Posted on 11/14/2005 5:50:52 PM PST by Cagey
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Make us a slogan we can't refuse, the state of New Jersey said. We got your slogan right here, the people replied.
A push to come up with a new slogan for the Garden State has become an excuse to crack New Jersey jokes. Among the not-so-serious entries:
"New Jersey: You Got a Problem With That?"
"NJ: How You Doin'?!"
"Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted."
The search yielded more than 4,000 possibilities in all, many of them attempts to sum up the land of Bruce Springsteen, "The Sopranos" and smelly interstates in one pithy phrase. The deadline for submissions was Monday.
The program began last month after acting Gov. Richard J. Codey rejected a consultant's recommendation -- "New Jersey: We'll Win You Over" -- as too negative. That slogan, developed as part of a $260,000 contract by global image consultants Lippincott Mercer, was shelved a day before it was to be unveiled.
Instead, the state opened the process to the public, establishing a Web site and telephone hot line to receive suggestions, which included the lyrical ("The Ocean, The Motion, The Magic") along with the satirical.
New Jersey, which once used "New Jersey and You: Perfect Together," has not had a new marketing slogan in four years. "Get Away, Without Going Far Away" has been used in the interim, but tourism officials say it does not resonate with out-of-staters.
"We have the opportunity to craft a new message for our tourist literature to reflect the pride we have in our many parks, open spaces, farmlands, quaint villages, boardwalks and beaches and our exciting cities," Codey implored would-be slogan writers on the Web site.
The governor and the state Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission will "pare down the suggestions and go from there," said Karen Wolfe, a commission spokeswoman.
The state's musical legacy -- Frank Sinatra called New Jersey home, Springsteen still does -- led one person to suggest "From Ol' Blue Eyes to the Boss: Jersey Is Singing Your Song." Another entry: "Born to Fun."
Others found New Jersey's reputation for mobsters, toxic waste sites and lowbrow taste fair game. "Bada Bing! Choose New Jersey" was one suggestion.
The campaign was run by the state, but newspaper columnists, talk radio and "Saturday Night Live" got into the spirit, too. "New Jersey: It Always Smells Like This," one Philadelphia Inquirer reader suggested. "New Jersey: Come Glow With Us," another said.
Tory in the Revolution
Copperhead in the Civil War...
New Jersey...Where winners come from
Two great suggestions, Vision! In NJ, "diversity" means acting like France.
Battle of Monmouth - turning point in the Revolutionary War.
New Jersey
Where's Mine???
Ya got a problem wid' dat'
Not on "America", but the federal government is a nanny state - but not quite as much as New Jersey (smoking bans, seat belt laws, cell phone while driving laws, etc. etc.) Just look at what happened when those kids got stuck in the trunk of a 10-year old car - the next day you had NJ state reps proposing a law requiring latches inside of car trunks. A freak accident occurs, and they are ready to impose costly measures on every citizen, just to make themselves appear as if they are "doing something".
Who's your nanny?
I'm my own nanny (although my wife thinks she's my nanny...)
Your president GWB bought seniors all their drugs with our money.
He's not "your" president? What country are you from? I don't think it "bought" him any senior votes - seniors don't like the drug plan - it's too confusing.
Or are you just full of crap?
Nope - I'm not from Jersey.
New Jersy Proposes Public Smoking Ban
New Jersey Legislator Wants to Ban Smoking in Your Car
New Jersey Striped Bass Ban
New Jersey Bans Breeding of Hybrid Birds (hybrid birds for cripes sake!)
New Jersey Senate passes bill to ban firms from moving abroad
N.J. to Ban Junk Food From Schools
New Jersey Proposes Ban on Offshore Outsourcing
Ban, ban, ban...
NJ: Our Governor is married to a woman! with children - and gay!
There's nothing he won't do!
NJ - "We'll even pump your gas for you..."
NJ: If you can imagine it, we can regulate it!
Earth to Huck (and NJ generally): You can't beat anyone's behind on the Web, nor can you say something face to face. Step into the 21st century, and out of Teapot Dome West.
New Jersey: Home of One of the Next Dylans!
Huck, we know how to count ballots! W won! Didn't he! A little thing called the Florida Constitution worked! And, Jersey still stinks!
That is going to leave a mark.
LOLOL
Jersey: The Armpit of America.
Baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
Not a lot of state songs with the word suicide...
"You've Got A Friend in Pennsylvania. Go There!"
New Jersey: Right Next Door to Two Great States!
Patrick Henry: I regret I have but one life to give ...
NJ: I regret I have but one bribe to give ...
The Garden Snakes
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