Chris Christie, from nothing to 51 ways to fix New Jersey in less than three months. (Continued again)

It’s that time to pick up where I left off and examine the 53 ways Chris Christie says are needed to fix New Jersey.  Let’s get started!

• 21. I will further consolidate and streamline government by eliminating the position of “Chief of the Office of Economic Growth.”  Great!  Here is the first time I have heard him say he will get rid of someone!  Now we are on the way to fixing problems, except, how much money is going to be saved getting rid of one person?
• 22. I will cut New Jersey’s income taxes across the board for all taxpayers. Our tax rates are oppressive and are driving residents out of state. No more.   Damn, he was on a roll with the last idea, and now he once again reverts to form.  He can’t cut income taxes, without cutting spending.  The only way he can cut spending is by eliminating programs, divisions, state employees and services.  All of these will have to be committed to by the assembly and the senate.  Once again, Christie is promising something he cannot deliver.
• 23. I will encourage investment and expansion of New Jersey-based small businesses by offering an additional income tax cut for those who derive business income from New Jersey-based small businesses.  OK, let me get this right, if you make some income in New Jersey from a small business, I will cut your income tax?  Have I got that right?  If so, how about large business?  How about any business in New Jersey.  This idea would only reward a small companies, and only if they were a sub-chapter “S”, LLC, LLP, etc. in which the revenues flow directly to the owners.  It all sounds good, but again, it must be matched with reduced spending.
• 24. I will reduce the corporate business tax rate to give New Jersey businesses a competitive advantage. With our tax rates among the highest of our neighboring states, reducing the corporate business tax rate will create a better business climate with which to attract private sector investment to New Jersey.  OK, now he is talking!  But why just reduce the corporate business tax?  Instead, junk the damn thing!  Just for a refresher course Chris, “companies do not pay taxes, people pay taxes”.  “Companies only collect taxes, whether they are sales, corporate, etc.”.   If companies did not have to pay a corporate tax, they would be able to lower their prices for the products they make.  This would make them more competitive in the world market place.  But, there still has to be major spending cuts make to even reduce the corporate tax.  I just wanted to remind him of that.
• 25. I will eliminate the “double-taxation” on New Jersey’s S-Corporations for the 80,000 taxpayers currently paying the corporation “minimum” tax, putting our state in line with the other 47 states and federal government which have implemented this policy.  This would be very nice for those people who would effected by it, but just remember though, you have to cut a certain amount of government spending to be able to do this!
• 26. I will eliminate the hidden “investment tax” on New Jersey-based businesses which acts as a penalty for businesses for being based in New Jersey. Instead of being taxed for only the amount of sales in New Jersey, the “investment tax” also factors in the level of investment (i.e., real estate, payroll, etc.) a company has in New Jersey. I will immediately reverse this.  I think Chris better review who makes the laws in New Jersey.  If he would do that, he will see that the assembly and the senate in Trenton make the laws, including the tax laws!  He can’t immediately reverse this or anything like it!  Nice try Christie, but come on, tell us about the things you could actually do.
• 27. I will help New Jersey’s small businesses lower health insurance costs by allowing the purchase of health insurance policies from out-of-state insurance companies that offer better rates or better coverage. More competition and more consumer choice will lower costs.  Come on Chris, this is another bold promise, that will require both the assembly and the senate to agree to!  Since only the assembly is up for election this year, do you really expect the senate to pass something like this, even if the republicans gain control of the assembly?  Once again, nice promise, but really no way to get it done.
• 28. I will help more New Jerseyans afford health insurance by permitting insurance companies to offer “mandate-free” policies. These policies might better fit the needs of some consumers who may not need extravagant benefits, such as young or single consumers.  This is one thing you might actually be able to deliver on!  Since a governor would have direct control over the “The Department of Banking and Insurance” you might be able to direct them to offer this type of  coverage.  Good going Chris!  This is one promise you might be able to keep!
• 29. I will reduce the cost of health insurance for small businesses by allowing national trade associations and membership organizations that have health plans to market to their New Jersey members.  Again, he might be able to deliver on this promise!  If he can get “The Department of Banking and Insurance” to allow these trade associations and membership organizations to market their health plans here, it could work.  Hey Chris, it looks like you might have two ways that would actually work to fix New Jersey!
• 30. I will provide relief from our state’s overbearing regulations – restoring balance and fairness – by creating a permanent “Red Tape Review Group.” The “Red Tape Review Group” will bring both elected branches of government together in a bi-partisan fashion to perform a top-to-bottom overhaul of New Jersey’s Administrative Code.  Just when Chris was on a roll, he is back to his old fixes, adding more government.  Now he wants to create the “Red Tape Review Group”!  This will be more government people on the payroll, more pension payments, more staff, more of everything!  Oh Chris, why go back to the old ways of more government?

