Unanue enters race for U.S. Senate

Republicans asked him to run because they're clearly not happy with the two guys currently in the race, and in a letter to the Republican chair he says he wants to work with Democrats and Independents as well as Republicans. 

Let's see, someone who wants to work for everyone in the state rather than kiss the [rings] of the most extreme elements of his party?  Sounds like a new message to me.  

Leave it to the NJGOP Leadership to embarass themselves multiple times in the same race!!

I think Senators' McConnell and Ensign learned their lesson though and won't seek a repeat performance.

No word yet if Mr. Unanue will need 24 seconds to answer a question on the 2nd Amendment. But rest assured, if he does, I'll have a YouTube video up immediately. 

Anybody have the over/under on how many days before Joe Pennacchio withdraws from the race? My guess is after the Essex Convention, but before Thursday in Monmouth and Saturday in Middlesex. 

if they want to press button 2.

No other group has bamboozeled  and diluted  the American culture before. All oter groups, Russians, Germans, Poles, Italians  Koreans etc  have melted in without linguistic and other demands. If  this is  all this guy has to offer together with his 40 pieces of silver is this enough to throw county committee under the bus for. ?

If this comes to pass and if the results of  legitimate conventions are not honored it will be  the end  of NJ GOP. If we cant rally around a candidate chosen by Republicans the election is over. Those who had any part in this have disgraced the process and should not get re elected..

Over the last few years, Democrats in Washington have...

1) belittled General Patreus and stated that the war in Iraq is lost,

2) campaigned on earmark reform and proceeded to increase earmarks,

3) pushed for altering the institution of marriage (and will likely do so in New Jersey in 2009),

4) threatened to let the Bush tax cuts expire.

Clearly, we need to blaze a new trail instead of trodding down the same path.  "Work with" Democrats?  No thanks!  We need change for New Jersey!

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson

As most of you probably know, I'm a Sabrin supporter, but I'd rather see Pennacchio than this guy.  This guy is like a male version of Estabrook.  Rich...  Has contributed to Dems...  Let's be honest here, they asked him to run because he's rich.  Is that what democracy is about!?

 "I am prepared to work with Republicans, Independents, and Democrats to win this election [emphasis added]".  Andrew Unanue.

How does this statement represent a betrayal of Republican values?  Was Ronald Reagan a turncoat because he focused much of his campaign on tapping into what became known as "Reagan Democrats"?  I would hope any GOP candidate would make it a priority to compete for Dem and independent votes in a state where one cannot win absent drawing significant support therefrom.  The key words are "to win this election", not capitulate on policy objectives.  If he says the latter, I will be the first one to challenge him on this.  And a Senator should work with all his constituents, including those of the opposite political stripe as a matter of leadership.  Many Dems in NJ are in agreement with Republicans on fiscal and social issues.  For instance, I grew up with large numbers of pro-life Catholics who happen to be registered as Dems for other reasons.  People respond to a message of prosperity, principle and hope, regardless of party affiliation.         

From what he said in his albeit brief statement, Unanue appears to recognize the fact that first, NJ residents are being decimated by runaway taxation and, second, Lautenberg has done nothing to end this obscene inequity.  An anti-tax, pro-business platform is the exact formula with which the GOP wins.  Unfortunately, the "100 percenters" seem more willing to leave the political cancer known as Frank Lautenberg in office rather than soldier on with a candidate who they agree with maybe 70% of the time.  I hope these purists don't apply this standard to their personal lives.  If so, they better line up a good divorce lawyer.  

Martin, I don't think getting elected is a matter of "working with democrats" so much as it is to appeal to democratic voters.  Most people I know that generally vote democratic here in NJ have had enough.  Older Dem's tend to be Kennedy Dem's who see how far left the Dem platform has gone since JFK's death and do not agree with it.  These people want lower taxes and less of their money going to urban areas.  They do not discriminate against gays, but do not want the institution of marriage to be redefined.  They believe in responsible stem cell research that isn't funded by a bankrupt state government, which is why it was so easy to get people to vote against funding last November.  They do not believe in earmarks and irresponsible spending.  They may not want to be in Iraq, but do not approve of Dem's calling Patreaus names and saying that he is a liar, as Hillary did a year ago.

These are not areas where we need to "work with Dems," but to outline the philosphical differences and appeal to registered Dem's to get their vote!

