The grass is always greener
By Wally EdgeRobert Taft has an incredible 80% disapproval rating, with just 11% approving of the job he is doing as Governor of Ohio, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released today. Taft's numbers are partly to blame for GOP woes in his state: his party's candidate for Governor trails by a near 2-1 magin, the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator is behind, and the GOP is fighting to defend at least four House seats.
Last year, Taft was found guilty of failing to report 47 golf outings on his personal financial disclosure statement -- valued at about $5,800. In Ohio, an ethics violation like that is considered a criminal offense and the Govenror paid a $4,000 fine on four misdemeanor counts; he could have faced up to two years in prison. State law does not require public officials convicted of misdemeanors to resign and Taft refused to leave office.
Had Taft been the Governor of New Jersey, you have to wonder whether an infraction like not reporting a few dozen golf outings would have even made the front page of the Star-Ledger's New Jersey section.
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In Massachusetts, Governor Michael Dukakis, lost a primary chall
In Massachusetts, Governor Michael Dukakis, lost a primary challenge by Democrat conservative Ed King in 1978, predominantly over high property taxes. But he successfully re-challenged Governor King in the Democrat primary in 1982 by pointing out that King had had chicken salad sandwiches delivered to his office on the state tab! Chicken salad sandwiches -- for working lunches!
Your reference to the Star-Ledger is correct, but only if a story related to a "progressive" is at stake. For example, the Star-Ledger did a story on October 5th about Rahway Mayor James Kennedy, who is also a Trenton lobbyist, having had a $94,000.00 federal tax lien slapped on him for non-payment related to his 2004 lobbying income. It was buried on page 55 of the paper, and the Star-Ledger immediately buried the story in the archives, so you cannot find it with a search.
Imagine if a Republican had had the same! Front page, top fold every day for two weeks!
If Taft was Governor of NJ, he would be reelected in a landslide
If Taft was Governor of NJ, he would be reelected in a landslide.....
Misdemeanor? That's nothings, most of our pols rack up misdemeanors on a daily basis.....