Posted on 08/12/2006 8:53:14 AM PDT by LdSentinal
TRENTON — To celebrate James McGreevey's 49th birthday this week, his boyfriend threw a party for the former governor at the couple's new home in Plainfield.
The idea for the 50 friends and family members who attended was to surprise McGreevey as he returned from a trip to China, where he was negotiating a deal to bring a Kean University branch to the mainland there.
What a difference two years can make.
It was Aug. 12, 2004, when McGreevey took his spectacular political plunge with his now-famous "I am a gay American" speech, spoken solemnly before a national television audience.
Three months later, the first-term Democrat left office.
In the 24 months since his declaration, McGreevey has gone from closeted to out. From married to partnered. Shunned to accepted. Conflicted to content.
"He's a totally different person," said state Sen. Ray Lesniak, McGreevey's friend and colleague for 25 years. "He is so much more comfortable with who he is — you can see it in his body language."
With a new house, a still-new relationship with Australian financial adviser Mark O'Donnell and a new book about to be released, McGreevey seems to have found his stride.
But Lesniak said the nation's first openly gay governor, who is contractually bound by his publisher from talking to the media before his memoir hits book stores next month, is still molding his identity as a gay American.
Following his stunning announcement that he'd had an affair with a man and would resign, McGreevey headed "upstate," where he collapsed emotionally, too distraught even to get out of bed, according to Lesniak.
But the former governor was soon up and about, leaning on friends, family and faith as he began a long and difficult process of reassembling his life as he wanted it to be.
Today, that life is quite full.
His sprawling house is alive with pets and parties, like the birthday bash, typically showcasing a guest list that combines a mix of McGreevey's new gay friends, old political chums such as Lesniak, and the former governor's parents.
He's got his preschool-age daughter, a frequent presence, whom he is raising along with his second wife. Then there's his work: representing Kean University in the China talks, and other education and anti-poverty projects.
And, there's the book.
Due in stores Sept. 19, "The Confession" is the memoir of McGreevey's rise, fall and resurrection. It traces his life through two failed marriages, his rapid political rise to the governor's office, and the sudden, public implosion of his political career.
For now, the details contained in the book are a closely guarded secret.
The only hint at what it says came from limited excerpts released in May, which told the story of a troubled man resorting to anonymous homosexual trysts at highway rest stops as he wrestled with desires frowned on by his Roman Catholic faith and his family.
Lesniak calls the book a "totally honest" political memoir in which not all New Jersey politicians are portrayed favorably. Though McGreevey is not out to settle any scores, he did want to be truthful and helpful to others undergoing similar struggles, Lesniak said.
One recent poll shows most New Jerseyans don't care about the book. The survey released this week the Monmouth University Polling Institute found that 8 in 10 of McGreevey's former constituents have no interest in reading it and only 1 in 20 await its publication with a lot of interest.
The book is to be launched with a splash. A two-month book tour is being planned by publisher Regan Books. It kicks off with an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show on Sept. 19 and is to be followed by a flurry of other TV spots and book signings.
Gag me.
Well as usual the Leftists purposely obfuscate to cover up the Perps real crimes just like they did BJ Clinton's. He was guilty of appointing his lover, who had no qualifications for the job, to head the New Jersey State Department of Homeland Security,. His homosexuality is irrelevant
Wonder if his ex-wife and family enjoyed themselves?
It was Aug. 12, 2004, when McGreevey took his spectacular political plunge with his now-famous "I am a gay American" speech, spoken solemnly before a national television audience.
&&
I really don't care about his sexual disorder; I am waiting for his speech in which he declares, "I am a crooked American" and then describes all of his shady dealings in office.
McGreevey's wife and kids must be proud, as proud as all the Democrats who elected him. I see he has a new boyfriend. Apparently he had quite a tiff with his old boyfriend - - the one McGreevey put on the state payroll and placed in charge of New Jersey's homeland security.
Democrats....LMAO!
Wonder if his ex-wife and family enjoyed themselves?
**
I have always maintained that the wife was the least shocked of anyone at his alleged revelation that day.
Must be a slow news day.
He must have one huge hot-tub!
But "pets"? Ewwwwwww.
This is clearly only the first of many, many fawning media accolades that we will be innundated with in connection with the upcoming publicity blitz for his book. Is Mat Lauer going to confront McGreevy about his NJ homeland security lover-boy, or congratulate him for having the courage and strength of character to come out as "gay American"? Will 60 minutes treat us to a two-segment interview? Will he get New Jersey to name a turnpike rest room after him? Will the American Library Association put his book on the recommended list for the children's section?
representing Kean University in the China talks, and other education and anti-poverty projects
He should be ashamed of himself, but he isn't.
He S-canned his wife and child, and lives in a massive new house with "partner" wallowing away in homosexual sex.
Meanwhile, he wife and child have moved into a very modest and small house, and are alone.
What a guy.
They celebrated diversity by electing some even worse.
Yeah,what a guy.Wonder what the TSA will do with all the Astroglide they removed from his luggage at the airport.
some = someone
Disgraced ex-governor
Cheating spouse
corrupt Governor
Crook
Please feel free to add to this list. His children must be so proud of all of this.
You can almost read the lisp in the writing. Is there such a thing as a flaming writing style?
Mostly just silly and self-indulgent. I guess it's always about them, them, them or me, me, me. It's so tiresome and childish.
How precious. But has he adapted as "crooked politician"?
Now that our guys at Gitmo are being watched by every clymer in the world's watch dog organizations to prevent any more (alleged) flushing of Korans, maybe they should take a look at this book.
I suggest that the supply will soon be nearly inexhaustible and would probably overwhelm the disposal plant of a sizable city.....would be fitting to put this book back from whence it came!
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