No can run on his right or his left -- he's too big.

I mean that in a good way, of course.

I do not agree with all of his views, but anyone who is willing to cut through the crap and telling it like it is, and pledge to lower taxes in the process, deserves to win again.

Hoping for Christie all the way from Southern California.

shoo-in ,dummy! who do you prefer...Jon (I lost 1 billion dollars of clients money)Corzine?

I dislike the state of affairs w/ respect to out of control spending and high taxes here in this state. If it takes someone w/ his personality to try and at least control spending and not reflexively raise taxes like his last opponent wanted to do, I could care less. The man is elected to do a job and him doing that job is all I care about.

He is a bit "in your face" but I feel as if he is just being honest. So often the soft-spoken socially correct politicians are feeding you a line of ---- shall we say..untruths?

I’ve always preferred wolves over sheep.

What sheep's clothing? He's one of the few politicians that tells you straight up what he thinks about something...in fact he's widely criticized for sharing too much. One can call him a lot of things- bully, overbearing, loud, self-promoting, etc - but I don't think you can call him duplicitous

like the thousands who lost everything they ever worked for because of Sandy?

Or the ones who have paid in to the system and expect something back, like our seniors, widows and widowers, retirees, veterans, disabled, or poor etc?
http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/173641141_Herald_News__A_non-profit_falls_down_on_its_mission.html

those check cashers?

Stewart, I'm assuming Hoffa is referring to the dead beats with the entitlement complex...the ones who sit home and do nothing and collect a check because it is easier than working. And don't tell me they don't exist. Dozens of people I went to high school with fall into that category.

mvrnj421- as an independent when i listen to conservative radio or tv they make it sound like ANYONE who voted for obama is a bum looking for a free ride. when in fact that is only a small percentage who take advantage of programs like unemployment, that is very important to people who use it correctly.
i had a good job that i lost in 2008 because of the awful eonomy, i collected for a couple months and was offered classes i could attend while unemployed. these classes gave me additional skills and helped me get a new job. after couple years at my new job i saved enough money to start my own company and now employ 10 more people. i am very thankful to unemployment, eventhough i paid into it in the past and do now, it helped me stay on my feet til i could find a new job, and now i am giving back much more.
yes while at unemployment meetings i saw people who took advantage of the system, but the same can be said about thousands of wealthy people who cheat on thier taxes.
the system can be improved, drug testing and volunteer work should be required. however people like me get offended when "hoffa" or the GOP make comments like "check cashiers" and i believe that is the main reason they lost this election.

fun fact- mitt romneys father was on welfare... even the extremely wealthy got a little help in the past.

Mary C - I am independent as well and I am not arguing about the election or why Obama won or any of that...none of that matters anymore. And yes, I agree that these programs are important for people that need them. I lost my job in 2011 and spent a few months on unemployment myself before finding a new job. I am not saying that everyone that receives government assistance is a bum. But the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of people out there who are abusing and taking advantage of this system. An acquaintance of mine spent nearly two years on unemployment, never looked for a job, sat home, relaxed, and partied on weekends. This is a serious problem in this country because there a lot of people out there doing this. It has become too easy to remain on these programs for extended periods of time and much of our nation is becoming dependent on handouts. It is hard to find a good job and people would rather sit home and collect a check for nothing than to take a job they feel is beneath them. Or in many cases, they have no interest whatsoever in any job...just take the free money. And with the economy the way it is, many working class citizens like myself aren't too thrilled about paying for these people to sit on the couch or go out to the bar. The system needs to be changed - weekly or monthly checkups on job search progress for unemployed, drug testing for unemployed/welfare, etc...it is not too much to ask is it?

mr421 perhaps you might take a moment to view this video of Gov Chrisities townhall in West Milford? Scroll to 1 hr 22 minutes

Where is the video?

i think it is a little exagerated how easy it is to maintain unemployment. i have couple friends who took advantage of the system and used their unemployment extension but now their unemployment expired and they are screwed. i know a 30 yr old who partied while on unemployment and was not motivated to get a job, now he lives with his parents and depends on them for money like a little child. and others who were forced to take jobs they once thought were below them.
it bothers me people take adavantage of unemployment but i do not think they are any worse than the wealthy who cheat on thier taxes. i also find it funny how conservatives will call the poor crooks for taking advantage of the system however when a millionaire finds loopholes in his taxes he is a good business man. they are both cheating and taking advantage of the US.
instead of the constant bickering and name calling we should work together to stop the poor, the wealthy, and everyone in bewtween from taking advantage of the system.

