Poll: Majority of N.J. voters approve of Gov. Chris Christie's job performance

[NJmaverick]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/majority_of_nj_voters_approve.html

Maybe if the "Professional Left" would go back to bashing Republicans (instead of devoting all their time tearing down Democrats) I wouldn't have been floored by this headline. Christie is the worst of the worst. He has attacked teachers, unions and schools with a joy that has to be seen to be believed. He has gutted our state's mass transit system. He has intimidated judges into not giving gays equal rights and he has set to work turning out courts into a right wing activist nightmare. Yet because the "Professional Left" no longer devotes any time or energy on Republicans and right wingers this guy is actually popular.

[PBS Poll-435]

1. Disappointing to see. nt

[monmouth]

2. Christie is enormously popular in NJ because he doesn't give a

shite about what the other side thinks. He laughs at them and does what he and the pubbies want. I give him a lot of credit for that, if he's re-elected, fine, if not, that's fine too. That's his mantra.

[NJmaverick]

3. I would strongly disagree, there is no one calling him out for his far right

destructive agenda. The left is utterly and completely silent. With only the far right singing his praise, it's not hard to see him being popular.

[monmouth]

10. That's my point. Where are the Dems from Hudson County and other

parts of the State. They always had a mouth before, where is it now?

[Madam Mossfern]

49. The Essex County Executive

has developed a good relationship with him most likely to gain some sort of advantage. Wait, didn't the good governor give Essex County a bunch of millions of dollars? There, my friend is the definition of 'political whore.' The County loves Christie's union busting agenda. They can contain taxes on the backs of the public workers.

[monmouth]

52. Very sad.....n/t

[superduperfarleft]

4. It's so cute when you guys learn new words.

First it was "pragmatic," now it's "Professional Left." Just adorable.

[Name removed]

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[superduperfarleft]

6. Ah, but you see no problem with the completely gratuitous slam in the OP?

[joeybee12]

8. Yeah, the OP slams people yet that guy doesn't get it...

...selective reading perhaps...only sees certain words?

[Cha]

19. It wasn't gratuitious..it was dead on. nt

[NJmaverick]

13. You're right it was a terrible reply

[NJmaverick]

14. Let me know if you ever address the issue

[superduperfarleft]

16. so now you want to adddress an issue?

Well, sure. I disagree with the idea that whichever bloggers you think are the "professional left" that no one outside of DU have heard of are singularly responsible for Christie's popularity. I didn't originally address that because (1) no one could possibly be stupid enough to believe that and (2) you were clearly just trying to make a dig at other DUers.

[NJmaverick]

25. The only digs are from you engaging in personal attacks

because you don't like the Professional left being held accountable for their actions

[superduperfarleft]

30. So, you DO believe that a bunch of bloggers that no one has ever heard of

outside of DU are somehow singularly responsible for Christie's popularity? Wow....

[superduperfarleft]

37. :crickets:

[Name removed]

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[superduperfarleft]

31. Derp. n/t

[QC]

35. Don't forget "intellectually dishonest."

It took months for them to tire of that one.

[OHdem10]

7. While I do not agree with him on policy at all, I can understand

people admiring him for the courage of his convictions. He
takes nothing from anyone, slams right back. The most important
thing is he exudes confidence in his own ability. He explains
what he is doing and why.

The one thing Democrats have never understood or at least do
not appear to understand--Strong Leadership Counts. This means
a strong personality who says this is what I believe and this
is how I am going to get there. People will vote on this
characteristic even if they do not agree with you. I will
not but I am not a typical American. I understand all the
ins and outs of politics and have to know whether you lean
liberal, conservative somewhere in between. For one of me,
there are thousands who simply look for a strong leader
who believes in himself and his/her ideas. This is how
Regan stayed popular to a lot of people. The Media like these
types because the country tends to stay calm under them.
Equivocating drives them mad.

Now I caution---double check polls. Christy is being promoted
and built up for Presidential Run. Therefore, watch material
coming from the Propaganda TV Channel.

Do not dismiss Christy.

[monmouth]

11. You are absolutely right, he is the Right's dream, the south will cringe

because he's from Jersey but that strong personality and "I take no shite from anyone" will serve him well.

[NJmaverick]

32. Don't forget he is behaving in the exact same manner as George Bush

[vi5]

9. O.K. trying to be nice and diplomatic here.....

...because I agree about Christie. He's scum. I hate him and I'll unite with you on every front about him and his need to be stopped.

