New Jersey voters like McCain

Rasmussen reports that GOP Presidential nominee John McCain has a 61% favorable rating amongst NJ voters, and that he is in a statistical dead heat both with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the presidency.

Crowley not running

The Star Ledger, reports that John Crowley announced he will not seek the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate due to committments to his family, the U.S. Navy, and the employees and shareholders of his company.

Crowley has a bright future in politics should he ever choose to serve.

In related news, sources report that Goya heir Andy Unanue, the U.S. Senate candidate favored by the Monmouth and Ocean GOP establishment, will not return from his Colorado vacation until mid April.

Hey Rick

TR is looking for you!

The Flying Piglet Presents....

Recall

When you're unhappy, cuz your gov'nor is whacky,
You can always try, ...
Recall.

It's never-endin', all your money he's spendin',
This will help, I know, ...
Recall.

Just listen to the music of the unions in the city,
Linger on the sidewalk, --- just how'd things get so shitty?,
How can you lose??

The lights are much brighter there...
He has forgotten your troubles; he just doesn't care,
so let's,..

Recall!!
-- things will be great when he's, ...
Recalled!
-- He'll find a job for sure, ...
Recall!!
-- everything depends on you.

(Recall .... Recall ... )

Don't wait around, while Jersey's taxes un-house you,
There are ways to go, ...
Recall.

Maybe you know some little place he can go to,
Where it never snows, ...
Recall.

Just listen to the lessons learned out west, in California,
You'll be dancing with 'em, too, before the night is over,

Happy again...

The lights are much brighter now,
If we can forget all his wild schemes; forget our despair,
if we, ...

Recall!!
-- where all the lights are bright
Recall!
-- waiting for you to fight
Recall!!
-- we're gonna be all right now...

(Recall...Recall...Recall... )

♫♪♫♪♫
... Recall!

♫♪♫♪♫
... Recall!

And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you;
A Governor who's just like you and likes the gentle voter to
Guide them along...

Well, maybe, not in this life,

But let's forget all our troubles; forget all our cares,
And let's, ...

Recall!!
-- won't it be great if he's
Recalled!
-- don't wait a minute more
Recall!!
-- we just might be all right now...

Recall...Recall
Recall...Recall
Recall...Recall
Recall...Recall
Recall...Recall
Recall...Recall (fade)

The Crowleys on the Today Show, 2001

Another fine Lightshines production:

I searched high and low to find anyone who had ever heard of Unaue, and I search so far that I even reached out to Elvis, who explained everything. Sometimes you just can't help falling in love.

Adam said,
only fools rush in
but he couldn’t help
falling in love with U(naue)

What the hey
since the pool is “thin”
We’ll risk it all falling in love with U(naue)...

Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Puharic’s gone and plucked a candidate from a tree..
He’ll lose this hand, like the other races, too
He’ll risk it all falling in love with U(naue).

Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Puharic’s failure grows, somethings aren’t meant to be..
Come this June, the party’s changing, too
For we can’t watch Puharic splitting us in two
for we won’t join falling in love with U(naue).

What's the rush?

The NJ GOP has gone from rags to riches with U.S. Senate candidates this week. Last week a high ranking party official told me it was "maddening" that the party's efforts to recruit a viable candidate to challenge Frank Lautenberg were not bearing fruit.

This week, to borrow a phrase from Monmouth GOP chairman Adam Puharic, the Republican gene pool got deeper. There are two new candidates in the mix; Andy Unanue, the Goya heir who declared on Easter from his family vacation in Colorado, and John Crowley, who has yet to declare but would seem to have stronger credentials and more money to fund a campaign.

Unanue was "screened" by phone from Colorado and was endorsed by the Monmouth, Ocean and Atlantic county screening committees and conventions. The Mercer County GOP convention withheld judgement, giving their executive committee the power to award an endorsement, in anticipation of Crowley entering the race. Mercer's move makes sense. Monmouth, Ocean and Atlantic's moves are puzzling. The filing deadline for candidates to submit their petitions is not until April 7.

In an interview with the Asbury Park Press editorial board earlier this year, Puharic defended his controversial screening process as one that assures Republican candidates are "bullet proof" from character attacks. Unanue might end up being a great candidate, but he is not "bullet proof" as he as already taken hits in the press from a primary opponent and the Lautenberg sleaze machine.

Crowley has outstanding credentials and a moving life story. He would appear to be "out of central casting," literally. A Hollywood movie about his life staring Harrison Ford is slated to come out this year. Maybe he has some dirt that will come out too. Time will tell, and there is still time.

Would anyone be shocked if Unanue withdraws this week in favor of Crowley? I don't think that would be earth shattering news. If Crowley is a good as his reviews, it wouldn't shock me to see State Senator Joe Pennacchio withdraw either.

If Crowley gets in the race, and indications are that he will, the Monmouth, Ocean and Atlantic GOP organizations will look retarded, to borrow an other phrase from Puharic.

Crowley is running

Multiple Republican sources have indicated that John Crowley will run in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate.

Crowley is said to have a net worth of over $200 million and is able to self-finance his campaign.

The more research I do on Crowley, the more impressive he appears.

From the September 2007 edition of Notre Dame Magazine:

Ten years ago John Crowley was heading up the ladder of success. He had earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service in 1989, a law degree from Notre Dame in 1992 and an MBA from Harvard in 1997, all leading to a job he enjoyed in management consulting in San Francisco. But one day in March of 1998, in the office of his daughter's pediatrician, the trajectory of his life took an unexpected and frightful turn.

The doctor told Crowley and his wife, Aileen, that tests indicated their 15-month-old daughter, Megan, was suffering from Pompe disease, a rare genetic disorder related to muscular dystrophy that afflicts fewer than 10,000 people worldwide. The couple had their first inkling that something might be seriously wrong with Megan when she was 5 months old. By that age, most infants begin to roll over and crawl. Their daughter had difficulty turning over and never even attempted to crawl. They also noticed she had trouble swallowing.

The doctor said Megan's problems were due to a genetic enzyme deficiency that made her body store a sticky substance in her muscles, eventually destroying them. By the age of 2, afflicted children usually require a respirator to breathe, by 4 they are paralyzed and by 5 most die from respiratory failure. There was no cure, no treatment, he said.

The news left the couple reeling. When it seemed things couldn't get worse, they learned a few months later that the second of their three children, Patrick, who was a year younger than Megan, also suffered from the disease. Once they got over the shock of the diagnoses, the family moved to New Jersey to be close to doctors specializing in Pompe disease, John took a job with Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the Crowleys resolved to do whatever they could to find a cure for their children.

Frustrated with the slow pace of Pompe research in the pharmaceutical industry, John left his job in 2000 to head up Novazyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a tiny biotech firm that had a promising therapeutic approach for Pompe disease. What it didn't have was the funding to develop that therapy.

The company desperately needed Crowley's skills. In his first week as CEO, he was horrified to discover the firm had only $37,000 in its checking account. To keep the company temporarily afloat, Crowley and his wife took out a second mortgage on their New Jersey home for $100,000. Within a year, John had raised $27 million in venture capital for the firm and brokered a deal, selling Novazyme to a competitor, Genzyme Corporation, for $137.5 million. With the acquisition, Crowley was named a senior vice president and head of Genzyme's Pompe program.

In a cruel irony, just when scientists finally had a test version of a drug ready, the Crowley children were disqualified from the initial trial. "That was more than frustrating," John recalls. "Even though the FDA was comfortable with Megan and Patrick being part of the trial, the hospital's Internal Review Board rejected their application because they claimed it was a conflict of interest for me to be an executive of the company and have my children treated."

