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Game face

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 10:10:47 PM EDT

Some of us here are fresh off a blogger call with Gov. Jon Corzine. My impression is he's getting his game face on:

I hope you are all as convinced as I am that progressive politics is on the ballot.

Corzine named the stakes:

Marriage equality ...collective bargaining ...the Death Penalty stays repealed ...we expand health care at the state level ... close achievement gaps at the state level.

Two factors, he says, combine against him. First, our economic and budgetary problems, though he pointed out that the state cut $4.5 billion from its 2010 budget and mixed news we've gained 13,000 new jobs last month, despite higher unemployment rates.

Corzine also points to the political corruption story dominating the news. Corzine sees the underbelly; politicizing the US Attorney's Office, pursuing mainly Democratic politicians, connecting money-laundering rabbis with politicians through a single informant, the internal investigation of the department. And possible violations of the Hatch Act in Christie's political relationship with Karl Rove.

But, Christie's narrative has always been easy to grasp:

New Jersey is broken and I can fix it. I am law enforcement and I know how to stop corruption, and get the worst offenders out of government.

I'm paraphrasing, but that's essentially it. The longer we get to know him, of course, the more shot with holes that elevator speech is. But understanding that is a function less of simple declarative sentences, and more a thing that requires paragraphs of explanation, to tell the story of how Chris Christie's career as United States Attorney - the only thing in the world he has to run on - is in fact, a troubling history. Corzine spoke of pattern:

They have this RGA [Republican Governors Assn.] ad: Watch what he does, not what he says about me. But it couldn't apply more appropriately to my opponent. Gave out no-bid contracts while he chastises them, in pay-to-play gave out plenty as county Freeholder, there's his own failure to report on taxes, the Hatch Act maybe violated... there's a rubric, doing the opposite of what you preach.

Follow me to the jump for Corzine on Chris Daggett.

Rosi Efthim :: Game face

Another open question Chris Daggett. Most campaigns are binary; us v. them. But Daggett has ties to both parties, gets matching funds, and just hired Bill Hillsman, the attention-getting ad consultant who helped launch the careers of Ned Lamont, Paul Wellstone, even Jesse Ventura. It's different. Corzine called Daggett credible and is clearly watching his progress. He said in head-to-head matchups, Christie's further ahead than if Daggett is factored in; Corzine concludes Daggett is pulling more from Christie now.

I hope there are more conversations like tonight's that include bloggers.

Tags: Jon Corzine, Chris Christie, corruption, US Attorney, Chris Daggett, bloggers, (All Tags)

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Game face | 7 comments

Good summary Rosi n/t (0.00 / 0)

by: Jason Springer @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 02:16:35 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Corzine was asked.. (0.00 / 0)

The Governor was also asked on the call if he or anyone connected to his administration or campaign, spoke to the Justice Department and asked for or encouraged that investigation of acting US Attorney Marra?

"No," Corzine replied. "Pure, simple, no."

by: Jason Springer @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 02:28:14 AM UTC

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I asked (0.00 / 0)

Given all the recent news about Chris Christie, is there was one situation that was more significant than the others or if they all add up to undermine what he claims to be in the Governor's eyes. Here's his response, invoking the RGA ad attacking him:

"It couldn't apply more appropriately to my opponent. He is a classic 'Do as I say, not as I do,'" said Corzine. "He's into no-bid contracts as he chastises them, into pay to play. He gave out 400 contracts as a county freeholder that were of the same ilk he's been critical of. And now we find out there's the potential for his own failure to report and potentially paying taxes." (Corzine is referring here to the personal loan that Christie made to a subordinate in the U.S. Attorney's office, which was not reported on ethics forms nor on his taxes. Christie has called it a mistake, and said he will file amended forms.)
"The idea that the Hatch Act was violated under the Rove conditions, I think comes under the rubric, and overall pattern of not practicing what you preach -- in fact, doing the opposite of what one preaches," said Corzine. "And if you ask me which one is the most serious, I think the Hatch Act is. The politicization of U.S. Attorney's offices across the country -- and we know that occurred, certainly the New Mexico case confirms -- he was labeled a loyal, trusted Bush advocate in the U.S. Attorney's office. I think that's the major problem he has."

by: Jason Springer @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 03:43:11 AM UTC

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What do voters hate more than corruption? (4.00 / 3)

Corruption when it's combined with hypocrisy. And that's Chris Christie's Achilles Hill and that's what the Corzine campaign has to keep emphasizing between now and November. It's the simple anti-Christie narrative to counter Christie's own all too simple narrative.

by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 12:09:44 PM UTC

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BRAVO n/t (0.00 / 0)

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 12:15:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Daggett watch (0.00 / 0)

Should be interesting. I remain unconvinced he'll get out of single digits. But, if the race is tight - who knows if that might be a factor.

by: Jeff Gardner @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 21:21:56 PM UTC

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We really need to consider Daggett!! (0.00 / 0)

Daggett and King.. Great comparison. I am glad their are others who have decided to take their heads out of the clouds and write about Chris Daggett!!

We need to fight this mentality:

If you can't choose an candidate choose the one who will do least harm

How ridiculous ... I have a much better Idea

Let's say no to the lesser of two evil politics that got us into this mess in the first place and vote for Daggett

Corzine has a track record that speaks for itself. And we are all disgusted by the corruption that has plagued our state under his watch. As stated above: What's the only thing NJ voter's despise more than corruption? Corruption and Hypocrisy and that's what we find with Chris Christie.

Those of you who still believe in Christie as a crusader against corruption, don't be surprised as more of his skeletons come out of the closet. You need only do a little due diligence for yourself as I did after I decided that I was not going to vote for Corzine, to learn that Chris Christie is Corrupt.