Business as usual

Trenton-November 29, 2007- The NJ Senate, in a vote that was not on the published calender, unanimously confirmed Joseph Doria as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.

The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) was created to provide administrative guidance, financial support and technical assistance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life in New Jersey. DCA offers a wide range of programs and services that respond to issues of public concern including fire and building safety, housing production, community planning and development, and local government management and finance.

According to a federal lawsuit filed in late October, Doria, the former Mayor of Bayonne, was a party to corruption, ticket-fixing and other official misconduct in the Bayonne Parking Authority. In addition to his job as mayor, Doria is a former the Speaker of the State Assembly, and State Senator. He resigned from the Senate and the Bayonne Mayoralty in September in order to accept Governor Corzine’s appointment as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). He has been serving as Acting Commission of DCA since October 9. His nomination passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously on November 8.

A state grand jury investigation into the Bayonne Parking Authority is ongoing.

Now that the election is over, where is the reform and clean government?

Just three weeks from Election Day and there’s reason to seriously doubt that either our elected leaders in Trenton or the major New Jersey newspapers are serious about cleaning up corruption.

According to a federal lawsuit filed in late October, Former Bayonne Mayor Joseph Doria was a party to corruption, ticket-fixing and other official misconduct in the Bayonne Parking Authority. In addition to his job as mayor, Doria is a former the Speaker of the State Assembly, and State Senator. He resigned from the Senate and the Bayonne Mayoralty in September in order to accept Governor Corzine’s appointment as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). He has been serving as Acting Commission of DCA since October 9. His nomination passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously on November 8. He is awaiting confirmation by the full Senate in December. With a career in politics that spans the better part of three decades, Doria is the ultimate Trenton insider and qualifies as a “big fish.”

Former BPA Director Peter Hilburn and executive secretary Felicia Ryan claim they were fired for aiding the state Office of the Attorney General in an investigation of that alleged corruption in the lawsuit, which seeks damages for their allegedly wrongful termination. In their suit they allege that they brought corrupt activities to Doria’s attention, and that he instructed them to “let it be.” When they went over Doria’s head to the Attorney General, he fired them, the suit alleges.

These are allegations in a wrongful termination lawsuit, not criminal charges. However, there is a state Grand Jury investigation into the Bayonne Parking Authority. At this point in the process, these allegations might not even qualify as news, expect for the fact that Doria is up for confirmation to one of the most important offices in state government.

Given all the recent headlines and political rhetoric about corruption in New Jersey you might think the allegations against Doria would be front page news. You’d be wrong to think that. The Star Ledger had the story buried on page 16 last Monday, with the byline Jersey Journal. The Asbury Park Press didn’t give it a full article, but rather a small block attributed to the Associated Press. The story was broken by a small daily newspaper, The Bayonne Evening Star-Telegram, circulation about 7500. Star-Telegram publisher Mickey Shemin tells me that an anonymous source gave him a copy of the lawsuit, after shopping the story to several larger papers that did nothing with it. Shemin printed excerpts of the suit last week and will do so again in a follow up issue. The Star-Telegram story was picked up by the Conservatives with Attitude (www.gopusa.com) blogger, Middletown attorney Hank Butehorn before the Star Ledger, Jersey Journal or the Associated Press mentioned it.

Political leaders of both parties have been absolutely silent about the allegations against Doria, and about his upcoming confirmation vote in the Senate.

In an era where we’ve witnessed over 100 indictments or convictions for corruption and official misconduct, mostly by bit players and second stringers, why is it that this “big fish” Doria is apparently getting a free pass from the media and Trenton elite on his way to confirmation to a Cabinet level position?

Maybe it’s because the Trenton and media elite aren’t really serious about cleaning up our government. Maybe they aren’t real reformers, but they just play them on TV and in the newspapers in the weeks before Election Day.

Also published in The Courier and The Bayonne Evening Star-Telegram

The Bayonne Evening Star-Telegram is publishing more excerpts of the Doria lawsuit in the issue that hits the newstands in Bayonne this evening.

All tied up in Matawan

Matwan Mayoral recount results in a tie.

Congratulations to In the Lobby.net

Congratulations to John Torok and his partners at In the Lobby for having their November 27 post, Dear Bradley, printed as an OpEd piece in today's Asbury Park Press.

The Golden Dunce Cap of the week award goes to Corzine's Chief of Staff Bradley Abelow.

Not only did Abelow's whining about the Asbury Park Press's photo illustration of the Hocking Hustler make the photo state wide news for a least a week, he has given one of the administration's most thoughtful and articulate critics, In the Lobby, a new and wide reaching audience.

In addition to In the Lobby's thoughtful and articulate analysis, the site has a most distinguished blog roll. I recommend reading it daily.

daTruthSquad in daNews...

at NJ.com and in Wednesday's Star Ledger.

I bet this story gets more ink from the Ledger than Doria and the Bayonne Parking Authority scandal.

da Pu-Pu in daNews tu...

The most prolific winner of daTruthSquad's dreaded Baconhead of the Week award, Adam "I'm your chairman I just won you a seat" Puharic met with the Asbury Park Press Editorial board on Tuesday.

