PRESS RELEASE: Former Recall Murphy Organizer Tees Off On Hirsh Singh, Others

I haven’t blogged in a while because, to be honest, I haven’t felt like it. About two hours ago this little gem found its way into my inbox. Apparently, Monica Brinson, a former co-founder of the Recall Murphy Petition, has filed an FEC complaint against Hirsh Singh. Brinson’s press release on the matter follows:

Former Recall Murphy Organizer Files Massive FEC Complaint against former U.S. Senate candidate for Misappropriating Funds, Conspiracy to use Shore News Network to Defraud Republican Voters

For immediate release

Hackensack, NJ - Draining the swamp means the entire swamp. Today Monica Brinson, former Co-Founder of the Recall Murphy Petition, filed a massive FEC complaint against Hirsh Singh, Singh for Senate and Shore News Network. Brinson said, "I find it shameful, disgusting and quite frankly embarrassing that Hirsh Singh ran what appears to be an illegal campaign for U.S. Senate by misappropriating resources put behind the Phil Murphy Recall petition for political and personal gain. Even more egregious is that Mr. Singh conspired with the Shore News Network to push blatantly false information and propaganda about other GOP candidates without disclosing their mutually beneficial relationship to the FEC.”

The complaint summed that Hirsh Singh and his illegal campaign cronies fought hard to continue to destroy the Republican party by pathologically lying and casting in a false light fellow GOP candidates. Brinson stated that she looked forward to justice being served.

“Hirsh Singh has embarrassed New Jersey, himself, and the Republican party, and must be held accountable for his illegal actions to destroy the Phil Murphy Recall petition and defraud Republican primary voters. I call on the NJGOP and Chairman Steinhardt to join me in demanding Mr. Singh to disclose his illegal campaign contribution conspiracy to the FEC immediately.”

PRESS RELEASE: Now Is Not The Time To Be Bitter

Republican candidate for US Congress in CD1, Claire Gustafson, has a little motherly advice for two Senate candidates today. Her press release follows:

Claire Gustafson, Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s First Congressional District, after reading reports that unsuccessful GOP US Senate candidates Tricia Flanagan and Hirsh Singh haven’t coalesced behind the winner of the primary election, Rik Mehta, said, “Now is not the time to be bitter.”

“I’ve been where Flanagan and Singh are now, I lost a hard-fought four-way congressional primary in 2014,” Claire Gustafson said, “I get it, losing isn’t fun. What I didn’t do was discourage my supporters from getting behind the winner. Instead, I made sure I supported Garry Cobb and even contributed financially to his campaign.”

Gustafson continued, “Telling a reporter, ‘I’m going to let him call me. I’d like to hear more about his platform and about what he offers,’ sends the wrong message to your supporters. Even worse, filing for a recount in four counties will change nothing. These actions have the potential to hurt down-ballot races.”

“President Trump’s voters are going to vote for him no matter what.” Gustafson added, “What concerns me is that because Flanagan and Singh refuse to back Mehta Republican voters will simply skip the rest of the ballot.”

“This election is far too important to risk losing down-ballot races simply because candidates suffered a tough loss.” Gustafson said, “No question Flanagan and Singh both garnered a significant number of votes, now it is time to encourage party unity and encourage those voters to support the entire Republican ticket. This is a golden opportunity for Flanagan and Singh to step up and be leaders in our party. I’m happy to help make that happen, I’m just a phone call away.”

Christie 2024? Never Say Never!

Chris Christie

Former Governor Chris Christie is in the news for saying he wouldn’t rule out a run for president in 2024. New Jersey’s bloggers have been making their opinions known. I can already hear our readers screaming and yelling about it and I haven’t even clicked “post” yet!

Think about this, when I told Bob I was considering writing about this he asked, “How many people wish he was governor now?”

Great question! I’m sure there are many in this state who would much prefer Christie to Governor Phil Murphy.

The bigger question is this: Is a Christie 2024 campaign really a far-fetched idea?

Maybe not!

Since The Hill’s Steve Clemons interview of Christie I’ve received texts and phone calls from Republican friends and operatives in NM, TX, SC and OH.

More than one of these operatives asked if I still have contacts within the Christie organization.

Perhaps they forgot that I’ve been very critical of the former Governor in the past. I protested him in Camden and I had harsh words for Christie after the historic legislative losses of 2015. So, I’m fairly certain most still connected to the former Governor have nothing nice to say about me me.

But I’ve also defended the former Governor on the radio show more than once. I’ve reminded people that they loved Christie for six of his eight years as Governor giving him a .750 batting average, and that’s a Hall of Fame number for baseball players.

Love him or hate him now, deep down inside Republicans know they loved the guy longer than they hated him. No doubt the man was popular, Christie cruised to re-election winning 19 counties, losing only Hudson and Essex. That says something!

I remember during the 2016 primary election debates telling friends back in New Mexico (and Bob) that, “Donald Trump was out-Christieing Chris Christie.”

There was only room for one plain-spoken candidate and Trump filled that role before Christie announced. Christie was definitely out-Christied.

One could argue that Christie’s presidential aspirations went down the tubes with Bridgegate. I don’t think that’s the case. Outside of New Jersey/NYC nobody really cared.

And, consider this. Christie’s approvals in New Jersey didn’t really nosedive until 2015. Sure, he took a beating during Bridgegate, but the real damage came after. A January 2015 Fairleigh Dickinson Public Mind Poll statement was clear:

“This is the first time Governor Christie faces a public with numbers like these in regard to his leadership,” said Krista Jenkins, professor of political science and director of PublicMind.

None of this is to suggest I’m in support of a Christie for President 2024 movement. I’m simply saying, “Never say never.”

There are still folks all over the country who like Christie. Look at ABC News. It doesn’t matter if you like their news or reporting. The folks at ABC are in the business of selling ads – they wouldn’t be putting Christie on TV if he wasn’t good for selling ads – and advertisers wouldn’t be buying time if Christie wasn’t still popular enough that people are watching him on TV.

Christie 2024? I’ve been hospitalized with a heart attack and six months after that back to the hospital with a blood pressure that should have caused a stroke, so 2024 is way too far in the future for me to be looking.

But I will say this, I liked having Governor Christie much more than I like having Governor Murphy.