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"There are: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics"
- Benjamin Disraeli
"To the Honorable William J. LePettamaine, Governor, We
the white God fearing citizen's of Rock Ridge wish to express
our extreme displeasure with your choice of sheriff. Please
remove him at once! The fact that you have sent him here just
goes to show that you are the leading a$$hole in the state."
- Our esteemed school marm, Mrs. Harriette Van Johnson
about the new sheriff, Blazing Saddles
"You f@#%king dolt! Doesn't matter how big the warnings
are. You could have cigarettes that were called the warnings.
You could have cigarettes that come in a black pack, with a
skull and a crossbones on the front, called tumors and smokers
would be lined up around the block going, "I can't wait
to get my hands on these f@#%king things! I bet you get a tumor
as soon as you light up! Numm Numm Numm Numm Numm" Doesn't
matter how big the warnings are or how much they cost. Keep
raising the prices, we'll break into your houses to get the
f@#%king cigarettes, ok!? There a drug, we're addicted, ok!?
Numm Numm Numm Numm Numm *wheeze*"
- Dennis Leary, No Cure for Cancer
April 2nd, 2002
"...And there was a great blight upon the
land, and they called it - McGreevey."
That's what the history books will say in the
not too distant future. He has been in office for 3 full months
and half the state is pissed off at him. It's no secret that
I'm not one of his biggest fans. What do you say about a person
who so blatantly flaunts his corruption? The man has apparently
used the Jedi Mind Trick on 51% of New Jersey citizens, if we
are to believe the statistics (I'll get to that later). I can't
see how this is possible.
For the most part I can see that the state of
New Jersey elected a whiner. A whiner whose grand desire was
to be the next Jim Florio. Do you remember Jim Florio? He was
the guy that half of New Jersey was trying to get impeached.
Well, McGreevey wants to model his governorship after Florio
and he has admitted so - PROUDLY! New Jersey's morning personality
Jim Gerhardt has even dubbed McGreevey, "King James II".
And I can not bring myself to give him the title "honorable".
Before Mr. McGreevey was elected to office, NJN's
Steve Adubato had a couple of things to say about the man. Essentially,
Mr. McGreevey likes to be ON MESSAGE. The biggest thing that
he did before his election was BLAST GOVERNOR WHITMAN. That's
what he did. Poke at a woman, who cut taxes, and gave the citizens
of New Jersey a homestead rebate. You know, a little relief.
I quote this excerpt from Steve Adubato's article
"On Message, But Off Target."
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A while back, Jim
McGreevey and Governor Whitman spoke before the Associated
Press Managing Editors. After knocking Whitman senseless
on her handling of the budget, McGreevey was asked a simple
question: Where would HE cut the budget? The then ambitious
legislator, McGreevey looked dumbfounded. He was silent
for a few seconds with that "deer in headlights"
look. then he stammered a little and finally mumbled;
"I would probably refer you to Senator John Adler,"
adding that he would be glad to help facilitate that connection
for the reporter. Then more mumbling. It was pathetic.
John Adler is a Democratic
legislator who has served as the party's spokesman on
fiscal issues. The problem is that Adler wasn't running
for governor. Jim McGreevey was. Who cares what budget
cuts John Adler would make? What was McGreevey thinking?
In a recent interview
with McGreevey, I ran the video of him fumbling this budget
question. I then asked him what he was thinking and pressed
him on where he would cut the budget. Without missing
a beat, he stared telling me how Whitman gave $300 million
of taxpayers' money to build that Steve Wynn Tunnel in
Atlantic City.
I asked him to stop
talking about the governor and tell me where HE would
cut the budget. Finally he said if a candidate runs in
an uncontested primary, he or she shouldn't get public
funding. That would save money. He then went on to blast
Whitman for taking public funding during the GOP primary.
ON MESSAGE.
Then there was McGreevey's
appearance before the editorial board of the state's largest
newspaper in which he said he could achieve all his new
initiatives (including an ambitious education plan and
a reduction in the state's privitization efforts) without
increasing the budget. He actually said he would hold
the budget "flat" during his term. Such talk
is silly to anyone who has a clue about how the budget
works.
As a former legislator
who served on the Finance Committee, I remember finding
out the sobering news that a huge chunk of the budget
is made up of MANDATORY spending. No governor can touch
it. And when it comes to state aid to municipalities and
school districts, McGreevey has actually said he would
increase this funding by $600 million. Layoff state workers?
Not on your life. McGreevey has told the public employees
unions that, unlike Whitman, he will protect their jobs.
How exactly would
McGreevey do all these things without increasing the budget
by a single penny? It is a question of simple math. It
can't be done. (Just like his promise to cut auto insurance
by 10 percent.) Either McGreevey knows this and he doesn't
care, or he doesn't know how off-the-wall his claims are.
Either way it is scary.
