“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”
-- General George Patton

Hopefully we're at a turning point

Governor Corzine's challenge to the Keansburg School Superintendent's 3/4 of a million dollar severance package is a hopeful sign that he will realize that pigs don't have to fly over the state house before enough waste, fraud and abuse can be identified to fix the states finances.

If the Corzine administration treats the Keansburg situation as an isolated incident, while letting rampant waste continue throughout the education establishment, this will be just another band aid or gimmick.

Abbott School Districts, or whatever they are called now, and school construction projects have been a sewer through which our state government has flushed our hard earned dollars while rewarding their political supporters. That this latest exposure of waste is actually minor compared to the $80+ million in waste recently identified by a state audit of the Abbotts.

There is still time in this budget cycle to make a difference. Corzine should undo his education funding formula passed during the lame duck session and freeze Abbott spending at last years levels, less the $80 million in waste. Education Commissioner Lucille Davy should order that no money be spent on travel, conventions, conferences and parties in the Abbotts in the coming fiscal year.

Instead of finding new ways to raise revenue, the Corzine administration should set out to find a billion or so in savings by cutting the fat from Abbotts during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

The always reliable InTheLobby has a good list of additional cost savings.

Hidlay Skips town

I don't know how I missed this. Probably because I've stopped reading the Tri-City News since Tom DeSeno stopped writing for them.

Skip Hidlay, who has been a dominant political force in Monmouth County as Executive Editor of the Asbury Park Press, has been named president and publisher of the Courier News in Bridgewater, NJ, and the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, NJ.

Stay tuned for the announcement of a bi-partisan celebration hosted by John Bennett and Ellen Karcher. Bill Barham will sponsor the bar. Vic Scudiery will cover the carving station. Ed Stominski will sponsor the spaghetti and Tom Powers will be the Master of Ceremonies.

I honestly didn't know about this when I responded to the APP editorial about the GOP chairmanship last Friday.
Apologies to Kevin Penton if I hurt your changes for Skip's old job.

Hopefully, the news pages of the APP will get back to basics; Who, What, When and Where, and the editorializing will be left on the editorial pages.

The APP editorial pages are right on the mark today. Funny too.

Joe Oxley is bad for blogging

Darn, the blogger in me misses Adam Puharic. I'm even reminiscing about the Neimann days. Gone are the days when I'm referred to as a terrorist or a Democrat. Where's the RastaKid when you need him?

This Oxley guy is bad for blogging. He returns phone calls, keeps his promises, listens to suggestions, and says thank you even when he disagrees with you.

I've been working on a post commenting on the PolitickerNJ piece about the Monmouth County Freeholder race. The jist of the Politicker piece is that the Dems, represented by spokesperson Mike Mangan, believe that Monmouth is now officially a Democratic county, now that D's exceed R's by 10,000 in voter registration. Senator Sean Kean says that McCain's coat tails will carry Freeholder Director Lillian Burry and John Curley into office. Dr. Pat Murray, the pollster from Monmouth University backs up Mangan, sort of.

They're all wrong.

I'm just about finished writing my post about why and a road map to Republican victory and Joe Oxley calls me on a Chamber of Commerce matter. After handling the chamber business, I offer Joe my thoughts on where we are at and how to win in November. He agrees with some of my points, has a different slant on others, and is way ahead of me on the important ones.

Humph. I guess I'll have to go back to writing about Corzine.

Oxley announces

In a personalized letter dated May 15 and mailed to each member of the Monmouth GOP county committee, former Sheriff Joe Oxley asked the county committee members to support him for county chairman.

That Oxley took the time and expense to send his letter to the rank and file committee members is a very good sign that the party's way of doing business, should Oxley take the chair, will be more democratic and inclusive, contrary to the fears expressed by the Asbury Park Press's editorial on Friday.

Photo credit, Jim Purcell, The Courier

A test for the Asbury Park Press

Over the last several years, the Asbury Park Press has done, for the most part, an admirable job exposing wasteful spending and shortfalls in the integrity of government officials and political parties on the state, county and municipal levels of government. The Monmouth GOP has borne the brunt of much of that reporting and editorializing. Some of the coverage has been on the mark. Sadly, some has been way off the mark.

If, as appears to be the case, Joe Oxley pursues the Monmouth GOP chairmanship, the APP's own integrity will be tested.