We have gotten through 30 of the 53 ways Chris Christie says will fix New Jersey.  I thought things were looking up there for a moment, when we found two ways that he actually might have been able to pull off.  But, he did revert right back to the bigger government approach, so it seems he is still looking at expanding government to cure the problem of big government.  Now, that just does not sound right!

To Chris Christie, and all of the idiots in Trenton, no matter how many ways you all have, it still comes down to; “IT’S TAXES, STUPID”!

Chris Christie, from nothing to 51 ways to fix New Jersey in less than three months. (Continued)

Hey kids, it is time to continue the analysis of Christ Christie’s 51 ways to fix New Jersey.  In the last episode, we examined the first 10 of these way, and found a lot lacking in them, lets see want the next 10 look like.

• 11. I will require a “sunset” provision of four years on any new or expanded program and veto spending for any new (or expanded) program that doesn’t include such a provision. I’ll measure the performance of each and every government program. If a program isn’t serving taxpayers efficiently and effectively, I’ll eliminate it.  Now this one sounds great on the surface, but can anyone out there see the first flaw in this promise?  If anyone said the “FOUR YEARS” you get a cookie!  He will eliminate any program that is not serving the taxpayers, but only if we give him another term after the first one.  I guess in his mind this is a great idea, but what if he is elected and just plain sucks?  Do we give him another four years just so he might eliminate some programs?
• 12. I will require a 2/3 majority vote to impose any new tax, or to increase existing taxes.By passing a State Constitutional Amendment, we can prevent massive tax increases in the future, like the 103 tax increases passed during the Corzine/McGreevey administrations.  Talk about a promise he could never keep!  He will require a 2/3 majority vote!  The only problem with this is he knows as well as anyone out in Internet land knows, this can only be mandated via an amendment to the constitution, and the chance of that happening, at least in the first four years are “slim and nil, and slim went to lunch!”
• 13. I will save taxpayer dollars and end political cronyism by eliminating political patronage jobs.  Once again, a great idea, but he would only have control over those jobs he has direct control over.  Further, his previous history of giving out no bid-contracts to friends and associates does not bode well for him keeping this promise.
• 14. I will lower overtime costs by reducing the number of state holidays and eliminating those not recognized as federal holidays.  Now this is a real interesting statement.  The only holiday I can think of that is a State holiday and not a Federal holiday is Lincoln’s birthday.  OK, he can eliminate that one, but except for non-contractual workers, he would have to negotiate this at contract time.  Once again, a hurdle that he cannot even think of addressing until contracts are up.  Great promise, but once again a fix he cannot possibly do in the first two or three years, and it would be open to backlash from the unions.
• 15. I will increase efficiency and lower costs by changing to a single, unitary approach to state public employee compensation, benefits, and work rules – ending the separate statutes governing health benefits, antiquated civil service rules, and the collective bargaining agreements.   Again, big promises, but very little chance of doing.  Each union has it’s own negotiating committee and contract wants.  To say he will change to a single, unitary approach is just a wild dream.  Anyone who is in business and has to deal with multiple unions knows this (hey, it’s that business background again).  Just go ask a CEO of an airline how difficult it is to negotiate with multiple unions.  Getting any one union to agree to anything is a problem, but getting two or more to agree is just plain impossible.  Nice idea, but no chance of getting it done.
• 16. I will fight pension abuse, starting with the removal of more than 300 political appointees who are a part of the pension system by virtue of being paid to attend monthly meetings of boards and commissions of which they are members.  This is one he actually might have a chance to accomplish.  The problem will be if those 300 political appointees are ones that the governor directly appoints.  If so, he could terminate their appointments and let them walk with the pension benefits they had accumulated up to that point only.  The one problem though, is if these people have been appointed by other entities, he will have no chance what so ever of getting rid of them.
• 17. I will increase fairness and reduce costs by bringing state public employee compensation and benefits back in line with employees who have defined contribution plans (such as federal government employees) by closing defined benefit plans for new employees, and replacing them with defined contribution plans.  Once again, big words, but until contract negotiations begin, the existing contracts remain in effect and he cannot change them.  When the time does come though for contract negotiations, why will this only apply to new employees?  Why not stand tough and make it mandatory for ALL employees!  This is a change that will bring labor in New Jersey into the real world, the one that the normal taxpayer lives in.  It is going to be very interesting to see that negotiation being done by a person who has never negotiated any labor contracts.  I wish him luck, he is going to need it!
• 18. I will eliminate pension and health benefits for all part-time employees and political appointees. Only full-time employees should qualify for a public pension.  Again, big words, but he can only eliminate those pension and health benefits for appointees that he appoints, not ones made by other people or agencies.  This is just another promise that has little if any value.
• 19. I will require all new state hires and state employee retirees to contribute to their health insurance costs. Big promises again, but again, open to current contracts provisions and not something he can just do overnight.  It would take time until contracts come up for renewal and will be subject to negotiations.  Plus, why is it only new state hires, and retirees?  How about the current employees? 
• 20. I will implement aggressive economic growth strategies via public-private partnerships like the “New Jersey Partnership for Action.” The Partnership for Action will save taxpayer dollars by consolidating Trenton’s many inefficient and ineffective fragmented economic development activities into one single agency.  Why do we need any of these economic development groups, strategies or an agency.  If a real business climate was developed in New Jersey, one that featured extremely low, or no corporate taxation, companies would be fighting each other to move to here!  Just look at states like Nevada, that have zero corporate taxes, their business growth is phenomenal!  This “promise” is nothing more than a smoke screen which would be like a shell game.  Move the pea around and then try and find it.  Here, move the activities around and see if anything changes. 

