Proving once again that there is really no opposition party in New Jersey, former Republican Congressman Robert Franks has signed on to help Corzine sell his massive borrowing, spending and toll raising plan. Franks was Corzine's opponent for US Senate in 2000.
In their 2000 race for Senate, Corzine portrayed Franks as an idelogical clone of Newt Gingrinch and as a opponent to a woman's right to abortion. Franks is pro-choice.
Franks, a two time NJ GOP chairman, attacked Corzine's credibility because he wouldn't release his tax returns and disclose his charitable donations. When Corzine finally released his records, it was revealed that he had given hundreds of thousands of dollars to groups whose leaders or sponsors later endorsed him.
Posts
13 comments:
Did you know that franks and corzine attend the same church?
I know that they did. I'm not aware that they still do, since Corzine has moved to Hoboken.
What???A Democrat that attends church? Holy Smokes...how does that happen?
So what if they attend church together.
Even Art has seen some good in the plan and the toll hikes are gradual...over 75 years...very few people alive today will see the end result, and maybe, just maybe, it will get us out of the mammoth hole we're in. Has anyone else even come up with a different plan? Has any Republican stepped up to put forth their own? Its so easy to condemn, but a lot harder to delve into it and admit that there are some good points.
ambrosiajr said...
Even Art has seen some good in the plan ...
Yes, I'm all for freezing spending and cutting the bugdet. Do I think that will happen? No. I hope it does, but recent history shows that that part of the plan will probably be dealt away.
Selling the toll roads to extend to problem over 75 years? No thanks. Corzine is pushing the problem off on others...out of staters and commercial users(those who delivery our goods) of the roads, and our grandchildren's grandchilden.
Has any Republican stepped up to put forth their own?
Yes, several have. Bret Schundler, Steve Lonegan and Paul DiGaetano amongst them. Unfortunately, neither of these men got the Republican nomination for Governor in 2005, as the Republican establishment prefered to keep riding the Trenton gravy train to fixing the out of control spending and borrowing.
Corzine is giving us a fix that let's the gravy keep running.
Oh yeah...I can just imagine what Schundler and Lonegan have said...geeshh Art, they don't live in the real world. They live in the world of Uber-Conservatism, which will never work here in NJ no matter what happens.
To cut the spending, you will have to cut the workforce, which will tank our fragile economy. Do you really think that any politician would want to tell workers with families that they are now going on unemployment? Freeze the workforce...yes...cut it...not gonna happen. I commute everyday to North Jersey for work, so I will be directly impacted by higher tolls...but I have to realize that something has to be done and its not too bad to spread it around a bit...I will pay my share to try and get the rest of the state righted. Its a small price to pay.
Who knows...I've been delusional before.
Rick,
Our economy is fragile because the workforce is bloated and the government is sucking too much out of it. The governor's privatization scheme will make it worse, much worse.
State spending has gone from $16 billion to $33.5 billion in 10 years.
Pennsylvania, has over 12 million residents with a budget of $27 billion, compared to our $33.5 billion and 8 million residents.
Schundler's proposal was to cap government spending at the rate of inflation and to pay down the debt with increasing revenues from a growing economy. That is not crazy or uber conservative.
ambrosiajr said
"To cut the spending, you will have to cut the workforce, which will tank our fragile economy. Do you really think that any politician would want to tell workers with families that they are now going on unemployment?"
Spoken like a true liberal Democrat.
I have always said a major difference between Liberals and conservatives is that Conservatives tend to look at the impact on society as a whole with regard to issues and Liberals tend to look at the impact on individuals.
I think the Broader view is more appropriate and therfore I am a conservative. Rather then look at the impact on maybe thousands of public employees lets look at the impact on million of NJ residents if the state continues in the direction it has been going for the last 10 years.
I have always said a major difference between Liberals and conservatives is that Conservatives tend to look at the impact on society as a whole with regard to issues and Liberals tend to look at the impact on individuals.
I like that SoL. Another difference may be that conservatives take care of themselves and are voluntarily generous in taking care of others, whereas liberals want the coercion of the state to force productive members of society to take care of the rest, while the liberals skim their ever growing piece of the top.
Ronald Reagan said,
"Conservatives believe in people, Liberals believe in Government."
Same thing as what SoL is saying.
Ouch...that was mean.
I don't skim anything...I, and all the dems I know, are hard working individuals who care about other individuals. Its like me saying that all Conservatives are bigots and only care for themselves instead of "the rest". (which can be construed as a racist comment)
Which I find to be more true than not.
How's that feel....not good to generalize my little friends.
I don't skim anything...I, and all the dems I know, are hard working individuals who care about other individuals.
Notice I said liberals, not dems, Rick. Most dems I know in Monmouth county are more conservative than the republicans. And, I agree, generalizations are distructive.
On the other hand, your response does make SoL's point.
My only point in pointing out they went to the same church was to show that they have some sort of connection other then politics.
But... now that you mention it the congrgation they belonged too was part of the United Church of Christ denomination arguably the most liberal Christian Church politically,socially and Theologically.
Just an interesting bit of trivia.
ambrosiajr said
"To cut the spending, you will have to cut the workforce, which will tank our fragile economy. Do you really think that any politician would want to tell workers with families that they are now going on unemployment?"
Actually, a decent chunk of our state work force lives in Pennsylvania. Just look at what goes over the "Trenton Makes" bridge every atfernoon. And count on the fact that they spend most of their wages in the more tax-friendly economy of PA, with the possible exception of gasoline.
So that right there will mitigate any effect on our fragile economy.
Post a Comment