Mary, I am not biased toward either side, I am not defending tax cheats. But I don't think it is exaggerated how easy it is to maintain unemployment. My friend never had to check in with anyone to prove he was searching for a job, he never even had to see anyone, period. He filed over the phone and was approved, despite the fact that he was let go for constantly missing work, and then he simply collected his check every week for at least a year and a half. This is just one example. Our society is becoming lazy. That is the bigger problem, if you ask me. The money being paid to them is one thing, but the shift to a lazy, entitled country is embarrassing and makes me sick. What ever happened to hard work? Where did this thinking that the country has a responsibility to provide for everybody come from? I think it is a problem...and I am not talking politics here, so don't take it that way. I am talking about society.

Scroll to 1hr 22 minutes here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocFr4qH3Qog

Whatever the percentages of moochers vs. "legitimate" welfare recipients is beside Mary C.'s point, which is that we can't generalize. Many people need a safety net by no fault of their own, and it is both a moral necessity and to the advantage of our collective economy that they have it. Complaints about people taking advantage are not intelligent arguments against a safety net. They only make sense as arguing that people should not exploit it. An actual argument to the effect that there shouldn't be a safety net would require saying that all people out on their luck should be left to die in the gutter, regardless of whether they made good or bad choices.

If we are serious about addressing the problem of long term unemployment, then we need to look into the motivations behind people staying on welfare- a standard of living for entry level labor that is not meaningfully better and a lack of hope for mobility. It should be obvious that anyone who is on welfare would prefer the choice of something better then being on welfare, if they had and saw such an option available.

Mary C is also correct about there being just as many wealthy moochers as poor ones. Most importantly, if we compare the take home of a "check casher," who is by definition poor, with the take home of a wealthy person who has made money off of a workaround, it should be obvious where the greater cost to society lies.

I'm curious mrvrnj421 why you consider the person that cheats to be your friend and the government lending a helping hand as the enemy? Why didn't you turn this person in? Are you part of the "lazy and entitled society" that feels it is the responsibility of someone else to do that?

@mrvn: What has become of your friend?

Uh, think this through Biff. For Christie to have any chance to make a run for president in 2016, Obama would have to win this year. His commendation of Obama may very well have been political.

@Hookerman: Romney would likely lose anyway but Christie buried his chances for 2016. If Repubs want a moderate in four years they'll have Rubio who has every imaginable advantage (mild-mannered, a Senator, cute, a Latino, from swing state, Tea Party support). Christie could have pleased the base by giving the base some gun-rights and anti-union candy in NJ, then run as a take-no-prisoners alternative to Rubio; but now he's as popular with the wingers as a pay toilet in Scotland.

The fact that Rubio is considered a Tea Pary favorite may bury his chances right there.

However, the issue is not which republican candidate has a better chance of getting the nomincation in 2016, the issue is that they would have little chance at all if Romney had been elected.

Tea Party support is kinda vital for any Republican to win, locally or nationwide. Case in point: compare 2010 and 2012 outcomes. The TP started as a bipartisan OWS-like movement but has become the Republican version of OFA, sort of. That's why I quit.

Anyway, you're right on the other point. Winning in 2016 was just not on the cards for Christie so he grabbed the next best thing, which is to guarantee his continued governorship.

The tea party's successes have led to the Republican party's recent failures.

There already is a major divide within the Republican party, and it is become more and more divided by the day.

Divided? How do you figure? Everyone knows the game now. There are those that take and those that make. Takers outnumber makers. It's simple math and that is how the Democrats campaign. Why work when someone else will do it for you. Spin the failures of liberalism all you want. Newark is a great example of how Democrat policies fail. The stats are right there.

First of all, the main principle of the Tea Party was faulty to begin with. The original Tea Party had nothing to do with high or excessive taxes, but rather with taxation without representation. The current tea party didn’t even understand the movement they were emulating. Secondly, the current Tea Party’s original cause of fiscal responsibility was quickly lost amongst every far right-wing cause that came down the pike. If there is any better evidence of this, consider that the Tea Party darling Christine O’Donnell is the biggest fiscal train wreck that ever existed. The movement may have started out as a noble cause, but soon became as big a joke as Occupy Wall Street. The GOP could redeem itself by focusing on fiscal responsibility and small government, but they continue to hand their hat on loser social issues that just are not popular.

@Hookerman: For once, I can agree with you: the TP locked itself out of mainstream by concentrating on social fluff. But its original message, "no taxation without representation", is still valid: everyone that votes but doesn't pay taxes dilutes the rights of those who do. I wish the Republicans, or any other party, would bring that up. Sigh, I can as well wait for the Rapture...

That's just it Maxim. You regard the Tea Party's anti-tax message as important, and traditional conservative social values as fluff. But that is not a set of priorities that is shared across the republican party. Talk to some folks who live in red states. Without judging your views here, I truly think that you will find your differences of opinion about these matters to be irreconcilable.

