It is just shocking, shocking, but apparently New Jersey’s residents believe the state’s politics is so corrupt that at least half of those interviewed for a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll are certain that the Garden State’s brand of corruption is greater than other states. So naturally, New Jersey voters elected a former U.S. Attorney whose best known for indicting and jailing crooked politicians. Rutgers-Eagleton pollsters interviewed residents October 15-20 and found that Garden Staters may be cynical but they are divided about whether the guilty pols deserve tough penalties. The corrupt should not should not have their pay and benefits cut off, but officials should step down once they are accused.

Oddly, these poll findings are just a little bit different from one Rutgers-Eagleton did in 2003 with the Star-Ledger where those surveyed about the quality of government thought New Jersey’s political ethics were on the decline and only 1 percent thought government quality was excellent. Jersey Journal.