Something tells me Pu-Pu is going to regret meeting the editorial board more than he regrets meeting the Marlboro Republican Club.

Republicans on Doria: Silence

Where are the Republicans on the brewing Doria scandal?

Will the "opposition" party stand by, or worse, comply, as the ultimate Trenton insider cruises to conformation as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs while under suspicion for serious legal and ethical violations?

Doria has not been convicted or charged, yet the allegations against him are serious and credible. I can believe the administration that gave us Zulima "Speedy" Farber as Attorney General letting Doria's nomination to perhaps the most powerful cabinet position proceed to confirmation. But the opposition going along?

As the Democrats pile on US Attorney Christopher Christie for doing his job, where are the Republicans on Doria?

Calls to Senators Tom Kean, Jr and Joe Kyrillos, both members of the Judiciary Committee, about Doria, went unanswered yesterday, as did a call to NJ GOP Chair Tom Wilson.

Certainly the allegations against Doria raise above the Governor emailing his ex-girlfriend or the former Attorney General fixing a ticket for her boyfriend.

Doria's nomination to DCA Commissioner should not proceed until the cloud of these allegations are cleared up and the Republican leadership should be leading the charge to make sure the nomination is not confirmed.

The Asbury Park Press strikes a nerve

Governor Corzine's Chief of Staff Bradley Abelow issued an open letter to the Asbury Park Press today condeming the front page photo/illustration(left)that accompanied the APP's "Hocking the Highways" story in Sunday's paper.

Corzine's office should be more concerned about the allegations against Acting DCA Commissioner Doria than the Asbury Park Press's photo editorial policy.

Doria Nominatation a test of how serious Corzine, Legislature is about cleaning up corruption

Joe Doria is the ultimate Trenton insider. He is a former Speaker of the Assembly. He recently resigned his seat in the State Senate and his office as Mayor of Bayonne to accept Governor Corzine's appointment to be the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), one of the most powerful cabinet level posts in State government.

And, Doria was a party to corruption, ticket-fixing and other official misconduct in the Bayonne Parking Authority, according to allegations filed in a federal lawsuit by two fired employees of the Bayonne Parking Authority. In addition to the federal lawsuit, a State Grand Jury is investigation corruption at the Bayonne Parking Authority.

Doria was nominated by the Governor to head DCA in September. He has been Acting Commissioner since October 9, 2007. The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved his nomination on November 8, 2007. The nomination awaits approval of the full Senate. According to the State Legislative Calender the next Senate voting sessions are on December 10 and December 17.

How this nomination is handled, by the Senate, the Governor and Doria himself will tell us volumes about how serious our leaders are about restoring confidence to our government, which has been shaken by numerous corruption scandals. As bad as all the corruption scandals have been, most to date have involved bit players and second stringers. Doria is an All Star. Will the Trenton elite circle the wagons and protect one of their own, or will this nomination be tabled until these serious allegations are resolved? So far, the silence is deafening.

Another scandal brewing: NJ Lame Duck News Media

Hank Butehorn at Conservatives with Attitude has a post written by "Willie Stark" about a Federal Law suit alledging corruption by ultimate insider Joe Doria. Doria is the former Mayor of Bayonne, former Assembly Speaker, former State Senator and the current Department of Community Affairs Commissioner in the Corzine administration.

"Stark" writes:

The first tremors of the next Corzine Administration political corruption scandal rippled through the Bayonne Evening Star last week and will likely tumble through the state’s major papers this coming week. The City of Bayonne is abuzz because the Star printed in its entirety a lawsuit against Joe Doria and a host of Bayonne political cronies, and the City of Bayonne. This story has everything: Suspicious envelopes of cash, taxpayer funded junkets to Florida, ticket fixing and profiting from a public office, not to mention a paper shredder or two.

But wait; there’s more!

Former Bayonne employees Peter Hilburn and Felicia Ryan sued because they were fired by then Mayor Joe Doria for raising questions about the corruption that they suspected. But there was a surprise in store for Doria: Mr. Hilburn was a confidential informant for the Office of the Attorney General!

If the Bayonne Evening Star is online, I can't find it. The paper is an Associate Member of the New Jersey Press Association.

Obviously this story bears watching and could have far reaching effects on the Corzine administration. However what troubles me about this story is not Doria's alleged behavior, the likes of which we come to expect from distinguished trough swillers. I'm troubled about what this story tells us about the main stream news media, or lack thereof, in New Jersey.

Why is this story breaking in the Bayonne Evening Star and getting its legs on blogs?

Hilburn and Ryan were fired from their positions at the Bayonne Parking Authority in July. They filed their lawsuit on October 29, 2007. On November 16, the lawsuit was referred to in a Jersey Journal article posted on NJ.com with no mention of the scandalous allegations. NJ.com is a cooperative website of 16 New Jersey newspapers, including the Star Ledger and the Trenton Times.

