The politics of corruption

By Jeff Michaels | July 24th, 2009 - 11:54am
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The tidal wave unleashed this week by the FBI and the US Attorney's Office across New Jersey will likely re-calibrate the campaign for Governor.  While the corruption did not touch the Governor personally in any way, the investigation of his DCA Commissioner and the arrest of the protégé of his long-time counselor and advisor Angelo Genova are certainly too close for comfort, and re-set the general election campaign in terms unfavorable for the Democrats.

It is true that Governor Corzine's approval ratings, favorable standing, and ballot strength were all at all time lows, according to all independent public opinion polls.  It is also true that the Governor received no apparent "bounce" from the visit last week by President Obama.  The latest Strategic Vision poll after the visit showed an even stronger Christie lead.

But it is also true that the Governor's spending of his vast personal wealth on early negative advertising had an opportunity to tilt the playing field to his advantage, as his opponent could not match him dollar for dollar.

The Governor has spent in excess of $4 million since the primary for this purpose.

Unfortunately for him, this spending might have been in vain, thanks to a bunch of corrupt New Jersey officials.

This massive arrest will reinforce the public's prevailing view that NJ is moving in the wrong direction and its time for a change.  The preponderance of Democratic Party officials in this sweep will not allow anyone to credibly claim corruption is truly an equally bi-partisan problem in New Jersey.

Moreover, the arrests themselves remove many workers and leaders from the Governor's re-election apparatus.

Nobody was expecting Dan Van Pelt to deliver Waretown for Chris Christie, but presumably Genova protégé Peter Cammarano was expected to deliver significant Democrat margins in Hoboken, which just elected him Mayor.

Instead of taking a victory lap or engaging in chest-thumping, Chris Christie's measured, mature, and reserved reaction to this news demonstrated a significant degree of maturity, sensibleness, and good judgment that voters are learning they can come to expect from him.

The fact that the election has been turned again on its head - this time on grounds that form the "sweet spot" of Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno's strengths, really prove again --- as if we needed any more proof --- that in New Jersey politics anything can happen.

Tags:

Investigation

Submitted by SDem on July 24, 2009 - 2:06pm.

Let Christie and Guadagno conduct an audit from the inside. At first I thought what a waste to have an LG but it could be a fulltime job for Guadagno just to audit the books they will inherit

Glass House Jeff

Submitted by bergen_prince on July 24, 2009 - 8:24pm.

If my proteges were people like Don don't-blame-me-for-my knuclehead-brother-and-Dawn-was-lucky-to have-me DiFrancesco and Chip I-don't-care-what-anybody-thinks-I'm-not-as-lobbyist-at-least-not-a-sober-one Stapleton, I wouldn't criticize Corzine for his afiliation with Angelo Genova. Genova is a straight arrow; you may not like his clients or his poltical objectives, but he is as straight as they come. BP III

Read it again

Submitted by JeffM on July 25, 2009 - 11:55am.

I'm not criticizing Gov Corzine for his affiliation with Angelo, and I never said Angelo was not a straight arrow. I respect him. I am only pointing out that Angelo's protege was busted, and Angelo is one of the Governor's closest outside advisors. I don't think you can argue with either statement. I'm only analyzing the political implications of these developments, not whether someone is right, wrong, guilty or innocent.

Genova's "acolyte"

Submitted by JeffM on July 25, 2009 - 11:57am.

Oh and by the way, Max Pizarro wrote in a newspiece on this website yesterday that Cammarano was an "acolyte" of Angelo Genova. Not my words.

Glass Houses!

Submitted by Opus on July 27, 2009 - 12:21pm.

Jeff Michaels came out of the Stapleton/DiFranceso zoo to become a lobbyist and now a republican shill. Jeff, get a life unless you expect to be part of Christie's administration. But, don't hold your breath.

The crap about Genova and a guilt by association is really amazing. If so the stuff about Todd Christie, must apply to Chris Christie,

What is good for the goose and good for the gander.

GOOD!

Submitted by kingsacco on July 28, 2009 - 12:07pm.

Let get a second round and catch North Bergen, Union City and West New York. Get EVER ONE rounded up man. I wanna see all those dudes start squealing on each other.

I hope Every single one of these guys goes behind prison bars, I dont care how "nice" the family is.

The families will be just fine.

There's no way we could

Submitted by bromacleanse on July 29, 2009 - 8:04am.

There's no way we could prevent corruption. The only thing we can do is to minimize it.

BromaCleanse
Colon Cleanse Reviews

Let's talk about the politics of corruption.

Submitted by Demsandonts on July 29, 2009 - 2:20pm.

Does anyone really believe Christie didn't know about these impending arrests? Seems to be open season on anyone who's involved in politics while the Marra press conference was practically an informercial for the Christie campaign. Speaking of development deals that went astray, why didn't he investigate EnCap, the biggest redevelopment blunder in state history? It was Republicans who concocted that joke of a proposal that has property taxes rising in those effected communtiees. Yes, let's talk about the politics of corruption shall we? Vote Column "A" - All the way!

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