the rix mix

Couldn't resist posting this Star-Ledger photo of NJ Gov. Jon Corzine probably saying goodbye to his reelection chances. Next to him is state Attorney General Anne Milgram.

Massive New Jersey corruption probe snares officials, rabbis

The Fed arrested 44 people today on corruption & money-laundering charges, including two assemblymen, three mayors, a deputy mayor, a city council president, many other political functionaries, implicating a guy in Corzine's cabinet. Most of them are Democrats. Nevermind that most are also from Hudson County. No other county in Jersey is quite like Hudson County, & no city is like Jersey City. Choosing a faction in Hudson County politics is like betting on a car in a demolition derby.

The money-laundering ring is something else, a Syrian Orthodox Jewish operation involving two Rabbis from a wealthy Jersey shore town, Deal; an exotic criminal enterprise to us Jerseyans but no surprise to Brooklynites.

The Feds cranked up their massive publicity machine. The corruption has a tip-of-iceberg look about it. Milgram was left standing on the outside, next to shocked, sad-faced Corzine. The Gov was hammering Repug candidate Chris Christie on no-bid contracts to lawyer pals like John Ashcroft. Those TV ads will fall flat now. I don't know what he has left to run with, out in the 'burbs where statewide elections are won or lost. President Obama might not want to come back here after Labor Day.

Labels: in the news, New Jersey politics, religion