Fortunately, a few months after the first drug trial, another hospital accepted Megan and Patrick and they became the 27th and 28th patients in the world to be treated with the drug called Myozyme. To make sure his children could qualify for treatment, Crowley resigned from Genzyme. Since then his daughter and son have received twice-weekly infusions of the drug.While the therapy is not a cure, it has improved their condition. Most dramatically, the drug has reduced the size of their dangerously enlarged hearts, and Megan and Patrick, now age 10 and 9 respectively, have surpassed their initial life expectancy.

"The kids are doing pretty well," John says. "The medicine has stabilized them, and they're able to go to public school." Their health remains fragile, however, and they still require wheelchairs to move, ventilators to breathe and food pumps to eat.

In a hopeful recent development, this past December Amicus Therapeutics, a new biotech firm that John has headed since 2005, began clinical trials of a novel drug for Pompe disease. Instead of replacing the defective enzyme, which is the conventional approach, the Amicus drug binds with the patient's own enzyme, tricking the body into thinking it is "good" and causing it to do its intended job.

John and Aileen's efforts for their children have not gone unnoticed by the media. Besides being the subject of countless newspaper and TV interviews, a critically acclaimed book, The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Million -- and Bucked the Medical Establishment -- in a Quest to Save His Children, was published last fall. Written by the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Wall Street Journal reporter Geeta Anand, the book is the basis for a Hollywood movie about the Crowleys. The film, which will star Harrison Ford, is slated for release in 2008.

Crowley is a conservative who donated to the Mitt Romney presidential campaign.

James Hogan of Long Branch is running for Congress

He has an amusing tale of his experience with the Monmouth GOP convention posted on Politikernj.

Meghan McCain has a blog

John McCain's 23 year old daughter Meghan is blogging from the campaign trail.

Check it out at www.mccainblogette.com

John Crowley is an impressive man

The Cure Book tells the story of how Crowley raised $100 million and bucked the medical establishment in a quest to save his children.

The following excerpt choked me up:

“Your daughter is some little fighter,” Dr. Hofley said softly, shaking his head and looking from John Crowley to his wife, Aileen. “I wish she would just close her eyes and rest, but she’s determined to stay awake.”

As they entered the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, John and Aileen saw Megan lying on her back, her eyes open, scanning the room. Her eyes settled on them and immediately filled with tears. Aileen rushed over to kiss her.

John, still incredulous that Megan had lived through the morning, rubbed her matted hair gently. “All right, kid,” he said, staring gravely into her big dark eyes. “If you want to fight, we’ll fight too.”

If the reports that Crowley is entering the Senate are true, New Jersey voters will be proud of him, inspired by him, and vote for him. If the Lautenberg sleaze machine can find any dirt on Crowley, it will pale in comparison to his heart, his accomplishments and his military service.

This guy appears to be heads and shoulders above any candidate in the race and any New Jersey office holder in recent memory at any level.

Shake your Shillelagh in Highlands on Saturday

The last St. Patricks Parade of the season will be in Highlands this Saturday at starting at 2pm when more than 100 marching units, including bagpipers, marching bands and floats, line up to march down Bay Avenue in the Sixth Annual St. Patrick’s Parade and Celebration.

Where’s the Duty, Service and Sacrifice?

“Trust no man living with power to endanger the public library” ~ John Adams, 1772

I’ve been watching “John Adams,” the HBO mini-series based on David McCollough’s Pulitzer Prize winning biography of our nation’s second president. The story is remarkable. It puts a human face on our founding fathers (and mothers), portraying their incredible courage and integrity along with their frailties and struggles. The conflict between self interest and sacrifice, expediency and duty, pragmatism and idealism, right and wrong, are seen in each principle character and in their relationships with each other.

In the first episode, attorney Adams is dejected over his defeat in court when he is confronted with a choice of whether or not to defend the British soldiers charged with murder in the Boston Massacre. Adams makes the unpopular but principled choice and is victorious in winning an acquittal for the Brits before a Massachusetts jury. His law practice suffers the loss of many clients but Adams gains the attention of the leaders of both the Royal government and continentals. He is offered a high position in the King’s government of the colonies, and a seat in the Continental Congress. He chooses Congress.

The second episode provides a surprising insight into the personalities of Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, and into the forgettable and self absorbed Continental Congressional delegates from New York, New Jersey and South Carolina. Washington’s humility and courage in the face of both self doubt and seemingly insurmountable odds is compelling. Jefferson’s extraordinary pen is possessed by a humble man with poor oratory skills. Without Franklin’s humor, pragmatism and negotiating skills the Congress could not have declared independence.

It has been said that heroes are simply ordinary people taking extraordinary actions. “John Adams”, the mini-series, shows us that our founders, who are so often referred to by political leaders, pundents and academics were indeed very ordinary. That these men founded a great nation is a miracle that must have been guided by a higher power.

With that inspiration, I change the channel and see that news is filled with tales of our leaders’ ordinariness and debauchery. Spitzer and the McGreeveys. The optimism accompanying David Paterson’s elevation to New York Governor in snuffed by scandal on the day of his inauguration. The national news is dominated by Barack Obama’s racist pastor and debates over weather Hillary Clinton was really fired on by snipers in Bosnia in 1996. In New Jersey, a wealthy young man of Hispanic origin enters the race for U.S. Senate and it takes and hour or two for one of his opponents to label him a “playboy”. Public service today may be more perilous to ones liberty and happiness than it was in the 1700’s. The heroes providing rescue relief to the floods victim in the Mid-West are getting very little attention.

It is little wonder that our best and our brightest scoff at the idea of public service and that voter turnout is so low.

I don’t think we are any more or less ordinary than our fore fathers were. We’re just indulging in self interest and letting our leaders do the same at our expense. Unfortunately, only an extraordinary circumstance is likely to change that.

Curley wins!

John Curley of Red Bank won the Monmouth County GOP nomination for Freeholder tonight, besting Serena DiMaso of Holmdel by 168-103.

Curley joins Freeholder Director Lillian Burry on the Republican ticket that will face Democrats Amy Mallet of Fair Haven and Glenn Mason of Hazlet in the November election.

Partisan control of the Freeholder Board is at stake in this race. The GOP currently holds a 3-2 majority. The seats held by Burry and Bill Barham are up this year. Barham chose not to seek re-election.

RecallCorzineNow.com

Where do you sign? Right here!

Download the petition for the county you are registered to vote it. Read the instructions. Sign it, get other registered voters from your county to sign it, and send it to:

The Committee to Recall Jon Corzine
from the Office of Governor
Carl Bergmanson, Chairman
P.O. Box 21
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028

1.3 million signatures are necessary to get the recall on the ballot this year. Obviously the recall process was designed by the all powerful in Trenton to make it impossible for a recall to succeed. But, that was before Al Gore invented the Internets.

Another entry into the Senate race

Wally Edge is reporting that biopharmaceutical executive John Crowley may enter the U.S. Senate race. Crowley is the President and CEO of Amicus Therapeutics which is based in Cranbury.

Here's Crowley's biography from the Amicus website.

