Breaking: Corzine Pulling His Ads

Save Jersey is reporting that the Corzine campaign is pulling its TV Ads.

Could Corzine have gone from "NO F*%KING WAY" to bowing out of the race in just one week? Way, but probably not.

It is more likely that Corzine has realized that his campaign is not working. Look for a shift in strategy...to uglier negative ads reminiscent of the Toricelli/Zimmer 1996 U.S. Senate Race.

Look for ads featuring LG candidate Loretta Weinberg taking on Christie for his Bush ties, DPA's and making sweatheart deals while he was U.S Attorney.

Tom Kean: Corzine Administration Taxes ‘Cash to Clunkers’ Stimulus

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement after learning that the Corzine administration will tax the vouchers that new car buyers receive under the so-called “Cash for Clunkers” federal stimulus program. Pennsylvania and Connecticut reportedly are among the many states that will not tax federal vouchers.

“Leave it to the Corzine administration to penalize New Jersey residents who gather the courage and the scarce resources needed to buy a new car during these uncertain times,” Senator Kean said. “It makes no sense to reduce the benefits of stimulus aid when the economy is still ailing. The governor should overrule this new nuisance tax immediately.”

Democratic leaders in Congress are racing to provide more money for the so-called Cash for Clunkers program because it has turned out to be one of the most powerful federal economic stimulus measures yet enacted. The program has helped lure thousands of cash-strapped buyers into local car dealerships desperate for sales. Their car purchases are boosting employment and economic activity across the nation.

Instead of allowing the vouchers to create the maximum amount of private sector employment in New Jersey, the Corzine administration has ruled that the $3,500 or $4,500 vouchers paid to new car buyers are subject to state sales tax. That could cost each car buyer in New Jersey more than $200 each, if the vouchers are taxed fully at the 7 percent state rate.

“This policy will particularly hurt small businesses and middle class taxpayers who must replace their worn-out vehicles,” Kean said. “It just makes no sense to make New Jersey less affordable during a recession by taxing aid that taxpayers provided. It’s cynical government policy and incredibly short-sighted economic policy. I urge Governor Corzine to reverse this decision today.”

African Americans For Christie Co-Chairman Jeffrey Booker Releases Statement On Gov. Corzine's African American And Hispanic Support

TRENTON – Citing a study published this month by the Economic Policy Institute that reveals disproportionately high levels of unemployment among African Americans and Hispanics in New Jersey, Jeffrey Booker, statewide Co-Chairman of African Americans for Chris Christie, today released the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s support among these minority groups:

“While Governor Corzine’s policies and broken promises have hurt families and communities everywhere in New Jersey, these new figures confirm that African Americans and Hispanics are suffering disproportionately from Jon Corzine’s failures as governor. Our communities are hard-hit and in need of the positive change and renewal offered by Chris Christie. It’s no wonder then that African Americans and Hispanics are supporting Chris’ campaign at exceptionally high levels.”

***
Corzine’s “Has Some Work To Do” Due To Lower Than Expected Support Among African Americans And Hispanics In New Jersey

“One are where Corzine particularly has some work to do is among minority groups that are usually supportive of Democratic candidates. Even though 92% of blacks in the state approve of Barack Obama’s job performance, only 64% of them are currently saying they’ll vote for Corzine. And while 67% of Hispanics approve of Obama, they’re currently going for Christie by a margin of 50-33.” (“Christie Holds Double Digit Lead,” Public Policy Polling Press Release, 7/28/09)

NJ Unemployment At 9.2%, Highest In 32 Years

“New Jersey's unemployment rate reached its highest level in 32 years in June.” (“New Jersey Unemployment Reaches 9.2 Percent In June, Highest In 32 years,” Associated Press, 7/16/09)

African American Unemployment In New Jersey Is At 13.6% (Algernon Austin, “Unequal Unemployment,” Economic Policy Institute Issue Brief, 7/21/09)

Hispanic Unemployment In New Jersey Is At 11.5% (Algernon Austin, “Unequal Unemployment,” Economic Policy Institute Issue Brief, 7/21/09)

In Case You Missed It...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Hey, C'Mon That's Not ... Why Would You ...Whoa!
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

Hat tip to BlueJersey by way of InTheLobby

BECK, O’SCANLON & CASAGRANDE: MAKE FAILING TO REPORT A BRIBE A CRIME

Failing To Take A Bribe Is Not Enough--Law Enforcement Must Be Contacted

Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, all R-Monmouth announced that she will be introducing legislation establishing criminal penalties for public servants who are offered bribes or witness bribery attempts, but fail to report the activity to State or Federal law enforcement officials. Other states have a law on the books that requires appointed or elected officials to report a bribe, but not New Jersey.

“It’s clear that people offering bribes have come to believe that officials won’t report them,” Beck stated. “We need to create a culture where it is not only unacceptable and illegal for a public official to accept a bribe, but where it is unacceptable and illegal for another official to turn a blind eye.”

