Keystone Cops in the Garden State

Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Chris Christie rode around the city recently on patrol after a news conference at the Newark Public Safety Complex on Orange Street. Despite being potential political rivals in 2013, the two leaders say they have partnered to reduce crime and improve education in the state's largest city.

Booker has been running the patrols -- usually comprised of residents, off-duty police and other city employees -- since September.

Chris Christie leads volunteers on patrol in Newark.

Rob Andrews will wet his pants when he sees this

3rd district GOP Assembly candidate Lee Lucas, whose “survival of the fittest” letters to local newspapers made him controversial in Republican circles to begin with, and whose alleged use of a racial slur to a neighbor during a dispute, quoted in a 2006 police report, made him persona-non-grata and forced party leaders to publicly renounce him, said in a phone interview that he plans to run for office again, starting with seeking the party’s nomination against U.S. Rep. Andrews in 2010.

“I’m running for congress, running for assembly. I’m running for something every year. I’ll never stop,” said Lucas, who denied the police report’s quote of his racial slur but said that it did not hurt his candidacy.

I'm sure there are Democrats who wish he never stops running either.

Maybe ignorance is bliss

NJ-3 GOP Congressional candidate (after he stops playing football) Jon Runyan told an interviewer he still has a lot to learn about politics. "This is something that's very new to me. I had to learn a lot of stuff, do a lot of reading and ask a lot of questions to see what my comfort level with it was. And apparently my comfort level is good," Runyan said. "I'm talking a lot on the phone. My computer is being very well used right now, and through e-mails I'm reading up on current issues."

Who's sending him emails on health care reform, Terrell Owens?

Hal Turner need not apply

Republicans in the Garden State acknowledge it will be difficult to solidify their gains in South Jersey. "There were fractured parties down in South Jersey this year that resulted in less than our best candidates winning primaries. In the future, we will certainly encourage participation in the party but try to put our best candidates forward," NJGOP State Chairman Jay Webber vowed.

I guess that means there won't be any KKK poster boys like Lee Lucas running for Assembly in the 3rd district.

Pennsylvania motorists beware

According to published reports Chris Christie says Christmas for him came early on Election Day and becoming governor was the only gift he wanted this year. He also says the family will drive to his mother-in-law's in Pennsylvania over the holiday weekend.

I hope he doesn't forget his car insurance and registration.

$50,000 to clean out an office?

In response to recent reports of pension abuse Chris Christie said he generally has no problems with people who have more than one public job as long as they are only being paid and receiving benefits for one job. "I don't want to preclude public employees from being involved in public office, but not two public paychecks," Christie said, adding that he made running mate Kim Guadagno give up her part-time teaching job at Rutgers Law School.

"I told her, 'If we win, you have to quit,' Christie said. "So she cleaned out her office last Friday and she said that cost her, like, $50,000."

That must have been some office.

Does Christie need target practice?

Chris Christie refused to single out examples of Corzine nominees that he wanted scratched, and his spokeswoman, Maria Comella stressed that point when asked about certain individuals. "We're not going to go out and start putting targets on anybody's heads,'' she said.

Even if Christie took shots at them he'd more than likely miss his targets anyway. Besides, if Christie was going to put targets on anybody's heads I don't think they'd be Corzine's nominees.

"It's the economy, stupid!"

Toms River Councilman Maurice "Mo" Hill is thinking about challenging football player Jon Runyan for the GOP nomination to take on Democratic Congressman John Adler. "My fear is what's going on in DC. It's the economy, and yet they're dealing with everything but that right now," said Hill, who at the moment appears to be the Ocean County Republicans' leading choice to run for congress.

I guess he never heard of "Cash for Clunkers".

Chris Christie stars as Ebeneezer Scrooge

Chris Christie was asked about the possibility of using millions in state revenue to keep the struggling New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority afloat. "In the end, they’ve got to understand that, despite the season, I’m not in a giving mood," he said.

I guess Santa Chris won't be climbing down anybody's chimney this Christmas.

The pile on Christie's night stand

Chris Christie has yet to read the Inspector General's report on alleged pension abuse for Gloucester County Democratic Chairman Michael Angelini, but he's getting to it. Christie said the 62-page report, which outlines how Angelini worked 12 different part-time public jobs over the course of 27 years to accrue a pension of over $100,000, is part of the "pile on my night stand."

Probably stuck between packages of Hostess Twinkies and a box of Krispy-Kreme donuts.

Paul Mulshine channels Steve Lonegan

Star-Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine is channeling his inner Lonegan when he compares Chris Christie to Tom Kean because the Governor-elect supports a bond issue that will finance transportation projects already budgeted for. Mulshine refers to Lonegan as "the tightwad former mayor of Bogota who lost to Christie in the GOP primary last spring" and then quotes him as referring to Christie, “This guy comes from the school of thought that says the government is there to create jobs, taxpayer-funded jobs for everyone."

Lonegan knows about taxpayer-funded jobs which paid his campaign consultants and staff in his primary loss to Christie.

Football uber alles

3rd district GOP congressional candidate Jon Runyan explained to an interviewer recently why he's still playing football instead of discussing issues like health care and Afghanistan:

"I kind of came [to San Diego] to just kind of prove my point to people telling me that I could not recover from this knee injury and play football again."

I don't think Adler has anything to worry about.

Chris Christie, Paula Dow & paperless immigrants

It seems Star-Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine is not exactly doing cartwheels over Christie's appointment of Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow to be the next Attorney General. Evidently Dow was Prosecutor when an undocumented immigrant was linked to the shooting of four Newark students, and Mulshine seems to imply that Christie's alleged reluctance to aggressively pursue undocumented immigrants had something to do with it. He then quotes Morristown Mayor Don Cresitello saying, “This is the job of the federal prosecutor to start cracking down on this, but he seems only to want to deal with political prosecutions.”

I guess Mulshine, Cresitello et. al. would prefer Christie giving Sharpe James and Wayne Bryant a pass in favor of busting motel maids and grass cutters.

Can Christie "bend" without falling?

Chris Christie said in an interview with the Asbury Park Press his primary intent is to fulfill his No. 1 campaign pledge. "We are going to balance the budget without raising taxes," Christie said. "I will not bend on that principle."

It would be interesting to see Christie bend at all, especially after he's had a full meal.

Time for lunch. Anybody disagree?

Chris Christie said he opposes legislation a member of his transition team, State Senator Sandra Cunningham, sponsored to let local governments put off paying part of their pension contributions this year. He added the issue does not affect his "respect" for Cunningham.

"It will be shocking for you to know that I don’t agree with everything that everyone around me proposes," Christie said.

Except when somebody proposes they take a break and go to lunch.

Steve Lonegan is "not very happy" with Chris Christie

Steve Lonegan, who ran against Christie in the GOP primary this year, called Christie's support of a $1 billion bond deal to pay for highway and mass transit projects “a travesty” that will merely continue the policies of Democratic administrations that relied heavily on borrowing to pay state expenses.

“If that's an indication of things to come, I'm not very happy with that,” said Lonegan, who is state director for Americans for Prosperity, a conservative public policy organization. “This is an underhanded gimmick.”

If Lonegan was happy, I'd really be scared.

Politicians in "over-politicized" glass houses should not throw stones

On radio station 101.5FM Chris Christie took yet another potshot at those who did not support him for governor: The NJEA, who has been attempting to set up a meeting with Christie, to no avail. He said, “Teachers are not the problem. It’s the over-politicized of the leadership of their union.”

"Over-politicized" former US Attorneys should not be casting stones, lest they be without sin.