John F. Crowley
President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Crowley became president and CEO of Amicus in January 2005, having served as a director since 2004. Previously he was founding president and CEO of Orexigen Therapeutics. Preceding Orexigen, Mr. Crowley was senior vice president at Genzyme Therapeutics, a position he assumed after overseeing the sale of Novazyme Pharmaceuticals to Genzyme in September 2001. Mr. Crowley was the founding president and CEO of Novazyme that was developing a novel treatment for Pompe disease. He previously served in several senior management roles with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS), including director of the Executive Committee for the U.S. Medicines Group, director of Business Strategy for the U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group, and director of U.S. Area Marketing for the Neuroscience and Infectious Disease Division. Preceding his experience at BMS, Mr. Crowley worked as a business strategy consultant for Marakon Associates. Mr. Crowley began his professional career as a litigation associate in the Health Care Practice Group of the Indianapolis-based law firm of Bingham, Summers, Welsh & Spilman.

Mr. Crowley is involved with several charitable and community organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of St. Peter's University Health Care System. Mr. Crowley's involvement with biotechnology stems from the 1998 diagnosis of two of his children with Pompe disease - a fatal neuromuscular disorder. Mr. Crowley and his family have been featured on the cover of The Wall Street Journal and on The Today Show, CNBC and The Paula Zahn Show on CNN. In 2006, Geeta Anand, Pulitzer prize winning writer for The Wall Street Journal, authored a book on Mr. Crowley entitled "The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Million- and Bucked the Medical Establishment- in a Quest to Save His Children." (www.thecurebook.com).

Mr. Crowley is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy Reserve (active).

Mr. Crowley earned his B.S. degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Crowley is my new favorite because we're fellow Georgetown Alums. Go Hoyas!

Monmouth GOP convention tonight

RedBankGreen has a good feature on John Curley and Serena DiMaso and a summary of their campaign. They even called me a wag.

Will Lautenberg get Byrned?

Blue Jersey is reporting that Tom Byrne, former Democratic state chairman and son of the former governor, is considering a primary challenge to U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg.

If Byrne jumps in, will Congressmen and Senator wannabees Frank Pallone, Rush Holt and/or Robert Andrews also join the race?

Murray Sabrin wants Byrne to resign as former state chairman.

Murray has a manifesto too!

Peter McDonough writes at NJ Voices about the U.S. Senate campaign and how good it is that Andy Unaue has gotten into the race.

McDonough has done opposition research on both Pennacchio and Sabrin, and reveals that Murray wrote a manfesto too, Tax Free 2000: The rebirth of American Liberty.

Some of Murray's ideas are at least an nutty as Jersey Joe's. Murray broke the story about Pennacchio's tome. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Murray must withdraw from from the Senate race.

Kyrillos supports DiMaso

According to Politikernj.

Politikernj also said the race is a preview of Puharic-Gianell rematch for chairman.

I don't see that chairman's race happening. Nor do I see the Freeholder race as a Puharic vs. Gianell faction fight.

Both Curley and DiMaso have run respectable, adult campaigns for the nomination. Both have established themselves as viable candidates. The question is not who is most qualified, but who gives the ticket the best chance of a sweep.

This race may hinge on each candidate's speech at the convention.

It's rainin' McCain

At least they didn't demand he resign

“We don’t think a nightclub-owning playboy can compare to Murray Sabrin’s 30-plus years of conservative leadership.” ~ George Ajjan, Murray Sabrin's flame thrower, about Andrew Unanue's entry into the U.S. Senate race.

Unanue will seek GOP Senate nomination

Politickernj is reporting that Goya's former chief operating officer Andrew Unanue will compete for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate.

Beck endorses Curley for Monmouth GOP Freeholder nod

In letter to Monmouth County GOP County Committee members, State Senator Jennifer Beck has endorsed Red Bank Councilman John Curley for the open GOP Freeholder nomination:

"As a Red Bank councilwoman, I had the opportunity to serve with John for six years. John is a true fiscal conservative and team player....

.....I consider John Curley to be a friend and a man of the highest integrity. He is a tireless campaigner, and will be able to raise the funds to compete with the Democrats in November...."

Photo courtesy of RedBankGreen.

Milgram gets hits left and right

Blue Jersey has two posts calling for Attorney General Anne Milgram to resign. Juan must be hanging out with Murray Sabrin.

From the right, "Barry Goldwater" spanks Milgram for chasing down hardened cyber gossipers on a website targeted to college kids and other trivia, well ignoring the BPU slush fund run by Corzine's Fox, and the EnCap scandal.

Saving the tax payers money: Good job!

The Asbury Park Press reports that the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering is saving the taxpayers money by refurbishing and retrofitting old trucks rather than buying new ones.

Good job!

Sabrin demands his own resignation

U.S Senate candidate Murray Sabrin today pledged to resign from the U.S. Senate if America's troops are not withdrawn from Iraq by September of 2010.

6 primary candidates for the House of Representatives also signed the "Sabirn Promise".

Sabrin has been promoting his small government, personal freedom/responsibility message for almost 40 years. It is not believable that he would give up his quest in 2 years, in the unlikely event that he and his 6 associates are successful in November and then find that the 7 of them are unable to convince President McCain or President H. R Clinton to bring the troops home on their time table. On the other hand, if there is a President Obama, Sabrin's 7 will enjoy long careers in Washington...at least until Al-Qaeda flies a plane into the Capitol Building.

I like Murray. I like his message of personal liberty/responsibility and small government.

He is a loon when it comes to foreign policy and the war on terror. As the child of Holocaust survivors, he should have a better understanding of and appreciation for America's promise and America's responsibility in the world.

If FDR and Truman had a Sabrin/Paul foreign policy, there would be no Murray Sabrin. We'd be speaking German here on the East Coast and they'd be speaking Japanese instead of Mexican in California.

It is looking more and more like we can look forward to 6 more years of Senator Lautenberg. Or maybe it will be Senator Andrews or Pallone, or whoever ends up as the Democratic candidate in November.

Meatballs and Manifestos

GOP Candidates' Night:
Hosted by The Monmouth County Affiliated Republican Club.
United States Senate, United States Congress, and Monmouth County Freeholder candidates will speak.

Thursday, March 20,2008

6:00pm Cocktails & 7:00pm dinner
$40.00 p/person

Holiday Inn - 700 Hope Road (GSP Exit 105) Tinton Fall, NJ.

732-280-1185

Pallone and Pascrell have a conflict in Christie/Ashcroft flap. Pelosi "concerned"

From American Spectator:

The aide (Pelosi's) pointed to the fact that both Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. and Bill Pascrell Jr., who requested that Conyers look into the Stryker Corp. deal with U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, had extensive financial ties to the medical equipment industry and lobby. Combined, the two Jersey boys have raised tens of thousands from the industry. "Both men have put us in an awkward situation, and Conyers' decision to pursue this matter further has put us in deeper," says the aide. "Speaker Pelosi is concerned and has us monitoring the situation."

Read all about it:

American Spectator

Washington Times

Maybe I should run against Pallone this year after all!

DiBella not seeking second term

The Mayor of Howell issued the following statement on abetterhowellnj.com:

Statement from Mayor DiBella

Mayor Joseph M. DiBella
Township of Howell, NJ

March 18, 2008


After weeks of thoughtful consideration and discussions with my wife and children, I have elected not to seek a second term as your Mayor. This was not an easy decision to reach because I sincerely enjoy being Mayor of our wonderful community. For me this was a difficult and deeply personal decision. However, having served as a councilman for two years and now nearly four as your Mayor, I believe it is time to step aside for now and allow others to have the awesome privilege of serving Howell Township.

I am making this announcement now because the filing deadline for re-election is upon us and I wanted the matter resolved so that I may focus exclusively on fulfilling the balance of my term without any personal or partisan distractions.

