November 3, 2010
Reflections on the Mid-Term Elections
Michael Aron
Senior Political Correspondent,
New Jersey Nightly News - NJN
Reflections on the Mid-Term Elections
Michael Aron
Senior Political Correspondent,
New Jersey Nightly News - NJN
Minutes of the Eighth Meeting of the 69th Year
The President, Bob Varrin, called to order the 8th meeting of the 69th year at 10:15 am, and Don Evans led us in singing the invocation. Glen Cullen read the minutes of last week's meeting to almost 100 attendees.
John Schmidt of the membership committee announced that he would propose seven nominees for membership at our next meeting. Owen Leach announced that next week's meeting would be at Bowen Hall.
Bruno Walmsley gave a demonstration of our website. Jack Wallace introduced his guest George McLauglin, Bob Craig introduced his guest Rhoda Wagman and Lanny Jones introduced his wife Sarah.
Ruth Miller introduced our speaker, Michael Aron, who spent the last 29 years as senior political correspondent at NJN news. In 2008 he was named the number one political reporter in the state and also one of the 100 most influential people in New Jersey. He attended Harvard and Princeton. He has interviewed almost all of the political leaders in our state during his tenure. Mike proceeded to give a very informative, humorous and extemporaneous talk. He opened with a story about the difference between politics and cactus. He went on to say "polling seems to be getting more accurate as the years roll by.” This election the Republicans picked up 60 seats in the house,
but fell short in taking control in the senate. This was not so much a resurgence of the Republicans as a repudiation of the party in power. How quickly the tide turns in politics. This election was a night for conservatives.
Mike concentrated on the five races in New Jersey. Republicans picked up one house seat, which is rare, since Democrats haven't lost a house seat since 1998. Rarely do incumbents get unseated. In this case a third party tea party candidate selection backfired. In the Holt-Siprelle race, both candidates pretty much took boiler plate positions on party issues. The red herring was Siprelle's home on Hodge road – the value of his home went up and his taxes went down.
That's the kind of thing that takes over a campaign. Holt won by 5 points. In Pallone-Little race, Little was the unusual winner of the primary, but the district is predominantly Democratic and in the general election Pallone won by 11 points. The Republicans took back Bergen county after a decade of Democratic dominance. In the Mercer-Middlesex counties it was a race to fill the senate seat of Bill Baroni, with Goodwin (R) vs. Greenstein (D) and Greenstein won by six points. This contest was seen as a referendum on Christie and Christie lost in that race. Bob Menendez and Chris Christie came out as winners overall. Christie is very popular nationwide. On a scale of one to ten Rush Limbaugh put Sarah Palin and Chris Christie at 8 ahead of many other Republican possibles. Mike said, “Christie's moment has arrived and he loves every minute of it.” Mike mentioned we will experience a redistricting in New Jersey before the next house election and we will probably lose one house seat. In addition he said he underestimated the tea party – it is not the lunatic fringe – it is real and it's here. Mike dealt with numerous questions in an extended question period.
Respectively submitted,
John Lasley
John Schmidt of the membership committee announced that he would propose seven nominees for membership at our next meeting. Owen Leach announced that next week's meeting would be at Bowen Hall.
Bruno Walmsley gave a demonstration of our website. Jack Wallace introduced his guest George McLauglin, Bob Craig introduced his guest Rhoda Wagman and Lanny Jones introduced his wife Sarah.
Ruth Miller introduced our speaker, Michael Aron, who spent the last 29 years as senior political correspondent at NJN news. In 2008 he was named the number one political reporter in the state and also one of the 100 most influential people in New Jersey. He attended Harvard and Princeton. He has interviewed almost all of the political leaders in our state during his tenure. Mike proceeded to give a very informative, humorous and extemporaneous talk. He opened with a story about the difference between politics and cactus. He went on to say "polling seems to be getting more accurate as the years roll by.” This election the Republicans picked up 60 seats in the house,
but fell short in taking control in the senate. This was not so much a resurgence of the Republicans as a repudiation of the party in power. How quickly the tide turns in politics. This election was a night for conservatives.
Mike concentrated on the five races in New Jersey. Republicans picked up one house seat, which is rare, since Democrats haven't lost a house seat since 1998. Rarely do incumbents get unseated. In this case a third party tea party candidate selection backfired. In the Holt-Siprelle race, both candidates pretty much took boiler plate positions on party issues. The red herring was Siprelle's home on Hodge road – the value of his home went up and his taxes went down.
That's the kind of thing that takes over a campaign. Holt won by 5 points. In Pallone-Little race, Little was the unusual winner of the primary, but the district is predominantly Democratic and in the general election Pallone won by 11 points. The Republicans took back Bergen county after a decade of Democratic dominance. In the Mercer-Middlesex counties it was a race to fill the senate seat of Bill Baroni, with Goodwin (R) vs. Greenstein (D) and Greenstein won by six points. This contest was seen as a referendum on Christie and Christie lost in that race. Bob Menendez and Chris Christie came out as winners overall. Christie is very popular nationwide. On a scale of one to ten Rush Limbaugh put Sarah Palin and Chris Christie at 8 ahead of many other Republican possibles. Mike said, “Christie's moment has arrived and he loves every minute of it.” Mike mentioned we will experience a redistricting in New Jersey before the next house election and we will probably lose one house seat. In addition he said he underestimated the tea party – it is not the lunatic fringe – it is real and it's here. Mike dealt with numerous questions in an extended question period.
Respectively submitted,
John Lasley