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Torricelli whitewash in the works?
Washington Times ^ | 7/29/02

Posted on 07/28/2002 10:23:33 PM PDT by kattracks

Edited on 07/12/2004 3:55:59 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

Some aspects of serving in the Senate aren't so much fun anymore for Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, the acting chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. "I don't want to be on this committee any longer," says Mr. Inouye, who assumed the chairmanship after Nevada Democratic Sen. Harry Reid recused himself from the most pressing matter currently before the panel: what to do about allegations that a fellow Democrat, Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey, improperly accepted cash and gifts from a political contributor.


(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 07/28/2002 10:23:33 PM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
They have to whitewash it....either that or appologize to James Trafficant!
2 posted on 07/28/2002 10:25:44 PM PDT by brat
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To: brat
bump
3 posted on 07/28/2002 10:42:09 PM PDT by timestax
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To: kattracks
Great post. Thank you Sir. Now why doesn't the Repub campaign take the ball and run with it? If ever there was a time for hardball, with Dasshole's political handling of the US Senate, it is now.

And ref the TRIexpOTUS blaming Bushes, senior and present, for our economic woes- it makes one wonder if Dubya will regret not following his principles and investigating/prosecuting the criminal clintoons.
4 posted on 07/29/2002 3:23:29 AM PDT by hoot33
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To: timestax
Nothing here ... just move on .....

Torricelli 1

Torricelli 2

.

To the editors The New Republic:

I was disappointed to read Jason Zengerle's article about my colleague Senator Bob Torricelli and am writing to clear up several misimpressions ("Clubbed, " May 7). In my many years of dealing with Torricelli--as both a private citizen and a fellow senator--I have always known him to be an honest man. First and foremost, I refute Zengerle's implication that Torricelli does not have any friends in the Senate. Torricelli is my friend, and there are many others I know who feel similarly.

Second, I challenge Zengerle's assertion that fellow senators were reluctant to return his call and did so only after "who knows how much cajoling" by Torricelli or his staff. I returned Zengerle's call willingly and as speedily as I could, without "cajoling." In fact, Zengerle contacted me during the Easter recess--a two-week break when senators are either in their home states or on vacation. On the day Zengerle called my Washington office, I was taking a few days off with my family. My press secretary informed Zengerle that I would return his call as soon as I was back, and I did so the day I returned to New Jersey. I spent almost 20 minutes on the phone with Zengerle, who unfortunately did not include the many statements I made challenging his views concerning Torricelli's relationship with other senators. Unfortunately, it has become clear that Zengerle based his story on a preconceived premise. I do not appreciate his comments concerning my so-called reluctance to return his calls. There was no such reluctance.

I am proud to be Torricelli's partner in representing New Jersey in the U.S. Senate. He is a strong voice for New Jersey and for progressive principles and policies.

Jon S. Corzine

United States Senator

Washington, D.C.


 

To the editors:

I feel compelled to take issue with Jason Zengerle's assessment that Senator Bob Torricelli has been abandoned by his Democratic colleagues in the Senate. In his story, Zengerle asserts that he spoke to my press secretary. In fact, he did not. He placed one call to our office, spoke to a receptionist, and then failed to follow up. Had he spoken to either my press secretary or to me, he would have heard a story different from the one he tells.

Torricelli has been and continues to be an active and engaged member of our caucus. He has made significant contributions to our national debate, and he continues to do so. Torricelli is now in a difficult position. His lawyers have advised him not to speak about the issue, and so he is practically prohibited from defending himself. He has said that, when the time comes, he will be able to answer all of the questions that have been raised, and I believe him. Contrary to the impression that may have been left by Zengerle's article, Torricelli enjoys my support and the support of his fellow Democrats.

Tom Daschle

United States Senator

Washington, D.C.





To the editors:

Before any rush to judgment on Senator Bob Torricelli, it is important to remember he has not been charged with anything--except by some in the press. Torricelli's effectiveness in the Senate is demonstrated to me every day as he negotiates for a tax policy that helps the people of New Jersey first.

In America, everyone should be presumed innocent, and, while some may criticize Torricelli's aggressiveness, the people of New Jersey can be proud of his determination to work on their behalf.

John Breaux

United States Senator

Washington, D.C.


 

Jason Zengerle replies:

Write a story alleging that Senator Bob Torricelli has broken a host of campaign finance and ethics laws and is in jeopardy of being run out of office on a rail, and Democrats say nary a word. Write a story noting that silence, and all of a sudden Democrats--namely, those who were singled out for their reticence--rally to Torricelli's defense.

