Jersey Boys and the Election Hangover

The mini-midterm elections have come and gone, which means I am not turning on the TV today (except for Dr. Nancy at 9am, I’m a convert!), because all the chatter of what this election means will drive me mad.  So if you’re wondering what last night's returns meant, I will save you time by telling you—they meant nothing.  Virginia’s gubernatorial race has gone against the party in the White House since 1977, and it’s Democratic candidate hoped attacking a term paper written 20 years ago would sink his opponent, who spanked him by 18 points.  In upstate New York, a Democrat won a seat that had been in Republican hands since Susan B. Anthony’s days.  California’s Lieutenant Governor was bored with his job and kept the Contra Costa County-based seat in Democratic hands.  Mayor Bloomberg barely won a third term as New York’s Mayor after spending tens of millions and barreling the City Council into revoking term limits, which turned off many of the Big Apple’s voters.  And then there’s hapless Jon Corzine.

  Corzine, the former chief of Goldman Sachs, ran for New Jersey’s Senator seat in 2000, winning after spending $62 million and raising eyebrows due to several off-color statements and buying some shady endorsements.  Apparently bored in the Senate, he ran for Governor in 2005, saying he’d lower property taxes.  It never happened.  New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the country, and ranks #50 in most rankings of business-friendly states.  

  Corzine also alienated many traditional Democratic constituents, including environmentalists:  the Sierra Club even refused to endorse him.  The EPA slammed New Jersey’s Department of Environmental protection, accusing it of gross incompetence.  His aide, Lisa Jackson, became President Obama’s choice to lead the EPA, which I’m sure was sigh of relief for her because Gov. Corzine sabotaged any decision that she made that was in the best interest for New Jersey’s environment.  While opposing any measure that would improve New Jersey’s air quality, environmental cleanup, or sources for renewable energy, Corzine never missed an opportunity for a photo op at a new solar installation or toxic waste cleanup initiative. In sum, Corzine lost because he infuriated the base and was an awful governor.

  Despite Corzine’s horrible record, New Jersey has a bright future in renewable energy—it is among the top five states in the amount of power generated from solar, and one campus of the state university system opened a massive solar field, taking the campus almost entirely off the grid.  

  Despite spending millions from Goldman Sachs’ IPO, Corzine will be just fine.  Democrats won’t like me saying this, but there’s a chance Jersey will be in better shape now that he’s back in private life.