Torricelli News Conference 5 pm EST LIVE THREAD

[alisasny]

Opine away : )

[Torie]

Actually, if it had been 15 days ago, it would have worked just fine. They were just a tad late because the memo came out a bit late after Torch lost in suppressing it a bit late, and then the WABC special on The Torch and the Chang interview (which demonstated beyond per adventure that Torch was a liar and a crook and a greedy tawdy bastard who was not above using mafia thugs to handle certain unpleasantries), was also late. It was all a bit late. If only the chain of dominos had begun falling three weeks ago. But they didn't. Probably it was a GOP plot from the beginning to make it too late, with GOP judges trying to screw the Torch in both their timing and their substance. That is why we need a Dem Senate. There are two many GOP judges out there trying to screw Dems like the Torch, and it isn't fair.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Could someone ping me when Forrester comes on, I'm watching "The Godfather" on VH1. This torch drama had me yearning to watch a little honorable mafia.

[willyboyishere]

#1912--Does this mean Bianca Jagger is going to be the next
NJ Senator?

[pulaskibush]

I don't know NJ law, but if Forrester gets "legally" screwed out of a race, a backlash against the dems will occur.

We need to maximize that backlash.

[IMRight]

Yup, all of the above could happen, and the Dem would serve until Jan 3, 2003, at which time his term would expire, and he would be replaces by Forrester, who won the other election for the term commencing Jan 3, 2002

Oh don't get me wrong. I agree how the law should be read. I'm just pointing out how sill the interpretation some here (and gleefully on DU) have made.

Let's read the statute again and interpret it the way they would have it read:

"If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this state in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof"

If Torch quits the day after he loses an election.... did a "vacancy happen..." yup.

When is the "the general election next succeeding the happening thereof"???? - Nov 2004.

I know that isn't constitutional. But it's every bit as valid a reading of that law as the ones that say Torch quiting "cancels" this Nov's election.

[deport]

If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this state in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless such vacancy shall happen within thirty days next preceding such election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding general election, unless the governor of this state shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do.

The governor of this state may make a temporary appointment of a senator of the United States from this state whenever a vacancy shall occur by reason of any cause other than the expiration of the term; and such appointee shall serve as such senator until a special election or general election shall have been held pursuant to law and the board of state canvassers can deliver to his successor a certificate of election.

In your case of him running, getting defeated and resigning, then the resignation occurred after the election, not before and within 30 days of the election as specified in the above cited law.... Thus a replacement can be appointed for his resignation for the remainder of the unexpired 107th term which is all he was elected to serve . The Senator for the 108th which was the election the Torch lost under your senario was elected and thus takes his seat on Jan. 3, 2003.

[Gamma-131-I]

It probably would get struck down as you say, but then we would still be subject to six long years (or more) of rants about how control of the Senate was handed over to the eeeeviiiillll Republicans illegitimately by the blatant judicial activism of the US Supreme Court.

Don't believe me? Just take a quick look at how many times they still try to use that about Bush.

I live in NJ and I'm not altogether sure whether I should be happy about this development or not. I think I'm going to wait and see how it all develops. I just can't make myself believe the Democrats would be so stupid as to do something this drastic without paying close attention to the timeline for getting it to work. I suppose it's possible, but I'm really nervous about this one. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it all develops over the next week or two.

Gamma-131-I

[Howlin]

He's on now!

[A Citizen Reporter]

Forrester: I think that there is an attempt on the part of certain political bosses to substitute a candidate. I don't know that it will work.

It's clearly too late, 51 days on before the election. I don't believe that there is any way to legally substitute another candidate.

Way back last summer we asked for his resignation, and had he done it then, we wouldn't be here today.

[IMRight]

All you've got to do is read your own post and bold the sentence prior to the one you chose to (or read my post that just preceeded yours).

The vacancy did not "within thirty days next preceding such election", so that part of the statue does not apply. But the first sentence sure would (if this law could ever be interpreted to cancel/overturn an election...which it cannot).

[CedarDave]

We have to sweat the next 36 days until election day.....at any time in those 36 days the TORCH could resign and McGreevey appoint another DEM to fill the seat ....then the election is pushed back til 2003...

That's exactly what is going to happen. But Torie in #1672 has it just right. The attempt is so blatently obvious that the courts would almost certainly rule that it was an attemp to manipulate the election by replacing a candidate who is behind in the polls with one likely to do better.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Very short interview, which Hannity ends by shaking his hand and saying, "Best of Luck, Senator!" LOL!

[Alberta's Child]

Imagine being one of those black mayors that Torricelli brought out for that news conference a few days ago. They all stood up and praised Torricelli for his commitment to New Jersey's urban sh!t-holes, then urged their constituents to support the crooked scumbag "for the good of the state."

Note to all black folks in New Jersey: If you ever had any doubt that you are considered stupid, marginal, third-rate goofballs by the people who claim to represent you, this ought to clear everything up for you. For Torricelli to trot all those morons out in front of the cameras to go to bat for him, only to have him drop out of the race a few days later . . .

[marajade]

I got the feeling that even Alan Colmes thinks its dishonorable...

[IMRight]

Love the nic.

Would you be offended if I changed mine to "Conservative_Diet_Dr.Pepper_Drinker"?

[deport]

LOL........ Interesting. And the beat goes on.....

The governor of this state may make a temporary appointment of a senator of the United States from this state whenever a vacancy shall occur by reason of any cause other than the expiration of the term;

The Torch ran lost, resigned.... Another was duly elected to take over as the NJ Senator in the 108th beginning Jan. 3, 2003. Seems the above says the Gov can't appoint beyond the expiration of the term which the 107th and Torch's current term expire on Jan. 3, 2003.

[Howlin]

I was impressed; he's well spoken.

[Howlin]

I know what you mean; if I wasn't so worried, I'd laugh. Regardless of what happens, he IS gone. One down.

I honestly wouldn't bat an eye if Clinton made the ultimate sacrifice and moved to NJ. For the party, you know.

Can there be ANY doubt that the Dems put party above country after this last week?