Poll | 05/29/2008 5:45 pm

Dina Matos McGreevey is asking for alimony of $51k a month for 13 months from ex-NJ governor Jim McGreevey. Does she deserve it?

Read more about: Divorce, Politics, Relationships

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Not gonna’ like this … OMG, another man pig story? WHY O WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME? … ppphhhssss, hell yes, she gets it all unless she herself is a woman pig. Don’t ask more from your partner than you can give yourself! Given the evidence provided by court documents there seems to be no reason why this strong woman and survivor would not be entitled to monies that would keep in the lifestyle she became accustomed to as a partner in a very successful union that is recognized by both CHURCH AND STATE!

By Liza D 08 .... beta on 05/29/2008 12:17 am

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$51K a Month? Why would ANYONE deserve $51K a month?

By Ken Jarvis on 05/29/2008 9:19 am

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Ken Jarvis: My thought exactly.

By rocky rocky on 05/29/2008 9:51 am

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Yawn, another skeevy guy. As Judge Judy would say, “You picked him.” Of course, some women in long marriages need spousal support to survive. I am not talking about that.

By Star Lawrence on 05/29/2008 11:02 am

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Ken — You are obviously a man to ask that question. Why not? Is there really an answer to your question? Who knows — or maybe it’s like Gertrude Stein said ” There ain’t no answer. There ain’t going to be an answer. There never has been an answer. That’s the answer.” I can’t believe the $51K is only for 13 months. This is nothing compared to some of the Wally-World marriages in Hollywood.

By Lady Gator on 05/29/2008 12:25 pm

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An acquaintance’s husband had to buy her a multi-million dollar gated estate, a new 750 BMW, pay her upkeep and expenses including housekeeper, gardener, the man who comes to wash/wax her car every week, weekly grooming for her Bishon, delivery service for groceries etc, all credit cards, maintain life insurance with her as the payee, pay for 12 weeks of vacation a year including for private jet transport to and from her vacation destination, plus $30K a month. They had no children but she moved out of their 4 homes and had given up her job as a model when she married him, and then discovered he’d kept another woman from the start. So $30K wasn’t much…it should have been triple. Why did Heather McCartney ‘deserve’ $50 million. ‘Bragelina’ just bought another residence for $70 million. Everything’s relative….especially if you have rich (ex) relatives.

By Everyone--into the Rose Garden on 05/30/2008 1:19 am

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A follow up to my initial statement: Having said that one can only hope that she has many, many charities that she is benefactor to. If not she does not then she is in fact a woman pig. The thing is we don’t mind that people are wealthy; what we care about is if they are kind to the undeserving.

By Liza D 08 .... beta on 05/29/2008 12:40 am

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We have no idea what her expenses are. The money balances the unfairness in the parties’ earning capacities, it doesn’t punish him and it doesn’t reward her for putting up with him. It lets her continue to live for 13 months, as best as possible, the same standard of living they shared during the marriage. And don’t forget, she has to pay taxes on that alimony and it’s tax-deductible to him. $401,000 after taxes is not much; beyond it, I hope she fights for everything she is entitled to in the equitable distribution of her marriage.

By Ruth M on 05/29/2008 12:51 am

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No One in any marriage , has done ANYTHING in that marriage to deserve that kind of money! And if you did the kind of things that deserved that kind of money….you wouldn’t be getting divorced and be asking for the money.

By Micky Mc on 05/29/2008 12:55 am

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I believe this is not so much alimony as something like reparations for fraud. The amount was based on the value to her of the remaining term of office, if he had not been forced from office by scandal. I think he is studying to be a priest, not exactly a high income. It sounds like they are having a rancorous divorce. I hope for their sakes that they can keep it from going to trial. Insult to injury.

By Elizabeth Bennett on 05/29/2008 1:27 am

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Yes, he was unfaithful. But, from what I understand, she knew he was gay or bi before they married and they even had manage’ et trois’. I do not believe in or condone infidelity but I also don’t believe in lying which I believe she did when she went on the talk show circuit and said she never knew anything of his being gay. I think she was publicly humiliated. Should being publicly humiliated give her $51k per month? I think not. But, I have not walked in her shoes. I think I do believe she deserves something…

By R B on 06/05/2008 6:17 pm

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Sorry - it’s greed. No one “NEEDS” that kind of cash to live well! She was embarrassed, cheated on, lied to - but … not to that extent. Depends on how long they were “married” and if there’s that much left in the till? Does he have that much to give her, and survive? And then, how much of it do her lawyers get? Our legal system stinks.

By Kathleen E Lo Pinto VIgnolini on 05/29/2008 1:59 am

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Not knowing the full circumstances I would think that it depends on how she plans on making a living after the 13 months. Is this amount to help her establish a position where she is comfortable? How much has she given up to get him where he is today (or was today)? Why should she have to lower her standard of living just because he made a mess out of their lives? No one really knows except the two of them. As long as it is asked for because it is felt deserved and not out of spite. Hell, I don’t know - I walked about from big bucks with nothing just to get out!

By Maggi D on 05/29/2008 3:38 am

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I learned long ago that there is a danger in questions like these. Until one walks in another woman’s footwear, you just can’t know the ins and outs of why she does what she does or what she’s been through to warrant an action. I think this is especially true when a marriage dissolves. So much can and usually is different than it appears. No one can know the truth of what goes on under someone else’s roof. From the outside things can look so outrageous but with a true understanding of what has transpired your view could change in an instant. That’s what I’ve discovered when I’ve been privileged to be taken into confidence with people who have revealed the real picture of their lives. Like a kaleidescope, a tiny turn can change the whole image that you thought you saw.

By T S on 05/29/2008 8:28 am