Prattle of the Titans

Prattle of the Titans
by Ted Lang, Associate Editor

September 25, 2002

Columnist Ted Lang It was refreshing to see President George W. Bush in the Garden of Evil State, New Jersey, this past Monday, stumping, of all things, for a Republican. How curious! After all, his appearance here on behalf of Doug Forrester, who is trying to unseat corrupt Senator Robert Torricelli, might somehow be construed as opposing the bad Senator's re-election. And we can't have that! Just asked those princes of integrity in the New Jersey media monopoly.

What's wrong with Bush? This is "compassionate conservatism?" Hasn't Bush read the Jersey newspapers? Doesn't he know that Gannett's Daily Record has proclaimed Torricelli "exonerated?" Hasn't he read NJ media darling Steve Adubato's pleas in his piece "Will candidates make politics relevant again?" Adubato, writing in several papers, among them the New Jersey Herald on September 15th, made a heart-wrenching plea for everyone to just "play nice." He enlightens all with his compassionate call for a clean, "dignified, civil and most importantly, relevant…" campaign from both incumbent Senator Robert Torricelli and challenger Doug Forrester.

Adubato offers: "Elections are supposed to be our way of demonstrating that we are a free and democratic nation - that the terrorists couldn't destroy us and what we stand for." He then instructs us as regards typical dirty campaign tactics: "The debate in this U.S. Senate race will undoubtedly be fought in the gutter with lots of name-calling and sensational charges being phoned back and forth." He offers that New Jersey is known for its "political street fights."

He then states that this type of campaigning "… is for cowards. Real courage - real leadership - is about understanding that politics can never be the same after September 11 and that destroying your opponent's reputation and character may win you an election but does nothing to help our state and nation in these difficult times."

Did you catch Adubato's psychobabbling maneuver? He doesn't want name-calling and mudslinging. Note his objection to the cowardly tactic of "destroying your opponent's reputation." Note how this type of campaigning would preclude our "demonstrating that we are a free and democratic nation."

Didn't Torricelli destroy his own reputation? Isn't he slinging mud right now by accusing Doug Forrester of being crooked in his successful medical business? Isn't this the American Dream? We're not supposed to notice that Torricelli took in over $207,593.90 in bribes from David Chang who's in jail.

And never mind that Torricelli's legislation involving America's intelligence services tied their hands by disallowing undercover associations with "disreputable" informants central to preventive life-saving intelligence. The subsequent breakdown in our intelligence capability is directly contributory to the events of 9/11.

Adubato does not want these things mentioned by the Forrester camp. Hasn't Torricelli been punished enough? Didn't he go down to the Senate floor immediately after his "severe admonishment," whatever that is, and fall on his sword in front of only three fellow Senators that were still there at 10:00 PM in the evening? What more can we ask of dishonorable Man? How about throwin' his keister in the clink?

Adubato generously offers the nastiness exhibited by Democrat Andy Cuomo in attacking Republican Governor George Pataki in the New York gubernatorial campaign. He correctly identifies Cuomo's despicable tactics. Gee thanks Mr. Adubato, but this is New Jersey, and your compassion there serves little purpose here.

As Bush reflected that Forrester was "A man of faith, a man who is self-made, a man who has got his priorities straight," Senator Tom Daschle came to New Jersey and to the assistance of his fellow Democrat on the same day. In his article for The New York Times, "Forrester Has 'Priorities Straight' Bush Says," David Kocieniewski points out on September 24th that "Mr. Torricelli used the president's visit to warn New Jersey's generally moderate voters that a victory by Mr. Forrester could allow conservative Republicans to control both houses of Congress."

Daschle astonishingly advises New Jersey voters "to look beyond Mr. Torricelli's ethical problems" as reported by Kocieniewski. Democrats are trying to scare voters by advocating that bribe-taking crooks are better for the Garden State than an honest businessman and conservative Republican.

It continues to be extremely interesting to watch as Democrats in New Jersey apply pressure to the voters via their media monopoly propaganda machine. For it is somewhat possible that the voters have had enough of both bribe-taking crooks in Congress and their feckless sycophants in the Jersey media. But don't count on it - this is, after all Joisey, and the fat lady in this state is a Soprano! ***

Photo of Columnist Ted Lang courtesy of the author