Christie finds band to replace Springsteen

A post on PolitickerNJ.com reports that Todd Christie, the brother of Chris Christie -- a devoted Springsteen fan despite their political differences -- offered Springsteen a large donation to the charity of his choice if he performed at Christie’s inauguration. Springsteen declined, however, signaling he did not want to get involved in state politics.

It takes one to know one

Republican State Sen. Gerald Cardinale had words with Sen. Nia Gill over his questioning of a witness, an advocate of marriage equality, who referenced the state’s Civil Union Review Commission’s findings in support of his point. Cardinale tried to undercut the legitimacy of the commission’s report.

When the witness noted that the commission was set up by the legislature, Cardinale said that “someone once told me that [law school] was three years of learning to lie effectively, but you aren’t lying effectively.”

Cardinale is like the madame of a whorehouse telling one of the girls she needs to do a better job at pretending to enjoy her clients.

Paul Mulshine does "Chicken Little"

Star-Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine is doing his usual "Chicken Little" shtik about New Jersey's imminent financial collapse. Now he says there’s a real chance the state could fail to appropriate funds to pay off those bonds. He also says Chris Christie has a crisis on his hands the minute he takes the oath as governor next month.

"Things are probably worse than most people believe," state Sen. Mike Doherty told Mulshine recently. "It’s questionable if we’ll even be able to meet payroll in a few weeks."

Funny coming from a guy so desperate a few weeks ago to win election to a State Senate seat he now says is worthless.

They were against federal grants before they were for them.

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Diane Allen, both members of the Senate Education Committee, expressed disappointment that New Jersey is woefully unprepared to apply for federal education grants.

“It is disappointing that the state Department of Education will be unable to complete the grant application by the deadline,” Kean stated. “I believe, especially in our current fiscal situation, it is imperative to make every effort to apply for all of the federal aid for which we are eligible."

And if their fellow Republicans in Congress had their way there wouldn't be any federal aid to apply for.

Chris Christie goes to school

Gov.-elect Chris Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno met with 11 superintendents from across the state to discuss problems with and solutions for the state's education system. The meeting was closed to the media, but Christie spoke with reporters afterward and said the fiscal challenges faced by school districts have wide-ranging effects.

"The challenges we face both fiscally and from an educational perspective in New Jersey are tied together,'' Christie said. "And that was my concept and Kim's concept walking into the meeting, and what we heard from the group of superintendents just further reinforces that, that everyone in the education community understands that real change needs to happen in the state.''

Maybe if schools did a better job teaching science and math to kids they wouldn't grow up to become political hacks in empty suits.

GOP stays relevant

Disgruntled conservatives recently tried to get the NJGOP State Committee to officially adopt the National GOP platform. The motion was tabled but the insurgents issued their own statement urging support for the platform:

"Historically, our party has always taken a stand on tough social issues.
If we go back and look at the Republican Party platform of 1856 we find
strongly worded positions on the social issues of the day – about the rights
possessed by every human life, and about the definition of marriage.

In that platform, we find those social issues addressed with these words:
“It is both the right and the imperative duty of Congress to prohibit those twin
relics of barbarism – Polygamy, and Slavery.”

Nice to see Republicans taking a progressive stance on issues like polygamy and slavery.

Toga! Toga!

Chris Christie says that his inaugural ball will be toned down to match the economy.

“I don’t feel and Kim doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea of having some really fancy black tie ball given what’s going on in the state. We’ll have a dignified celebration that night. I think we need to be sensitive to the idea that there are a lot of people unemployed and that are suffering,” he said.

I'll bet he doesn't cut back on food.

Rants and raves

Proposed legislation to change the way the governor appoints U.S. senators in the event of a vacancy has drawn outrage from Chris Christie. "It's garbage. It's political lying," said Christie during a press conference."There are no niceties to be put around this. This is a political power play by the party that's losing power, and it's wrong."

At one point, a reporter tried to follow up on one of Christie's points.

"Let me finish please. I'm in the middle of a rant here," Christie joked.

I'd like to see how he rants when the Assembly moves to cut the food budget for Drumthwacket.

He thought about running before he ran, then stopped before running again

Despite apparent comments to the contrary, former Eagles tackle and newly signed San Diego Charger Jon Runyan will indeed retire from football at the end of the season to run for congress, says Burlington County Republican spokesman Chris Russell. On Tuesday, Runyan signed with the Chargers for the rest of the season, declaring it the end of his football career and the beginning of his run for Congress in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District. But on Wednesday, Runyan told San Diego sports reporters that he has not “fully committed” to running for a House seat and that he was still “exploring my options.”

Russell, however, said the response was the mark of a different kind of congressional candidate—one who has a playful relationship with the press and is not dependent on “canned sound bites” – even if all of his statements so far about his congressional run have been just that. “When he gets back here and when he starts running, you’re going to see a guy who’s pretty candid and likes interacting wit the press,” said Russell.

Of course it's easy to be candid when there's really nothing to say, especially about issues that matter like health care and Afghanistan. Besides, he can always do a "John Kerry" and say he was a congressional candidate before he became a football player and stopped being a congressional candidate, and then say he is a congressional candidate again after he stops being a football player.

Will Jon Runyan be as tough in Congress?

Prospective GOP 3rd district congressional candidate and current San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Jon Runyan got some faint praise from one of his new teammates. In a recent interview with ESPN the Magazine, Chargers Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman was asked which offensive lineman is the game's toughest.

"Jon Runyan, on Philly," Merriman said. "He'll curse, spit, scratch, bite, anything. He's a nasty dude."

That makes him perfect for New Jersey politics.

Is Lou Dobbs going soft?

Former CNN anchor and prospective US Senate candidate from New Jersey Lou Dobbs softened his harsh anti-illegal immigrant rhetoric during an interview Tuesday, telling the viewers of the Spanish-speaking network Telemundo that “I am one of your greatest friends.”

“I want to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue and work with those who will work toward real solutions,” said Dobbs, who once falsely accused illegal immigrants of carrying leprosy into the United States.

I guess this means he'll will accuse them of bringing in measles instead.

Let's hope he wears a helmet

Hours after he was signed by the San Diego Chargers for the rest of the football season, former Eagles tackle Jon Runyan today announced that this will be his last season in the NFL and that he will run for Congress next year.

"Yesterday, I received an offer to pursue my professional dream of winning a Super Bowl, and have decided to sign with the San Diego Chargers for the remainder of this season through the playoffs. Win or lose, these will be my final games as an NFL player,” said Runyan in a statement. “Last night, I personally informed the Republican County Chairmen in NJ's 3rd Congressional District that after the season is over I plan to officially retire from football and pursue a campaign for the United States Congress. I want to thank all of the people who have been encouraging me to run next year and let them know that I look forward to a successful end to my career on the field, and a spirited campaign against Congressman Adler in 2010."

So instead of meeting voters and learning about issues that affect the district he'll be discussing health care reform with LaDainian Tomlinson.

Christie gets his hands on Thanksgiving dinners for the needy

Asked about whether he agreed with Gov. Jon Corzine on getting emergency food and energy relief for New Jerseyans during the lame duck session, Chris Christie said he is “willing to work with everybody on everything, but “The fact of the matter is we’re broke… and it’s getting worse, not better.”

“I’m going to work with the governor on things that are of absolute necessity, but this is the attitude that continues to get us in trouble to get along,” he said. Christie made the comments in response to a question during a press conference at St. Lucy’s Shelter, where he toured the shelter’s dormitory and then spent about 10 minutes packing Thanksgiving dinners for the needy.

