Jon Runyan "blocking and tackling" his way to Congress

According to a post on the Rothenberg Political Report there is a clear link between former football players, like NJ-3rd district congressional candidate Jon Runyan, running for office and the Republican Party, from former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts to 2006 PA gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann.

“They understand the importance of executing the blocking and tackling of political campaigns,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Ken Spain, “Hard work and discipline are hallmark Republican values that also happen to make for good professional football players.”

So I guess we are to assume then that Republicans believe blocking and tackling is the same as legislating and governing.

I'll bet Len Lance needs extra deodorant and sleeping pills

Tewksbury businessman David Larson told PolitickerNJ.com he plans to launch a conservative Republican 7th Congressional District run against U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance in the GOP primary. Larson, 52, is a Brooklyn native who moved to Hunterdon County about 15 years ago and raises American quarter horses to supplement his windows and doors business.

"My opponent's family career is government and politics - and my career is windows and doors," said the fledgling candidate and political neophyte who has never before held elected office.

If he gets elected at least he can fix broken windows and doors in the Capitol building.

Just another way to lose

Republican Dave Corsi, a self employed real-estate investor and property manager, announced his candidacy to challenge incumbent Democratic Congressman Rush Holt in November. "The reason I'm running is I and many others like me have had enough. We're tired of politicians saying one thing and getting to Washington and doing something else," said Corsi.

Corsi also said he is taking a grass-roots approach to fundraising. Corsi said he will rely on a fundraising approach of soliciting donations from average citizens who share his concerns about government. "Their (his opponents) objectives is how much money they'll raise," Corsi said. "I'm more interested in getting the vote out than raising money. We'll show them there is a better way to campaign."

And if he doesn't raise enough money to persuade people to vote for him he'll simply show there is another way to lose.

Tea drinkers try to "bag" Menendez

Wingnut activists affiliated with the national Tea Party movement are hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. The group, called the Committee to Recall Senator Robert Menendez, is going to court after its petition to recall the senator was denied by former Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells last month. The Tea Partiers, part of a Sussex County group supporting limited government and opposed to Menendez’s stance on healthcare reform, are contesting the decision in a state appeals court.

Dan Silberstein, a lawyer for the group, said the legal battle is over which constitution — the U.S. or state — should apply to residents who want to recall their senators. "We essentially have a New Jersey constitution that says we can do it," said Silberstein.

Essentially? What's that? Sounds like another way of saying that it really doesn't say what these idiots want it to say.

Lonegan brings up steroids

In a statement released yesterday Steve Lonegan, the state director of Americans for Prosperity, called State Senator Ray Lesniak’s bill to reform the Council on Affordable Housing “a hybrid super bureaucracy that combines the State Planning Commission, the Economic Development Authority, the Home Mortgage Finance Association and the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs into a super bureaucracy that puts COAH on steroids”.

I wonder what the rat's rear end Lonegan wears on the top of his head would look like on steroids.

Liar, Liar!! Pants on fire!!

Former State Assemblyman Rick Merkt, who ran against Chris Christie in the primary for Governor, told Star-Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine he doesn’t feel resentful that Christie stole his idea to cut funding for and eliminate the Council On Affordable Housing. What bothers the ex-assemblyman is that February’s here and Christie shows no signs of carrying it out.

"He didn’t make many promises," said Merkt. "This is a promise he can keep and honestly I don’t know why he wouldn’t keep it. This is just one front in the necessary confrontation with the court needed to re-establish democracy in New Jersey. I think it’s kind of sad that just two weeks into his governorship, Chris is shown to be a liar."

I guess Merkt and Christie won't be exchanging Valentines this year.

Will Diane Gooch move right or left of the line?

State Republicans are taking a serious look at Monmouth County GOP Vice Chair Diane Gooch to run against U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, in part because of the depth of her pockets.

One small obstacle for Gooch: she lives in Rumson, which is in the 12th Congressional District – not Pallone’s 6th Congressional District. Members of Congress are required only to live in the state that they represent, not the district. “I think Frank Pallone lives in Washington, so I’m much closer than he is,” said Gooch. “Literally, I’m on the line, so whether I cross the line or not, it’s right there. I think people care more about how you’re going to vote for them as opposed to if you live 50 feet left or right.”

If she moves right it probably won't matter which district she lives in; she still loses.