Also, the tea party is unpalatable to moderates who are not committed democrats nor republicans. While the tea party has been very successful at lobbying and running local candidates for office it has also pushed the republican party's mainstream further away from the American mainstream. Republican candidates such as Mitt Romney have had to work to find balance within the republican party (which now includes pleasing the uncompromising tea party) in order to gain nomination. And, in so doing, this has placed them in a position that is not as palatable to Americans broadly. If there had been no tea party, we just might have seen a republican enter the white house after the 2012 election.

I used to think that, if a third party were to emerge in the US, that it would branch off from the left. But now I see that it is far more likely to occur on the right.

I should add that many prominent Republicans, including Chris Christie, get this. And that explains Christie's sudden reach out to Obama during the week before the election. When he realized that Romney was going to lose, he also knew that he would have to distance themselves from these sorts of failing hard line economic stances and establish a more "moderate" persona. Smart republicans are figuring out that the future success of their political careers requires it.

Booker would definitely be a better choice then Christie. Sounds good.

Ridgewood Mom, please stick your head back in the sand. That idiot cant run his own city.

Yes we are doomed if Booker gets elected to any other office anywhere.

Booker would be an awesome Governor. Christie has achieved NOTHING during his term. Christie is a clever politician that can suck in the less educated with his trailer park appeal and petty attacks on teachers and other government workers...he has never addressed real issues like corporate welfare and greed, lack of growth in the state, infrastructure investment, unemployment, underemployment, minimum wage, social services, education (on the secondary level, yeah he loves slashing those grants to insure a college education for all our kids) healthcare and seniors...his budget cuts to healthcare/hospitals put so many mentally incapacitated people on the streets and devoid of the care they need. Christie goes beyond useless, his policies are evil. Christie is USELESS HAS achieved NOTHING for our state. Booker might not do much better, but I can't imagine Christie having an apartment in Camden, then runing into a blazing fire to save his neighbor. You Christie lovers really need to educate yourselves a little better. Look at his budgets and look where his priorities are and they ain't with YOU.

Booker is not running against Christie. Christie would destroy Booker and Booker knows this. Trust me. It's not happening.

Selene, you make a statement that Booker would make an awesome Governor, but then say he wouldn't do much better than Christie. According to your logic, if Booker couldn't do much better, than that mkes Christie almost awesome. By the way, what has Booker done? If saving people in a burning building is the only measure, he wins hands down. However, Newark is no better than it was when James was Mayor.

@Selene - Christie is very brave so long as he has 10 armed State Police Officers standing around him when he takes on one elderly female teacher. Besides, I've heard he’s run into many a kitchens and saved a number of frozen pizzas from burning ovens!

We need a real governor, not Christie, or Booker for that matter. Both of them are just full of themselves!

And what would Booker run on? The man runs a failed city (not his fault) that to this day depends on non-city residents and taxpayers to subsidize the city. If Booker can actually turn Newark around, that would be a great accomplishment that would naturally propel him to the next level politically but he just hasn't done that yet.

Christies first budget cut so many programs to the poor, the elderly, the children, and the weak (mentally incapacitated) and he continued to do that every year. These records are public. AND he eliminated the state surcharge tax on the corporations and reduced taxes on the wealthiest of NJians. AND has done nothing to stimulate the economy in the state. How stupid, how dillusional can people be to think he is a good governor? Why are people so stupid?

Just Facts, You may want to stick to what you believe Christie has or has not accomplished, rather than attacking his physical characteristics. Calling someone "fat" is immature, and to use your word a "disgrace". It says something about the type of person that you are.

Hello Aware Parent - The man is Obese.... That is a fact!! He talks mean to people! another fact!....He gives tax breaks to the RICH and Wealthy!! another fact!!
I think he is a mean arrogant man....The way he talks to people is a disgrace!! If I spoke to my customers like he does I would be fired from my career!! He talks a BIG ARROGANT Game of nothing... He has accomplished NOTHING!! Look at out state....Unemployment!! High !! rime in the Cities High!! It Is A Disgrace!

@Just Facts: I'll use the Obama excuses: it was the last guys fault, I inherited a mess, it was worse than we thought. You people on the left are so hypocritical, it isn't funny any more.

Bingo!

What hard choices? What smart choices? Back up your stupid comments. Cutting teacher's, firemen, police benefits? How has he stimulated the economy, how has he reduced unemployment? NJ is in the worst shape it's ever been in........back up your opinion Steve.

Tax increases don't stimulate the economy. Wasteful spending does not stimulate the economy. Subsidizing municipalities doesn't stimulate the economy. And forcing municipalities to better manage the their spending, right size their operations & at least consider consolidating doesn't hurt the economy. You know what hurts the economy? Having some of the highest taxes in the country b/c we live in a state where every postage stamp sized town insists on having their own PD, FD, BOE, mayor, city council, public works department and all the costs that go along w/ having so many people on the payroll.

