My Rebuttal to Governor McGreevey's Op/Ed

This is my rebuttal to Governor James E. McGreevey's op/ed:

Dear Mr. Governor:

I am writing this is response to your op/ed in the August 23, 2004 New York Times. This is not much of a personal attack, just a counter to what you had written.

To begin, I give you credit for accountability in your errors in judgment, both personal and professional. I am certain that for you to get the burden off of your shoulders required true grit, despite a number of people either knowing or speculative of your former dark secret. Most of us know that your preference, for the most part, has not factored in the majority of your decisions that effect the State of New Jersey. The one grey area that poses in my cerebrum is if the domestic partnership legislation you signed into law is of a partial personal motive?

In contrast, your appointment of one Mr. Golan Cipel to the post of counterterrorism Czar was definitely a ball-dropper (pardon the pun) on your part. From listening to you during your appearances on WKXW's (NJ 101.5-FM) "Ask The Governor", you seem to be a very bright individual, partisan politics pushed aside; but, what were you thinking? We could have had former FBI Director Louis Freeh for the post, who was more than qualified. Instead, you appointed a non-American citizen who was not even given clearance in Washington, DC. However, I do give you proper credos by naming Sid Casperson to that position, for that I feel much safer with him in charge. Overall, I suppose that both you and the party bosses saw this as another patronage position.

Your resignation had nothing to do with your sexuality, but rather the corruption done by your closest, personal allies. To me, I can see your point by admitting that you are a homosexual, in that hopefully both others will "come out" and that it is okay. But, was your August 12 news conference the proper forum to self-promote this fact towards the gay community? At first, I believed that a few thought that your resignation was due to that; but, as time has progressed, more are seeing the light of the behind-the-scenes activities of both your inner circle and the party heads. (Since I live in New Jersey, both parties are guilty of ethics violations, which will be a topic at a future time.)

In regards to your resignation, you mentioned that your "original inclination was to accept responsibility, apologize, and move on quickly." Why did you not do it? If you did, you would have saved face for both yourself and the office, which you singlehandedly jeopardize into harm's way. If you had left office either that day, or twelve noon the following day (which would have been Friday the 13th) a la Richard Nixon, our thirty-seventh President, we would have had no problem. The residents would give Richard Codey time to adjust to the role as acting governor, just like we did to Donald DiFrancesco when he finished out Christine Todd Whitman's second term; this way, the distractions of both your personal and professional/political puzzle be sorted out and rectified without compromise to the position, just like Watergate.

You also mentioned that, "Simply put, there are demands and projects which need to be addressed and put in place now." I am sure that Mr. Codey would use his best judgment to see that they are carried out, if viable. I would think that you would have more faith, or could this be part of "legacy building"?

I am aware of the fact that the 1947 state constitution establishes the Senate president as the first in line to complete an unexpired term. I have no problem with that. However, you said that "the constitution does not outline provisions or state requirements for the timing of a resignation." Could it be such because that resignations are immediately, in most cases? Who are you trying to fool with this "three month transition period"?

I know that you mentioned that it had to do with the heightened level of homeland security. However, Mr. Governor, in a story reported recently by Millennium Radio New Jersey, YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH IT; for that it is being handled by the feds in our nation's capitol, the Office of Counterterrorism, and the New Jersey State Police.

In my opinion, I believe that the date of November 15 is nothing more than a calculated move by the Clinton-controlled Democratic National Committee. By selecting this date, the DNC would not have to siphon money for the candidate running in a special election, and to disfranchise the residents of New Jersey their power to select whom they feel will be the better person to rectify this quagmire your administration has put the state in. Also, to keep focus off of you and the state, and more on the Kerry/Edwards ticket attempt to win on November 2.

In closing, I am sure that your intentions were meant well back on August 12, 2004; but, the smog that is forming has the potential to have a more putrid stench than a backed-up cesspool on a hazy, hot, and humid summer day. Why not step down now, while you have some dignity left?

I think I smell Pepe le Peu approaching.