May 23, 2006 - 5:01pm
Lloyd Bentsen (1921-2006)
By Wally EdgeThe death of Lloyd Bensten leaves George W. Bush as the only living Texan to never win electoral votes from New Jersey in a national campaign. Texans have traditionally run well in the Garden State: New Jersey voters have supported John Nance Garner (for Vice President in 1932 and 1936), Lyndon Johnson (for Vice President in 1960 and President in 1964), and George H.W. Bush (for Vice President in 1980 and 1984 and President in 1988), but not Bentsen, the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1988, or Bush, who lost New Jersey in 2000 and 2004.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Joe Ferriero's recent legal woes -- allegations that he assaulted a woman at a Labor Day barbecue at his home, and a federal probe of a grants ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's something missing from the Republican Convention. There is a need for a camera behind the curtain where speakers greet ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Barack Obama offers a hard-left vision for America. He would take NJ's disastrous economic policies national, and the resulting economic ... >
Debbie Holtz
Selecting the next NJN anchor will certainly be a different process than what happens at the major networks, local affiliates and other public ... >
Steve Lonegan
Tibet – the broad, high plateau between India and China – is bigger than Western Europe and the source of the great rivers of Asia: the Indus, ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
For the past few weeks, I've watched with fascination as politician after politician have appeared on a beach or a boardwalk and declared their ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Meet the Press, made a statement that incurred the wrath of members of the Catholic bishops club. She dared to say that ... >
Joey Novick
And now we go back in time, to Mr. Dembo's eighth grade science class and JHS 278, and a sixteen millimeter film about the seasonal migration of ... >
Juan Melli
Poll
is Chris Christie running for Governor?
Yes
54%
No
2%
I don't know
8%
I don't care
37%
PolitickerNJ Partners
SPONSORED BY:
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
The Pindell Report Keep up with the races in your state |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win Predict the road to the White House |
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Ferriero will take leave as Bergen Dem Chairman
- Andrews will seek re-election to House
- The Ballad of Governor Sarah Palin
- Federal court effectively kills NJ clean elections
- Pallone wants Christie to release personal schedules for last two years
- Merkt mulling bid for Governor
- Star-Ledger report: Ferreiro investigated for assault
- Torricelli on the Republican National Convention
- Editorial boards beat the crap out of Andrews
- Christie met with Beck to discuss '09 campaign, Lt. Governor
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- DOHERTY: NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA JUSTIFIES REPEALING GLOBAL WARMING RESPONSE ACT
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Torricelli on COAH
Quote of the Day
September 5, 2008
"A bare-faced liar. Rob Andrews lied. Plain and simple." -- A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial on Andrews' decision to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
-Philadelphia Inquirer, 09/05/08
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Politicker Poaches From Politico― News from Politicker.com
Xanadu bill footnote may weigh on Corzine― CHARLES STILE
Zoffinger not one to deny beliefs, avoid controversy― 'Codey's an idiot, and you can print that'
Welcome to New Jersey, Media Wasteland― NEW YORK OBSERVER
Divorce McGreevey style ― ALFRED DOBLIN
The judge got it right ― JAMES AHEARN
Capital Games― HERB JACKSON
Teen will get chance to sue a top N.J. judge ― ROBERTO RIVERA-SOTO
Mayor refusing to apologize for anti-Semitic slur ― WOODCLIFF LAKE
Court decision likely to have far-reaching implications in N.J. ― EMINENT DOMAIN
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
What about Ross Perot?
What about Ross Perot?
Did anyone really support H. Ross? -BHD
Did anyone really support H. Ross?
-BHD
Bentsen -- probably most noted for his debate one liner to Quayl
Bentsen -- probably most noted for his debate one liner to Quayle that "you sir are no Jack Kennedy."
And since we are on this NJ-is-the-center-of-the-universe kick here here, Perot's VP candidate is also most noted for a debate one liner "Why am I here?" He never won in NJ either.
Benson should have been the Presidential canidate instead of Duk
Benson should have been the Presidential canidate instead of Dukakis. He appeared much more Presidential and his Moderate leanings may have carried NJ
Admiral Stockdale! Nice pull.
Admiral Stockdale! Nice pull.
It's noteworthy that Bentsen is celebrated not for any important
It's noteworthy that Bentsen is celebrated not for any important policy positions or accomplishments, but rather a cheap ad hominem put-down obviously scripted by some staffer. Quayle may not have been a great leader, but he certainly was closer to JFK's positions on a strong defense, pro-growth tax policies, and essential patriotism than the Democratic party represented by Dukakis/Bentsen, Clinton/Gore, Gore/Lieberman, or Kerry/Edwards.
I saw a re-airing of the Quayle-Bentsen debates a little while b
I saw a re-airing of the Quayle-Bentsen debates a little while back on C-Span. Quayle actually stayed on focus, while Bensten was pretty much in attack mode. I personally think Bentsen would have won this race if he had run for Prez instead of V.P. The problem was that he had to run with an ultra-liberal on the top of the ticket, and therefore did not have the luxury of presenting his own moderate credentials.
You guys and you're moderates... where's the fun in moderation?
You guys and you're moderates... where's the fun in moderation?
-BHD
Hey Aude Sapere - how about a little respect for the dead? Simpl
Hey Aude Sapere - how about a little respect for the dead? Simply amazing how some people show an appalling lack of decorum.
Relax, Roscoe, and reread my post. I didn't even criticize Bents
Relax, Roscoe, and reread my post. I didn't even criticize Bentsen - though I certainly could have - but rather commented on what OTHERS have elevated to be his most significant moment. Here was a US Senator, VP candidate, and Treasury Secretary, yet the only thing he's known for is the JFK crack. Your reply implicitly supports my point, since you did not counter by noting a single Bentsen accomplishment, and be honest, you couldn't think of one without looking it up. Me neither.
But that doesn't mean Bentsen had no greater accomplishments. It just means nobody knows what they are. I wrote my earlier post after watching the NBC News piece on Bentsen's death, which ran a clip of the cheap shot but didn't mention any real accomplishments. My comment was more about what the media prefer to focus on, and how it hampers rather than helps us understand the real issues and the real differences between candidates and parties.
But as a big fan of decorum, do you not think it a shame when someone uses a forum for exchanging ideas and educating voters to instead insult and belittle his opponent? And don't you think it backfired out of all proportion, as this man - certainly more accomplished than you or I will ever be - will always be known best for delivering an insult and not for anything he may have done to make this country a better place? And that if decorum were observed in the debate, his known legacy would have been greater and more positive?
Aude Sapere, I agree. Here's a guy who was a congressman and Se
Aude Sapere, I agree. Here's a guy who was a congressman and Senator (and chairman of its Finance Committee), Treasury Secretary, war hero, and sucessful investment banker. The media also fails to mention that in '88 most polls showed in a 4-way match between "H.W." Bush, Dukakis, Quayle and Bentsen...that Bentsen would win. I personally think that the one smart thing Dukakis did during that campaign was select Bentsen as his running mate.
Dukakis ran an awful campaign, I mean this was during tough economic times for farmers, so he did extremely well in the prairie states (e.g. Minnesota, Iowa, and a relatively norrow loss in North Dakota). But the guy lost Maryland, California, NJ by double digits, and only won his home state of Massachussets by about 6 points. This ticket should be been reversed.
Note to Mike: If Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, you would tie each of the SOB's arms and legs to 4 trucks and have them drive off in different directions.