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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBarbara Buono Rips Democrats For 'Betrayal' In Race Against Christie...(updated)
New Jersey state Sen. Barbara Buono (D) took aim at her own party in a fiery concession speech Tuesday night, blasting the "Democratic political bosses" for supporting Chris Christie in the state's gubernatorial race.
“The Democratic political bosses — some elected and some not — made a deal with this governor despite him representing everything they’re supposed to be against," Buono said. "They didn't do it to help the state. They did it out of a desire to help themselves politically and financially. But we did it our way and I’m proud of that.”
Buono did not identify any of the Democrats by name, but the Star-Ledger noted that "she has been critical of South Jersey power broker George Norcross and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo," the latter of whom publicly endorsed Christie.
The Star-Ledger reported that Buono also lamented the “the onslaught of betrayal from our own political party.”
- more -
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/barbara-buono-rips-democrats-for-betrayal-in-race-against-christie
Ugh!
Updated to add:
Thank you, Barbara Buono
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/06/1253497/-Thank-you-Barbara-Buono
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lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)one reason why the Democratic party has been struggling
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)scheming daemons
(25,487 posts)Christie won the race a year ago..... It was not winnable for Dems this year.
No point in throwing money or support to a lost cause. First rule of Sun Tzu's art of war.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)They went out of their way to endorse this RW jerk.
scheming daemons
(25,487 posts)AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)Makes no sense whatsoever. They fell for his phony 'moderate' bs.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)It's one thing to not fund a race because it's not considered winnable (even that's an iffy proposition, in my opinion), but to publicly endorse the other party's candidate? For freaking real?
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Honestly, I don't think she had a chance. With or without Dem endorsements. I live in NY, and I have to say that the commercial Buono put out was very weak. Now maybe those living in NJ have evidence otherwise, but her campaign seemed almost half hearted.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)I lived through Christie Whitman and her disastrous privatization. Believe me there are some opportunists in this state, but there are people who watched in disgust as this blowhard rode the media hype to popularity.
What the hell is the point of publicly supporting an asshole who fights you at every turn and opposes everything you stand for?
They're sellouts.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Was Buono's campaign strong and feisty? If I'm going to run for public office, I'm not going to wait around for someone big to help me out. I'm rolling up my sleeves and working my ass off. It sucks that they didn't show up for Buono, but she didn't seem to have that fire in the belly. I'm not saying this to dis Buono. I'm saying that we need backup, but we also need strong, hard hitting candidates.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)this isn't about the national Democrats. It's about being stabbed in the back by NJ Dems. I mean, the major candidate for statewide office should be at least able to count on the state Democratic Party for support against a RW Republican.
It's disgusting.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)That's crappy. I wonder why they would do that. Have any of them said anything?
Would it have made a big difference?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)campaigning against her: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023987445
Ugh!
Laelth
(32,017 posts)It's useful to know what's going on from the POV of an insider.
-Laelth
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)
PassingFair
(22,434 posts)Snyder ran as a centrist-leaning "nerd".
At least he didn't fight the ACA!
I was knocking doors for Virg ON MY OWN. No signs, no hand-outs.
As far as the state party was concerned, we weren't RUNNING a campaign.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)don't know how the county party leadership works? Sellout doesn't begin to describe it
Have guys like Norcross ever given a shit about anything that didn't increase their power or bank accounts? My county leader when I lived there was Ray Lezniak, state senator and senior partner of largest firm in the state that did almost all it's work with or for the state.
You don't convince them with the merits of your cause. You explain what's in it for them.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"You live in New Jersey and you...don't know how the county party leadership works? Sellout doesn't begin to describe it "
...I could come up with a stronger term. Like I said, the place is crawling with opportunists.
BumRushDaShow
(128,907 posts)
Jersey has been like this for a looooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggg time.
The Democrats are as corrupt as the rethugs. Look at Corzine. And it spilled over here to Philly with the likes of Democrats like Vince Fumo, the once-most powerful member of the PA state legislature (who has vacation homes in Ventnor and Margate), and who is serving out the remainder of his 55 month sentence for 137 counts, in his Philly home.
I.e., when the average "non-political" person sees the entrenched corruption go on for so long, they cease to look at party and try to find the "least corrupt" among them. This despite the fact that even in his initial year or so in office, Christi cost the state $250 million (plus $3 billion in lost future federal funds) with his decision to cancel the NY-NJ tunnel, and used to ferry himself around in a state helicopter to go to his son's games.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)I'm unhappy enough with the Machine manipulators in WI, bt this crowd makes ours look like amateurs.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)wtf.
Those names should be writ on walls and buckets of shit thrown at them.
what the hell is going on? what is the deep real reason for this? It's unforgivable.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)powerful positions in a Democratic Administration right after we THREW THEM OUT??? Are there no Democrats who can handle Security positions in this country?
As Kucinich tried to say not so long ago 'Wake Up America'!!
And those of us who tried to point out what has been going on were slammed for doing so.
I am not in the least bit surprised. Anyone with eyes, ears and even half a brain knows what is going on here and won't be deterred from pointing it out.
Someday when the people are all on the same page, and it is happening, the deceptions and the schemes and the garbage and the lies we have been subjected to, will result finally in a complete over haul of the entire system, and first to go should be Political Operatives, Think Tanks, Pundits and the whole sorry mess of profiteers who have destroyed out political system.
I can't wait 'til they are all run out of town and the people alone get to decide who represents them. So sick of the whole deceptive game they are playing.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)of people that I respect and some of what they say makes perfect sense. Christie was to win, sinking time and money into it at this time might not have been the best use for either.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)The political operatives step in to explain why ordinary decent people are too naive to understand that we should not fight for what we believe in.
