Democrats Now Control N.J. Legislature

Yahoo ^ | 11/5/03 | JOHN P. McALPIN

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

TRENTON, N.J. - After two years of sharing power with Republicans in the state Senate, Democrats won control of the Legislature on Tuesday, ending talk that Gov. James E. McGreevey's unpopularity would sink the party.

Republicans tried to turn Tuesday's elections into a referendum on McGreevey's turbulent two years in office. Instead the GOP lost its leader in the Legislature to a political newcomer while Democrats won control of the Senate and widened their slim margin in the Assembly.

Democrats broke a five-decade tradition where the governor's party has lost seats in the midterm elections.

"It speaks volumes about this misplaced strategy of attacking the governor personally," McGreevey spokesman Micah Rasmussen said.

Republican Senate President John O. Bennett, the subject of a series of newspaper articles questioning his ethics, conceded his race to Democrat Ellen Karcher, ending his two decades in the Senate.

Both parties were seeking to end the unprecedented 20-20 split in the Senate and gain control of the 80-member state Assembly. After a series of defections from the Democratic Party, the Assembly consists of 41 Democrats, 38 Republicans and one Green Party member.

With one Senate race undecided, Democrats led 21 to 18 in the Senate and 47 to 33 in the Assembly.

In recent polls, a record 61 percent of voters said they disapprove of McGreevey's performance. But the Democratic victories could boost his chances for re-election in 2005.

[Huck]

It just reminds me of the NJ Supremos debacle, when outsider conservatives took apparant delight in trashing NJ. I guess when the USA elected Clinton TWICE, we should have all shrugged our shoulders and said that the USA is "down the liberal toilet" and "hopeless." But we didn't. I guess after 40 something years of Dim-controlled Congress, we should have said the USA is hopeless, but we didn't. I guess after a 50 year leftist stranglehold on the news media outlets, we should have said the USA is hopeless. But we didn't.

Likewise, I don't believe that New Jersey, or California, or hell, even Massachussetts is hopeless. That's a crock, and the people who like to throw insults at NJ can kiss my ass. How do you like me now?

[Huck]

Murray Hill is south of me quite a ways. That's central Jersey. Not a bad area out that way. It's Union County I believe, western Union County, not far from Summit, Berkley Heights area. Expensive nowadays. I am about 50 miles north of there.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

N.J. will soon join California on the brink of default.

What??? California has been "saved" by the Alpha RINO. No defaulting is going to happen because of mismanagement in a crisis.

At least that is what the RNC minions out here are saying..."Get ready for a surprise..." *boom*

[Huck]

Incidentally, speaking of the South, my mother grew up in Alabama (turned out to be a liberal, though.) Her ma--my grandma, who was a huge influence on me--grew up in Mississippi, and is buried there, just outside of Meridian. She was conservative, in a very natural, organic way, i.e., she didn't follow politics or know who Murry Rothbard is or any of that sort of thing, she just lived a conservative life intuitively. Great influence on me. I almost relocated to Alabama in my mid-20s, but decided to stick it out here.

[Theodore R.]

That's the point, a RINO would rather lose to a Democrat than to win with conservatives. For example, former TN Governor Sundquist

[Theodore R.]

Yea, the Democrats want 51 cents on the dollar, but the Republicans, say, "Hey, vote for us, we'll settle for the other 49 cents on the dollar!"

[Constitutional Patriot]

It really makes no difference at the state level in NJ...they are all left wing and/or totally corrupt. NJ needs to be investigated, and soon. The state is rapidly becoming a third world country.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I own a commercial property in Hudson Cty... My tax bill reflects an 8% increase from mayor Joe Doria, former leader of the Assembly for years, who promised big cuts in city spending. A $900 increase in one shot. Ouch.

They are spending so much that they sold the city wayer dept and are trying to sell the sewer(?) dept.

Also, he has blown millions of rent revenue from the leasing of areas of the Military Ocean Terminal, which was closed 3 years ago.

I expect things to get worse.

[chimera]

Don't be concerned with how I or anyone (outside of your loved ones) like you. That's of relatively little import, especially for internet forums.

