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New Jersey Switcheroo
WSJ ^ | September 15, 2006 | WSJ

Posted on 09/15/2006 4:30:08 AM PDT by Brilliant

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 ... had the November election in the bag. Now they see Republican Tom Kean Jr. surging... 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...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.

The details of the case are as follows. In 1998, while Mr. Menendez was a member of the House, he helped a nonprofit housing and health-care agency known as the North Hudson Community Action Group win designation as a federally qualified health-care center. This designation allowed the nonprofit group to obtain $9.6 million in federal grants. The nonprofit's employees have contributed some $30,000 to Menendez campaigns over the years, including $9,000 from the agency's director. The alleged conflict of interest arises from the fact that the Hudson County nonprofit paid Mr. Menendez a total of $329,353 starting in 1994 to rent a building he owned...

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


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: andrews; bubba; clinton; elections; gardenstate; goodfellas; impeached; jersey; kean; mafia; menendez; new; newjersey; nj; njsenaterace; sopranos; squirt; switcheroo; thegardenstate; thesopranos
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The rules that apply to Republicans obviously don't apply to the Democrats.
1 posted on 09/15/2006 4:30:08 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Brilliant

I wish the R's would do a switcheroo in Conn.


2 posted on 09/15/2006 4:36:53 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: Brilliant

The Republicans did a switcheroo replacing Rep. Matt Rinaldo with Assemblyman Bob Franks back in the early nineties. Rinaldo had been a staunch pro-lifer, but was willing to s**** the pro-life voters by depriving them of the chance to vote for another candidate in the primary. Franks is pro-abortion.

Rinaldo also kept his war chest to retire on, which was legal back then. Now they have to establish a foundation and hire themselves.

Mrs VS


3 posted on 09/15/2006 4:39:35 AM PDT by VeritatisSplendor
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To: ClaireSolt

The incident is further proof of Corzine's poor judgment, I'd say. The guy doesn't seem to be able to do anything right.


4 posted on 09/15/2006 4:41:30 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Brilliant

I think it would be very difficult to do the Switcheroo with a sitting Congressman, is he going to start feeling faint and have to retire?

I think if they try the Switcheroo again, it will backfire, but they could be desparate enough to try.


5 posted on 09/15/2006 4:43:27 AM PDT by RobFromGa (The FairTax cult is like Scientology, but without the movie stars)
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To: RobFromGa

He'd have to pull out.


6 posted on 09/15/2006 4:48:17 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: RobFromGa

NJ voters were stupid enough to reelect LOUSE-enberg. I suspect if they dump Menendez and run someone else, that Demo will win. It's a shame too since we need a gain in NJ. Looks like that is the only state the GOP might pick up. With potential losses in several other states, the Republicans need all the help they can get.


7 posted on 09/15/2006 5:02:20 AM PDT by TNCMAXQ
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To: Brilliant

Corslime is fuly owned and operated by the entrenched powers that be in NJ. He was exploited for his money but has no power to do anything not approved of by the mob known as the dem party in NJ.


8 posted on 09/15/2006 5:02:42 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: ClaireSolt
I wish the R's would do a switcheroo in Conn.

And in Delay's district in Texas.

9 posted on 09/15/2006 5:02:50 AM PDT by TexasNative2000 (Thailand?)
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To: Brilliant

Why do we suffer so for our state?


10 posted on 09/15/2006 5:03:03 AM PDT by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
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To: RobFromGa

Menendez was appointed to the Senate to fill Corslime's senate seat when he became Governor. Menendez was an elected congress-critter prior to the appointment.


11 posted on 09/15/2006 5:04:22 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: Brilliant

I hear Torricelli is available...


12 posted on 09/15/2006 5:07:02 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Democrats are guilty of whatever they scream the loudest about.)
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To: OldFriend

I'm just pointing out that it would be difficult to come up with an excuse that merits pulling him off the ticket since he is a sitting Senator right this very moment in Washington. Not that they couldn't make something up, but they'd have to somehow remove Menendez from office for the remaining 3 months of the current term to do this switcheroo...


13 posted on 09/15/2006 5:08:00 AM PDT by RobFromGa (The FairTax cult is like Scientology, but without the movie stars)
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To: Brilliant
I'm available!!!!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

14 posted on 09/15/2006 5:08:13 AM PDT by mware (Americans in armchairs doing the job of the media.)
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To: RobFromGa

The phrase "an offer he can't refuse" comes to mind.


15 posted on 09/15/2006 5:09:53 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Democrats are guilty of whatever they scream the loudest about.)
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To: Brilliant

The 51-day deadline to switch Bob Menendez off the ballot expires this Sunday, Spetember 17.

Not that this rule matters, of course.


16 posted on 09/15/2006 5:22:14 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: Brilliant; Liz; Howlin; ALOHA RONNIE; MurryMom
...thought Mr. Menendez had the November election in the bag.

...until *Bubba showed up and applied his Midas touch. *Squirt's record will remain intact - endorsing a candidate and then watching them lose.


Former President Bill Clinton, center, speaks to U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., right, and his daughter Alicia as they take the stage during a fundraiser for the Menendez re-election campaign in Elizabeth, N.J. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006 outside the home of state Sen. Raymond Lesniak. (AP Photo/Christopher Barth)


17 posted on 09/15/2006 5:24:06 AM PDT by Libloather (Just declare the UN as an enemy combatant and kick their ass out of this country!)
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To: Brilliant

In New Jersey they are all thieves competing to steal from a single victim.


18 posted on 09/15/2006 5:25:31 AM PDT by tcostell (MOLON LABE)
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To: tcostell
In New Jersey they are all thieves competing to steal from a single victim.

Unfortunately, I'm the victim!

19 posted on 09/15/2006 5:26:36 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: gridlock
We actually threw them ALL out some years ago. The good and the bad in a clean sweep.

Evidently the fungus remained and contaminated all the new pols too.

There is no hope in this state. It was always corrupt. Too much money here, too many offers they can't refuse. And we're the ones who end up paying and paying.

20 posted on 09/15/2006 5:33:40 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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