Profiles in Coyness

This was not a "budget" decision by the Governor (0.00 / 0)

It was strictly ideological and we all know it.  I have great respect for Sen. Allen and have done many joint endeavors with her.  However, this one can't be "clouded" or presented about "something else", cause it wasn't! The first was a Governor or tried to pretend it was motivated by simply "budget" considerations, and the second was the Republican caucus who consider voting in lockstep a sign of loyalty and discipline. Perhaps it is L & D, but that's not in the interests of those we represent!

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by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Mon Oct 10, 2011 at 17:08:49 PM UTC

With all due respect, Senator... (0.00 / 0)

...I don't see much of a difference between Senator Allen voting in lockstep with her party's Governor and you casting a vote for a Senate President candidate who had been and continues to be a puppet for one of the two worst political bosses in the state, particularly considering your own experience with Joe Ferriero, who was small potatoes when you compare the damage that the Norcross-Adubato-Christie axis of evil has done to our party and our state.

I am sure that you had reasons that you felt were good ones at the time that you cast your vote, but if you are going to criticize your Republican colleagues for voting in lockstep with their party's Governor, at some point in time, you will have to either explain your reasons for voting the way that you did or express some regret for casting the vote that you did or both.

One wrong vote is obviously not going to besmirch your otherwise fantastic political career, but it would still be nice to be able to understand why you cast the vote that you did, especially since you will most likely have the opportunity to cast the same vote or a different vote in the near future.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 01:16:57 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lockstep? (0.00 / 0)

I think not.  I was presented with two alternatives and chose what I believed was the best one. You can agree or disagree.  I do not think my vote for leadership in our Senate can be compared with voting in "lockstep" with that leadership.  As you well know, I do not do that. I'm sorry if you cannot discern the difference which I beiieve exists!

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by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 01:48:13 AM UTC

Sweeney Haters Abound (0.00 / 0)

The Sweeney haters,few but persistent, on this site believe that  the Senate President has done everything wrong.

They refuse to see that he has toned down Chrisite's demands and passed quite a few very pro-worker bills while being Senate President.

But the haters are blind.

Shame......

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 01:58:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sweeney and Oliver have done everything wrong (4.00 / 1)

Codey and Roberts fought Corzine to a government shutdown over issues far less controversial than those which Sweeney, Oliver, et al have blithely delivered Democratic votes for.

They have destroyed any credibility that our Democratic majority might have ever had, because while a Republican majority might have been able to pass somewhat worse legislation, they would never have been able to brand them as bipartisan in the way that Christie now can, which is why he has become a national folk hero.  And during the lame duck session, they will finish the job by passing Christie's education reform agenda, which will take the first step towards destroying public education in our state as we know it.

I can only hope that Buono and Cryan try to reclaim Democratic control over the legislature if for no other reason than it will force the Adubato-Christie-Norcross axis of evil to show their hand by keeping Sweeney and Oliver in power with Republican votes.  Yes they will fail, but by making it clear that we do not actually have a Democratic majority in Trenton, progressives can once and for all start working towards building a gubernatorial/legislative slate of candidates in 2013 that will ensure that progressive Democrats control both the executive and legislative branches in 2014 and beyond.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 07:12:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I do well know, Senator, but... (0.00 / 0)

...the two alternatives that you were presented with were a sitting Senate President who was not helpful when you were battling Joe Ferriero, but was also not in bed with him or any other boss in the state and someone who was the puppet of one of the most notorious bosses in the state.

I agree that your leadership cannot be compared with Senator Allen, voting in lockstep with her party's Governor.  With all due respect Senator, I believe that it was far worse, because the fact of the matter is that on her best day, Senator Allen cannot be compared to you in any way, shape or form.

She is probably the most moderate member of her caucus, which isn't saying much.  She is probably the most credible member of her caucus, which is even saying less.  I don't understand why anybody is surprised that she voted the way that she did.

She is a Republican and while a moderate Republicans might be useful when Democrats control both the executive and legislative branches of our state government, it is ridiculous to expect anything from any of them once there is a Republican Governor.  This is probably why Bill Baroni took the golden parachute to the Port Authority that he was offered when he did, because he knew that his days of taking principled stands was going to come to an end.

However, at the same time that you were Jon Corzine's LG candidate and preparing for the fight of your life on the marriage equality issue during lame duck, you, the most credible, honorable, and progressive member of the State Senate in its history, voted for and lent your credibility and honor to someone who clearly did not deserve it, whose boss was conspiring with other political bosses throughout the state to suppress Democratic turnout for your ticket, and shortly thereafter betrayed you on the marriage equality vote.

