Torricelli News Conference 5 pm EST LIVE THREAD

[alisasny]

Opine away : )

[LisaFab]

Yes, they'll be howlin all right! :-)

Jane, Howlin is right. Here's the setup: they go to the SCONJ and get out-lawyered and generally pimp-slapped then blame it on the wascully wipublicans. Same old song and dance.

[Diddle E. Squat]

The pragmatic side of my brain says that if all the current officeholders(translated power hungry opportunists) are turning down the appointment, then that means it is either very unlikely that whoever is appointed will win, or they would be taking a risk by being forced to resign their post to run(is that the NJ law?)

The tinfoil side of my brain says that this is just a formality greasing the skids for an unconventional candidate. "We just couldn't find a current officeholder willing to run, nor a suitable replacement from with our current pols, so we turned to an outsider for a new start." Lisa Beamer still the tinfoil darkhorse.

I'll stick with the pragmatic side of my brain, but if the amazing does happen...

[gridlock]

McGreevey could appoint subject to a special election to be held between November 5 and the date when the new Senate is sworn in. That way the term is not extended, because the Torch's seat ends on the date of the swearing in, just as it would have without the special election.

Sorry, don't mean to do the 'Rat's work for them, but that one is pretty obvious.

[justshe]

I also heard the rumor about Beamer. I am hoping she also turns them down.

[cake_crumb]

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

'COURSE not. I'd be surprised if he did resign...thus splitting the Senate down the middle, thus making life a little tough for the Democratic Obstruction Machine in the Senate.

[ChadGore]

Sen Baba anyone ?

[NeoCaveman]

Why not!

Maybe the RNC would then bring out the McGreevey dirt that Schundler didn't use.

[tip of the sword]

I heard Bill Bradley is on a private airplane and is deliberately not answering phone calls from Democrats.. BWAHAAAAAAAAA!!

[aristeides]

Torch's resignation would not split the Senate down the middle. It would be 50-49 (Jeffords voting with the Dems for organization,) until such time as the replacement appointed by McGreedy took his seat.

[Howlin]

Here's some help:

This is partly because it is not particularly chic for celebrities to come to New Jersey, which is just fine with us. We're somewhat blasé about celebrities out here because, in fact, most people from New Jersey are celebrities. I could just say the words "Frank Sinatra" and leave it at that, but the truth is that most of the movie stars, the really significant ones, Susan Sarandon, John Travolta, Michael Douglas, Kevin Spacey (who grew up about two blocks from where I write this), Tom Cruise (who grew up about a mile from here), Bruce Willis, Kirsten Dunst (about half a mile from Cruise's house), Elizabeth Shue (who went to the high school right outside my window), Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Linda Fiorentino, Danny DeVito (who waited on tables two towns over), Whitney Houston (whose mom directs a church choir in Newark), Jason Alexander (who went to Livingston High right down the road) and, oh, maybe a couple of dozen others are from New Jersey. Other celebrity types like Bruce and Bon Jovi and Lauryn Hill (who shops at my Rite Aid) and most significant athletes, current or retired (such as Yogi Berra, who has a museum not far from me), are either from or live in New Jersey. And though it isn't widely known, nearly all truly great American literature was written by writers from New Jersey. (I refer not so much to our greatest man of letters, Edmund Wilson, or our greatest living poet, W. S. Merwin, or even Philip Roth, but to Mark Leyner, whose "The Tetherballs of Bougainville" will dominate next century's best-of lists the way "Ulysses" and "Lolita" did the last one.)

[Dog]

NJ Supreme Court Justices

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

LOL

[r9etb]

Could all the delays with Torch's press conference be because they can't find a replacement?

More likely, because the DNC lawyers are scrambling to put together some sort of legal analysis of their options.

I seriously doubt that Torch has anything to do with the delays at this point.

IMHO, this is all happening because something big is coming. Torch will read whatever script they hand him in exchange for them burying whatever legal thing that finally pushed him over the edge into quitting.

[NeoCaveman]

I heard Bill Bradley is on a private airplane and is deliberately not answering phone calls from Democrats.. BWAHAAAAAAAAA!!

As much as I disagree with Bradley on eerything, I do kind of like the guy. Atleast he has some character.

[LisaFab]

AP reporting that Torch will serve out term but drop from race. Will try to get exemption from the 48 day rule from the NJ Sec of State. Court battle expected.

[Diddle E. Squat]

They'll sure try it. Someone said on another thread said the SCONJ has a Republican majority.

I find that hard to believe, but then again, it is NJ, and it could be the Schundler shunning bought and paid for type of Republican. Just look at their ruling against the Boy Scouts.

I am one of the biggest proponents of Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment, but corruption is the quickest way to kill the GOP.

But I digress.

[GraniteStateConservative]

There's nothing to lose for the congressmen. They are on the ballot regardless. If they win the Senate race, they hold a special election-- unless the Republican wins the congressional race (unlikely) against the incumbent.

[GraniteStateConservative]

No, the state supreme court is quite liberal.

[SternTrek]

and what is that dirt? there have been big rumors for awhile on his "direction" (and i don't mean political direction).

[kellynla]

well I guess I will pop some popcorn...the show will be starting in about a half hour...