Dennison takes a page from Sheldon Whitehouse's playbook

Not only did the "moderate" Allen vote against clean needle exchange, which would lessen the amount of diseases passed between drug users and the general populace and decrease the spread of AIDS in particular, she also did not vote for or against the civil unions bill or a recent stem cell funding bill. She may say she is for it, but when push came to shove, she refused to take a stance. The Chafee analogy works to an extent, but that R.I. senator was a borderline hero in my book for being a constant voice against the illegitimate war in Iraq and working to eliminate the death penalty; needless to say, the calculating, triangulating Allen is a far cry from such a principled senator.

And this narrative of Dennison running against Bush is getting a bit old, though I am glad that the state's political elite are seeing this race in district 7 for what it is, that is, a competitive and spirited election that the upstart Dennison may actually win. Dennison's recent salvos have focused on Allen's hypocrisy on asset monetization, her lack of consistency on property tax relief, and her connections to the BurlCo GOP corrupt elite -- all state issues. If Allen doesn't want her name associated with that abyssmal failure of a president, then she shouldn't be a keynote speaker at Women for Bush 2004, nor campaign on his platform in her failed senate bid in 2002.

Of course, political analysts create narratives in any race, so I don't fault anyone for saying Bush is playing a role in Dennison's attack route.

One of the reasons that I support Dennison -- I'm wildly enthusiastic about this former Clinton speechwriter and community activist as a candidate -- is because I think he, like Corzine, will make pragmatic choices on public education and health care for the state, expanding areas where there are deficiencies, while at the same time paying the foremost attention to the needs of his constituents rather than constantly focusing on statewide campaigns and ambitions, like Allen.

This is a real, legitimate race, folks, and Dennison may very well walk away the victor.  We all know what happened with the Whitehouse race in November.

I think Diane Allen's stance on civil unions cannot, at least at this point, be construed as either overwhelmingly positive or negative, considering she abstained from voting either for or against them (probably in an attempt to find a meta-stable position somewhere in between that ultimately just made her seem wishy-washy).

You Republican guys, sadly, don't even understand the strategy. But, when you watch the results come Nov. 6, you'll get it. See, kids, some people are that much smarter than others. It's not your fault for not seeing the coming storm. Diane Allen doesn't even know what to make of this guy and from what I've heard, she and her newly formed Republican team are running scared. Dennison wins in a huge upset and becomes the youngest state senator in state history.

>>>>>>“I’m well aware of the concept of federalism. I just see it as a relevant thing to point out to the good people of the district, and once I do they don’t say ‘I don’t care’ or ‘it’s irrelevant.’ They say ‘that’s terrible.’ They’re pretty much outraged,” said Dennison. <<<<<

 People are "pretty much outraged"? When you parse your words with "pretty much," that sends off a red flag in my book.  What are they saying is "terrible" anyway?  That she doesn't have the word Republican on her fliers?  This guy's lack of substance may doom downballot races as well.

I'd be afraid to label myself a Democrat. Jon Corzine is below 50% and heading south. All he has done in office is raise sales taxes, defund colleges, tried to sell off good assets and now is breaking with people in his own party with a wildly out-of-the mainstream position on immigration. and plus him and the yo-yos in the Assembly shut down the government last year, which denied people basic services and risked the security of New Jersey. That's really who I want to be associated with. Honestly do you Democrats REALLY think Corzine is doing a good job? Bush is old news, while Corzine potentially has six and a half more years.

Dennison brings on the Bush narrative by constantly talking about him and Allen. Like I said before I dont care if Diane Allen has a shrine to George Bush in her closet, it doesn't have anything to do with her stances and her issues in state matters.

Last time I checked this is still a state issues election. Maybe I'm wrong..Dennison seems to think it's a national election this year.

Lastly an abstain is not a vote in the negative. While it's also not positive just think at is "She didn't vote against civil unions". So no matter what she really feels about the issue, she didnt deny homosexuals the ability to have civil unions and that's what really should matter to anyone.