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson

If you're going to dissect the language of the letter, no need to be disingenuous about it.  Working "with Republicans, Independents and Democrats to win this election" doesn't mean chatting up Patrick Leahy on judicial nominees or trying on flip flops with John Kerry, it means engaging ALL voters to work for change in Washington.  As in no more Frank Lautenberg.  

I really don't care if Lautenberg is 44 or 104, but he hasn't represented New Jersey well and he sure as heck doesn't represent me.  Maybe Unanue wil.  

"He needs a message other than "I'm Hispanic"..."

Bob Menendez didn't!

Besides that, he's not another Country Club WASP which you've been railing against here to no end which I totally agree with you on so I believe this is a breath of fresh air.

Andy thank you for entering this race. I finally have a choice that I don't have to hold my nose to vote for!

"Liberals are people who will believe anything...twice."- William F. Buckley

Why all you people are railing about conventions and such.  I'm sure Wally can help us here but I think only a handful of conventions have been held.  It is entirely possible then that with Pennacchio being badly damaged goods and Sabrin never having been really viable, that even with the late entry, Unanue can walk away with the vast majority of the county lines.  Would that make him the frontrunner? What happens if Pennacchio drops out?  What then?

Joe P's manifesto wanted to tattoo or, alternativley, put bracelets on criminals and to periodically change the color of money.  Seven years ago when he ran for governor (as a libertarian, not as a Republican), Murray not only wanted to legalize prostitution and gambling, he wanted to pay foreign governments $10-20k to take US criminals.  Frankly, Unanue is the only one who hasn't said anything nutty yet.  To me, that's a big plus.

Color me cynical but i don't think most of you care all that much about the process.  I think defending the conventions is a convenient subterfuge for insulating your candidates.  The dynamics of this contest have changed...fundamentally and substantially.  Some people might think it appropriate to re-evaluate after such a dramatic change.  Has anyone thought to ask the candidates who will be running on the undercard?  Who do they want to run with in light of what has happened.  Shouldn't they have a voice?  Isn't this what's best for the party?  Isn't this about trying to win?

Someone with homes in Alpine, Central Park West and Vail, CO is never going to appeal to working families in this state.  We're a lot better off with the two guys who actually want the seat than this theoretical fantasy candidate and alleged Catholic who has his campaign annoucement on Easter Sunday.

Does anyone know where he stands on anything other than being, as Rob Ortiz puts it, a "social moderate"?? 

I have no tolerance for people like you who would rather lose by 20 points with a candidate you agree with 95% of the time, than try to rally behind a guy you agree with 70% of the time

And that my friends is the definition of a RINO and EXACTLY why the NJGOP is in the mess it is in. 

But guess what Einstein, we have put your theory to the test, with Doug Forrester and Tom Kean, Jr. in '05 & '06.. How'd those races work out?

What hasn't been tried is just the opposite of what you are advocating.. Why don't YOU join us and rally around the Conservative candidate for a change..

I think the reason Kean lost was that he simply wasn't ready for prime time.  Have you ever seen him speak before an audience?  Did you see him deliver the Republican response to Corzine's budget address a month or so ago?  He needs to get more experience in public speaking and to polish his ability speak with a command of the issues.  (Constructive criticism here.  Nothing personal, Tom, but watch the tape of yourself giving the response and you'll see what I mean).

It was no different with Estabrook, whom I had also seen speak before a live audience twice before her 30 second gaffe appeared on YouTube - I cringed when I watched her read a 2 minute stump speech from cue cards because she couldn't memorize her core beliefs.  The NJGOP needs to train people in public speaking and communication and cultivate candidates when they are young and running for local offices before feeding them to the meat-grinder of statewide election.

I don't know anything about our newest Senate candidate, but I hope he's been thoroughly vetted and posesses an ability to speak before an audience.  If one cannot communicate their ideals effectively, they are lost as a candidate.  That's something our leadership in NJ really needs to get a firm grasp of.  Pennacchio may not be the ideal candidate, but he is a very polished speaker who seems to have a firm grasp of issues and solutions and would probably do well in a debate with Lautenberg.  Sabrin's just to negative and too far on the fringe to get more than 40% of the overall vote.

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson

I am laughing at your comments especially since you are a self-proclaimed conservative who endorsed Kate Whitman, a moderate republican who has never held an elected office. Shame on you.

3rd, A large part of why Kean lost that race is because he had to turn to the right to appease conservative idealogues such as yourself.  In so doing, he alienated the middle/moderates that absolutely have to be won to win an election in NJ.  That's strike 3.