More and more Progressives are on their way out of this corrupt bought and paid for system.
Let's see if they can win anything without the Progressive wing of the party and nothing demonstrates the corruption more than these two Gubernatorial races.
McCauliff had zero chance of winning in Virginia without a whole lot of money being poured in to his campaign. Wall St. wanted HIM, so despite the odds against him, with all that money the Party poured in, he squeaked through to a victory.
The scenario in NY was no different, except Corporate America wanted the Repub to win.
Some day people will go with their own correct, initial reactions and not be influenced by 'people I respect' rather their own instincts'. In fact it is happening, the total disgust of the American people with the electoral process has reached a point where thankfully, coalitions are now forming to ensure an end to the influence of money, as we saw in these two races so clearly.
Sorry you chose to doubt your own initial and very astute observations. I remember not so long ago when I was where you are, allowing others to influence what I know now were correct instincts.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)[font color=firebrick size=3][center]"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone[/font][/center]
[center]
[/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]
jeff47
(26,549 posts)That'll be a great way to take power back from the Republicans!!! 
scheming daemons
(25,487 posts)jeff47
(26,549 posts)It was not unwinnable. Conventional wisdom says it was, because conventional wisdom loves daddy figure politicians.
More to the point, if you don't compete, you never win. And if you keep shrinking the number of races you compete in, you keep shrinking the pool of races which conventional wisdom says you can win. It is a self-fulfilling system that leads to oblivion.
scheming daemons
(25,487 posts)jeff47
(26,549 posts)A decent effort would have made the race competitive. That's why Christie pushed the senate election off to a special election - he knew he could have had a competitive race.
Instead, Democrats decided to "save their money". It's a great strategy, since it will end up just 'saving our money' until the only seat we have is on a school board in Vermont.
athena
(4,187 posts)
former9thward
(31,997 posts)percent among independent voters.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/images/polling/nj/nj11042013_tje5sd.pdf/
jeff47
(26,549 posts)Your poll shows they like what he's doing in office. But that doesn't mean they like the guy - "Do you like Christie, the person" results in terrible numbers.
That could have been used to weaken his approval numbers to the point where the Democratic candidate could have won.
lupojohn
(23 posts)I sense you have an unrealistic view of the party, which is wrong. I know that was a sarcastic comment, but it leads me to my point: I agree with both sides of the argument, if possible. Allow me to digress: you are correct in saying that Christie was beatable. His image is viewed the way it is because he chooses to speak differently and because he hugged the Pres., which I have always found sincere. His record will get exposed in a primary fight, though in 2016. However, I disagree from this standpoint: there seems to be deep divisions in NJ amongst the Democratic party. I'm not sure why this is, although Chris Hayes mentioned it, but I don't remember. You have to understand that it's pointless to put money into a race that, while winnable, is not going to go the way we want or hoped. It's like what happened here in NYC. Everyone knew De Blasio was gonna win. There are 4 million registered voters in the city. 1 million turned out to vote. They knew it was a waste of time. No difference couldn't have been made. That's why Lhota was the candidate. He was the sacrifical lamb the way Thompson was on our side in 2009, although he ran a spirited campaign and kept it close most of the night as the networks ignored it. Getting back to this, what candidate had a realistic chance of beating him? I think you have to look at it from that point of view. When a natural disaster occurs and the politician accepts the federal money, that essentially finishes it off before it starts. It's not that it changes his record or makes him a better or different candidate in our eyes. It's that everything else is hidden and nothing else matters. There's no reason wasting time in a race you know you have very little chance of winning.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)The right is not that consistent. A large percentage of the right will hate Christie in the primary. Those same people will love Christie in the general. Just like a large percentage of the right hated Romney in the primary, but the same people loved him in the general. (They're back to hating him, but that's only because he lost).
It's not boolean. The options are not "spend nothing" or "spend everything". You can put significant resources behind the race without dumping massive amounts of money behind the race.
Why do it when everyone says you're going to lose? Well, first of all everyone is wrong a good percentage of the time. In addition, unexpected events can appear during a campaign - hey look, it's a video of Christie doing horrible things to a kitten! Need to have an actual campaign in place to be able to benefit from that.
But more importantly, you need to do it for long-term reasons. Not bothering to compete tells the voters your party is half-assed. That message sticks around long after the campaign is over. Additionally, mounting a 'real' campaign gives your people practice mounting a 'real' campaign, even when they lose. That is even more valuable than every other reason I mentioned so far.
When that politician is a Republican. When that politician is a Democrat, the media doesn't quite talk up how wonderful the politician is for "leading through the crisis" by giving a speech and accepting a check.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Vincardog
(20,234 posts)Make the choice CLEAR:
between a ideologue who wants to represent you to GUARANTEE Government does not work
and
A Liberal who wants government to WORK FOR you.
MoonchildCA
(1,301 posts)The fact that they allowed him to win by such a huge landslide is unforgivable. The fact that he won is not the story right now, everyone expected that. The story the media is pushing is by what a huge margin it was. They're treating him like superman, and they won't let anyone forget it come 2016. That is what he will run on--how "electable" he'll be in the general election, how he can "appeal to democrats and minorities."
He now has a solid strategy to pursue through the primaries. Whether it will work on those crazies remains to be seen, but I sure wish we hadn't served it up to him on a platter.
SchmerzImArsch
(49 posts)Do not donate to clearing houses such as the DCCC or DNC. Donate to the candidate of your choice.
And how hard would it have been for the President to visit Buono when he visited Christie for the reopening of Boardwalk and Park Place a couple of months ago?
tabbycat31
(6,336 posts)And she was there. I'm not sure what went on behind the scenes, but she was there.