I know McGreevey
is ambitous. I actually like his honesty about how much
he wants to serve in high office. The problem is that
he is so programmed to bash Whitman on the issues his
pollsters tell him she is vulnerable on (property taxes
and auto insurance), that he is unprepared to talk with
any real substance or consistency about his own policies
or legislative record.
Apparently the McGreevey
camp doesn't see this as a problem given that the candidate
has gained in the polls. Despite a genuine backlash against
Whitman, McGreevey has yet to make a compelling case for
himself. For some voters it simply isn't enough that you
blast the incumbent. They actually want to know how YOU
might govern. How YOU might handle the budget. How YOU
would handle taxes.
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This tactic, unfortunately worked. As Jim McGreevey
has gotten to the highest seat in the state. It's sad really.
He used a tactic that failed for Burger King and Pepsi Cola
and made it work for him. Those of you who don't know this tactic
it is as follows: Elevate yourself when you are number 2 by
bashing the guy who is number 1.
I don't think he cares at all. I think all he
wanted was the power. He doesn't care about the little guy.
For God's sake, he was a lobbyist for Merck Pharmaceuticals.
He doesn't care about the state workers being laid off. "And
even with his cuts," former acting Governor DiFrancesco
said to News 12, "that will only save about $100 million
out of a $2.4 billion shortfall."
DiFancesco says,"He's exaggerating the facts."
So, Jimmy boy has already gone back on his promise
NOT to raise taxes. Let me remind you that it's the beginning
of April.
But Jimmy, the idiot boy, couldn't leave well
enough alone. While he was making his cabinet he made two really
controversial picks. His guy in charge of Anti Terrorism was
a man whose chief qualifications was that he knew McGreevey,
was an Israeli reporter, and could write poetry. And our favorite
choice, Joseph Santiago, former head of the Newark Police Department
to be the top cop of New Jersey.
McGreevey's reason for his nomination was that
there was no one better for the job. Well, I'd like to think
that most of the state troopers in New Jersey don't have a record.
Just so you know that Joseph Santiago has an arrest for assaulting
another police officer as well as dubious charges of income
tax evasion.
His canidate for the anti-terrorist post turned
down the position which had a salary for $110K a year. McGreevey
said that he could go but he is kept on as a "special consultant"
at full salary. I could have done that job. $110K for doing
NOTHING!!!! And McGreevey is still looking for budget cuts.
Apparently, he is immune to these things.
His biggest gripe is that he has "put off
moving into the governor's mansion in Princeton". Reported
McGreevey in News 12, New Jersey, "There's some painting
and carpeting that needs to be done at Drumpthwacket and the
McGreeveys don't want to spend any money that's not theirs for
the renovation." Poor baby. This from the man who suggested
that state workers go 90 days without pay and still work.
"Dina is soliciting paint, tiles and wallpaper,"
continued McGreevey.
This just tells me that he is SO out of touch
with the people, that he can't understand the concept of living
paycheck to paycheck.
Jimbo's proudest of his anti smoking campaign.
He plans on putting a $.50 tax on cigarettes. (I refer you to
Dennis Leary's quote at the top.) What's to stop a person from
buying cigarettes in New York or Pennsylvania and smoking them
here? Smokers at this point don't care. If a person is that
addicted, it won't matter. If he's not, he will either quit
or not smoke as much. I smoke occasionally, when I think of
McGreevey and pray for the reaper.
Also, let me put it this way. If you are my age
or younger and you don't know that you shouldn't smoke, you'll
never know. I grew up with the "We mind very much if you
smoke" campaign. I still see 35 year old smokers. It's
a free country. Smoke if you want to. Second hand smoke kills
the weak people. My father smoked everyday of my childhood and
I'm fine. I say, "survival of the fittest."
Let me also remind you anti smoking nazis. George
Burns smoked cigars for 75 years and lived to be 100. Adolph
Hitler was against smoking, too. Who are you going to listen
to Adolph Hitler or George Burns? I rest my case.
But back to Jimmy, the idiot boy.
I refer back to another one of my quotes at the
top of the page. "There are: LIES, DAMN LIES, AND STATISTICS."
from Mark Twain. Apparently, according to a poll 51% of New
Jerseyans think that McGreevey is okay and approve of the job
he's doing?
Who did they ask? I know I didn't get asked.
That definitely would have skewed the statistics.
Was it the very, very rich? The people who really
don't notice that their money is dwindling? I don't know. The
poll consisted of a survey of 803 adults statewide from Feb
28th to March 6th (I think this was right before his debacle
with Santiago). I think they asked McGreevey's mom 200 times
and McGreevey's wife another 200 times, then they asked the
people that McGreevey is paying off and hence they got their
statistics.
