I frequently take news stories and do an analysis of the story, what the writer emphasized and what the writer either chose to ignore or just plain missed. Often it is like a story about the story. My comments are interspersed in the story and are prefixed by
Judge weighs ticket for N.J. governor
By TOM HESTER Jr., Associated Press Writer 5/1/2007.
TRENTON, N.J. - Gov. Jon S. Corzine may learn Tuesday whether he will face a ticket for not wearing a seat belt in his near-fatal highway crash.
I could have understood this not being done before, even with the accident being eighteen days ago since the governor is only now leaving the hospital after multiple surgeries. I do wonder if this were a truck driver from Hoboken rather than His Royal Highness the Governor if there would have been a delay in the charges to allow him time to recover. I wonder. And let's face it, the near-fatal crash was caused by the driver of another vehicle being "spooked" by a vehicle coming up on him very fast and that vehicle was the governor's vehicle driven at an unsafe speed by none other than New Jersey's finest, a state trooper. We wonder if that speed was the trooper acting on his own initiative or if it was dictated by the governor. Put this another way. The state trooper's driving at an excessive speed was the cause of the accident.
A Municipal Court judge in Galloway is scheduled to decide whether to approve a complaint filed against the governor by Larry Angel, a self-proclaimed gadfly who has expressed support for Corzine but disappointment he didn't wear his seat belt.
Oh, no. This complaint was not brought by the State Police, the ones sworn to protect and serve but by some "gadfly". Where does Tom Hester come off calling a private citizen who tries to right an apparent injustice a "gadfly"? Is it possible that the press is here trying to white wash the governor by attacking the person who files the charges? The term "gadfly" sounds bad. It really is "a person who stimulates or annoys especially by persistent criticism." This attempt to malign this citizen stinks. Tom Hester should hang his head in shame for this. AP should at the least have removed that reference. But let's think about the timing. Am I to assume the "gadfly" arrived to swear the papers milliseconds before the State Police who should have done this or did the papers get delayed somewhere in the State Police offices or maybe, there was no intent to ever file charges? But think of it, the State Police had nearly three weeks to file the charges. I wonder how many seat belt violations take that long to file. I too support Corzine, I hope he gets well. But I too think he needs to be exposed to the legal system as any citizen who has appeared to break the law would. I know he has admitted it. But that in itself does not wipe the violation.
If the judge approves the complaint, Corzine will get a ticket and a chance to enter a plea.
Well. So he will be treated like any citizen. Several questions come up. Why would the judge NOT approve the complaint? I would like to hear that argument. And why shouldn't the governor get a ticket and have his day in court. He should appear like any other citizen.
Angel's complaint alleges Corzine violated state law by failing to wear his seat belt in the April 12 crash along the Garden State Parkway.
I believe the governor or the driver admitted that. The governor's injuries that were far more serious than the driver's certainly points to that. Let the charges be filed, let the hearing be done.
State law requires all front seat passengers wear a seat belt. Violators face a $46 fine.
Hmmm. And back to my earlier question. What would happen to the waitress from Camden if she was caught not wearing a seat belt? If the fine is not appropriate maybe the governor should recommend the legislature change it. I wear seat belts all the time but I often ask, maybe the law shouldn't even exist.
Corzine was riding unbuckled in the front passenger seat when his SUV, driven by a state trooper at 91 mph, slammed into a guard rail in Galloway, near Atlantic City.
Let's get this, the State Trooper was driving. He was doing 91 miles an hour. Let's think this through. State Troopers are to enforce the law and they also should obey the law. Except when in hot pursuit or making a run for an emergency they should obey the law. So am I to assume this officer was making a run to an emergency situation or in hot pursuit? There is a problem when the governor in the normal handling of business (if fiddling with the Imus situation is in fact the business of a governor) has his driver operating the vehicle at an unsafe speed. It sounds like poor planning or meddling caused this situation.