SchmerzImArsch
(49 posts)In a public setting, at least.
tabbycat31
(6,336 posts)Sure you had some leg and county level candidates there as well as her, but the only people to speak were Obama and Christie. The president mentioned a few Democratic congressmen.
SchmerzImArsch
(49 posts)AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)nt
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)I, on the other hand, am from the school of politics that says, "If your enemy is drowning, toss him an anvil."
eilen
(4,950 posts)
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)I don't care if Democratic party leaders went so far as to vote for Christie, but they should have kept that to themselves. A party committeeman is expected to support his party's candidates, and if he couldn't do that, then at least remain silent.
It used to be a rule of the California Democratic Party and probably still is that local committeemen had to support the Democratic candidate. It was flexible enough to be waved by the state committee in unusual circumstances, such as when KKK Grand Dragon Tom Metzger somehow emerged from a primary as his district's Democratic candidate for Congress. No Democrat would have had a prayer against the long time Republican congressman at the time, whose popularity crossed party lines, but this was something else. The state committee allowed the local committee to make no endorsement that year. If I recall correctly, Metzger got fewer votes in the general election than he got in the primary.
I don't know anything about Ms. Buono, but I assume she is not a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)that Democrats should have used the opportunity to test out different ways to attack Christie, in preparation for his possible run for president in 2016.
athena
(4,187 posts)She got 38% with almost no name recognition. Christie has been so bad, and Republicans are currently so unpopular, that Buono could have won if the Democratic Party had supported her. As a resident of NJ, I resent that. Now, we have to put up with four more years of nothing getting done in NJ.
BillyRibs
(787 posts)we had an opportunity, we blew it. Christie had a 33% approvals rating, NO coat tales, no clout to stop the minimum wage amendment. and a democratic assembly and senate. IMOP that's a winnable race. the states democratic leaders, and the DNC Blew it!
Uncle Joe
(58,355 posts)If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.
Sun Tzu
Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
Sun Tzu
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.
Sun Tzu
Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.
Sun Tzu
The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
Sun Tzu
You have to believe in yourself.
Sun Tzu
If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.
Sun Tzu
All warfare is based on deception.
Sun Tzu
To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.
Sun Tzu
If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.
Sun Tzu
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/suntzu440737.html#SibGWeLpH5Pe2xiQ.99
Hulk
(6,699 posts)I guess it just boils down to that these days. Throw money = support. In this case, it seems to me, the Democratic machine actually BACKED Christie, which makes NO SENSE to me. The disgusting tub of lard is a blatant bully loud mouth, and he is the repuKKKes' "white hope" for 2016. Is this how we are going to win elections now and in the future?
Granted, he has a lot of support by many democrats; but to do nothing? To spend no expense in NJ? Wrong. Just plain wrong. I'd like to know just what was so toxic about the Democratic candidate that her own party would abandon her?
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)I don't like Christie but facts are fact. This country elected "macho pretender" Ronal Reagan and it still loves a bully. But when reality sets in and pocketbook issues and job issues hit home hopefully voters come around to sanity...even though it takes time.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)That is totally disloyal and unacceptable.
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)People to run against Ahnold Schwartzennegger. This ensured that the former film star would win both times.
The second time she did that, she stomped on the will of most Dem voters, who wanted Steve Westly to run for governor. He was well known and also successful as a businessman.
The guy she ended up endorsing, and choosing for the gubernatorial candidacy was Phil Angelides. Her statements were all about how he had more cache within the party leadership. However Angelides was only known inside Southern Calif., and mostly known for nefarious business deals.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)
rurallib
(62,411 posts)Howard Dean proved not that long ago that Democrats need to engage in all 50 states. To see them not only lay down like this in a blue state but to vote for a very right wing republican makes me sick.
We got Branstad - a real right wing asshole who gets great press. Should we lay down for him next year? Fuck no!
athena
(4,187 posts)This is a blue state. Many people are either unhappy with Christie or would be unhappy if they knew more about his frequent vetoes of anything the Democratic legislature passes. Christie's minimum-wage veto got overturned with something like 60% of the vote yesterday. It's simply not true that Buono had no chance.
fredamae
(4,458 posts)NJ Dems Intentionally Bailed on her. It was already sealed and set before the election.
If Dems Would have Embraced and Fought with her? I believe she could have Won...In spite of NO Help she still garnered 39%--Dem Money/Dem Support without "back door shenanigans of party leaders"--I believe she could have won.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)A few days after saying New Jersey is so broke it must cut medical benefits for retirees and freeze their pensions forever, Gov. Chris Christie now says he wants to cut income taxes for the rich.
Think about those priorities. Middle-class families just lost their property tax rebates. Schools lost nearly $1 billion in funding, their biggest hit ever. Thousands of working poor families were closed out of health care programs. And our colleges and universities were whacked hard, forcing tuition hikes as the state scholarship programs run dry.
The governor said those cuts were necessary because the state’s vaults were empty. He was the guy telling us to live within our means, to face hard realities. And now this — a tax cut that would blow a new hole in the budget.
The governor says cutting top tax rates will spur business investment. The truth is it would shower benefits on the wealthy indiscriminately. Yes, some of the money might be invested in New Jersey. But much more would be invested outside the state, and even outside the country. The only thing that would stay here for sure is the budget gap it would create.
- more -
http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2010/09/is_he_kidding_gov_chris_christ.html
18,100 government workers and teachers out of work
The loss of 18,100 government and school jobs in July bumped New Jersey unemployment rate up 0.1 percentage point to 9.7 percent, the first monthly increase since reaching a high of 10 percent in December.