It's a sad thing. I was born in New York City
but I grew up and spent my life in New Jersey. I am a Jersey
Boy from Howell, who lives in Freehold. I love Bruce Springsteen's
music and can't even conceive of pumping my own gas (another
of McGreevey's proposals is making Jersey gas station's "self
service"). All of a sudden, Jim McGreevey is in charge and the
days of low taxes and homestead rebates seem to be at an end*.
I see my home becoming a place where I don't want to be anymore.
And more than make me angry, it makes me very
sad.
Update: April 8th, 2002
How do you like this one? Jimbo's source of money
may be coming from the 1,200 state workers he laid off. And
I thought my job was not secure. Now, here is the kicker. Jimmy
boy gave himself a raise in salary. He now earns as governor
somewhere in the neighborhood of $154K a year (Huh? Only $44K
more than the guy he's paying not to work?). He spent
a significant amount of time recovering from a skiing accident
(times like this make me wish he was Sonny Bono). I remind you
it is only the beginning of April. Apparently, this jerk never
heard of the concept of "taking one for the team".
I believe this article may not be finished just
yet.
Update: January 2nd, 2003
Well, as of a couple of days ago, another one**
of McGreevey's inner circle has resigned. This time it's quite
telling.
It's his chief counsel.
What do you say when the chief counsel for the
governor quits? Either one of three things happened:
- Either his counsel was diagnosed with some
kind of fatal disease and could not go on or...
- He had a better job offer in the private sector
or...
- He has discovered something so insidious about
the governor that he threw up his hands and said, "I
won't be party to this."
I think it's the last one. But that's just me.
Update: August 13th, 2004
So, Christmas came early this year.
After two years of alleged corruption, alleged
graft, and controversy, Jim McGreevey RESIGNS!!!! Okay, who
didn't see this coming? However, the hits keep a comin when
"Jimmy Boy" decided that he had to quit because he
decided to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET! That's right kiddies, Jim
McGreevey has announced that he is "a gay American"
and had consentual sex with another man.
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
However, McGreevey has decided that this has
tarnished his reputation (as well as the office of governor)
and that he is going to step down. I only have one real issue
with all of this - WHY? I mean, think about it. He's gay - SO
WHAT?!! He's also married (Actually, he's been married twice.
But, who's counting?). He had a homosexual affair. His sexual
preferences have nothing to do with his office. The people who
have the most amount of issues with this should only be his
wife and his two kids.
BUT THINK!!! Think how much good he actually
could have done. He can't be impeached for being gay.
He could have really done a lot for gay rights. THE FIRST
OPENLY GAY GOVERNOR SUPPORTS SAME SEX MARRIAGE!!!!. THE FIRST
OPENLY GAY GOVERNOR SUPPORTS STEM CELL RESEARCH!!!! THE FIRST
OPENLY GAY GOVERNOR SUPPORTS INSURANCE RIGHTS FOR SAME SEX PARTNERS
IN NEW JERSEY!!!!
Yes, homosexuals are people, too!!! There is
a lot of power behind the lavendar vote.
No, idiot boy, decides that being gay is a stigmata
to the office of governor and quit. This should be a slap in
the face to the entire homosexual community as McGreevey's action
implys that not only does the Catholic Church not approve of
gays but public office won't have them either. He saw being gay as a problem
and not as an opportunity.
Of course, I'm certain that Jimbo did not leave
only because he's gay. This is probably an excuse to step down.
Here's what I think. Idiot boy saw what was coming. Things in
his administration had reached critical mass. There were investigations
of alleged corruption, as well as illegal campaign donations
by contributor Charles Kushner (who is accused of hiring a prostitute
to have sex with a government witness and video tape it for
blackmail) AND A SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE with the man he had
his affair with.
And who did he have the affair with? Well, none
other than Golan Cipel. Golan Cipel was the proposed homeland
security chief of New Jersey who was turned down by the FBI
but McGreevey kept on the payroll at $110K a year as a "special
counsel" (as mentioned originally in this rant, above).
With this in mind, It is stongly probable that Jimmy had another
position for him in mind. Actually, I think he had several other
positions for him in mind.
Alleged "Boy Toy" Cipel apparently
had enough of the easy life of getting a high salary for a "pain
in the ass" job and decided that a sexual harassment case
for $6 million was the way to go. The governor really having
to fight the incredible evidence against him (you don't go into
a sexual harassment suit for six million dollars without some
"hard" evidence) thought that stepping down might
be his only option.
So, given the probable abuse of office, the governor
decided to add more fuel to the fire by coming out and leaving.
McGreevey will be leaving office on November 15th and NJ Senate
President Richard J Codey will become acting governor.
My only question at this point is "What
else do you think he was hiding?"
*- McGreevey, has recently issued a statement that he is STILL
NOT going to raise taxes and (apparently) will give us a larger
homestead rebate than under Whitman. Either, he has found a
fund he can't touch or he has a special deal with "family men"
of New Jersey.
** - Santiago resigned earlier.
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