The red card

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The red card

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Posted by Feuilles on August 07, 2003 at 21:44:47:

Glenn's Red Card

In basketball it is called a technical foul. In baseball, it's the umpire giving one the heave-ho. Football has personal fouls. And in soccer, it's the red card. When a player on the field causes such disruption as to cause the referee to stop play and cause the player to be removed from the game. It's the ultimate penalty – its when the referee says to a player no more. It comes after such a foul that could cause the game itself to be fundamentally changed.

For Jersey City Mayor GLENN CUNNINGHAM, some state Democratic leaders are saying, it may be time for the red card.

Cunningham, who became Jersey City's first African American Mayor two years ago, has become one of the most mercurial leaders in the state. In the short period of two years, he has alienated the very political allies that put him into office, engaged in a petty fight with the local Congressman, angered local and state Democrats, and has fought with pretty much everybody on the other side of Newark Bay. Cunningham even compared Menendez to a "political terrorist" in the immediate aftermath of September 11th, where residents of Cunningham's city were killed. Many political observers thought that Cunningham was making dumb, but rookie, mistakes.

Many political observers saw Cunningham's actions as the sign of a one term mayor.

But this June, Cunningham seemed to gain the upper hand. After a very hard fought campaign, Cunningham, was nominated for the State Senate, defeating party endorsed candidate and Jersey City Council President L. HARVEY SMITH by an eight point margin. The margin helped defeat long time Assemblyman JOSEPH DORIA and Assemblywoman ELBA PEREZ-CINCIARELLI by Bayonne Councilman ANTHONY CHIAPPONE and former Hudson County Freeholder LOUIS MANZO. The sweep seemed complete as Cunningham emerged with one of the most powerful tools in New Jersey politics – senatorial courtesy.

But Cunningham appears completely unable to be a good winner. In fact, since the June primary, Cunningham may well be on his way to Worst Winner of the Year. Since the primary, Cunningham has taunted Gov. JAMES E. MCGREEVEY, challenged State Democratic Chairwoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN (whom he called "Aunt Bonnie," -- a term offensive to African Americans), attacked fellow Hudson County Democrats, and raised the specter of the Ku Klux Klan.

The HCDO filed suit last week, alleging that Cunningham's team was aided by contributions from several political action committees that far exceeded the $36,000 limit prescribed by law. The county party also submitted what they claim is evidence gleaned from an extensive review of voting records that shows illegal voter participation in the primary that might have altered the results of each race. The HCDO has said its goal is to overturn the results of the primary. Under such a scenario, the party's county committee would then pick new candidates.

Two Hudson Democratic sources says that the organization is confident enough in their ability to deliver margins in other parts of the county that they are willing to publicly reveal longtime tactics used to manipulate votes in Jersey City. If that's accurate, it ought to be quite a show.

It is Cunningham's recent actions that have political insiders wondering about his own stability. In recent days, Cunningham supporters have attacked State Senator BERNARD KENNY, the Hudson County Democratic Chairman, by invoking a 40-year-old issue regarding Kenny's late father in an effort to damage his reputation. Then Cunningham accused Congressman ROBERT MENENDEZ, of being a racist and said that the actions of the Hudson Democrats were little different than those of the Klan. That's a tough sell, even in the rough-and-tumble of Hudson County politics.

Cunningham's attempt to play the race card against the organization has little credibility. The HCDO helped Charles become the first African American State Senator from Hudson County, backed the late JANET HAYNES for County Clerk, and Cunningham himself was the beneficiary of organization support in the 2001 mayoral race. If anything, the June primary was a net loss for minorities: Perez-Cinciarelli, an Hispanic woman, will be replaced in the State Assembly by a white male.

Finally, on Tuesday evening, Cunningham led a demonstration at Menendez' office and again saying that Menendez was insufficiently understanding of black voters. Menendez fired back immediately saying that Cunningham's actions were way outside the mainstream of politics. Cunningham's Assembly running mate, Manzo, says he might challenge Menendez next year for Congress.

A number of Statehouse observers are stunned by Cunningham's actions. After winning the Senate nomination, Cunningham seemed to have the potential of enormous political strength. But not less than two months later, Cunningham seems to have backed himself into a corner by challenging Menendez, the member of Congress with one of the single largest campaign war chests in the country -- nearly $3 million. Cunningham was in the position to demand peace in Hudson County; now he has seemingly crossed the Rubicon, there can no peace between Menendez and Cunningham.

Caught in the middle are state Democrat leaders. For McGreevey, he is loathe to cross the powerful Menendez, whose political reach extends outside the borders of his four-county congressional district -- despite some very public feuding in recent months. In addition, Watson Coleman is said to be gravely concerned about Cunningham's rather public flirtation with Republican Senate Co-President JOHN BENNETT, including a very well noticed lunch last week in Jersey City. And Cunningham has forged a strong political alliance with former Newark mayoral candidate CORY BOOKER, whose law firm gets considerable Jersey City work -- Cunningham is expected to attend a fundraiser for Booker's 2006 campaign for Mayor at the Ridgewood home of attorney VICTOR HERLINKSY. This won't help Cunningham get along with another big city Mayor/State Senator: Booker foe SHARPE JAMES.

The Mayor of Jersey City seems to be doing everything he can to preclude peace. By attacking Kenny's family, calling Menendez a racist and a terrorist, and by dancing with the Republicans, Cunningham seems to be insisting on a total victory, defined presumably by the removal of Menendez from Congress. An highly unlikely event.

Cunningham may well end up winning some political battles, but many New Jersey political observers are feeling that he is not playing well with others and needs a red card.