As I reflect upon my time in office I am humbled by the incredible privilege you have bestowed upon me to lead our community. There is no calling more important or more fulfilling as public service and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity this community has given me. Being Mayor of Howell Township has been one of the highlights of my life and the experiences I have endured will stay with me forever.

Without having to spend time on seeking re-election I shall now be able to devote all of my time and efforts towards carrying out the balance of my term this year with absolute clarity and focus. 2008 has only just begun and we have many daunting and complex issues to overcome as a community.

While I am proud of the many things I have been a part of these last nearly six years I know there is still much to be done. Accordingly, I remain completely focused and committed towards fulfilling my duties as Mayor and doing everything I can to make our community a better place. Thank you.
_________________
Most Respectfully
Joseph M. DiBella

The Mayor should consider seeking the U.S. Senate seat. I'm not joking. He would be a good candidate.

Look to the 7th Congressional District for a U.S Senate candidate

With 10 candidates vying for the nomination to fill the Congressional seat being vacated by Mike Ferguson, the 7th Congressional District would appear to have a wealth of Republican talent that is apparently lacking in the rest of the state.


Leonard Lance and Kate Whitman have the best name recognition of the field. One of them should enter the U.S. Senate race.

I think Whitman would stand the best chance against Lautenberg, and might even have a better shot at beating Lautenberg than she does to defeat Linda Stender in the 7th.

Monmouth and Ocean GOP delegates to have say in Senate Race

The Asbury Park Press reports that Monmouth GOP Chairman Adam Puharic and Ocean GOP Chairman George Gilmore will let their conventions choose between Joe Pennacchio and Murray Sabrin for their respective ballot lines for U.S Senate.

This is like choosing between the 62 Mets and Rich Kotite's 96 Jets as the best sports team in history.

Unless a viable candidate emerges in the next couple of days, I'll be casting a write in vote for Joe Kyrillos and praying that a viable candidate files for the primary before the deadline.

Puharic was right on U.S. Senate race

His methods are maddening and his wit is warped. But, Monmouth GOP Chairman Adam Puharic was right about the need for another candidate to enter the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate.

As Eric Sedler at Red Jersey points out, Joe Pennacchio's Nationalist Agenda gives Frank Lautenberg more than enough material to destroy Pennacchio with in the general election. Pennacchio could counter with "Yeah, I wrote those things, but Lautenberg said he would bring home tax dollars and he didn't." That won't play. I can envision a Lautenberg ad depicting homeless internment camps that will scare the bejesus out of voters during a tanking economy.

Murray Sabrin's message is Ron Paul's message. I like it, as I think most conservatives probably do, except for foreign policy. He is too extreme to be a factor in the general election. I gave Sabrin money in January because I thought his message was important. I am disappointed that he has gotten more attention by calling for the resignations of other Republicans than he has in spreading his small government message. I won't be giving him any more money. I'm afraid he might call on John McCain to withdraw from the Presidential race and resign his U.S. Senate seat.

NJGOP Chair Tom Wilson needs to get someone to step up and take one for the team. Joe Kyrillos, Kip Bateman, Bill Baroni, Doug Forrester, John Murphy, Bret Schundler, Steve Forbes, Kate Whitman, Tom Kean Sr., and Tom Kean Jr. are a few names that come to mind.

McCain has a shot to win New Jersey, especially if Obama is the Democratic nominee for President. Extreme weakness in the Senate slot will hurt those chances. We can't have a nut like Sabrin, or a former nut like Pennacchio, as the Senate candidate.

GOP Senate Race takes a very weird turn

U.S. Senate candidate Murray Sabrin today released a 94 page Nationalist Agenda, written by Sabrin's opponent for the GOP nomination, State Senator Joe Pennacchio, in 1991. Sabrin went on to call for Pennacchio to leave the Senate race and resign his seat in the NJ legislature.

Sabrin campaign manager George Ajjan said that the document "was provided to us and has been floating around for a while." "People are shocked and appalled by Pennacchio's un-American positions."

Pennacchio campaign manager Dan Gallic played down the significance of the document. "Some of the ideas are good, some are not so good. Senator Pennacchio's positions have evolved since 1991 and his voting record is a better indication of who he is. Just as Murray Sabrin has evolved from a pro-drug, pro-prostitution gubernatorial candidate in 1997, Pennacchio's positions have evolved in the last 17 years."

Gallic dismissed Sabrin's call for Pennacchio's withdrawal from the race and resignation from the NJ Senate. "Murray is a bit of a nut and has overplayed his hand."

When asked if he expected another candidate to enter the race, Ajjan said, "It doesn't really matter. Murray is running on his record and the same message of limited government that he's been espousing since 1969."

Meanwhile at Briody's

An Irish Prayer

May those who love us, love us;
and those who don't love us,
may God turn their hearts;
and if He doesn't turn their hearts,
may he turn their ankles
so we'll know them by their limping.


Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Obama Attended Hate America Sermon

Newsmax reports that Barack Obama is more familiar with his pastor's hateful rhetoric than the candidate claims.

Sabrin pulls off upset win in Gloucester

Murray Sabrin surprised the media and GOP establishment by winning the GOP convention in Gloucester County yesterday. Sabrin is facing off against State Senator Joe Pennacchio for the Republican nomination for U.S Senate. The winner is expected to face Senator Frank Lautenberg in the November election.

What surprises me most is not that Sabrin won, but that the convention was open to all registered Republican voters in the county. Congratulations to Gloucester GOP Chairwoman Loren Oglesby for having such an open, democratic process.

Unless the announced rules change, Monmouth GOP delegates will not have a say in the races for U.S. Senator or U.S. Congress at their convention on March 26.

Another contract goes to the highest bidder

The Monmouth GOP hasn't selected its Freeholder slate yet, but the fall campaign has started.

The Asbury Park Press reported yesterday that the GOP controlled Freeholder Board awarded another contract to the highest bidder, a subsidiary of Birdsall Engineering, over the objections of the Democrats on the Board.

At the Democratic convention last week, Freeholder candidate Glenn Mason made it clear that the practice of awarding contracts to the highest bidder will be an issue in the fall campaign. It should be, and the GOP is on the wrong side of this issue.

An Open Letter to Our State Legislators:

On behalf of the Borough Council and taxpayers of the Borough of Fair Haven, please accept this letter as a brief summary of the impact that Governor Corzine’s proposed budget will have on Fair Haven.

I will not recite in detail the great efforts we have gone to produce a tax rate reduction in our town, but in summary, we reduced our existing and proposed bond debt, we consolidated our Construction Office with a neighboring Borough, we eliminated or consolidated positions, and restructured our Department of Public Works and Engineering Department. We share tax collection, animal control, and health department services with neighboring towns, and share custodial work with our school district. We also are looking to consolidate Police Dispatch, and there is an ongoing study to share or regionalize Police services.

In short, we are taking all the right steps at our Borough level to be responsible to our taxpayers.

As a result of taking these steps, and as a result of careful planning, we were able to introduce a Budget that resulted in a one-half cent per $100.00 of assessed valuation decrease. This Budget was premised upon a constant funding level of State Aid. As you are aware, our State Aid has not increased in at least seven years, and we did not expect an increase this year.

However, less than two weeks after introducing our Budget, we were advised, in the Governor’s Budget Address, that state aid would see a cut of 10%, allocated solely on the size of our population. In reality, our cut ended up at 21%, while larger towns and cities saw cuts of as little as 6%.

