Over the last fifty years, who has been New Jersey's best Governor?
Contributors
Wally Edge
If Paul Sarlo becomes the new Senate Judiciary Chairman when John Adler leaves for Washington in January, Senate President Richard Codey will ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's nothing more difficult to see than the history before your eyes. It sometimes takes generations to understand the significance of ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
OK, he didn't say precisely that, but when the Chairman of the Budget Committee informs us that governmental spending is the key to prosperity, ... >
Debbie Holtz
The Star Ledger got it right last April when it gave a thumb's-up to the NJN management plan to wean “the state's only public ... >
Steve Lonegan
The sub prime mortgage melt down and its ensuing financial “crisis” has tested the mettle of all of us who believe in and support the free ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
The media, which loves headlines and knows little history, is trying to sell President Elect Obama as another Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that ... >
Joey Novick
Whenever I get the chance to visit my parents in Florida when working a comedy gig down there, it’s like living in a “Seinfeld” episode. They ... >
Juan Melli
In an election year driven by a hemorrhaging economy and an electorate hungry for an end to divisive politics, 7th Congressional District candidate ... >
Carla Katz
A couple of weeks ago, my mother, Angelina Katz, did her second debate on behalf of Barack Obama. A debate? My mother? If you knew her, you’d be ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
Former State Senator Wayne Bryant got a smack on the back of the head from a jury of his peers today when they found him guilty of all eleven charges ... >
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Quote of the Day
"What's been happening in the markets has brought out so many emotions. ... We are feeling it too. Our job is to be level-headed and cool and to run the portfolio. I think we are going to turn this around." -- An optimistic William Clark, the director of the state division of investment, after losing $25 billion in pension funds since July.
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Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Christie's legcy― THE BERGEN RECORD
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Now it's the Dems' chance to be dumb― PAUL MULSHINE
Corzine likely to go nowhere― THE DAILY RECORD
SILENT ON CHARGE; LIPSKI TELLS OF ALCOHOL BATTLE― STEVEN LIPSKI
Reclaiming the narrative of an enlightened nation ― CORY BOOKER
Syndicate
Tom Kean -Negatives
He won the election over Florio through the use of illegal and anti-american voter intimidation tactics in Essex county. More than any Governor, he through lack of legislative and executive leadership, allowed the NJDEP to evolve into the into its current bureaucratic mess. Kean must take responsibility for the acceleration of the loss of manufacturing jobs in New Jersey and the lack of rational planning for the Atlantic City region. He raised the income tax, started the borrowing binge and let the NJDEP feed its growth on self supporting fees and fines.
Byrne v. Kean
In my book, a solid performance in bad times, pushing through unpopular but needed policies (Byrne) beats a decent performance when the treasury is flush (Kean).
Anybody named Dick
is fine in my book.
Hughes or Byrne
Hughes probably had the biggest overall positive effect on NJ, given his tenure as both Gov and Chief Justice.
But since the poll says best Gov, I think Brendan Byrne was a stand-up and classy guy who put NJ back on the right track. Made tough choices, and still remained popular. That says something.
Kean & his staff were the best
Not just his ability to communicate, but his appointed staff was the best, some were: Cary Edwards, Gene McCaffrey, etc., and consultant William Palitucci made things "rock and roll". His staff was very professional and dedicated. One downfall was divesting the pensions from South Africa, but his most famous still prevails, "New Jersey and You Perfect Together." Like it or not, he was the best as the polls reflect...
Dana Redd.
Jim Florio faced a daunting task of funding the Abbott v. Burke Supreme Court decision. The previous governors ignored city schools, all governors after Florio never reduced the taxes that Florio implimented to pay for the Abbott decision, and Whitman and Mcgreevey took pension money to plug holes in the day to day operations' budget. Florio had street smarts, a law degree, and balls. You figure it out. Case closed.