Hey, I hear you. I am a NJ ex-patriot from the once-Republican central Jersey suburbs, and it breaks my heart to see what has happened to my home state. I have lost my NJ connections since my Mom passed away and we sold her place down the shore. Apart from the urban jungles, it's a nice place and has some good people.
Ever thought about a 51st state movement? They had one of those going for awhile in South Jersey, until the demographics (immigration) changed it. The State of West New Jersey might have some appeal, especially if you can drop the excess baggage of Newark and Elizabeth and Camden and Trenton.
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?