The Worst Gubernatorial Campaign in NJ History
By Richard J. LaRossa | August 31st, 2009 - 7:31amThe Worst Gubernatorial Campaign in NJ History !
Locking horns at the State GOP HQ
Gingrich’s “Contract” vs. DuHaime/Giuliani’s non-campaign.Well, it’s not just me anymore. Paul Mulshine’s column on Sunday is the latest to question the strategy of Chris Christie’s campaign. Even Christie supporters like Alan Steinberg, Carl Golden, and Jeff Michaels have taken the time to add their voices to the growing chorus of concern – in writing.As a strategy, maybe we should call it the gambit of the non-campaign. It goes like this: You get a dream candidate with a built-in lead and you sit on it until Election Day. If the lead is big enough and things go your way, you’ll have some of it left on Election Day. This strategy was famously pursued by the presidential campaign of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a campaign run by some of the same arrogant people who now run the Christie campaign. America’s mayor was up by more than 20 points and saw his lead erode to where he was fighting for fifth place. These people were so sure of a victory they had the New Jersey Republican State Committee change its rules in short order to adopt a winner-take-all delegate rule for the benefit of Giuliani.
Which brings me to the latest from the chairman of that august body. Since June 17th, State GOP Chairman Jay Webber has refused to call a meeting of the New Jersey Republican State Committee to even consider voting to adopt or endorse the National Republican Party Platform. We are going into the ninth month of the year, and the State Committee has had just one of the four meetings it is required to hold. Something tells me that Assemblyman Webber is planning to call the next three meetings on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Less likely to face questions or do anything on those dates. If this was a company, Webber its CEO and the members of the State Committee its Board of Directors, would have a serious corporate governance issue.
When a political organization doesn’t have a clear set of positions for its candidates to campaign on – call it a platform – those candidates are likely to go out and try to come up with their own. And, this is what has happened in New Jersey.
More than twenty challenger candidates got together and came up with a “Contract with New Jersey”, a ten-point consensus document so basic that it shouldn’t offend anyone. But it did.
The candidates asked a prominent GOP operative to bring their idea to Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce and he reportedly wasn’t too happy about it. Why? What is the problem? It does say something about the level of non-communication between the Minority Leader and his challenger candidates that they were able to openly negotiate such a document among themselves, for weeks, without the Assembly Republican Victory’09 Committee even hearing about it.
Last week, three candidates and one conservative activist went to see Chairman Jay Webber about this proposed Contract with New Jersey. Also attending was a close confidante of Assemblyman Webber. Webber expressed shock that the candidates hadn’t followed the “proper procedures”. This is the same bogus argument he is using to avoid voting on accepting the RNC Platform.
This begs the question as to which “procedures” were in place in 2003, when Webber challenged an incumbent Republican Senator, or in 2007, when he jumped line to capture his Assembly seat. As I have heard in the past, where you stand depends on where you sit.
According to multiple sources familiar with the meeting, an exasperated Webber blurted out: “This doesn’t help Chris Christie because Chris Christie isn’t out there running as the Republican candidate.” Wow. Let me repeat that! According to multiple sources familiar with the meeting, an exasperated Webber blurted out: “This doesn’t help Chris Christie because Chris Christie isn’t out there running as the Republican candidate.” Wow, indeed! Ok, then what is he running as?
For the record, here is the proposed Contract with New Jersey that has upset the GOP establishment:
1. Eliminate legal corruption: Expand pay to play rules and Conflicts of Interest law to unions and special interest groups who are the recipients of public funds.
2. Pension reform: New Jersey’s pension system is broken and in badly need of reform. Only citizen representatives who are free from special interest groups can provide the change that is needed to make it more fair and rational for the workers and the taxpayers.
3. Competitive benefits for government workers: Taxpayers are burdened enough. All state workers, including legislators, must begin making contributions to their State-provided health care benefits.
4. Meaningful penalties for abuse of power: End the culture of corruption by stiffening penalties for violators of the public trust.
5. Election competition: Election reform to restore competitive elections by eliminating campaign war chests and opening up the process to regular citizens who seek to challenge incumbents.
6. Cut taxes and regulations: Cut taxes to promote private sector job growth in New Jersey.
7. True property tax reform: End unfunded State mandates and provide meaningful property tax relief.
8. Parental choice in education: Improve quality and reduce costs by introducing competition.
9. Free choice in health care: Increase individual choices and competition which will result in lower health care costs for everyone.
10. Stop the violence: Government's primary responsibility is to protect the public. We pledge to devote necessary resources to end violence in our communities.
A platform of this kind was used in 1991 by Republican legislative candidates in New Jersey. I was one of them and I beat a 15 year incumbent Democrat Senator in one of the most Democrat districts in the state. As everyone knows, it had a great effect in 1994, when Republicans used the Contract with America to take control of Congress for the first time in 40 years. It seems to work a lot better than what the failed Giuliani campaign did in 2008.