I wonder if he was "packing" or pilfering.

Maybe he forgot they had elections

Records from Burlington County, N.J., indicate ex-Eagles player, and likely GOP congressional candidate in the third district, Jon Runyan missed voting in four of nine general elections between 2000 and 2008. He also hasn’t voted in a Republican primary in the last decade and only registered with the GOP this month.

Spokesman Chris Russell responded, “With all the issues the country’s facing, we don’t think three or four missed elections the last 10 years is going to be a deciding factor for voters.”

Compared to having no experience in government or political activism, and exhibiting little if any knowledge of relevant issues, I don't think his voting record will be a deciding factor. In fact, considering his political ignorance maybe it's just as well he didn't vote.

From offensive tackler to artful dodger

During an exclusive call-in interview on WIP-AM 610 sports radio, ex-Eagle football player and presumptive GOP candidate for Congress Jon Runyan was asked what he stood for.

"What do I stand for?" Runyan repeated the question. "I mean . . . I really believe, you know, the way these career politicians have been and they've gotten us to the point we're at, there needs to be change, and we really have to look at how to change that type of stuff."

His answer doesn't exactly compare with the Gettysburg Address, but at least he's politically savvy enough to know how to answer a question by not answering the question.

If he can dodge tacklers as well as he dodges questions maybe he should go back to football as a running back.

Lunch with Christie: "What's in it for me?"

Gov.-elect Chris Christie sent a strong message to an audience of municipal politicians and workers gathered here today: Stop thinking about yourselves, or you will be voted out.

After embracing outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine at the head of a long banquet table, Christie delivered a forceful speech in which he said he would use "every tool at my disposal to force change."

"The people of the state of New Jersey will no longer stand for us asking, 'What's in it for me,'" he said at the luncheon at the annual League of Municipalities convention.

When Christie got through with the buffet they were asking, "What's left for me?"

A simple "yes" will do

When Bill O'Reilly asked former CNN anchorman Lou Dobbs if he will consider running against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez in 2012, Dobbs refused to rule it out. "A lot of things are on my mind, I'm not going to be coy about that," Dobbs said.

He's not being coy, just evasive.

At least we know Jon Runyan can follow orders

Brian Propp, who played fifteen seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, was recruited by state Sen. Diane Allen to run for State Assembly in her district as a Republican in 2007. However, he did not come close to unseating the Democratic incumbents.

Propp believes that former Philadelphia Eagles star Jon Runyan could be a viable candidate, and will not face several of the obstacles that his own candidacy faced. "He probably has a lot more notoriety than I did," said Propp, who thinks that athletes can make powerful political candidates with the right guidance.

"We've been coached all our lives. If we have a really good coach showing us what to do, we can exceed at it," he said.

That's great. Why don't we just send Andy Reid to Congress instead?

Chris Christie says "everything is on the table"

Chris Christie was discussing the budget at a meeting with State Treasurer David Rousseau and two officials from the Office of Management and Budget. At a press conference talking about that meeting, Christie and his two top budget advisors did not get specific about how dire the forecasts from the Department of Treasury were, and gave no hint of what areas of the budget they would cut. Christie said that "everything is on the table."

That is, until he starts getting hungry.

Can Bob Menendez keep his eyes off Lou Dobbs?

In an appearance on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" host Bill O'Reilly welcomed Dobbs for his first cable news appearance since resigning from CNN last week. "Now, there's been speculation you might run for the Senate in New Jersey. Is that on your mind?" O'Reilly asked.

"A lot of things are on my mind," Dobbs responded. "I'm not going to be coy about this....I'm thinking — my wife and I are thinking about a lot of opportunities. I'm very blessed to have a lot of opportunities. I can guarantee you 100 percent I'm going to remain in the public arena. These issues that matter so much to me, many of the same that matter to you, are not changing. What is immutable here is, I'm going to remain in the public arena."

A spokesman for NJ Senator Robert Menendez said "the senator's focus is on jobs, not Dobbs."

I hope so. I hate to think Menendez has a man crush on the guy.

Christie is going to "weigh in"

Chris Christie and Gov. Jon Corzine have come to a simple agreement when it comes to major appointments and policy decisions in lame duck: if Corzine wants to do something, he'll fill Christie in.

"The understanding that the Governor and I came to was we would be talking to each other about it. There was no agreement that we made that either certain appointments, or any appoints, would or would not go forward," said Christie at a press conference today in the Meadowlands. "He's the governor until January 19. I'm going to certainly weigh in, and he offered me the opportunity to weigh in."

I guess that means Christie plans on "throwing his weight around".

In Xanadu did Chris Christie A stately pleasure-dome decree

Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno toured the new Meadowlands football stadium and the Xanadu project Friday, with Christie giving a passing grade to the Xanadu interior.

“I can assure you this, for those who haven’t been inside — it’s much nicer inside than it is on the outside,” said Christie, who was sharply critical of Xanadu’s multicolored exterior while on the campaign trail. “Although that’s a low bar, they’ve exceeded that low bar of how bad it looks from the outside, by making it much better on the inside.”

That would be a nice reversal from how his Republican predecessors governed the state.

George Gilmore waits to hear from Jon Runyan but says he has "viable candidates"

Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore is not ready to roll over and anoint former Eagles tackle Jon Runyon as the Republican nominee for Congress in the 3rd District. First, he at least needs to hear from Runyan, who lives in Burlington County.

"I'll wait for Mr. Runyan to make contact and we'll take it from there, but obviously there are a lot of viable candidates out there," said Gilmore.

Big fat slob runs for office (no, it's not Chris Christie)

Former Philadelphia Eagles star Jon Runyan confirmed today that he’s interested in running for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District.

“I am seriously considering becoming a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District. Our great country is headed in the wrong direction, and it’s clearer every day that career politicians are incapable of solving the problems we face,” he said in a statement issued this afternoon. “I am grateful for the tremendous support and encouragement I have received while talking to people throughout South Jersey about running for Congress and I look forward to having more to say on this subject in the weeks ahead.”

I wonder what kind of "people" he talks to besides GOP politicians and the handful of Eagle fans who can still remember who he is.

Len Lance should be scared; very scared

According to a story posted on PolitickerNJ there has been more talk about a challenge to Republican Congressman Leonard Lance from the right than the left. His vote in favor of the cap and trade bill - together with two other New Jersey Republicans - brought forth threats of a primary from conservatives.

"Lance will absolutely have a primary. He is the most likely to have one - he has no friends," said conservative political consultant and former Lonegan strategist Rick Shaftan.

That's more friends than Shaftan has.

Ocean County "Boss" George Gilmore picks a Congressman

PolitickerNJ reports that Republicans across the state are in awe of George Gilmore, the Ocean County GOP leader who delivered a 70,000 plurality for Chris Christie. That's bad news for U.S. Rep. John Adler, who is preparing to seek re-election next year to a second term in Congress. Republicans have struggled to find a candidate and are way behind in fundraising - Adler has $1 million in his campaign account and has raised more money than any other freshman. But now Christie and Gilmore are positioned to raise some serious money, and there's a fairly good chance the GOP will just let Gilmore pick a candidate.

Which one of his stooges will Gilmore choose?

Joe "You Lie" Wilson was just expressing his concern

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., the congressman who gained notoriety by yelling "You Lie," to President Obama, urged participants at Sunday's Tea Party rally to "make a difference" by knocking on doors and supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie.

Wilson, who holds town hall meetings in his congressional district every three months, said the participants' strong reactions should not be dismissed as exaggerated emotions.