I have been a supporter of yours well before we first met at the 2003 NJDSC conference that Howard Dean spoke at and have been a passionate one since then.  I was talking up the fight that you had on your hands with Joe Ferriero and Ken Zisa amongst progressives when others here were playing a wait and see approach, because they didn't want the progressive community to be seen as always looking for a fight against the establishment (as if that would have been so terrible).

My passion for the good work that you do did not end the day that you voted for Steve Sweeney, because I know that Dick Codey gave you every personal reason to vote against him, but even if the reasons were personal and not political, you are the last person who I would ever expect to cast a vote for personal rather than political reasons.

That all said, I believe that it is reasonable to ask the following:

1.  Why did you believe that Steve Sweeney was the better alternative?

2.  Having experienced his leadership for the last two years, do you still believe that he was the better alternative or do you regret voting for him?

3.  If you still believe that he was the better alternative, why do you feel that way?

4.  If you regret voting for him, do you intend to vote for someone else if someone else runs against him or do you intend to run against him if nobody runs against him?  Why or why not?

Before anybody slams me for having the nerve to ask such questions, I will once again remind everyone that this site claims to be the place to find "all the news that slips from print" and since the mainstream media is not asking these questions and the other front-page bloggers here are not asking these questions, despite the fact that leadership elections are probably only about a month away, I think that these questions are completely fair game.

I think that it is wonderful that you share your insights into what is happening in Trenton and elsewhere with the Blue Jersey community, Senator Weinberg, and I would never ask you to go so far as to betray anybody's trust, but I do believe in light of all the damage that the leadership of Sweeney & Oliver and the Adubato-Christie-Norcross axis of evil has done to our party and state, it is fair to ask you to share with us your reasons for voting the way that you did, how you feel about that vote now, and what you intend to do regarding it going forward.

Of course, it would also be just as fair for you to not answer these questions, because you have more than earned that right and as much as I would like answers to these questions, I do not feel that my passionate support for you over the years makes me entitled to them.  The only thing that I am entitled to is the privilege of being able to continue to passionately support you and the good work that you do on behalf of your district and the state as a whole, especially its progressives for whom you are a standard-bearer.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 06:58:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I was pretty steamed. (0.00 / 0)

And wrote this at the time:

Senator Diane Allen Finds Her Inner Clarence Thomas.

I'm just as steamed now. It was a very unimpressive display, and cowardly considering what she should have learned from her own successful bout with cancer.  

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 @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 03:48:24 AM UTC

confused by comments (0.00 / 0)

In the comments on the diary that you cite, was Smarty Jones claiming that Couch Potato Politics is Creed Pogue?  If so, I find this hard to believe, because I have never known him to have anything bad to say about the South Jersey political machine, while CPP consistently rails against it.

I have always thought that Creed was firstamend07, while others seem to think that he is Steve Ayscue, which I find hard to believe, because I used to work with Steve and know him to be a much better writer than firstamend07.

Is Creed still posting here, but under a pseudonym?  If so, what is it?  I know that I post under a pseudonym as well, but that is only because I cannot post under my real name (Bertin Lefkovic) due to actions taken against me by Juan when he was running this site way back when.  I would be more than happy to post under my real name if that can be arranged.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 07:35:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Who Cares (0.00 / 0)

No one cares who you are. They do care what you say.

Stop being Sherlock Holmes!

This site works because people have the ability to be judged on their comments , not on personal judgements.

I do not know who you are but I do know that you are a 100% Sweeney hater. According to you he has never done one thing right.

Fine.

I have a different AND CORRECT viewpoint.

Sweeney is the difference between NJ being Wisc. and not. THAT IS A FACT!

So please, prove my comments wrong if you can and stop worrying who wrote them.    

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 10:18:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not sure if anyone cares... (0.00 / 0)

...who I am or what I say.  It doesn't really matter either way.  

I do wish that people would post with their names, because in many, if not most cases, knowing who someone is will answer questions about their motivation for writing what they write.

Your viewpoint is different but is most certainly not correct.  NJ is worse than Wisconsin, but because Christie is able to gain political cover by being able to claim that his agenda is being passed on a bipartisan basis, there is not nearly enough energy or enthusiasm for a recall effort like the one about to get underway in WI.

The fact of the matter is that NJ does not have Democratic majorities.  We have Republican-DINO majorities.  This will be proven if there is an attempt to take Sweeney and Oliver down as Republican votes would undoubtably be needed by them for them to be able to keep their leadership positions.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 13:42:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Smarty Here (0.00 / 0)

No, no claim that CPP is Creed Pogue.

After briefly looking at the link, I believe that I was going on about the rating system.

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by: SmartyJones @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 10:24:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That comment thread (0.00 / 0)

in my diary was pretty confusing.

I'm not going to confirm for you who  users who post anonymously are. If you want to change your username I can walk you through that. Contact me off-blog.

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 @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 13:03:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]