The lost jobs included 14,700 in local and county government and public schools and 3,600 related to the winding down of the U.S. Census.
Another 3,100 jobs were lost in the private sector.
The loss in government and school jobs can be contributed, at least in part, to Gov. Chris Christie's decision to cut state aid to local government by $445 million and $820 million to public schools as he attempted to close a $10 billion budget deficit.
more
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/economy/nj-unemployment-jumps-from-christie-budget-cuts
In New Jersey, where about 3,000 teachers were let go in May, Gov. Chris Christie’s administration worries that the federal aid will only forestall difficult decisions later, and it is unclear how much will be spent immediately.
“It’s a real double-edged sword,” said Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the governor. “This money will not be there next year, and we’re not going to get back up to the funding that they had previously been used to.”
<...>
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/business/economy/18teachers.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
Many reports that Chris Christie is about to scuttle the second rail tunnel under the Hudson. If so, it’s arguably the worst policy decision ever made by the government of New Jersey — and that’s saying a lot.
The story seems to be that Christie wants to divert the funds to road and bridge repair; but in so doing he would (a) lose huge matching funds from the Port Authority and the Feds (b) delay indefinitely a project NJ needs desperately ASAP. He could avoid these consequences by raising gasoline taxes. But no, taxes must never be raised, no matter what the tradeoffs.
And it’s a social bad too: now is very much the time when we should be ramping up infrastructure spending, not cutting it.
Awesome.
And yes, if anyone should mention it, I am a resident of New Jersey who often visits Manhattan, and therefore has a personal stake in this project. You got a problem with that?
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/tunnel-of-idiocy/
New Jersey governor Chris Christie was loudly booed at Seton Hall's graduation ceremony earlier today, where he delivered a commencement address to the university's 2,281 graduates. One student even yelled "shut up" in the middle of the speech.
The Setonian has more:
Christie acknowledged those who did not welcome him, and began his speech as a "proud alumnus" of Seton Hall.
He referred to a New York Times Magazine cover that referred to him as "the disruptor," and said, "I think a disruptor is someone who is willing to challenge the status quo."
"You need to be a disruptor in the way that your heart and your mind tells you to be a disruptor," he added.
Christie has been a subject of controversy after he proposed heavy budget cuts to New Jersey's education system.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/17/chris-christie-gets-booed_n_863181.html
Well, whaddya know: it turns out that Governor Yells-at-people is very much an ALEC guy. From NJ.com:
Drawing on bills crafted by the council, on New Jersey legislation and dozens of e-mails by Christie staffers and others, The Star-Ledger found a pattern of similarities between ALEC’s proposals and several measures championed by the Christie administration. At least three bills, one executive order and one agency rule accomplish the same goals set out by ALEC using the same specific policies. In eight passages contained in those documents, New Jersey initiatives and ALEC proposals line up almost word for word. Two other Republican bills not pushed by the governor’s office are nearly identical to ALEC models.
As a resident of New Jersey, yeah, I got a problem with that.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/alec-and-old-yeller/
By Salvador Rizzo/Statehouse Bureau
TRENTON — Once again, the latest revenue numbers are pushing hard against Gov. Chris Christie’s claims of a "Jersey Comeback."
Tax collections failed to meet expectations in May, continuing a months-long trend that is cranking up the pressure on New Jersey’s finances just as Christie and Democratic lawmakers are racing to strike a tax-cut deal by the end of this month.
Revenues were $50 million to $100 million under target last month, according to a memo sent to lawmakers by David Rosen, the budget chief of the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services.
Meanwhile, the Christie administration said the shortfall was closer to $28.9 million in May and questioned Rosen’s credibility as a budget analyst.
- more -
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/nj_revenue_shortfall_increases.html
by Elizabeth Warren
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie gave a speech last night at the Republican National Convention about the Greatest Generation.
Let's talk about what really made the Greatest Generation so great.
Coming out of the Great Depression, America was at a crossroads. The future of our economy - and our democracy - was at stake.
We made a decision together as a country: To invest in ourselves, in our kids, and in our future. For nearly half a century, that's just what we did.
And it worked. For nearly 50 years, as our country got richer, our families got richer - and as our families got richer, our country got richer.
And then about 30 years ago, our country moved in a different direction. New leadership attacked wages. They attacked pensions. They attacked health care. They attacked unions. And now we find ourselves in a very different world from the one our parents and grandparents built. We are now in a world in which the rich skim more off the top in taxes and special deals, and they leave less and less for our schools, for roads and bridges, for medical and scientific research - less to build a future.
Last night, Chris Christie and the Republicans told the American people that we're to blame for our broken economy. He told families to tighten their belts. He told seniors to live on less. He told teachers to stop fighting for fair pay.
He never, ever mentioned how much more the richest have taken, and he had no mention that those who broke our economy still haven't been held accountable.
The Republicans believe in an America that is rigged for the big guys - giant corporations that can hire an army of lobbyists, ship jobs overseas, and take their profits to the Cayman Islands.
That's not who we are as a people - and that's not the kind of country we want to be.
We built America together, and that's what makes America great.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/29/1125449/-We-built-it-together
Chris Christie is a RW Republican
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023988793
heaven05
(18,124 posts)vote for a bullying clown such as Crisco. The dems that supported him?
Despicable opportunists who probably got paid, big time.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Christie is a repuke creep, wtf
snooper2
(30,151 posts)nice name recognition to start LOL
dembotoz
(16,802 posts)
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)The Democrats became the scapegoat.
So be it.
I hope she runs again.
Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)Same shit down here.
