Ferriero picks a reformer
By Wally EdgeIt was an interesting weekend in the 38th district, where Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero picked a State Senate candidate that he was initially reluctant to go with. Two-term Assemblyman Robert Gordon is hardly a party hack: back in 1996, the ex-Fair Lawn Mayor refused to abide by party's decision to back then-Bergen County Surrogate Steven Rothman for an open congressional seat and challenged him in the Democratic primary. Since going to the Assembly in 2003 -- he replaced Matt Ahearn, who left the Democratic Caucus to join the Green Party after a fight with local Dems -- Gordon has been viewed as an independent reformer, although he never publicly commented on Coniglio's ethics woes.
But Ferriero, some say, was nervous that the Coniglio scandal could cost Democrats the seat. His polling showed Gordon to be stronger than his first choice, Paramus Mayor James Tedesco, and Gordon, it turns out, had done his homework. When it came time to mount an insider campaign, he did quite well.
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Syndicate
"Independent Reformer"? Let's not get carried away
As already stated, Bob Gordon is a very good legislator, understanding public policy and the nuances of turning a bill into law. His intelligence and command of the legislative process is noteworthy.
But an independent reformer? I think not.
Bob Gordon initially received the nod to run as Assemblyman the first time because he pledged his soul to Boss Ferriero. Since that time he has done nothing to rock the Chairman's boat. He has never stood up to him. He has never taken a principled stand on party reform.
He was silent on the skirmish in district 37 when his colleagues were under siege by the Boss and his cronies. When the party's by-laws were threatened to be changed against the wishes of the rank and file, Bob Gordon took no public position against the Chairman's scheme.
He's a good lawmaker but a lousy reformer. Let's hope he'll grow a spine as Senator.
One of his first tests will come when he has to stand up to Senator "Pay to Play" Sarlo. When Sarlo asks Gordon to support his bid for Senate Majority Leader, will Mr. Gordon do the right thing and oppose his flawed associate in the Bergen Senate caucus?
Is Pay to Play?
Like some cult obsession with you people. Frankly I don't care how Bob or the BCDO gets its money, I care what they do when the vote and their constituient services.
Reformer of what ?
This guy Gordon is part of the problem going to bat for Public Service union pensions while the taxpayer gets the shaft. His elec reports show that he is no reformer.
Has Been
Wally's comments are just a couple words off. It's not that Gordon has been a reformer. It's that he is a has been as a reformer. From here on out, he is another machine hack.
Reformer?
What piece of legislation did Gordon ever sponsor to reform anything? The $400,000 lesson Gordon learned from his primary debacle is that you can't win off the line. Since then, he's become a soldier for the BCDO and will do exactly as he's told. He's not a reformer. Has he even commented on Coniglio's situation? What happens if he does in fact get indicted? Will Gordon further distance himself? Will they be circulating a Coniglio letter of endorsement? You see my point?
Cult obsession
Yo--we're the Tony Soprano state...and we don't care how "public servants" get their money as long as we "donors" get the "constituent services" and "good government" we paid for... if you get my drift.
Now some anti-democratic chumps are trying to prevent "constituents" from freely exercising their Constitutional right to buy even more of that cost-effective, value for dollar, transparent, trustworthy, well-managed, good government we have been privileged to enjoy in NJ... if you get my drift.
The generals of this fight for Constitutional Freedoms are the County Bosses who dedicate themselves to our Liberty. They have risen to their positions by steadfastly upholding our state's famous reputation as a bastion of copious quantities of "good candidates" and "Freedom of Expression", baddabingbadaboom, yaddayaddayadda...if you get my drift.
To think otherwise would make you an obsessive member of a "cult".
Aside From PulaskiSkywayPreservative....
...I agree with all that's been said so far.
Wally is a bit off on this one.
On the other hand; Gordon is free to redeem himself. It would please me no end to have him sponsor legislation that would provide for 100% public financing of campaigns for public office.
Why do the Ferierros and the Lonegans of the world rabidly agree on this issue? Why do status quo politicians cling to their "contributions" like a Rotweiller to a roast beef?
Why? I'll tell you why; because they enjoy the "benefits" of the status quo!
I submit to you that the status quo is broken. It is a perverse pathological poisonous pound of rotting flesh that is stinking up the whole state of New Jersey and making ordinary rank and file Republicans AND Democrats wretch with disgust.
Imagine a New Jersey in which all campaigns were 100% publicly funded from, say, 1980 to the present. Does anyone seriously believe that we would be in the hole we are now in? And it's not just a matter of dollars. The whole economic/social/environmental climate of this state would have been radically improved.
We can't change the past; but we can work to change the present so that the future may be one in which we can proudly face our grandchildren with our heads held high.
I'll repeat the open challenge I've made to Steve Lonegan to Joe Ferierro: Since the two of you seem to agree so wholeheartedly on this particular issue; why don't you two "strange bedfellows" also agree to a public debate on the whole question of campaign finance?
Let's make it a six person panel discussion/debate (you can pick one more expert on your side and I'll pick two to balance out my own amateurish passion ;-)
Seriously, it would be a public service. Let's make it a two hour debate with strict moderation/time controls so no one can filibuster/dominate in a coarse manner.
Further; let's allow an additional hour for timed Q&A from the audience balanced by their own pro and con positions.
If the supporters of the status quo are so proud of their positions of these issues; let them come out and promulgate/defend them in the bright light of day!
From Frederick Douglass
I'm with Nick
Public finance campaign support is real reform.
Got Kids; Thanks!
Anyone who cares about the children has to be for serious fundamental root to branch change of the whole system.
It's a form of child abuse to screw up the state for the next generation just so a bunch of fat cats can live in a pathologically perverse corrupt fantasy of power and wealth.
From Frederick Douglass