Ruh-roh! NJ repukes already gunning for a special election

[KamaAina]

I knew it. I just freepin' knew it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/12/nyregion/12CND-MCGR.html?hp (couldn't find anything w/o registration; try http://www.bugmenot.com )

When Mr. McGreevey, whose four-year term expires in January 2006, steps down this November, the law calls for the president of the State Senate, Richard J. Codey, to fill in as governor. Mr. McGreevey, however, did more than just hand off the office he held for two and a half years. He put together an exit strategy that will allow Mr. Codey to serve as governor until 2006, and run as an incumbent in November 2005, should he choose to do so. Had Mr. McGreevey stepped down immediately, Mr. Codey would have been able to serve only until a special election could be held in November.

Here it comes...

But one Republican with his eye on the governor's office, John Murphy, indicated that at least some Republicans might balk with going along with that scenario.

"What we're hoping as Republicans is that cooler heads will prevail and that we'll let the people choose who the next governor is going to be," Mr. Murphy said in an interview on WCBS-TV New York. "That it won't be some back-room deal where a handful of people decide who's going to carry the torch for the next 14 months. We've got some very tough problems here.

"I'm hoping that again that there's going to be a race in November for the governor, along with the president, and that it will be based on the issues, both nationally and locally."

Just what we need. Another hyper-electoral free-for all, just like the one we just had in Cali, and most likely with the same re$ult. :puke:

[qanda]

1. They most certainly should have an election

What McGreevey did is shameful and then to add to the mess he takes the decision of who will lead the state out of the voters' hands. Just terrible, imo.

[NavajoRug]

2. McGreevey may not have any say in the matter after all . . .

. . . as there is a good chance he'll be dragged out of office in handcuffs long before November 15th.

[KamaAina]

3. Now Christie Todd Whitman chimes in

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20040813/ap_on_re_us/nj_governor_22

Former Republican Gov. Christie Whitman said McGreevey "made a courageous decision" but criticized his plan to wait until Nov. 15 to leave office, saying it "smacks of politics." She said it "would be in the best interests of the state" for the governor to step aside immediately.

Egad! A former Bush* cabinet member (EPA) says something "smacks of politics"?!