The Dems have "friends" they won't cross (listening Debbie?) They're preparing now to trash a good woman candidate for an open House seat, to run the only person in the world who could lose an election to criminal Rick Scott.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)and I'm getting a feeling that I know what this is really all about. . .
setting the table.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)With Democrats like her, who needs Republicans?
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)
ctsnowman
(1,903 posts)
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)in their ideology. DWS holds the purse strings there, and she doesn't really make bones about her low regard for the Liberal base.
http://intertheory.org/democraticshill/debbie-wasserman-schultz/
on edit: link added
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)in order to make sure liberals/progressives don't get elected. She's done it here in FL.
cascadiance
(19,537 posts)I don't trust her. And she's part of the non-Democratic wing of the party that needs to get pushed out in primaries in the coming years.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)the very least the DNC could have invested in organization-building for 2014 and 2016.
They don't earn their money...it mostly comes from other sources...much of it from corporate donors and PACs/same story...and I believe (don't know much in detail about this system) large donors likely have some say as to where their donated money goes, so can withhold it for a weak political position or candidate.
And it would have been hard to find a credible candidate with name recognition and a winning background when the political situation was seemingly so lopsided. This event will make it even harder, at least in NJ.
I think that's why we are seeing way early endorsements for Hillary...like Warren. She doesn't want to be pressured into running for potential results that seemed to happened for Christie...which could be career-ending, if for nothing else than poor judgment than going up against the frontrunner...with no organization. Those who do run in the primary will likely be young and regional like Cruz for the Rs, and will do so for national name recognition, a Cabinet position, a VP slot, or or for a future run.
Barney Frank's statement is reality...Congressional candidates are forced to take boat loads of money and then pretend they don't have to give something back in return. For Liberals/Progressives to blame or shame or even discourage candidates from taking corporate money, is ingenious at best, and counter-productive at worst.
We either adapt or die, politically speaking.
I am a Liberal, not an ideologue. Liberals shift their thinking, without apology, when appropriate and the circumstances demand it. JMHO
bvar22
(39,909 posts)
She is DINO, 3rd Way, DLC, sellout weasel to the very core.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)The post was about Ms. Buono. You can label and kick feet and guffaw and call names till the cows come home, but it doesn't change reality. She didn't get the big money because it was accepted...fact or fantasy...that the Dems couldn't beat Christie in that race. She knew it too, and I'd guess that there is a pre-arranged place in the party for her taking the hit.
That's DWSs job. Raise money but also spend it wisely. $10 checks from retirees don't get to a billion dollars for the general election quite fast enough.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)What is the benefit of "winning" if it costs us our Working Class souls?
[font color=firebrick size=3][center]"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone[/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)Regardless of the political climate, everyday people still have to get up in the morning, eat food that has despicable chemicals grown on mineral stripped soil, get in cars that foul the air, put our kids in abysmal educational systems, drive past WalMart, go to jobs in corporations owned by oligarchs who foul the air and oceans and buy off politicians of both parties.
I've been a long-time Liberal, helped hang Nixon in effigy in his hometown college, watched JFK get shot, grieved and still, for a very long time and support Liberal politics and politicians. But I taught my son who is a Liberal Millenial, that we still fight for Democratic principles and go to school and to work and try and help others best we can.
I'm grateful I wasn't born, say, in France or Britain in the 18-19th century.
Peace.
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)...bottom line, Buono was a bad candidate, and a poor choice to go up against a Republican who, however annoying it is to hear it, was popular with Democratic voters.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"The Party Leadership was following the crowd, not leading it...bottom line, Buono was a bad candidate, and a poor choice to go up against a Republican who, however annoying it is to hear it, was popular with Democratic voters."
...the sellouts and media hype helped to depress Democratic turnout.
So the Governor wins a landslide victory, but can only turn 1 assembly seat?! So did a bunch of Democrats vote for Christie but no other Republicans? It really doesn't look like it.
Here's the governor's results from Christie's first victory in 2009 over an extremely unpopular Democratic governor.
Christie 1,174,445
Corzine 1,087,731
And here's the numbers from yesterday.
Christie 1,242,568
Buono 781,710
So in 4 years, Christie increased his voting numbers by roughly 5.5%, while Buono dropped the Democratic numbers by a whopping 28%!!
That 5.5% increase by Christie is slightly better than the population growth rate, while Buono's numbers, for whatever reason, were just a disaster.
So did the people of New Jersey turn out in big numbers for the great 2016 Republican hope from New Jersey? It sure doesn't look like it. Did Democrats cross over in huge numbers to support Christie, Nope! They may not have voted for Buono, but it sure doesn't look like they jumped ship for Christie.
We'll have to look at some exit polling and some of the numbers for turnout from the New Jersey Secretary of state to get a better idea, but for now I think this boils down to christie picking up a few more Independent voters, but in reality, he barely improved his position from 2009. These numbers certainly don't look like the grand victory the press is making it out to be, and if I were a betting person, and I am, I wouldn't be putting any money down that Christie can carry New Jersey in the 2016 presidential election.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/06/1253515/-Wow-Christie-Won-Big-Or-Did-He-A-Look-At-Some-Numbers
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Here you call the Democrat 'bad' and you call a homophobic rageaholic 'popular' and you do this by choice. If that's what you said during the election, you were touting the Republican.
We lost an election in a major State last night and that is not cause for celebration by Democrats.
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)I'm not arguing moral or ethical merits, I'm arguing politics. A candidate who is consistently 20-30 points behind is a bad candidate. I'm not celebrating the fact, just acknowledging it.
