The Chris Christie love fest continues

Not worried about Christie (0.00 / 0)

The Ashcroft business, etc. will take away his halo.

So, if Christie Whitman had married him, she would have  been Christie Christie.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 18:44:36 PM UTC

Democrats for Lonegan (0.00 / 0)

Anybody who underestimates Chris Christie, especially if he picks someone like Jennifer Beck to be his LG, does so at their peril.

If there is not a contested Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2009, Democrats should work as hard as possible to get as many Democratic and Unaffiliated voters to register as Republicans and vote for Steve Lonegan who should be the face and voice of the Republican Party in NJ in 2009 the way that Bret Schundler was in 2001.

Jim McGreevey was as weak a Democratic gubernatorial candidate as our party has seen in its history in this state and was able to win a landslide victory because his opponent was so extreme.

It is possible that Corzine could be even weaker in 2009 than McGreevey was in 2001 and Chris Christie will probably be as strong a Republican opponent as either Tom Kean Sr. was in the 80s and Christie Whitman was in the 90s.

With NJ and VA being the only gubernatorial contests in the country in 2009 and VA trending bluer and bluer with every passing week, NJ will represent the GOP's best chance to send a message to the nation going into the ultra-important 2010 midterm elections.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 20:25:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

McGreevey (4.00 / 1)

Weaker than Peter Shaprio?  And he nearly knocked off Whitman in '97, who you seem to think was so "strong."  And comparing him to Kean is simply laughable.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 01:59:05 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

'97 was not as close as you think (0.00 / 0)

The only reason that Whitman's margin of victory was as narrow as it was in '97 was because at least 20% of the Republican base abandoned her that year in favor of the "Libertarian" Party candidate, Murray Sabrin.

I put "Libertarian" in quotes, because he was the first pro-life Libertarian I had ever and have ever heard of in my entire life.  I guess Bob Barr became the second one this year.

The reason these Republicans abandoned her in '97 was because she vetoed legislation that would have banned late term abortions in NJ without exceptions for the health and life of the mother.

It was a very brave position for Whitman to take, which almost cost her the election, especially since during the uproar over the veto, the silence coming from the Democratic nominee, Jim McGreevey, on the issue was deafening.

This is the reason that I have never nor will ever have any respect for McGreevey.  Yes, Shapiro might have been beaten soundly by Kean in 1985, but I am sure that he was a far more respectable candidate that McGreevey ever was.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 05:10:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

"pro-life" libertarians (0.00 / 0)

Ron Paul was the Libertarian presidential nominee in 1988. And Nat Hentoff has been around for about as long as I can remember.  

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by: Bill W @ Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 15:03:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

97: Whitman: 47%, McGreevey 46%, Sabrin 5% (0.00 / 0)

Whitman was never as strong as a lot of people wanted to make her out to be.  She didn't win a majority of the vote in 1993 either.

And no, I don't believe Andrews would have done better.

But, getting back to the main point, this is going to be a very tough race.  I think it is a mistake to run trying to knock Christie down as your winning strategy.  We aren't going to be able to marginalize him.  Bringing out the truth of his record is necessary, of course.  It is more important to make a positive case for Corzine.  

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by: Creed Pogue @ Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 12:52:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Corzine... (4.00 / 1)

needs to step on some toes... and do so fast... his whole tenure in office has been polictically calculated and because of that, he hasn't gotten much done...

A couple of bold steps towards, 'Ending the toxic mix of politics and money' would give him a lot of mileage.

If keeps up the milqutoast approach to governing and pleasing all groups, he'll get clobbered.


"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

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by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 13:41:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Democratic "Establishment" In NJ Fears Corzine... (0.00 / 0)

...even after he's caved in to their nonsense so many times, they still fear/resent him because he's not "one of them".

Corzine has his own money to play with, so he's not as beholden to the "pay to play" machine pols that are at the (rotten) core of both the Republican and Democratic parties in NJ.

So far, Corzine has played his hand in NJ as if he was holding a pair of deuces.

I don't really understand why he hesitates to be a real/aggressive leader and to start kicking some serious ass.

In a war of Jon Corzine vs the Machines the people would back Corzine BIG TIME.

Maybe he's being blackmailed???

Maybe he's just got no balls???

Maybe he's a seriously "great" con artist and he's not the decent humane progressive he pretends to be and is actually with the corrupt establishments???

Maybe, his heart is in the right place but he's bought into the con job of people like Torricelli (who "showed him the ropes" prior to his run for the Senate) that frames the world in an overly "pragmatic" manner???

With his record, Corzine will have to show us something new and dynamic to win against Chris Christie an dthe dirty attack machine that will be the "spine" of his campaign.

Bashing Christie alone won't win; but shedding lots of light on the Bush Bum is a necessary tactic.   There is no need to lie or exaggerate; Christie was/is a front man for a completely corrupt administration.   Christie sold his soul to get and to keep his job.    Christie was on marginally effective (at best) in scratching at the surface of NJ corruption.