The APP has a financial ax to grind with Joe Oxley.

While in his second term as Sheriff, Oxley's department stopped advertising Notices of Foreclosure Sales, or any other Sheriff's notices in the Asbury Park Press. This decision cost the APP millions of dollars in revenue. Conversely, Oxley's advertising policies saved the Monmouth County tax payers millions of dollars. Reports are that the Sheriff's notices in local weekly papers, at much lower rates than the APP's, drew greater interest and participation in the Sheriff's sales, to the benefit of the both lenders and borrowers, and the public.

In today's editorial, the APP took a shot at Oxley's potential chairmanship. Later today, they posted an extremely favorable article on their website reporting that Oxley's partner, Matt Giacobbe put the county government on notice that he would not seek to renew his contract as county counsel if Oxley becomes GOP chairman. The contract was worth over $360,000 last year. That is unheard of! That is an extraordinary act of integrity to avoid the appearance of a conflict.

Since Oxley left the Sheriff's office in January, the APP has been scrutinizing his tenure and published articles critical of over time spending. I have it on good authority that more critical articles are coming, perhaps as early as this weekend.

No public figure is immune from criticism from the press or the public in general. However, the press has a responsibility to be accurate, objective and fair in their reporting.

Given Oxley's history with the Asbury Park Press, and that he chose to save the taxpayers money at the APP's expense, it will be very telling to watch the APP's coverage of Oxley.

Hopefully, we will find that the APP's reporting is fair and objective. We'll see if their vehement objections to "Pay to Play" and their criticism of wasteful government spending applies even when it hurts their own bottom line. Hopefully, they will not exhibit the kind of vendentas that they have been critical of government officials and party bosses for practicing when their power and money are at risk.

A fresh and familiar face

The Asbury Park Press editorialized this morning that the Monmouth GOP needs a fresh face, not a"1st stringer" for our new chairman.

Isn't that exactly what we just suffered through with Adam "Tantrum Boy" Puharic?

If Skip Hadley were to announce that he was leaving as Executive Editor of the APP, do you think Gannett would promote Kevin Penton into that job? Kevin is a bright young man. He's a good reporter covering the Bayshore. He's hardworking, and develops the relationships he needs to be effective in his job.

Why not Kevin? He's a good guy and people like him. Well, because Kevin is not ready for that job. If he aspires to a job like Executive Editor, I have no doubt that he could work towards it and develop the experience and skills needed to succeed in that job, someday.

The APP says that Joe Oxley, who even county Democrats expect to be the next GOP Chairman, "has far too many ties and loyalties to be an energizing force. He would hardly be the fresh face needed to encourage residents who have long felt disenfranchised into thinking they could make a difference."

The APP should keep an open mind about Oxley, should he declare his candidacy, and I expect he will. While Oxley has not announced that he is a candidate for chairman, the leaders of the various factions of the party universally supported him taking the chairmanship in 2006. He declined to run, opting to keep politics out of the Sheriff's office which he held at the time.

All indications are that both the grass roots reformers and the "establishment" leaders will support Oxley again in 2008. That these groups can agree on Oxley is amazing. Their agreement speaks volumes about Oxley's strength, leadership and ability to include all comers. Unlike what the APP seems to fear, that new blood won't be welcome and that residents will feel disenfranchised, my experience of Joe Oxley indicates that just the opposite will be true.

The APP can be expected to scrutinize Oxley, and to attempt to sell some papers by hinting of scandal. They will probably write more about his law firm, which is politically powerful in both parties throughout the state. They will raise issues about Oxley's four term tenure as Sheriff. They should do that. It is their job.

However, it is also their job to be objective and fair. Raise the issues and ask the questions. Joe Oxley can handle it, and can address the issues honestly and with much to be proud of.

Joe Oxley is more than a "1st stringer." He is a Hall of Famer. Monmouth County, and the GOP would have been better off with him as chairman in 2006. Monmouth County and the GOP will be very fortunate if he becomes the GOP chairman next month.

Crystal Beacon Awards

Republicans, Democrats and Independents throughout Monmouth County gathered at the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank last night for the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce's annual Crystal Beacon Awards Dinner.

My fears, as president of the Chamber, that food fights would break out if we brought all of these people together and served cocktails were unfounded. Quite the contrary, as 170+ people including elected officials and political leaders of both parties embraced their differences and celebrated what is great about Northern Monmouth County.