One scandal buried until after election day could be no big deal, given how many scandals we have here in New Jersey. But its not only one. On November 12, Debbie Holtz wrote, What did they know and when did they know it? on Politickernj.com questioning why the Star Ledger waited until after election day to break the story of the Attorney General's investigation of Union County Democrats when subpoenas were issued in September and a blog broke the story a week before the election.

Consider this story, about legislators using their staffing allowance to reward cronies and family members with pensions and expensive health care benefits, in today's Star Ledger. That is a story voters could have acted on if it was published in October. What is the point of publishing it on November 25?

These perks are not news to readers of the Asbury Park Press. If the Star Ledger editors ran the Asbury Park Press, John Bennett would be governor.

It seems to me that the NJ news media, particularly the Star Ledger, is operating with a lame duck mentality, much like the legislature, and holding back on big issues until after they won't effect the outcome of an election.

Look what breaks on the slowest of news days

Blue Jersey cites a WNBC report about the impact of Corzine's massive borrowing and spending "monetization" plan.

WNBC's Brian Thompson reports that:

Tolls would go up as much as 75 percent in the year 2010, and then 75 percent more on an "every four year" schedule after that. In addition, any inflation would be factored into those increases.

The bottom line, a trip from Bergen County to Newark Airport that now costs $1.70 would be at least $5.20 by the year 2014. A 70-cent toll on the Parkway would be $2.13 that same year.

The governor is working on a new public authority that would use the toll money to float billions in low interest bonds to ease New Jersey's fiscal crisis, but the turnpike and parkways would not be sold or leased, as has happened in some other states.

Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts said that while he wants to see details, he is initially supportive and challenges critics "to look honestly at this idea and if you don't like this, tell me what your idea is."

Here's my idea Joe, and I got it from you. Shut down the government. Try it for a month. Really. Do it smarter than you did it last time. In addition to all essential functions like state police, leave the revenue generating parts of the government open. Atlantic City should operate as should the Motor Vehicle Commission offices and inspection stations. Keep parks and beaches open, but charge user fees. Shut down everything else and lay off the workers. Unlike the last time you shut the government down, don't pay them for their time off.

The savings would put a big dent in the deficit. During this month we could evaluate what we really need and what should be permanently cut from the state budget.

State government has grown 50% since 2001. Let's scale it back by 25% before we go borrowing billions and raising tolls and taxes.

Blue Jersey founder Juan Melli's comments are right on the mark:

"For starteres, we should begin with the assumption that whatever the plan is, future legislators will try to borrow and spend their way back into the same mess we're in right now. Given past performance, it would be naïvely irresponsible to assume otherwise. In his speech last week, Corzine indicated that he's aware of that possibility. That's encouraging. Unless we can ensure legislatively that any gains from this plan can't be squandered away, moving forward with monetization will just speed up the process of putting us further into debt."

Whether you're blue, red, purple, pink or green, we need to stop this insanity.

Enjoy your turkey, but beware the lame duck

I was working on a post about the legislature's lame duck session, but "Barry Goldwater" beat me to the punch.

Happy Thanksgiving. Don't forget to include the ACLU on your Christmas card list.

Just in case you missed it...

Letter to the APP, published Saturday, November 17

GOP losses call for change

Wall Republican Party Chairman Bob McKenna paid a heavy price for not letting his candidates debate, and perhaps an even heavier one for the largely negative campaign that was orchestrated. ("Wall voters choose two independents, Republican," Nov. 7.)

One of the first things on his post-election to-do list should be to submit his resignation to the Wall Republican County Committee. If he does not, then the county committee should take the initiative and oust him in favor of someone who can better lead the Republicans as they go forward.
The voters of Wall spoke loudly for change and for fresh faces.

Robert Hrebek
WALL

Wilson: Corzine busted and scared out of his pants

NJ GOP Chairman Tom Wilson issued the following statements today:

Corzine Legal Filings Suggest New Search Revealed More Communications


TRENTON, NJ – Republican State Committee Chairman Tom Wilson today issued the following statement concerning today’s filing by the Attorney General in the
OPRA case filed by Wilson seeking copies of all communications discussing
government business between Governor Jon Corzine and CWA President Carla Katz:

“It appears from the certification of William Brown that additional
communications between Jon Corzine and Carla Katz were discovered as a result of the more thorough and comprehensive search ordered by Judge Innes.

When we sought a more comprehensive search and an accounting of that search, the Governor’s position was that we were wasting everyone’s time and that he’d
already turned over everything relevant. In October, Corzine was emphatic that
all the additional search would do was confirm that position. Had that been the
case, I would have expected his filing to plainly and clearly state that no
additional documents were discovered. But it doesn’t say that anywhere which
suggests that they found more and provided more to the court.

If this is the case, then Jon Corzine has been caught red handed. If that is the case, then we have a Governor who will do anything, including violate a court order, to
keep secret his backchannel negotiations with Carla Katz. If he’s willing to go
to those lengths, there must be something in those emails that is so damaging
that it scares the pants off of Jon Corzine.”

CORZINE BUSTED!

