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The Tom Moran Crusade

by: Matt Feinstein

Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 01:34:59 PM EST

My first question was "should Chris Christie have to include Tom Moran's articles as paid adversiting?" While not entirely serious, it is becoming increasingly frusturating that the Star Ledger allows Moran to use its pages to stump for Christie's impending Gubernatorial bid.

In an article on the cover of today's Ledger, Moran recognizes what could be a growing problem for Christie: his decision to award former Attorney General John Ashcroft's consulting firm a contract that is valued at somewhere between $29 and $52 million. http://blog.nj.com/n... Knowing this could create problems for Christie in the future, Moran assumes his usual role of Christie apologist and asks New Jerseyans to give Christie our "gratitude" for all of his work. What troubles me is the internally self-contradictory tone in both Moran's column and Christie's words.

Moran describes how Christie "gives speeches these days that come about a half-inch short from being campaign stump speeches. The theme is that voters must show zero tolerance toward politicians with conflicts of interest." Yet less than ten paragraphs later he asks us to forgive Christie because, in Moran's view, the totality of his work is noble. Wouldn't this be the functional equivalent of Christie giving corrupt politicians a pass because they are also trying to do good deeds? Or do Christie's words not apply to the United States Attorney because he is not technically a "politician?" Either way, I agree with Christie. We should show zero tolerance towards our politicans with conflicts of interest. That is just the reason why I am so troubled with Christie's decision to award Ashcroft, a potentially huge Republican fundraiser, this multi-million dollar contract. I don't know what Christie's motives were, but I find his behavior to be troubling for someone who will seek to campaign as "Clean-As-A-Whistle Chris."

Author's note: This is my first diary here and I would greatly appreciate feedback as to what you liked, did not like and how can I improve. Thanks!

Matt Feinstein :: The Tom Moran Crusade

Tags: Tom Moran, Chris Christie, (All Tags)

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The Tom Moran Crusade | 10 comments

welcome (4.00 / 1)

practice makes perfect. this is a lot better than my first post, no doubt.

a good tip to any new blogger/diariast is to master the basics on HTML to better format what you're sharing. stuff like embedding links, blockquotes, italics, etc. is hard to avoid for very long.

anyone have a good link for an HTML crashcourse?

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 18:57:39 PM UTC

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Thank you for your comments (4.00 / 1)

Jay,

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your feedback and would love an html crashcourse if anyone has one.

-Matt

by: Matt Feinstein @ Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 19:03:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Cheat (4.00 / 1)

http://www.webmonkey...

Gotta love the web.

by: Thurman Hart @ Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 19:16:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

??? (0.00 / 0)

Let me be gentle with your first diary and simply say that if Moran was being friendly to Christie in this column, I am sure that Christie would hate to see one attacking him. :-)

Moran is not defending Christie's choices in this at all. In fact, he is pointing out that Christie has fallen into the same trap that Christie has prosecuted others for doing.

by: Creed Pogue @ Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 19:03:42 PM UTC

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He probably (0.00 / 0)

won't like mine at all.

by: Thurman Hart @ Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 19:18:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good diary (3.00 / 1)

and recommended.

I'd suggest putting a comment like the one you end with in the comments rather than in the diary. It detracts from the thrust of your post.

I'm also encouraging everyone to put out a cracker barrel.

by: Thurman Hart @ Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 19:19:50 PM UTC

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Moran is right to criticize and right to praise (0.00 / 0)

Good diary, Matt. Keep 'em coming. This is an interesting read. I enjoyed it and everyone here knows that I am supportive of our U.S. Attorney and his superlative work.

As I have noted before, placing Ashcroft as a monitor in this case with this kind of payoff is just plain wrong. This is a self-inflicted black eye on Mr. Christie. I could not be more disappointed.

But don't let this blip discredit the outstanding performance of this U.S. Attorney's office in nailing corruption at every turn.

Tom Moran is right in his criticism here and he is equally correct in his praise.

by: TerryMalloy-OnTheWaterfront @ Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 01:55:12 AM UTC

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I have no criticism. (0.00 / 0)

Your diary as is as good as 95% of the other diaries here. Politicians regularly post, I don't kinow who writes their diaries, they have nothing new or creative or important to say, but they get asses kissed all the same.

by: Wesleylake @ Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 23:28:25 PM UTC

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Thank you (0.00 / 0)

I wanted to say thank you to everyone for their feedback. To see others read and think about something you wrote is a really nice feeling and one that will keep me motivated to keep writing. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

by: Matt Feinstein @ Fri Nov 23, 2007 at 07:03:46 AM UTC

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This is how bad it is.... (0.00 / 0)

Even though Tom Moran wishes it otherwise, the image of Chris Christie as a savior of impeccable character beyond venality appears to be, well, just "framing. After all, how lame is it that Christie is now giving us the same huffy riffs that corrupt pay-to-play hacks give?

"You either trust me to have integrity or you don't," he says. "It concerns me how this is being framed." (Star Ledger)

What a huge disappointment.

If he becomes Gov. Christie, I fear we might hear even more boilerplate. You know, the one about how his political friends, donors and allies just happen to get government contracts because they are, coincidentally, professional Einsteins.

by: Bodoc @ Sun Nov 25, 2007 at 07:47:54 AM UTC

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The Tom Moran Crusade | 10 comments