GADFLY CONFRONTS SENATOR CORZINE

Ah, how tricky those forks in the road can be, especially when the choice seems so non threatening. Last night at the Atlantic County Democratic Convention, Senator Corzine entered the packed hall at the Omni to thundering applause. As is the norm at these kinds of affairs, before heading to the microphone one makes the rounds of the hall shaking hands. The Senator started along one side wall shaking and hugging enthusiastic fans and then along the back of the room and as he approached the aisle which he could have turned down and headed to the microphone he, fortuitously (or not) continued his hand shaking journey along the back of the hall.

The room being packed and given the misanthropic nature; larry THE PEDANTIC MISANTHROPIC S.O.B. angel had been standing at the back of the hall for most of the night. As the Senator approached and eventually faced the S.O.B. and offered his hand, the S.O.B. clearly startled the Senator, as while shaking hands he, as is his often forth write and rude manner, castigated the Senator's vote to approve Condi Rice as Secretary of State as "a despicable betrayal".

Corzine seemed surprised and for just a moment caught off balance, but noted, he did vote against the war and against the confirmation of Gonzales for AG, and he moved on, shaking hands. But then he returned to the S.O.B. to observe that he thought Rice was someone he could work with. During his speech to the assembled Democrats he noted that we as Democrats and citizens were not going to agree on every issue and that we should stand united for more responsible government than that which we had received in the past. He noted that both Democratic and Republican regimes here in New Jersey had let the residents of our State down with numerous acts of fiscal irresponsibility.

Okay, he got me there with that last one as had Jim Whelan last week in making the same honest assessment of Democratic and Republican failures to address property tax reform and fairness. I'm won over...but, Senator, the lady, lied to you and to the Senate, and to the American people...and as a result of that lie...over 1,500 of our finest are no longer with us...and way more than 10,000 of our soldiers have been maimed and wounded and tens of thousands of Iraqi are dead....woman and children...and our reputation as a country with principles regarding "rights" is forever tarnished....and the war continues with the prospects dismal.