So Long, John Adler. A happy memory Open Thread.

Adler in Hunterdon (0.00 / 0)

Years ago, before I even knew who John Adler was, I was helping run a legislative race in NJ-23. That's the old NJ-23, Hunterdon and Warren, where it's always hard and lonely work trying to elect Democrats.

I got a call from Adler, who said he had the day. Could he help? He showed up, did everything we asked of him. He was young and energetic. It was the kind of thing politicians do to help out, to raise their profile, to be of use. But this was Hunterdon where those gifts aren't always offered. We had a great time with him, and it was so nice of him to do.  

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

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 14:11:34 PM UTC

I'm sorry I never met him (0.00 / 0)

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 14:14:48 PM UTC

I met John Adler in 2003 (0.00 / 0)

I was 15 at the time, and part of a summer political symposium at Princeton. We went to Trenton for the day to listen to guest speakers (mostly state legislators), and much of it was deathly dull.

John Adler was different. He started his remarks by saying that, because we'd already heard a lot from the speakers, he wanted to hear a lot from us. He took questions from us for the rest of his hour-long stay. No other speaker that day did that.

Afterwords, I spoke with Adler in the Statehouse. Since my own legislators were busy, he took me on a tour of the building and chatted with me about John Kerry.

He was a decent man in the traditional sense of the word: one who had a good heart, a strong mind and an untroubled conscience. He worked hard in Trenton, and I know how proud we all were to send him to Congress in 2008.

While I disagreed with some of his votes in Congress, I still respected him as a person, for the kindness he showed me and my fellow JSA-ers all those years ago.

May his memory serve as a blessing for all who knew him, as we say in the Jewish faith.  

"We are the leaders we've been waiting for." - Paul Wellstone

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by: Stephen Yellin @ Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 14:22:23 PM UTC

Adler v Gusciora (0.00 / 0)

Except for the time when John Adler admonished the authors of the civil union bill for going for civil unions rather than full marriage equality during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, most of my experiences with him were bittersweet as I was consistently impressed by his intellect, while at the same time completely turned off by his arrogance.

A perfect example of this was when he represented John Kerry at a surrogates debate hosted by the Princeton Democrats.  Reed Gusciora was representing Howard Dean.  While Reed was very good in his advocacy for Howard Dean, Adler was even better in his advocacy for a flawed and weaker candidate.

However, when I had the chance to talk to him and ask him why he was supporting Kerry instead of Dean, his answer was very condescending and flippant.  He said, "Because Kerry is going to win the nomination and ever since I first got involved in politics, starting with McGovern in 1972, I have supported the winner and Kerry is a winner."

It is very sad that he has left us at such a young age.  Aside from the obvious reasons, like the impact that his loss will have on his wife, children, family, and friends, it is especially sad that he will never have the opportunity to redeem a political career that ended so disappointingly between the bad votes and the loss to a neanderthal.  As much as his arrogance never allowed me to like him nearly as much as I wanted to, I had always hoped that there would be another chapter to his political story and that will simply not happen.

If nothing else, I think that his spectacular performance as a state legislator can allow us to forget about his dismal performance as a Congressman and he did have a perfect record of supporting the winner of Democratic Presidential primary elections.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 14:41:48 PM UTC

I'll keep his family in my prayers. (0.00 / 0)

I didn't know him, but the depth of his intellect is well documented.  

I hurt for his young boys who lost their father.  For me this tragedy really puts things in perspective.  A lot of us who read and write on Blue Jersey live and die with the political battle of the day, but so many things are more important.  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 16:22:50 PM UTC

Nia Gill (0.00 / 0)

has issued this statement which seems to me appropriate for the thread:

John Adler was an exceptional public servant and a true statesman. During our years serving together on the Judiciary Committee, I came to develop a deep respect for him and a genuine admiration of his principle-driven service.

"John was amazingly intelligent, witty and fantastically sharp.

"He had a strong commitment to constitutional principles, and took on very difficult issues - even when it was not popular. In doing so, he brought to bear his skill, his knowledge and his extraordinary tenacity. He was a student of history, and always had such a command of the subject matter.

"John was a powerful Judiciary chairman in the New Jersey State Senate. But he was always unfailingly gracious to the people with whom he agreed and disagreed - a true testament to his character.

"We will miss his voice in the public debate. But more than that, we will miss his friendship. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, his wife and his four wonderful sons.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 16:32:14 PM UTC

2010 Campaign (0.00 / 0)

I worked on his last campaign, on the field staff. I joined relatively late, in July. Everyone on staff treated me extremely well, and was friendly from the day I started until after Election Day, despite my introverted tendencies. I am sure the staff's upbeat disposition had more than a little to do with the Congressman's own. Though he was not often in the field office, everyone spoke adoringly of him. When he stopped by, he was always jovial, and made sure to speak to everyone in the room. In the final months of the campaign, his wife, Shelley, was volunteering in the office nearly every day. She would bring food and water for the staff and volunteers, and get her friends and family to volunteer as well. She had no pretensions whatsoever, and treated me like she had known me for years.

I didn't know the Congressman that well, but I could tell he was a special person and am proud and grateful to have worked for him.

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by: johnconstantine @ Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 19:45:15 PM UTC

What a guy... (0.00 / 0)

I first met John back in 2006 when we worked together, as attorneys, on a few cases.  Of course, I knew of him, his public service and his strong intellect for years before that, and upon meeting him, I was so pleasantly surprised by his approachability and warmth.  Most especially, though, I couldn't believe how witty and hilarious he was.  He had me cracking up at least once during each conversation.  

We would often talk politics, and I witnessed firsthand his decency when I made some crack about Tom Kean, Jr.'s performance in a debate versus Menendez.  John became quite serious and said, "Tom's a great guy.  I just took my son up to the Statehouse and Tom was extremely gracious and kind to my son."

Later, in 2007, after I secured the nomination for state Senate, I'd see John at various fundraisers and other events, and there he was, with his trademark smile, hand outstretched, and ready to whisper something all-too-funny in my ear.  

No doubt, I'm going to miss him...    

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by: Rich Dennison @ Thu Apr 07, 2011 at 20:07:15 PM UTC

State Senator Adler (0.00 / 0)

I saw then-State Senator Adler speak at the American Legion Boy's State in 2008.  Given that it was the American Legion, progressives were hard to find.  One night, there was a panel of state legislators.  Senator Adler was one of a very few bright spots in that week, and I remember him talking passionately, even despite the audience, the need for fairness, and an end to the war in Iraq.  That's the image that sticks in my mind.

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by: Chazz @ Thu Apr 07, 2011 at 20:42:51 PM UTC