Steve - Are you voting for the free use of helicopters?.... Highest UNEMPLOYMENT?? of maybe more tax breaks for the RICH AND MOST Fortunate Wealthy people?? WHich smart Choice???

Everybody should have to pay money for their benefits. Nobody should be getting a free ride. Just the facts you tax Corproatiosn they Can't hire people. When was the last time a Poor person hired somebody to work. Corzine destroyed this state and Chrstie is trying to save the taxpayers. Also you know how many people don't even wnats job because in this frigine country you make it worth it to not have a job. Taxes have to come under control and that would never happen under a democrat. Democrats answer to everything is tax the rich and when the rich leave with their money we lose jobs that they take with them. The corzine law there is 11 reasons for why taxes can go over 4 percent. The 12 th reason is a reason that isn't one of those 11 reasons. Chrsite put in property caps that have minimum excuses for taxes to go over 2 percent. Also watch when Obamacare will destroy workers.

"in this frigine country you make it worth it to not have a job."

I do much better in my job then I would on unemployment. No one in my situation would choose unemployment. The problem is that entry level and low level labor are paid poorly.

Yes you would do better but your still making decent. You know how many people aren't looking for jobs and re waiting until they can't get unemployment anymore. Also Just the facts it's a fact that we as a state have a spending problem. The economy isn't going to get better by raising taxes taxes and more taxes. Very first thing we need to get a supreme court to change the abbott ruling and that would help bring things under control. My taxes didn't go over 2 percent last year so he's obviously doing something right.

I'm not sure how "strong" he is....He looks kinda FAT and out of shape - People must like Bully's -because that's all he is. LOOK AT THE FACTS! Fact is Unemployeement is the almost the HIGHEST in the country!! His cuts and tax breaks take care of the wealthiest people of the state...He vetoed the MILLIONAIRE TAX 2 times - Crime in Paterson, Camden and Newark has skyrocketted because of his cuts - He is a Big Fat Rude person - There really is no reason for him to speak to people like he does - Christie will be done next election - Look t the facts!

Crime has skyrocketed? I am shocked!! Are all these people Obama supporters? Don't they get enough already that they need to also commit crimes? I thought Obama was their savior! LOL!

Why can't Newark and Camden and patterson pay for their own budgets? Why do we have to pay for them? Pay for yourselves. Get a job!

Christie may lose for the same reason Obama won. People want their free stuff no because they have solutions to any problems.

OK Ellen maybe he will throw some candy to your house from the free helicopter rides to his son's baseball games... Its action and waste like that ...that erodes our state....

@Facts, because he is the first governor to use the helicopter for private use? Give me a break. Did he hire his lover for a homeland security post(McGreevey)? Did he give his lover's union a fat contract raise (Corzine)? If you think that the current situation of the state is Christie's fault, than I'm sure that you agree that the current economic problems the country faces is Obama's fault, right?

Funny manipulation of language, Ellen. Don't forget to use the term "George W. Bush Republican" whenever you refer to Christie.

Is Newark an Abbott district? I wonder if Obama won Newark ;)

Newark is a beneficiary of our tax dollars. They only pay 11% of their own school budget!

According to budget documents, local taxes account for 11 percent of the Newark Public Schools’ overall budget in the 2011-2012 fiscal year. State aid, grants and entitlements make up the largest portion of the district’s revenues, at nearly 80 percent. Federal aid and various other funding sources make up the rest of the budget.

OK Ellen so the poor and unfortunate people who suffer the most should be cut out... get rid of their schools,, cut the police,,,cut the firemen - These people just deserve all of this... those little kids born in poverty deserve no help... Please CHRISPY is an arrogant rich man with his own agenda.. NO VOTE HERE

Right Ellen. Newark has troubles with educational attainment, marriage, sex offending and unemployment BECAUSE of Cory Booker. I suppose that these figures say nothing about the effects of poverty. And, of course, none of these things were problems before Cory Booker entered the picture.

Maybe we need to institute a value added assessment approach to governor/mayor achievement, such as Christie, Booker and Cerf all seem to be quite fond of.

I particularly like your inclusion of the percentage of foreign born residents as evidence of Newark's urban decay (no doubt also the fault of Cory Booker's mismanagement). I'll make sure to let all of my foreign born neighbors, many of whom are bankers, know that they are what is wrong with New Jersey.

How he responded to the storm??? I think thats his job.... What awesome thing did he do?? Too early to tell if he had any effect on the entire situation. Probably will make sure his shore house gets rebuilt with his other rich buddies!!

