Tuesday’s Republican debate went down like a lukewarm cup of coffee. It was almost like an afterthought, you know? Jack Ciattarelli got the nod from Donald Trump, so game over, right? Well, not so fast. Bill Spadea wasn’t about to let that slide without a fight. He pointed out that the whole endorsement thing was based on a poll funded by Ciattarelli’s own campaign. Funny how Spadea’s tune changed from when the endorsement was first announced, huh?
Ciattarelli, on the other hand, claimed Trump backed him because he’s the only one who can secure a victory in November. Jon Bramnick, the supposed tough guy in the November race, talked about sticking to the GOP’s core values. But let’s be real here, he’s way behind in the polls. The debate, sponsored by the New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and Rider University, was relatively calm compared to the initial showdown among the three candidates. There were a few jabs thrown around, but nothing too heated.
The whole day seemed to be pushing partisan debates to the brink. Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of this. Surprisingly, there was some common ground on how to tackle crime during Tuesday’s debate. Calls were made to bring back the death penalty in certain cases, scrap bail reform (a Chris Christie brainchild), treat more juvenile offenders as adults, reopen prisons, and support “no-knock warrants” – as Ciattarelli kept emphasizing. Some county jails have shut down and merged with others due to a drop in the inmate population, partly thanks to bail reform. It’s a positive development, considering New Jersey’s low violent crime rates compared to the rest of the nation. But hey, if you don’t believe me, look it up yourself.
The candidates also took a stand against “flash mobs” causing chaos at the Jersey Shore. A recent riot at the Menlo Park Mall fits the bill too. They all agreed on giving law enforcement more authority to arrest minors involved in such incidents. However, they admitted there’s no easy fix to prevent these disturbances from starting on social media. Ciattarelli kept hammering on Spadea’s alleged soft spot for “illegal aliens,” while Spadea defended himself, claiming his words were twisted. The back-and-forth continued, with Spadea accusing Ciattarelli of supporting driver’s licenses for “illegals” and Ciattarelli firing back about Spadea’s amnesty stance. Bramnick chimed in, advocating for a “pathway to citizenship” for hardworking, law-abiding residents.
Property taxes were another hot topic. While Democrats talked about merging towns and school districts to cut costs, none of the Republican candidates were on board with that idea. Spadea outright rejected the notion of consolidation, while Ciattarelli suggested it could happen if towns were willing – which, let’s be real, is unlikely to ever materialize. It’s a bit unsettling how all three GOP contenders cling so tightly to the outdated concept of “home rule,” a Jersey tradition that probably should’ve been left in the past ages ago. Oh, and let’s not forget the snarky comments exchanged between the candidates. Bramnick questioned Spadea’s qualifications, pointing out that being a radio host doesn’t really prep you for running a whole state like New Jersey. Spadea brushed it off, focusing instead on Ciattarelli’s costly smear campaign against him. “Hey Jack, I’m still standing,” he quipped.