"They weren't angry. They were concerned," he said.

Like an obnoxious Congressman yelling "You Lie" at the President.

Monty Python's "The Life Of Christie"

Members of Monty Python are considering suing Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie, according to a report in the Huffington Post. The group believes that Christie used scenes from one of their copyrighted skits without receiving permission.

The TV ad, which also appeared on Christie's YouTube campaign site before being removed Sunday, featured attacks on Gov. Jon Corzine. It used scenes from "Monty Python's Flying Circus" TV show that features Michael Palin, the report stated.

"It is totally outrageous that a former U.S. Attorney knows so little about the law ...," Monty Python's Terry Jones told the Huffington Post.

Not to mention science and math.

Christie disses teabaggers

Jeffrey Weingarten, president of the Morristown Tea Party organization, said his group is a little perplexed on why Christie has distanced himself from it.

"The way he's acting is strange to some of us," Weingarten said.

Maybe the way they act is strange to him.

Christie will keep his promises (at a lower level)

According to the New York Times Chris Christie no longer said he would fully restore property tax rebates. Christie responded that his campaign rhetoric has not changed. “What I’ve always said is we’re going to restore property tax rebates, we just have to determine at what level we’re going to restore them."

That's like Christie saying he has a safe driver record, if you don't count the tickets and the accidents.

There's no place like . . . Trenton?

In a recent interview with The New York Times Chris Christie now says he cannot fully restore property tax rebates as he previously said he would. Referring to looming deficits, he added, “It’s not like I can click my heels and say, ‘Make the bad stuff go away.’ ”

Why not? All he has to do is dress up like "Dorothy" in the "Wizard Of Oz", click his heels and say to himself . . .

Lonegan endorses Christie at pre-election rally

Perfect together.

BOO!!!

Happy Halloween from New Jersey's worst nightmare!

Christie loses student vote

The state’s mock student election has correctly predicted the outcome of the last two gubernatorial races. And today, Gov. Jon Corzine won re-election by a vote of New Jersey’s students. In response to the bad news Christie campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella said: "I'll let Corzine claim victory for winning the students. We're confident we'll be successful on election day on Nov. 3."

I'd rather claim victory for winning over New Jersey's students than pander to a small but noisy group of raving townhallers and teabaggers.

Christie declares he's "fat"

Chris Christie declared that he will be “a big fat winner” on Election Day in an interview on Don Imus’s New York-based radio show in which the former U.S. Attorney repeatedly mentioned his weight. Imus later joked that even though many of New Jersey voters are overweight, Christie should be setting a better example.

“I am setting an example Don,” Christie responded. “We have to spur our economy. Dunkin Donuts, International House of Pancakes, those people need to work too.”

So do the folks at Weight-Watchers.

Christie campaigns this Saturday at a Morris County diner

This will be the most dangerous spot to be in when "Morriscounty Fats" is there.

Time to "check in" with Steve

Chris Christie was in Toms River to launch his final week, 21-county tour in the heart of Republican Ocean County. To the question of whether he intends to campaign in the final days with movement conservative Steve Lonegan, whom he defeated in the Republican Primary, Christie said, "I called Steve yesterday to check in with him."

Is Steve Lonegan his probation officer or what?

Trick-or-treat; it's Chris Christie!!

The Associated Press reports Chris Christie's campaign announced he will ride a bus to all 21 New Jersey counties between Wednesday and Election Day Nov. 3. According to the announcement, "The only break in the schedule is Saturday evening so Christie can join his family for some Halloween trick-or-treating."

I hope his neighbors aren't the sort to keep their door closed and put candy out for people to help themselves.

Christie's file for US Attorney applicants

According to a report on NJ.com, days before announcing his resignation as a federal prosecutor, Chris Christie agreed to hire the son of his friend and campaign contributor, Herbert J. Stern, as an assistant U.S. attorney. The move sparked public criticism from Democrats, who accused Christie of using his post as New Jersey’s top federal law enforcement official for patronage. But interviews last week showed it also drew private concern from prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark. Christie hired Samuel Stern over objections from nearly every assistant U.S. attorney who interviewed him, according to three federal law enforcement officials with knowledge of the hiring process.
Christie declined to be interviewed. In a statement, he defended hiring Stern.

“Sam Stern has a stellar educational background and an excellent record as an assistant county prosecutor. I am confident he will be a dedicated and outstanding assistant U.S. attorney,” Christie said.

At least Sam Stern is better qualified than Christie, who had no prosecutorial experience when he was appointed US Attorney. Of course the hundreds of thousands of dollars the Christie brothers raised for George Bush and the GOP didn't hurt his chances either.

Chris Christie never slept here

In his comments to the Asbury Park Press editorial board, Chris Christie responded to an Associated Press story, based on a release from the Corzine campaign, that Christie occasionally billed taxpayers more than $400 a night for stays in luxury hotels and exceeded the government's hotel allowance on 14 of 16 business trips in 2008.

Christie said he always attempted to find a hotel room set aside at the government rate. But sometimes those rooms were taken, and taxpayers ended up paying $3, $8 or sometimes as much as $200 more a night. "There are only a few hotel rooms in each hotel that are reserved for government rate,'' Christie said. "If you got them, you got them. If you didn't, you didn't. I wouldn't have slept in the park.''

I guess he never heard of "Holiday Inn Express".

Christie sets the table

In an interview with the Star-Ledger Chris Christie was asked about reducing the state's budget. "I’m going to be working with the Legislature," he said. "We’re going to have to work together to solve these problems, and they need to understand that tax increases won’t be a part of it. Everything needs to be on the table for discussion."

That must be some table. I wonder if that includes unlimited salad bar and dessert.

Christie wants Corzine's candy

In an interview with the Star-Ledger Chris Christie was asked about funding the state's pension plan. "The governor has lost $16 billion since he’s been in charge," he said.. "We need to go back to more professional management and not just giving the money out to his Wall Street buddies like candy on Halloween."

I'm sure Christie would love to get his hands on some of that candy.

Christie in a crisis

At a speech to the New Jersey’s Builders Association Chris Christie was still dodging the details of his plan to cut taxes and spending. It’s the big-picture philosophy that counts, he said. “In the end, when you’re governor you can never anticipate every problem that’s going to come across your desk,” he said. “That’s why understanding how a governor will philosophically approach the job is so very important. Because then when a problem comes up you’ll probably be able to guess what the governor’s response will be.”

It's easy to guess what Christie's response will be in a crisis. Look dumb, act stupid, and then order an oversized double-stuffed pizza, a dozen cannolis and an extra-large chocolate milk shake.

Hugs and kisses from Chris Christie

Chris Christie found a friendly audience in the New Jersey Builders Association, which gave him a standing ovation at the end of his speech. During the speech, the loudest applause came when Christie pledged to freeze new state regulations for 90 days after taking office and launch a review to eliminate "onerous and useless" regulations on businesses. "Business needs to be encouraged," he said. "Business needs to be hugged and loved."

I'd rather be regulated by Jon Corzine than hugged by Chris Christie.

Can Christie add and subtract poll numbers?

Chris Christie's campaign manager Bill Septien issued the following statement in response to Christie's declining poll numbers:

“Poll after poll has found that over half of New Jerseyans are sick and tired of Jon Corzine’s high taxes, irresponsible spending and job killing policies. While Jon Corzine has out spent us by millions with his own Wall Street money with nasty, negative advertising for months, he has little to show for it because no amount of mudslinging will erase the fact that struggling families pay the highest taxes, not to mention highest property taxes in the country. New Jerseyans know Jon Corzine will keep raising taxes which is why they know its time for a change.”