Are you being anti-gay? If so, I don't appreciate it. That is yet another STATE issue Dennison is clear on. He is, without a doubt, pro-gay rights and Allen's record on this is abyssmal. Voting "abstain." What a wuss?!?!? Dennison will be a strong voice for all residents, including our gay residents. Allen's vote for abstention on this very important civil rights issue demonstrates what a phony she is. You'll never get such wishy-washy calculated weak-kneed crap from Dennison.

NJEA endoreses Diane Allen for Senate in the 7th District. Diane = 2 endorsements Dennison = zero Pattern is already starting Diane by 10%

More Cowbell Please !!

And I do not mean to sound arrogant, it's just the damn truth. There is a lot of talk on these posts about how voters will see through Dennison's attempt to label everything "R" so Allen becomes a victim of guilt by association, because "the people" are smarter than that. The people on these posts might be, but the typical man on the street? Forget about it! If you want proof, go knock on your neighbor's door and ask them a few questions, or stand at the coffeepot at Wawa for a few extra minutes this morning. You will be sickened. People are STUPID about politics, and they fall for these juvenile tactics because it corresponds with their level of understanding what is really going on in the world.  Don't underestimate the significance of this fact: while you are at home watching CNN or Fox tonight, your neighbor, whose vote weighs just as much as yours, will be watching "The bachelor: will he pick the midget or the tall girl?"  If Diane Allen wants to make sure she is returned to Trenton, she would do well to take this Dem strategy seriously and not dismiss it as something people will "see right through." They won't. And George Bush is still hated enough to lose elections for Republicans in '07.

Commonsensepolitico: That same type of political superficiality is also evident in the tired metanarratives that Republicans give for Dems in N.J. and elsewhere, ranging from "Democrats only want to raise taxes" to "Every problem in the state is traced to the Democratic Party." Addressing the core problems themselves necessitate moving beyond three-year-old level political consciousness, but the same faux narratives persist; hence, the obverse of that, Allen = Bush, also persists. As I mentioned before, besides rightly connected Allen to failed Bush policy agendas, particularly ones that continually keep New Jersey soldiers in an endless, resource-depleting war halfway across the globe, Dennison has been sounding the note on Allen's poor record on state and local issues, from flip-flopping on asset monetization to voting for, then against, the implementation of short-term property tax relief.

I also agree with Arnie's assertion that the analogy of Allen and Chafee is limited, but for different reasons. Chafee was a voice of reason within a brief moment in time, 2000-2006 (and the present, to an extent) when the far right, headed by the Christian Coalition and other agents of intolerance, had taken over the party and the country. He was one of the last few honorable Republicans and was a person whose principles were known (against the death penalty, anti-war). Diane Allen, who triangulates on issues, hides from substantive debate, has initiated no true property tax reform or ethics reform despite being in the legislature for 12 years, is no Lincoln Chafee, even in her wildest dreams.

The most cursory of research into Allen reveals some extremely shady connections, ranging from a $1000 contribution from Boss Paulsen to Jeannie Paulsen giving $1000 (source below) to other "bundling" from the corrupt BurlCo GOP. Did we ever find out more about that 200k "non-job" job given to a GOP Municipal Chair by the BurlCo machine? http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/glenn-paulsen.asp?c... http://www.city-data.com/elec/elec-RIVERTON-NJ.html

On the topic of Bush, I can see how all Republicans want to "abandon ship" with this president, arguably the worst in U.S. history, but Allen has gone out of her way to tie her destiny to his platforms; it simply isn't a plausible argument to say that a pro-war stance on Iraq, as Allen has, doesn't lead to a loss in local resources because of hundreds of billions spent there -- not to mention the loss of lives of New Jerseyans because of the Bush war Allen has consistently supported and refused to vote against in the state senate.

I know that Rich Dennison wouldn't vote against property tax relief for his constituents, nor would he not take a stance on stem cell funding and civil unions. Once again, the analogy between one of the last good Republicans, Lincoln Chafee, and a triangulating, out-of-touch, entrenched incumbent like Allen is strained at best.