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: Glenn's Red Card

: In basketball it is called a technical foul. In baseball, it's the umpire giving one the heave-ho. Football has personal fouls. And in soccer, it's the red card. When a player on the field causes such disruption as to cause the referee to stop play and cause the player to be removed from the game. It's the ultimate penalty – its when the referee says to a player no more. It comes after such a foul that could cause the game itself to be fundamentally changed.

: For Jersey City Mayor GLENN CUNNINGHAM, some state Democratic leaders are saying, it may be time for the red card.

: Cunningham, who became Jersey City's first African American Mayor two years ago, has become one of the most mercurial leaders in the state. In the short period of two years, he has alienated the very political allies that put him into office, engaged in a petty fight with the local Congressman, angered local and state Democrats, and has fought with pretty much everybody on the other side of Newark Bay. Cunningham even compared Menendez to a "political terrorist" in the immediate aftermath of September 11th, where residents of Cunningham's city were killed. Many political observers thought that Cunningham was making dumb, but rookie, mistakes.

: Many political observers saw Cunningham's actions as the sign of a one term mayor.

: But this June, Cunningham seemed to gain the upper hand. After a very hard fought campaign, Cunningham, was nominated for the State Senate, defeating party endorsed candidate and Jersey City Council President L. HARVEY SMITH by an eight point margin. The margin helped defeat long time Assemblyman JOSEPH DORIA and Assemblywoman ELBA PEREZ-CINCIARELLI by Bayonne Councilman ANTHONY CHIAPPONE and former Hudson County Freeholder LOUIS MANZO. The sweep seemed complete as Cunningham emerged with one of the most powerful tools in New Jersey politics – senatorial courtesy.

: But Cunningham appears completely unable to be a good winner. In fact, since the June primary, Cunningham may well be on his way to Worst Winner of the Year. Since the primary, Cunningham has taunted Gov. JAMES E. MCGREEVEY, challenged State Democratic Chairwoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN (whom he called "Aunt Bonnie," -- a term offensive to African Americans), attacked fellow Hudson County Democrats, and raised the specter of the Ku Klux Klan.

:
: The HCDO filed suit last week, alleging that Cunningham's team was aided by contributions from several political action committees that far exceeded the $36,000 limit prescribed by law. The county party also submitted what they claim is evidence gleaned from an extensive review of voting records that shows illegal voter participation in the primary that might have altered the results of each race. The HCDO has said its goal is to overturn the results of the primary. Under such a scenario, the party's county committee would then pick new candidates.

:
: Two Hudson Democratic sources says that the organization is confident enough in their ability to deliver margins in other parts of the county that they are willing to publicly reveal longtime tactics used to manipulate votes in Jersey City. If that's accurate, it ought to be quite a show.

:
: It is Cunningham's recent actions that have political insiders wondering about his own stability. In recent days, Cunningham supporters have attacked State Senator BERNARD KENNY, the Hudson County Democratic Chairman, by invoking a 40-year-old issue regarding Kenny's late father in an effort to damage his reputation. Then Cunningham accused Congressman ROBERT MENENDEZ, of being a racist and said that the actions of the Hudson Democrats were little different than those of the Klan. That's a tough sell, even in the rough-and-tumble of Hudson County politics.

:
: Cunningham's attempt to play the race card against the organization has little credibility. The HCDO helped Charles become the first African American State Senator from Hudson County, backed the late JANET HAYNES for County Clerk, and Cunningham himself was the beneficiary of organization support in the 2001 mayoral race. If anything, the June primary was a net loss for minorities: Perez-Cinciarelli, an Hispanic woman, will be replaced in the State Assembly by a white male.

: Finally, on Tuesday evening, Cunningham led a demonstration at Menendez' office and again saying that Menendez was insufficiently understanding of black voters. Menendez fired back immediately saying that Cunningham's actions were way outside the mainstream of politics. Cunningham's Assembly running mate, Manzo, says he might challenge Menendez next year for Congress.

: A number of Statehouse observers are stunned by Cunningham's actions. After winning the Senate nomination, Cunningham seemed to have the potential of enormous political strength. But not less than two months later, Cunningham seems to have backed himself into a corner by challenging Menendez, the member of Congress with one of the single largest campaign war chests in the country -- nearly $3 million. Cunningham was in the position to demand peace in Hudson County; now he has seemingly crossed the Rubicon, there can no peace between Menendez and Cunningham.

: Caught in the middle are state Democrat leaders. For McGreevey, he is loathe to cross the powerful Menendez, whose political reach extends outside the borders of his four-county congressional district -- despite some very public feuding in recent months. In addition, Watson Coleman is said to be gravely concerned about Cunningham's rather public flirtation with Republican Senate Co-President JOHN BENNETT, including a very well noticed lunch last week in Jersey City. And Cunningham has forged a strong political alliance with former Newark mayoral candidate CORY BOOKER, whose law firm gets considerable Jersey City work -- Cunningham is expected to attend a fundraiser for Booker's 2006 campaign for Mayor at the Ridgewood home of attorney VICTOR HERLINKSY. This won't help Cunningham get along with another big city Mayor/State Senator: Booker foe SHARPE JAMES.

: The Mayor of Jersey City seems to be doing everything he can to preclude peace. By attacking Kenny's family, calling Menendez a racist and a terrorist, and by dancing with the Republicans, Cunningham seems to be insisting on a total victory, defined presumably by the removal of Menendez from Congress. An highly unlikely event.

: Cunningham may well end up winning some political battles, but many New Jersey political observers are feeling that he is not playing well with others and needs a red card.

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