New Jerseyans want a new governor

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.politicsnj.com/

Yet another poll puts the Democratic Governor of New Jersey in some serious trouble. A Quinnipiac poll was released today and McGreevey received a 35% approval rating. He has had that approval rating since June but his dissapproval rating reached a new high of 52%. That is truly horrible. His reelect number stands at a dismal 24%. And 57% want a new governor and even a plurality of Democrats want a new governor. It seems right now that McGreevey would really have an extremely hard time getting reelected.

Fortunately, the legislative races seem somewhat unaffected by the governor's problems. 48% of voters want the democrats to control the legislature while only 37% want the republicans to control it. The entire state legislature is up for election this November and the senate is evenly divided and the Assembly is narrowly democratic.

Senators Corzine and Lautenberg each got 48% approval ratings and 30% and 34% disapproval ratings respectively.

[Cha]

1. What's McGreevey doin' soooo Wrong?

What do New Jerseyians need to have the Govenor do to make things right? Is recall legal in this State?

[Old and In the Way]

2. When will people associate that the root cause of the problems

start at the top? Where was a lot of the money going before all the federal taxcuts were implemented? The states. At some point, I hope people start holding this administration accountable for their reckless fiscal policy. Taxes will be raised at the State and local levels to deal with the problem....and it will be the middle/lower class that will abosorb the burden.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Jersey has a recall law too!!!! Watch to see if the Rethugs pull any B.S here!!! Be prepared to fight!

[UnapologeticLiberal]

4. I asked my mom if she had heard anything about that

and she said no...she lives in NJ, and she is pretty in tuned to these things...I doubt they are going to recall McGreevey. I would not mind so much if they did, though, if we could get another Democrat elected who was not so inept. Of course, I am against it because i think it is ridiculous the way the GOP is tryign to grab power, but I have never been that crazy about McGreevey, and if my congressman would run again (he lost to McGreevey in the 2001 primaries) I'd be happy.

Help make this a September to Remember

[NewJerseyDem]

5. I really doubt it

It seems to me that the republicans wouldn't do that. First of all, a recall petition is really hard to get done becuase you need the number of signatures equal to 25% of the vote in the last election. That is hard. But, mainly the republicans realize that they can probably knock McGreevey off in 2005 if they don't nominate Schundler so a recall would be counterproductive.

[SoCalDem]

6. There is only so much that ANY governor can do..

The states (ALL of them) have gotten used to the "kick-back" scam that started years ago... The fed govt hands out patronage money to the states that are "good"... The problem here is that all the money comes with many strings attached.. the money is earmarked (wisely so , in some cases) for highways, schools, health care delivery, etc. Add to that the little bonuses (unfunded MANDATES) that get the president's mug on tv smiling , as he cuddles a baby...The rub here, is that the MANDATE goes into effect regardless of whether the feds actually kick in the money needed to run it..

In everyday terms..

Assume that you have an income of 2,000 a month and your "SugarDaddy" orders you to take in 5 hungry teenagers.. he "promises" to help you out with the food bill, but never does.. Do you let them starve?? Nope.. You just trim here and there...

All the states have been cut off by their SugarDaddy, and the teenagers are still hungry...and "now they each want a car" :(

[mndemocrat_29]

7. Does anyone think that McGreevey will turn down a run in 2005?

It's entirely possible. Even if he doesn't, I'm sure one of the House members would want this seat.

[NewJerseyDem]

8. I don't think he would

It seems very unlikely. I just don't see him doing that but he could surprise everyone and do that if his poll numbers are still this bad next year. However, he probably thinks that he can beat current unannounced GOP frontrunner Bret Schundler. If republicans are stupid enough to nominate him McGreevey could very well win so he may run just assuming he has a great chance against Schundler.

The rumor is that Rob Andrews may challenge McGreevey in a primary and almost certainly if the seat is open. Steve Rothman is the other candidate but he seems to be targeting the potential open senate seat in 2008 even though Lautenberg claims he is going to run.

[mndemocrat_29]

9. Lautenberg says he'll run?

Do you have a link? I was under the impression that Lautenberg would retire in 2008, if not sooner (though I'd be glad if he stayed, he's a very good senator).

[NewJerseyDem]

10. He is expected to

I'm not sure if Lautenberg has said anything publicly even though I thought he did after St. Senator Adler set up a committee to run for senate. But, his friends and aides say that he regretted retiring in 2000 trememdously and that he will probably run.



http://www.politicsnj.com/September18_2003.htm

Continuing to criss-cross New Jersey at a furious pace is four-term Democratic Congressman STEVEN ROTHMAN, who has made no secret of his interest in moving up to statewide office at the next possible opportunity. Rothman was in Ocean County last weekend addressing a group of Democratic activists. But Rothman needs to exercise some caution: friends of FRANK LAUTENBERG say the 79-year-old U.S. Senator is getting a little upset with the political activities of fellow Democrats who assume -- incorrectly, Lautenberg aides maintain -- that he will retire in 2008 when he is 84.

http://www.politicsnj.com/kornacki041403_Rothman.htm

It may not come for years, though, something Rothman said he fully realizes. McGreevey is up for re-election in 2005, and there's little doubt he'll run again. Corzine, a freshman senator who was recently tapped to head the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is up in 2006 and also expected to seek re-election. Then there's Lautenberg, 79, who some have assumed will leave when his term expires in 2008. But those who are close to Lautenberg say he loves the job and will leave the Senate "feet first."