77%...???!!!! Hahah maybe in Franklin Lakes and in Upper Saddle River.....

Yeah, having cars run over animals to control the population like we do with deer & skunks is a much better way to control the population of bears.

Kevin what is the cause of high property taxes? Do you understand budgets? We can use Long Valley as a case study.

Let's start with how much of the local school budget tax is of your total bill. Let's assume it is 65%. Of that 65%, 75% is for salaries and benefits

LV pays $31M in property taxes to the schools. The schools spend $40M. $8M is provided by Christie via state aid (this means revenues from inc and sales taxes from other residents are subsidizing LV schools)

$6.7M of the $40M is for healthcare
~$26M is for teacher/staff salaries

http://www.wtschools.org/file/e26a6d67.htm

Increased property taxes are a direct result of higher salaries, pensions and healthcare costs.

Do liberals support paying more for these items or not?

Donkey,

I understand local and school budgets quite well, having served as finance chair for three straight years (of consecutive declining property tax increases) during my tenure on the Washington Township Committee. So I clearly understood the ridiculousness of Christie's campaign pledge to reduce property taxes, which is why I did not vote for him. Nevertheless, Christie made the pledge and should be held accountable for failing to keep it. Chances are people will look past his deception and reelect him. It's their right to do so.

Lastly, have you served your fellow citizens in any official local, state, or national capacity? If not, don't lecture someone who has. You only end up looking like your moniker!

Wow, suddenly pledges mean something to Nedd. Once again, there are two sets of rules. One for the people that he supports, like Barack "I will close Gitmo within one year" Obama, who BROKE his promise. And another for the people he hates, like Christie. They must be held to a higher standard.

As for the Dems that you might support, why not name them here and now (along with your rationale) so we can all have a good laugh.

Stig loosen the straps on your helmet, its cutting off the blood to your brain, or you are a disengenous anon right wing hack commenter on the staus of Guantanamo?

It's Congress' Fault That Guantánamo Is Still Open - Room for ... www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/01/09/guantanamo-10-years-later/its-congress-...

Jan 10, 2012 ... Congress has effectively frozen in place one of the most counterproductive aspects of our national security policy. By David Cole.

Or is this another example of Romnesia? Maybe even lyin Paul Ryan syndrome? Both covered as a pre exisitng condition under Obamacare, but ya gotta wanna change.

Stig,

The President gets a pass on Gitmo because he signed an executive order to close it within days of assuming office. As Stewart notes above, Congress has stood in the way.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/22/guantanamo.order/index.html

As for Christie, who I don't hate (you clearly are out of the loop with regard to my latest comments about him), please provide a link to his executive order LOWERING property taxes.

here stig, these are called facts, I know they are uncomfortable for persons like you, many of us understand that reality is a big concept for closed minds such as yours to grasp....

AFP: US Congress blocks Guantanamo closure www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hiCyuo47rG5_B_88fhT_MOqZU-Tw

US Congress blocks Guantanamo closure. (AFP) – Dec 23, 2010. WASHINGTON — US lawmakers have effectively blocked President Barack Obama's efforts to ...

You fail to mention that the "Congress" that blocked Obama's commandment to close Gitmo was one with a Dem super-majority. Before Obama issued his Executive Order he should have checked with his bosses - Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, to see if they were going to back him. Just more failed leadership of the type we can expect for the next four years.

Take of the Rose Colored Glasses boys, it's time you finally faced reality. The whole "pressing the reset button on foreign policy," and "regaining the high ground," was just more political BS from Mr. Hopeless.

Of course Nedd wants to "give him a pass," that's what all hypocrites do.

stig, the point remains, your ommission was a deliberate misrepresentation of the fact.

What omission? I don't remember Obama pledging to close Gitmo IF Congress let him. He said It Would Be DONE. Period. Stop making excuses.

And talking about Omissions, how about the fact that you failed to note that it was a Democrat Congress that turned him down? Or that stupid moves, like Eric Holder announcing that he planned to try KSM in downtown Manhattan, created such a bipartisan firestorm that it sunk any chance Obama ever had?

Promise Made, Promise Broken.

Poor Stig...only he could bitch and complain about an issue which was hardly raised in this year's Presidential Election. The President also failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform. I guess the Hispanic community really made him pay for it by only giving him 77% of their vote!

This was a choice election and the American people have spoken. Deal with it!

'Party Of Stupid' Stig? Your comment remains posted, nowhere in your comment do you attribute the Guantanamo status to an act of Congress do you?
This is our form of governance, whether this or any president likes it or not, or even you, thats the way the constitution works. Obama signed to order and the Congress stopped it. Atleast be honest about this subject or any other you comment on, you are not in denial, you remain ever the demagogue in this example.

