwing over a couple of boyfriends AND his wife.

[KamaAina]

82. Let's see if I've got this straight, tee hee: Rick Perry (R)

rumored to have a gay affair, and... nothing.

Ahh-nuld Schwarzenegger (R), believed to have groped everything in Cali except a few renegade sea lions, and... nothing.

And now Jim McGreevey comes out and... all hell breaks loose, and he resigns. What's going on?

Oh, right: McGreevey is a (D). That's what.

[Swamp Rat]

86. I just heard him resign, broadcasted on Air America.

Edit: Ed Schultz is talking about it now.

[arwalden]

89. He's Resiging *BECAUSE* He's Gay?? -- Or Is There Something MORE To It??

Surely that CAN'T be the ONLY reason he's resigning.

-- Allen

[Frodo]

91. There appears to be a LOT more to it.

He's resigning because he may be going to jail.

I think the fact he's gay/bisexual is merely distracting attention from the real story.