We have large number of Governor's races with equally bad (if not worse) Republicans coming up next year. My focus is on winning the competitive ones (WI, OH, PA, ME, FL, AZ). I won't waste time or money on candidates who can't even make the race close, simply to "send a message" or make people feel good, because to do so is to waste assets that can be better applied elsewhere.
idwiyo
(5,113 posts)for the loss of the state?
That's an equivalent of saying to every Democrat in NJ "You don't matter, don't even bother voting 'cause we are not going to support you"
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)Would you deny 2-3 million to Pennsylvania, which is our strongest chance for a pickup?
How about to Ohio? Michigan? Florida? Wisconsin?
There isn't an infinite pool of money. We give it to Buono to shave 5-10% off her deficit? She still loses by a large margin and we're at risk of losing another Governorship we might win.
idwiyo
(5,113 posts)Last edited Thu Nov 7, 2013, 04:50 AM - Edit history (1)
Or worse, endorse Republican, like in Florida.
If I was a resident of NJ I would treat it as a betrayal. Taking Florida into consideration, this would be enough motivation for me to go independent.
You don't want to fight for me, why the hell should I fight for you? Just so next time you tell me again to embrace Republican filth or another DINO?
PS Just reminder to Jury in case some moron decides to alert, I am British and live in UK.
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)See, Chris Christie isn't the only obnoxious, dangerous Republican in office. And since those of us that actually FUND political candidates have limited means, some of us want the money used as efficiently as possible. Doesn't mean you don't consider a long shot, but if it becomes evident that the long shot doesn't have a chance, you save your resources for something more winnable.
idwiyo
(5,113 posts)Keep telling yourself that betraying your voters is the winning strategy. Good luck with winning hearts and minds by endorsing Republicans by default.
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)Christie didn't win because voters were influenced by a bunch of Democratic endorsements, and he didn't win because he ran mean ads against Buono. He won because 1/3 of Democratic voters WANTED TO VOTE FOR HIM. Perhaps they're the folks you should be arguing with.
dsharp88
(487 posts)so maybe Buono's problem wasn't just the party abandoning her as NJ is still a blue state.
She is right, though, and it was a damn shame the party didn't give her its full support.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)so badly for New Jersey which has reelected a raging Republican bigot while the Democratic Party not only stood by but actively endorsed the Republican. Absolutely horrific. The so called Democrats who did this, donors and Party leadership need to be shunned.
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)I have not seen any DUers celebrating Christie.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)"The only people not happy about both Virginia and NJ results are die hard conservatives and die hard liberals."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023985584#post20
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)I have no clue why so many people think he is some kind of centrist. He doesn't hide where he is at. He is vocal about it. Comments like the one you posted are based in ignorance.
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)[div class="exerpt"]It was poorly worded on my part. It was late...
What I meant was a lot of regular Dems are happy a Dem won Virginia and a some regular GOP are happy their guy won Nj. But partisans on both sides are unhappy about both outcomes.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3989334
"Poorly worded" is putting it mildly. I still wouldn't call it celebration, but EVERY Dem should be unhappy about the outcome in NJ. Looks like that DUer still has "wording" issues.
I think the most depressing statistic from that race is that 57% of WOMEN voted for that anti-choice bully...when there was a pro choice woman running against him!
I'd like to think PW's late night post was an aberration. I'd be really surprised if any DUer was actually "happy" Christie won by a landslide. Other than that one post, have you seen any others?
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Do folks usually endorse and make calls then not celebrate the win they envisioned? They endorse but don't mean it?
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)...please enlighten us.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)
Union Scribe
(7,099 posts)eilen
(4,950 posts)If the Democratic party kisses the ass of the Republican incumbent during an election year..... well shit, why bother.
PeoViejo
(2,178 posts)Take the Vig or it's off to the Pine Barrens.
adirondacker
(2,921 posts)FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Middlesex includes the 18th District which Buono represented in the NJ Senate.
It is difficult to blame a loss in Middlesex on county organizations in other parts of the state.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/interactive_map_how_red_did_christie_push_blue_jersey.html
ProSense
(116,464 posts)the sellouts and media hype likely helped to depress Democratic turnout.
So the Governor wins a landslide victory, but can only turn 1 assembly seat?! So did a bunch of Democrats vote for Christie but no other Republicans? It really doesn't look like it.
Here's the governor's results from Christie's first victory in 2009 over an extremely unpopular Democratic governor.
Christie 1,174,445
Corzine 1,087,731
And here's the numbers from yesterday.
Christie 1,242,568
Buono 781,710
So in 4 years, Christie increased his voting numbers by roughly 5.5%, while Buono dropped the Democratic numbers by a whopping 28%!!
That 5.5% increase by Christie is slightly better than the population growth rate, while Buono's numbers, for whatever reason, were just a disaster.
So did the people of New Jersey turn out in big numbers for the great 2016 Republican hope from New Jersey? It sure doesn't look like it. Did Democrats cross over in huge numbers to support Christie, Nope! They may not have voted for Buono, but it sure doesn't look like they jumped ship for Christie.
We'll have to look at some exit polling and some of the numbers for turnout from the New Jersey Secretary of state to get a better idea, but for now I think this boils down to christie picking up a few more Independent voters, but in reality, he barely improved his position from 2009. These numbers certainly don't look like the grand victory the press is making it out to be, and if I were a betting person, and I am, I wouldn't be putting any money down that Christie can carry New Jersey in the 2016 presidential election.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/06/1253515/-Wow-Christie-Won-Big-Or-Did-He-A-Look-At-Some-Numbers
In 2009, Corzine got nearly 20,000 more votes in Middlesex than Buono did this year.