“No Comment” Is What People Say When No Response Is Better Than The Truth

TRENTON, NJ – Republican State Committee Chairman Tom Wilson today issued the following statement in response the the “no comment” response to reporter inquiries about whether or not he found and turned over additional communications to Judge Paul Innes:

“No comment is what people say when no answer is better than the truthful
answer. In this case, the Governor’s no comment is a confirmation that he found
and delivered additional communications between he and Carla Katz discussing
state business. If the additional search they were ordered to perform had
revealed nothing more, there would be absolutely no reason whatsoever not to
just say so. Jon Corzine has been caught trying to defy a court order. There is
clearly something in those emails that Jon Corzine fears becoming public.”

The Votes are in. The people have spoken. Jon Corzine doesn’t care.

Jon Corzine has a history of overriding the will of the majority because he knows better.

Before he went into politics, Corzine was the Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s premier investment banks. Corzine thought it was a good idea to sell Goldman Sachs. It would give the company a great deal of money and make him and his partners fabulously wealthy. There was only one problem with Corzine’s scheme. His partners did not want to sell the company. Undeterred by lesser minds, Corzine sold the company anyway. All the partners got fabulously wealthy, the company got a huge influx of capital, and Corzine got fired.

It would seem that Corzine still has not learned to play well with others. Last week New Jersey voters defeated the ballot question that, if approved, would have authorized the State to borrow $450 million dollars to fund stem cell research. Corzine spent $200,000 of his own money to promote the measure. The voters said no. It was the first time in 17 years that the voters defeated any ballot measure.

Undeterred by lesser minds, Corzine is going forward anyway. It seems that he found a way to borrow $270 million without the voter’s approval to built five stem cell research facilities across the state. He actually had a ceremonial ground breaking for one of these facilities the week prior to Election Day, so sure was he that his cause would prevail at the ballot. It didn’t.

Corzine says the election doesn’t matter, because of low voter turnout. He’ll just spend $270 million dollars of our money and submit the $450 million to the voters again. If he builds it, we will come. I’m sure President Al Gore would agree with him.

There must be something in the water in Trenton, or maybe the Democrats have put stupid juice in the New Jersey water supply and they are waiting for it to kick in. Corzine’s hubris over stem cells is not the only measure the Trenton Democrats are forcing on the people without consent.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and Speaker Pro-Tempore Wilfredo Caraballo have announced that they are going to repeal the death penalty during the legislature’s lame duck session in December. Merry Christmas to the 8 murders on death row. I wonder what kind of holiday their victim’s families will be having.

The problem with the Trenton Democrats plan is that the death penalty is part of the New Jersey Constitution. An amendment to the New Jersey Constitution requires a 3/5 majority of both houses of the legislature and a majority vote of the people at the ballot box. Roberts and Caraballo seem to have overlooked that. Or maybe, like Corzine, they simply don’t care.

You can tell Corzine what you think by calling him at 609-292-6000. Or, you can bang your head against a wall.

Originally published in The Courier, November 15, 2007

Corzine: I'm willing to lose my job

Proving once again that he could care less what New Jersey voters think, Jon Corzine declared today that he is willing to force his will upon us on his way out of office.

He promised to be bold in saddling future generations with well over $16 billion in new debt, borrowed against future toll receipts.

The text of Corzine's remarks to the NJ League of Municipalities is here.

Corzine Ignores Voters: Fiscal Restructuring = Asset Monetization = More Borrowing =Massive Toll Increase Not Debt Reduction

--GOP Says Corzine Should Veto Port Authority Toll Increase, Redirect Money
from Stem Cell Construction, Begin Freezing State Expenditures Now, And Balance
the Budget with Spending Cuts Only--

Trenton, NJ -- New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman Tom Wilson issued the following statement today:

“Now we know why Governor Corzine worked so hard to keep his plan a secret. As predicted, the Governor is preparing the single largest debt issuance in state history and the mother of all toll hikes to pay for it. Calling this scheme debt reduction is a fraud. The bottom line is that the total amount owed to pay off our debt will be larger, not smaller, if Corzine has his way the taxpayers will be footing the bill to the tune of billions more in higher tolls for generations. If that’s what Corzine thinks he saw in the results last Tuesday, he needs some new glasses.

Voters want Trenton to get their foot off their throat and their hands out of their pocket. They want the Governor to cut taxes, cut spending, stop borrowing and help them get THEIR fiscal house in order. The courage that voters want to see is the courage to just say no, the courage to cut spending, the courage to veto the Port Authority toll increase, and the courage to stand up for them instead of the sacred cows in state government.

For six years, the Democrats have tried to tax and spend and borrow their way out of the fiscal hole and all they’ve done is make the hole bigger. McGreevey said we had a $1 billion hole, after a $10 billion increase in state spending and a $16 billion increase in debt, we now have a $3-4 billion hole. It’s time to have the courage to restructure and downsize state government. There is an affordability crisis in New Jersey and this scheme will make things worse, not better.

Governor Corzine can begin to help by vetoing the Port Authority toll increase, halting construction on the stem cell facilities and redirect those dollars, reducing current spending by using his authority to freeze and impound appropriated but unspent monies, and developing a budget that is balanced exclusively with spending cuts. Republicans are ready to work with Governor Corzine, but not if that means borrowing more, spending more, and taxing more. We heard the message on election day.”

