NJ's democratic party just keeps pushing us to the gutter. Corzine shows us what he is made of by picking the most embarrassing example of a state pol in his field of choices. what a proud moment.

Posted by: Neenah | Dec 8, 2005 10:04:25 AM

So far in my research Menendez might not be my prince on a white horse, but I haven't found anything I'd label as embarrassing. Can you expand on what in his past ranks him alongside the gutter?

Posted by: hrhppg | Dec 8, 2005 10:39:49 AM

kingpin of the hudson county machine; hudson county machine loaded with corruption, arrests commonplace; ipso facto. if he'd been the kind of guy to keep a clean house, well, then, surely the house would be clean by now?

failed to unite house dems behind fundamental dem issues: bankruptcy bill, cafta, so a guy proven incapable of moving his party and forming coalitions.

and about that 4 mill warchest; came from where, again?

never mind kay licausi and whether it's worth raising an eyebrow.

Posted by: Neenah | Dec 8, 2005 10:54:56 AM

Well, in all my days of being "represented" by her in the nubbin of Passaic County gerrymandered into her district, I truly never once heard of Nia Gill making an appearance here. Not even before elections. (If she did, it definitely wasn't publicized among other than the Dem faithful.) Never even received a piece of campaign literature from her. So I'm glad she's apparently not getting the job, even if a hack Congressman from a petty Democratic county satrapy is.

Posted by: cathar | Dec 8, 2005 11:28:25 AM

Nia Gill doesn't go to the Passaic corner of her district, just as W doesn't go to Montclair. Time, money, people -- smart pols use 'em where they pay off. as it was & ever shall be.

the real pity is the penalty Gill's shyness inflicts on an intelligent ?& otherwise qualified candidate.

oratorically & charismatically, the dems are a weak lot: Holt, Pallone, among other would-be contenders. (it's not the only thing to which I would chalk up the Kerry flop, but it was a factor.)

none of which gets Corzine off the hook for this choice. the place-holder option was there, allowing voters rather than a machine to demonstrate their will. now once again for state dems, it will be the expedient 'unite behind our guy' against the arch-foe. too bad for them TKjr doesn't really suit as a villain.

Posted by: Neenah | Dec 8, 2005 12:04:24 PM

Did you really think Corzine would be any different than the rest of them? My stomach actually churned when I pulled his lever in November. When is someone with balls larger than their warchest going to run for elected office. Until then, none of these fakes are going to represent their constituents.

By the way, who can tell me what percentage of Corzine's income did he pay in taxes last year? He may claim to be liberal in social causes, but until he changes the campaign finance laws or more fairly adjusts the state tax brackets, he is just another hack.

Didn't he claim he was going to stand up to "the machine?" Oh, he must have been referring to the ATM with this Menendez decision.

Posted by: Stu | Dec 8, 2005 12:53:53 PM

Neenah, Nia Gill's senatorial district is basically a handful of towns. She could cover it, honest. There's quite a difference between that and the United States. And it may not be "shyness" holding her back. Ms. Gill, after all, does not come automatically to mind when considering NJ's (relatively and contextually) most activist, bill-sponsoring legislators.

Posted by: cathar | Dec 8, 2005 4:09:43 PM