No that's not a typo in the headline.
The New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF), one of the largest enviro-activist organizations in the state has endorsed not only a (gulp) Republican for governor but (double-gulp) one who served in the federal government under Bush/Cheney.
Yes, we're talking about Chris Christie.
Surprised? Amazed? And maybe a bit baffled?
We are, too.
It was one thing for the Sierra Club to endorse former NJDEP Commissioner Chris Daggett's independent campaign for governor. But it's another for the NJEF, which had originally announced it would make no endorsement in the race, to come out for Christie.
What's going on? We don't know. But here's a theory.
The state's other big enviro group, the Sierra Club, didn't just stop with their endorsement of Daggett. Its leader went on, in press release after press release, to rip incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine's environmental record.
The pounding culminated in the astonishing claim that Corzine is
the worst environmental governor in history.
Whoa! Did they forget all about Christie (Honey, I shrunk the DEP) Whitman and Jim "fast track development" McGreevey?
Is this the same Jon Corzine who the rest of us have seen signing one environmental bill after another? The governor who got out ahead of virtually all other states in setting aggressive goals for greenhouse gas reductions. The guy who has backed cap-and-trade, solar-energy incentives and offshore wind power development?
And, even if the Sierra Club wasn't satisfied with Corzine's record, it's one thing to back another candidate to display your convictions but totally another to flay a sitting governor who just might win re-election. That, we submit, is just plain dumb.
So, our theory continues, rather than risk seeing the governor's office door slammed on the environmental community for the next four years, it might be a good idea for the other big green group to back the other major candidate...even if he is a Republican friend of Karl Rove.
There's one tiny weakness to the strategy. Corzine could win.
Then what happens?
The enviros may be counting on the fact that Jon can't seem to repress a single "progressive" reflex. They may have good reason to suspect that, after a decent interval for sulking, he'll succumb to let's kiss and make up.
But what if the governor has been in New Jersey long enough now to adopt a more native political reaction? You know, the one called: Piss me off and see who wins.
Time will tell. In the meanwhile, we thought you might enjoy the Star-Ledger video below.
Even after today's NJEF announcement, is still a pretty good summary of the New Jersey environmental community's current political quandry.
The New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF), one of the largest enviro-activist organizations in the state has endorsed not only a (gulp) Republican for governor but (double-gulp) one who served in the federal government under Bush/Cheney.
Yes, we're talking about Chris Christie. Surprised? Amazed? And maybe a bit baffled?
We are, too.
It was one thing for the Sierra Club to endorse former NJDEP Commissioner Chris Daggett's independent campaign for governor. But it's another for the NJEF, which had originally announced it would make no endorsement in the race, to come out for Christie.
What's going on? We don't know. But here's a theory.
The state's other big enviro group, the Sierra Club, didn't just stop with their endorsement of Daggett. Its leader went on, in press release after press release, to rip incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine's environmental record.
The pounding culminated in the astonishing claim that Corzine is
the worst environmental governor in history.
Whoa! Did they forget all about Christie (Honey, I shrunk the DEP) Whitman and Jim "fast track development" McGreevey?
Is this the same Jon Corzine who the rest of us have seen signing one environmental bill after another? The governor who got out ahead of virtually all other states in setting aggressive goals for greenhouse gas reductions. The guy who has backed cap-and-trade, solar-energy incentives and offshore wind power development?
And, even if the Sierra Club wasn't satisfied with Corzine's record, it's one thing to back another candidate to display your convictions but totally another to flay a sitting governor who just might win re-election. That, we submit, is just plain dumb.
So, our theory continues, rather than risk seeing the governor's office door slammed on the environmental community for the next four years, it might be a good idea for the other big green group to back the other major candidate...even if he is a Republican friend of Karl Rove.
There's one tiny weakness to the strategy. Corzine could win.
Then what happens?
The enviros may be counting on the fact that Jon can't seem to repress a single "progressive" reflex. They may have good reason to suspect that, after a decent interval for sulking, he'll succumb to let's kiss and make up.
But what if the governor has been in New Jersey long enough now to adopt a more native political reaction? You know, the one called: Piss me off and see who wins.
Time will tell. In the meanwhile, we thought you might enjoy the Star-Ledger video below.
Even after today's NJEF announcement, is still a pretty good summary of the New Jersey environmental community's current political quandry.
That's astounding. I understand why enviromental groups might not want to be seen as reflexive supporters for Democrats, but do they really think a Christie administration would be better? I mean, he's promising all sorts of cuts in state government. Surely the DEP would be a major target.
ReplyDeleteFrank - good post, but don't get sucked into examining the political games being played.
ReplyDeleteFocus on the policy - go read this (I think the last time I used such strong language and issued such dire predictions was when Whitman was nominated as Bush EPA Administrator):
Christie’s Environmental Agenda Would Be A Disaster for New Jersey
http://wolfenotes.com/2009/10/christies-environmental-agenda-would-be-a-disaster-for-new-jersey/
Don't misunderstand. I think both Whitman and McGreevey did lots of good things for the environment. But I remember the hyperbolic attacks from some enviros whenever either strayed from the dictated path. In light of that, it's now so amusing to hear the Sierra Club declare Corzine to be the all-time state's worst. And why does Keith Olbermann's voice ring in my ears ("Today's Worst Person in the World") whenever I read Jeff Tittle's latest slam?
ReplyDeleteFrank - what happened to my second comment about MCGreevey's record on the Highlands Act and about 200,000 acres of new protected riparian buffers along about 2,000 miles of new C1 waters?
ReplyDeleteBased on that record, I think McGreevey is one of NJ's BEST environmental governors.
Wolfe
Sorry, Bill. I glanced at your comment too quickly and thought it was a repeat. Your latest now appears directly above.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else care to weigh in on the NJEF's endorsement? Or on the pummeling of Corzine? Do any environmental organizations support the governor's re-election?
--Editor
The president of the NJ Sierra Club, Jeff Tittel, is a complete media whore. He will say anything to get quoted in the media, usually by being hyperbolic. For example, instead of questioning the Urban Tax credit program as being ineffectual (a reasonable charge), he attacked it as being "Dumb Growth." If you do a google search for him, you will see a quite consistent pattern.
ReplyDeleteThink of the Env. Feder. endorsement as merely one-upsmanship .......how best to get back at Corzine . Sierra went for Daggett , not much news there . But giving a lift to Christie , well that is a better kick in the groin.
ReplyDeleteJust games .