Right. Change to a guy who admits he can't do math.

Christie collapses in polls; hires new campaign manager

Just one more cannoli for the road

A new TV commercial for Corzine blasts Christie for, among other things, getting off without a ticket after causing an accident that injured a motorcyclist. In a speech to the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce last week, Christie made light of it, suggesting that it's only his driving record that's under scrutiny. He said that he has a driver now.

"I'm not on the road anymore," he joked as the crowd laughed, "so everybody should feel fine."

And if he loses car insurance premiums will go up even faster than cannoli prices in Morris County.

He wants pie-in-the sky (and jelly donuts too)

Chris Christie says his plan to cut taxes is specific right now, as it is, and does not require fine-tuning or what would amount to an 11th-hour overhaul in the face of a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday, which shows Christie's lead shrinking to four points over incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

"I've laid out what I've laid out," Christie told reporters. "Jon Corzine and (independent candidate) Chris Daggett want to raise your taxes. I won't. I want to decrease spending and decrease taxes."

He also wants to lose weight.

Christie fights "Corruption"

Chris Christie, who was asked how he would close a projected $8 billion budget deficit and keep campaign pledges to cut taxes and boost spending on rebates and other programs, didn't offer a specific response. He instead said the other candidates would raise taxes and that the state would have spent and taxed $35 billion less in the previous eight years if spending growth was kept to the rate of inflation.

"People tell you all the time you can't do this, the same way they told me that I couldn't fight corruption when I was U.S. Attorney,'' Christie said of balancing the budget.

I'd like to see Christie put on the tights and fight "Corruption" in a no-holds-barred smackdown.
He'd probably do just as well as fighting "Obesity".

This is highly irregular

A group of forty GOP candidates for the State Assembly gathered on the statehouse steps to announce "Citizens for Assembly," a statewide group of legislative candidates formed by District 27 Republican Barry Funt to "return the Legislature to regular citizens."

The group signed a ten-point platform, the "Common Sense Pledge.

"If elected, the citizen candidates on these steps would constitute a majority in the State Assembly; providing the leadership we need to change New Jersey," said Funt. "Citizens for Assembly is an effort to remind New Jersey how important it is to elect legislators who represent regular citizens."

I guess irregular citizens won't have representation if the GOP has control of the Assembly.

Liposuction and tummy tucks

Chris Christie responded to an ad by Gov. Jon Corzine warning that Christie supports a proposal allowing insurance companies to drop mammogram coverage if elected governor. In his own ad, Christie sits alongside his wife, and talks about how his mother survived breast cancer because it was detected early from a mammogram.Christie says in the ad. “It’s awful for the governor to desperately hold on to power by scaring people.”

What's really scary is that if Christie becomes Governor he might also let insurance companies drop coverage for liposuction and tummy tucks.

Christie says he is not the "decider"

When he was U.S. Attorney, Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie owned stock in a company that was at the time under investigation by his own office. Asked by reporters about the investment today, Christie said that although he saw the investment in his portfolio “the way my investments worked, I had no authority to order the buying or the selling of any particular stocks in that fund. Those decisions were all made by my investment advisor, and I did not have the ability to tell him to buy any particular stock or sell any particular stock.”

Evidently Christie is rehearsing how he intends to pass the buck to his subordinates if he becomes Governor.

Christie to urban schools: let them teach competition

At a reception honoring the 100th anniversary of the NAACP, Chris Christie told the banquet hall of 150 black leaders and guests that he is the candidate in the race best equipped to combat crime and improve public education. "Children are not getting the education they deserve," he says. "I will guarantee you change will come to urban education. Competition will come to urban education."

He's right. Urban schools will change for the worse when they have to compete with wealthier suburban schools for whatever funds are left after Christie cuts taxes and increases rebates to his rich, conservative voter base.

Village People or KKK?

Fair Haven Mayor Michael Halfacre bashed U.S. Rep. Rush Holt for being one of 75 Congressmen to continue support of federal funding for ACORN.

Halfacre is seeking the Republican nomination to run against Holt next year.

"One again, Rush Holt has shown how out of touch he is with the people of the 12th Congressional District and that his attempts to portray himself as a moderate are just that- a portrayal", said Halfacre. "We seem to have a representative who thinks he represents San Francisco and not central New Jersey."

Better to have someone who represents San Francisco than central Mississippi.

At least Joe the Plumber stayed away

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the brother of former President George W. Bush, turned up at a fundraiser for Chris Christie. According to Christie spokeswoman Maria Comella the host committee reached out to Bush directly and did not check with the Christie campaign. “He was invited by one of the host committee members,” she said.

I wonder if the Christie campaign would be so anxious to distance itself if Bruce Springsteen showed up instead.

One size fits all, maybe

Chris Christie was asked at a recent appearance if he is elected in November how will he deal with a Democratic Legislature. He prefaced his answer by stating, "There's not a one size fits all to getting legislation passed or to getting people to cooperate with you."

I doubt there is "one size fits all" of anything that would work for Christie.

At least Christie's not Judas

A poll released today by an organization called Public Policy Pollingof North Carolina reports that 8 percent of those polled in New Jersey think the president is the “anti-Christ” and that an additional 13 percent are unsure.

Judging from some of the posts I’ve seen on various blogs and websites I thought Jon Corzine was the Anti-Christ, Steve Lonegan the Messiah, and Chris Christie the busboy who ate all the leftovers after the Last Supper.

I hope she looks both ways when crossing the street

Chris Christie's running mate Kim Guadagno told a gathering of supporters at the opening of the Christie/Guadagno Newark campaign HQ that she knows the city well enough to walk in it - and enough to be familiar with its tensions. Guadagno, who teaches classes twice a week at Rutgers Newark campus said, "I know what it's like to be afraid to walk across the street."

Yeah, especially when Chris Christie is driving down the street.

Car insurance premiums in Newark just skyrocketed

Chris Christie appeared at the opening of his Newark campaign HQ and presented himself as a lunch bucket Newarker who knows the city well enough to get around. The resident of Mendham Township told his supporters, "My wife will tell you that over the last seven years I spent more time here in Newark than in Morris County."

Given Christie's driving record I don't think motorists in Newark will be happy about that.

Outlaw "Kid Christie"

Republican State Senate Minority Whip Kevin O'Toole said the Democrats' latest Christie call-out reflects the desperate political calculations of Corzine allies aware of their Democratic governor's eroding chances to win reelection. "From what I've read, Chris has always operated above the law," said O'Toole.

From what we've all been reading Christie thinks he is above the law.

"Wrong Way" Christie vs. "Zoom-Zoom" Farber

Republican State Sen. Gerald Cardinale, responding to comparisons between Chris Christie's traffic mishaps and former Attorney General Zulima Farber said, "In the incident with her boyfriend, she went to the scene with a driver paid for by the state in a state car with lights flashing, and somehow got the mayor of the town on the scene, a completely inappropriate means to stop this from happening. Come on, we're talking about the difference between 'the dog ate my homework' and robbing a bank."

That's the excuse Christie must have used. His dog ate the car registration and insurance card.

He may become Governor but he'll never be AAA's poster boy

"This was an unfortunate accident and just like a lot of us, Chris knows he can always be a better driver," said Maria Comella, a campaign spokeswoman responding to reports that Christie was in a traffic accident that injured a motorcyclist in the city in 2002.

If Karl Marx was alive would he campaign for Corzine?

