Thursday, August 18, 2005
The "most Democratic" state in the country
I am sitting in meeting listening to one of Trenton's most accomplished
lobbyists handicap the New Jersey governor's race between Senator Jon
Corzine and Republican challenger Doug Forrester. Internal campaign polls
(as well as public journalistic polls) show that the race is Corzine's to
lose. Even after recent revelations that he forgave a loan he had made to
his girlfriend - who also happens to be a union boss - Corzine remains in
the lead by ten points or so.
The lobbyist points out that this is not surprising, since by some measures
New Jersey is the "most Democratic" state in the country. It is the only
state with a Democratic governor, Democrats in charge of both houses of the
legislature, Democrats in both Senate seats and in a majority of the House
delegation, Democratic judges sitting in a majority of state courts, and to
have voted for both Gore and Kerry.
Given that New Jersey suffered huge casualties on September 11, has the
highest per capita income in the country, a below average unemployment rate,
brutally high taxes, and an astonishingly incompetant and corrupt
government, one is forced to wonder whether the New Jersey Republicans could
be any more inept.
(Via Blackberry)
3 Comments:
By 
Sluggo, at
Thu Aug 18, 12:44:00 PM:
That's always puzzled me. Maybe there's a tipping point of political dominance which only the most extraordinary circumstances can reverse. In effect, New Jersey is run like an old fashioned city machine with all the levers; influence, taxation, legislation, judgeships in very few hands. It's one big cookie jar.
By callmemickey, at
Thu Aug 18, 02:21:00 PM:
i think the fact that there are so many liberal bastions in new jersey such as, but not limited to these hell holes of humanity.. atlantic city, camden, newark, jersey city, east orange... and then you have all the young liberal elite in hoboken..
what a mess
By 
, at
Thu Aug 18, 10:39:00 PM:
Hell, New Jersey voted against Lincoln (and for George McClellen) in 1864.
I suppose Garden Staters back then figured Lincoln "lied." Oh, and he looked like an ape too.