The allocation of cuts in Aid is patently unfair, and based on an arbitrary and capricious statistic: population size. Are our residents worth less to the State of New Jersey than those of Camden, Newark, Trenton, et al? I hope not. Yet, based upon State Aid, the Governor allocates only $98.00 per Fair Haven resident, while Camden’s residents are allocated $567.10 per resident.

Are Camden’s residents worth more than 5 times those of Fair Haven?

In real dollars, Fair Haven’s loss of $155,240.00 will leave us no choice but to increase the tax levy to make up for the lost aid. Absent our ability to find other places to cut spending (and believe me, we are looking) we face a potential increase of at least 1 cent, instead of a decrease of one-half cent.

It is obvious that there is a fair way to allocate the cuts: an across the board cut, hitting every town equally. In fact, simply cutting 10% from the COMPTRA aid, and allocating that cut evenly to every City, Town and Borough, across the board, will save the State an additional $21 Million.

I urge you, on behalf of our taxpayers, to address this funding inequity during the budget sessions.

Thank you for your time and service to our residents.

Mike Halfacre,
Mayor,
The Borough of Fair Haven

Obamanation: His Wife Keeps the Change

Obama's Earmarks: $1 Million for Wife's Hospital

See Barry Goldwater's post for more Obamanal politics as usual.

Is Burry's nomination in play?

In the "Wireside" announcement about the GOP convention (see post below), Chairman Puharic has declared that 2 Seats for Monmouth County Freeholder will be considered:

"(4) Offices To Be Considered.

The office to be considered is: Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders (2 seats)."

Previous announcements have indicated that Freeholder Director Lillian Burry could not be challenged at the convention, and that voters were selecting Burry's running mate from between Red Bank Councilman John Curley and Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso.

Monmouth County Republican Nominating Convention

The Monmouth County Republican Nominating Convention will be held on Wednesday, March 26th at 6:00 p.m. It will be held at the VFW, 1 Veterans Lane, Port Monmouth (Rt. 36 South, just below Wilson Ave, just below Super Foodtown & Dunkin Donuts). The convention rules are posted below.

Monmouth County Republican Organization, Inc.



NOMINATING CONVENTION RULES FOR THE 2008 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION



(1) Purpose of Nominating Convention.

To nominate candidates to run on the Monmouth County Republican Organization line in the Republican Primary Election to be held on June 3, 2008.



(2) Timing of Nominating Convention.

The Monmouth County Republican Organization’s Nominating Convention shall be held at least three (3) days prior to the deadline for filing petitions for the 2007 Republican Primary Election. Currently, the Nominating Convention is scheduled to take place Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the VFW, 1 Veterans Lane, Port Monmouth.



(3) Notice for Nominating Convention.

Notice will be sent to all county committee members, municipal chairs and elected officials via U.S. Mail, email and posted on the Monmouth County Republican Organization’s website at least seven (7) days prior to the Nominating Convention date. Notice is not, however, a determination of eligibility to participate at the convention.



(4) Offices To Be Considered.

The office to be considered is: Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders (2 seats).



(5) Deadline for Filling Vacancies On The County Committee.

Any and all delegates filling vacant county committee seats must have been duly certified by their respective municipal party chairs and filed with the County Clerk’s Office and with the Monmouth County Republican Organization no later than three (3) days prior to the county convention. Any delegates not so filed and certified three (3) days prior to the convention will not be permitted to participate. Any disputes over delegate eligibility will be determined by the County Chairman prior to the convention where an official list of eligible delegates will govern.



(6) Eligibility To Serve As Delegate.

All Republican county committee members contained on the official list described above, Republican municipal chairs and Monmouth County Republican Executive Committee members shall be permitted to vote as a delegate to the Nominating Convention. Nobody shall be permitted more than one (1) vote even if they serve in dual roles as a member of the county committee and as an elected official, etc.



(7) Eligibility of Candidates To Participate In Nominating Convention.

Only candidates who have successfully screened by being recommended to the convention by the Monmouth County Republican Organization’s Screening Committee may be considered at the Monmouth County Republican Organization’s Nominating Convention.



(8) Uncontested Races and No Motions or Nominations From Floor.

Candidates running for uncontested positions shall be nominated by acclamation.

No motions or nominations may be made from the floor for any purpose. Since all candidates participating in the Nominating Convention shall be considered nominated by the screening committee, there shall be no nominations of candidates or nominating speeches made.



(9) Candidate Speeches.

Each candidate will be given a minimum of three (3) minutes up a maximum of five (5) minutes to address the delegates. The order of address shall be determined by the County Chairman.



(10) Highest Vote Getter Wins.

The highest vote getter wins regardless of the number of seats being sought and number of candidates seeking the nomination to be placed on the Monmouth County Republican Organization line. There will be no run offs. In the case of any ties, the County Chairman decides.



(11) Machine Voting.

All voting will be recorded on machines.



(12) No Proxies.

No proxy voting is permitted, all delegates who wish to have their vote counted must be in attendance and personally cast a ballot for all votes.



(13) Chairperson(s) of Nominating Convention.

The County Chairman shall appoint either a chairperson or chairpersons for the Nominating Convention, which shall be approved by the Executive Committee. This person shall serve as the parliamentarian for the Nominating Convention.



(14) Electioneering Rules.

No electioneering may take place outside of the convention, on the convention floor or in the voting areas. This includes, but is not limited to, signs, stickers, billboards, handouts and political favors. Electioneering may take place elsewhere, but all candidates will be held personally responsible for clean-up of any discarded materials.



(15) Resignation or Death of Nominated Candidate.

In the event any candidate so selected at the Nominating Convention resigns, dies or fails to qualify after such selection and prior to establishing a Vacancy Committee, then the County Chairman shall use his discretion in filling the vacancy so created.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Monmouth County Republican Party
www.MonmouthRepublican.org
info@MonmouthRepublican.org
732.431.6664

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Puharic warming to Pennacchio

After failing to change the game with Joe Kyrillos or Rudy Giuliani, Adam Puharic told Politikernj, that he's "growing more comfortable with Monmouth County Republicans getting behind his (Pennacchio's) candidacy for U.S. Senate." It is good to see Puharic riding the horse in the direction its going.

Politikernj also said that Puharic's opponents are trying to recruit former Sheriff Joe Oxley to run against Puharic in June.

Oxley could have won the chairmanship by acclamation in 2006, but declined to run. He is widely respected throughout the county and could unite a deeply divided party.

I will be very surprised if Oxley runs.

Term Limits can benefit Local Government too

By Mayor Anna C. Little

Muncipal officials rely upon the operation and advice of many volunteer boards and commissions while establishing law and policy for a township, borough or city. Too often public perception is that a reward is given to persons who supported the local candidate in his or her campaign when individuals are appointed to provide volunteer service on a local board or commission. This jaded public perception of these individuals produces a lack of trust by the public in the operation of the entire board or commission. The impact is strongest in planning and zoning boards, sewer authorities and housing commissions because decisions of these bodies are binding. However, recommendations by advisory boards or commissions can be construed as politically driven if the public does not have faith that the individuals are volunteering for the right reasons.

Elected and appointed officials should strive to become public servants. We should take office in service to our neighbors temporarily using everyday common sense and then return home to live under the laws and policy that we create. Holding elected or appointed office should not be looked upon as a career activity. To the contrary, a citizen government is most trustworthy to work efficiently and in the best interests of their peers. I believe this is what our founding fathers intended.