Paul Mulshine reported that at least three GOP county chairmen – those in Camden, Gloucester, and Hudson counties – were trying to stop Assembly candidates from participating in the Contract with New Jersey. One of these, Gloucester’s Bill Fey, keeps turning up.
Earlier this year, Fey ran a public campaign against one of his own Assembly candidates over insensitive remarks that candidate made. Now, according to two sources who claim to have heard it directly, Chairman Fey allegedly made an insensitive comment of his own.
At a meeting called to discuss the selection of a candidate to fill the vacated slot for Freeholder in Gloucester County, Fey is reported to have said that he didn’t “want candidates who think all Republicans should be Catholic or support Ron Paul.”
Do you hear another WOW! Coming?
Some at the meeting took the comment to be a slam at pro-lifers, but in a week when the Roman Catholic Bishops have put out a position opposing “gay marriage”, who knows what he meant. Maybe Chairman Fey should explain.
Maybe Jay Webber should explain. Oh, that’s right; the Giuliani Geniuses will come up with a plan. They’ve been so successful to date!
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Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day
“We will work harder and smarter to protect consumers, to preserve civil rights, to effectively regulate the alcoholic beverage industry, to ensure that the integrity of New Jersey’s casino gaming industry continues, to keep drives, passengers and pedestrians safe on our streets, to assist victims of crimes, and to remember always the importance of juvenile justice on issues affecting the state." -- Attorney General-designate Paula Dow, at her Senate confirmation hearing.
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Feb 9 2010
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1. Your continued silly use
1. Your continued silly use of the word Democrat as opposed to Democratic makes you look like a silly child.
2. As for this supposed "contract" - you do not dictate public policy with bumper sticker slogans. Accepting this stupid "contract" would be doing the same thing you sall accused Democrat (giggle giggle) Obama of doing. All fluff and no substance. The difference - Obama had detailed plans on his website. Those supporting this alleged contract have nothing more than a few nice talking points with no substance.
On the first point, wasn't Lonegan against pay-to-play laws?
Check your Grammar
I've read your comment from this article and the last one about the difference between
Democrat vs Democratic.
When people are asked what party do they belong to, no matter what they say, it is the Democrat party.
Democratic usually describes a process, not a party.
It is the Democrat Party. If that is your issue, you really need to get a life.
Opus, You are wrong. The
Opus, You are wrong. The name of the party is, and always has been, the Democratic Party. That is the historical name of the party dating back top 1844. This has never changed.
Disagreeing with them is one thing. But give them the respect they deserve by calling them by their proper name. If you are uneducated about this and this is the first you are hearing, then fine. If you know the facts and insist on wringly calling them the democrat party - Grow up and listen to something beyond Rush Limbaugh.
Christie a Conservative? He answers the question?
in case anyone has forgotten who Christie is, watch the following vidoes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw4wt5iIb3U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6BF1aXGcvw
from... www.newjerseyfordummies.com
This dude seriously needs to
This dude seriously needs to move past Steve Lonegan's defeat. lol
Loser
It is entertaining to watch a loser vent....sad but entertaining.
these comments are a bunch of sour grapes!
very interesting to read the comments. they attack his useage of "democrat" but not what he wrote! does the truth hurt? sounds like, you can't critize the facts so you attack the messenger. the liberals are perfecting this kind of politics. just ask Sarah Palin.
I did comment on the crux of
I did comment on the crux of his argument which is nothing more than bumper sticker slogans that do not solve serious policy problems. I also commented on his incorrect usage of the acutal name of the Democratic Party. Playing childish games cheapens any validity to his arguement - if it had any to begin with.
Loser Vent?
Yeah, it is sure poor to hear you always complain about what he writes.
I can't wait to hear the excuses after the Michelin Man totally screws up this campaign and we have 4 more years of Corslime!
Hey Politics 2008
I emaild the writer. Go to Chris Christie's web site. That is where the bumper sticker slogans came from.
They don't want to endorse their own words.
Opus, Why do people like you
Opus,
Why do people like you confuse any criticism of the article as an endorsement of Chris Christie. I have openly criticized both candidates for their lack of substance in their campaigns. Although as of about 2 weeks ago, I decided to give CC my vote based solely on the actions of Corzine and his campaign for re-election.
I see you gave up on your incorrect usage of the Democratic Party name. Did someone teach you the lessons of a proper noun.
But of course, saying Corslime is also giggly so I applaud you for that. Why is it so hard to criticize people and use their actual name. You look like a simple fool when you use words like Corslime and Democrat Party. The former being childish and the latter being factually incorrect.
ChutzpaRossa
LOL... this guy actually thinks he is the spokesman for public employee pension and beenfits reform? Dick... you got a nice pension padding job with Whitman and voted for how many pension enhancements? You aren't the spokesman for public employee abuses... you are the posterchild of it.