Just based on the results of the past election, I'd say the folks in Jersey better get ready of a new round of taxes. Hope they like them, because they're gonna get them. One thing you can rely on is that when 'Rats run the show, taxes go up.

Given your response, I take it that you don't think much of the 51st state idea? I wonder what would really happen if a region of a state, dramatically distinct in demographics and political philosophy from the rest of the state, would take such an action. Would the governor call out the national guard or state police to quell the rebellion?

[Constitutional Patriot]

"They deserve the mess they vote for. Enjoy, Jersey."

The problem in Jersey is that almost nobody (except for the ultra politically active) votes in these midterm elections. This is why NJ is such a mess. It's difficult to motivate people to vote when they don't even know who the candidates are.

In NJ, incumbants prefer to be unknown so that voters have a more difficult time getting rid of them on election day.

It's a really sick situation.

[Huck]

New Jersey's a small enough state as it is. Densely populated, but small. I just don't see a 51st state idea as feasible. We'd sooner be able to disenfranchise idiots.

[Huck]

And I take your point about concern for what others think, but it isn't what they think of ME that got under my skin. I just don't think a gratuitious attack on my home state from someone who should be a political ally is helpful, and it needn't go unanswered. It's a bullshit thing to do, and I have no problem saying so. It helps nothing.

[laconic]

What you need to do in Sussex County is to ensure there are NO MORE INTERSTATES making it easy for people to move there from NY City and to bring their manners and politics with them. Its like Central NJ used to be like up there, only more hilly; just beautiful.

[chimera]

Hmmm. Okay, then. Maybe some kind of political disownment would work. When I lived there I often thought it would be a pretty good place (politically speaking) if maybe Trenton and Camden could be palmed off on PA, and maybe section off Newark and Elizabeth and slip those into NY. That would leave some pretty decent areas left to build on. NY probably wouldn't notice (they've got enough idiots there now, so a few more wouldn't matter), but it might pi$$ off some good folks in PA to be stuck with Trenton and Camden (kind of like West Germany having to absorb the Eastern zone).

Hey, I just goofing with you. It's true, sometimes it's best to hold out hope. Schundler got elected in Jersey City, of all places, and made a difference there. Maybe we're too quick to lose hope (I know I am).

[agrace]

Wantage area looks GREAT, even better than Vernon for sure. I've looked at a number of houses in that area online (realtor.com - an addiction these days) and unfortunately we determined a long time ago that it is a little too far for my husband to commute. We're waffling on Vernon simply because the top of that mountain looks a little daunting with winter coming. Some of those steep windy roads up there - sheesh.

Totally different atmosphere is right. Like you're not even in NJ anymore. Demographically, I guess you're not.

[Huck]

I think they already have pretty good anti-sprawl things going up here. Larger lot requirements, and the like. We have no interstates up here. You have to go to Rt 84 in NY or 30 miles south to Rt 80 to find an interstate. Mostly two laners and county roads.

[agrace]

I voted. So did my husband. And I took my six year old daughter with me, as I have done for every election since 2000.

It kills me that people don't vote in local/interim elections - you'd think that they would be MORE interested in what happens in their backyards than even on a national level.

I certainly am. My property taxes are high enough.

[Huck]

There are some Colorado style steep climbs up there in Vernon. Wantage to Parsipanny is my commute. My wife and I drive to work together. It's 35 miles, takes an hour and change in school season, 50 minutes when school is out. We get more snow for sure than the other counties. It's a trade off. You get lower prices, more room, nice views, animals, scenery, nice people, nice demographics. Longer drive. But you know, in rural areas, most everything is gonna be a long drive. How many miles to wal mart? It's 12 miles for me.

[Huck]

Schundler got elected in Jersey City, of all places, and made a difference there. Maybe we're too quick to lose hope (I know I am).

And he got more than 4 out of 10 votes in the general, even with a large contingent of DEFEATIST resident GOPers. I contributed to his campaign. I think it was something to build on. If we can just sway more people to come out and vote, not give up on NJ, and take the state back county by county. I don't know. We have to try.

[Ron in Acreage]

Good for them. They get what they want now. Higher taxes, more regulations etc. They want the Bush tax repealed, so instead they'll raise them at the state level just to make them feel good. I'm so happy for them.