What race were you following gnl ?

Where did Kean, Jr. EVER appease the right in his race, a race in which in one of the debates against Menendez he called for EXPANDING family care, a race in which Kean spend the last 2 weeks before the election picking a fight with Rush Limbaugh and running to the left.

Please check your facts first before you embarass yourself even further... 

Soooooooooo, a Republican announces that he's seeking the party nomination for the US Senate in '08. And what do we read here? The Tom Kean 'history re-writers' crawl out of their darkness and start bashing Sen. Kean. That's so typical of their depth of knowledge. Tom Kean ran a race in what turned out to be a nationwide Democratic sweep. So what did Sen Kean actually do. He produced the closest GOP challenger's results in the country. He was closer to winning the seat than any Republican candidate in MD, MN,  or Washington state. Tom Kean didn't win the Senate seat (look at what we got instead). But, he certainly showed what a quality Republican can do in a state that's so blindly Democratic that it keeps voting for the current 'majority leadership' and their results in Trenton. Our problem in NJ is not Sen. Tom Kean.......it's the Democrats who've given us a government that's knows nothing else but tax and spend.    

I like GOYA products but I wouldn't vote for Black Bean Soup for Senate (unless it was Black Bean Soup or Frank Lautenburg.)

"Hollywood is a place whre thy'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and 50 cents for your soul." - Marilyn Monroe (She never knew how profound she was.)

Tom Kean Jr. lost because he was a Republican in 2006.

Everyone can stop arguing about that election already, thank you. No Republican challenger won. CONSERVATIVES lost in Virginia, Montana, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, so if you want to tell me a "conservative" could of won in New Jersey, I'd have to start drinking heavily to believe it.

So then the argument goes to Forrester in 2005 and his message was too negative and he had trouble connecting to voters. It didn't matter if he had a lot of money or not, it was just a personality/speeches image thing. Let's not forget what the Corzine campaign ran on as well: Cleaning up Trenton, the business smart guy, many people bought that argument and are now pissed off because he has not delivered what so ever.

Mountaintop: It was reported on Easter Sunday that Unanue was running because of the letter sent to Wilson. Unanue hasn't officially announced so give the Easter thing a rest will you.

I think that any of the reasons cited by other posters suffice to why conservatives couldn't win in the past here in NJ.  I do think that a day may come when a true conservative can win, but it wont happen for the forseeable future, in my honest opinion.  The debate on the national scene may have to change some before a conservative can run and win statewide in New Jersey.  OR things have to get SO bad in New Jersey (and they ARE heading in that direction) that folks will just vote for the opposition because they are sick and tired of the status quo.  But thanks to the unions and speciali interests swarming the State House, chances are that this wont happen for some time...

To be fair, Kean lost for a number of reasons, but it IS true that '06 was simply a disasterous year for the GOP on the national level.  I think this was the over-riding factor in Kean's loss.  The "Bush factor" was just too strong in a campaign that focused mostly on the war and seemed more of a referendum on his presidency than an actual debate on the issues.  Even Lincoln Chafee, the most liberal Republican in the Senate, lost his seat and because he was seen as just another vote to keep the GOP in charge in DC. 

Honestly, it all had more to do with political climate than a Right v. Left mentality. 

Veritas vos Liberabit
"Collecting more taxes than absolutely necessary is legalized robbery." - Calvin Coolidge

The NJ GOP seems desparate to find anyone...anyone with a pulse. What NJ GOP is looking for is another machine candidate. A candidate that takes orders and platforms from party boss's. They themselves have no platform, in the case of Unanue and now Crowley. Neither have any political experience or real ambition. They are being dragged in. Lets ask each candidate "why they feel so strongly to enter a important race?"

What the party needs is a genuine candidate that actually believes and practices true conservative values. The values the Republican party once stood for: limited government, low taxes, free markets, individual liberty, strenght through peace foriegn policy.

The Republican party under the Bush administration has become the party of big government, more entitlements, borrow and spend policies. Romney was right when he said Washington is broken, and thats because Republicans are acting like Democrats.

And that is EXACTLY what Unanue and Crowley are...Democrats. Giving alot of money to the Republican party doesnt not give you a automatic pass.

Right now the only candidate that speaks of the great Republican platform of Taft, Goldwater and Reagan is Murray Sabrin.

Do we tow the party line, or do we send a real conservative to Washington?

p.s. i admit posting same reply to other post as im going on vacation for a week....i feel a point needs to be made.