Christie should take his time and get it right

My friends at Conservatives with Attitude have been harping on the fact that gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie has not taken any positions yet. As Lonegan supporters, they make themselves look trite. The race for the GOP nomination is not going to be decided between now and Christie's formal announcement in February. Christie should take the time to come up with a well thought out platform from which he can compete with Lonegan for the nomination.

As a conservative with libertarian leanings, I like a great deal of what Lonegan stands for. The main stream media (what is left of it) and the GOP establishment will continue to paint Lonegan as an extremist, which he is not. Yet, I want to hear him debate Christie on the issues and I want Christie to be prepared for the debate. Both sides should welcome the challenge and competition, as we prepare for a critical battle to defeat Corzine and his millions in the fall campaign.

CWA is also making an argument that the gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a repeat of last year's U.S. Senate race. Here they may have a point, but not for the reasons they cite. Christe is no Anne Estabrook, who was woefully unprepared to challenge Frank Lautenberg or to serve if the impossible had happened and she won. Christie was unqualified "on paper" to be U.S. Attorney when he was appointed. He has demonstrated that he can excel in a position for which he has no direct relevant experience. Our most recent election demonstrated that voters discount relevant experience when selecting their leader.

The years race will be a repeat of last years embarrassment if the GOP establishment tries to thwart the competition that Christie will face from Lonegan and the lesser candidates. As we approach the county convention season, New Jersey's Republican County Chairmen and Chairwomen should avoid their past practice of rigging county conventions for the establishment's choice. This makes the conventions irrelevant. The county conventions should be open and exciting debates with vigorous campaigning leading up to each one. Such a system will invigorate the rank and file, increase participation and most importantly attract priceless "free media" to the process, thereby increasing the candidates exposure and name recognition amongst the voting public.

This type of a convention season will inevitably lead to a spirited and exciting primary with different candidates having the party line in different parts of the state. The establishment likes to avoid such races because they think it is a waste of resources and puts their control at risk. It does put their control at risk. So what? What good has such control done for the taxpayers of New Jersey? None.

The free media such a race will attract, and the invigorated grass roots participation in the conventions and primary are worth the risk and the resources. The likelihood of the competitors uniting for the real fight in the fall will be greater and money for the fall campaign will be easier to raise if there is a fair and democratic process to select the nominee.