McGreevey’s Resignation. (Updated 8/13)
Like millions of Jerseyeans, I was caught flatfooted, initially by the late afternoon rumors that the Governor’s resignation was imminent, and later by the actual resignation and his stated reasons for doing so (being gay and having had a consensual homosexual affair).
The initial reactions were predictable. There were the expressions of sympathy and support for the governor and his family for his having to make such a public announcement. That was followed by the statements of gay rights advocates, who were happy that the governor came out, but who were saddened that his sexual preference resulted in his leaving office.
I, for one, am glad to see him go, not because he is gay (I really don’t care about his sexual preference), but rather because he was and is a very bad governor.
Everyone should take a breath before we conclude that the governor’s resignation was solely an “intensely personal matter,†the announcement of which necessitated the first openly gay governor’s resignation, lest he (and we) be tortured by swarms of homophobes. No way. In the days and weeks ahead, we will see more of what is really going on here, none of which is terribly surprising, given the administration’s performance over the last couple years.
More specifically, we shall see that the governor had appointed Golan Cipel, his significant other, who is an Israeli poet and PR guy, and who could not get a US security clearance, to serve as his special counsel for Homeland Security at $110,000 per year. Homeland security, for Chrissake! And, when Cipel could not get a security clearance, and the FBI refused to share sensitive information with him, he stepped down, but retained his special counsel title, salary and a staff of there people.
Now we learn from DynamoBuzz that Cipel currently works for Charles Kushner. You remember him. He’s the McGreevey friend who arranged for a prostitute to have surreptitiously videotaped sex with a potential witnesses against him and then forwarded the tape to the patsy’s wife (Kushner’s sister)!.
In addition, the effective date of McGreevey’s resignation shows that it was not the selfless and apolitical act that he would have us believe. His resignation is not effective until November 15th, which will deprive the citizens of New Jersey of the opportunity to elect a new governor on November 2nd. McGreevey’s timing of the effective date of his resignation ensures that Richard Codey, the democrat president of the state senate, will occupy the governor’s office until 2006, a time when Codey can run as an incumbent, or he can step aside for now-Senator John Corzine to run for governor. Remember, these are the same folks who engineered the Torricelli – Frank Lautenberg switcheroo.
Keep an eye on this one. It will be a wild ride.
Update 8/13/04: The Editorial in the Star Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, questions the timing of McGreevey’s announcement, as well as the timing of the effective date of his regisnation.
I just knew you’d peg this one . . . thanks for the commentary, Jim. Excellent. You must have been composing while I was complaining!
Comment by Lynne — August 12, 2004 @ 10:27 pm
LOL – I have been popping in here all evening, checking to see if you had a post up yet! I KNEW you’d have a thing or 2 to say. *grin*
After all the scandals you’ve been talking about (New Jersey sounds just about like Illinois in that regard), I was thinking along the same lines – there is some scandal headed his way and he’s ducking, but there’s so many twists and turns it’s hard to say what might happen.
I will definitely stay tuned!!!
Comment by Teresa — August 12, 2004 @ 11:06 pm
At Least it Will be Interesting
I knew it! Head on over to Parkway Rest Stop for his take on the New Jersey Governor’s resignation. This may turn out to be even better than George Ryan’s licenses for bribes scandal or even the current dust up…
Trackback by Technicalities — August 12, 2004 @ 11:20 pm
Hmmmm. With this and all the other stuff going on, maybe Jersey should change its state motto to “The Soap Opera State” ? 🙂
Comment by DMerriman — August 12, 2004 @ 11:47 pm
I knew you’d be all over this one. I’ve been impatiently clicking over here all evening!
Yeah, this one will bear watching, that’s for sure!! Thanks for the insight. Buckle Up!
Comment by Tammi — August 13, 2004 @ 12:13 am
..slimy politicians… they are everywhere… what’s new?..
Comment by Eric — August 13, 2004 @ 7:25 am
I’ve been wondering if there’s some mechanism to force him out of office and then have a special election.
Comment by Rita — August 13, 2004 @ 8:37 am
I am glad he’s resiging – I just wish it was effective immediately. The Dems are scrambling to do some major CYA.
Comment by Kate — August 13, 2004 @ 9:38 am
::sigh:: resigning – must learn to spell check
Comment by Kate — August 13, 2004 @ 9:41 am
McGreevey’s speech positions him perfectly for a comeback. Just wait & see.
Comment by Fausta — August 13, 2004 @ 10:07 am
I don’t see what all the fuss is about; everyone knows poets are eminently qualified to be security experts.
Tony Soprano for Governor.
Comment by TL Hines — August 13, 2004 @ 11:54 am
McGreevey’s a Democrat; Democrats have pushed the line that personal behaviour does not affect fitness for public office; so why is McGreevey resigning? The fact that he lied to his wife, embarrassed his children, and used public funds to pay for his paramour should make him a hero to the Democratic party. If he could have timed it a bit better, he could have been a featured speaker at the Democrat’s convention.
Comment by aelfheld — August 13, 2004 @ 3:32 pm
Inside facts
1) When McGreevey broke his leg in Cape May, he was with his boyfriend, not his wife, as the story went. The State Police pressured the Gov. to name Rick Fuentes to be Superintendant, in return for not telling the truth about how McCreepy broke his leg. Fuentes became Superintendant, despite having written a paper claiming racial profiling was a myth.
2) Mrs. McGreevey has been keeping time with a Down Neck buisnessman since the inception of her marriage to the Governor. The Portuguese buisnessman left his wife to continue this affair. Simply a marriage of political convenience. Can anybody say Hillary ?
Comment by Cousin Gary — August 13, 2004 @ 7:47 pm
McGreevey
There is little that I can say about the most cynical and self-serving non-resignation resignations that has not already been said by a better writer who also happens to live in New Jersey. Go here and here for some excellent…
Trackback by The Laughing Wolf — August 15, 2004 @ 7:56 am