Bush appointee Christie rips off Monty Python in NJ gov race

[Imran Siddiqui]

The polls were showing Bloomberg walking away with it. Thompson was basically written off by the Democratic establishment. I think he didn't get more than a shout-out from Obama at a fundraiser (granted, Bloomberg is probably a more useful ally).

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/11/what-happened-and-why.html

Voters in the exit poll approved of Bloomberg's performance 70-29, but a quarter of those who approved of Bloomberg voted against him anyway. Why? Because 58 percent of voters said that Bloomberg's decision to change the city's term limits law to enable him to seek a third term was a significant factor in their vote, and those voters broke against him 2:1.

(emphasis by Nate)

So voters approved of Bloomberg, but were pissed at his power grabbing ways.

[snoopy369]

Eight years ago, there was a Democratic sweep; Jim McGreevy and Mark Warner replaced GOP Guvs. What followed were two very good elections for the GOP.

The lessons of the night were:
1. Being an incumbent while the unemployment inches up to 10% blows. Who expected Bloomberg to have a close race?

2. The Democratic base is depressed.

3. But there's a reasonably high floor. The Dems limited their net losses in the VA Assembly to five seats and NJ Assembly to one seat.

4. Candidates matter. If Codey or Booker were the NJ nominee, I doubt Christie would be the victor. While neither McAuliffe nor Moran had much of a chance of winning, they probably could've held the margin down to something a lot less ridiculous.

5. The best thing going for the Dems in 2010 are the preferences of the GOP base. Remember that neither McDonnell nor Christie faced a serious primary challenger.

6. Crist needs to pull a Specter if he wants to be Senator. And other GOP moderates need to watch their backs (Kirk, Castle, Simmons, etc.).

Bloomberg's race was close largely because of the term limit issue, from what I've read. People disliked that he pulled a Hugo Chavez. I certainly wouldn't have voted for him, for that reason.

[-Jrabbit]

Voters & Bloomberg

I approve of you so much!
but I hate you forever!
with love and respect!
except for your power lust! I hate that!
and spending $90 million without giving me any!
but at least you're not Giuliani!
OK, you're in.

Now I need to edit this down to a haiku...

[Ben Kenobi]

I think that you have NO CLUE what a Northeast Republican is like. You do realize that Governor-elect Christie is pro-civil unions, right?

Scuzzyflavah is to the left of Obama. Pro gay marriage, pro union, pro choice.

If the average NE republican is Scuzzyflava, than the party deserves to die. Fortunately we learned two things last night.

1. at least 45 percent of those in NY! will vote for an independent conservative, not a (R) even in the heart of New England. Rhino-ness is dead.

2. More than half the folks in Maine are opposed to Gay marriage.

Imran, you've been punked.

I would love to vote for Christie up here, he would be to the right of the conservative party.

[Kuciwalker]

[q=snoopy369;5701030]I can tell why you think you're right here Kuci, but you're not... the government can, and does, make laws prohibiting 'speech' when it violates other rights.[/q]

Never said it couldn't

Copyright law in and of itself is a law of that nature

Only partially.

[and 'fair use' by the interpretation you're giving here would be "everything that does not yield a profit"

No.

I can't take a copy of Transformers and show it in an auditorium without paying MGM or whomever, even if I don't profit from it.

Depends.

The first amendment has been interpreted to prohibit the government from making laws that prohibit your OWN expression, ie, self-created artistic or creative works.

No.

Taking someone else's is not expression (it's not your original thought)

Not necessarily.

[DinoDoc]

And a gubenatorial candidate who is pro-civil unions and is personally pro-life, but doesn't want to force it down other people's throats is socially conservative?

I think you misunderstood what I said. The main problem the base had with Dede were the fiscal stances she took. I actually think the base of the party would have been OK with her social liberalism if she balanced it out with fiscal conservatism of any sort. The ACORN connections didn't help her case either. Hell the embrace of Christie by the right would seem to argue against your point as well.

