I just received this campaign update with the title: "It's Time for Real Democrats to Join Together". I have to say, it's probably the most offensive title they could have been given to it.
I know that many people who frequent this site are "Real Bergen Democrats" - and I understand that they picked that name specifically to separate themselves from Joe Ferriero. I'm on the record at the time for saying it was offensive - not for trying to separate from Ferriero, but because it specifically aims at dividing the Democratic Party. It says, "Yeah, I know you guys fund-raise and canvass and work your butts off, but you support the wrong guy, so you aren't really part of our Party."
That's just childish. It may be necessary in Bergen County where that merry band of rabble rousers really is fighting for control of the Party (I'm unconvinced, but support their fight anyway). But it is certainly not necessary in the Senatorial primary. Not when you're coasting on a 31-point lead in the polls.
Look, I have an overactive imagination and underactive talent...whatever. So here is my stick-figure representation of the Garden State:
For a full sized version, click the pic. If you like it, leave a comment or rate the tip jar a 4. If you don't like, well, as my neighbor says, "Shaddapa you face!"
It hasn’t gotten much publicity (for obvious reasons) but W. recently paid a stealth visit to Junior’s headquarters.
Curiously enough, NJ's Republican candidate for senator was less than welcoming to the Commander-in-Chief. Check out the video, courtesy of the AFL/CIO and also posted at Daily Kos and Perfectly Wrong:
Hear that rumbling in the distance? That’s the sound of legions of knuckles dragging across the ground as national wingnut conservative groups come to render last-minute assistance to the Thomas “Kid Kean” Jr. Senate campaign.
Hear that nervous tapping in the foreground? That’s the sound of Kean’s campaign operatives trying to dance around the fact that their candidate, who is trying to convince voters in this very blue state that he’s a moderate Republican who won’t kowtow to the GOP’s whacko wing, is now getting support from notable Neanderthals like National Right to Life, the Christian Coalition and the National Rifle Association.
Since I will go into the polling booth with the unwavering commitment to getting as many Republicans out of power as possible, my partisan bias in this election is pretty obvious. But even so, I think it's pretty obvious that GOP Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr. gave a very sad performance last night during his debate with Bob Menendez on WhineOhWhinePointJive.
If we learned one thing about Kean last night, it's that he sticks to his talking points like a barnacle on the hull of an oil tanker. If I fined him fifty bucks for every time he said "as soon as humanly possible" with regard to Iraq, I’d have a nice bankroll to put against my fuel bills this winter.
The moderator's exasperation was pretty obvious when he tried to get the gingerbread man to answer a simple question aout whether he would still have supported the invasion if he knew then what we all know now. We've seen plenty of evasive politicians in our time, but Kean was remarkable for his dull-voiced repetition of set responses. Instead of playing artful dodger (which would have at least offered some entertainment value), Kean simply pounded away at his one-lines responses like a barroom palooka.
Towards the end of the debate, Kean seemed to realize that he should have varied his reponses a bit more. Much good did it do him. Instead, he took to yapping his way through Menendez's statements like an anxious lapdog trying to get its owner's attention.
And kudos to Menendez for offering an original response to the beloved winger hobbyhorse of a constitutional amendment making English our official language. As Menendez noted, immigrants are flocking to English language classes because they know that is the path to success in an English-speaking country. If the Bushies are truly interested in promoting the use of English, they should stop attacking public education and start supporting it.
I've voted for candidates from both parties over the years. Even though I'm convinced that breaking the Republican grip on power is the overriding priority this year, I was open to the possibility that Kean might show himself to be a candidate truly worthy of bipartisan support.
After last night, I'd say that possibility has been put to rest.
Even Chuck Todd of Hotline has taken to calling Senator Kean "junior". However, he is not using it as a nickname rather he is using it as an adjective.
In an analysis of the rankings of the state senate races Todd had this to say about New Jersey:
Our gut tells us we have this race ranked too high. Our head says it’s too low. So for now, it stays where it is. Menendez is the type of aggressive incumbent that rarely loses... and yet, he could. Thomas H. Kean Jr. seems more "junior" than "Kean" right now, and until that changes, we’re always going to lean toward Menendez.
Tom Kean Jr. likes to get his drink on early. As in 9:30 AM early. According to Wally Edge, Tom Kean Jr. wants to get the old "would you like to have a beer with me" question settled early in this campaign season.
Also from the Edge There is a major Broo Ha Ha over this Sami Merhi guy, who apparently said some bad things about Ariel Sharon and palestinian suicide bombers in the past. In any case, this guy is running for Freeholder and it looks like Bill Pascrell (as in the Congressman) is gonna take a major hit because he supports him. (Wally, I know you have been waiting to be called "The Edge" for a long time).
Linda Stender doesn't mince words, her pro-impeachment stance may not sit well with Republicrats or Demublicans, but isn't that the point? GO STENDER! (disclaimer - this is my opinion and not necessarily that of bluejersey.net)
It turns out the Governor CAN bail out friends from jail without suffering any ethical repercussions. The Ethics panel hath spoken!
Controversial Cory gets the Newark Firemen to endorse him. Hopefully for Booker, this works better for Mayoral candidates than it does for Presidential candidates.
Also good news for Booker, Don Payne Jr. drops off the Sharpe James' City Council team. This is significant because he got the most (105,000) votes for his Freeholder race last time around.
When things like this happen, you feel less sorry for the municipality aid freeze Corzine proposed.
Prediction, based on the things comming out of everyone's mount, there will be no sales tax hike.