But how about I can oppose and bash Christie for how he's treated unions, teachers, and public schools and ALSO be mad at Obama and Arne Duncan for hewing to far too similar an approach to teachers and unions and public schools?

How about I abhor Christie's policies and think they're bad for my state, bad for my country, and bad for the economy but I also get made and speak about how frustrating it is when prominent Democratic leaders and elected officials hew far too closely to those positions, or don't more clearly distance themselves from many of the essential tenets of those positions?

I'm not sure why it has to be an either or scenario. If I think a policy is damaging when it's advocated by Republicans, then why am I not supposed to be upset when a Democrat goes into negotiations or drafting legislation without fully distancing him or herself from those beliefs and policies instead of saying "Well, we'll leave some of this on the table because you like it and then maybe you'll meet us in the middle."

Here in NJ Christie is in power. He deserves the blame when things go wrong and when things are not what they should be. But when dems in the state cave to him (especially when they control other aspects of the government) then I'm going to be upset about that as well.

But nationally, at least for now the Democratic party is in power. So when they do something I feel is wrong, I'm not sure why we're not supposed to point that out?

Also, I would add agreement to what one of the posters above stated: If Democrats fought for their convictions the way Christie is fighting for his, maybe they'd be just as popular and I'd be the loudest one singing their praises. Especially when one of the biggest reasons given for them not fighting and being aggressive and having the same tactics is "People don't like that."

So why couldn't you just make a post about how awful Christie was, and then be happy when you got a lot of agreement and a good helping of solidarity on the subject? Why did you need to level the gratuitous digs at those who maybe have a different approach on how to hold those in power accountable?

[NJmaverick]

12. If you think President Obama and Arnie are similar to Christie

you are sadly mistaken

[vi5]

18. I hear a good deal of the same rhetoric....

Enough that makes me very uncomfortable. But that's my exact point. It's not an either/or situation. It's not Christie education rhetoric bad/Obama education rhetoric good. It's Christie education rhetoric bad/Obama education rhetoric not far enough from Christie's rhetoric to my liking.

The only thing I should hear from a Democratic administration is that we want to have the best 100% public education system in the world, and want to give teachers every tool they need to get their kids to perform, INCLUDING strong union support and adequate tenure. That's the liberal Democratic position and it has been for as long as I remember. And the fact is I'm not hearing enough of that and hearing a little too much demonization of teachers unions and tenure and emphasis on test scores and the coded "accountability" rhetoric. Yes, it's much LESS than what I hear from Christie but there's still far too much of it for my liking coming from a Democratic administration.

Again, maybe it's enough for you. That's fine. But "to the left of Chris Christie" is just not enough of a hurdle to clear for me to think that everything that can be done is being done to support liberal democratic principles.

[MrSlayer]

15. That's because he actually does things and comes on strong.

People don't seem to care how bad your policies are as long as you lead in a bold and decisive manner. Something Democrats never seem to do.

[NJmaverick]

24. You mean like George Bush did?

[Hello_Kitty]

17. The majority of Arizona voters approve of Jan Brewer.

Guess the Professional Left should go easy on all that opposing of racist "show me your papers" laws.

[marmar]

20. After he screws their state badly enough, they'll (hopefully) come to their senses......

nt

[philly_bob]

22. OP warns of Christie, but phrases it to alienate half of his readers.

I think snarky "isn't it cute when they learn new words" response is appropriate.

[NJmaverick]

23. Instead of worrying about "alienate" you should be much more concerned

about a right wing takeover of our country. It's amazing how misplaced priorities are these days.

[philly_bob]

36. What is more effective in stopping RW? A splintered party or a united party?

OP's apparent priority is divisive. Baiting the "progressive left." I learned little from OP about Christie, instead learned OP identifies with Partisans, not Progressives. "Go Partisans, Beat Progressives."

On a day when both wings could be united in support of President's opposition to corporate nondisclosure.

[Raineyb]

27. So do I. Clearly the OP is only interested in scolding not in actually working with people for a

common goal. On the other hand the OP is so fucking abrasive that I don't think anyone would want to work with him/her/it anyway.

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[Raineyb]

26. Perhaps so many in your state approve of Gov. Christie's job because they're selfish half-wits

who only give a damn about tax cuts and not about what services those tax cuts will pay for.

