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Is Menendez About To Be Thrown Under The Bus?
Instapundit ^ | 9/15/06 | Patrick1

Posted on 09/15/2006 10:10:02 AM PDT by Patrick1

Looks like the New Jersey Dems are getting desperate.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: menendez; newjerseyelection; njsenaterace; switcheroo
For pure entertainment value, not much can compete with the blood sport of New Jersey politics. Last week federal investigators launched a probe into whether U.S. Senator Robert Menendez illegally benefited to the tune of more than $300,000 from a rental-income deal he had with a nonprofit agency that received millions of dollars in federal contracts. Even liberal good government groups agree that the relationship may have violated congressional conflict-of-interest rules.

The allegations have sparked a mini-panic among state Democratic operatives, who not so long ago thought Mr. Menendez -- who was appointed by Jon Corzine to complete his Senate term after being elected Governor in 2005 -- had the November election in the bag. Now they see Republican Tom Kean Jr. surging into a lead. If Republicans were to pick up a seat in this deep blue state, Democrats' chances of winning control of the Senate would be all but slammed shut.

That's why, as reported by the Newark Star-Ledger, there's now widespread speculation that the party brass may decide to throw Mr. Menendez overboard and replace him with an alternative -- nine-term Rep. Rob Andrews, perhaps -- who is regarded as more electable. This has become a familiar practice in the Garden State and has become known derisively as the New Jersey Switcheroo. . . .

If this story seems like déjà vu all over again, it should. This isn't the first time New Jersey Democrats have nominated ethically challenged candidates for high office. Last year Jim McGreevey resigned the governorship after he hired his gay lover as the state's national security director. In 2002, Senator Robert Torricelli was implicated in a bribery and campaign finance scandal, prompting the party oligarchs to throw him off the ballot and handpick Frank Lautenberg as his replacement on the ticket. Never mind that the deadline for ballot changes had passed. Senator Lautenberg kept the Senate seat from falling into Republican hands.

1 posted on 09/15/2006 10:10:03 AM PDT by Patrick1
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To: Patrick1

Maybe they could put Lautenberg up for this seat as well. He could just cast two votes, or he could resign his other seat when he wins and Corzine could appoint a different corrupt democrat to serve out HIS term.


2 posted on 09/15/2006 10:12:54 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Patrick1

The 51-day deadline for ballot changes for this November is this Sunday, September 17. Will the Democrat Party wait until after the deadline once again to replace Menendez? Will the voters of New Jersey tolerate the Democrats going to the NJ Supreme Court yet again?

Fact is, if the Donks nominate Richard Codey, he would win hands down.


3 posted on 09/15/2006 10:13:23 AM PDT by gridlock (The 'Pubbies will pick up at least TWO seats in the Senate and FOUR seats in the House in 2006)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
...he could resign his other seat when he wins and Corzine could appoint a different corrupt democrat to serve out HIS term.

Don't give 'em any bright ideas, man...

4 posted on 09/15/2006 10:14:23 AM PDT by gridlock (The 'Pubbies will pick up at least TWO seats in the Senate and FOUR seats in the House in 2006)
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To: Patrick1
He'll get "torched".
5 posted on 09/15/2006 10:14:30 AM PDT by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
...or [Lautenberg] could resign his other seat when he wins and Corzine could appoint a different corrupt democrat to serve out HIS term.

In New Jersey, this maneuver is NOT all that far-fetched...

6 posted on 09/15/2006 10:14:33 AM PDT by Petronski (Living His life abundantly.)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
He'd get a bigger office too.

Definitely a plus (from his staff's point of view).

Alternatively, the Dems could just wait it out until a prosecution.

7 posted on 09/15/2006 10:19:12 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: gridlock
...and Corzine could appoint a different corrupt democrat to serve out HIS term.

McGreevy II: The Metamorphosis

8 posted on 09/15/2006 10:23:59 AM PDT by johnny7 (“And what's Fonzie like? Come on Yolanda... what's Fonzie like?!”)
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To: johnny7

So why don't Republicans in Montana do this to Sen Burns and force him out? ;)


9 posted on 09/15/2006 10:25:24 AM PDT by TNCMAXQ
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To: CharlesWayneCT

This would help the dems in NJ, but kill them nationally. Everyone remembers "the funeral" as a definint moment in campaign 2002, but the NJ switcheroo also hurt them dems just as much.


10 posted on 09/15/2006 10:27:41 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: gridlock

Unfortunately, they could nominate Osama Bin Laden and he would win!


11 posted on 09/15/2006 10:28:17 AM PDT by jimmyo57
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To: TNCMAXQ

Quote: "So why don't Republicans in Montana do this to Sen Burns and force him out? ;)"

Because Burns is winning.


12 posted on 09/15/2006 10:28:21 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: Patrick1

Erik? Lyle?


13 posted on 09/15/2006 10:29:10 AM PDT by isom35
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To: Patrick1

THat's right.

And then of course there's Harrison Williams, of ABSCAM repute. THe ONLY Senator to be convicted.

(I received my nomination to USAFA from Harrison Williams - What a hoot!)


14 posted on 09/15/2006 10:33:06 AM PDT by roaddog727 (Bullsh## doesn't get bridges built.)
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To: FlipWilson

No, every poll has shown Burns trailing. He really should have retired.


15 posted on 09/15/2006 11:07:33 AM PDT by TNCMAXQ
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To: Patrick1
Paging Nancy Pelosi...please pick up the courtesy phone, your culture of corruption is calling...
16 posted on 09/15/2006 11:19:46 AM PDT by ravingnutter
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To: FlipWilson

I hope he will win, but every current poll shows him behind.


17 posted on 09/15/2006 12:49:05 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: CharlesWayneCT

They sure do, I mistook Missouri with Montana. In Missouri it looks like the polls are turning around, but it is still a tossup.


18 posted on 09/15/2006 12:54:50 PM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: gridlock
Let us not forget:

Who was President of the NJ Senate when McGreedy's lover was nominated and approved by the NJ Senate?

Who was President of the NJ Senate when Corslime's nominee to be Attorney General was approved by the NJ Senate (remember the one who had an outstanding bench warrant out for her arrest)?

Who, along with Jon Corslime, led the effort to replace the Torch (Torricelli) on the ballot with Lousenberg?

Who also was a leading member of the NJ Senate when (former) Senator John Lynch was dipping into the political graft cash register? (Lynch pleaded guilty today)

RICHARD CODEY!

19 posted on 09/15/2006 1:09:36 PM PDT by leprechaun9
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To: CharlesWayneCT

That was my idea.


20 posted on 09/15/2006 1:12:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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