Well that wraps up another 10 of the 51 ways Chris Christie will fix New Jersey.  Right now, it looks like a lot of nothing and very little fixing.  But, we still have 31 more ways to investigate.  So stay tuned for the next episode of Chris “THE WHOPPER” Christie does New Jersey!

Hey Chris, you might have 51 ways to fix New Jersey, but don’t ever forget, “IT’S TAXES, STUPID!”

Chris Christie’s Ethics Problems

It might be a good idea for you folks to check this site out.  I think it will enlighten you in regards to Chris “Mr. Clean” Christie.

http://christieiscorrupt.com/

Before Christie makes promises to clean up Trenton, he should look at cleaning up his own place.

Hey Chris, and all of the idiots in Trenton, it would be nice if you kept your place clean of crap like this, but until we can get a wholesale change in November, never forget, “IT’S TAXES, STUPID”!

Chris Christie, from nothing to 51 ways to fix New Jersey in less than three months.

Back in January, Chris Christie was asked what his plans, ideas and views on the multitude of problems that face New Jersey.  At that time, Chris had no answers for any of those problems.  In fact, until only two weeks ago, Chris had very little of anything to say on how he would fix New Jersey.  All he was running on was his record as a federal prosecutor and his record on corruption. 

A few things have changed for Chris in the past couple of weeks.  His reputation as a politician free of ethical problems has now been challenged.  This I will go into detail at another time, but for now it is enough to make him rethink his current campaign strategy.  What has gotten me really thinking, is how can anyone, go from no ideas, to fifty-one (51) in less than three months.  He has been campaigning very hard, especially at the card-check county conventions.  I just don’t see how he had anytime to sit down and really think these issues through.  Since, I believe that is the case, let’s take a look at each one over the next posts:

1. I will change the way our state budgets its dollars by building our budget upward. I will first determine how much money we have, then determine our most important priorities, and then fund those top priorities. Less critical programs will have to wait.   Well, nothing new here!  Every other person who has run for or been elected has promised to do this.  Of course, Christie has no experience in governmental budgets, so I just don’t believe he is capable of keeping this promise since he has not record of doing it in the past.
2. I will stop the instant renewals of ineffective programs by ending the practice of providing automatic incremental budget increases across the board, or requiring across-the-board cuts in programs. Across the board increases and cuts are an inefficient method of deciding what programs deserve increases, decreases or funding at all. Wow, what a promise this is, but it sure is long, how about we take a shot at shorting it first.  In short, good programs would get more money, bad programs would get less or none, effectively killing them.  So, another promise like any other candidate who has run before.  Only problem is, never has done anything like this before.  Well, promises are cheap, accomplishments are what really counts.
3. I will insist that every spending program be placed on the table for discussion come budget time before it is funded. Golly gee, I hate to tell Christie this, but this is how all New Jersey budgets are made.  The Governor makes the original budget, than the Assembly and Senate, add, subtract, add, subtract, but in the end, manly add.  I guess he can keep this promise, since it already is being done.
4. I will make full use of my veto pen – the absolute veto, conditional veto, and line-item veto – to shape legislative and budget policy.  I guess like any child who would have new toys, he would like to use these veto powers.  The problem I again see, is that he has never used anything like this before.  Well, one can only hope that he would use them when he got to Trenton.
