Sharpe James's conviction is not sad.

Politicians from both parties called it a "sad day" when Sharpe James was convicted of fraud and corruption this week. Bull dinky. It was a happy day.

The sad days were the many days, those we know about and those we don't know about, that James violated the public trust.

What is sad is that our leaders react with sadness rather than outrage when one of their brethren is caught and convicted. What is sadder still is that Democrats Dick Codey and Jon Corzine are blocking real ethics reform in Trenton.