Full of Passionate Intensity: POLITICS THREAD

by **drsmooth** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 23:09:35

Lou Dobbs Weighs Senate Run, as a Steppingstone

Could give Jersey barriers a whole new look

Also wouldn't rule out running as a Republican. No word yet from Gubner-elect Christie on that

by **jerseyhoya** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 02:31:06

Former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jon Runyan confirmed tonight that he’s running against Rep. John Adler (D-N.J.), but before he launches his political career, he’s returning to the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers.

Runyan, who had been out of football for the 2009 season, signed a one-year contract this evening with the Chargers, where he will play for the remainder of the year,

“Win or lose, these will be my final games as an NFL player. 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,” Runyan said in a statement.

“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."

Runyan looks like the early GOP favorite, winning support from Burlington County Republican leaders, but he's never been involved in politics until he expressed interest in the race. And now that he’s playing football and won’t be able to prepare for a campaign until season’s end, other Republicans may look to challenge him in the primary.

You've got to be fucking kidding me

OK Ocean County. Who are you running? I would like to work for whoever it is.

by **drsmooth** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 09:45:14

jerseyhoya wrote:You've got to be $#@! kidding me

yea, that decision to play for the bolts, even for a partial season, can't help his election odds

by **jerseyhoya** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:13:18

It'll be OK if he earmarks his salary as a down payment as fund raising for his campaign

by **lethal** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:15:38

jerseyhoya wrote:
You've got to be $#@! kidding me

OK Ocean County. Who are you running? I would like to work for whoever it is.

What are his political beliefs? Do you not want him because you disagree with his stance or because he was an Eagle?

by **jerseyhoya** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:19:57

In some order:

1) He was an Eagle, and not just any Eagle. He was the nasty sonuvabitch who dove on piles late and such.
2) He's never run for public office before, and this is our best chance to beat John Adler. He could be good, but there's a much higher chance that he's a flop.
3) I have no idea what he believes in, and I don't think anyone else does either.

by **TenuredVulture** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:58:03

jerseyhoya wrote:In some order:

1) He was an Eagle, and not just any Eagle. He was the nasty sonuvabitch who dove on piles late and such.
2) He's never run for public office before, and this is our best chance to beat John Adler. He could be good, but there's a much higher chance that he's a flop.
3) I have no idea what he believes in, and I don't think anyone else does either.

This raises an interesting question regarding Christie--can he rebuild the Republican party? There might be a weird parallel with Huckabee--most people will admit he was good governor--even his political opponents. But for some, the real problem is that during his 10 years in office, the state Republican party declined. There are important reasons for this--the base of the party here is in NW Arkansas, and it's a very conservative base. Huckabee, however, was not from that wing. He was literally a Rockefeller Republican--Wynn Rockefeller was a political mentor. He clashed with the NW "shiite" Republicans more than with Democrats. So, is Christie going to be able to build a party that can do more than defeat an unpopular incumbent?

by **jerseyhoya** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:14:31

The NJ GOP doesn't really need to be rebuilt that badly. On the state level, Democrats control both houses of the legislature, but it's by a 23-17 and a 47-33 margin. Not the absurd Dem majorities there are in Arkansas. The Dem majorities, moreover, were the result of what was seen at the time as a very good redistricting map for the Democrats. Going into redistricting this time around, I think the booming population growth in Monmouth and Ocean and flight from Dem strongholds in North Jersey will see a net pickup of a few seats for us without even trying.

On the federal level, Dems have an 8-5 House lead, which isn't terrible. I mean when you consider there are 2 GOP Congressmen in all of NY+New England, 5 from Jersey seems pretty good. If we elect an oaf in my district, it's back to 7-6.

On the local level, Christie had some coattails. We won freeholder seats in Bergen and Passaic. Held in Atlantic and Burlington. Retook Monmouth.

The best thing he can do for the state party is be a good governor and improve the people of the state's perception of the Republican party. It'd help if the Dems continue acting like clowns in Washington and Trenton.

by **TenuredVulture** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 14:14:46

If Christie is serious about going after corruption in NJ (and I think that's a big reason why people voted for him) he's going to have to upset some Republicans, especially in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

by **The Dude** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 14:16:15

He did a good job in Newark

by **jerseyhoya** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 14:19:02

TenuredVulture wrote:If Christie is serious about going after corruption in NJ (and I think that's a big reason why people voted for him) he's going to have to upset some Republicans, especially in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

As US Attorney he basically destroyed the Monmouth County GOP (hence why the freeholder board had to be taken back this cycle). I don't think he'll have a problem with that, though hopefully the deadwood has at least been cleared out in Monmouth for a few years.

by **drsmooth** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 15:33:14

jerseyhoya wrote:The NJ GOP doesn't really need to be rebuilt that badly. On the state level, Democrats control both houses of the legislature, but it's by a 23-17 and a 47-33 margin. Not the absurd Dem majorities there are in Arkansas. The Dem majorities, moreover, were the result of what was seen at the time as a very good redistricting map for the Democrats. Going into redistricting this time around, I think the booming population growth in Monmouth and Ocean and flight from Dem strongholds in North Jersey will see a net pickup of a few seats for us without even trying.

