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Cory, your state needs you

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Posted: Monday, October 5, 2009 | 0 comments

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Maybe Newark Mayor Cory Booker should run for governor. At least he'd stick up for New Jersey's honor - and get the state a little good press, as well.

Booker's been engaged in a humorous and much-publicized YouTube/Twitter exchange with talk-show host Conan O'Brien after O'Brien dissed Newark. But when it comes to being the butt of late-night talk-show jokes, the state of New Jersey gets the prize. (Some examples, just for the past year, are shown at the end of this blog).

OK, New Jersey provides a lot of fodder - think Jim McGreevey or black-market kidneys. But when have our governors risen to the occasion to defend the state's honor the way that Booker has for Newark? O'Brien originally said the city's new health care plan involved a bus ticket out of town. Booker then declared Newark airport off-limits to O'Brien: "Try JFK, buddy," he said of New York's notoriously congested airport. The two traded insults for a few days, and Booker is expected to be on the TV show soon.

New Jersey needs that kind of hip, in-your-face PR.

Here's a list of some of the New Jersey barbs over the past year that I could find - and believe me, the list is not all-inclusive:

"The FDA has reported that the nasal spray Zicam can reduce your sense of smell. Ever since the announcement, it's been flying off the shelves in New Jersey" - Jimmy Fallon

"Last night was the Miss USA Pageant. ... Miss New Jersey's talent was showing how to make another contestant's death look accidental." - David Letterman

"Big political scandal in New Jersey. This one was a little different - political and religious. A lot of rabbis got together and were selling human organs. Here's a word of warning: Be careful if you are offered a kidney that fell off of a truck." - David Letterman

"In New Jersey today, there were dangerous winds with gusts up to 50 miles an hour. The winds were so strong that they blew former Governor McGreevey off his chauffeur." - Conan O'Brien

"In a major speech Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the Palestinians to get their own state. Unfortunately, the state he offered them is New Jersey." - Conan O'Brien

"It's now being reported that the former governor of New Jersey took part in threesomes involving his wife and his chauffer. It's your move, Spitzer" - Conan O'Brien

"In New Jersey, the state Senate is working on a bill to legalize medical marijuana. They say it's the one thing that can really ease the pain of having to live in New Jersey." - Jay Leno

"Three mayors in New Jersey were arrested yesterday in a huge money laundering scheme. Investigators knew something didn't smell right ... aside from what normally doesn't smell right in New Jersey." Jimmy Fallon

Cory, your state needs you.

Posted in CARLA LINZ on Monday, October 5, 2009 4:55 pm

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