Posted on 09/07/2002 5:57:33 PM PDT by Betteboop
Garden State Grippe [Re: Sen. Robert Torricelli]
News/Current Events Editorial Editorial Source: New York Times Published: Friday, April 27, 2001 Author: GAIL COLLINS Posted on 04/27/2001 01:40:09 PDT by JohnHuang2
enator Robert Torricelli of New Jersey got free air transportation from a supporter during his last campaign. The question of whether this was an illegal contribution is complicated. But it doesn't really matter. What sticks in the mind is that this is a guy who required a chartered plane for a 50-mile trip, a pol who found it beneath his dignity to ride in a van from Englewood to Princeton.
The next time you're stuck on the tarmac in an airport, ask yourself whether the skies are crowded with variations on the theme of Robert Torricelli.
The senator is currently suffering through a wide-ranging investigation by federal prosecutors that includes allegations of influence-peddling and bribe-taking. The former political supporter, David Chang, reportedly told prosecutors that he had given the senator an $8,100 Rolex, 10 suits, bean-shaped cuff links from Tiffany's and a TV. That would not necessarily be illegal, since it's hard to prove quid pro quo in these matters. There's even a loophole in the Senate ethics law that exempts personal friends from the ban on expensive gifts.
But even under the best interpretation, by Mr. Chang's account Mr. Torricelli is the kind of guy who thinks friends are people who give you hand- tailored Italian suits in bulk.
New Jersey is trapped in a weird cycle of apparently unrelated, bipartisan political disasters. You can't say a cancer is eating away at the body politic. It's more like one of those cases of year-long hiccups — torture for the people directly involved, but slightly ridiculous to the outside world. Former Gov. Christie Whitman went off in triumph to become environmental chief of the Bush administration, but her main duty appears to be offering up statements for the White House to contradict. Mrs. Whitman's successor, Acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco, announced his plans on Sunday to run for a full term, and then came back on Wednesday to say that he was quitting politics forever. He has had a difficult few months, involving many interesting revelations about his previous financial dealings and what appear to be some of the more troublesome relatives this side of Hugh Rodham.
Mr. Torricelli tried to get in the governor's race himself last year, offering to heal wounds and unify the state. But his expression of availability was greeted with a long, thudding silence, and he was forced to give way to James McGreevey, a suburban mayor who once made news with his attempts to force every new shopping mall to include a flagpole and American flag in its development plans.
The senator is now bent on running for re-election next year, and has devoted a good amount of time lately to giving impassioned speeches defending his integrity. They do not, however, include any statements like "What 10 suits?" or "Nobody ever gave me bean-shape cuff links." Instead Mr. Torricelli has been assuring the state of his general innocence and expressing regret that his yearning to answer specific questions is being thwarted by a stern and unyielding set of defense lawyers.
He gave the speech to his fellow Democratic senators this week. Afterward, in a tribute to Mr. Torricelli's personal popularity, his colleagues rallied round, offering testimonials like "I don't want to talk about it" and Joseph Lieberman's assurance that senators are "following the stories with concern but reserving judgment." Hillary Rodham Clinton had no comment, but she must have been thrilled when Mr. Torricelli told the senators she was the one person in the room who understood what he was going through.
Senator Torricelli is not currently charged with anything, so it's arguably unfair to dwell too much on what prosecutors have yet to prove. Still, in a Senate that's divided 50-50, if it's O.K. for the Democrats to speculate about whether Strom Thurmond will die soon, you can't blame the Republicans for wondering whether Robert Torricelli might somehow be made to go away, allowing the Republican governor of New Jersey to name a Republican successor.
Given the current state of political fortunes in New Jersey, anybody named to replace him would probably be run over on the way to the swearing-in. And Mr. Torricelli shows no signs of leaving. But if he goes anywhere, you can bet it will be by private jet.
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Go Go
NJ, it's time to put out the Torch!
BTTMA! (Bump To The Moon, Alice!)
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
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