Posted on 03/26/2006 11:44:54 AM PST by ncountylee
I understand your viewpoint, but I think you're being overly cynical. In a few months, a lot of people who reluctantly voted for Corzine will regret their choice and take it out on Menendez.
Besides, there is more at stake for conservatives in a Federal race than a state race. The Governor's race had little effect outside of New Jersey, itself. But in the U.S. Senate, there are judicial confirmations, national security issues, government entitlements, and other things which effect the nation as a whole. A lot of conservatives who dislike Kean will reluctantly but surely support his candidacy for those reasons.
You should reconsider your decision. There is a lot more at stake than Thomas Kean, Jr. himself.
EXACTLY!!! Why does it seem like you're the only other one besides me on here who gets this point?
I'm appalled by some of the posts I'm reading on this thread. If NJ Freepers want to vote against Kean or not vote at all, they should shut the hell up after Menendez wins, and not complain about the leftist policy he helps promote, because these people will have directly taken a part in continuing the problem.
Who cares if Kean didn't show up with the VP? Anyone who understands basic politics knows that it's a dumb idea to show up with a horribly-rated President or VP in a state that despises the guys right before an election period. Santorum met with Bush yesterday, watch what happens to his poll rating in PA over the next couple of days. I don't agree with Kean on all of the issues, he may be a "RINO" on some things, but he's no Corzine/Menendez.
Jon Corzine NEEDS the stress, otherwise he cannot function.
The upside is, that given enough stress, the function will end more quickly, as he realizes that he has just burned himself out, and he goes into an implosion, effectively vastly limiting the scope of mischief he can create.
Just like that billionaire heiress from Martha's Vineyard.
If you think Tom Kean is worse than Olympia Snowe, I suggest re-evaluating Snowe's viewpoints and votes. Compared to Snowe, Kean is like Rick Santorum.
You said it right. The NJ GOP isn't going to be able to elect a Ronald Reagan. If it is lucky enough to be able to even prevail in NJ, the candidate will have to be a moderate on some issues. So NJ conservatives have a choice, you can either vote for someone fiscally conservative, a hawk on foreign policy, or you can be stuck with a tax and spend lying liberal.
I will be boting for the first time this November and although I consider myself a Reaganite, I will be pulling the lever for Tom Kean.
I personally believe that a lot of these people in New Jersey will change their minds as time passes. They need to let off some steam, which is understandable under the circimstances.
When you think of it, the only good reason to support Kean is his opposition. But under the present circumstances, that's enough.
I respect your opinion but disagree.
As I said, I understand that only a "moderate" Republican is likely to win NJ.
But all "moderates" are not the same. Olympia Snowe is a "moderate", but she still supports the President and isn't afraid to say it. By contrast, Lincoln Chafee couldn't bring himself to vote for George W Bush in 2004.
The key question for me is whether Kean Jr. is another Olympia Snowe, or another Lincoln Chafee. His stunt last week (lying and claiming that traffic kept him from being at the fundraiser with Cheney, when the NJ newspapers documented that there was no traffic that night) demonstrates that Kean Jr. is a wimpy RINO that won't support the President. It also demonstrates that he is a liar who doesn't have moral character or integrity.
"If you think Tom Kean is worse than Olympia Snowe, I suggest re-evaluating Snowe's viewpoints and votes. Compared to Snowe, Kean is like Rick Santorum."
My point is about character and integrity. Kean Jr.'s stunt last week showed him to be a lying wimp.
I don't feel that the current candidate deserves my vote. A spine would be nice!
"Doesn't Bob Menendez control a democrat criminal political machine?"
Control is an overstatement. He's an influential member of it. It's important that he be unseated this year, even if his opponent is less than ideal.
Well said! A wimp without a spine!
I think some people on this board are simply too stubborn, and take things too personally when a candidate makes a calculated decision to help their chances of winning. Kean has no chance- I repeat, no chance- of winning this election if he associates himself with one of the lowest rated VPs of all time, and a President whose approval rating continues to drop (especially here). It's common sense to avoid a plague in a political election cycle.
Don't take things so personally. Would you rather have a punk like Menendez being a proxy mouthpiece for a punk like Corzine for the next four years, or would you rather at least have a Republican in there mitigating Corzine's power? This is common sense, but some people take things so personally, that common sense disappears in favor of a personal vendetta.
"Governor Corzine promised to reinvent government," said New Jersey Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson. "But all he did was reinvent the Florio plan -- raise taxes and spend more."
I remember Florio. He was basically run out of office.
That logic is very Clintonian.
I'd rather lose than have to win through dishonesty.
Kean Jr. is a lying wimpy RINO that is not fit for office. I won't consider voting for him until he apologies for his lies about "traffic" keeping him from the Cheney fundraiser.
I'd rather lose than have to win through dishonesty.
Kean Jr. is a lying wimpy RINO that is not fit for office. I won't consider voting for him until he apologies for his lies about "traffic" keeping him from the Cheney fundraiser.
I agree. It is very Clintonian. And last I checked, Clinton won every election he ran in after becoming Governor of Arkansas, and he managed to win an election after 3 straight Republican Presidential victories. Sometimes, Clintonian works.
But,I suppose some people will let their stubborn vendettas get to them even over common sense. Enjoy your new full-time Senator, Robert Menendez, this November. I'm sure your dislike of Tom Kean because he didn't show up to visit a horribly rating Vice President will pay off quite well when Menendez wins.
Just do yourself a favor, then, and at least don't complain when Menendez starts promoting stupid policy in the Senate after November. You'll have consciously and directly made a decision not to try to stop the guy from winning the election, so you aren't going to be in much of a position to complain.
Fine, then don't show up with the VP. But come out and say that you're not showing up because Cheney's poll numbers suck. Don't come out and lie about non-existent traffic as being the reason you blew off your appearance with Cheney. If Kean's so spineless and stupid (for coming up with a "dog ate my homework" excuse like that) that he'll lie about a camapign event, how can you trust him when he has to actually make a decision in the Senate?
Oh yeah, and don't stamp your feet and cry if Bush or Cheney refuse to do future fund raisers for you, either.
I think Kean is more in the mold of Arlen Specter or John McCain. He is certainly not a Chafee or a Hagel, I have met the man and from what I can tell he is not. His ideology is similar to Rudy Giuliani's.
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