In Essex County, which Buono won 62 percent to 37 percent, she got about 92,000 votes to Christie's nearly 55,000. In 2009, Corzine got about 120,000 votes to Christie's nearly 50,000.
http://www.nytimes.com/projects/elections/2013/general/new-jersey/map.html
http://elections.nytimes.com/2009/results/new-jersey.html
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Hudson -17.01%
Union -16.29%
Essex -15.06%
Bergen -14.92%
Morris -13.10%
Camden -12.70%
Monmouth -11.62%
Burlington -10.32%
Hunterdon -10.02%
Sussex -9.20%
Ocean -8.35%
Atlantic -8.27%
Somerset -8.16%
Middlesex -7.45%
Warren -7.22%
Cumberland -7.15%
Passaic -5.37%
Mercer -4.06%
Cape May -0.59%
Gloucester 0.65%
Salem 3.47%
So the big northern NJ Democratic stronghold counties did not turn out for Buono.
leftstreet
(36,107 posts)
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)jumped on the Lisa Murkowski write-in campaign bandwagon in 2010. That still really rankles progressive democrats here, especially since our current democratic candidate for governor was instrumental in delivering the Native vote to Lisa. I know a lot of democrats/independents who have vowed to vote for the republican who is running as an independent in our three-way race rather than vote for the Democrat who helped the Republican get elected in 2010. There are long-term consequences to these decisions.
bonniebgood
(940 posts)issues. when it comes to making the 1% richer they're republicans. If you're a democrat on social issues and
anti enrichment of the 1%- you're considered too LIBERAL.
From top (President Obama) down these people are republican,
regan democrats period. They ALL hate public education, Unions, Teachers etc. (Like Buono said:
Endorsing/supporting a repuclican who's against the very same things they're suppose to be fighting for)
Any democrat endorsing a republican over a democrat is no better than Joe Liberman endorsing John Macain and Palin. = SHAME
THEY'RE NO DAMN DEMOCRATS.
Paladin
(28,254 posts)1. Decide that a political race is un-winnable.
2. Withhold any meaningful effort or resources to win said race, allowing an easy victory for Republicans.
3. Piss and moan afterward about how right-wing and backward things are in the effected area.
This kind of shit has been going on in my state of Texas for decades. Sen. Buono has a right to be unhappy.
polichick
(37,152 posts)Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)
ReRe
(10,597 posts)
I thank her for standing up and saying it like it is. Where is the Democratic Party when you need them? No effing-where to be found. What kind of Democratic Party is that? I don't belong to that part of the Democratic Party. How do we upset those MFers who are running/ruining the Dem Party? We need to allow more political parties, period.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)And it has been reviewed and reviewed what a waste of politicians' time and money from donors to try and go up against Christie with all-out effort.
Let's use that same money to beat Republicans in red districts in 2014.
BronxBoy
(2,286 posts)Giving full throated approval to the opponent is quite another
If this is the support that a dem gets in a blue state, why should a progressive candidate in a red state feel confident that the party has their back?
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)....can I now post some
"Well, you NJers got the government you wanted"
or some
"Stupid inbred Yankees!"
posts?
(BTW..... that was y'know)
vi5
(13,305 posts)That kos diary is exactly right. She took one for the team and did the best she could under the circumstances but the Dem power brokers have cozied up to Christie and given him bipartisan cover even though "bipartisan" under his administration means "I trumpet the party line and do everything I can for the wealthy and corporations, and Democrats back me up."
Atrocious.
Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)This is going to come back to bite the Dems in 2016. They completely squandered the advantage we had over the Baggers' shutdown.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)Sounds like Neville Chamberlain in 1940. And he lost too.
On the other hand, sometimes when people stand up and fight, the results surprise others...
Tippy
(4,610 posts)All Dems should have kept out of the situation their money would have done some good if they gave it to the poor. Christy had this election in the bag because of H Sandy..
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)But actually giving him your endorsement seems counterproductive and disgustingly self serving.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Know what is sadly funny? If those Dems were DUers, they would be kicked out or chastised because they not only did not support a "D" in an election, they endorsed the GOP candidate.
Those NJ Dems are being given a pass, and they couldn't even pass the DU TOS.
Interesting.
Rambis
(7,774 posts)Good for you!
wyldwolf
(43,867 posts)
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)
aikoaiko
(34,169 posts)There is a calculus involved:
Value of promise x probability of being elected x probability of delivering = True value
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Point made by Larry Sabato that they needed to go after Christie HARD.
The benefit would be all the video and sound bites to use in the 2016 election - and for whatever else - the idea would have been to make him lose his temper, etc.
What a shame.
Another guest blamed Cory Booker for not lending a hand due to his own concerns about his position in NJ
WillyT
(72,631 posts)I guess the NJ Party Bosses are 3rd Wayers now.
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)Suppose we knew, direct from God or whatever entity controls the universe, that we knew Christ Christie was going to win. No chance to change, fate written in stars, no way to stop it.
We still should have been FULL BLAST against CC, why, because if nothing else, we need him to make a mistake, the equivalent of Romney's "47%" gaffe, without which we might very well be reading about President Romney sending troops into Iran right now.
The fact is, the center is using Chrstie to choke out the people they hate, the left, because of course, the narrtive will be "We gotta run a Mod-er-ught against Christie, we gotta tell Wareen to shuddup against Wall Street, we need Hillary!"
ramapo
(4,588 posts)The election was cast in stone before Buono even won the primary. Christie is a very astute politician. and he cut deals with Dems going back four years. Christie is very popular here (except amongst teachers of course). He had the election won a year ago and everybody knew that the Dem candidate would be a sacrificial lamb. Buono wasn't exactly a dynamic candidate either. It is true the Dems did next to nothing for her but that that was going to be the case was no secret.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)I can see not throwing tons of money the candidate's way, but to endorse the freaking Republican ? What's the point of having a different political party ?
