Gov. Christie's Budget Address Open Thread - A few of the sticking points

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Feb 22, 2011 at 04:15:06 PM EST

Disparaging public employees: There was a reference to "keeping faith" with public employees in Gov. Christie's budget address today. But the public-employee bashing came in the form of: "the rich benefits of the privileged few" who "do not contribute enough". And that sounded more like the man.

Rich: Indeed, for a governor who threw his lot in with New Jersey's richest the same year he touted "shared sacrifice", the only references in the entire speech to "rich" came not in describing his own wealthy contributors and slush fund pals, or the cushy class he protected by vetoing the millionaire's tax. In fact, that word - "rich" - was only used by Christie to describe New Jersey's public employees. A great number of whom are represented by labor unions, the very definition of middle class.

Stand Up NJ and support collective bargaining and Wisconsin Workers - can you make the scene?

more below

Jennifer Beck, hypocrite.

by: Scott Weingart

Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 04:15:00 PM EDT

Hypocrisy on ethics is nothing new for Jennifer Beck.  Avid readers of this blog may recall that the Monmouth County Republicans charged prospective candidates $1,000 for a sham screening process in order to be considered for the party's nomination.  Unlike her primary opponent Joe Locricchio, Jennifer Beck was unwilling to stand up to the corrupt county organization and forked over $1,000 for this "background check".  Adam Puharic, the man who orchestrated this "Soviet"-style tactic to keep independent, good-government Republicans like Anna Little from winning the party line, continues to serve as Monmouth County Republican Chairman even as he collects a federal government salary. 

Assemblywoman Beck's inability to stand up to ethical shortcomings in her own party stands in stark contrast to Senator Karcher's consistent, nonpartisan reform record.  In the past, Senator Karcher and Assemblyman Mike Panter have criticized Democratic ethics reform proposals that didn't go far enough.  In 2004, she was the only Democrat to vote to bring a Republican-sponsored government reform package to the Senate floor.

I'm not Jennifer Beck's campaign manager, but if I were, I'd tell her to lay off the ethics and government reform issues.  Her constituents know about Karcher's spotless reform record and they are smart enough to see through the Assemblywoman's shallow election-year press-release pandering.

If ethics were cycling, Jennifer Beck would be on training wheels and Ellen Karcher would be in the Tour de France.

Updated: Menendez Gets Vague on Lamont

by: Juan Melli

Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 02:11:16 PM EDT

"Joe Lieberman is a good friend and an excellent Senator who has served his country with dignity. He ran a hard-fought campaign, but the voters of Connecticut have spoken and I support their decision. I fully support Ned Lamont's candidacy. Americans are fed up with George Bush's status quo policy in Iraq and last night they spoke loudly and clearly that they want leaders who will take the country in a new direction..."

And both candidates were asked about Lieberman’s re-election bid. Mr. Mendenez, who appeared first, said he supports Mr. Lieberman’s run as an independent candidate. “I wish him well,” he said, “and hope he returns.”

He then warned the crowd that Mr. Kean, who was to appear second, would try to tell the crowd that Mr. Menendez supports Mr. Lamont.

Update: Statement from the Menendez campaign:

“Bob Menendez endorsed Ned Lamont after his primary victory and that endorsement stands today.  Last night, he was asked about Joe Lieberman during a forum and he restated his admiration for Senator Lieberman, as he has always done, and said that he would look forward to serving with him again should he be re-elected.  After the forum, he was asked by a reporter what he meant by that and reiterated that his endorsement has not changed.  His endorsement of Ned Lamont has not changed -- period.”