Despite Acting BurlCo GOP-Machine-Corruption Chair Dawn Lacey's claims, Diane Allen is part of the problem with property tax relief and fiscal solvency in the state: She is most certainly not the solution. Since she, as a partisan Republican, jumped at the chance of supporting Whitman's boondoggle budgets, which got us into this financial mess in the first place; and now she finally, after 12 wasted years in Trenton, puts out a press release that the state should live within its financial means.

Here's a clue for Deadbeat Diane: Why not actually put forth a substantive property tax relief plan instead of putting out press releases, and why not actually vote for a state budget that would allocate direct property tax relief to district taxpayers rather than voting against it?

And district voters should know and care that Allen wouldn't vote in the best interest of gay and lesbian families, nor would she take a stance on stem cell research. And, of course, there was that unfortunate clean needle exchange vote, and many more such moments...

Acting Chair Dawn Lacey a.k.a. gopgal08: Only with twisted, fallacious logic can one twist support for gay and lesbian families with the most basic of rights (a civil union bill that Allen wouldn't support) somehow with the disenfranchisement of single family parents and straight families. If Allen supported working families, she wouldn't have voted against property tax relief, and she would have initiated some type of substantive property tax relief in the past 12 years. Allen's aides (Boss Paulsen, perhaps?) have to give you better talking points!

Unlike Allen, whom we can only guess what she's been doing the past 12 years (someone really needs to film her to find out what she actually does do, if anything, in her legislative capacity), Dennison will provide strong and decisive leadership immediately if elected to the state senate. There will be no waffling on key issues such as civil unions or stem cell research, no siding with the Bush administration on Iraq, as with her recent non-vote on the surge, and no substituting press releases for real, substantive leadership and presence in Trenton.

Marty if you read the article, Diane voted against this and other bills if it did not provide the other stipulations attached, this one I believe was supposed to have some extra benes for our seniors. Go figure! Marty you and Dennison needs major lessons in simple government.

More Cowbell Please !!

Dennison is far from being the strongest competitor to Diane and right now, he is no where near where his running mates are. Case in point, the past two days in two of the local papers, Diane with C &C have been with Corzine signing bills and press conferecing. Get the Newsweekly paper which is a small but largely delivered paper and there is the picture of all of them together. You cannot call a race competitve when you have someone who has NO platform or Plans to protect the residents of this district. All anyone knows of Dennison is that he is the Dem running agaisnt Diane, and this whole R thing is so utterly offensive to voters because it makes it sound like they have stupid and that they do not know who they are voting for. That is a stupid move on his part. People, including many democrats are going to break for Diane. It is inevitable and regardless how you spin it, the facts are in her court. As long as Diane is going town to town to take care of issues that need to be addressed and actually getting many things accomplished in Trenton, that is keeping her in the Senate. Its a bitter pill to swallow Ronald, but that is why people keep re-electing her because she does her job. Diane by 10%

More Cowbell Please !!

I know that GOP Chair Dawn Lacey (gopgal08) keeps claiming that Sen. Allen is going "door to door" for her campaign, but if she is doing so, it may surprise residents who haven't heard from her in years. Every few years, Deadbeat Diane seemingly sees her shadow, just like Punxsutawney Phil, and finally gets to her constituent's needs but is otherwise, as Ronald has suggested, daydreaming in Trenton of being a U.S. senator or doing, well, absolutely nothing. I wish that someone could follow her with a camera to see what she actually does in Trenton.

Dennison is right to point out Allen's close connection to Bush, which led to her not voting against the Iraq troop surge in the state senate, but he is also holding her feet to the fire about terrible decisions and non-decisions that directly affect her district. It seems odd that Allen would vote to support Homestead rebates early in the year and then vote against the actual budget to fund said property tax rebates; though the property tax relief plan as it stands is certainly in need of revision, it is still one worthy of support, but Allen had to be a partisan Republican once again and vote the way her party leadership wanted her to do so. Allen is actually a rather partisan Republican when it comes to her voting record, and barely, if ever, crosses party lines -- Sen. Lance says "jump," and she is all too ready to say "how high, sir." And, of course, there were those unfortunate moments where she voted against a clean needle exchange that helps stop the spread of AIDS and when she was too calculating and triangulating to take a stand on civil unions and stem cell research...

