Beck wins Christmas Tree debate
By Wally EdgeThe winner of the Christmas Tree Debate of 2007 seems to be Republican Jennifer Beck, who criticized Democratic State Senator Ellen Karcher for taking a farmland tax credit on her 8-acre Marlboro home, where she grows Christmas trees. Despite a serious campaign misstep – Beck’s opposition researcher thought Karcher only grew six trees when it was really six acres of trees – the Asbury Park Press effectively sided with Beck in an editorial that suggested that farmland tax credits should be used for real farmers, not well-off politicians and physicians who dabble as farmers as a way of reducing their property taxes.
Karcher’s problem – perhaps only in New Jersey is this a liability – is that she has set the bar too high when it comes to ethics. As the Marlboro Councilwoman who wore a wiretap and then beat ethically-challenged Co-Senate President John Bennett four years ago, Karcher’s political career is based on ethics reform. So when she cuts her own taxes by selling growing trees, she makes her success story a little less credible.
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Wally Edge
Attorney General Anne Milgram had already decided she would leave her post when Gov. Jon Corzine lost his bid for re-election. She has been ... >
Bob Torricelli
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Michael Patrick Carroll
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Jeff Michaels
Governor-elect Christopher J. Christie. How sweet it is for the thousands of volunteers who worked since February to support this great man for NJ ... >
Richard LaRossa
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Alan Steinberg
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Dr. Joseph Marbach
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Carla Katz
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Joey Novick
Patrick Murray is the founding director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. According to their website, “The Monmouth University ... >
Murray Sabrin
According to the latest SurveyUSA and Rutgers Eagleton polls, independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett has the support of 19% and 20% of ... >
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Quote of the Day
"Please. I wouldn't have enough paper. So let’s not even bother writing one. This is now about governing. I won. The one thing I could never understand about people in politics was winners who are sore winners." -- Gov.-elect Christopher Christie, on putting together an enemis list.
“He’s a nice man with good intentions, but in the end he’ll be remembered for timidity. Being a business titan and issuing orders from the corner office is a lot different than having to cajole and persuade people in politics and having the toughness and fortitude to see your vision become reality.”-- Ross K. Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University, on Gov. Jon Corzine.
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