[snoopy369]

Glad you know how to type "No", Kuci.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think you misunderstood what I said. The main problem the base had with Dede were the fiscal stances she took. I actually think the base of the party would have been OK with her social liberalism if she balanced it out with fiscal conservatism of any sort. The ACORN connections didn't help her case either. Hell the embrace of Christie by the right would seem to argue against your point as well.

The difference with Christie is that Palin didn't get on board early on in the primaries and back Lonegan. And what is going on in Florida (Crist/Rubio) would counter the right loves Christie claims (as Christie is very much like Crist in his positions). His fiscal issues are no different than, say, Snowe and Collins, and while they get base ire, you don't see as much of a push to back some super conservative opposition when they come up for re-election.

[flash9286]

Fair use isn't just a thing Congress did to be nice to us, and is not the limit of exceptions to copyright. Even if Congress had never defined fair use, there would be copyright violations that would not be grounds for a suit because they counted as protected speech.

The SC has basically said that the if Congress does not alter the fair use doctrine than there can be no freedom of speech challenge to copyrights.

[Ben Kenobi]

The difference with Christie is that Palin didn't get on board early on in the primaries and back Lonegan. And what is going on in Florida (Crist/Rubio) would counter the right loves Christie claims (as Christie is very much like Crist in his positions). His fiscal issues are no different than, say, Snowe and Collins, and while they get base ire, you don't see as much of a push to back some super conservative opposition when they come up for re-election.

Why would she? If Christie favours banning Partial birth abortion there's no traction. Dede on the other hand wanted abortion funding in the health care bill. Huge difference.

[Imran Siddiqui]

So does Snowe or Graham (who backs the Healthy Americans Act).. or more accurately, anyone who backs a health care bill with an exchange, as private insurance that offer abortion funding will be included.

[Ben Kenobi]

So does Snowe or Graham (who backs the Healthy Americans Act).. or more accurately, anyone who backs a health care bill with an exchange, as private insurance that offer abortion funding will be included.

I guess the point DD and I are trying to make is that Dede was well to the left of Christie, and she is not representative of the NE republicans. Hoffman is far more representative, and is to the right of the majority of the electorate there.

Snowe and Collins are to the left of their electorate, and I'd argue that Hoffman is more representative of the NE GOP than Snowe and Collins.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Hoffman far more representative? He handed a seat that had been Republican for over a 100 years to the Democratic opponent!! Scozzafava would have won the seat head to head against Owens (which was indicated by polling)!

I don't see how Scozzafava is far more liberal than Senator Snowe or Senator Collins. Or former Senator Chaffee. Or former Governor Whitman.

[Ben Kenobi]

Scozzafava would have won the seat head to head against Owens (which was indicated by polling)!

And those same people voted for Hoffman, 45 percent. For a conservative. Running without the (R).

Times have changed, Imran.

More people voted for Hoffman than for McCain.

This tells me two things.

1, most of the voters for Scozzaflava voted for her only because of the (R) behind her name. They preferred a more conservative candidate, and got one.

2, there's no need for a 'NE style GOP' anymore.

Hoffman far more representative? He handed a seat that had been Republican for over a 100 years to the Democratic opponent!!

A seat that went overwhelmingly for Obama. Things have changed Imran.

I don't see how Scozzafava is far more liberal than Senator Snowe or Senator Collins. Or former Senator Chaffee. Or former Governor Whitman.

Chaffee is long gone. Snowe and Collins will follow him if they vote for this health care bill.

[Imran Siddiqui]

And those same people voted for Hoffman, 45 percent. For a conservative. Running without the (R).

Do I have to point out that 45% lost the race. Added to that, 5% decided to vote Scozzafava anyway. And...

A seat that went overwhelmingly for Obama. Things have changed Imran.

You do realize that while it went for Obama, they voted OVERWHELMINGLY for Congressman (now Secretary of the Army) McHugh. Giving him in the same election, 65% of the vote!

So a YEAR later, the non-Democratic candidate lost 20% support.

Snowe and Collins will follow him if they vote for this health care bill.

So basically you want to purge the Republican Party of moderates? Have fun being a regional, always minority, party.