Dennison would not, as Allen did, sell out N.J. troops to the Bush administration's prolonged conflict in Iraq, and he would ensure that a property tax relief plan, however flawed, would be actually implemented for working New Jerseyans rather than voting against it. I know where Dennison stands on the issues but unfortunately can't say the same about Ole Deadbeat.

If you are Dawn Lacy, be sure to get Diane to the debates. The inside word is that she's considering backing out of them out of fear of getting destroyed by Dennison.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHA You owe me a new keyboard for spewing coffee on it Now, put down your crackpipe and come back to reality!

More Cowbell Please !!

It speaks volumes for the failure of the BurlCo GOP when its Acting Chair -- on a public forum -- compares those who disagree with her as part of the "Hitler Youth," makes thinly-veiled homophobic comments, calls a Democratic opponent "a little ankle biting annoyance," calls another poster a drug user (put down the "crackpiple"), and makes generally juvenile comments about any and every Democrat.  For a good laugh, take a look at what gopgal08/Chairwoman Lacy had to say about me in this rambling, pointless diatribe on that amateur site Red Jersey:

http://www.redjersey.net/2007/08/10/liberal-hatred

These are the amateurs running the BurlCo GOP behind the orders of Boss Paulsen and that lobbyist who is calling the shots for them, and they are a prime reason why this corrupt organization is losing its grip on countywide offices. My question for Deadbeat Diane is whether she will return campaign contributions from party boss Glenn Paulsen and Jeannie Paulsen and whether she will use her position on the ethics committee to investigate the widespread corruption in the BurlCo GOP. The answer to both is probably no, of course, since she is invested in that same machine.

On a related note, did anyone else read in the BurlCo Times about the latest controversy with Addiego and the freeholders trying to create a slush fund out of the taxpayers' pockets? What's new, right?

If you loathe the GOP so much, why do you read Red Jersey??

And for the record, your bringing in the spouses name of the former GOP chair is really scummy. But hey, you never fail to surprise me with your desperation.

Do you actually think that the voters of the 7th District are going to be swayed by your brand of thinking? No. Sorry, but your obsession with this disrict by someone who does not live here or cannot even vote here is quite amusing.  Is it really because Diane and other GOP still win regardless of what your demograhpic stats say??

I think that is the answer! 

 Diane by 10%

More Cowbell Please !!

I for years have read this site actively and as of late been very patient with the ramblings of some posters, but when someone like Martin starts going on about a particulare Senator he does have a loathing for and starts calling out posters because he is in the wrong, I am going to break my silence and do my first post! Firstly, Martin, you have no proof or suggestion who is whom when they post. To keep rambling on and on that this gopgal is someone other than he or she is just adds lunacy to your argument. Secondly, this gopgal has never once, NEVER ONCE said that they are against gay right, hates democrats, or inferred drug use except in a joke (nice one too) to another poster that he or she has become so called friendly with on this site. I have read all of the posts and not once has this been said. Thirdly, you, Sir, have been the one preaching your hate, and frankly it is getting tiresome. It seems gopgal and others have tried to guide you in a direction to enlighten you on what is going on in their home district and yet you fail to take any of their suggestions to heart especially since you do not live there or can vote there. Fourth: Your continued harranging of Senator Diane Allen. This is a woman who clearly has demonstrated to my satisfaction a clear and constant voice of knowledge and experience to our 7th District (yes I LIVE IN THE 7TH) and has done well to keep deserving our support. You, Sir, have no idea of what she has done for her residents and I am glad to be able to cast my vote for her. Fifth: oh, did I mention THAT I AM A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT! OMG! Horrors! I said it! What do you think about that Martin?? I am an educated voter! I am one of those voters who are your worst nightmare; I vote the person not the party and will gladly NOW be telling all my fellow democrats and friends to keep backing Diane Allen. Sixth Rich Dennison - this guy is a numbskull. When I read about his press releases and no way is he remotely qualified for this seat, nor should he even be running! My goodness, have I been really voting for a REPUBLICAN?? Wow! well, guess what Mr. Dennison, this democrat proudly will be casting his vote for Diane again and will be making sure that all my friends, neighbors and family do likewise, even all my democratic friends and family members. Oh, and Mr. Dennison, your harping on George Bush is having no effect on many of us either. In summary, I am a democrat but I still want what is best for my district, and that is Senator Diane Allen. Jack Conners has done a lot too, I have to add that, but I thank Martin for his "loathing" because he has made my decision very clear to keep supporting Diane. Please do not think that all democrats feel the same way Martin does, we do not. Some of us do not buy the fact that just because Dennison has a D next to his name gives him the right to have our vote. And one more thing; your attacks on gopgal are so unwarranted. You only make yourself look foolish accusing this poster of being who they are not. There are thousands of people that read this site every day and probably hundreds that post on it too, your wild accusations only are a diservice to you and what your message is. I am glad I got that off my chest!