This is beyond insane. If it happened in my state of Florida, I'd say the exact same thing. Awesome thread, Prosense, sincerely.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)Didn't Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Chair DNC) REFUSE to endorse Democrats
Liberal bloggers are irate that Wasserman Schultz, who co-chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red-to-Blue program, has declined to endorse the Democrats running to unseat Cuban-American Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother, Mario Diaz-Balart.
Wasserman Schultz -- along with Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), who also refuses to endorse challengers to the three Cuban-American Republicans -- says she doesn't want to stab GOP members of her own delegation in the back. "
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/03/wasserman_schultz_under_seige.html
steve2470
(37,457 posts)I mean, come on, if we can't even support OUR OWN party, what good are we ? Insanity.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)I was *really* hoping the party had evolved since then...
Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)Whether we like it or not, there are power brokers in both political parties. It appears the Democrats rationalized Christie was unbeatable and chose to direct their resources and efforts elsewhere.
That might have been, in retrospect, the right tactical decision. But it makes it very difficult to recruit quality candidates in tough races. Should Ms. Buono have read the tealeaves and chosen not to run? What if no Democrat had chosen to run? That might be the result if the party fails to support their candidates regardless of the lay of the political landscape.
We should be afraid, very afraid, of Mr. Christie. He chose a Latina to speak at his election victory party. He is touting himself as a Republican that can win in a very blue New Jersey and brought with him a Latina that, as governor, negotiated and governed with a Democratic state assembly.
The mantra of this matchup is that while we are conservative Republicans we can reach across the aisle and govern. We can bridge the political divide and get Washington moving again.
We know, however, that at least with Mr. Christie, almost every policy and his budget expose him for being a slash-and-burn Republican who embraces many of the tea bagger policies. While confrontational, his gritty demeanor is chalked up to his personality rather than his ideology.
That is folly. I have no doubt that, given the chance, Christie would embrace and drive much of the tea bagger agenda. He might do so in a different way but it would be their agenda.
We need to start NOW to impede his progress. Although the true tea bagger community will reject him he has a political persona and the grist to fight them off.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)This is an OFF/OFF year.
Not that much going on.
How much does an Oval Office Endorsement cost?
How much does it cost to send Bill Clinton to stump in New Jersey?
How much does it cost to mention this race while schmoozing with the Talking Heads?
The Big National democrats didn't mind spend that kind of money to save DINO Blanche Lincoln's failing Democratic Primary Campaign 2010 against a Pro-LABOR Democrat who was polling better than Lincoln against the Republican.
"So what did the Democratic Party establishment do when a Senator who allegedly impedes their agenda faced a primary challenger who would be more supportive of that agenda? They engaged in full-scale efforts to support Blanche Lincoln.
* Bill Clinton traveled to Arkansas to urge loyal Democrats to vote for her, bashing liberal groups for good measure.
*Obama recorded an ad for Lincoln which, among other things, were used to tell African-American primary voters that they should vote for her because she works for their interests.
*The entire Party infrastructure lent its support and resources to Lincoln — a Senator who supposedly prevents Democrats from doing all sorts of Wonderful, Progressive Things which they so wish they could do but just don’t have the votes for.
http://www.salon.com/2010/06/10/lincoln_6/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3971264
Things like this make me go WTF?
You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]
Jakes Progress
(11,122 posts)Last edited Wed Nov 6, 2013, 11:00 PM - Edit history (1)
When you support those who campaign against Democrats, you support shit.
You don't win by giving up. You don't win by not campaigning against someone with as many problems as christi. If you don't campaign against him and tell people what is wrong with him, who will?
The old "Well, we couldn't have won anyway" excuse is only and excuse for not caring if republicans win.
mtasselin
(666 posts)People in New Jersey that call themselves democrats should be ashamed, they let this good lady out there by herself. I hope she runs for office again, but the people of New Jersey are not good enough for her. Thank you for running.
Euphoria
(448 posts)The national Democratic Party apparatus and leaders are showing themselves to be the real problem.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)
AzDar
(14,023 posts) MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Thanks for this.
hay rick
(7,608 posts)slipslidingaway
(21,210 posts)a perfect example is the HC debate.
Union Scribe
(7,099 posts)The way she was left to twist in the wind by party leaders or is it for her saying so?
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)DFW
(54,370 posts)Just as Bin Laden singlehandedly gave Bush Lite the pretext he needed to ask for a second term, so did Hurricane Sandy give Christie the chance to work with Obama and claim he was a "reasonable" Republican who can work with Democrats. Everyone in NJ remembers how Christie told fellow Republicans to fuck off when he was seen working with Obama as if they were blood brothers on getting federal help for Sandy, and everyone in NJ remembers how, when other Republicans dissed him for working so closely with Obama, he told them to fuck off because he had a lot of people hurting in his state, and that was more important than some clown in Mississippi who cared more about kicking Obama in the face.
If Bush hadn't had 9/11, not all the fraudulently programmed Diebold and ESS machines in Ohio could have given him a second term. If Sandy had not occurred, the Democratic candidate for Governor in NJ might have had a chance against Christie this year. It just didn't turn out that way.
Mass
(27,315 posts)The Clinton camp was totally absent. Of course, it is easier to go in Iowa campaigning for Hillary 2 years before the first vote be cast than to actually fight for a good progressive candidate. But, considering the efforts those two made for McAuliffe, a little effort would have been welcome (BTW, DWS campaigned for Buono, as did O' Malley, ...). Of course, none of them had the star power that would have brought the media to cover her campaign.
wyldwolf
(43,867 posts)