And as this is not the New Jersey forum perhaps the people you should be pointing fingers at are the people of your state.

Unrec for the gratuitous slam. No go take your talking points and go parrot someone from your own state. Perhaps they may find you persuasive. Doubtful but you never know.

[NJmaverick]

28. Yes unrec, because we can't have accountability can we?

Does anyone care about the right's return to power?

[Raineyb]

39. Accountability? You don't believe in it. As to the right's return to power, perhaps the

New Jersey Democratic party should have done a better job of standing up to it. You can't complain about the right wing coming back into power while slamming people who are arguing against right leaning policies.

And of course you don't bother to hold Corzine accountable for his lackluster campaign and for the scandals that took place while he was governor because the only people you ever hold accountable for any damn thing is the group you look to slam every chance you get.

[NJmaverick]

41. Don't you dare tell me what I believe in

[Forkboy]

44. LOL...no need...you make it clear everyday.

[NJmaverick]

46. What are you trying to say f boy?

[Forkboy]

48. I'd ask if this is really the best you can do...

...but the answer has already presented itself.

[madinmaryland]

50. I think he is asking if you are sensible or professional.

:shrug:

[Warren Stupidity]

33. -- Maybe if the "Professional Left" -- another attack? Quelle Surprise

sheesh.

By the way, the comments you make within your own thread are fair game for assessing your intentions.

[NJmaverick]

42. so you are saying you are launching yet another defense of the professional left

why can't you be that supportive of our elective President?

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[SOS]

38. Christie got 49% of the vote, approval is at 51%

So the people who voted for him approve of him.

Why is this shocking?

[Chan790]

40. NJMaverick, you know I agree with you much of the time...

philosophically, despite being the epitome of the professional leftist as a professional activist...but here is the crux of the problem.

It's impossible for me to attack the RW when the moderates in my own party can't stop rushing the lines to co-opt GOP talking points and positions forcing me to fire across our own lines. It does us no favors either when the likes of Harold Ford and James Carville who are supposed to be on our side defend and act apologist for RW policies.

How am I supposed to attack Chris Christie's educational policies (which I opposed during the campaign, volunteering in Newark on weekends when I lived in Yonkers.) when they're almost too close to differentiate for the average low-information voter from those of Arne Duncan? (Which candidly, I also oppose.)

I can't take clear shots on John Boehner or Mitch McConnell (or even Scott Brown, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe) when every time the President gets into a tough policy fight, rather than taking an "I'd rather lose than compromise on this" stand he goes running to them to work out "compromises" they don't honor anyways and use to stab him in the back. He's as bad as Charlie Brown and that football.

I'm more than happy to let people know that Paul Ryan is a lying crook, but I look the moron when I say "Paul Ryan is a lying crook who has no new ideas and wants to bankrupt and defraud the American people." then the President appoints him to the Soc. Sec. taskforce. We've got better things to do than be made to look like lunatics.

If you want us (on the activist-left) to lay down suppressive fire for this administration and this party, you (on the center and pragmatic-liberals) have got to keep those firing-lines clear...or you've got to accept that Democrats that run into the firing lines will be hit. It's a lot more fun to lay waste to tea-baggers and evil pachyderms I promise you that.

Also, it'd be a hell of a lot easier to attack the right if we didn't constantly have to defend ourselves from professional centrists calling us "fucking retards" or suggesting we need to be tested for drugs. Next time, side with us that those people need to be fired for attacking their own and we'd be a lot more likely to fire on the Right rather than continue returning fire on our intra-party critics for any prolonged period.

[TheKentuckian]

51. Reeeeeaaaaaccchhh. Dude, you are blaming the left because Guidonation likes a blustery

"Straight talker"?

We could be out laying palm leaves in front of Obama and would have no impact on that situation.

You all should have dropped the Bankster Corzine in the primaries and ran somebody that wasn't distrusted and hated and this would have never happened.

You drank too damn much beltway koolaid and rode a dead horse in the Derby, so you got burnt.

Give the voters a choice, a real choice that doesn't doublespeak and you'll win.
Right now you guys are fucking numbnuts for running a fucking Bankster that was underwater because you knew his name and he has a lot of money.

Sometimes "pragmatic" is really just craven, amoral, lazy, and absent creativity.