Posted on 11/11/2005 9:46:45 AM PST by dead
DEMOCRATS IN New Jersey have a big problem.
Sure, Sen. Jon Corzine’s easy election as governor on Tuesday was their latest win in the increasingly blue state.
But Corzine’s first decision when he takes office in January is a real doozy — appointing a Democrat to fill the last 11 months of his term and likely run for a full six-year term next November.
But most of the obvious choices reek of political hackery, even by Jersey standards. U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez, most often mentioned, is weighed down by ties to machine politics. And the others — South Jersey U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, and acting governor Richard Codey — are seriously lacking in star power.
In fact, you could say that Corzine’s choice is like a highway jammed with broken heroes on a last-chance power drive.
Any of them would have a tough time defeating the up-and-coming golden boy of Garden State politics with that unbeatable family name, Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., the ex-governor’s son.
Nationally, the Dems must hold New Jersey if they have any hope of regaining the Senate, but to do that they will need to find someone from outside the bland political tried-and-true.
New Jersey’s new senator should be — and could be — a person who has demonstrated, over a lifetime, a commitment to social causes and to those in need.
Corzine can choose a person who advocates causes that are unpopular but just — someone who spoke out, for example, in favor of the Dixie Chicks and free speech on the eve of the Iraq war.
In January, Corzine could pick someone whose compassion for the victims and survivors of 9/11 is unparalleled, yet who realized the insanity of the Iraq war from Day One, and was not afraid to risk his considerable reputation in opposing it.
Yes, he’d be another millionaire — but a self-made one, someone who can speak to blue-collar voters and can relate to minorities, in spite of his own personal success.
Corzine should appoint Bruce Springsteen to the U.S. States Senate.
Crazy? No more so than an Austrian-born action-film star running California, a pro wrestler in Minnesota’s statehouse, or an Irish rocker in line for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The downside is small. In fact, most politicians should want their personal life as clean as that of Springsteen, who says he’s never used drugs and whose one “mistake” in life — quickly jettisoning a first marriage to raise a family with the woman he truly loved — isn’t much of a mistake.
In 1992, a group of Ross Perot acolytes urged Springsteen to run for the Senate as an outsider. The Boss laughed it off. But a lot has changed in the last 13 years.
Back then, he was a musical artist wary of being co-opted by any politician. But in 2004, he was one of a handful of folks who — sizing up the threat posed by four more years of President Bush to the country he loves — stepped up to the plate, or, as he might say, tried to make it on a stand.
And now, at age 56, with his musical legacy established and his own kids growing up, he might be convinced to stake out a new direction, for the good of the U.S.A.
This time, Bruce, don’t let the screen door slam.
I just think it’s a hoot that the Democrats have selected a high-school dropout, who has lived the pampered life of a rock star since Richard Nixon was president, as their “intellectual everyman” champion.
I heard he spent 10 million on this campaign to become Gov.
I have to wonder if the 'kickbacks' in the Senate wasn't enough for him so he thought if he was gov of nj he would get more back handed dough????
AND don't forget, his gal pal the head of the 9,000 member union there is forking over anything and everything, guess she couldn't do that with him in D.C.
bunch is a total moron. my iq drops 5 points each time i read an article from him.
I saw Bruce in Philly Wednesday. Amazing show, one of his best ever. He "shut up and sang" too, not a peep about politics except a tiny plug for a local food bank and a comment on the need for a "humane immigration policy" to help migrant farm workers. I think he has gone back to the music now and is not interested in politics.
Pingaling!
He spent way more than $10m Million. In 2000, to become Senator, he spent more than $60 million.
Another long shot possiblity is Donna Dee Thomases, that "everyday stay at home mom" who, legend has it, was horrified by school shootings she saw on television so she organized the Million Mom March. Just a caring apolitical mom.
Of course, she's none of that. She's the sister-in-law of Susan Thomases (political operative, television producer and one of Hillary's best friends.) Donna is also a New York City PR woman who's worked for Dan Rather. And a former senate aide for Democrats, Russell Long and Bennett Johnston.
As a politician who is full of shit from top to bottom, she'd fit right in with the national Democratic Party, and the New Jersey machine even more.
Hey, why not? You've already got a Klansman, the Cape Cod orca, an Osama Bin Laden groupie in tennis shoes, the witches of Maine, a flip-flopping Vietnam Walter Mitty, a Scottish legislator, a California dwarf who stands on phone books to spew bile, a Nazi and Soviet war crimes expert, and a mulitiple count felon whose partner in crime is also a rapist. How bad would it be to add a singer from Asbury Park to that august collection?
It's a lock. He was born to run, after all.
Can that really be over 20 years ago?
Given Corzine's ethics and morality, the logical appointment would be Torriccelli.
That would be the reported, legal, direct portion.
WTF.
Unlike Schwarzennegger, at least Bruce was BORN IN THE USA, and although he may be a tramp like us, baby he was born to run.
(many apologies to all, feel free to hit the abuse button.)
If they really want a fictional character like Springsteen, why not just select Tony Soprano.
I think my vision of a "clown candidate" for major public office in New Jersey is getting closer to reality!
Piscopo vs. Springsteen!
Since his total service in the Senate will only be five years by the time he leaves, I've estimated that it cost him about $37,000 per day to be a U.S. Senator.
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