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty came to Bergen County to raise money for Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie. In July, Christie rejected a hypothetical visit from Sarah Palin, saying he wanted to focus on local issues. He did not show up at former Republican Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s visit to Cape May County last month.

Republican State Senator Gerald Cardinale gave an honest assessment of why Pawlenty is preferable to Palin. “If Karl Marx were alive, do you think Corzine would bring him in even though Corzine agrees with many of Karl Marx’s philosophical bases?” he said.

He has a point. Sarah Palin is about as far to the right as Karl Marx is to the left.

Can he be more specific?

The Morris County Daily Record reports that Chris Christie got some tough questions during a campaign stop at a retirement village. As Christie talked about reducing the size of government and making cutbacks, some questioners pressed him for details. Christie talked about “zero-based budgeting” and said everything would be on the table. But some asked for more specifics. Then he admitted there are no easy answers, saying, “This is going to be hard, I told you that.”

It's hard to be specific when you have no specifics to give.

Christie's "Contract on New Jersey"

In a column posted on PolitickerNJ.com, former Republican State Senator and NJ Lottery ball-picker Dick LaRossa reported that three candidates and one conservative activist went to see Republican State Chairman Jay Webber about a proposed Contract with New Jersey. Webber expressed shock that the candidates hadn’t followed the “proper procedures”. Then 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.”

Well, he certainly isn't running to lose weight.

Christie a lunch lady?

The Service Employees International Union today endorsed Gov. Jon Corzine’s re-election bid. They also announced, “Governor Corzine will “Walk A Day” in the shoes of a school cafeteria worker during the beginning of this school year. Spending a day with an SEIU member on the job will help Governor Corzine experience firsthand what it’s like to work and raise a family in New Jersey today.”

It's a good thing they didn't endorse Chris Christie. If he spent a day in the school cafeteria there'd be nothing left for the kids.

Did Christie steal twinkies from his school cafeteria?

The Asbury Park Press has an editorial expressing concern over Christie's past transgressions, in particular his driving a car with no insurance or registration. According to the editorial:

His campaign spokeswoman, Maria Comella, did not help matters by making light of
the traffic stop: "Before the Corzine campaign wastes any more of the governor's
Wall Street millions on opposition research, we're going to let them know Kim
(Guadagno, Christie's running mate) received a ticket in 2007 for driving while
on a cell phone and Chris got detention in the 9th grade for too much talking in
class."

It's obvious Christie's spokewoman never had her car towed for being unregistered and uninsured.

"Road Warrior" Christie

PolitickerNJ.com reports Chris Christie was issued traffic tickets in 2005 for speeding, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without insurance but was allowed to drive the vehicle home:


Chris Christie tells state troopers he's not to be messed with.

Sarah Palin in male drag

Former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum is heading to Cape May County on Tuesday to stump for Republican Assembly candidates Michael Donohue and John McCann. The candidates struck a socially conservative tone in announcing Santorum’s visit.

“For sixteen years, Rick Santorum was a champion of the conservative cause in the Congress,” said Donohue in a statement. “Whether the issue was defending traditional marriage, or fighting for tax cuts for middle class families, or working to protect America against the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, Rick Santorum was always on the front lines. We’re thrilled that he’s able to join us next week to help us reach out to more voters in South Jersey.”

As long as he's in the neighborhood Santorum can take off his Sarah Palin in male drag costume, put on a white hood and sheet, and go campaigning for Republican Assembly candidate Lee Lucas.

A district here, a district there

A general election candidate in the 12th Congressional district last year Alan Bateman, a former deputy mayor of Holmdel, notified voters this week that he intends to pursue a 4th Congressional District 2010 primary challenge of U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), whom Bateman believes has strayed from core GOP principles.

With his Holmdel house up for sale in the 12th Congressional District, Bateman said earlier this summer that he was contemplating a challenge to Smith from the platform of his new residence in the 4th District, but as late as last week said he has not reached a final decision regarding his 2010 plans. "I am running for U.S. Congress against current incumbent Chris Smith," writes Bateman in a request for financial support from GOP voters. "Chris Smith has been in Washington for 30 long years - that's right - 30 years! He is a Washington insider who is out of touch with the people," adds Bateman.

Maybe Smith has been in Washington for 30 years but at least his constituents know where he is.

Will Christie rehire all those unemployed state workers?

State Senator Joe Kyrillos, the senior Republican Member of the Senate Economic Growth Committee issued the following comments regarding reports that New Jersey's unemployment rate rose to 9.3% in July, the highest level in more than a quarter of a century:

Jon Corzine's record on job creation is abysmal. New Jersey's economy was in
decline long before the national recession took hold. Our unemployment rate
remains higher than that of any neighboring state's. More disturbing is the fact
that New Jersey's rate actually rose while the national rate was falling. Sadly,
today's numbers don't tell the whole story.

The whole story is the reason for higher unemployment was that the decline in public sector jobs was greater than the increase in private sector jobs. I guess now when Republicans takeover the state they'll rehire all those laid-off state workers.

Christie's pound(s) of flesh

Chris Christie said that he did not disclose the loan he made to another US Attorney on his staff because he did not think of it as an income-producing asset. He said, "I will just tell you that for me and Mary Pat, we made a decision to help some friends who were in a tough financial straight because Mike had lost his job."

Like charging them interest on the loan.

Getting caught was the mistake

Responding to reports that he failed to disclose a loan to high ranking U.S. Attorney staffer and personal friend Michele Brown on his taxes and other required financial disclosure forms, Chris Christie admitted he made a mistake. "When I make a mistake, when I misspeak, when I do something wrong I am going to admit it to you and to the people of the state," he said. "I’m not perfect, and I’m not going to be. I’m going to make mistakes and when I make mistakes I’m going to own up to them."

After he gets caught.

"Any gender, or anything"

9th Assembly district Republicans selected Long Beach Township Commissioner Dianne Gove to succeed recently resigned Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt. She said she hopes her fellow Republicans will recognize her gender is one of many qualities she brings to the table. "You don't go in looking to vote for a woman, you need to vote for the best candidate, but at the same time, I think a woman brings a whole different perspective, as with any gender, or anything. You can't always have the same people in," she said.

I don't know what she meant by "any gender, or anything" but I don't think she'll ever make it to the Supreme Court.

Attitude or location?

Republican State Senator Kevin O'Toole says he ready for New Jersey to get tough with professional sports teams that don't show their state pride, and slammed the Nets for their decision to remove "NJ" from their team uniforms while on the road.

"New Jersey's professional sports teams, the Nets, Jets and Giants, have no problem feeding at the taxpayer funded trough, yet seem to forget who their benefactors are when they order the teams' uniforms," O'Toole said. "These teams make hundreds of millions of dollars a year," he added. "They should not receive a single concession from the state until they get an attitude readjustment."

O'Toole better be careful that the Nets, Jets and Giants don't readjust more than just their attitude. Like readjusting which state they continue to play their games in.

Can the ship desert the rats?

Fueled by a new letter to the editor written by Lee Lucas, Gloucester County Republican Committee Chairman Bill Fey reiterated his call for the 3rd District Assembly candidate to exit the race. Lucas earlier this summer confirmed published reports that he used the "N" word. “Once again Mr. Lucas has decided to make insensitive remarks in a letter to the editor. As I’ve said before Lucas does not represent the rank-and-file of our Party and he needs to go,” GCREC Chairman Bill Fey said. “This time I am asking that Mr. Lucas keep his word and leave the Party.”

Considering how Republican leaders exploited white racism to oppose Sonia Sotomayor, maybe it's time for sensible Republicans to follow Arlen Spector's lead and leave the Party of Lee Lucas.

