Downside for Democrats? Republicans to the Rescue! ( New Jersey Elections )

Editorial ^ | 10/04/02 | Russell Betts

[MissBaby]

Downside for Democrats? Republicans to the Rescue! October 5, 2002

Does anything really surprise us anymore when it comes to election politics? The country's election process is now so corrupt one more election law blatantly ignored by those with the power to ignore it should disgust all and surprise no one.

When the New Jersey Supreme Court recently deliberated over whether Senator Robert Torricelli, (D) New Jersey, could remove his name from the ballot just 34 days before an election and be replaced by a candidate selected by the Democratic party it was a charade very few are inclined to take at face.

The Democrats had the judges lined up, ready to vote their way before the resignation of Torricelli was ever announced. The democrats would not have moved to replace Torricelli had they not lined up - not just sized up - the judges in advance.

The New Jersey court has responded officially. Even though New Jersey Law clearly states a candidate can not be changed on the ballot 51 days prior to an election , the court ruled Torricelli could resign and that another candidate (former Senator Frank Lautenberg) could take his place. Absentee ballots already cast, incredibly, won't count and are to be thrown out.

The response of those who find this all very incredible is justifiable indignation. That's the easy response. The tougher response is how the Republicans should have responded officially.

Going in, the Democrats saw they had little downside and they mapped out a plan. Their candidate, Torricelli, whose campaign was rocked by ever growing scandal, was a certain loser. No downside in giving him the boot and putting a strong candidate in his stead. As for the public disgust and outrage, they would deal with that later, after the deed was done.

They knew they could count on the New Jersey court for settlement of the legal issues. In mitigating the very negative public sentiment, they knew they could count on the Republicans.

Excerpt. Complete editorial here

[TheDon]

I've read this simplistic analysis in various locals.

The beauty of what the Dems have done is that no matter what the Republicans do, including nothing, the Dems win!

The point of the exercise was to energize the Democheater base that was not going to vote the Torch back into office. Just by doing what they have done, the Dems have accomplished that. I would imagine that even if the Torch was forced back onto the ballot, he would win!

In any case, when you are going to lose, what have the Dems to lose by trying this scheme?

[MissBaby]

In any case, when you are going to lose, what have the Dems to lose by trying this scheme?

I agree. And it looks like it will work. You can bet the ballots they were ordered to print are going out fast. And the SCOTUS is does not seem to be in any big hurry. Do you think it should even be in the U.S. Supreme Court?

[bybybill]

If the key to winning elections is to modivate your base while not modivating your opponents, the Rats done screwed up big time in Jersey. Taking it one step further, nation wide, any Republican that stays home for this election is never going to vote.

[Heff]

News Media BLACKOUTS that their are 4 minor party candidate on the ballot for US Senate in New Jersey.. Posted earlier today,

Exactly!!! After all, Jeffords won and he is an Independent! Oh, that's right, he ran as a demo...err, I mean a Republican.

[MissBaby]

After all, Jeffords won ...

Is it all just so sickening.

[anymouse]

Looks like the NJ Demo-rats called in the gumba squad.

"NJSC to NJ Votors - Election Laws, Fuhgettaboutit!"

[John Jorsett]

I don't buy the arguments that the Republicans should just roll over for this. To do so just encourages the opposition to view them as patsies for the next electoral crime. If the Supreme Court slaps this down, as I believe it should, that will prevent this exact scenario from taking place in the next election. If it doesn't, this tactic will become common practice, and we might as well flush the primaries down the toilet for all the meaning they'll have.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The Democrats had the judges lined up, ready to vote their way before the resignation of Torricelli was ever announced. The democrats would not have moved to replace Torricelli had they not lined up - not just sized up - the judges in advance.

Nothing else makes sense--and it is manifest corruption. SCotUS might get surly when it figures that out, as it will.

[Doctor Stochastic]

The Republicans are getting the reputation for going to court when they cannot win the election. Pepole mention Florida 2000 and New Jersey 2002. It doesn't matter that the Democrats actually were the offending party, the GOP gets the rap.

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[John Jorsett]

So be it. If Ashcroft had gone to court in Missouri, we wouldn't have had the last 2 years of Senate obstruction. Some things are worth the cost.

The Democrats deserve the rap as the party that runs the dead. First Carnahan, now Mink. If even death doesn't terminate a Democrat candidacy, then running behind in the polls shouldn't either.

[Enterprise]

"The Republicans are getting the reputation for going to court when they cannot win the election. Pepole mention Florida 2000 and New Jersey 2002. It doesn't matter that the Democrats actually were the offending party, the GOP gets the rap."

There are, no doubt, some pretty STUPID people who would agree with the above, and that is unfortunate. (I am not shooting the messenger here, so please don't take offense.)

First: The Republicans WON in Florida and it was the RATS who went to the courts to try to overturn the election. The Republicans HAD to fight back, to preserve their LAWFULLY ELECTED win!

Second: The election has not yet been held in JOISEY, so there is as yet no winner or loser. The Republicans HAD to go to court because the people lawfully chose TORTURECELLI as the RAT candidate in the primary, but now that's he's dropped out AND the RATS have UNLAWFULLY replaced him as the candidate, the Republicans have no other choice but to fight them. Note that there are other States with both Democrats and Republicans who have filed a friend of the court brief with the SCOTUS to prevent JOISEY from getting away with this latest RAT sponsored election law violation. The best thing that can happen, in my view, is for the Republicans to fight in court, and win - and KEEP ON WINNING! In time, perhaps more RAT voters will get sufficiently disgusted with their Organized Crime Leadership.

[The Wizard]

We have to hope the USSC can read, and will come to the rescue...The democrats are betting they can force the USSC to back down

[John Jorsett]

The Republicans are getting the reputation for going to court when they cannot win the election.

Did you happen to see this: DeKalb voters file suit to throw out results of McKinney-Majette primary? Looks like the Republicans aren't the only ones turning to the courts. And that one's really a stretch.

[xzins]

Absolutely stupid conclusion by this editorial.

The Republicans should have done nothing. Then the court of public opinion would have castigated the democrats.

Bull hockey. The Dem's would have walked away laughing. And nothing would have opposed them. And they would have learned the lesson that they can do anything and receive zero opposition.

This guy is probably a dem offering republicans "good advice." Some would call it ..... poison.

[ffrancone]

SOB, WHINE, WHIMPER, SOB, WHINE, WHIMPER.
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[WFTR]

I also disagree with the writer's conclusion. Republicans need to continue to call the Democrats dishonest and repeat the charge until the people understand it. The law says that the Democrats can replace a candidate until a certain date. Beyond that date, they must either keep whatever candidate they have or leave their spot on the ballot empty. The Democrats cannot just change or disregard the law when it isn't convenient for them. The Republicans need to force the Democrats to play by the rules. If that means jailing the entire New Jersey Supreme Court for violating the civil rights of New Jersey residents trying to follow the election laws, then we should jail the entire New Jersey Supreme Court.

WFTR
Bill

[Always Right]

The Republicans are getting the reputation for going to court when they cannot win the election. Pepole mention Florida 2000 and New Jersey 2002. It doesn't matter that the Democrats actually were the offending party, the GOP gets the rap.

Only to the 15-20% of hardcore Democrats. Most Americans don't consider Bush an illegitimate President or don't think that changing election rules after the fact fair. That arguement may be repeated frequently by a few extremists, but it falls on deaf ears.