In the Right

In 1999, Torricelli -- who at that time held the job Menendez holds today, as head of the DSCC -- passed over then-Congressman Menendez and instead recruited former Goldman Sachs CEO Jon Corzine to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by then-retiring Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

But unlike Tony Soprano, Menendez knew that revenge is a dish best served cold.

The following summer, when Torricelli announced his candidacy for the 2001 Democratic nomination for Governor -- in a ridiculously short campaign that became known as "The Twelve Days of Torricelli" -- Menendez paid him back by leading the forces of Woodbridge Mayor/eventual 2001 victor James McGreevey against Torricelli, and forcing him to end his "campaign" after less than two weeks.

But here's the oddest thing of all -- Menendez's verbal shoulder-shrugging at the thought that Republicans might put Democrats who take Torricelli-raised campaign cash on the defensive:

"The reality is that both the Republican senatorial campaign committee and we know that it is always a challenge. The [contributor] who seems like an exemplary citizen today may have a problem tomorrow. That's always a risk.

"But the bottom line is [Torricelli] is a private citizen who in fact will be assisting Democrats in a legal and lawful fashion," Menendez said.

If I'm reading that right, Menendez is calling Torricelli an "exemplary citizen."

And here I thought Al Franken was the only comedian in the U.S. Senate.

DISCLAIMER: When I write about the politicians in my past, CQ Politics says I have to turn the cards face up. I managed Doug Forrester's 2002 campaign for the U.S. Senate against Bob Torricelli.

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