[mndemocrat_29]

12. I was disappointed when he left in 2000

But I really like Sen. Corzine, so now I'm glad to have both of them.

[NewJerseyDem]

14. At least Torricelli is gone

Corzine and Lautenberg are much better senators than Torricelli. Right now we have two solid liberals which lets us have one of the best senate delegations in the country. I really wish that Lautenberg didn't lose all of his seniority though. We currently have two freshmen and NJ and MN are tied with the two least senior delegations. And Lautenberg certainly won't be gathering seniority for too long anyway.

[mndemocrat_29]

15. New Jersey outranks my own Minnesota

Because Lautenberg is a former senator. I just wish that my two senators were Dayton and Mondale, not that snivelling Coleman.

[ButterflyBlood]

19. NJ outranks us because at least they have two senators

we have one senator and someone who has the title of senator but simply functions as a mouthpiece for Bush instead.

[LynneSin]

11. All the governors are hurting from Bush's policies

Which is something that we don't discuss when these articles are written. New Jersey is hit especially hard because of Homeland Security and finding money in their budget to secure Airports, Ports, Bridges and a slew of other things. Their close proximately to NYC makes that job even more challenging.

And top things off most of the states are searching for money to pay for Bush's "Leave No Child Behind" program.

Plus many of the Mid-Atlantic states including my own Delaware got hit with enoromous bills for all the extra snow-plowing from the harsh winter we had this year.

But just like California, we aren't talking about these issues which are costing our states. Even Delaware was hit hard with budget problems and we hardly have that much of a budget to begin with.

So when you hear the bitching about your governor, please make sure you pass on the information about Homeland Security and Bush's Education program which must be paid for by the states. And also a small reminder about the fact that there are less people working because of the higher number of those who are unemployeed (they aren't paying taxes) AND folks aren't spending money shopping like they use to.

McGreevey is a decent guy with a tough job. I doubt that republicans could do a better job

[NewJerseyDem]

13. But, he's not a decent guy

I know I've said it many times before and I don't like to critisize a democrat this much but McGreevey isn't a good guy. Just from my personal opinion I don't think those poll numbers are due to the budget problems. I would say that I disapprove of him and want someone knew in the governor's mansion if I had to answer that poll. Not because of the budget but because he is severely ethically challenged. I don't like him at all and a moderate republican that isn't as corrupt might just be better than McGreevey. Tom Kean, Jr. or Diane Allen both seem like improvements over McGreevey.

I don't trust McGreevey and he shouldn't be governor of the state of New Jersey. Right now I just hope that Rob Andrews or Steve Rothman or somebody else runs and defeats McGreevey in the primary.

[LynneSin]

16. Can you give me reasons or is this just gut instincts?

I mean has he committed campaign fraud of some form we should be aware of? I know I'm in Delaware but my major news outlet is Philadelphia which extensively covered the NJ governors race.

:shrug:

If we disapproved of our elected officials on gut instincts then no one would be qualified to serve.

[NewJerseyDem]

20. There are several problems

The Star-Ledger has had a field day with this administration.

1) The International Longshoreman paid for McGreevey's vacation to Puerto Rico where he gave a speech at their convention but it was mostly a vacation. Then, while he is on vacation there the the longshoremen are put under investigation for racketeering.

2) Another vacation problem. He goes to Ireland on "trade mission" and has a big family reunion and spends tons of money, all paid by the taxpayer. The Democratic Party ended up paying for it after a lot of outrage from the public.

3) His top staffers were involved in some sort of questionable billboard dealings that he claimed to be unaware of but most people find that unlikely.

There is much more but I have to go now. Maybe later I can find some of his other problems.

[JackS124]

17. What is it that he's done that's so untrustworthy??

I'm kind of surprised by the McGreevey bashing this poll seems to have inspired. McGreevey was left a mess by Christie Whitman, who couldn't leave the governership fast enough because she knew the fiscal train wreck she created would be coming to light.

McGreevey hasn't pulled a "Florio" and raised income taxes. He hasn't raised the sales tax. Instead he looked for closing loopholes for corporations, increasing the Casino tax and other means of raising revenue to close Christie's deficits.

I think some of this criticism of McGreevey is perhaps more personality based that performance based. Given the disaster he came into as governor, as an NJ resident I think he's doing a pretty good job.

[Kool Kitty]

18. Those are the facts, Jack. You got it exactly right.

Christie did leave a huge mess and deficits and she couldn't get out of town fast enough. Then she bombs out in the EPA, too. Perhaps she should consider a career change, out of "public" service.

[LynneSin]

21. Probably why that acting governor

who filled in for Christie when she left didn't want to run for re-election. He knew there was going to be a horrible problem with the budget and wasn't ready to put his neck on the chopping block.

You go Jim McGreevey. I know you're having a tough time thanks to the republicans that screwed up your state, but hopefully in a few years folks will see that we can live within our budget and get our bills paid off

[NewJerseyDem]

22. That isn't why DiFrancesco dropped out

It was because he ,too, seemed to be a little "ethically challenged." Some of his real estate dealings were somewhat concerning and he would probably lose because of them. Are you starting to get a trend here? A hell of a lot of NJ politicians have ethics problems. Well at least we try to be bipartisan about it.