My neighbor down the street, Chris Daggett, is running for governor as an independent in New Jersey. Yeah, sure, an independent won’t ever make it in this contentious, party-run state. But tonight his wife called to say that in the morning he’s getting the endorsement of the Star-Ledger, the largest paper in the state – the first time, they say, that the paper has backed an independent. Daggett’s poll numbers have jumped from 8 to 17 percent, the latter taken both before and after the first gubernatorial debate where Daggett did very well. He’s on the way up and now they think they do have a shot.
So my son and I wandered down the block and watched as Daggett and his wife and daughters and hardy campaign workers strategized media, calling assignment desks, sending out email blasts, updating their site, and making videos:
(Full disclosure: I worked with the Ledger for many years and lent the Daggett’s my Flip camera for the videos.)
Jeff,
If this guy is not a libertarian, then in this day and age there can’t be anything *independent* about him.
I read his site a bit and uncovered nothing but fresh rhetoric, very Obamian, IMO. He’s going to fire a few teachers and *raise standards*. Yawn. He’s got the Sierra Club endorsing him?
Though, I would like nothing more than to see a spate of truly independent political victories.
The guy doesn’t own a digital camera?
For real?
Does he have an email address at least? Type with more than two fingers?
As nice as always. He has a few Flips but they weren’t there last night. He’s my neighbor.
Being a Luddite, in this day and age, is a serious offense.
John McCain, among many others, actually advocated *regulating blogs*.
Whatever societal problems develop, no matter how profound, they can all be overcome so long as the communication channels are open and flowing.
New Jersey, nor the Star Ledger(!), would never have fallen into such fiscal straits in the first place if the facts of government malfeasance were reported on regular basis. The lumpen masses are dumb, but not that dumb.
So it is with great cynicism that I look at alleged independents endorsed by culpable institutions.
Let’s hope he doesn’t violate NJ law by making robocalls like the mainstream candidates do.
Here is the law that actually bans robocalls in NJ. Of course, the Politicians ignore the law.
http://act.ly/i7
Regards,
Shaun Dakin
CEO
The National Political Do Not Contact Registry
Fighting for the Privacy Rights of the American Voter
–> Help us pass S.1077 (Robocall Privacy Act)
The star ledger’s endorsement of Chris Daggett is great news. I wish the republicans would stop the Bush/Rove Fear mongering. There is obviously a consensus that a vote for Daggett is not a vote for Corzine.
Daggett is a viable candidate and there are many of this who are voting for him because we know he can win and is the only candidate who can change this state. The Star Ledger’s endorsement echoes and re-affirms that opinion.
We need people to get involved and spread the word about Chris Daggett.
Learn 15 ways to help and get started now. Even if your not from NJ you can still cyber volunteer.
> There is obviously a consensus that a vote for Daggett is not a vote for Corzine.
No, there’s merely an attempt to ignore the consequences of one’s actions.
A vote that helps Corzine get reelected is a vote for Corzine.
Never confuse intent with effect.
In other news, believing in Tinkerbelle doesn’t work.
Another liberal in the race (and that’s what he is) will guarantee the victory of the Republican.
In this day and age, with all the easy access to information, all politicians should be independent.
A political party is just branding. It made sense in the old days when it was hard to access information and a political party label was an easy way to get a quick packaging of information out to voters.