Funny, Stew, if he felt so strongly about it, why didn't he use an executive order like he did on immigration status of illegals born in this country prior to the election?

JackQ if one is born in this country that makes them a citizen, not illegal.

Here's the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW65vlzLWHg

So it is written, so it shall be done . . or so he thought. Great that all the clowns standing behind him bailed on this as soon as they had the chance.

Keep wondering...it seems you are the one who is out of touch.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-11-27/consumer-confidence-in-u-dot-s-dot-climbs-to-more-than-four-year-high

That's Bloomberg. It's about as reliable as The Onion.

Max,

Straight from the horse's mouth:

http://www.conference-board.org/data/consumerconfidence.cfm

What's your excuse now?

Kevin, I actually checked that "consumer confidence index". You can do it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Consumer_Confidence_Index.png

Note that the index was much higher during Bush term but plummeted when Pelosi took over the House, and started growing again after 2010 elections. You should contact DNC for better talking points.

Sorry Max,

I don't need a talking point. The FACT that consumer confidence is now at its highest level in 4 years, speaks for itself.

But you keep focusing on Nancy!

Kevin, it just shows how miserable these 4 years were. Even Bush time looks good in comparison!

He only looks good from your narrow minded point of view. Here are some economic stats for both, which tell a different story. Notice how many of them show a downward trajectory for Bush, followed by an upward trajectory for the President Obama. I love the ones that outline private sector jobs and the S&P index.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865563220/Bush-vs-Obama-How-do-they-compare-in-the-economic-crisis.html?pg=all

Kevin, I'm getting mighty sick of your inept propaganda attempts. First, you google up some local editorial that I'm supposed to take for gospel. Second, said editorial compares stock market without adjusting it for inflation; they probably also thought Zimbabwe was booming in 2006. And best of all, if you read your own linked page to the end, you'd see the debunking part. :)

Anyway, I'm done reading your links until you learn to spin properly.

Max,

Perhaps we need to level set a bit:

1. Do you think I care about what you are sick about, really?

2. If you think the data provided in the various charts is wrong, then prove it. Your "tin foil hat" inspired “everything is propaganda “routine is trifling at best. You sound like a GOP pollster on the eve of the last election, preaching that Nate Silver was wrong and that Romney would win in a landslide!

3. If you think accounting for inflation explains the vast difference in the performance of the S&P 500 during the Bush and Obama administrations, you’re right…we don't have much to talk about.

Max,

If you still have your tin foil hat on, I found some of that "propaganda" you were fussing about earlier. Enjoy!

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/fox-news-tom-ricks-apologized-for-benghazi-criticism

LOL,Kevin you're funny. If you don't care what I think, why do you keep posting your cheap propaganda?

Excellent points Kevin.

Wow, another reliable website like crooksand liars. Was the MSNBC website down?

speaking of low efforts, that is what all of the Obama voters give daily to get their freebies right Stewie from bankrupt California? Another day, another $20 Billion borrowed to give out free stuff

Tell us Stewie how come Democrat policies haven't solved any problems? I mean Newark is still a war zone even after all the money and hype. Why is that? I thought you left wing nuts had solutions.

jack? MSNBC is up and running batting down the out of touch Tea Party led GOP's retreat from the Norquist tax pledges like crazy, and excoriating Fuax News for their being a wing of the republican party.

And anon poster donkey?

RE: California? Jerry Browns 'Proposition 30' passed that he took the People to ask for a tax raise, California will have high speed rail built soon enough, with jobs and prosperity as a result, with a good part of the money the GOP 'Party Of (NO) Stupid' governors refused to accept, that Brown gladly took instead!

Education will be funded as a result, seniors will not do without, Medical-health care, other social programs are funded too!

And, as a double bonus? The Delta 'twin tunnels projects' are on track @ $20 Billion to be financed by municipalities that want the resource for agriculture and homes!

Uhm... and the crumbling Tappan Zee bridge that Chrisie will not join NY's Cuomo to address, nor the trnsportation tunnel Mr Christie also nixed and returned $350 Million to the fed, to say nothing of the axed tunnel to relive the flooding in the Passaic Valley region?

California is moving forward, New Jersey is in retrograde in these regards.

Thanks for asking!

Don’t forget about the $400M in "Race to the Top" money Christie left on the table due to his administration's incompetence!

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-250_162-6811118.html

It is amazing that you will attack Fox for being the only media outlet that doesn't drool all over POTUS and actually asks tough questions, unlike ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC.......... So let's get serious, if the GOP will be responsible for pushing the country over the fiscal cliff if a deal doesn't get done, will you credit the GOP for saving the country if a deal gets done? Or our you as one-sided as ever? The only compromise the Dems and the Prez understand is do it my way.

jackQ? 'Party Of Stupid Network' the ONLY ones to ask the tough questions in the age of the most inaccuarte poll reporting in the history of american politics? C'mon buddy get off the right wing crack pipe will ya? the ONLY thing Faux News reported wass the right wing talking heads predictions that left even mittens stunned at how biased their reporting was!
DEEEEWWWWWD!

