August 4, 2008 - 2:50pm
News
GOP activist launches 'Draft Lonegan' for governor organization
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterGOP activist Dan Gallic today announced that he is forming an organization to draft former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan to run for governor.
"Our goal is to create a situation where should Steve decide to run, there will be a grass-roots and finance organization already in place to secure him the Republican nomination," Gallic said in a release.
"Steve Lonegan’s conservative leadership is the reason he is the Republican Party’s premier leader when so many other ‘leaders’ have been asleep at the wheel," Gallic added. "No one in New Jersey has the record of accomplishment Steve Lonegan has built: from stopping McGreevey’s gasoline tax hike to defeating two ballot questions last November and the Corzine borrowing and toll hike scheme last Spring."
The gubernatorial election is next year. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine this summer informally announced his intentions to pursue re-election. Potential Republican challengers in addition to Lonegan include U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and Princeton businessman John Crowley.
In his "Draft Lonegan" statement, Gallic highlighted what he saw as Lonegan’s fiscally conservative approach while he was mayor of Bogota, including a record of keeping taxes under the rate of inflation. He also celebrated Lonegan’s decision to file a lawsuit against the State of New Jersey and Gov. Jon Corzine over the governor’s plan to borrow $3.9 billion for new schools construction.
"New Jersey Republicans continue to lose election after election because we run the same old gang of weak-kneed wimpy moderates who believe in nothing and are afraid to throw a punch," Gallic said.
"Steve Lonegan is the antithesis of the losing Republican," he added. "He knows how to play the game. Neither the Democrats nor Corzine’s money intimidates him. To Steve, defeat is not an option and that resonates with the millions of overtaxed New Jersey voters ready to give up on our state but ready to give our state one more chance."
Gallic said he would announce within a few weeks a coalition of Republican leaders in all of the state’s 21 counties "as well as a direct mail fundraising appeal to people who have supported Steve and other conservatives in the past."
Lonegan serves as state executive director of Americans for Prosperity, and is an unpaid columnist for this website.
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Dan Gallic is a joke
He screwed up Jersey Joe's campaign and now Steve will get the shaft. Not that Steve has that much support, yet he hired this lame excuse.
Heck, if were any good he would be working now and not on next year's campaigns.
Good for New Jersey
There is hope for change in New Jersey now. Someone who can lead the state back onto some sense of sane footing.
As for Gallic bitaryo, he didn't screw up Pennacchio's campaign, they were working against the entire NJGOP entrenched (from Wilson to Gilmore to Ortiz and on down). They made a respectable showing despite all the obstacles thrown in their way. ..... Maybe its just that Gallic sees he has a winner here.
But, this isn't about Gallic. ... This is about putting up a candidate that offers a choice, change, a message, and can take back Trenton on behalf of, and for, the people.
Nice Dan...
Gallic calls past moderate candidates "weak-kneed wimpy moderates who believe in nothing"
I guess Mr. Gallic could care less about the large base of moderate Republicans in New Jersey and would rather see them leave the party than work with them.
Typical far-right attitude being displayed, but I agree that some moderate candidates have ignored the conservative base at times as well.
Both sides need to learn how to better work together, but what Gallic said won't help at all.
In Related News...
It was also announced today that Dan Gallic will assume duties as Captain of the HMS Titanic and that he sees nothing but "clear sailing ahead."
One more thing...
Giving Steve Lonegan full credit for defeating two ballot questions last year is the real joke.
How about low turnout, especially in the safer Democrat districts (like Linda Stender's)? Don't forget the parts in Hudson County where Dems weren't even opposed (Nia Gill's District).
Think that might have had more impact on the lost ballot questions than Steve Lonegan commercials.
Let's not forget Lonegan's support of Joe Ferriero and work with Dennis Oury to stop the banning of pay to play strategy. Real nice, Steve, let's keep the legalized corrupiton flowing!
Go Steve!!!
Can't wait to cast my vote for him!
Forget about Titanic
This is more like the Skipper and Gilligan on the SS Minnow.
AH
Gallic never mobilized people who volunteered for the campaign. When called didn't return calls or palmed them off to Chris and Sean who were even worse.
He botched the critical Morris County turnout.
Gallic had more assets than brains or work ethic. As much as the elite did, Gallic folded like a cheap suit.
Posters All Talk /No Action
Get a clue and pay attention. Steve has covered more ground in July then Dick Zimmer and he ISN'T ON THE BALLOT!!
He has been consistant in his fight against the Trenton schemes going back to the Whitman Pension Borrowing Plan.
There is no GOP leadership in NJ and no one but Steve Lonegan is standing up for the taxpayers day in and day out.
The rest of the GOP players send out lame press releases and go off to play golf.
Dan Galic was right, the same old game plan isn't working and drastic change is needed if we want NJ to get in the right direction.
Meanwhile, attend a tax payers seminar hosted by Lonegan and learn something. I attended 2 and he was very good. 50 to 60 people show up and are impressed with his grasp of the issues.
He has them all over Nj.
Jersey Joe should have won.
Joe Pennacchio may have been running against the State GOP but he could have won if he had a good campaign consultant. Dan Gallic lost the race for Joe. The Morris County turnout was pathetic.
Why do some people like to get beat up?
I swear there is a part of the NJGOP that would make the Marquis De Sade proud. They just like to get beaten on. Republican's may not have great success statewide over the years, but everyone remembers Brett Schundler and the 14 point debacle to McGreevey. With the number of moderate Republicans and Independent's who may disagree with Dems fiscally but are with them on social issues, going to the hard right on any campaign in this state invites punishment.
