County boss Joseph Ferriero recently sent out copies of a column to delegates of the upcoming Bergen County Democratic Organization convention. The column, entitled "For Democrats, Bergen County Spells Success," was lifted from the pages of The Rothenberg Political Report, a Washington-based, "non-partisan" newsletter. I contacted editor Stuart Rothenberg to find out if the mailing of his column should be viewed as an endorsement of Ferriero's political tactics.  The following is his response, which he has agreed to let me share with you:

Hello, Bob.

My comment wasn't meant to indicate my approval of the current political/patronage/organizational system or an endorsement of the way things in NJ work, but, rather, a criticism of the Bergen County Republican Party, with its personality and ideological in-fighting. I would have thought that by now NJ voters would have come to their senses and placed a greater importance on ethics and character, but they don't seem to care about the things you do. That's not my fault.

Folks in NJ are going to have to deal with the state's political culture. I wish them -- and you -- good luck. Personally, I think the system stinks. But I'm just a political handicapper, and I figure that the only way to change things is for reformers to fight fire with fire -- and that means more than writing letters to the letters or wringing your hands about the corruption in the state and the influence of political bosses.

Best wishes,

Stu Rothenberg

Mr. Ferriero is putting up Mr. Rothenberg's column as an endorsement. Yet, it couldn't be clearer from Mr. Rothenberg's reply to my email that he neither endorses nor approves of Joe Ferriero's pay-to-play tactics. In fact, Mr. Rothenberg is merely stating that Joe Ferriero succeeds in a system that the people of New Jersey should end.

Is that really something Boss Ferriero wants to brag about?