The concept of a citizen government is most important at the local level, or the ground floor of government. If members of the public trust local officials, people are encouraged to speak up in a grass roots fashion. A true collaboration of ideas becomes the focus of public meetings with a goal toward ensuring that decisions are made properly to benefit the whole community. Elections could become more of a competition between candidates to demonstrate who will lead government to best serve the people and by what agenda. Surely the founding fathers would not have approved of the mudwrestling match that elections have become in this country, and the manner in which candidates attempt to win on the basis of who is less dirty.

Critics of term limits object to a restriction of freedom to vote for the candidate of their choosing. I recognize this argument, however, balanced against the distance that develops over time between the elected official and those they serve, and the human desire to continue to serve in a status position, I believe the term limit is a solution to corruption, rather than an example of overregulation. Furthermore, if term limits are constructed with a focus on consecutive terms, it is possible that a candidate could return to the same office after experiencing life as John Q. Public again for a while. I propose that this experience would be enlightening for the elected official, and beneficial for those he or she serves in future office.

Term Limit opponents also cite selection for regional advisory office, especially at the state and federal level as a lost benefit if term limits are imposed. Arguably these regional advisory offices are based upon length of service and notoriety among legislators. However, I believe that if term limits are embraced by government at all levels, the criteria for these regional advisory positions would be adjusted to focus on the experience and talents of the individual rather than the period for which they may have marked time at the expense of the taxpayer.

Elected officials at all levels should continuously be encouraged to prove the measure of their service to the people. Shorter terms increase the intensity of focus and perhaps the speed with which an agenda might be accomplished. Shorter terms also encourage elected officials with long term agendas to bring junior statesmen alongside them in preparation for the moment when they will need to take over where an elder statesman leaves office. The public can only benefit from such a pattern.

To endorse a change so basic yet so instrumental in the reform of government requires courage. To follow through on an endorsement with commitment requires perserverance. It has been said that a journey begins with but a single step. I submit that the first step has been taken at the Freeholder Board by establishing a rotational directorship. It is up to us at the local level to provide a foundation encouraging the freeholders and others to persevere. We must find courage in the example of government reformers who have gone before us.

"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?" Expediency asks the question,'Is it politic?' But conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor [perhaps] popular but because conscience tells one it is right." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The beat goes on

Lightshines said...
You can't even imagine the songs we rejected from Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and others before Cher came up with one clean enough for a family blogsite:

The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Politicians seem to lose their brains
La de da de de, la de da de da

Elliot S. was once the rage, uh huh
History has turned the page, uh huh
Now he’s not the greatest thing, uh huh
Payin’ prices like he was king, uh huh

The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Politicians seem to lose their brains
La de da de de, la de da de da

The Emperor’s Club’s his super mart, uh huh
Little girls still break our hearts, uh huh
And men still keep on marching off to whores
The rich need something pricier than Scores

The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Politicians seem to lose their brains
La de da de de, la de da de da

Citizens sit in chairs and reminisce
While men use family funds to get a kiss
The pols keep going faster all the time
And we all wonder why we’re ruled by slime

The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Politicians seem to lose their brains
La de da de de, la de da de da

Corzine: Public has every right to be angry

Bob Ingle reports that Jon Corzine told NJ 101.5's Jim Gearheart that "the public has every right to be angry about how government has conducted itself" under his predecessors.

We're angry, and have every right to be, about how this governor has conducted himself too.

Withholding his toll road scheme until after an election, pushing a massive spending increase called school funding reform, which isn't reform, through the lame duck legislature over the holidays, appointing cronies to head the DCA and the BPU, giving back union concessions, proposing budget "cuts" that are really property tax increases, etc, etc.

The list is long and expensive.

NY Gov Eliot Spitzer to quit over hookers

$5,500 an hour call girls have lead to the demise of Eliot Spitzer's career. He could be indicted and is expected resign as Governor of New York, according to FoxNews.

NJ: High Price for Rotten Government

Steven Malanga hits the nail on the head in the NY Post

Corzine's new tax increases.

His budget "cuts" are really tax increases.

Greater Media's Greg Bean has an excellent analysis here.

Dems nominate Mallet and Mason for Monmouth County Freeholder

A united and enthusiastic Democratic convention nominated Amy Mallet of Fair Haven and Glen Mason of Hazlet as their Freeholder candidates by acclamation this morning at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands.

In what is likely to be their theme in the fall campaign, Mallet and Mason called for change, a reduction in property taxes, the elimination of cronyism and for the lowest qualified bidders to get county contracts. Mallet called for the end of "pay to play", saying "contracts to contributors must stop." She did not say that her campaign would foresake union contributions.

Chairman Victor Scudiery and Freeholder Barbara McMorrow claimed that Monmouth County's recently enacted budget, without a tax increase, was a direct result of McMorrow's and Freeholder John D'Amico presence on the Freeholder board after 20 years of all Republican rule.

Congressman Rush Holt declared "We've an energy in the Democratic Party in Monmouth County" and reminisced of the nearly empty room, "where you could fit everyone in the corner" 10 years ago. There were over 300 people in attendance.

Corzine's pro monetization group releases donor list

Corzine's non-profit lobbying group, "Save our State", which was formed to promote the Governor's plan to raise tolls by 800%, increase debt by $40 billion and relinquish control of New Jersey's main transportation arteries for up to 99 years, has released a list of its contributors.

Corzine himself donated $500,000. Labor Unions donated $395,000. The NJ Construction Industry Partnership donated $100,000.

Magla Products, LLC a glove company, donated $5,000.00. Magla's CEO is the mayor of Summit, where Corzine used to live.

Blair MacInnes donated $5000.00. MacInnes is the wife of former State Senator Gordan MacIness and an unsuccessful candidate for Senate herself. She donated to the presidential campaigns of John Edwards, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Kerry. Her son worked for Edwards, she convinced her other son and his wife to vote for Clinton in the New Hampshire primary, and she voted for Obama in the NJ primary. She is a fan of "Jo" from The Super Nanny. Mrs. MacInnes is clearly confused.

Stephan E. Morgan, President of Jersey Central Power and Light, donated $1000.00.

Sivaraman Anbarasan, a dean at Sussex Community College and Bob Frank's neighbor donated $250.

Kyrillos run unlikely. Pennacchio endorsements keep rolling in.

A source close to State Senator Joe Kyrillos said that it is very unlikely that he would enter the U.S. Senate race. The person confirmed that Kyrillos was in Washington early this week, but that was for a previously scheduled meeting that was unrelated to the Estabrook withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race.

State Senator "Jersey Joe" Pennacchio has scored yet more endorsements for the U.S. Senate nomination. Atlantic County Republicans, Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina, Former Senator Sonny McCullough, and Folsom Mayor Thomas Ballistreri jumped on the bandwagon today, according to the Pennacchio campaign.

Pennacchio Wins Big in Bergen

JOE PENNACCHIO WINS BERGEN COUNTY CONVENTION

HACKENSACK, NJ – State Senator Joe Pennacchio won tonight's Bergen County Republican Convention by an overwhelming vote of 351 to 79.

Since last week's victories in Hunterdon and Union Counties, Joe Pennacchio's campaign for United States Senate has continued to gain momentum. The Middlesex County Republican Screening Committee endorsed Joe Wednesday night.

As organizational and rank-and-file support continue to build, Republican voters throughout the state are embracing Joe Pennacchio's conservative message of lower taxes, less government, and individual liberty.

Joe Pennacchio is a New Jersey State Senator representing the 26th Legislative District.

Visit www.jerseyjoe08.com for more information on Joe Pennacchio's candidacy for the United States Senate.

