New Jersey Senate Race: Place Your Bets Here...

[ambrose]

New Jersey Senate Race: Place Your Bets Here...

This is where you stand up and make your predictions. I'll bookmark it so we come back later and crown a winner...

[nutmeg]

ping!

[Willie Green]

Lautenberg ODs on Viagra and the NJ Mob panics.
Traficant is extended a get-out-of-jail-free card and moves to Jersey.
He wins the election and joins Lott and Daschle on a trip to Hollywierd to star in a remake of the 1937 Three Stooges classic "Three Dumb Clucks".
(Traficant plays the role of Larry)

[Political Junkie Too]

My dream outcome is that the NJSC decides that their integrity is more important than being dragged into the gutter with the DNC; that they rule 7-0 against Torricelli; and that they charge him with tampering with a federal election because of his dropping out with the intent to change the outcome.

-PJ

[dawn53]

I agree. The NJSC won't want to risk the same "black eye" that the Florida Supremes got when they were slapped around by the SCOTUS.

[GOPyouth]

Beam me up!

[Dianna]

SCONJ says no to putting a new name on the ballot. Torch refuses to resign his office, and meets with an untimely demise by Oct 10.

[comebacknewt]

NJSC puts Lousenberg on the ballot.

Republican's appeal to the SCOTUS is not heard.

Lousenberg, unaccustomed to the physical demands of campaigning, has a heart attack and dies.

RATS go back to NJSC.

NJSC puts Lisa Beamer on the ballot.

She wins by double digits.

[comebacknewt]

Beamer gets to the Senate, finds out she despises the RATS, and switches parties.

Republicans take over Senate as Chaffee decides not to defect.

Dasshole has nervous breakdown on Senate floor when it is time to cede control. He grabs on to the podium and refuses to let go. Finally, security guards come and pull him away.

There. I think I've got it all covered now.

[section9]

Nice try.

However, here's the way it will go.

NJSC will rule that the need to give the Voter a choice trumps a "hypertechnical" (a phrase borrowed from the Clown Car Court in Florida) reading of the Law.

Lautenberg gets in the race. Forrester decides not to appeal, as he believes that a moderate Republican can beat a has been Democrat in New Jersey.

About a week into the new race, Torricelli is found dining with the Fishes in the Hudson River. Nobody cares. His will, written when he was five, donates all his money to the Marine Corps and the U.S. Government. The Marines spend their cut of Torch's money on seatbelts in the troubled OSPREY program. The U.S. Government loses their cut somewhere in the Bureau of Weights and Measures.

Meanwhile, Forrester campaigns as a candidate of the Twenty First Century. Lautenberg campaigns against Forrester based on the claim that Forrester is against the good work of President Roosevelt. Lautenberg starts singing "My Way" at every campaign stop, killing dogs at every event.

Forrester wins by three percent. Bank on it. Meanwhile, McGreevey holds a sit down with the Democratic Party bosses. The partnership of Michael Corleone and Hyman Roth get the take from the Copacabana, while the Lake Road Boys get the Nacional. Order is restored in Atlantic City.

Finally, aside from the fact that Forrester is actually a great candidate (I can tell this already from the interviews I've seen and from his performance in debate), I would like to point out the striking similarity between the following individuals.

They are all dead.

I mean, you all didn't think that Lautenberg was among the living, do you?

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[InvisibleChurch]

republicans win. democrats file suit

[vollmond]

The two Jusices that donated to both Torricelli and Lautenberg recuse themselves. Split decision, 3-2, denies the Democrats' request. Torricelli stays on the ballot. Torricelli gives conflicting statements as to whether he'll resign if re-elected. Forrester is forced to campaign against "A Democrat to be named later".

And the Democrats whine and cry, no matter what happens.

[alisasny]

THE court in Jersey keeps Torch on ballot, Forrester wins by 5-8% and GOP takes over Senate.

[vollmond]

Blue sky prediction:

The court recognizes that there are two requests here: Torricelli's request to be removed from the ballot, and the NJ Dem's request to replace his name on the ballot with someone else. They grant Torricelli's request - after all, this is America, and you can't force someone to run for office if they don't want to. They then tell the NJ Dems it's two weeks too late to replace his name on the ballot. End result - No new name for the NJ Dem's, absentee votes for Torricelli are ignored, and no Dem name appears in the polling booth.

I've got to stop smoking crack :).

[Iron Eagle]

Here's how it goes:

1) NJ Supremes refuse to let Lautenberg on the ballot due to the 51 day rule.

2) Torch resigns from Senate as a result, permitting Gov to appoint successor -- Lautenberg!

3) Dems then argue that NJ statute contemplates a 30 day rule for resignation and retirement. McGreevey calls a new "special election" as permitted.

4) Dems pour all money and resources into special election. They use NJEA and union money, as well as minority get out the vote efforts. Lautenberg wins special election. Take that to the bank

[mwl1]

NJSC rules narrowly that Torch deadline has passed. No ballot access for Lautenberg.

Lautenberg refuses independent, write-in candidacy.

RATS then secure Torch resignation in a corrupt attempt to extend Senate term. McGreedy gets his hands even dirtier. Federal courts reverse.

The whole thing becomes a ploy to foment Democratic activists. But reverse takes shape and threatens Cleland in Georgia, and drags Carnahan under in Missouri.

Here's to wishing and hoping in the rule of law. Someplace.

[mwl1]

I am somewhat struck by the implicit confidence in the NJSC throughout this thread. Hopefully our faith in the rule of law is not misplaced.

I fail to understand how vacating the 51-day deadline does not threaten other contract law in New Jersey -- do legal deadlines mean anything, or not?

[The Wizard]

SCONJ Clerk's office:
609-292-4837

[rstevens]

Ditto. But after Forrester wins, the DNC will cry foul. They will say that the RNC unjustly campaigned that the ballot change was an illegal tactic and poisoned the minds of confused voters.

That confused voters actually wrote in Toricelli's name and diluted votes for Lautenberg and those T votes need to be given to Lautenberg to be fair in order to give the people of NJ a true choice.

Besides at least 10% of the demo voters were not aware that the T had withdrawn his name and they thought the ballot must be in error. Also, that 34 days was not enough time to throughly educate all the voters of this change and the reason for such.

Because 50% of the NJ voters don't even know what the NJSC is, so they were disenfrancised due to not being aware of what was taking place.

This is precisely how the dem's try to confuze the issue and get people all whipped up into a frenzy, then they can say the GOP regained the senate because of unfair campaigns and legal manuevering.

[mwl1]

After monitoring the NJSC hearing today, I am much less optimistic... did our attorneys have anything to say after the hearing?

It's just unbelievable that we cannot have an honest election anymore. This is a flagrant hit for the rule of law.

[Libloather]

Since Lautenberg turns 79 in January, he decides to perk up and make decent a run at the election. Lautenberg does himself in by overdosing on Viagra. RATS don't tell anyone until the election is over. Lautenberg wins the popular vote. Democratic Gov. McGreevey appoints Torricelli to the seat for another six years.

It can happen...