Senator Jon S. Corzine took a full week to call me back--and he did so after the original deadline I had given his press secretary. During that time, a Torricelli aide made several inquiries as to whether Corzine had returned my call, and each time, upon learning that Corzine had not called me back, the aide promised to "work on" getting Corzine to do so. Indeed, on the day Corzine finally did return my call, the Torricelli aide called me beforehand to give me a heads-up. As for the retelling of my conversation with Corzine, I quoted him commenting very positively on Torricelli's relationships with other senators. Evidently one quote, in his mind, was not enough.

Senator Tom Daschle says I spoke with a "receptionist" in his office. In fact, I called Daschle's press office directly; his press secretary was not in, so another person in his press office asked if she could help me. I explained why I was calling and left my interview request with her. If Daschle and his press secretary never received that request, as they now say, that's not my fault.

When I did not hear back from Daschle, I was not surprised, given his prior reluctance to speak about the Torricelli investigation. In February he declined to comment on it in response to a Roll Call reporter's question. And, on April 23, in his most extensive comments on the Torricelli matter prior to his letter responding to my article, he merely said: "Senator Torricelli has said that these allegations are completely false, and I have no reason not to believe him."

a good link to:

Clubbed

.

.

....Nuck,Nuck, Nuck


MoeJo White-Wash

.

Mary Jo White's Tenure in the Southern District of New York ~ Capital Research Center

.

MARY JO is a NO Go ~ Bob Novak

Contradicting recent Justice Department predictions that Mary Jo White soon will be removed as U.S. attorney in Manhattan, White House sources say there are no immediate plans to replace the Clinton-appointed prosecutor. They add that her tenure may continue into next year.

That ensures the statute of limitations in the AFL-CIO-Teamsters-Democratic National Committee 1996 campaign finance scandal will block additional indictments. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka and Gerald McIntee of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) will be off the hook.

The Bush administration has been reluctant to replace White with a Republican while she considers Bill Clinton's pardons issued during his last days of his presidency and corruption charges against Democratic Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey.

.

Mary Jo White-wash scorned:

I'll bet Torricelli & the Hilldabeast are laughing their wide butts off right now

Shame on Bush & Janet Ashcroft if they let her wipe the slate on the way out the door

Source Says Feds To Clear Clinton In Marc Rich Pardon Case

AUGUST 03RD, 2001

NY1 has learned Friday the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office has not been able to find proof former president Bill Clinton did anything illegal in his last-minute pardon of New York financier Marc Rich.

A federal official tells NY1 prosecutors investigating the controversial pardon heard about lapses in judgment by the former president, but not anything worthy of an indictment.

It is not clear when the probe will formally be closed, but the source tells NY1 it looks like it will be soon. Federal prosecutors were looking to see if Rich's ex-wife Denise bought the last-minute pardon with campaign donations.

The same source also says it is unlikely Clinton's brother Roger will be indicted for selling pardons.

.

5 posted on 07/29/2002 4:48:21 AM PDT by Elle Bee
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To: KQQL; eureka!; Dales
Mr. Torricelli is in a fight for his political life; a just-released poll shows him in a dead heat with his Republican opponent, businessman Doug Forrester.

Anyone know anything about this poll referenced above?

6 posted on 07/29/2002 9:20:40 AM PDT by Coop
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To: Coop
Can't help you there Coop. Haven't seen NJ poll in weeks and only recall the Torch's negatives being the most promising feature...
7 posted on 07/29/2002 9:46:08 AM PDT by eureka!
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To: Coop
Found it.
New Public Poll Says Forrester-Torricelli Match Is Dead Even

Torricelli's refusal to answer disturbing questions leads NJ voters to abandon him

(HAMILTON, JULY 24) - Forrester for Senate campaign manager Bill Pascoe - responding to the release of a new SurveyUSA poll commissioned by KYW-TV in Philadelphia, which shows the Forrester-Torricelli race for New Jersey's U.S. Senate seat deadlocked at 43-43 percent - today issued the following statement:

"Great news for the Garden State - a new public poll shows the race between Doug Forrester and Robert Torricelli to be dead even, deadlocked at 43-43 percent. That represents a five-point swing to Doug since the last time SurveyUSA was in the field with a New Jersey general election survey, and it marks the fifth straight general election poll showing that Mr. Torricelli cannot break even the 45 percent threshold, despite being a 20-year career Member of Congress running against a candidate who has yet to begin his general election advertising.

