The First Lieutenant Governor: The Republican Stable

by: vincent solomeno

Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 09:00:00 AM EDT

As the final weeks of the Republican primary unfold, Chris Christie and Steve Lonegan will be busy campaigning, trading criticisms of one another, and making the case on the air waves and the internet that they alone are best suited to take on Jon Corzine in this November's gubernatorial election.

Corzine, and whoever wins the GOP nomination on Primary Day, will also undertake the historic task of selecting an individual to run as their respective party's candidate to be the first Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey history. Below the fold is a list of ten possible Republican contenders. It is subjective and, more than anything, written to solicit the opinions of Blue Jersey readers on the strengths and weaknesses of each potential pick.

Please click the headline, read on, comment away, and look out this Thursday for an analysis of potential Democratic choices for Lieutenant Governor.

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The Rule of Law and Chris Christie

by: huntsu

Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 10:40:05 AM EDT

Promoted from diaries - - Rosi

Chris Christie portrays himself as a defender of the law, but really he is just interested in public image and personal gain. Here's the latest example:

Without mentioning gubernatorial rival Steve Lonegan by name, the Chris Christie campaign chastised him for removing three lesser-known Republican candidates from the primary ballot. ...
"They worked hard, brought diverse ideas to the table and added to the debate over the last few months," said Christie Campaign Manager Bill Stepien. "It's a shame that some saw fit to spend taxpayer dollars trying to knock good candidates off of the ballot."

The translation is, "Who cares if these people cheated and didn't actually get the number of signatures the law requires to be on the ballot. How dare we use tax dollars to enforce the law! They should be on the ballot because I say they are good people!"

Christie doesn't believe in the rule of law -- he believes in the rule of Christie.

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GOP candidates for Governor to teabag together

by: Jason Springer

Tue Apr 14, 2009 at 10:07:53 PM EDT

This party is the gift that keeps on giving. Now we have all of the candidates for Governor in the Republican Primary teabagging together in Morristown on Wednesday:

Confirmed Participants:
Steve Lonegan, Richard Merkt, Brian Levine, Chris Christie, Roger Bacon, Gary Steele, Michael Illions!

The jokes just write themselves. It is interesting to note that hometown boy Rick Merckt and party front runner Chris Christie are listed after Steve Lonegan. Here's what Andrew Sullivan has to say about the whole thing:

These are not tea-parties. They are tea-tantrums. And the adolescent, unserious hysteria is a function not of a movement regrouping and refinding itself. It's a function of a movement's intellectual collapse and a party's fast-accelerating nervous breakdown.

They will gather for teabagging at noon on the green. Oh and by the guest list, you can clearly see these are non-partisan events. If anyone is in the area, please stop by with a video camera and share with your friends here at Blue Jersey.

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Right Side Roundup: Gov Election Edition

by: Jason Springer

Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 01:30:00 PM EST

Let the games continue. The Republican candidates supposedly boycotted the Chamber Train trip, taking shots at many in their base and their own party members along the way. Somehow, Christie still managed to make sure he had a staffer making the rounds.

Speaking of the big dog in the race, after years of an informal campaign, Chris Christie is ready to formally announce his campaign for Governor this week with a tour around the state. I don't think it's a Rick Merkt walking tour, who "raised the roof" at his stop in Gloucester County, but Christie plans to travel to a town near you. I wonder if anything will change now that that he's "officially" going to be a candidate? Before he makes even makes the announcement, he'll face more questions about politicizing the office of US Attorney.

Meanwhile, Steve Lonegan is pushing full speed ahead with his effort. Before Christie even announces, Lonegan will be up on the air with a $500,000 ad buy:

"We've been up (on the air) since last week and we'll probably stay up through the primary," Lonegan strategist Rick Shaftan said. "We might only pull back once Christie drops out."

That's probably some wishful thinking, but have no fear because Lonegan is still giving great lines along the way:

"If the establishment Republicans are trying to rig the system against me, then I intend to beat them."

The fourth candidate in the race, Franklin Township Mayor Brian Levine formally threw his hat in the ring too. All four candidates took turns ripping up Governor Corzine at a Somerset County forum this past Saturday:

Though he refrained from criticizing Christie during his remarks, Lonegan, the former mayor of Bogota, said he would continue to "force the debate" between the Republican challengers over the next few months. "That's how you get ready to go to war," Lonegan said. "If we can't work our way through a hard-hitting primary, how are you going to take on Jon Corzine?"

Rick Merkt must have seen his shadow, because there are still four months left of forcing the debate and "preparing for battle." By the time they actually go vote, we may all feel like it's Groundhog Day.

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