"Everybody Loves Loretta!" for Lt. Gov.

I Second The Motion.... (0.00 / 0)

The folks at Politicker are acting up again....

http://www.politickernj.com/wa...

Please take the time to read both Wally's blog and Doblin's column along with my comment's there.

It's interesting that Wally Edge chose not to quote many of the strongest pro Weinberg bits of what Doblin had to say.

Perhaps this extended snippet will interest you in reading the whole of Doblin's column if you haven't already...  http://www.northjersey.com/new...  

It's not so unusual for progressive idealists to come out strong for a serious reformer like Weinberg......but when a hard nosed veteren of teh NJ political scenelike Al Doblin comes forth with such unabashed unequivical praise for a NJ pol.....it's nearly a mirical.

If anyone from the Corzine inner sanctum actually reads NJ I hope they get this stuff out to the governor.

Listening to multimillion dollar "consultants" may lose you this race Givernor Corzine.   Go with your highest idealism and your progressive GUT and you will kick Chritie's ass.   Weinberg for LG!

PS Glad to see you back Carol!!!  :-)

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by: Nick Lento @ Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 04:26:47 AM UTC

Apologies.... (0.00 / 0)

That last comment was prematurely posted before it was finished with large bits missing/and distorted (please disregard) and no editing of those that were present. (The trackpad is going and will have to get a mouse to replace it.)

Please do read all of Al Doblin's column.

Read the slant in Wally Edge's  PolitickerNJ blog  

I then put in my two cents too.

Note the way Edge quotes the anti-Pinkett bits of Doblin's column but leaves out the bulk of the powerful and extraordinary endorsement of Weinberg!  Interesting, eh?

For a hardbitten NJ political reporter to write something like this about a New Jersey pol is extrardinary.   I urge y'all to read Wally's blog and Doblin's column in their totality.....and for those of you who may need to have the "pump primed" here's some excerpted bits from Doblin...
(emphases added)

Qualified LG candidates come with detractors. If they have experience in government, they have to have formed alliances that have left some people out in the cold. That's a sign of leadership. That's a sign that the person could be governor if need be. That's a sign Corzine should not be afraid of choosing state Sen. Loretta Weinberg as his running mate.

There will be unhappy South Jersey powerbrokers. There will be some angry black political and civic leaders. But are loyal Democrats going to vote for Republican challenger Chris Christie because they don't like Weinberg because she's not black or represents a district north of Middlesex County? Not likely.

Now is not the time for timidity. There isn't a legislator in the state, black or white, who has a better reputation for advocating for the disenfranchised than Weinberg. Additionally, she stood firmly against the Bergen County Democrats' little emperor Joe Ferriero when few would.

The former party chairman is under federal indictment and is scheduled to go on trial just in time for the final weeks of the 2009 campaign. Having a running mate who consistently challenged Ferriero will be a plus for Corzine when Republicans remind voters that it was their standard bearer Christie who brought more than 100 corrupt public officials - many of them Democrats - to justice.

Corzine has been ticking off Democrats while trying to appease them for four years. New Jersey's powerbrokers aren't easy-going people. Many are petty and vindictive. But at the end of the day, all want the candidate of their party to win.

Weinberg is the most qualified Democrat for lieutenant governor. She is too senior to seek the governorship after Corzine's term ends, if he wins. But she is senior enough to know what to do and creative enough to define this new position as something more than a placeholder. And she can deliver vote-rich Bergen County for Corzine.

I hope someone can get the Governor to read this stuff and that he will then go with his most progressive gut instincts as opposed to listening to the consultants who will be urging conventional political campaigning.

Weinberg is not someone the Republican or the Democratic party machine wants as LG....that's a damned good reason to put her on the job.

PS  Glad to see you back Carol!!! (sorry again for the mispost)

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by: Nick Lento @ Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 06:16:31 AM UTC

This LG will define the position (4.00 / 3)

for years to come.  Put in someone that can stand up for themselves, have an independent point of view, and make sure this position is worthy of its creation.  

I was concerned about the LG's creation... I think Codey did a fine job serving as governor for the time he had to, and even though I am an elected official I'm not in favor of creating more elected officials unless necessary....plus the amendment to the constitution gives no duties to the LG other than succession to the governorship.  Right off the bat, that individual is going to have to be stand up for the position and set precedent.

Putting Senator Weinberg in this spot would ensure the job has teeth right off the bat.   With her in it, you'd better believe the LG will not merely be a stand in for the governor but a real force in shaping state legislation and directing agencies.

No offense to freeholders or reality TV stars, but it also wouldn't be a bad idea to have a Senator or Assembly person so they could help lobby for legislation utilizing both relationships and knowledge.

Of course then there is that thing called politics.  Corzine needs Bergen.   He's been to my town twice.  Loretta's name is well known here in this cradle of a million people, even outside District 37.

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 13:56:54 PM UTC

Excellent Point.... (0.00 / 0)

If all that is desired is a figurehead to be there in case the gov is incapacitated and no other role.....many good people would say no thanks.

If this is offered to Loretta Weinberg she needs to get some commitment up front that she would have a serious and active role to play and that Corzine would be committing to certain progressive agenda items.

 

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by: Nick Lento @ Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 20:40:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I have no doubt that if Sen. Weinberg (0.00 / 0)

gets into this, she will be aggressive about the role of the LG.  even if there is no direct discussion about the role, Jon would have to know if you ask Loretta Weinberg to do something like this, its not going to be as a passive player.   The LG can play a role in liasoning with the legislative and passing legislation - but only if the person knows their way around Trenton.  

A county employee will take months, years maybe, and will be ignored by powerful Senators and assemblypeople.  

LW4LG!!

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 16:28:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]