Kerry, Corzine, and Lautenberg should call on McGreevey to resign now!

[flaminbats]

They would be speaking out against having him in office until November. This would show the unity of national and state Democrats behind doing what is best for New Jersey. Kerry should also state that picking a personal buddy or lover should never be the method used for appointing public servants. Kerry should then knock Bush for making appointments only on the basis of political donations or loyalty, and then call on Bush to resign now.

Does anyone agree this issue could be used to help Democrats win?

[JohnnyFianna1]

1. Yes, I think that is a wonderful solution

[sir_captain]

2. The problem is that if he resigns

before Sep. 15th then there would have to be a new election in November. If he waits, then the new governor will be the democratic state senator who comes next in the succession.

[flaminbats]

5. Bill Bradley would be able to win easily in a special election..

the sooner we act, the more likely this resignation will not hurt us.

[Walt Starr]

7. Are you going to talk Bradley into running before November Bathead?

Just askin'...

[flaminbats]

8. Why no...

unless he runs.

If McGreevey accepts the challenge and Bush doesn't, we'll have another advantage over Bush/Satan.

[Walt Starr]

9. Then McGreevey needs to wait to leave office

Less than ninety days is too soon to run an effective campaign, especially this year.

[DaveinMD]

10. whatever happens

we're not losing that state.

[flaminbats]

11. that goes for Repukes as well..

if someone like Bradley did run, he could win on name recognition alone

[DaveinMD]

12. Corzine

will be the candidate. Dollar Bill is done with politics.

[flaminbats]

13. Then maybe Kerry, Lautenberg, and Bradley should call for resignation...

and Corzine can be the noble crusader.

[DaveinMD]

3. McGreevey

has more serious charges than this coming. But having the Senate President in that position until the next election is no biggie.

[Walt Starr]

4. I absolutely disagree

If he resigns now, the Republicans will pick up both the governor's office AND the Electoral votes come November.

Waiting means the election for a replacement happens next year. That gives a cooling off period and keeps a Democrat in office.

[NewJerseyDem]

23. The electoral votes are safe

I think that it is utterly ridiculous to connect McGreevey's problems with the Democratic Party. In fact, in 2003 when McGreevey had an approval rating in the 30s, Democrats picked up seats in the legislature. That is because the Democratic Party's views are popular in NJ and considering that according to 2 polls, more NJ voters support gay marriage than oppose it, I seriously doubt NJ will vote for a right winger like Bush. Also, I think Dems can win a special election this November if they have the right candidate. I don't think it is lost because this issue is thought of as a McGreevey problem not a Democratic Party problem.

[DaveinMD]

6. whenever the seat opens

Corzine is running. That seat is not going Republican. Not now or next year.

[fujiyama]

24. I heard that Corzine

isn't interested.

I doubt he'd want to do it.

[WI_DEM]

14. I'll bet you that he will resign sooner rather than later

and there will be a special election in November. The question is who can we get to run who will be able to win? I think Bradley would be great, but doubt he will do it. I want Corzine to stay in the Senate, but if he ran he probably would win it.

[DaveinMD]

15. Corzine

is running when it opens up. Odds are Dems keep the Senate seat anyhow. NJ is reliably Democrat now. Bill Pascrell will likely run for the senate seat.

[Zen Democrat]

16. No way. The guy's looking like a hero now - taking on the blackmailer.

Who knows how long this guy's been blackmailing him. I just heard tonight that earlier this week he was asking McGreevey for $5 million to just go away.

Besides, McGreevey can hang on with dignity until November 15 and a Democrat will hold the governorship until 2006.

Corzine needs to stay in the Senate. Dems have a good chance of taking back the Senate this year.

[DaveinMD]

17. there's more

to come on this story.

[eleny]

18. Let them keep fighting over this issue

Sweeps the anti Kerry vets into the corner.

[johnfunk]

19. I would rather see Dick Codey run than Bradley.

I've met with Codey on a lobbying matter -- he's a progressive Democrat with a far better handle on the mechanics and current politics of NJ than Bradley. He's as honest as the day is long, and would in fact be the best guy to force the rest of the NJ Dems to clean up their act -- and shame the even dirtier GOPers into doing the same.

[tritsofme]

20. I agree on your first point

but asking bush to resign looks like desperation. Not a smart move, just beat him in November,

[flaminbats]

22. that is possible

this strategy could be like playing with fire, leaving us all burned. :nuke:

[liberalpragmatist]

21. There's no sense in there being an election to a 1-year term

The seat is coming up for reelection in little over a year. It makes no sense to have a full, statewide Governors' race, coinciding with an already high-stakes presidential race, when the term of office would only be 1 year.

There is an election in 2005. It makes perfect sense for McGreevey to wait until after September 15 to run so that NJ doesn't have to deal with 2 governors' races in 1 year.