2008 NJ Senate Debate: on Principles & Values


Dick Zimmer: Lautenberg is too old to serve another six-year term

Zimmer challenged the age and effectiveness of incumbent Lautenberg, saying he’s come to believe that 84-year-old Democrat is too old to serve another six-year term. “I’ve reluctantly come to the conclusion he is too old to return to the Senate, because he has not been willing to run the kind of campaign that is required to show you are up to the job,” the 64-year-old said.

Lautenberg disagreed, saying, “age has nothing to do with whether or not you are effective. It’s well-known I produce regularly. What counts is your knowledge, your experience and the respect your colleagues have for you.“

Lautenberg retired from the Senate after four terms, but returned after Bob Torricelli dropped out of the race in 2002. Zimmer said that since Lautenberg’s colleagues did not restore his prior seniority, he remains one of the more junior members of the Senate.

Lautenberg said he chairs two important subcommittees, on environment and commerce, and that he’s earned the respect of colleagues.

Source: 2008 N.J. Senate Debate reported in Gulf South Free Press Nov 1, 2008

Frank Lautenberg: Age has nothing to do with whether or not you are effective

Zimmer challenged the age and effectiveness of incumbent Lautenberg, saying he’s come to believe that 84-year-old Democrat is too old to serve another six-year term. “I’ve reluctantly come to the conclusion he is too old to return to the Senate, because he has not been willing to run the kind of campaign that is required to show you are up to the job,” the 64-year-old said.

Lautenberg disagreed, saying, “age has nothing to do with whether or not you are effective. It’s well-known I produce regularly. What counts is your knowledge, your experience and the respect your colleagues have for you.“

Lautenberg retired from the Senate after four terms, but returned after Bob Torricelli dropped out of the race in 2002. Zimmer said that since Lautenberg’s colleagues did not restore his prior seniority, he remains one of the more junior members of the Senate.

Lautenberg said he chairs two important subcommittees, on environment and commerce, and that he’s earned the respect of colleagues.

Source: 2008 N.J. Senate Debate reported in Gulf South Free Press Nov 1, 2008

  • The above quotations are from 2008 New Jersey Senate Debate between Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer.
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Candidates and political leaders on Principles & Values:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018