TOCH QUITS TOADY.....SENATE NOW UNDER REPUBLICAN CONTROL?

9-30-02 | Rash32

[Rash32]

As the Toch quits, does this mean the republicans take back control of the senate with a VP tie-breaking vote????

[be131]

But if he resigns his seat effective today, then yes, the GOP will regain control unless McGreevy appoints someone to fill his seat. And if he does that, then there will be no election in Nov and the replacement will serve for 2 years.

If he resigns, the Senate will be 50-49 to the Dems/Independents. So it will still be Dem-controlled.

[Arkie2]

Tich toch, the clock is ticking for the Toady. Enquirer mines won't to no! Is he is or is he ain't my sentor?

[Adam-ondi-Ahman]

[grannie9]

PIMP

[Arkie2]

Sorry, don't know what PIMP means( outside of its normal usage, as in the Democrats are pimps for Saddam ). Is that good or bad?

[Jack Black]

"And if he does that, then there will be no election in Nov and the replacement will serve for 2 years" Really? Where did you get this tidbit from?

[Skooz]

I thought he was refering to Peter Toch

What does "Pow R Toc H" refer to ?

Well, most people seem to feel it means "Power Toke" or "Power Tokage" or something along those lines. Another suggestion is "Power Touch," but the problem with that is that the space is between the C and H, not between O and C.

The power tokage makes the most sense, tokage being a reference to Toking (the act of smoking another one, a reefer). The band stated in an early interview that Pow R Toc H is pronounced just as it is written (i.e. pow are toc ache) say this a few times fast, and you get power tokage.

The song itself was inspired by an incident that happened after an early gig. While the band was unplugging and packing, a drunk/stoned person ambled on stage, walked to the nearest microphone and started making noises: "Ka-choom pa pa, ka- choom pa pa..."

[alnick]

And if he does that, then there will be no election in Nov and the replacement will serve for 2 years.

I'm not so sure about that. If that were true, then all senators would quit right before the election, thereby cheating their opponents and their constituents out of an election. Toricelli cannot possibly have the legal power to eliminate an election all together.

[lstanle]

"FOX News says he may quit the Senate today"

I didn't hear that he may quit the Senate today. I heard that he may withdraw from the Nov. election. If he quits the senate I assume the Democrat Gov. of N.J. would appoint someone to fill the remainder of his term. If he withdraws from the race, I assume the Democrats will replace him on the ballot with ADBT, any democrat but Torch. And ADBT will probably win in N.J. Bad news for Republicans any way it goes.. IMO

[Phantom Lord]

Torrecelli doesnt have the power. But the Governor does. The appointed replacement would not have to face election until the 2nd general election after his appointment. This Nov being the 1st, and Nov 2004 being the 2nd.

[Jack Black]

"If he resigns, the Senate will be 50-49 to the Dems/Independents. So it will still be Dem-controlled."

Yes. Took me a second but I see it. It was 50 50 after the elections. The the traitor Jeffords flipped, but went "I" not "D" technically. That makes it 50D 49R 1I. If Torch leaves that will make it 49D 49R and 1I. I+D=50, a controlling majority, though it may force Jeffords to change again to a Dem for them to automatically control the committees and such. Lott could ask to go back to power sharing :-) "We did it when we were tied with a tie breaker, now the glove is on the other hand". Dashcle would say no, but the exercise would be good to make the idiots understand that IT'S NOT A TWO WAY STREET!

Of course the FBI Files are responsible for Lott's horrible leadership, I still believe.

[alnick]

I don't doubt your word because I don't know, but I have a hard time accepting that any governor could legally do away with an election all together. What about all the money Forrester spent and more importantly, what about the people's right to be able to vote?

[Kaisersrsic]

I think that the Phantom is referring to this:

The relevant N.J. statute if Torch resigns from the Senate within the 30 days before the election appears to be the following:

19:3-26. Vacancies in United States senate; election to fill; temporary appointment by governor

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.

This provision appears to have been enacted to comply with the requirements of the Seventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides:

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

Of course, the same flaw appears both the State law and in the 17th Amendment -- the language does not specify that the six-year term cannot be extended as the result of an appointment.

This will get interesting

[ru4liberty]

[Charles Henrickson]

Peter Tork, one of the original "mebmers" of the Monkees (not Monkeys)?

[alnick]

Oh that sucks.

[Charles Henrickson]

Toady? Toch?

He's afraid he'll loose the election.

[Charles Henrickson]

Peregrin Took?

[writmeister]

Yes. I read that statute. It is in the section pertaining to special elections. However, the election code section pertaining to general elections makes it clear that vacancies must be replaced more than fifty days out.

Moreover, there is a federal statute regarding election dates which clarifies that a State must have the federal general election on the first Tuesday in November.

[SwinneySwitch]

Torricelli's campaign issued a news release saying that at the news conference he would "address today's misleading rumors."