The Company We Keep

Speaking on the subject of politicians in general and Doug Forrester in particular, our Junior (well, in terms of this tenure, anyway) Embarrassment, Frank Lautenberg, asserted that the electorate should judge us – and him – "... by the things they say and the company they keep ..."
Fair enough. Let’s go there.

First, let’s see how New Jersey’s Senators fare when representing the State’s interest in the Senate.

New Jersey – being a "wealthy" state – benefits disproportionately from the Bush tax cuts: on average, every New Jersey filer received a tax cut of almost $4000, second only to Connecticut. Jon Corzine – inexplicably – voted against these tax cuts. He strongly hints that he favors outright repeal. THAT – or even the suggestion that the so-called tax cuts for the "wealthy" ("wealthy (n): people who live in New Jersey") – would be an unmitigated disaster for New Jersey. And for our next governor, too. If JC gets elected Governor, given the massive spending increases he envisions for state government, he’d better pray that his successor displays more parochialism – wanting to keep New Jersey dollars here – than has he.

(In a sense, there’s a certain refreshing generosity displayed by the Democrats who "represent" us in Washington. Both Senators, and virtually the entire Dem Congressional delegation, routinely vote to tax the stuffing out of New Jersey residents and send the money to Louisiana and Wyoming. It’s a curious phenomenon; I call it "economic masochism", somewhat akin to Morris County residents voting to send Democrats to Trenton. Washington sees New Jersey as a piggy bank, to be tapped for programs in Arizona. Trenton views Morris County as an ATM for Sharpe James and his Newark cronies. In each case, the people’s economic self interest is clearly better served by electing Republicans.)

So, judge us by what we say: if you believe that New Jersey’s interest are best served by sending tens of billions more to Washington every year, to be spent in Arkansas, Corzine’s your guy.

Then, judge us by those with whom we associate. So, Senator Lautenberg doesn’t care for Dick Cheney or Karl Rove. He’s entitled to his view. But, consider: how many Dem bigwigs are doing time, have resigned in disgrace, or are high on Chris Christie’s to do list? Jim McGreevey, Robert Kushner, and Bob Torricelli are merely the smallest tip of the iceberg. Bosses? Think Norcross. Corruption? Think Hudson and Camden County. And consider that many of the greatest outrages are not crimes; far too many (primarily urban) Democrats seem to be doing very well for themselves on the public nickel, thank you very much, receiving plum contracts for themselves, friends, family, and cronies.

Governor Codey receives media (and popular) kudos for identifying problems, such as runaway pension and health care costs; it’s considered "courageous" to admit the existence of these fiscal tyrannosaurs. And, yet, for all the hype, he’s done precisely zip to solve the problems. The only part of the budget to take a substantive hit this year was that which benefitted property tax payers. The Dems, again, did precisely nothing to address exploding property taxes in the last four year, preferring to distract popular attention with a phony tax-shift convention specifically engineered to fail in the unlikely event it ever actually convenes.

So, Senator, challenge accepted.

Forrester should expressly and unequivocally embrace Bush’s economic policies, contending that same have been a Godsend for New Jersey. Contrariwise, you should expressly and unequivocally advocate a $4000 tax hike for every New Jersey taxpayer, the money for which would be sent to Mississippi.

In addition, we’re "stuck" with Cheney and Rove. Your Party, on the other hand, embraces the McGreevey legacy. You should run ads on how proud you are to be the Party of Torricelli, of James, of Norcross. You take full credit for the explosion in state taxes and spending. You accept full responsibility for the utter absence of any property tax relief/reform programs enacted over the course of the past four years.

Oh, and you honestly tell the people that we need to pay 12.5 cents more per gallon in gas taxes. Not abiding a lame duck session of the Legislature, but RIGHT NOW.

Yes, politicians SHOULD be judged by the policies we advocate, the record we make, and the people with whom we associate.