In the aftermath of last week’s arrests, public officials have come forward stating that they were offered bribes by an FBI informant posing as a developer. It is unclear if any of these individuals reported the bribery attempts to law enforcement, or simply looked the other way.

“The simple failure to commit a crime is not something to pride oneself on, one must take the extra step,” said O’Scanlon. “Saying, ‘I could have taken a bribe, but I didn’t,’ doesn’t mean you’ve done the right thing. All it means is that you know of someone out there who was offering a bribe, and didn’t feel it necessary to inform the authorities. It’s as bad as taking part in a cover-up.”

“It’s actually a shame that this is something that requires legislation,” said Casagrande. “It’s a shame that we can’t count on every one of our elected officials to do the right thing. But it’s apparent, with so many public officials expecting a pat on the back for not taking a bribe offered to them, that we need to make sure that when those bribes are offered, they are reported to law enforcement.”

Put On Your Dancing Shoes...

Another Save Jersey Production.

Where Does The Corzine Campaign Go From Here?

Election day is still more than three months away, yet it feels like the gubernatorial race is over.

Corzine got no bump from the Obama visit. On the contrary, he lost 4 points in the polls and CQ Politics now rates the race as "leans Republican." The news from Bada Sting will dominate the rest of the summer and fall. So far, Corzine's attempts to smear Chris Christie over the Deferred Prosecution Agreements seems to be failing.

Corzine seems to have lost his bond trader's knack for cutting his losses.

Despite all the bad news and Democratic power brokers trying to get him to bow out, Corzine appears to be out to prove his critics and the polls wrong. As Steve Kornacki wrote the in NY Observer yesterday, "It looks like the New Jersey Democrats are finally going down. And Mr. Corzine is determined to lead the way." "The truth is that, barring some miraculously bad development for the Christie campaign, Mr. Corzine is doomed."

Christie has been saying all along that the Corzine campaign will get negative and dirty, because they have nothing else to run on. The DFP issue is bogus and not getting any traction. Tying Christie to Bush isn't working, and as Obama's approval numbers continue to decline, negative linking Christie to Bush will not hurt Christie any more than the attempt to link Corzine to Obama has helped the governor.

How desperate and embarrassing are those Obama-Corzine lawn signs? If I was Obama, I would tell Corzine to take my name off the next batch of signs.

In trying to figure out what Corzine might do to salvage his candidacy, I went back a re-read Craig Horowitz's July 2005 article for New York Magazine, The Deal He Made. The article is a mini-biography of Corzine. It covers his career in banking, his marriage, his getting the boot from Goldman Sachs, and his political career through the publication date. It is a long, but worthwhile read.

Christie Holds Double Digit Lead

According to Public Policy Polling.

Quote Of The Day

"Dead whales visit the Jersey shore a couple of times a year."

~ The Asbury Park Press

Christie Appearances

Chris Christie will appear live on CNBC's Squawk Box at 7:40 this morning.

At 12:30 this afternoon, Christie, Kim Guadagno and Governor Tom Kean will participate in a Higher Education Forum at The College of New Jersey, hosted by Save Jersey's Matt Rooney.

The Higher Education Forum can be followed on twitter, http://twitter.com/ChristieforNJ

Lance Holding Mobile Office Hours

Congressman Leonard Lance is holding a series of mobile office hours.

The schedule is as follows:

* Noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 6: Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Ave., Cranford.

* 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11: Hillsborough Public Library, 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough.

* Noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 12: South Plainfield Senior Center picnic, 90 Maple Ave., South Plainfield.

* 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 17: Montgomery Senior Center, 356 Skillman Road, Montgomery.

* 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18: Summit Library, 75 Maple Street, Summit.

* 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 19: Bridgewater Library, 1 Vogt Dr., Bridgewater.

* 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16: Edison Public Library, 777 Grove Ave., Edison.

Stop by and tell him what you think of his vote on the "cap and trade" bill, or call him at 908-788-6900.

Hold Me

A Save Jersey Production

Quote Of The Day

"After this campaign Weinberg may wish she had declined the offer for the sake of her good reputation."

~ Bob Ingle, writing about the hypocrisy of Corzine's anti-Christie ads and stump rhetoric.

Did Doria Resign?

No, according to Nick Acocella of Politifax.

On the NJN show Reporters Roundtable this weekend, Acocella said that Joe Doria, the Department of Community Affairs Commissioner who's home and office were raided by the FBI last week during the Operation Bid Rig roundup, did not resign as Corzine requested, but rather retired.

What's the difference? I don't know. Acocella didn't explain it. My guess is that it has to do with money, i.e. Doria's government pension.

Acocella also said that he couldn't imagine that Doria did anything wrong, and that the Doria investigation is a Ray Donovan situation. Donovan was a NJ construction company executive when President Reagan appointed him U.S. Labor Secretary in 1981. He was the first U.S. cabinet officer indicted while in office. He was indicted, tried and aquitted on fraud charges. A jury aquitted him in 9 1/2 hours of deliberation after his defense rested without calling a single witness. Donovan famously said, "What government office do I go to to get my reputation back."