Really,Stew? When did anyone ask the Prez a tough question, other than Univision, which he couldn't answer? During the debates he even staged Candy eating Crowley to stand by his side. MSNBC is already making the excuses why the Prez won't get anything done this term, calling it the 2nd term jinx. Between that and claiming "everyone" opposed to Obama as racist really doesn't get anything accomplished, now does it. So if I were you, return all the weed your hero Jerry Brown gave you the last time you were in California and come back to reality. Otherwise, we might have to have an intervention for you.

jack? lemee guess-Party Of Stupid, right?

and in response to your other ad hominem?

N.J. to tax medical marijuana, Christie administration says | NJ.com

22 hours ago ... State Treasury spokesman Andy Pratt said the decision was made because it was always the intent of the lawmakers who drafted the law to tax ...

tough to argue,,

Easy to argue. We had plenty of gas in the area. What we didn't have is terminals that had power that could pump the gas into trucks. What we didn't have was gas stations w/ electricity that could pump the gas into cars. The terminals, refineries and stations that serve our area had no power but the gasoline was always there. As for generators, how many do you think we had before the storm? The answer is FEMA had hundreds already pre-deployed ahead of the storm in the region. We also had thousands of utility workers either here or on the way from other states ahead of the storm. I think you fail to appreciate what was done before Sandy hit and are more upset about trying to buy gas during the rationing when every fool who had an empty tank before the storm went on a mad scramble to go find gas for their cars and generators once the storm passed.

Property tax cap, pension reform, teacher tenure reform.

You might disagree that these things were needed or you might not like the manner that he did them, but to say that he did nothing is inccorect.

I give Christie credit for the reforms he put in place, which have been helpful. But he promised to LOWER my property tax bill. Well my property taxes are NOT lower than they were when he took office.

@Kevin Nedd: Just see how much they have not increased due to cap he put in...... It helped in my town (Teaneck) where they go crazy every budget season doling out 4% raises to every one on their pay roll regardless of how they performed.......

Reducing the rate of growth in property taxes does not equate to an overall reduction in the absolute amount one has to pay, which is what Christie promised.

The man gave the towns and counties the tools they needed to help cut taxes. Might I suggest you vote for some fiscal conservatives if the elected officials in your town failed to use these tools and their power as elected officials to cut spending & cut your real estate taxes?

If the Governor's campaign pledge had read "I will give your local government the necessary tools to cut your property taxes", your argument would have some merit. But that's not what he promised. Instead, Christie foolishly promised to cut property taxes.

You never in a million years would vote for the man so what the hell do you care what his campaign pledge says?

Not true. A few days after Christie won, I told the leader of the GOP County Committee in my township I woud support Christie for reelection if by the end of his first term any of my property tax bills were LOWER that the prior year. It didn't happen.

Seriously, that post shows your complete ignorance on how property tax bills get handled in this state. The county, the school system and your town completely control that bill.

Having served as a committeeman, I am fully aware of how the various budgets and tax levies are structured, which made Christie's campaign pledge to LOWER property taxes seem absurd, if not disingenuous. Hence I know the likelihood of having to support Christie's reelection was close to nil. However, Guy Gregg, the referenced GOP leader didn't seem to catch on at the time :)

So basically you are saying b/c Christie didn't redistribute someone else's income taxes into your pocket and reduce your bill through some sort of tax credit/rebate, you are mad at the guy. But at the same time you are giving a free pass to the people who run your county, your town and your school board for spending so much money and making your tax bill so high. Got it though it seems like you are mad at the completely wrong person. My suggestion is the next time you get mad about your tax bill, you look in the mirror b/c I bet you are part of the problem as a former committeeman.

1. If I were to receive some sort of income tax funded property tax rebate/credit, it would definitely be a redistribution of my own money, not someone else’s as my family falls within the top 2% of income earners.

2. I never said I hate Christie; I just don't see myself voting for him at this time.

I never liked Christie. I disagree with many of his positions and I think he's a blowhard and a bully. However, during the storm he proved himself to be an excellent leader in a crisis. Gotta give credit where credit is due.

I agree with you!

No Kevin, it would not be a redistribution of your own wealth back in your pocket in the form of a property tax credit and you know it. The Democrats in the state house have made it very clear they would only approve a real estate tax credit if Christie approved a tax hike on top wage earners. So what you'd be getting is a tax hike if you are in the top 2% of wage earners. But you should be cool with that because after all, it is your party that you post online nonstop in support of that supports this tax hike on you.