So what does a "federal corruption prosecutor" really do?

Chris Christie was in Paramus to lay out a plan aimed at reducing government corruption. Reporters raised the question of how Christie will be able to push his bills through what is expected to remain a Democratic legislature without them suffering a crippling compromise. He answered, “When the people of New Jersey elect me and Kim in November, they will be sending a very clear message. When you’re sending two former federal corruption prosecutors to run the state government, I don’t think there should be any question about what the people of the state want, and they will refuse to act at their political peril.”

I never heard of "corruption prosecutors" but it makes me wonder who was prosecuting the terrorists, bank robbers, tax dodgers and drug dealers.

Kidneys and free markets

A coalition of conservative groups in New Jersey calling themselves, appropriately enough, the "New Jersey Conservative Coalition", are blaming the recent corruption arrests on, what else, big government. According to a recent press release, "There is only one solution for the problem of government corruption, and this is to maintain a limited government based on the principles of individual responsibility, fiscal accountability, a system of values, and devotion to the Constitution and rule of law."

I guess they mean the kind of free market, limited government that gave us Rabbis selling replacement kidneys for $160,000 and Wall Street bankers making billions off of subprime mortgages.

They'll be burning more than steaks at this cookout

Steve Lonegan is hosting a cookout and swim party at his home in Bogota for a minimum donation of $100 per person to pay off his campaign debt. The "taxpayer's best friend" who always put "taxpayers first" will use the donations as leverage to obtain twice the amount in taxpayer-provided matching funds.

I wonder what bathing attire looks like for Klan members.

So, only Republicans can create jobs?

Assemblyman Jay Webber dismissed Democratic Lt. Governor candidate Loretta Weinberg as a tax and spend liberal [so what else is new] "As someone who has endorsed and been a vote for Governor Corzine's failed policies, Senator Weinberg has squeezed struggling families with property tax increases and done nothing to bring jobs back to the state," said Webber. "This election is and will continue to be about Governor Corzine's record. The choice for New Jerseyans this November could not be clearer - a failed governor and his liberal legislative ally or a team of outsiders who will change Trenton for the better, create jobs, and get our state back on track."

I thought Republicans were the ones who always say the government can't create jobs.

He'll get back to us after the election

Chris Christie held an impromptu press conference to discuss the arrest of so many New Jersey politicians. When offered the opportunity by a reporter to describe how he would cut back on corruption as Governor, Christie said “we’ll get into that after I’m elected.”

I guess he hasn't decided yet which consultants and lawyers will get the no-bid contracts he'll hand out after he's elected.

Sounds like "Right To Life" is ready to lose

New Jersey Right To Life is not very happy about Chris Christie's choice of Kim Guadagno to be his running mate. “With the lieutenant governor pick, I don’t see how we can endorse someone who has a pro-choice running mate,” said Executive Director Marie Tasy after Guadagno revealed that she is pro-choice at a press conference.

NJRTL stayed out of the Republican gubernatorial primary, since both Christie and Lonegan said they were against abortion. “We take Chris Christie at his word that if elected he will work to enact life-protecting laws that are overwhelmingly supported by New Jersey voters,” said Tasy.

More likely the reason NJRTL didn't back Lonegan is because they didn't want to embarrass themselves by backing a sure loser.

Who would Lonegan pick?

Most GOP leaders and activists seemed happy about Chris Christie's choice of Kim Guadagno to be his lieutenant governor. But not everybody was pleased, and among the usual suspects was Steve Lonegan who said that Guadagno’s statement that she was pro-choice today was a let down. "I guarantee you unequivocally, I would have chosen a good, solid pro-life lieutenant governor that reflected my views,” said Lonegan.

Even Donny DiFrancesco or Dick Codey couldn't be as bad as Joe The Plumber.

To move or not to move: "Homeless" wingnut wants to run for Congress (he just doesn't know where)

Last year's 12th Congressional District general election challenger could be next year's 4th District GOP primary challenger. Holmdel businessman Alan Bateman is now mulling a 2010 run against veteran U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), he told PolitickerNJ.com. The former deputy mayor of Holmdel whose home has been on the market for six months now says he might move into the 4th Congressional District.

Although Republican Mayor Michael Halfacre of Fair Haven earlier this month announced his decision to challenge Rush Holt in the 12th, Bateman said he has not ruled out a primary fight and may yet challenge Halfacre. "I'm looking at both," he said of the 4th and 12th districts. "Certainly Mayor Halfacre's presence in the race has no impact on my decision. I have the grassroots infrastructure in the 12th. I've got a good base with which to begin."

Should he make the move to the 4th and primary the Republican congressman, he anticipates the denunciations of those Smith fans who will immediately brand him as a carpetbagger. "Constitutionally, you need to live in the state," argues Bateman, whose allies charge that Smith, a congressman for three decades, has all but abandoned his home base in Hamilton for the life of a Washington insider. "When you've in a Washington job for that long you become part of the problem," said Bateman.

And part of Bateman's problem is convincing voters he knows what he's doing when he can't even decide where to live.

Christie welcomes Obama

Chris Christie put out a web video welcoming President Obama to New Jersey. In the video, Christie equated the “change” that Obama ran on last year with his own candidacy.

Last year, when you ran for president, your campaign gave people great hope that
change could come to America, and people voted for that change. But you
know, your election didn’t end the peoples’ hunger for change here in New
Jersey. People understand that high taxes, high spending, overzealous
regulation and lost jobs is not the way they want New Jersey’s future to be.
They know that to get the change we need in New Jersey, we have to start by
changing governors.

And if we change governors we'll have to change the bathrooms in Drumthwacket to a bigger size.

Plumbing for the internet

In a recent email Steve Lonegan is soliciting supporters to attend a conference on opportunities for conservatives to spread their message on the internet. In his message Lonegan states, "I am inviting you to attend our Second Annual RightOnline Conference on August 14th and 15th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We will be joined by prominent leaders of the conservative movement, grassroots leaders, the nation’s top bloggers and online strategists, and citizen leaders from across the country. Confirmed speakers include: The Wall Street Journal’s Steve Moore and John Fund, Taxpayer Activist Joe the Plumber, Former Congressmen Pat Toomey and John Peterson."

Right; Joe the Plumber at an internet conference for wingnut bloggers. Maybe he'll show them how to use a plunger to unclog all the crap they put on their websites.

He got up on the wrong side of the bed

Chris Christie barely acknowledged Steve Lonegan's missive against the state’s establishment Republicans during a campaign appearance today. Lonegan called Christie’s top supporters and operatives “hollow men” in an email to supporters. When asked about it by a reporter Christie blew the question off. “I don’t think Steve really means that. He probably just had a bad morning,” he said.

The way he looks and acts it seems like every morning is a bad morning for Steve Lonegan.

Getting down to specifics

Pushed for specifics on what parts of the government he would cut if elected, Chris Christie said that “antiquated” civil services rules and collective bargaining make it impossible to specifically target cuts. Although he has not come up with a number by which he would slash state jobs (he has said that he wants to get rid of two-thirds of political patronage positions), Chris Christie said in a recent radio interview that “it’s very specific to say that you’re going to reduce the size of government.”

By that standard, it's also very specific for Christie to say that he is going to reduce the size of his ample girth by skipping dessert at his next fundraiser.

GOP leaders call on 3rd district Assembly candidate Lee Lucas to step down because of racial slurs

3rd district GOP Assembly candidate Lee Lucas and campaign manager meet to discuss strategy.