One would think that stream of consciousness narration reached its apex with Faulkner, but not when gopgal08/pablos3/catzmom03/Dawn Lacey gets angry and posts long, pointless diatribes against yours truly and Dennison, who is growing stronger by the day. Let's stop this silly charade. Talking with such a character is reminiscent of a conversation with Sibyl.

The BurlCo GOP machine has had its corrupt practics brought into the light, whether its funneling money for Allen through Paulsen's firm, Capehard and Scatchard, or using no-show jobs to cheat taxpayers out of their hard-earned money, as with Bark and that scandal. And then there's Lenape-gate, Public Financial Management's contracts, Bob Stears and the BurlCo Bridge Commission indictment (love that latest piece on their slush fund efforts), and much, much more...

Dennison is a superior candidate to the triangulating, disconnected Allen, who only has exacerbated the fiscal mismanagement in Trenton by supporting pension-stealing policies of the Whitman administration and voting against property tax relief for district 7 taxpayers. Dennison's thoughtful approach to public education and health care, particularly for the uninsured, makes him much more trustworthy on those and many other issues.

Time has come for me to take E Sedler's advice. Martin thrives on anything positive or negative about himself, and what he has to say, so I think I can say there are more important issues that Martin Martin Martin. I wonder what other name he will attach me to next, but no matter, he cannot prove who I am or anyone for that matter, so on to subjects at hand. Diane got great press today in the BCT once again WORKING for her residents. I posted this week that my pal who lives in one of the river towns was at a meeting whereby Diane was there and today was a great write up for her. Nice to see our State Senator on the ball, doing what she loves to do and that is represent us! Funny, havent seen any positive press on Dennison, oh, thats right, you have to do something positive to get positive reaction!

Diane by 10% 

More Cowbell Please !!

Do a google. Dennison won over 1300 more votes from Dems in the primary than Diane won from Repubs. Sorry, gopgal, but I don't see this overwhelming Dem cross-over support. The numbers are official and they speak for themself.  And I don't see why Dems who support Diane would vote for Dennison in the primary and then for some stupid reason change their vote come November.  They either wouldn't have gone to the polls for the primary or they wouldn't have voted for Dennison while at the polls on the primary. 

Mr Luvitz: I do admit that my family and I were on vacation during the primary and actually, my other pals and I had no intention of voting in the primary because unless it is contested, I really is more of a formality than anything else. That may sound lame, but that is my choice. I do know that many GOP folks we know from our lodge and other places were not planning to vote either in the primary. But, gopgal is correct; the number of dem voters do not equate at all (it is wishful thinking though) to an absolute victory in November. It was a very low turnout for the primary in general this year because there was no major races at the head of the ticket. Now, here is my question. Are you suggesting that as a democrat, I should abandon my personal choice and my other dem pals should do the same too just to elect your friend Rich Dennison? Just because he wants the seat? Or because we are democrats? I read his resume and although impressive, why should we or any of those people and groups that Diane has spoken to and helped (my group being one of them) why should be abandon the person that has helped us? I feel if it aint broke dont fix it.