DiFransesco
Yea ok, lets look at 2001.
GOP Governor Donnie D didn't endorse Brent and didnt campaign for him either. He was too crooked to run himself and decided to throw a monkey wrench in it.
He wasted 300 k on Milt Campbell for his old seat in Union County and the rest of the GOP establishment gave up after their boy Bobbie Franks got his butt kicked by 20 points in the June primary.
The GOP hasn't recovered since.
Turns out Brent would have made an outstanding Governor but we got the discrace McGreevey instead.
The GOP is a mess in NJ and conservatives didn't cause it. Go back and read the old press clippings.
WE LOST EVERY ELECTION SINCE BY 12%
AND THEY WERE MODERATES!!!
Be real
At the end it will be the battle of the big bucks, Christie VS Corzine....
Nothing to look forward too.
Let the GALLIC War begin
Jersey Joe lost because the elites in the Party undermind every effort: Unanue, etc. There is nothing the Gallic Warrior could have done about that. We have tried the "willie the wimp" thing three years in a row now and the voters, gave us the finger. The voters will do the same this year because we lack the SPUNK to fight.
As for Steve Lonegan love him or hate him he is in the ring 24/7 . I respect him for fighting and NOT giving up. I hope that Jersey Joe never gives up the fight. NJ is on the verge of becoming a third world basket case and Chris Christies stance on illegals dilutes his image as a law and order man.
?
Why is it that the "elites" are blamed for Pennachio's loss. Why isn't Pennachio blamed?
The so-called "elites" didn't support him, but so what. Jersey Joe was the candidate and it was his job to convince the voters (and the "elites") to support him, and he failed.
And in my personal opinion, Pennachio did not lose because he is a "conservative." He lost because of the manifesto. Had the Sabrin campaign not published the manifesto, Pennachio would likely be the nominee today.
Fact Checking
Senate '94 - Lautenberg by 3%
Senate '96 - Torricelli by 10%
Senate '00 - Corzine by 3%
Gov '01 - McGreevey by 14%
Senate '02 - Lautenberg by 9%
Gov. '05 - Corzine by 10%
Senate '06 - Menendez by 9%
It's pretty depressing to look at it as a whole. However, the fact is that 14% loss was posted by Schundler. He beat the guy in the primary who came the closest in the last decade to beating a Dem. (our current governor) the year before. Fact is Republicans can go through a long, drawn out fight and send whoever wins already wounded into the general election. But if they lose the '09 election forget about it, there will be no turning New Jersey back from the economic slide it has been on in the past 10 years. It will be the deathblow for the Republican party for a generation. Next year's elections are too big a deal to waste on party infighting. The Dems did not do it in '06 and are not doing it this year on the national level.
Defeat not an option?
Defeat is not an option for Steve Lonegan? It apparently has been an option his whole career. Lonegan has lost races for Congress, County Executive, a brief run for Bergen Chairman, and of course a fourth place finish for Governor in the 2005 primary.
He's won two elections (barely) in a town that is a blip on the Bergen map.
Now that he is not even a Mayor anymore, he is nothing more than a gadfly.
There is no need to "draft" Lonegan, he is running. He has nothing better to do.
Gallic is trying to set himself up with a paycheck in 2009. He wasn't complaining about "weak kneed wimpy moderates" when he was scoring pay checks from Doug Forrester.
Pennsylvanier
Maybe if his candidate knew how to say the neighboring state right he would've won. But I digress to the point that Gallic was dying for Joe to drop out so he could get bigger checks and more support from the way more respectable John Crowley. I guess Crowley doesnt want a loser on his staff in 2009 if theres gonna be a 2009?
And hes sure found his candidate. Lonegan has lost more races than just about anyone and usually not with much dignity. Steve you might be Mr. Arch-Conservative but you are also an angry, snarling guy who doesn't know how to treat people in any way. And Mr. Seal the Borders was hiring illegals because no good American would want to work for his wages and attitude.
I will be you that Dan and Steve will be shocked when Murray Sabrin backers get him on the ballot again so we can ensure a true conservative Republican of the non-fascist variety is our gubernatorial candidate.
Lonegon The Blow Hard
the only reason that Gallic has "come aboard" is that Lonegan can't use his normal vehicle "Americans for Prosperity" as a platform for Gov. Just his presence in any race makes the NJ GOP a laughing stock.
Republican Cannibalism
While the Republicans are eating their own and jockying for position in 09. There are races to be won this year. One wonders where the Christies, the Crowleys and the Lonegans donations are ?. You cant build a house without a foundation. This year might be a good year to start.
Excellent Point Bergenite
I bet Crowley is the only one who donates at all. You see great Senators like Kevin O'Toole and Tom Kean giving money but forget about Lonegan. It'll be a real shame for Mr. Taxpayer when the voters find out about his atrocious record in Bogota and reject him.
Gallics Right-Wing Craziness from Cult Upbringing
Read and decide for yourself:
http://peopleofhope.tripod.com
Run Steve Run!!!
Please! Make Jon Corzine's day!!!
ROTFLMAO
From Frederick Douglass
Yeah seriously...
If Jon Corzine has any hope at all it's in Steve Lonegan...
Corzine Re-Elected!!!
has lonegan's newest publicity stunt been thrown out of court yet?
Not yet but it will be....
Even though the State constitution calls for the borrowing to go before the taxpayers first, the State Supreme Court has never been a fan of following that law. Just look at the Lautenberg decision. They will do whatever the hell they want to do, just like always.