NJGOP Press Release

The Jackpot is $16 billion dollars

The Star Ledger reports that Governor Corzine will speak to the New Jersey League of Municipalities today about his plan to reduce the State's debt by half, $16 billion dollars.

Corzine will not lay out details of is "asset monetization" or ""fiscal restructuring" plan during this speach.

Tonight at 8 p.m., Corzine will field questions for an hour on a live call-in show airing on public television and streaming at www.nj.com. Questions for the governor can be submitted at www.nj.com/mailforms/askcorzine.

Be sure to submit questions. Here are the questions I submitted:

1) Is seems to me that your plan is more a debt transfer than a debt reduction. You are transfering the debt from the taxpayers to the tollpayers. Is that right?

2) What is the average interest rate on the current debt, and what is the projected rate on the projected debt? Will there be a savings?

3) What do you project the State's debt to be in 2010? More than $16 billion or less than $16 billion?

Duh

Christie to NJ League of Municipalities: "Don't take bribes"

A note to Joe Roberts and Wilfredo Caraballo

Gentlemen:

If you are going to take on something as serious as repealing the death penalty, please make sure you do it right the first time.

Please review the New Jersey Constitution. That document that you have sworn to uphold and protect.

You can find it here: New Jersey Constitution, updated November 6, 2007

Please pay particular attention to Article I, Section 12. It reads:

Excessive bail shall not be required, excessive fines shall not be imposed, and cruel and unusual punishments shall not be inflicted. It shall not be cruel and unusual punishment to impose the death penalty on a person convicted of purposely or knowingly causing death or purposely or knowingly causing serious bodily injury resulting in death who committed the homicidal act by his own conduct or who as an accomplice procured the commission of the offense by payment or promise of payment of anything of pecuniary value.

Please also pay particular attention of Article IX. Amendments. It reads:

1. Any specific amendment or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate or General Assembly. At least twenty calendar days prior to the first vote thereon in the house in which such amendment or amendments are first introduced, the same shall be printed and placed on the desks of the members of each house. Thereafter and prior to such vote a public hearing shall be held thereon. If the proposed amendment or amendments or any of them shall be agreed to by three-fifths of all the members of each of the respective houses, the same shall be submitted to the people. If the same or any of them shall be agreed to by less than three-fifths but nevertheless by a majority of all the members of each of the respective houses, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be referred to the Legislature in the next legislative year; and if in that year the same or any of them shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members of each of the respective houses, then such amendment or amendments shall be submitted to the people.

2. The proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on the journal of each house with the yeas and nays of the members voting thereon.

3. The Legislature shall cause the proposed amendment or amendments to be published at least once in one or more newspapers of each county, if any be published therein, not less than three months prior to submission to the people.

4. The proposed amendment or amendments shall then be submitted to the people at the next general election in the manner and form provided by the Legislature.

5. If more than one amendment be submitted, they shall be submitted in such manner and form that the people may vote for or against each amendment separately and distinctly.

6. If the proposed amendment or amendments or any of them shall be approved by a majority of the legally qualified voters of the State voting thereon, the same shall become part of the Constitution on the thirtieth day after the election, unless otherwise provided in the amendment or amendments.

7. If at the election a proposed amendment shall not be approved, neither such proposed amendment nor one to effect the same or substantially the same change in the Constitution shall be submitted to the people before the third general election thereafter.

Heard on the street

Two constituencies that haven't gotten much play in the post election analysis, but who made a big impact on election day are worthy of note.

Sportsmen. Hunters, anglers and farmers came out strong against Karcher, Panter and Mallet in the 12th, in reaction to Karcher's and Panter's proposed anti-hunting and fishing legislation.

Municipal employees, especially law enforcement. Ironically cops came out strong against Jack Hill for Sheriff, who ran as a tough cop. Hill's streamlining and cost saving proposals, as well as his past efforts in regionalizing police departments did not sit well with those who would have been streamlined under his plans.

Thank you

Capital Punishment requires belief in absolutes

Here is some thoughtful commentary on the death penalty.

Death Penalty

Rather than deal with the message the voters sent them on Tuesday, i.e., get New Jersey's fiscal house in order without borrowing, The Trenton Democrats are changing the subject. Speaker Roberts, Speaker Pro-tempore Caraballo and the Dead Man Walking Nun are promoting lame duck legislation to end the death penalty in NJ.

Frequent blog commenter, Colts Neck Democrat Rick Ambrosia, asked me to write on the subject, saying,

"The death penalty needs to be strengthened and made court proof instead of abolishing it. I am at total odds with my party both locally and county wide on this issue. I have had 2 people in my family murdered and both murderers are still alive. This is just wrong."

Red Jersey's Eric Sedler has a great post on the subject, pointing out that "life in prison" really means 30 years in prison under the proposed legislation.

Conservatives with Attitude's A.J Sparks points out how the Democrats are pro-criminal.

