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New Jersey. Elections for Governor. Jon Corzine. Not a Friend of Animals.

It wasn't too long ago that Governor Jon Corzine signed into law Senate Bill 802, a bill permitting bow hunting on Sundays on state wildlife management areas as well as on private lands during the respective deer season. This was sometime in March 2009. Because I was vehemently against another day of hunting when hunters already had six days to kill animals, blogged about this issue and encouraged readers to take action, and called the governor's office several times when he opened the lines for an opinion poll, it was with great disappointment, even resentment, that I learned that the governor finally sided with the hunters. The main thrust of the hunting community's argument was that Sunday will compensate for their lack of time to hunt during the week. However way Gov. Corzine came to his decision, through days-long deliberation and consulting with many groups at opposite sides of the issue, in the end, he bought the argument and signed the bill into law. Yes, I felt that his decision was very callous and pandered to the hunting community.

Politically, I am neither democrat nor republican. I can best describe my position as " anti-incumbent. " I believe that power corrupts and elected officials should not be allowed to stay in office for a long time. One term is enough. Power has an intoxicating effect, and long staying politicians albeit legitimately re-elected are like drunken drivers who believe that they are on a straight course but are actually straying. One example, if not for vetting or confirmation proceedings, we wouldn't know that many elected officials have not paid their taxes in full or paid them at all. It is inevitably excused as an oversight, but such tax delinquencies are more easily forgiven because the erring parties are in power. I say, vote the incumbents out not excluding Obama, Bloomberg, or Corzine.

The League of Humane Voters-NJ has a different take on it. They are asking us to support Corzine and his running mate Senator Loretta Weinberg and give thanks for their support of animal welfare. According to the LOHV_NJ ,

" During his first bid for Governor, Jon Corzine opposed a bear hunt and said there would be no bear hunts during his term. While other issues such as property taxes and health care reform have to go through the legislature, CORZINE had direct control over a bear hunt. Corzine made a promise to protect black bears and he kept it.Senator Loretta Weinberg (Corzine's running mate) is a staunch supporter of all animals. She has consistently voted to protect them and advance their rights. In fact, she was the first legislator who introduced a bill to protect black bears over a decade ago. Weinberg has sponsored a large number of animal-friendly bills and she is known for standing up for what she believes -- no matter who is applying pressure. "

From this, it seems to me that Senator Weinberg should be running for governor, not Corzine. I don't think she's ever been governor. What else has Corzine done for the animals? And that isn't a rhetorical question. When Congo, the German Shepherd who attacked a landscaper who he taught was attacking his master, was sentenced to death, people asked Gov. Corzine to commute his sentence. The governor never even issued a statement. Governor Corzine is not a friend of the animals notwithstanding his opposition to bear hunts. As an animal lover and anti-incumbent, I say NO to Corzine. In this year's New Jersey gubernatorial elections, there are no good choices but that doesn't mean we should vote for Corzine.

Comments

air said…
This Tuesday, vote for ANYBODY except Corzine.

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