5.  I will rely only on recurring revenue to balance our state budget, not one-shot gimmicks like federal stimulus aid or other revenue unlikely to recur in future years.  Now, this sounds pretty good, except for one thing, he does not include borrowing to balance the budget, like previous governors have done, in-spite of the fact the constitution of the State of New Jersey only allows borrowing with approval of the voters.  I guess he does not think that is important enough for him.
6. I will save taxpayer dollars with an independently-elected State Auditor who will focus on annual audits of accounts and funds. Beyond the Auditor’s stricter accounting, the office will save additional tax dollars by combining the overlapping and ineffective efforts of political appointees like the State Auditor, Comptroller, State Commission of Investigation, and Inspectors General.  Now we are getting into some good stuff!  Here, he wants to create another taxpayer funded position, that will require staff, offices, outside contractors, etc.  Further, he wants to get rid of investigators, and inspectors.  Don’t you think it might be a better idea to get the people who are already being paid to do their job, rather than create a whole new bureaucracy?
7. I will run our state government like a business by having the State Auditor conduct regular performance reviews on all state programs, local governments and school districts to ensure they are performing their intended purpose with respect and care for tax dollars.  What is he really saying here?  First he says he will run the state government like a business, when he has no experience at all running any type of business.  Then he goes on to say he will give that task over to another person (the new bureaucracy he created) and they will go after local governments and local school districts.  Hell, most small towns and school districts would work better with less state government, not more!
8. I will recoup wasted taxpayer dollars by appointing a Special Prosecutor to conduct a thorough audit of government programs and will seek reimbursement of misspent funds until our State Auditor is in place.  You have to love lawyers!  No matter where they go, or what they do, they will always find something for their lawyer friends to do.  Once again, he wants to increase the size of government, without first holding accountable the people who are suppose to be doing this job!
9. I will increase accountability in our spending practices by barring private sector companies who misspend or overspend state funds from future state contracts until they provide restitution back to the state.  If I read this right, he wants the companies that currently do business with the state, to give the state it’s monies worth.  If not, the companies would not be allowed to do further business with the state.  Damn, what a rocket scientist statement! Of course, if he already had any idea of how a company work, no purchasing agent in his right mind would ever make another purchase, or give another contract to someone who had already screwed his company.  I guess Christie does not quite understand the statement he made in item #7. Oh, by the way, there is no such thing as a public sector company Chris, unless you are including GM, Chrysler, AIG and such. 
10. I will eliminate wasteful and inappropriate state purchases by appointing a “Taxpayer Advocate” in the Division of Purchase and Property to audit each and every government purchase order until our State Auditor is in place. No more $600 cellphones for state employees.  Once again, here Christie goes increasing the size of government!  He will hire a “Taxpayer Advocate” who will audit every purchase order.  Of course, the advocate will need a staff, offices, investigators, etc., etc., etc.  Let me give him one small piece of advise, and maybe save us a ton of money.  Why not promise just to fire anyone who buys $600 cellphones?  A real businessman would do that, without the need of an advocate!