Wild bears, and hot air, in Jackson

Steve Lonegan's current meal ticket, a.k.a. Americans For Prosperity (AFP), sponsored a "tea party" in Jackson Township featuring another wingnut dressed in costume going around making a fool of himself to protest recent "cap and trade" legislation and promote the notion that global warming is nothing more than a vast left-wing conspiracy to enslave Americans.

I really don't know much about global warming, but looking at the crowd and listening to the speakers I'd bet the combination of verbal and digestive flatulence emanating from the event did more to heat up the atmosphere than all the dairy cows in New Jersey.

Christie's looking for some attention

In a recent radio interview Chris Christie said the presence of President Obama and other high-wattage Democrats "adds to the challenge" of unseating Corzine, but will not distract voters. "His record is such a failed record on behalf of the people of New Jersey," Christie said on WOR. "Obviously, whenever Air Force One lands someplace it gets a lot of attention."

Not as much attention as Chris Christie would get campaigning at a Jersey shore beach in a men's bikini swinsuit.

Christie to Rudy and Mitt: Don't bother

Chris Christie told a reporter from PolitickerNJ.com that he doesn’t know for sure whether any of President Obama’s luster will rub off on Jon Corzine when he visits in support of him later this month but he doubts it. “I firmly do believe that it’s not a race about President Obama. I think it’s a race about Jon Corzine and his record, and me and my vision for what the future would be,” said Christie. “I don’t think New Jerseyans are going to decide how to vote based upon who comes and visits.”

I guess those visits by Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney before the primary were just a waste of time.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident" . . . $40 please

William Vastine and Martin Marks are GOP candidates for State Assembly in the 22nd district. They are celebrating the fourth of July with a "community reading" of the Declaration of Independence at Brookside Park in Scotch Plains. Among the featured "invited" (which means they probably won't show up) guests are Congressman Leonard Lance (who more likely will be hiding in his basement to avoid wingnuts outraged over his vote on "cap and trade"), State Senator Tom Kean Jr., Chris Christie, Steve Lonegan and Assemblyman Rick Merkt.

Their campaign committee is charging $40 per person ($20 for children).

Just think how much money the founding fathers might have made if they charged for reading the Declaration of Independence.

The search for the holy grail (i.e. Christie's values)

A report posted on PolitickerNJ.com says it has been almost two weeks since Chris Christie’s campaign removed the "Shared Values" section from their Web site which outlined some of Christie’s more socially conservative positions on abortion and same sex marriage. But, according to this report, Christie’s Web site does contain his positions on abortion and same-sex marriage in a "Frequently Asked Questions" section. Democrats respond by pointing out that the language in the FAQ is significantly toned down from the "Shared Values" posting.

Christie's campaign manager Bill Stepien said that the deletion was a “technology issue, not a strategy issue,” and that the campaign is preparing to relaunch the Web site, after which it will include the “Shared Values.” He also said, “Chris is who he is, and no losing opponent, campaign manager, or poll is going to change that."

I agree Chris is who he is, and if he were a restaurant he'd be called the "Waffle House".

Global warming, snowballs, and Christie's "Statewide Leadership Team"

Some unreconstructed Loneganistas over at Conservatives (Crackpots) With Attitude (Agita) are complaining that the three Republican members of Congress from New Jersey (Len Lance, Frank Lobiondo and Chris Smith) who voted for Obama's climate (cap and trade) legislation are co-chairs of Chris Christie's campaign. They are calling for a boycott of the NJGOP and asking their supporters to change their party affiliation from "Republican" to "Unaffiliated" as a protest against Christie's "Statewide Leadership Team". According to one guest blogger, "There is not a snowball’s chance in hell that Christie can get elected without the support of the conservatives in New Jersey. Almost 150,000 voters DID NOT vote for Christie in June."

Maybe Christie can't get elected without the support of "conservatives", but a snowball in hell has a better chance than Lonegan, or any other rightwing nutjob, becoming Governor of New Jersey

It doesn't matter what matters

To no one's surprise Chris Christie issued a statement after the State Senate passed the budget along a party line vote trashing Corzine for not doing a good job. "The result is a budget that raises taxes, cuts spending for programs that matter, and leaves us in greater debt next year instead of responsibly planning for the future," said Christie.

Gee, maybe one of these days Christie will tell us what he thinks are the programs that do matter and which are the ones he would cut that don't matter.

Wingnuts upset Christie won't go wild on Supreme Court

Chris Christie's refusal to go wild in opposing the nomination of State Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin to another term on the bench seems to have some wingnuts within his own party going wild. When Christie responded to a reporter's inquiry as to whether he supports the nominee he indicated that he would remain neutral. This seems to have gotten some former Loneganistas into a hissy fit. "What?", says a guest blogger on the website Conervatives With Attitude. "This is the “Strong Leadership” that he has been trying to convince the voters he will bring to Trenton? He feels that being hands-off is what we need at a time when this state drowns in debt that has been piled on us by judges and their stupid rulings."

It looks like some wingnuts won't be satisfied unless Christie breaks down the doors to the Senate Chamber, jumps on top of the podium and threatens to take off all his clothes while doing the macarena if the Senate confirms Albin.

Governing by chance better than governing by cronyism

Chris Christie says it's clear that Jon Corzine "has no control over the budget or our government." Christie said in a statement, "He promised four years ago to change the way Trenton budgeted, but this budget uses billions in one-shot gimmicks, including this latest tax amnesty windfall, that will have to be made up in future budgets. This kind of haphazard governing by chance just doesn't cut it when we're facing 8.8% unemployment, skyrocketing property taxes and real pain for all middle class New Jerseyans."

If Christie's use of deferred prosecution agreements to reward his friends and cronies with lucrative no-bid contracts is any indication, "haphazard governing by chance" may actually be better.

He's ba-aack!!

Former Bogota Mayor, GOP gadfly and perennial loser Steve Lonegan is returning to the Americans for Prosperity Foundation as a senior policy director for the New Jersey chapter. Lonegan sees the current policy debate over health care reform as the top priority. “If advocates of government-run health care get their way and put one-seventh of our economy under government control, there will be no turning back and America, as we knew it growing up, will be dead,” Lonegan boldly said.

Steve Lonegan may not be another Ben Casey, but if he can resurrect his dead political career he can resurrect a dead America.

Wingnut ecstasy: Christie pulls a Webber out of his hat

Chris Christie delighted his wingnut supporters with the announcement he is recommending Assemblyman Jay Webber to replace Tom Wilson as NJGOP Chairman. Fresh off his upset victory over establishment favorite Marcia Karrow, Assemblyman Mike Doherty sang the praises of Christie's choice. “I think Jay Webber is a great pick. He’s a Ronald Reagan conservative and has been a leader on all the conservative issues that The Republican base looks for and will do a great job,” said Doherty.

If Jay Webber is a "Ronald Reagan conservative" what does that make Mike Doherty, a Darth Vader reactionary?

It's seems so easy to get the "base" excited, and just as easy to set them off. Just wait and see if Christie nominates a pro-choice moderate like Diane Allen or Kathleen Donovan for Lieutenant-Governor. Ever hear of Krakatoa?

We still have Lonegan to kick around

In a letter to supporters former gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan reiterated his support for Chris Christie and claimed credit for the latter adopting conservative positions. "In order to win last Tuesday," he said, "the 'moderates' who run the New Jersey GOP had to get in touch with their 'inner Republican' and embrace the conservatism of Ronald Reagan - 20 years after he left office."

It looks like Steve Lonegan is more in touch with his "inner ego".