The Chamber honored U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie as the Public Servant of the year.

Victor Scudiery, owner of IEI Electronics, the Airport Plaza Shopping Center, a supporter of various Bayshore charities, and the the chairman of the Monmouth County Democratic party was honored as the Business Ambassador of the Year.

The Timothy Pauxtis Foundation, founded by Susan and Jay Pauxtis in memory of their son, Timmy, who succumbed to brain cancer at 10 years old, was honored as the Non-Profit Organization of the Year. In their first year, the foundation endowed a scholarship fund for Middletown high school seniors who want to pursue studies in pediatric nursing, and raised over $70,000 for cancer research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Peter Phillips, Director of Neuro-Oncology at the Children's Hospital traveled from Philadelphia to present the award to Susan and Jay.

Lynn Conover, CPA and partner in the Curchin Group, Middletown, was honored with The President's Award for her outstanding service to the business community and to the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce in particular.

It was a special event, highlighted by the fact that so many people who are competitors, in business and politics, could come together as a community and appreciate each other, including their differences, and celebrate those who make an extraordinary contribution.

Jim Purcell has more extensive coverage and video at InsideClamdigger.

Jim's coverage has been picked up by The Star Ledger.

The Soprano State

Best selling authors Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure will be in Fair Haven on Saturday, May 17 for a book signing at River Road Books, 2:00 PM, 759 River Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704.

Fair Haven Mayor and MoreMonmouthMusings contributor Mike Halfacre tells me that he is a real fan of the book and that he will be there to welcome the authors.

That Vision Thing

John McCain certainly has it.

You're invited

Atlantic Highlands Municipal Chairwoman Jane Frotton invites all Monmouth County Republicans to attend the Atlantic Highlands Republican Club meeting on Monday, May 19 at 7:30 PM.

The meeting will be at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands, and a very special guest in expected to be in attendance and speaking about the future of the Monmouth GOP.

If planning to attend, please RSVP to frotton@aol.com, so that Jane can let the Shore Casino know how many people to expect.

I intended to spare him the embarassment...

...and leave well enough alone. But since "Barry Goldwater" ran with Tantrum Boy's sour grapes "wireside" rant and revisionist account of the last few years, you should check it out along with "Barry's" commentary.

There is one thing I have to give Tantrum Boy credit for. He succinctly articulated the cause of his failure, albeit unintentionally, with this sentence:

"Everyone who had an earnest desire to work for a Republican victory was a friend. Everyone who harbored a personal agenda not helpful to the team effort - was not."

That about sums up his tenure. His way or the highway.

Now it's time to move on.

UPDATE

The Flying Piglet has left a new comment on your post "I intended to spare him the embarassment...":

The Angry Young Man
(Instrumental Prelude)
... ♫♪♫♪♫ ...

There's no GOP job for the angry chair-man,
With his questionable ways and his radical stands,
He refuses to bend, he refuses us all,
And he's always at home with his back to the wall.
And he's proud of his scars, and elections he's lost,
And he struggles and bleeds as he hangs on the cross ...

Adam likes to be known as the angry young man.

Give a moment or two to the angry chair-man,
With his foot in his mouth and his head in his hands.
He has stabbed in the back, he has misunderstood,
It's no comfort to know his intentions were good.
And he sits in a room with a lock on the door,
With his enemy list laid out on the floor ...

Adam likes to be known as the angry chair-man.

We had hoped he'd passed the age of obstinance and righteous rage,
Learned that just winning elections is a noble fight.
We once believed in Adam too,
But he's got this pointless point of view,
And life went on no matter who was wrong or right.

And there's never a place for the angry chair-man,
With his fist in the air and his head in the sand.
He's never been able to learn from mistakes,
So he can't understand all the chaos he makes.
But intentions are pure and his courage as well,
And he knows that it's true that he's boring as hell ...

And he'll go through old age as an angry old man.

(♫♪♫♪♫)

Yes there's never a place for the angry young man,
With his questionable ways and his radical stands,
He refuses to bend, he refuses us all,
And he's always at home with his back to the wall.
And he's proud of his scars, and elections he's lost,
And he struggles and bleeds as he hangs on the cross ...

Adam likes to be known as the angry young man.