This is all very complex and there's nothing I could say in a few hundred words here that can't (won't ;-) be taken apart by the defenders of the status quo (pretending to be progressives, of course) who populate this place.....and that's the way it is here.

I hope the governor, or someone close to him, will be moved to get my message that governing on the basis of fearless adherence to high principle and Conscience is where it's at.  Cut the....... compromise.

Jon Corzine, you're holding a straight flush; stop playing like you have a losing hand!!!

 

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by: Nick Lento @ Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 17:06:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Christie-Beck (0.00 / 0)

will be a formidable ticket and make for an exciting race.  But I question Christie's political skills, plus Corzine's messaging team will have a field day with Becks past employment as a lobbyist.  

Corzine-Buono is my pick

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 20:05:22 PM UTC

Why Buono? (0.00 / 0)

What does she offer the Democratic ticket that either Dana Redd or Bonnie Watson-Coleman doesn't?  From an ideological point of view, I would love to see Loretta Weinberg get the pick, but I don't see that happening.

Considering the relationship that Diane Allen has had of late with the Burlington GOP, I think that Codey and Corzine should be talking to her about changing her party affiliation in return for being Corzine's LG.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 20:31:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I can't argue with Watson-Coleman (1.00 / 1)

I thinks she's fantastic, but more valuable in the Assembly.  She is Corzine's bridge to Speaker Roberts.  

Senator Redd=George Norcross in my opinion.  Loretta Weinberg would piss off to many people in Bergen County.  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 23:23:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Additionally, (0.00 / 0)

Buono has more experience, has a strong grasp on the most pressing issue facing the state (the budget), and is a consensus pick between the North and South factions of the Democratic party.

How do you think she got to Chair the Budget & Appropriations Committee?  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 23:25:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Experience (1.00 / 1)

Yeah, she has experience screwing public workers.  Why don't you just put Steve Sweeny on the ticket.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 02:00:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Only People Loretta Weinberg "Pisses Off" Are... (0.00 / 0)

...brown tongued pay to play advocates that remain perversely loyal to Ferierroism.

I heard Joe was still showing his face in AC past week.  Shameless.

If the Republicans take NJ, it will be because of the crap he, and those like him, have pulled.

Ferierro might even manage to "beat the rap" but his stench, and that of all the bosses, would still permeate the NJ Democratic party.

Real Democrats win in spite of the bossism, not because of it.  

Most ordinary people are rightly pissed off at the monied interests that buy off the pols....and, most of those corporate interests are colored Republican red.

If Jon Corzine embraces the values and reform agenda of a Loretta Weinberg; he will wipe the floor with "Bush Bum" Chris Cristie.

Sure, most of us progressives will support Corzine over Christie no matter what; but if Corzine wishes to be a people's governor, he really should adopt the people's agenda....and that's where Weinberg stands.  

Corzine's millions don't guarantee a win, even against a Bush Bum like Christie.  The experience of Linda Stender needs to be a lesson for Governor Corzine.   He needs to reach and activate and synergistically excite grass roots progressives to have a big win.

You see, despite all the pay to play corruption; at the end of the day, it's the individual PEOPLE who get to vote and decide who's in charge.

Here's hopin' Corzine will check his own gut and come down on the side of the people vs the corrupt Bush Republican Bums and the corrupt machine Democratic bums.

If Corzine goes down the business as usual route, he may still win...but it would be hard fought, ugly and unnecessarily close.  

If he runs as a born again reformer and then delivers the goods by kicking ass for the following four years; he wins big and transforms the state with a massive mandate.

The people, the PEOPLE of NJ are so effing sick and tired of the same old bullshit.  I'm tellin ya.  

I hope Corzine is willing and able to rise to the occasion and reconnect to his real Democratic ideals.

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by: Nick Lento @ Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 08:28:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

LG is meaningless (0.00 / 0)

The way the position is set up is a way for a nominee to say that they have "balance" without the LG actually having any real authority.  If a governor left office, the LG would only serve until the following November.  I really wonder how many people are going to jump for that!

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by: Creed Pogue @ Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 12:33:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Buono is no more of a free agent than Redd (0.00 / 0)

The only difference is the name of the boss that pulls her strings.  I think that the question that you ask below answers itself.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 05:16:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Christie:" Inmates will Not Control My Prisons" (0.00 / 0)

Ok, He didn't really say that but for everyone who thinks Corzine will win again they better start looking at some of these side issues.

There has been a lot written over the past few days about the deteriorating situation inside the prisons regarding gangs and control of the jails. Christie will jump all over this.  

We already know the continued embarrassment over the stupid e-mail situation with Katz.  

Corzine better start fixing some things and addressing these issues.

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by: firstamend07 @ Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 22:25:26 PM UTC