June 19, 2008 - 12:24am
O'Toole salutes Christie-Beck as 'dream ticket'
By Max Pizarro
Category: LocalTags: Ellen Karcher, Richard Codey, Kevin O'Toole, Chris Christie, Rob Ortiz, Jen Beck
State Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex) on Wednesday stepped out in front of the back-static regarding a pairing of U.S. Attorney Chris Christie with state Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) for GOP governor/lt. governor in 2009.
"I think it's a dream ticket," said O'Toole. "If Chris Christie decides to run, I expect Jen Beck to be considered in what would be an ideal combination of law enforcement, ethics and government transparency."
O'Toole recalled as "gutsy" Beck's drubbing out of of office of state Sen. Ellen Karcher last year.
"She took on Dick Codey's $5 million onslaught and came up with a victory," said the state senator. "She has been vetted and she has been tested. In the Senate so far she has made a Godzilla-like imprint."
In other Republican Party news, O'Toole this week faced the ouster of Rob Ortiz, his friend and ally, as Bergen County Republican chair. Ortiz suffered party payback for his meltdown selection earlier this year of Andy Unanue as a U.S. Senate candidate.
"He was not my (political) creation," O'Toole, the long-serving GOP chairman of the Essex County Republican Party, said of Ortiz. "He was the finance chair long before (he allied directly with O'Toole as chair).
"I couldn't take credit for his victory, nor can I take credit for his loss," the senator added.
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A sure loser
An establishment Republican is already trying to lay the groundwork of what they will try to impose as the ticket next year. ... However another big government one issue (and the wrong issue to boot) candidate along with a big government liberal Republican woman is a sure loser next year.
If the last several years have taught us anything it is that the NJGOP establishment does not know how to identify candidates. They should all take a hint from Gilmore and step aside. ... or maybe they will all have to be pushed aside like Ortiz.
They pass the main test
Both support abortion up to the day of delivery and more gun control laws. And what could be better than running George W. Bush's #1 New Jersey supporter? That is if you are Jon Corzine.
Baroni/Beck
That might be a interesting ticket - someone with Union support and someone with support for her ethics reform.
Speaking As a Democrat, Please...
....run Christie at the top of the ticket.
Any federal prosecutor with an ounce of integrity was fired by Bush.
If I had Christie's job for the last four years there would have been hundreds more convictions of corrupt officials and white collar criminals.....and I have no law degree or any experience in running such an operation.
If a REALLY motivated experienced prosecutor had that job we would have seen a thousand more convictions of public officials/employees and white collar criminals throughout the state resulting in a massive turn around of New Jersey's political and business community.
Then again, that's a complete fantasy since George Bush would have fired anyone who had the will to really do their jobs in that role.
As it is the prosecutions made so far have only begun to scratch the surface of the deeply rooted/systemic corruption that permeates New Jersey's political/economic sphere.
We're one of the richest state's in the country; there's no GOOD reason for us to be so broke.
And, the problem is 100% BIPARTISAN!!!
PS Jennifer Beck was a better debator than Karcher; but she's not half the legislator Karcher was.
I hope too see a rematch between these two talented candidates...or barring that, an even more progressive reform Democrat stepping up to the plate.
From Frederick Douglass
Wrong Message
Jen Beck is certainly worth considering, but don't you think Christie has the "ethics and transparency" bit locked up? He'd be better off looking for another non-Trenton type who can be a real economic czar.
Steve Forbes or Lonegan 4 Lt. Gov.
If i had to pick a Dem Gov. candidate over Corzine or as his Lt. Gov - I'd like to see a guy like Sweeny whose taken stands against spending and a lot of the employees good perks.
how 'bout another outsider?
If Christie is going to run as a Trenton outsider, he should consider someone who isn't a legislator.
There has to be a reformer-type GOP mayor out there somewhere who fits the bill.
Or maybe someone like Bob Franks.
Mountainside
Looks like O'Toole stabbed Lonegan in the back; what goes around comes around.
"We will have peace when they love their children more than they hate us" ~ Golda Meir
Vin and Mr. D
Vin, on your first comment -- On top of all his other advancements of the Democrat agenda Baroni will never make it through a primary after being the deciding vote for passing Paid Family Leave. You are right on - at least with the name - in your second comment. ... Lonegan. However he will be at the top of the ticket.
Mr. D - Franks is no outsider, and even if he were he will never pass muster because he was the head cheerleader for COrzine's massive government expanding and tax increasing toll hike debacle.
Dream ticket?
Anything with Beck is a nightmare...
The establishment
is setting up two candidates to rig the Primary - Christie v Crowley. They aren't going to take a chance on one like they did this year.
All Losers
All Losers.........
Like all of you above and your Dumb A_ _ thoughts or lack of ..........
cc stern AND umdnj, ashcroft..includes but not limited to.
The dust will settle. CC will be a federal judge. The rest: TBD.