Personally, I have another of my great ideas that will never happen. As a limited government guy, I don't think that government should be in the business of killing people. I propose that upon conviction, a murderer shall immediately become the property of the murder victim's next of kin to do with what they like with the offender. Kill them quickly or slowly. I don't care. Give them a lobotomy and make them a slave, I don't care. Give them therapy to rehabilitate them..some bleeding hearts would actually do that, but if the convict commits another crime, the convict's owner should be criminally and civilly liable.

The government can give the new owner 1/2 the amount of money they would have spent imprisioning the murderer for as long as the murder lives. This would save taxpayers dollars.

This proposal would be a better deterent that the current law on any state's books.

For the best statewide election analysis..

...read In the Lobby's posts on November 7, 8 and 9.

A dose of reality, please

The Republican sweep of the legislative seats in Monmouth County not withstanding, the electoral results this Tuesday show that that Monmouth GOP is in trouble.

Bergen County with beaches is very likely a year from now unless some fundamental changes are made.

Jennifer, Declan and Caroline's sweep was huge! Hat tip to "Barry Goldwater" for uncovering Karcher's Christmas tree farm. To the extent I was able to lend some juice , I am very pleased.

Despite the last minute Democratic money burn in the 11th, and the phony poll numbers the Dems floated in the 13th, there were no surprises, as there was hardly opposition in the 11th and 13th.

However the county organization had little to do with the legislative successes. Adam Puharic admitted as much in his blog radio interview with Conservatives with Attitude. "It's on them, I had nothing to do with it," Adam said regarding the Beck, O'Scanlon, Cassagrande victory.

The Republican victories on the top of the ticket continues a long trend. That Monmouth County is a Republican county has once again been affirmed.

Claire French and Kim Guadagno winning the constitutional races is right and sweet. Sweet because the county campaign gaffes didn't cost them.

From the Freeholder level on down, the GOP either split or lost major races.

Freeholder: Split, with a Democrat winning to top spot for the second year in a row. Trend: Democratic.

On the municipal level, the county is trending Democratic:

Wall: Independent republicans win, a repudiation of the local and county GOP organizations.

Splits: Middletown, Holmdel, Hazlet, Matawan, Keyport, Oceanport, Spring Lake, Red Bank, Sea Bright.

Marlboro: A huge Democratic victory with a major assist from local Republicans.

Aberdeen: Puharic's home town. Another Democratic sweep.

Freeholder results are in

The provisional votes have been counted.

Democrat John D'Amico pulled ahead of Rob Clifton and is the top vote getter by 13 votes. D'Amico has 62,839, Clifton 62,826. Republican Jeff Cantor trails Clifton by 368 votes.

Governor Paralysis

An anonymous senior Democratic political appointee in the Corzine administration calls the governor to the carpet.

MUST READ

Asset Monetization gets a fancy new name

Governor Corzine's super secret borrowing plan now has a new name, "Fiscal Restructuring." Isn't that what happens to companies in Chapter 11 bankruptcy?

The APP's article about the lame duck legislative session has a revealing little tidbit about the Governor's plan to bankrupt New Jersey, like he did Enron:

"Earlier Wednesday, Corzine said he was still awaiting an opinion from the federal government on the tax implications of his plan. Depending on the answer, he said, he may have to turn to alternative ideas."

Hmmm, maybe we don't have to wait until Judge Feinberg decides if New Jerseyans can see the plan. Let's file a Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Treasury Department. (Tom, Mark, Todd...did you get that?)

Why would the feds have to issue an opinion about the tax implications of the plan? There must be a question about whether or not the "borrower" is a governmental enity, as interest paid by state and municipal governments is not taxable income. Could this mean that the Governor plans to sell the toll roads after all?

Post election Wireside Chat

REPUBLICANS WIN

Dear fellow Republicans:

This morning we woke up to the same, wonderful Monmouth Republican County that was in control as we lay our heads down. Only this time, we have more outstanding legislators to begin a Monmouth County makeover of the wasteful, corrupt and incompetent Corzine Democrats. Congratulations. You earned this one.

And I would like to remind you that picking the right slate of candidates, those many months ago, set this party off on the right foot. Screened candidates are bullet-proof. $7 million in negative ads can not hurt them. Please enjoy below:

Sean Kean – 11th Senate – win
Dave Rible – 11th Assembly – win
Mary Pat Angelini – 11th Assembly – win

Jen Beck – 12th Senate -- win
Caroline Casagrande – 12th Assembly – win
Declan O’Scanlon – 12th Assembly – win

Joe Kyrillos – 13th Senate – win
Amy Handlin – 13th Assembly – win
Sam Thompson – 13th Assembly – win

Kim Guadagno – first woman sheriff in Monmouth County history – win
Claire French – the greatest County Clerk – win
Rob Clifton – Freeholder – win
Jeff Cantor – Freeholder – too close to call

I am grateful that you, my fellow Republicans, entrusted me with the important responsibility to serve as your Chairman. This morning, our county is safe, under Republican control. Special thanks to Joe Roberts and Jon Corzine. $7 million dollars spent for 1 tie. Good job.