If Pennacchio keeps this up and the RNC and other Estabrook supporters enter another candidate, that "establishment candidate" will be in the unusual position of running off the line in many counties for the June primary.

The Draft Kyrillos blog has been reactivated.

Rudy Giuliani has not declared his candidacy. The phone at his JoinRudy08 campaign headquarters has had a busy signal since the week after the Florida primary.

Gathering of Eagles

Rally of Patriots at Times Square Recruiting Station: Saturday March 8, 1PM-4PM

Thank you to NY Bedroom Communities for bringing this to our attention.

Government can work

By Mayor Anna Little

There are many things that just do not work with government anymore. But do not let anyone tell you that government cannot be fixed. It's just going to take work, effort and a change. Term limits are a good place to start.

Americans should encourage elected officials to become public service, as that service was envisioned by our nation's Founding Fathers. Benjamin Franklin once said, "In free governments, the rulers are the servants and the people their superiors and sovereigns. For the former, therefore, to return among the latter is not to degrade but to promote them."

Congressional term limits were featured prominently in the Republican Party's Contract with America during the 1994 election campaign. When this was introduced in Congress then, this plan was approved with a simple majority in the House, but failed to meet the all-important two-thirds majority in the Senate.

Term limits for state governors or others within the state executive branch and other high constitutional offices have existed since the beginning of the United States.

Term limits were imposed in 20 state legislatures throughout our nation, either via successful referendums, legislative acts or state constitutional changes. The states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Dakota have successfully dealt with term limits. In most of these states, legislatures have term limits of eight consecutive years.

Term limits will encourage the public to have faith in government. This asset cannot be under-stated. The public's faith in government is wavering: Why shouldn't it?

In our own county, I suggest that term limits limiting how long any one freeholder may serve as director. Indeed, how long anyone should serve on the Board of Chosen Freeholders, will make for a more inclusive and, ultimately, more representative government for each of Monmouth's residents.

Where it involves the board, I believe no freeholder should serve as freeholder director for more than two consecutive, one-year terms. In addition, I believe that no freeholder should serve more than three consecutive, three-year terms.

It is through imposing term limits that Monmouth County will avoid the folly of being represented by career politicians who see public office less as a privilege than a right. Ultimately, this is one step. But the longest journey begins with but a single step.

Anna Little is the Mayor of Highlands. She served on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders in 2006 and 2007.

Also published in The Courier

Kyrillos may get in the U.S. Senate race after all

In the Lobby is reporting that State Senator Joe Kyrillos was spotted in Washington yesterday meeting with the Republican National Committee.

I'm told that yesterday while Adam Puharic was trying to organize a county chairs conference call to draft Rudy, that NJ GOP chair Tom Wilson was on a RNC conference call.

U.S. Senate race update

State Senator Kip Bateman is considering entering the race. Bateman got more county chairman on the phone than Puharic did.

In light of Michael Illions suggestion that Mary Carey run, Jim Purcell is offering movie producer Kevin Smith of "Clerks" and "Dogma" fame.

Question of the day

Could Bob Franks win the GOP U.S. Senate nomination if he entered the race today?

I think he could.

The Soprano State

#19 on the NY Times Best Sellers List.

While at Newark Airport last week, I was disappointed that the book was not in stock at the book stores there. Maybe they're concerned by people would cancel their return trips if they read the book while traveling.

Mary Carey for Senate

Michael "A. J. Sparxx" Illions of Conservatives with Attitude is floating former California gubernatorial candidate and porn star Mary Carey as a candidate for U.S Senate.

Adam Puharic wants to screen Carey's genes before committing to a game changing event.

Murray Sabrin wants her to run as a Presidential convention delegate, if she swears she is pro-life.

Tom Wilson is withholding comment pending review of Carey's emails and financial statements.

Eric Pasternack wants to verify Carey's resume.

Jersey Joe Pennacchio is staying above the fray and collecting endorsements.

Gary Coleman is joining the score of NJ Republicans who are muttering about their party's ability to screw up a wet dream.

Corzine's budget in trouble

The two highest ranking members of the Senate Budget committee, Senator Barbara Buono, Chairwoman (D-Middlesex) and Senator Paul Sarlo, Vice Chairman (D-Bergen) are proposing to restore much of Corzine's $168 million municipal aide cuts, but cutting elsewhere.

Read the Star Ledger story here.

Sabrin calls for Wilson's resignation

Will run his own slate of convention delegates and office holders in June Primary

Jersey City, March 5 – New Jersey conservative Republican leader Dr. Murray Sabrin, the Garden State's strongest advocate of limited government and individual freedom, announced the creation of an independent Slate of Delegates for the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. The Delegates and other Republicans running on Dr. Sabrin's line will run under the slogan, "Constitutional Republicans protecting the Liberty Platform" on Primary Day, June 3, 2008. In addition to this announcement, Dr. Sabrin called on the New Jersey Republican State Chairman, Tom Wilson, to step down immediately.

Dr. Sabrin stated, "We need to rebuild the Republican Party in New Jersey from the ground up and that process begins by agreeing on simple principles. We will select Delegates to the GOP Convention who will not embarrass the rank and file Republicans by pushing their liberal philosophy and attacking the conservative platform Ronald Reagan won on. The five primary conditions for any Delegate running under the ‘Constitutional Republicans protecting the Liberty Platform' are 1) support the Pro-Life position, 2) support the 2nd Amendment, 3) opposing amnesty for illegal aliens, 4) support making the Bush Tax Cuts permanent, and 5) reforming U.S. monetary policy. I am asking George Ajjan to Chair my Delegate Selection Process."

George Ajjan stated, "We are in the process of fielding every delegate and alternate delegate with Constitutional Conservatives. In addition, we will be filling every ballot position with rock solid Republicans." Anyone interested in participating as a delegate, alternate delegate or running for office should contact George Ajjan directly at the campaign office (201-332-3422).

Dr. Sabrin continued, "The Chairman's recent words and actions during this campaign have highlighted the lack of leadership at the top of the Republican Party in New Jersey. Tom Wilson should immediately step down as Chairman before he causes any more harm to this fragile political party. I am asking Joe Pennacchio to join with me in asking for his resignation. We need a strong conservative like Assemblyman Mike Doherty to guide the GOP while we begin this rebuilding process." Dr. Sabrin also asked Joe Pennacchio not to run with any delegation who doesn't support the Republican Platform Ronald Reagan won on.

The New Jersey Republican Party is a laughing stock among the National Republican Party for trying to insert pro-abortion language into the National Republican Platform.

Murray Sabrin is a retired successful entrepreneur working in commercial real estate, portfolio management, and economic research. Murray is an author, TV and radio commentator, and Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Business and Public Policy at Ramapo College. He and his wife Florence of 39 years reside in Bergen County. For more information, please visit www.MurraySabrin.com.

Why not Mitt Romney?

Adam Puharic is calling for Rudy Giuliani to run for U.S. Senate from New Jersey and has called a conference call of County Chairmen to "freeze the race" and decide who the U.S. Senate nominee will be.

Earlier, NJ GOP Chair Tom Wilson said he would not seek out new U.S Senate candidates in the wake of Ann Estabrook's withdrawal, but that he would encourage qualified candidates to step up if they wanted to.

A spokesperson for the NJ GOP said, "We will not be commenting on Puharic's remarks."

Puharic must really want a job in Washington.