"According to the SurveyUSA poll, Doug is doing better among key subgroups than Torricelli. Doug scores better among Republicans (leading by 80-11 percent) than Torricelli does among Democrats (which he leads by just 75-10 percent), and Doug is winning the Independents by a seven-point margin, 42-35 percent. Further, Torricelli scores well among the 18-34 year olds who tend to vote in lower numbers, while Doug leads among the 35-54 year olds who tend to vote in higher numbers.

"Clearly, Mr. Torricelli's silence is hurting him. He has failed to properly answer - to the satisfaction of New Jersey voters - the many questions surrounding him. He has failed to make public his sworn testimony before the Senate Ethics Committee; he has failed to make public a transcript of his interview with the FBI; he has failed to disclose what items the FBI confiscated from him when federal agents searched his home; he has even failed to take the lie detector test his former colleague, Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, says he should take.

"Conversely, the more people get to know Doug Forrester, the more they like him. What is truly stunning about this survey is the fact that Doug has continued to move up in the polls despite the fact that we have yet to begin our general election advertising.

"Don't be fooled by spin coming from the other side regarding the accuracy of this survey. Any reputable pollster will tell you that automated polls such as this one favor incumbents over challengers, for the simple reason that incumbents have higher name identification, and the default position is to support the guy whose name you recognize over the guy whose name you don't. The fact that this survey shows the race to be deadlocked is, therefore, a true warning shot across the bow of the Torricelli campaign."

Obviously a slanted story (I took it off of the Forrester website) but the poll is a SurveyUSA poll. The KYW-TV write-up is as follows:
Jul 23, 2002 10:17 pm US/Eastern

(KYW)-(Trenton)-The latest exclusive Eyewitness News Survey USA Poll of the New Jersey senate race shows a real deadlock between incumbent Senator Robert Torricelli and Republican challenger Douglas Forrester.

The poll shows each candidate with 43 percent of the vote, with the rest undecided or planning to vote for other candidates. The margin of error in this poll was plus or minus 3.9 percent.

Eyewitness News Anchor Larry Kane says the survey of 661 likely voters is an early indication of what could be a very close and expensive race. But Kane says Torricelli, hurt by an ethics investigation, is still the incumbent and will have a large war chest for November. Remember, the Democrats hold a slim majority in the U.S. Senate, and a loss of one or two seats can change that in a flash.

Kane says Forrester's challenge is to match master-fundraiser Torricelli dollar-for-dollar.

Interesting. I didn't think the torch was this vulnerable.
8 posted on 07/29/2002 10:35:43 AM PDT by Dales
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To: Dales
You are da man! Thanks. I've been bleating on and on about his vulnerability. The last three polls since mid June have shown the Torch at 44, 45 and now 43%. Terrible numbers for an incumbent, even a very well funded one. If more FReepers would put their pessimism aside and work for Forrester's campaign...

Might I suggest you take your source document and make a separate thread out of it, with the numbers prominently displayed in said thread's title? :-)

9 posted on 07/29/2002 10:55:24 AM PDT by Coop
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To: Coop
Yeah, I can do that.
10 posted on 07/29/2002 10:56:04 AM PDT by Dales
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To: Dales; eureka!; KQQL; frmrda; Torie; BillyBoy
Definitely good news that Forrester is leading among indies and has not yet begun advertising. These are the kind of numbers that, if they hold another month or so, will bring a certain GOP President to the Garden State for a fundraiser or two. Just MHO.
11 posted on 07/29/2002 10:59:44 AM PDT by Coop
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To: Coop
I think I saw this poll in politicsnj.com done by survey usa......it might still be there....da torch is da crook.......
12 posted on 07/29/2002 8:35:18 PM PDT by KQQL
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To: kattracks
Dems just need to convince the sheeple that he a good guy until November. After November, they can cut him loose because a Dem will be appointed to take his place.
13 posted on 07/29/2002 8:41:03 PM PDT by chnsmok
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To: Coop
Bump 11. Hopefully, more will come out of the Ethics (sic) hearing so as to instill a little more distaste for the Torch in some more voters' minds...
14 posted on 07/30/2002 6:11:11 AM PDT by eureka!
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To: eureka!
Yeah, but don't hold your breath on the Dem-controlled "Ethics" committee. But keep in mind these poll numbers were before the NY Times story linking the Torch to the items given to him by Chang. [grin]
15 posted on 07/30/2002 6:43:00 AM PDT by Coop
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To: Coop
I wouldn't hold my breath for anything concerning the Clymers and the 'Rats. I learned a lot during the Clinton years. As to this matter, every little bit helps to keep the negatives for the Torch up....
16 posted on 07/30/2002 7:01:34 AM PDT by eureka!
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