Well, that is enough for this post.  Ten of the Fifty-one ways Chris Christie hopes to fix New Jersey, and the sense I get from them, is he wants to increase government, and run it like a business, in which he has not experience doing.  Well, I will get the next ten ways up soon, and maybe we can understand just what Christie is planning, I hope.

Well until next time kids, just remember, Chris Christie, and all of the idiots in Trenton, “IT’S TAXES, STUPID!”

 

A Question of Principles

In the past few weeks, it has once again been revealed that while he was the  United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Chris Christie  gave no-bid contracts to personal and business friends.   These were not just your run of the mill government contracts, but rather multimillion dollar contracts.  One of the contracts given out went to his former “boss” in the federal government, former Attorney General, John Ashcroft.  This contract was for $52 million dollars!  Another one went to an “old” friend’s law firm.  This contract was for over $3 million dollars. 

Although Ashcroft has not contributed, at least yet, to Chris Christie’s gubernatorial campaign, the “old” friend’s law firm partners have made the maximum contributions for themselves and also for their wives.  The old friend has also, along with his wife, made the maximum contribution too.  Now, because this occurred while he was working for the federal government , and the contract was given out before the contribution was made, it is not illegal under the Pay-to-Play laws.  In fact, I wish to now coin another phrase in politics though, the “Play-then-Pay” scheme.  Let me have the contract now, then later on, I will contribute to any political campaign you might enter in the future.   Sounds like the perfect way to get around the Pay-to-Play laws.

One problem I have had with the anointing of the savior, Chris Christie, by the Republican leadership in New Jersey, is the lack of insight into the man’s true feelings and principles.  Because of this, we have to dig into his past political positions and see how they compare with his more recent practises.  Well, one item jumps out like a stop light on the road of moral discipline.  Back when Chris Christie was a Morris County freeholder for two years (his only political position ever) his only real contribution was to place in effect a policy to require three bids on all county contracts, even no-bid contracts!  Since this was prior to his appointment as a U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, it shows that he flip flopped on his commitment to protect the interests of taxpayers.  if this is what he did when he was the top federal government lawman in the state.  If now  wnat to hide technical legalities to defend his actions, really calls into question his principles.  This I believe is a very disturbing look at the man who promises to “clean up Trenton”!

A radical idea

For awhile, I have been trying to think of ways that all levels of government in New Jersey could reduce the cost of government.  It has not been easy, but I do believe I have a solution that should greatly reduce costs.  The idea is what I call, “The Duplicity in Government Act”.  The idea is really simple, if a department, division, service or group is duplicated at any level of government, the ones that provide the least coverage are eliminated.  I will be posting some of the different groups that I fell should go over the next few weeks, so here is the first one I think we should deal with.

I live in Bergen County, New Jersey.  Bergen County, along with Union County are the only two counties with there own police departments.  Now, don’t get this confused with Sheriff’s departments, which each county has and are responsible for the county courts and jails.  No, these police departments are in addition to the Sheriff’s department.  I now I do know a fair amount about the Bergen County Police department, so I will give you some facts about them.  I am sure that the Union County department is organized along the same lines.

The Bergen County Police Department Headquarters is located in Hackensack.  It’s defined everyday responsibilities are patrolling Rts. 4 and 17.  They will on occasion set up truck checkpoints and might assist when a utility truck is working in the street, but what I have described is about all they do on a daily basis.  Now to be fair, they do have a K-9 unit and SWAT unit, but that is about it folks.

