New Jersey’s Ailing Economy May Test Conservative’s Allure

[NeoConsSuck]

Source: NY Times

In a year as governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie has captivated conservatives across the nation, with an in-your-face frankness and nonstop aggressiveness that few have seen from a chief executive.

Last week, his swaggering talk — about tackling the really big problems, taming unions and cutting a ballooning deficit without raising taxes — earned him a hero’s welcome in Washington, where journalists pressed him on his presidential aspirations.

But while it is clear that Mr. Christie, 48, a Republican, has already upended the status quo, putting powerful interest groups on the defensive, and all but having his way with a Democratic-controlled Legislature, the challenges of the coming year could cinch his reputation as a political superstar — or puncture it.

<snip>
“When you cut billions of dollars from local government, you can’t turn around and say ‘It’s the mayor’s fault’ — you’re the one who did it,” Mr. Sweeney said. “In Chris Christie’s New Jersey, class sizes are going up, and crime is going through the roof in our inner cities. Eventually, people are going to realize, ‘I’m paying a lot more now, and I have a lot less.’ The people have not realized it yet. But he’s the governor, and the music’s going to stop.”



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/nyregion/22christie.html?hp

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His approval ratings in New Jersey are down to 50%. Looks like another state that is having buyer's remorse for electing a republican. And mark my words, Wisconsin will soon follow.

[Auntie Bush]

1. I sure hope you're right! nt

[aquart]

2. He went to Disney World and let the snow pile high.

[customerserviceguy]

6. How high would it have piled if he had not gone?

Look, I dislike him as much as you do, but he's not going to get the blame for anything he can pin on Corzine and Obama. Right now, that's pretty much everything.

Also, employment numbers are starting to go up for NJ, I hear it on the phones every business day. He'll be happy to take the credit for that, and he knows he gets points from folks who think they pay too much in taxes when he takes on public employee unions.

He's still in the Teflon phase, and he knows it, unfortunately.

[karynnj]

9. True - but the numbers are going up everywhere

In fact, NY and MA are both doing better at bringing their unemployment numbers up since the point Christie took office.

Now, before you think I scanned a list of states and found one that I can say that for - it's not what happened. I live in NJ and know MA and NY reasonably well. The states have a lot in common. They are among the best educated, affluent states in the country and both have large number of people working in finance and research and development. I needed a state that was controlled by Democrats and still is and that was similar to NJ - CT had a Republican Governor or I would have included it.

Though I need to investigate this more, if this trend continues, it might show that though the numbers likely will improve, they would have improved more had he followed less conservative policies.

[aquart]

12. Proper procedure plows at the first flake.

And so it would not have gone too high to drive or leave the house. When people realize they get no services for their taxes in New Jersey, they won't locate there.

Curious...where are these jobs coming from when you speak of "employment numbers going up"? Numbers can be faked. So where are these jobs?

[customerserviceguy]

15. And Christie's fat ass wouldn't have been running the plows, anyway

It's ludicrus to think that you need a governor or lt. governor "at the helm" for a snowstorm. Every time there is a muckety-muck on the scene of a crisis, resources are diverted away from the problem, and towards protecting what is essentially a meaningless photo-op.

In the case of the jobs, it's anecdotal. I take about 80 calls a day on the phones in NJ, and this is what I'm hearing from my customers. Not scientific, but you get word of mouth before you see things in formal statistics.

[lisa58]

3. If his approval rating is "up to" 50% I'd be surprised....

...as much as I have problems with New Jersey (probaby just my ego) this guy can't last.

[RKP5637]

4. The guy is an outright bully IMO. n/t

[tilsammans]

5. Nope, Christie won't be reelected in NJ

One reason why he's all over the USA map now looking for a role on the national stage.

[Iliyah]

7. One thing about

bullies, when confronted they tend to lose their temper and lash out. He's got a big mouth, but when someone who knows the facts confront him he will lose it, no doubt on that.

Gov Walker looks like he is about to break. As ya can see, these bully conservatives do not travel far from home, ie CPAC, Fake news and other outlets for the right wing. If they were questioned by real journalists who are not afraid to ask the tough questions and know the facts, these arse holes would fold and look totally foolish.

[aquart]

13. Nah, he just yells louder.

[southernyankeebelle]

8. I think the state that has the worse governor is FL. Even republicans are having buyers remorse.

[defendandprotect]

10. Think what we need to test is veracity of computer voting -- PAPER BALLOTS--!!

[6000eliot]

11. I'm surprised they're so high.

I know some Republicans who voted for him who hate him now. Also, he is unpopular because of all the federal money he lost the state and cost the state in the case on the tunnel project.

[4_TN_TITANS]

14. "Looks like another state that is having buyer's remorse..."

Tennessee will also be there soon enough.