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In future editions of major dictionaries, next to the word: "Graceless," a picture of Robert Torricelli will appear.
In his uncomfortably self-serving statement dropping out of the race for New Jersey Senate Torricelli:
- Refused to take any responsibility for his own actions;
- Took several untruthful, and unwarranted shots at his opponent, Doug Forrester;
- Quit the race, but not the Senate itself;
- Did so for purely partisan reasons - to keep the Senate in Democrat control; and,
- Said he had accomplished things only he would know about and then proceeded to list those accomplishments.
Torricelli said he was quitting because he could not talk about the issues he wanted to talk about.
The reason he couldn't talk about the issues he wanted to talk about was because just about every newspaper in the
state was focused on his ethical shortcomings, wholly on
his ethical shortcomings, and nothing but his
ethical shortcomings.
The final nail in the electoral coffin came the other day when a letter written by the prosecutors in his case, which had been under seal, was released. That letter, part of the sentencing process for the guy who is in jail for giving Torricelli illegal gifts, suggested the guy was a credible witness and provided information against Torricelli which the prosecutors said held up to scrutiny.
Bob Torricelli's career is over. It came to an abrupt and undignified end, which is fitting. Bob Torricelli is an abrupt and undignified person.
So now the Democrats want to replace Torricelli with someone else. Who? We don't know.
It is inconceivable that the Governor of New Jersey, Jim McGreevy, didn't have a person ready to walk to the microphone as the anointed replacement. McGreevy didn't even have a name. This tells us that there is some level of earnest discussion among several potential candidates as to who will attempt to replace Torricelli on the ballot.
"Earnest discussion" as used here, is a gentle way of saying the competing parties in New Jersey are ready to go to the mattresses to try and be the anointed replacement. I suspect Jim McGreevy may conclude that HE is the only person who can beat Doug Forrester.
The Republican Party will not let Torricelli go gently into that political good night. They will claim in court that New Jersey law is clear: The state parties can change horses (or any part of a horse) if the election is more than 51 days away. The election is ... let's see, thirty days hath Septem-... 35 days from this very day.
In the 2000 election, when Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan was killed in a plane crash shortly before the election, his name had to remain on the ballot because his death occurred after the date for changing that name had passed.
News flash for New Jersey Democrats: Bob Torricelli is ALIVE. At least he was when I wrote this.
The Democratic theory appears to be this: The Republicans have to choose a candidate. Then the Democrats can keep trying out THEIR candidates until they find someone they think can beat Forrester.
In effect they want this campaign to become Doug Forrester against EVERY Democrat in New Jersey.
Oh, a final note to candidates: When you are dropping out because of huge ethical problems, it is probably not absolutely necessary to spend a great deal of time talking about how Bill Clinton called you and tried to convince you to stay on.
On the Secret Decoder Ring today: The official definition of "graceless," the AP coverage from last night; and a keeper of a Catchy Caption!
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