The reason I started here is because every thing they do is duplicated by another police department.  Let’s take the everyday items, patrolling the two major highways in Bergen County, truck checkpoints and utility truck protection (I will have more on this subject at a later date).  Every town that both Route 4 and Route 17 goes through has a police department.  Each town patrols them and responds to any emergencycalls.  Therefore, they are able to react quicker and with more knowledge due to their proximity to the area.  The Bergen County Police Department might react to an emergency call, but will almost always be the last one at the scene.  As far as truck checkpoints, the New Jersey State Police have mobile units, along with the Department of Motor Vehicle to carry out on the spot checkpoints.  Again, not a real reason to have the county police.  Finally, I really call into question this whole idea of having a police car and officer standing around while a utility crew is working on a pole or digging a hole.  All of these crews have cones, barriers and trucks with emergency lights, why do they also need a $100,000+ county police officer standing around?  I should have also warned you, yes, this police officers average more than $100,000 per year, along with all of the benefits like full medical, retirement after 20 years, etc.

One last thing to consider about the Bergen County Police Department, they have convinced the freeholders that they need a new headquarters.  This headquarters has been budgeted at about $60,000,000  and will located on River Road about a block away from the courthouse. 

So what am I trying to prove here?  Well, all of the “responsibilities” that the Bergen County Police Department say they have, are duplicated at other levels.  Street or highway patrol is also done, more effectively by the local town police.  Truck inspection is done by the State Police, why should Bergen County also do it?  SWAT team?  The State Police has multiple SWAT teams around the state that can respond very quickly.  K-9 police?  I don’t know about you, but to save a couple of million dollars, Fido can go.

Who is Chris Christie?

Who is Chris Christie?  What are his positions, ideas and plans for curing what plagues New Jersey?

If anyone has the answer, please contact me.  I sure would like to know.

 

To all the idiots in Trenton, maybe Chris “The Whopper” Christie might not have any plans, but the citizens of New Jersey have plans for you.  Come November, get your bags packed, because you are checking out.  But until then, don’t forget, “IT’S TAXES, STUPID!”

Update on School Prayer in New Jersey

Talk about a bunch of gutless wonders!  The United States Supreme Court latest decision not to hear the case of the football coach, at a New Jersey High School, who just wanted a moment of silent reflection before a game shows just how far to the left this country has turned!   What are these idiots thinking about?

Just last week we learned that the Wayne, New Jersey public school system has made special arrangements so Muslim children can interrupt class time and pray in school.  Of course no special arrangements have been for Catholic children.  Jewish children have not been given any special place to pray.  The Baptistchildren will just have to suck it up and not pray.  Protestant kids, not a chance at prayer.  Nope, just the Muslim children.

So here are the new rules for praying in the state of New Jersey.  If you are a coach of a sports team, you better not be found bowing your head to ask that the children under your leadership not be hurt while participating in athletic competition.   No matter what sport you are coaching, what values you are teaching or the spirit of achievement you are trying to instill into the youth under your tutelage will make no difference to us.  Just make sure you are not praying!

Of course, we do have a slightly different set of rules for the Muslim coaches.  If you are the coach of the local Al-Qaeda youth suicide squad, you can pray.  You can pray that your young bombers will kill as many of the infidels as possible.  You can pray that the result of these bombings will be the death of many woman and children.  You can pray that your “athletes” will be rewarded with their 72 virgins.  You can pray that your efforts will result in the extermination of all Jewish people. 

To all of the idiots in Trenton, why can’t at least one of you stand up and be heard on this issue?  Don’t one of you have a set of balls?  Well, just remember, come November, we are going to get rid of you cowards, but until then, don’t forget, “IT’S TAXES, STUPID!”