On the federal level, Dems have an 8-5 House lead, which isn't terrible. I mean when you consider there are 2 GOP Congressmen in all of NY+New England, 5 from Jersey seems pretty good. If we elect an oaf in my district, it's back to 7-6.

On the local level, Christie had some coattails. We won freeholder seats in Bergen and Passaic. Held in Atlantic and Burlington. Retook Monmouth.

The best thing he can do for the state party is be a good governor and improve the people of the state's perception of the Republican party. It'd help if the Dems continue acting like clowns in Washington and Trenton.

this is all well & good until Lou Dobbs makes up his mind whether to be a NJ Senator (on the Republican ticket) or President

Lou Dobbs!!

That is a knee slapper

by **allentown** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 17:58:34

drsmooth wrote:
jerseyhoya wrote:The NJ GOP doesn't really need to be rebuilt that badly. On the state level, Democrats control both houses of the legislature, but it's by a 23-17 and a 47-33 margin. Not the absurd Dem majorities there are in Arkansas. The Dem majorities, moreover, were the result of what was seen at the time as a very good redistricting map for the Democrats. Going into redistricting this time around, I think the booming population growth in Monmouth and Ocean and flight from Dem strongholds in North Jersey will see a net pickup of a few seats for us without even trying.

On the federal level, Dems have an 8-5 House lead, which isn't terrible. I mean when you consider there are 2 GOP Congressmen in all of NY+New England, 5 from Jersey seems pretty good. If we elect an oaf in my district, it's back to 7-6.

On the local level, Christie had some coattails. We won freeholder seats in Bergen and Passaic. Held in Atlantic and Burlington. Retook Monmouth.

The best thing he can do for the state party is be a good governor and improve the people of the state's perception of the Republican party. It'd help if the Dems continue acting like clowns in Washington and Trenton.

this is all well & good until Lou Dobbs makes up his mind whether to be a NJ Senator (on the Republican ticket) or President

Lou Dobbs!!

That is a knee slapper

The bigger knee slapper is he's trying to reach out to Hispanics, LOL on that one. He's got to be the guy at the absolute top of the list of whom Hispanics want to support for President or Senator. Even talking of making nicer on citizenship, which likely has the rest of the electorate asking 'isn't that the only thing that brought this guy to anything remotely approaching political prominence'.

by **jerseyhoya** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 00:25:23

I liked this

by **jerseyhoya** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:33:14

Huckabee granted clemency to the guy that killed those four police officers in Washington

by **drsmooth** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:11:00

jerseyhoya wrote:I liked this

the embroidery of this political narrative that no one cares about is certainly bewildering - but "like" it? How? In same the way that you "like" Phillies victories? Or that I like pie?

I can't imagine the thing generating sufficient energy to prompt an actual value judgement like that; so you may say I'm curious.

by **jerseyhoya** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:25:44

I dunno why I chose the word liked. I found it amusing. Also I was really drunk.

by **TenuredVulture** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 13:27:21

jerseyhoya wrote:Huckabee granted clemency to the guy that killed those four police officers in Washington

He brought it up on his radio show tomorrow. But it was weird. He noted that the cop killer had been granted clemency in Arkansas, but not who granted clemency. Huck now has two Willie Hortons, and I think his days in politics are over. I never thought he'd be President, but I doubt he ever runs for that office. And it's highly unlikely he runs for Senator either. Among the problems with clemency under Huck was its apparent arbitrariness--Huck never explains why some got clemency and some didn't.

by **jerseyhoya** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 13:28:47

TenuredVulture wrote:He brought it up on his radio show tomorrow. But it was weird.

That is weird

by **TenuredVulture** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 13:33:02

jerseyhoya wrote:
TenuredVulture wrote:He brought it up on his radio show tomorrow. But it was weird.

That is weird

Well, I suppose he could be trying a "inoculation" strategy, that is getting ahead of the sure to come criticism by owning up to it as a "mistake". But that's not what he did. He didn't actually say that he was the governor who made the clemency decision.

Archived

Full of Passionate Intensity: POLITICS THREAD