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Are the Democrats Punting?

by: rmfretz

Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 12:40:17 PM EST

Good question. - - Promoted from the diaries by Rosi

Cross-posted from Blog the Fifth:

A comment over on Blue Jersey about the state of our Congressional District really raised an eyebrow and got me thinking. The comment was this:

I'll give you another example - I live in NJ-5, Scott Garrett is my congressman. It is looking more and more like the county parties aren't going to put ANYONE up - at a time where republican turnout will be higher and more motivated than the past 5+ years.

This is a sad statement on our politics in their current state. Gerrymandering has gotten to a point where folks like Garrett can serve until they are redistricted out or retire. His only threat real and perceived is in the primary, when the smallest fraction of the electorate makes all the decisions. Democrats won't run anyone because they don't want to spend the money. Politics is a business.

This reality undermines the entire intent of a Representative being accountable to their constituents. Forget the fact that the Democrats can't get someone who believes enough in their values to step up. With the Democrats punting, there's no one to bring up relevant questions for voters to ponder at the ballot box. Why vote against small business tax cuts repeatedly? Why vote against balancing the budget repeatedly? Why vote against extending unemployment benefits repeatedly? Why vote to hasten Medicare's insolvency?

Granted, Garrett is by all accounts safe in this seat. In fact it hasn't really been close on election day in a very long time. That said, Democrats failure to supply voters with any kind of alternative abdicates their fundamental responsibility in our already flawed two party system.

rmfretz :: Are the Democrats Punting?

Tags: NJ5, 2010, Garrett, (All Tags)

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Are the Democrats Punting? | 7 comments

hey...I know that comment ;-) (4.00 / 2)

Matt--we should talk. I have been very involved with my ear to the ground for the past year plus on the Fifth and things that have come out over the past few weeks really REALLY don't smell right.

With today's Politicker article coming out (and I know nothing about John Birkner), this really really stinks.

Do they really think that (1) republicans will forget there is an election and (2) any Democrats will come out and vote for downticket races only?

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

by: Adam L @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 17:54:37 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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On party Districts (0.00 / 0)

One party districts stink and rob the voter of choices. Unless gerrymandering ends expect this to continue.

by: HobokenSchmo @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 18:22:09 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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I don't think the 5th district is unique (4.00 / 1)

while the GOP is all fired up and ready to take on Rush Holt and Frank Pallone, the Democrats in Monmouth county have said nothing about taking on Chris Smith.

If they're going to fight then we have to fight back.

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

by: tabbycat31 @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 18:41:34 PM UTC

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more a function of momentum than anything else (4.00 / 1)

The Republicans are all fired up to take on Rush Holt and Frank Pallone this year to the same degree that Democrats were fired up to take on Mike Ferguson and Jim Saxton in 2008 before they retired.

The 5th is a much tougher district demographically than the 4th, but Chris Smith is hard to beat because he is so well-liked by not only Republicans, but also independents and even some Democrats.

That said, if Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo does not run for Bill Baroni's open State Senate seat this year as he has thus far pledged, then he should be recruited to run in the 4th against Chris Smith.

He is not a progressive Democrat by any stretch of the imagination, but his union base should help him pull most, if not all, of the union support that Smith usually enjoys when he runs for re-election and as a sitting Assemblyman should be able to raise more money than any other Democrat in the district.

If Dan Benson does not have to run for re-election to his Freeholder seat, he would be another very strong and much more progressive candidate than DeAngelo against Smith. Since Smith is not from Monmouth County, there is no reason that his opponent must come from Monmouth County.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 20:25:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think the state chair should make sure every race has a contender (0.00 / 0)

I agree with your last sentence, but the Monmouth Dems are willing to get behind a Smith challenger (his district barely includes Monmouth--- a county that's gerrymandered like crazy).

I'd love to see Smith's anti-LGBT record exposed to the public and maybe that will get him out of office. Besides he doesn't even live in NJ these days.

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

by: tabbycat31 @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 23:50:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why don't you run, Tabby? (0.00 / 0)

Do you live in Smith's part of the county?

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sat Feb 27, 2010 at 14:46:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

no I'm in Pallone's (0.00 / 0)

I do plan on running eventually but I want to finish up my education first.

Besides I don't stand a chance until I have a new car (the one I'm driving right now is in my dad's name and has NY plates-- he's convinced it would not pass inspection in NJ)

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

by: tabbycat31 @ Sat Feb 27, 2010 at 22:10:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]