Torricelli News Conference 5 pm EST LIVE THREAD

[LisaFab]

I still don't believe that low poll numbers are forcing him out. If there's nothing coming out, why not just stay and exit gracefully?

So they can try to hold the seat and occupy the 'moral high ground' at the same time. Fat chance of the latter.

[SternTrek]

yes, but don't worry too much. the NJ Supreme court hates politics no matter which side is pushing it. it should be interesting to see how this plays out.

[aristeides]

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.

Who's them? Don't the Republicans now control the Justice Department? Are you saying the DNC is threatening Torch with a state prosecution?

[Miss Marple]

So, this will go to the Supremes, then. Well, how interesting.

I thnk we can talk about how the COURTS and the JUDGES should be IMPARTIAL.

I am so ticked off by this!

[gridlock]

If McGreevey appoints someone AND calls a special election, and the guy wins, what's the problem?

The problem is, the 'Rats nominated Torricelli, and now they should be stuck with him. Otherwise they get at least two swings at every ball. If they're losing, just line up another candidate and see if he does better. Meanwhile, the honorable Republican has spent his time campaigning against one candidate, only to be faced with another.

The problem is that it is sneaky, underhanded and unfair. Not to mention the fact that it disenfranchises all of those 'Rat primary voters. (Not that I spend a lot of time worrying about 'Rats, mind you)

[GraniteStateConservative]

They issued the UNANIMOUS Boy Scout ruling the SCOTUS overturned.

[RightOnline]

"...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)."

Sorry.....but with all due respect, I don't buy it. Maybe, just maybe, this could be feasible if there two years or more left in the current sitting Senator's term. Otherwise.....that would be so patently and obviously crooked/illegal/un-Constitutional as to be beyond belief. If that was possible, then a Party could legally ensure that they NEVER have to face a public election, period.

No, I think someone passed on a terribly inaccurate reading of the law.

[Dianna]

'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.

No, if he does resign there would be a Dem appointed to replace him, the Senate remains status quo.

[LisaFab]

Yikes! This is all making me very nervous although we saw how the US Supremes finally reeled in a runaway state court in 2000.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If they are just wanting to replace the names on the ballot, the SCOTUS likely won't get involved.

[GraniteStateConservative]

That was a different case than this-- replacing a name on the ballot.

I wouldn't be surprised if the SCOTUS stays out.

[tip of the sword]

Time for Chief Justice Rehinquist to start dry cleaning the robe with the gold bars on it!

[VRWC_minion]

End of story.

Yes, and no. This red herring is a bait and switch. The real story is can the Rats substitute a new name for a losing candidate ?

[cake_crumb]

"Rumor has it that DNC officials have had no luck in trying to contact Murray Mom."

ROFLOL! cocktail time for me too...

[tip of the sword]

Isnt this involving a bunch on federal issues here, I'm sure the GOP will argue that in court tomorrow.

Are the Dims angling to keep this one out of federal court, learning from Gore's errors??

[justshe]

She doesn't 'interview' like a Rat......but I have no idea.

[r9etb]

Are you saying the DNC is threatening Torch with a state prosecution?

Not "saying" -- guessing is the proper term.

Torch had been holding firm up to now. Something has pushed him over the edge. I'm guessing that there are state charges hanging out there, and that the NJ Dems are giving him a choice of what to do about them. The DNC would obviously support such a move, since it increases their chances from zero to something close to even (depending on the replacement).

[Political Junkie Too]

The real story is can the Rats substitute a new name for a losing candidate ?

Why stop with Torricelli? Why not substitute Carnahan in MO and Johnson in SD while they're at it?

-PJ

[Dianna]

Torch had been holding firm up to now. Something has pushed him over the edge. I'm guessing that there are state charges hanging out there, and that the NJ Dems are giving him a choice of what to do about them.

But if the Dems were holding something on him, why didn't they do this before the deadline? I did hear that his polls dropped like a stone after the memo last week. So maybe that was it. They thought he could pull it out. He can't so we go with plan B and really muddy things up?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Quoting Shakepeare, "Ah, that's the rub..."

See, watch for Toricelli waiting until it is within 30 days of the election to ACTUALLY RESIGN ... "Announcements" to resign don't count as a "resignation."

Then the (democrat) governor gets to APPOINT a (democratic) fill-in (since the WITHDRAWAL is within 30 days of the election) ... who gets to STAY in the office until the next general election....

.... which is two years from Nov 5, of course.

See Carnahan's example: She didn't get elected, she got appointed to the Senate AFTER her husband "lost" the election by being VOTED IN as a dead man. (Ashcroft failed to fight....and was tossed out out.)

JUST LIKE ZELL MILLER. Appointed to the Senate by a democratic governor after Paul Coverdell's (sp) death.

Daschole NEVER GOT ELECTED Senate Majority Leader ... HE GOT HIMSELF APPOINTED by democratic governors, and after Jefford's changed sides by being bribed to get a committee chairmanship.

Only problem I see, other than the moral issue which the democrats don't care about, is that one could protest in court that the annoucnement of withdrawal (coming today - 36 days prior) means the official withdrawal (next week, within 30 days of the election) is a sham and cannot be "accepted".