Democratic Freeholder Race

Monmouth Democratic Party Chairman Vic Scudiery said today that the deadline for candidates to declare their intention to run for Monmouth County Freeholder has been waived and that nominations will be accepted from the floor when the County Democrats meet for their convention on Saturday March 8.

As reported in yesterday's Asbury Park Press Amy Mallet, who ran for Assembly in the 12 district last year and Michael Beson, a member of the Ocean Township Board of Education have declared their candidacies.

Lenny Inzerillo of Middletown, who challenged Joe Kyrillos for the 13th District State Senate seat last year is a candidate. Inzerillo won the party Freeholder nomination in 2006 but withdrew due to an ELEC controversy that has since been resolved.

Former Hazlet Police Officer and school board member Glen Mason, who sought the Dem's Sheriff nomination last year, is also a candidate.

Estabrook is out of U.S. Senate Race

Ann Estabrook has withdrawn from the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, citing health concerns. Politikernj.com reported that Estabrook suffered a mild stroke on Monday.

NJ GOP Chairman Tom Wilson issued the following statement:

“Ann Estabrook ran for all the right reasons and is ending her campaign for the right reason. I spoke to Ann last night and know that her decision to end her candidacy was easy from the standpoint of her health and well-being, but still difficult for a person who has within her a passion to give and fight. Like all Republicans, I thank Ann for her willingness to give something back to her country. I wish Ann many more years of good health and look forward to her continued involvement in our party.

This race is about who is best up for the demands of the job. Which candidate is best able to endure the rigors of a campaign and who is up for the demands of serving every day, for six years, to fight for New Jersey? Senator Lautenberg is 84 years old and has served in the Senate for nearly 25 years. During that time, New Jerseyans have watched our taxes increase and our share of the federal pie shrink. It is time for a change. Frank Lautenberg had his chance and his best days, which really weren’t very good, are behind him.”

Estabrook's withdrawal leaves State Senator Joe Pennacchio and Ramapo College Professor in the race. Pennacchio has been lining up endorsements all over the state and would appear to be the favorite.

State Senator Joe Kyrillos was floated as a possible late entry into the race last month by Monmouth GOP Chairman Adam Puharic. Kyrillos was not available for comment this morning, but told Politikernj.com that he will not be a candidate.

Another Corzine scam

Small and smart municipalities throughout New Jersey have been scrambling to save tax payers money for several years by sharing services with neighboring communities. As the cost of government and state mandated services and expenditures has increased, so has the effort to share services.

By eliminating state aid to municipalities with populations less than 5,000, and cutting aid to towns with populations less than 10,000 beyond the bone, Corzine is taking that saved money away to spend in Trenton.

He needs to cut more in Trenton. When the unions and lobbyists are screaming louder than the small town mayors, we'll know that spending in Trenton is really coming under control.

I am not opposed to consolidating muncipalities. If done right, such consolidations should yield significant savings over time. But there needs to be more pain on State Street than there is on Main Street.

Don’t Make Our Small Towns the Bad Guys

By Mayor Mike Halfacre

It seems that for as long as New Jersey’s small towns have existed, New Jersey lawmakers have been blaming them for the State’s woes. Ironically, many of those same lawmakers started off as home rule politicians, only to smugly point a finger at home rule as the reason our property taxes and cost of living is the highest in the nation, once they made it to Trenton.

I write not as a defender of home rule, but as a defender of small towns. Unlike the Governor, I will avoid painting broad generalizations, but in small towns, there is usually no room for waste, as our margins are too thin. For most small towns, administrative costs are a fraction per resident of what they are in large towns and cities. Perhaps, instead aggregating small towns to form “collectivist” communities, as Corzine wants us to pursue, we may want to look at breaking up the large cities, and taking away the massive bureaucratic money pits that so wildly abuse the taxpayers.

As Mayor of the kind of small municipality that gets blamed for the budget mess in Trenton, I must constantly point out that the mess in Trenton is entirely of Trenton’s making. Over the past eight years Fair Haven’s municipal aid and school aid have not increased one cent, while the State budget has almost doubled. Our town, and others like it, have not received an additional penny of that exponentially increasing state budget.

And yet, when it comes time to tighten the State’s belt, Fair Haven and towns like it get squeezed.

Governor Corzine, hearing the cries of the oppressed at his Town Hall meetings, has “found religion” and introduced a budget that he says is of historical proportions. Frankly, the only thing historical about it is that history repeats itself, and Corzine once again lays the State’s problems at the feet of the small towns.

The FY 2009 budget that attempts to wipe small municipalities from the face of New Jersey calls for a decrease in Municipal aid to towns with less than 10,000 in population in the amount of 190 million dollars. The same budget contains an increase in spending on school aid of 555 million dollars. Yet, in many of those same small towns, not a penny of that increased school aid will be received. The vast majority of school and municipal aid continues to flow to large cities, with machine politics that must be fed suburban taxpayers in order to survive.

Governor Corzine highlights in his budget speeches how state aid and grants for education and municipalities account for almost 75% of the State Budget. While this figure is accurate, it is not reflective of the reality of the State budget. The vast majority of that 75% does not come to the small towns. It is spent in the cities and Abbot Districts.

Nothing in this Budget stops the flow of suburban money to those money pits. Until someone in Trenton can say “NO” to the big city machine, small towns will continue to be the scapegoat of the big spenders in Trenton.

Mike Halfacre is the Mayor of Fair Haven. His website is www.mikehalfacre.com

More Mo for Jersey Joe

CONGRESSMAN RODNEY FRELINGHUYSEN ENDORSES JOE PENNACCHIO FOR U.S. SENATE

FLORHAM PARK, NJ – U.S. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen today endorsed State Senator Joe Pennacchio for United States Senate.

Endorsing Senator Pennacchio, Congressman Frelinghuysen issued the following statement: "I am proud to support Joe Pennacchio for United States Senate. We need his voice in Washington, and I believe he is uniquely qualified to represent New Jersey's hardworking families in the U.S. Senate. Joe is a mainstream conservative leader who will be a champion of hope and opportunity and a strong advocate for national defense, freedom, and prosperity.

"I believe that Joe Pennacchio is the clear conservative choice in this contest. I am pleased to offer him my endorsement and look forward to working hard to help elect him the next United States Senator from New Jersey."

"Congressman Frelinghuysen has been a champion of Republican values in the United States Congress. I am proud to have his support and his encouragement," said Senator Pennacchio. "He and I agree Washington is headed in the wrong direction and that it is time for us to return to the core conservative principles of lower taxes, less government, and peace and security through strength."

Joe Pennacchio is a New Jersey State Senator representing the 26th Legislative District.

Handlin and Thompson to host Town Meeting

Assemblyman Sam Thompson and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin are holding a town meeting tomorrow night, Wednesday, March 5, to discuss Governor Corzine’s recent proposals regarding the toll roads and his budget recommendations.

This meeting will also feature a presentation by the Task Force for Fiscal Responsibility.

What: District 13 Town Hall Meeting

When: Wednesday, March 5 from 7:30-9:30 PM

Where: Cheesequake Fire Company

313 Route 34

Matawan, NJ



*If you would like more information regarding this event, please call Sue Tissiker at 732-583-5558 or Zina Gamuzza at 732-787-7110

Jersey Joe has Big Mo

Jersey Joe Pennacchio is looking like the favorite to win the NJ GOP nod for US Senator and challenge Frank Lautenberg for his seat.

Pennacchio has picked up endorsements in Morris, Union, Warren, Hunterdon, and Bergen Counties. He's been endorsed by legislators from Ocean.