Respectfully,
Adam Puharic
Chairman

BECK, O'SCANLON AND CASAGRANDE THANK VOTERS FOR SUPPORT

Pledge to Fight for their Interests in the Senate


Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck and her running-mates Declan O'Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande today thanked the voters of the 12th Legislative District for their support in Tuesday's election and pledged that they will continue to fight for tough ethics reforms, lower taxes and fiscal responsibility when they take their seats in the state Senate this January.

"I am honored by the support of the voters and take very seriously the trust and confidence they have placed in me with their votes," Beck said. "I am anxious to resume my efforts on their behalf fighting for strong ethics reform measures, more equitable school funding and lower taxes."

Beck was elected to the state Senate Tuesday defeating incumbent Senator Ellen Karcher by a wide margin. Beck will conclude her two-year term in the General Assembly in January before being sworn-in as the new Senator from the 12th Legislative District.

"For the past two years I have been at the forefront of the fight for an immediate dual office-holding ban, comprehensive pay-to-play reform, more funding for our schools and permanent property tax relief for New Jersey families," Beck said. "While I will be starting a new role this January in the Senate, I will continue to fight vigorously for this reform agenda, and I know I will have the support of my new 12th District Assembly colleagues Declan O'Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande."

O'Scanlon and Casagrande, who were elected Tuesday to represent the 12th District in the General Assembly, also thanked the voters for their support and pledged to fight alongside Beck for much needed ethics and fiscal reform measures.

"We are honored that the voters have expressed their faith in us and we look forward to serving in the Legislature come January," O'Scanlon said. "I intend to pursue an aggressive reform agenda in Trenton and will work tirelessly to represent the interests of my constituents."

"I thank the voters for their support and pledge to work day-in and day-out to demonstrate that the confidence they have shown in my abilities was well placed," Casagrande said. "I will work with Jen and Declan to ensure that the issues of importance to the families of the 12th District are addressed in Trenton. Our team will work diligently to focus the legislature on the affordabilty crisis threatening our residents".

NJGOP Press Release

Freeholder race will not be determined until Friday

County Clerk M.Claire French said today that the Monmouth County Freeholders race will not be determined until Friday, November 9.

In unofficial results that include absentee ballots, Republican Freeholder Rob Clifton has 62,593 votes, Democrat D'Amico has 62,528 votes and Republican Jeffrey Cantor has 62,212. The top two vote getters will be sworn in as Freeholders in January.

There are two voting machine cartridges from Long Branch and one from Ocean Township that are uncounted. Additionally there are between 400 and 500 provisional ballots from throughout the county that must be validated and then counted by the Board of Elections. The provisional ballots cannot be counted until Friday, due to the requirement upon the Board of Elections to advertise their meeting to count the ballots, according to French.

Anna Little has been elected Mayor of Highlands

Councilwoman Nancy Thomas (R) defeated Former Councilwoman Rebecca Kane(D) to hold on to the seat Little resigned when resigned as Councilwoman.

Republicans maintain contol of the governing body: 3-2

Looking back to January...

....I hope I was wrong.

We'll know in a few hours.

Polls close at 8PM

Monmouth County Unofficial Results are will be posted by the County Clerk's Election Division and updated through the night (or longer).

Monmouth Predictions

11th:

Kean, Rible and Angelini

12th:

Beck, O'Scanlon, Panter

13th:

Kyrillos, Handlin, Walsh

Sheriff:

Hill

Clerk:

French

Freeholders:

D'Amico and Schuler

Breaking news

Karcher doesn't wear red while voting.

Did you vote yet?

Dear Lord,

On this election day, please solve the feral cat problem in Highlands.

Please spare all the cute domestic cats and bless their owners.

Amen

Congratulations to Terence Wall...

...who didn't take long to land on his feet.

Kleinberg implodes

Marlboro Mayor Robert Kleinberg made a bad situation worse today when he spent seven minutes live on the radio with NJ 101.5's Jim Gearhart. Click here to listen to the disaster.

Kleinberg's campaign issued a flyer that included complementary quotes from Gearhart and others that appeared as endorsements. Gearhart and his friend, Gannet columnist Bob Ingle were livid. Ingle, who posts once a day on his blog, issued a second Sunday morning post calling for Kleinberg's defeat. Gearhart canceled a scheduled day off get on the radio and spend the morning bashing Kleinberg.

Kleinberg got on the air and foolishly denied that the quotes were intended to be viewed as endorsements, but rather, "to let my children see that people say nice things about me." Kleinberg also blamed the flyer on a campaign consultant. Any campaign consultant that let Kleinberg on the air with Gearhart today to take a lame defensive posture has about as much a future in politics that Kleinberg does at this point. Zero.

This can't be helpful to the Republican candidates in the hotly contested 12th district legislative race, or the county Republican candidates.

"Barry Goldwater" sets his sites on Panter:

Blogger "Barry Goldwater" has a series of eye opening posts about Mike Panter.

Must Read.

Go Jen Go!

On the questions

Question #1. Dedicating an amount equal to a tax rate of 1% under the State Sales Tax Rate to the Property Tax Reform Account, (or is it the Property Tax Relief Fund?)

