Chris Christie Mike Castle: Christie Endorses RINO Castle: Good Faith Pledge in Order?

So, there are few problems here: Senator Mike Castle is a RINO - yes, he is. He voted for cap and trade and he voted for the DISCLOSE Act. What more do you need to hang the RINO sign around his neck? Those watching the race closely, however, believe Christine O'Donnell is a conservative, but...some of those watching closely do not believe O'Donnell can beat the Democrat opponent. I suggest Republican House leadership secure a good faith pledge from Castle that he will never, ever again vote to silence us with the DISCLOSE Act, or any similar legislation, and never, ever vote for a Democrat version of cap and trade. And do this before the election. Doing so defines the meaning of "House Leadership." But please read on, there are other considerations.

Mike Castle's political leanings

From Ace:

I do not know why it is that Mike Castle is running 12 points or so ahead of his Democratic rival. It could be partly due to his despised RINOism, of course. And it's also due to personal characteristics which he alone possesses and cannot be transferred to O'Donnell -- like, as the state's only at-large Representative (the state has only one Rep.), he knows everyone in the state, has campaigned statewide nine times before. For whatever reason, the voters trust him, seem to like him. (Well, "like" as much as one can like a politician.)

For whatever reason, they've decided he's okay by them. And preferable to a Democrat. And so he polls 10-12 points ahead.

Meanwhile the latest Rasmussen poll puts O'Donnell ten points behind Coons.

And on that point, I ask, where is the plausible pathway to candidate growth? What is the realistic plan for getting O'Donnell up from ten points down to at least even?

Castle's Republican challenger is Christine O'Donnell. She is not a politician, but is a conservative activist. We have non-political activists running across the country, and that is a good thing, but this one is particularly problematic.

The other side of this is the GOP Fossils who are trying to denigrate O'Donnell and force her to drop out of the race, and are apparently paying people to "stalk her." From TheOtherMcCain:

Let me repeat the question I asked over the weekend: How many pro-life voters in Delaware? Castle’s pro-choice, O’Connell’s pro-life, and that life-or-death issue ought to be decisive in a GOP primary.

If the bottom line is O'Donnell cannot win (and polls are not always the last word) let's tell the Republican leadership to demand a few promises from Mike Castle or they will move to O'Donnell's camp.

In the video below, Christie says a vote for Castle is a vote for "smaller, smarter government." What? Even GovTrack shows Castle only barely Republican (see the graphic above). See Castle's past voting record, which sides with Democrats far more often than with Republicans. However GovTrack also says in the current Congress he has voted with Republicans 87.3% of the time. Sigh. I can't tell you how  comfortable it is to live in a Conservative, very red state. See the Christie endorsement below.



Governor Chris Christie Endorses Mike Castle (video)
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Neal Cavuto Chris Christie: New Jersey Loses $400M Education Grant - Payback for Removing a Democrat Governor

Perhaps you heard last week that the State of New Jersey lost a $400M education grant due to a clerical mistake. New Jersey's 'Race to the Top' application included one incorrect piece of paper. The New Jersey Department of Education erroneously submitted 2010 to 2011 numbers, rather than the requested 2008 - 2009 numbers. Out of 1,000 pages of application and 700 pages of indices, there was a one-page error. Christie asks "does anybody in Washington D.C. have a lick of sense?" Of course, the answer is "NO." This is what happens in a Democrat administration when you have the audacity to remove a Democrat governor from office. Watch the video for an incredible display of governmental incompetence, idiocy and bias and some analysis by Fox News' Neal Cavuto.

Neal Cavuto and Governor Chris Christie on Race to the Top Program

Chris Christie Accepts 375 of 378 Options to honor New Jersey Budget

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spoke for almost 30 minutes to the New Jersey League of Municipalities yesterday. Christie laid out the fiscal problems of his state, said "this is the job that I asked for and I am prepared to do it." Of his early meeting with the State Treasurer, Governor Christie said he was presented with 378 possible freezes and lapses to honor the budget. He accepted 375 of the 378! He said we have made every" quick fix" possible, and now we are "left holding the bag."

"We have no room left to borrow, no room left to tax." The option is to be shot in the back [by the troops of the decades of over-borrowing and over-spending], or hold hands and jump off the cliff. We will land and we will land fine. It does not mean that it won't be scary." This Governor means business. Christie actually offers "hope and change" and plans to bring it.

The video is the entire speech, or read a partial transcript at Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis.

Governor Chris Christy - honoring New Jersey budget

Linked by And so I go: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Gov. Chris Christie Freezes Spending - "Really Freezes Spending" in NJ

Chris Christie, the new Republican governor, moved into the New Jersey Governor's Mansion and froze all spending...that's all spending. It is not a make-believe freeze. It's a real freeze.

Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday he is immediately freezing all state spending.

Saying New Jersey is on the verge of bankruptcy, Christie declared a fiscal emergency, announcing drastic cuts. Among them, aid to school districts that have excess surpluses.

"Today we are going to act swiftly to fix problems too long ignored. Today I begin to do what I promised the people of New Jersey I would do," Christie said.

The move had Democrats in an uproar, angry the governor used his executive powers instead of working with the Legislature.

"What that's going to mean is that those school districts without that money are going to be raising property taxes in the upcoming year to make up for that shortfall," said Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-19th District.

Christie sends a love letter to the Transit union:

The governor also cut state subsidies to New Jersey Transit, saying it needs to become fiscally efficient.

"Revisit its rich union contracts," Christie said. "And they may also have to consider service reductions or fare increases."

"It's really foolish. It undermines not only the environment but our economy because people need transit to get to work," said Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club.

But one tax group applauded the governor.

"Yes it's going to be difficult to make some of these choices as were highlighted today, but education, health care and these things tend to be sacred cow and they need to be taken out of that category," said Jerry Cantrell of the Taxpayers' Association of New Jersey.

Fellow Republicans said some school districts have been abusing the money they get and it's about time a governor called them on it.

"I think the record indicates that there are a number of school districts that have been overspending, misappropriating," said Assemblyman Joe Mallone, R-30th District.

The governor said he doesn't anticipate schools cutting programs or jobs right now, but sources within the administration said there are no guarantees for the next fiscal year.

Christie warned lawmakers that next year's budget may include even harsher cuts in spending and aid.

Linked by Sultan Knish - The Fall of the House of Kennedy -  Thank You!