Posted on 01/26/2003 9:43:23 AM PST by ewing
Edited on 04/29/2004 2:01:59 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Sen. Frank Loutenberg underwent surgery Sunday morning related to a skiing accident in Aspen, Colorado a month earlier.
Lautenberg, who had turned 79 on Thursday, had fallen and hit his head while skiing on Ajax Mountain, said Tim Yehl a spokesman for the Senator.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Hillery is a certifiable schizo and a candidate for a lobotomy (as is her goofy,hillbilly, marxist rapist) and she stands by bobbing her head up and down while others speak like some kind of plastic gooney bird stuck on the side of a waterglass.
Even in the looney bin this Bride of Frankenstein will continue to collect her senate pay for the rest of her unnatural marxist life. I guess that means that Lautenberg will collect double dips.
Actually I think it is either Sean Hannity's or Rush's fault.... :-)
One of them - I can't remember who right now - predicted that Lautenberg would end up removing himself from office due to some type of medical problem (real or otherwise) within 6 months of the election.
Second, I have to disagree with your notion that McGreevey will appoint himself in that it would shorten McGreevey's career - having to face the voters directly this fall - and it would lead to chaos in determining who would be governor as the NJ Senate is now split 20 to 20.
This is the job he has coveted and preened for, and he needs to get to 2005 to rehabilitate himself to the electorate (and bash any GOP challenger) much like "One Term Byrne" suprised the pundits and rode to a landslide win after instituting the income tax in the 70's.
Here are the relevant cites from NJ law that allow the governor to appoint a successor (derived from the US Constitution) and issue a writ of a special election or at the next general election.
19:3-26. Vacancies in United States senate; election to fill; temporary appointment by governor
If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this state in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless such vacancy shall happen within thirty days next preceding such election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding general election, unless the governor of this state shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do.
The governor of this state may make a temporary appointment of a senator of the United States from this state whenever a vacancy shall occur by reason of any cause other than the expiration of the term; and such appointee shall serve as such senator until a special election or general election shall have been held pursuant to law and the board of state canvassers can deliver to his successor a certificate of election.
19:27-4. Writ of election
19:27-4. When any vacancy happens in the representation of this State in the United States Senate or in the House of Representatives, the Governor shall issue a writ of election to fill the same unless the term of service of the person whose office shall become vacant will expire within six months next after the happening of the vacancy and except as hereinafter provided. Amended 1948, c.438, s.9; 1981, c.429, s.2; 1988,c.126,s.2.
Note that 27-4 requires the governor (“shall”) to issue a writ of election; timing of that has two options: At the next general election (19:27-3) or At a special election if “governor of this state shall deem it advisable” (19-3:26)
The next general election is November 2003 and the Senate and the Assembly are up. The upper body is split 20/20 and the lower house is 43-36-1 with one Dem having defected to the Green Party after a dispute with the Bergen County Dem chair.
Making life more interesting is a state appellate court ruled that the redistricting plan - which was the Democratic plan was unconstitutional, and the Redistricting Commission is to meet Monday to decide whether to redraw the districts or appeal to - you guessed it - the NJ Supreme Court.
The only scenario in which I see a 2003 retirement by Lautenberg is if the Dems saw the election this November slipping away - losing control of the state positions which translates into tens of millions in patronage - will they want to put a "name" a the top of the ticket.
Why not McGreevey self-appointment? For one, there is no Lieutenant Governor - the job of "acting governor" goes to the Senate President. Under a "power sharing" agreement, that job shifts monthly among the current Democrat and Republican leaders.
Second, a new Senator McGreevey would have to be elected on a special election no later than this November to serve the remaining term. Absent this I would have agreed with you - but he is in no shape to face the voters this fall.
Does the pope poop in the woods? Of course it is. What kind of skiing accident to a geriatric senator happens without any notice by anybody until a month later when he's undergoing surgery? Come on, this is a pathetic cover to get the guy to step down for health reasons. The only question is whether McGreevey will appoint himself or select the party's candidate. We knew this was going to happen because the new guy needs a year and a half to get name recognition.
This is all kind of ironic. I remember him bragging about how he was physically ready for the challenge/work (considering his age) and had said he was an avid skier. Now this "positive" might do him in.
Yes, I know she's dead, but it's fun to wear the foil...
I'll save my prayers for the 42,000,000 innocents Laut worked so hard to execute, instead.
Sorry, I just can't bring myself to mourn when bad things happen to bad people.
A lot of times people who are very good at something forget how hard it was when they started, and they forget to have patience with the beginners.
I know plenty of expert riders who can't teach for beans because (1) they forget what it was like when they started; (2) they don't know how to break things down into baby steps of fundamentals; (3) they can DO it, but they can't EXPLAIN it.
I'm not all that good a rider, even though I've been at it on and off for more than 40 years, but by golly I can teach ANYBODY to ride a horse. And I do mean anybody. I have taught whiny kids, frightened old ladies, smartaleck teenagers, know-it-all guys . . .
I can't stand the man's politics, but this news report is not about his politics so I wish him a speedy and complete physical/medical recovery.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.