Seems only sensible Ojo.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/opinion/buffett-a-minimum-tax-for-the-wealthy.html?_r=0

Good job RM, follow Maryland's lead and raise taxes on the affluent and watch 1/8th of your millionaire tax filers disappear the next year. That is exactly what happened in 2008 when they passed their millionaire's tax hike.

Last time I checked, "consumers" tend to buy products and services produced by "businesses".

Kevin: Yes, you are right. And the products and services are produced by "workers", not guys in suits in the boardroom voting themselves huge pay packages.

B@B - feel free to start a business and undercut the competition by not paying those so called guys in suits in the boardroom and beat them on price. If those "guys in suits" really were getting the money you seem to think they are getting, you should have no problem undercutting them and stealing all their business.

Last time I checked, GDP was still increasing, so someone is buying goods and services. You must be thinking of the BUSH years when GDP was declining.

With the amount of money being counterfeited at the "Federal" Reserve, GDP should be growing at 20% to 30%. Just wait until the deflation turns to inflation, Google Zimbabwe dollar, it used to be worth more than ours.

you should be ashamed... to talk about someone's weight like that.... you should know better... a book should not be judged by its covers........
I guess you were not paying attention when they were (if they ever did teach) teaching that at your school..... I never get that why people bring his weight into a discussion.....

*yawn* *long sigh*

I challenge you to find anything in my post where I judged the governor for being overweight. I challenge you to find anything in my post where I said anything disparaging about the governor's weight.

I'll weight (pun intended) because you will not be able to do so.

Judge a book by its cover? Laughable. Christopher Christie has been the governor of the great state New Jersey since 2010. As such, he has a record for me to judge! I will not vote for him based upon that record. Period. End of story.

Notwithstanding, I guess you weren't paying attention when I actually wished the governor well, eh? R.I.F. Did they not teach you comprehension at your school?

You ask why people bring up the governor's weight. Welp, he has been open about his challenges with it. There's no shame in that. Perhaps it is YOU who has the problem.

I'm going to stop here because this isn't fair or fun anymore.

Godspeed.

let me see if I have this correctly, when POTUS took the oath of his office, and likewise the gov his, there was a specific exclusion to serve the interests of the People based on party affilation? Is that your position?

So. Ultraconservatives who had lionized Christie for his belligerent, scolding stance now deride him as a "shameless glutton" for speaking his mind about the president's performance?

Taxed to death, Except for the homeless part you may well get your wish to vote for the guy from Newark. Christie did what was best for NJ as he is required to do. That doesn't change his many other policies that people like me oppose but giving credit where credit is due may be foreign to haters like you but reasonable people will applaud his actions in this case.

Nope he's still has a fatass I'm just glad he was actually in New Jersey for this disaster. Stop lumping people together - it is that type of ignorant mindset that "all those anything" are why the republican party will be dead in the next 20 years.

Don't think he's the second coming. I still object to some of his policies and the way he treats unions, teachers, and others. But, in this case he did the right thing. Slobbered Obama - I don't think so........get over it taxed to death. Christie, FEMA, and Obama worked well the way people in service for the USA should do. Are you listening? Bainer???????????????

hahahaha Christie is so evil he just as a great game, like most poiticians, knows how to play the uniformed, knows how to play the voters who don't educate themselves about the issues. Christie has done NOTHING for the state, unemployment is still out of control, the rich and cortporates are still paying NOTHING and reaping the benefits of low wages, use of NJ infrastructure and collecting welfare from the state for their belly up policies,,....our schools are being defunded and our seniors and mentally ill are suffering for lack of care and benefits. You people are so ridiculous......this is not a time for tax cuts for the rich or middle class, this is a time for increasing taxes on the people who can afford it and rebuilding our economy and providing jobs and liveable wages for workers. AS far as Sandy, he did what he was SUPPOSE to do as an elected official. IF he opened his mansion to the homeless victims of Sandy, donated millions from his personal coffers to feed and care for the Sandy victims then YES, he would be a super hero, But he didn't. He did his job. The mailman delivers my mail every day, but I don't put him on a pedestal, that's his job. Get a grip people.

Or, on the other hand... Obama needed a good Sandy performance in order to get reelected, and Christie needed Obama to get reelected in order to have a shot at the White House in 2016. I don't think politics is ever absent from a politician's mind.

I agree!

Agree with you Patti!

Actually, it was the same protesters driving around in a bus having protests in different parts of the state. Obama on fracking: 'I am a big promoter of natural gas'. So it must be good, right?

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x1107515432/Obama-on-fracking-I-am-a-big-promoter-of-natural-gas