A True Judas, Mike Halfacre

Mayor Mike Halfacre of Fair Haven, NJ, a small piss ant community in Monmouth County, today came out and endorsed Chris “Cupcake” Christie for the Republican nominationfor governor.  This in spite of his claim to be a Steve Lonegan supporter.  His excuse is that Steve is not “electable”.  Most likely this change of position has more to do with his rumored run for the US House of Representatives in 2010, than any true belief that the Cupcake is deserving of the nomination.  The following is my response to Halfacre’s endorsement statement:

 

Mike Halfacre, paraphrasing a line made famous by Lloyd Bentsen, “I knew Ronald Reagan, and sir, Chris Christie is no Ronald Reagan”.  Ronald Reagan was a man of principle, which you have proven, in this statement to be devoid of.  Conservatives might disagree on execution, but never do they compromise on principle.

 

Let’s set a few facts straight, the Republican Party in New Jerseyis infested with RINOs.  One only has to look at the past three republican governors of this state to see what the leadership of the party considers “worthy” candidates.  But, when the first time in forty (40) year the party could have tried to elect a true conservative, we saw exactly how the leadership of the party responded in 2001.  Rather than closing around and devoting all possible resources to insuring the election of Bret D. Schundler, the leadership chooses to take their ball and go home.  What an outstanding example of “rallying the party”.

 

Chris Christie’s positions in 1994 very much have to be considered in determining if he is worthy of being the candidate for governor, of the Republican Party.  What should we judge his character on sir?  His history of be a candidate in this state is in the time period of 1994 in which case his party affiliation was one of convenience not principle. Judging him based on his past history, instead of trying to compare him to Ronald Reagan, a comparison to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg would be more appropriate.

 

A fair amount of your endorsement statement covers the “positions” that Chris Christie has taken on the issues.  The common word on all of the issues is promise.  Sir, my I ask a question, where is the word accomplished? Except for his accomplishments in the area of corruption, he does not have any accomplishments in the areas you mention.

 

In the one area that he has accomplishments, corruption, he is a very qualified prosecutor, but sir, how does this qualify him for governor?  Unless he plans to directly control the Office of the Attorney General of the state, it does not really matter. As far as crime fighting, since he was a federal prosecutor, we have to evaluate his enforcement of the laws at a federal level.  Let’s start with illegal immigration.  Christie had one of the poorest records on prosecution of illegal immigrants; between 2002 and 2007, Mr. Christie’s office caught and deported all of 13 illegal immigrants.  This record can only be called abysmal.  In a state where it has been conservatively estimated that 500,000 illegal immigrants reside (6% of the current population of the state), he could only find 13?   In a state were we have cities declaring that they are “sanctuary” cities.     

 

How about his record on the civil rights?  How about his record on the first amendment?  How about defending citizens who are peacefully protesting their governments’ proposals as the constitution of this great country guarantees?  I think you know where I am heading with this, so I will go no further except to say Christie’s silence spoke volumes on the subject.

 

One thing that a person can never have enough of sir is principles.  Once one starts to compromise on them, one will always find it very easy to just say; “Just this one time”.  Soon this attitude becomes, “we had to do it this way”.  Finally we wind up with the classic, “it was all we could do”.  No, this is why one can never steer from the true path of ones convictions.  The argument that “it is the reality of winning elections” is not just lame, but shows how the Republican Party is not raising to the challenge of this election in the belief it can offer the citizens a better government, but lowering itself to the level of the opposition in the hopes it can at least meet the mediocrity of the Democratic Party.  What a sorry excuse for favoring one candidate over another.

 

Steve Lonegan has been the only voice in the New Jersey Republican Party that has over the last eight years maintained the high principles of conservative reason that Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater held so dear.  He never compromised on those principles in his many confrontations with those politicians who wished to impose their “ideals” on the citizens of this state.  It was also very convenient for most of the elected leadership of the Republican Party in the state to coattail themselves to his leadership.  His victories against the current governor of this state reflect the fact that people will back him.  This is obviously a fact that both you and leadership of the party have either overlooked or are afraid of.  The old, “damn he was right, and we were wrong”!

 

In conclusion, winning with Chris Christie will not be winning; it will be nothing more than another compromise.  As far as you being a “Lonegan Shill”, don’t worry about it, we won’t pin that label on you anymore, promise.  Of course, in reflection, the name Judas does have a nice ring.