Dick the thief
People,
Remember these comments/posts are written by a computer thief who lost a Statewide election for us Senate (came in dead last), was a State senator for 1 and 1/2 terms, used to turn balls for the lottery, and sung to blue hair ladies in the parks of Trenton.
Enough said? May I suggest stop reading and commenting on his posts so he can go back to hacking and stealing computers!
Burlington GOP and I'm with Stupd
Aka Mark Duffy and Rick Wright, when it comes to stealing, how much are you stealing with regard to what they are paying you to lose elections. It can't be enough because you are so good at it.
As to Rick aka I'm with stupid and I have an Obama sign on my lawn Wright, you're $250,000 income between you and your Democrat wife looks safe no matter who loses, so why do you care what he writes
This guy must really be hitting a lot of salient points for you two to be so bitter.
Clearly, you can't stand the truth. By the way, I guess you can't stand the fact that Steinbery, Mulshine and Illions basically said the exact same thing. So, given the fact that you don't attack them as well, your comments don't matter because you clearly hate this guy and quite frankly, I hope he writes and pisses you off even more.
You are both pathetic. It took you both and entire day to come up with your responses.
Hey LaRossa, keep it up, I love watching amateurs work.
I love watching LaRossa post
I love watching LaRossa post underneath his own rants.
Hey Politics 2008
Amazing that the state R's have folks like you shilling for them. Like they don't have enough overbearing rip off artists on the payroll already.
Keep guessing and maybe someday you'll win the lottery. Pun intended!
It is nice to see how you
It is nice to see how you ran away from all my posts are are unable to specifially comment on any of them. Can't handle being called out, huh?
Maybe I can be cool like you. Yeah, yeah, Corslime sucks. I am intelligent. The Democrat Party - giggle, giggle.
Hmmm...
Am I the only one thinking LaRosa is a poor spokesman for pension reform? What's next? The father of the most abused law allowing for eminent domain will preach about how the government shouldn't take your property away and flip it to a developer? Come on now... right an article about how tax cuts are bad, pension bonds are good, and pension-padding jobs under whitman are good and at least you will have credibility on the issue.
Opus Aka Dick LaRossa
I've told you before but I'll have to remind you again; don't know a Mark or Rick. Just a consciousness observer.
Steal any computer secrets lately?
Uninformed Hypocrites
Hmmm! Well, lets see if you can understand the following:
#1 Tax cuts are bad unless they are accompanied by spending cuts. YOu can't cut taxes without cutting spending. But all the republicans yell about is cutting taxes. Show me the spending cuts. Republicans who only cut taxes without cutting spending are only creating more debt.
#2 You must be swallowing the pension bond crap. Ask Whitman if it was a good idea.
#3 flipping property to developers has gotten a host of people convicted and sent to jail for bribery, money laundering and official misconduct.
So, given the fact that your position is the opposite of the point above, you clearly are among those who support offical corruption. THe only problem is that being a shill for the Christie campaign only means that you will not be prosecuted.
More favors for his friends.
Oh, and I really don't care who you think I am. Every other writer on this site is fawning over CC's ample butt. At least one writer has the guts to write both the truth and then document it. "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"
The worst senatorial campaign in NJ history
Dick LaRossa, Republican primary campaign for US Senator, 1996.
http://christiegonewild.blogspot.com/
What a Name!
Wow, a republican is going to really be insulted by something written by someone with the name "Florio".
What a joke!
Actually
That was very very funny that FanovFlorio posted. Oh poor Opus aka Dick LaRossa........ever feel like there is a great party and you're not invited?
Campaign advice
Dick LaRossa giving advice on how to win elections is like Chris Christie giving driving lessons.
http://christiegonewild.blogspot.com/
Conservative Activist? Multiple Sources? Driving Lessons?
It blows my mind that Corzine would want to make driving an issue. Didn't he almost end up killing himself by not wearing his seatblet while his state employed drivered barreled down the highway at breakneck speed?
"Last week, three candidates and one conservative activist went to see Chairman Jay Webber about this proposed Contract with New Jersey."
"According to multiple sources familiar with the meeting"
Dick, stop buying conservative activist, single source, Lonegan's poop. Christie is running a general election campaign. If there were enough Lonegan shills to matter in this general election campaign, Lonegan would have run the primary.
words do have meanings
There is very little that is Democratic about the Democrat party.
Infringing the 1st amendment and their silly attempt at the unfairness doctrine is just proof positive of that fact alone.
Assissi, That is your
Assissi,
That is your opinion. But what is, and will always be fact, is that the legal name of the party has been the Democratic Party from the day of its inception. Take a look at history and brush up on the grammar behind proper nouns.
By calling it the wrong name on purpose it diminishes any respect you may have and takes away from any valid opinions you might propose. It makes you look juvenile and childish like Opus/Larossa.