Most people seem to think this constitutional amendment means that 1% of the sales tax will go to property tax rebates. Read your sample ballot. Neither the question nor the Interpretive Statement says that.

This is a scam. Vote No.

Question #2. Shall the State borrow $450 million to fund "stem cell research projects." Never mind the moral and scientific debates, or what a stem cell research project is. We can't afford this and it gives too much power to the State Treasurer. Vote No.

Question #3. Shall the State borrow $200 million to overpay for real estate that nobody wants and to subsidize farms. Vote no on this boondoggle. Read the language. It's a boondoggle.

I'm not saying that the State shouldn't buy any of this real estate, just don't borrow to do it. Cut $200 million in other spending. Pay fair market value for the real estate and get three times as much. Get the farm subsidies from reworking the farm assessment program.

Question #4. Voting yes on any of the above 3 questions is proof enough that idiots already have the right to vote. This question is simply amends the constitution to reflect that reality.

My problem with this question is not the removal of the "I word" from the constitution, but the language that replaces it; a "person who has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting" shall not enjoy the right of suffrage.

Get ready for voter registration and absentee ballot drives from the left, and competency challenges from the right. This is make work for lawyers. Vote No.

Technology is amazing

In this brave new world of virtual reality and constant connectivity some technological breakthroughs are going too far.

Surfing Greater Media's website this morning I saw an ad for a company in Marlboro offering Virtual Colonoscopies!

How does that work?! Do you need a lap bottom attachment for your lap top? Do you sit on your mouse or put a USB in your you know what? Is there Anti-Virus protection for this? How do you set your pop-up blocker and will my fire wall work if I eat Mexican food?

Have a good weekend. Good luck to all the candidates and volunteers.

Don't be an idiot

In the most important “branch” of our government, well more than half of those responsible for governing will not show up for work next Tuesday. In our government “for the people and by the people” most people are not getting the job done. Most people don’t vote.

George Jean Nathan, a prominent journalist and drama critic in the early 20th century said, “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.” Nathan was a smart guy. His point was a good one, but I think his sarcasm was too generous. One can’t be a “good citizen” if one does not vote.

You can be a “good person”, someone who loves and takes care of their family, pays their taxes and follows the golden rule, etc, but you can’t be a “good citizen” if you don’t vote. Voting is the most important responsibility and the only power that the average citizen has.

Throughout our nation’s history our troops and citizens have fought and died for the average person’s right to vote. At the founding of our country, Negroes didn’t have the right to vote. They weren’t even considered fully human, determined to be property in some states and only 3/5 human by the US Constitution. It wasn’t until after a civil war that African Americans were given the right to vote. It wasn’t until 1920 that women were given the right to vote. Recently in Iraq we witnessed men and women risking their lives to exercise the right and responsibility of voting that our troops fought to give them. There is a New Jersey constitutional amendment on the ballot next Tuesday that if passed will give “idiots” the right to vote.

Now that most people have the right to vote, most people aren’t doing it. Idiots.

Who would surrender 30% or more of their income to the government and then not exercise their right to select the people who determine who gets to spend that money? An idiot. Who would obey laws but not exercise their right to determine who writes and enforces those laws? An idiot.

The first time I ran for office a reporter asked me if I had any government experience. “Yes, I vote,” was my response. The reporter scoffed at me as if that didn’t count. She was an idiot.

If you’re reading this column, you’re probably a voter. You’re also probably still part of the problem. I’ll bet you encourage or maybe even nag friends and loved ones to stop idiotic behavior. You’ll encourage a family member to stop smoking and discourage them from driving drunk. You’ll encourage them to exercise, eat right and pay their bills on time. You might have even come up with an acceptable answer to the question “Does this outfit make me look fat?” Yet you don’t encourage the idiots you love to vote. That makes you an idiot too.

State Senator Joseph Kyrillos recently said, “New Jersey’s government is broken and we need a revolution.” He’s right, but there will be no revolution until the idiots start voting.

Next Tuesday the entire New Jersey legislature and many other county and municipal offices are up for grabs. What happens next Tuesday will affect the quality of your life. Don’t be an idiot. Vote and encourage everyone you know to vote.

Originally published in The Courier, November 1, 2007

Democrats are planning to disrupt Beck, O'Scanlon and Cassagrande Rally

From the tip box:

This message was sent by Rosi Efthim, group organizer for NJ for Democracy:

Folks,

Rudy Guiliani is swooping into New Jersey to try and help Republican Jennifer Beck unseat progressive Senator Ellen Karcher. Let's show Rudy what we think of that!

Anti-Rudy Rally! You want this guy to be your president? Didn't think so.


Where: near The Excelsior on Rt. 9, Manalapan (Monmouth) - Call Karcher HQ for exact location: (732) 577-6800

When: Thursday, Nov. 1 - 3pm

Extra! National DFA-List candidate Ed Zipprich, our own Monmouth DFA leader, has his campaign office nearby - 125 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701. You're invited to his grand HQ Open House 6pm Thursday, after the Rally. 732.859.3424 for more info.


Give 'em hell, DFA! Rosi, Jeff, Robin, Mitch & Lewis, for NJ for Democracy