Torricelli News Conference 5 pm EST LIVE THREAD

[LisaFab]

You know we have better lawyers - theirs are in Congress while ours at out in the real world practicing. :-)

[Political Junkie Too]

Incumbancy does not imply that one will run forever. Why isn't Phil Gramm running? He's an incumbant. Should Gramm's name automatically be on the ballot, too?

-PJ

[Cyber Liberty]

"If the Torch resigns now, McGreevey appoints a replacement who, by virtue of his "incumbancy" is then automatically on the ballot."

Better not try that. I've never heard of a state "automatically" placing anybody on a ballot. I've seen incumbents forced to wage a write-in campaign because they failed to gather enough petition signatures to get on the ballot.

NJ may be an oddball on this. Wouldn't be the first time for the garden state.

[justshe]

MSNBC reporting that the Rats are going to the New Jersey Supreme Court to stop the ballots from being printed.

[ChadGore]

The DNC is displaying their raw lust for power, the people be damned.

[Miss Marple]

I am still wondering why he is going through this now. If the Rats were even half-way confident they would just put their money into other races and ignore Torch, hoping for the best.

BUT, if something is about to come out on Torricelli, maybe this is why they are dumping him.

[tip of the sword]

Breakout the extra martinis and other assorted adult beverages , MSNBC is reporting that the Dims are going to go to the New Jersey Supreme Court if necessary to stop printing the November election ballots.

I'm going to have a scotch now..

[r9etb]

Well now, isn't that just damn convenient.

Let's be really cynical about this. OK, so Bradley's on a plane and "can't be reached." What a fine, dramatic opening for his campaign to have him getting the "surprising" call from McGreevy at the airport, on live, prime-time TV?

They'd do it. You know they would.

[Bob Buchholz]

Just on ABC news (radio) the Torch will serve out the rest of his term, no resignation.

[cake_crumb]

"seems Bradley is on a plane somewhere and not taking their calls..."

Bradly isn't taking their calls?? LOL...too good to be true though...they'll get hold of him.

We need to get ready with BIG cries of "FOUL", "VOTER DISENFRANCHIZEMENT" and "THE DEMOCRATS ARE SO DESPERATE THEY CANCELLED AN ELECTION" (if and when they cause the election to actually BE cancelled, that is)

[Southack]

"They're now saying that if someone steps down within 51 days of an election, his/her Party may NOT appoint a replacement. That's NJ law; reported on FNC just now by Shepard Smith."

Yes, but you're presuming that there will be an election.

NJ is a corrupt Democratic machine-state, and it's written election law (unconstitutional as it is), permits the governor to appoint a Senator immediately to replace Torricelli after he resigns, and if the Torch resigns within 30 days of the November 5 election, then the governor can CANCEL the election (per said bad law) and wait as long as two years before anyone gets to vote (at which point, the trick can be repeated 1 day prior to the new election).

[aristeides]

D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams (an incumbent) just had to mount a write-in campaign in the Dem primary because he couldn't prove he had enough valid signatures on his petitions. He won the primary, by the way.

[Miss Marple]

Bottoms up. Second martini being poured.

Better go dust and check on the chicken.

[Southack]

"Breakout the extra martinis and other assorted adult beverages , MSNBC is reporting that the Dims are going to go to the New Jersey Supreme Court if necessary to stop printing the November election ballots."

Their new slogan:

We're Democrats. We don't need elections.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Whew, I'm glad you caved 'cause that was all I had......... lol

[Dog]

On Local Philly News their reporter just reported that EVERY NJ CONGRESSMAN HAS TURNED DOWN THE DEMS!!!!!!

[teletech]

NPR is reporting that the Torch WILL drop out of the race IF a "suitable replacemnt can be found". U N B E L I E V A B L E!!!

[aristeides]

Why wouldn't Bradley ignore the TV broadcasts the same way we can assume he is ignoring the messages that have been coming to him today? (You know assistants have been phoning him on the plane -- he'll take their calls.)

[San Jacinto]

If I am reading what has been posted about New Jersey law correctly, it is already too late for the Dem Party to put a new name on the ballot (inside 48 days of the election).

If Torch resigns, the Dem governor appoints his replacement.

If Torch resigns from the Senate before Oct. 5, then a NJ Senator is elected in the coming election this year.

On the other hand if Torch resigns within 30 days of the election, then the Governor can cancel the coming election and the appointee would serve until the 2004 election OR the governor could call a special election before then.

My guess is that it would be politically untenable for the governor and the Dems to let the appointee serve til 2004.

I am afraid what they are doing is this: (1) Torch resigns within 30 days of the election(after Oct. 5); (2) the gov. appoints a new Dem Senator; and (3) the gov. sets the day for the special election for January or February. That way the newly appointed Senator would get to build up a little name ID as an incumbent.

It seems clear the Dems want Torch out of the race, and I cannot beleive they would let it happen in a way that their chosen replacement does not have his name on the ballot. Hence, the above scenario.

[Miss Marple]

WOW! Now that is BIG news!!