Unions Targeting Charter Schools

The NY Times reports today that labor unions have targeted charter schools for the spread of educational mediocrity.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, called the gains of the past year “a precursor.”

“You’re going to see far more union representation in charter schools,” Ms. Weingarten said. “We had a group of schools that were basically unorganized, groups of teachers wanting a voice, a union willing to start organizing them, and now money in our organizing budget to back that up. And all of that has come together in the last 6 to 12 months.”

She quoted Albert Shanker, her union’s founder, as saying charter schools should be “incubators of good instructional practice.”

“I’m adding to the argument,” Ms. Weingarten said. “Let them be incubators of good labor practice.”

If you really want that Randi, leave them alone. They already are incubators for good labor practice.

In Chicago, where students at several Chicago International campuses have scores among the city’s highest for nonselective schools, teachers began organizing last fall after an administrator increased workloads to six classes a day from five, said Emily Mueller, a Spanish teacher at Northtown Academy.

“We were really proud of the scores, and still are,” Ms. Mueller said. “But the workload, teaching 160 kids a day, it wasn’t sustainable. You can’t put out the kind of energy we were putting out for our kids year after year.”

Some teachers disagreed. Theresa Furr, a second-grade teacher at the Wrightwood campus, said she opposed unionization.

“Every meeting I went to,” Ms. Furr said, “it was always ‘What can we get?’ and never ‘How is this going to make our students’ education better?’ ”

For Joyce Pae, an English teacher at Ralph Ellison, the decision was agonizing. Her concerns over what she saw as chaotic turnover and inconsistency in allocating merit pay led her to join the drive. But after school leaders began paying more attention to teachers’ views, she said, she voted against unionization in June.

Corzine And Weinberg: Just More Of The Same

A 17 Year Trenton Insider's Record...

Trenton Insiders Kick The Can Down The Road. Loretta Weinberg voted to rely on one-shot gimmicks to balance FY2010 budget instead of making the difficult decisions to cut out wasteful partisan spending. This irresponsible budgeting has created a $10 billion deficit for FY2011. (S2010, 2009) (Josh Margolin, "N.J. short $8 billion, report says," Star Ledger, 07/22/09)


Trenton Insiders Raise Taxes And Fees.
Loretta Weinberg has sponsored taxes and fees on everything from alcoholic beverages to dog licensing fees. (S2013, 08/09) (S695, 06/07)
Loretta Weinberg has voted for over 90 taxes and fees. (FY 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02,03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 Budgets)

Trenton Insiders Eliminate Property Tax Relief From Homeowners. Weinberg not only voted with Governor Corzine to repeal New Jerseyans property tax rebates, she has even sponsored her own property tax increases. (FY 2010 Budget) (S843 08/09)


Trenton Insiders Claim They Are Responsible With Taxpayers Dollars... Weinberg is the Chairman of the Legislative Oversight Committee, The "Watchdog" Of Regulatory Bodies. (NJ Legislative Website, www.njleg.state.nj.us, accessed: 07/25)

...Without Actually Do Anything About It. Weinberg has held only ONE oversight meeting this year. (NJ Legislative Website, www.njleg.state.nj.us, accessed: 07/25)


Trenton Insiders Create "Do-Nothing" Task Forces. Over the last two legislative sessions, Weinberg sponsored 15 bills to create or expand government commissions and task forces. (NJ Legislative Website, www.njleg.state.nj.us, accessed: 07/25)


Trenton Insiders Practice Blind Partisanship...Regardless Of The Consequences for New Jerseyans. Weinberg did nothing to stop the $1.2 billion that Jon Corzine increased taxes on hardworking middle class families. (FY 2010 Budget)

Senator Loretta Weinberg Is Corzine's Nominee For LG

Photo credit: www.lorettaweinberg.com

Friends,

This November, for the first time in our state's history, New Jerseyans will have the opportunity to vote both for Governor and for the newly-created office of Lieutenant Governor.

I am proud to announce that I have selected State Senator Loretta Weinberg as my nominee to serve as New Jersey's first Lieutenant Governor.

I hope you'll join both of us tomorrow, Saturday July 25th, at 2 p.m. at the Bergen Performing Arts Center at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood.

Those of you in Bergen County probably already know Senator Weinberg well. She has served the Bergen County community with honesty, honor, and distinction since she was first elected to the State Assembly in 1992 and, then, as a State Senator since 2005.

For those of you who may not know Senator Weinberg, I know that you will be impressed by her legislative experience, the significant and positive change she's brought to our state, and by her personal values and unquestionable integrity.

Often called the "conscience of the Legislature" because of her principled stands on issues large and small, Loretta Weinberg isn't afraid to take on the tough fights:

Loretta has been leading the charge on ethics reform for years. She's passed legislation to require greater financial disclosure by local government officials, toughen regulations for lobbyists, strengthen anti-nepotism rules on campaign contributions and limit public contracts to businesses that make political contributions.

She has put the safety of our children and New Jersey residents first. Loretta battled the powerful gun lobby to protect our children by mandating safety locks on all handguns and fought to lower the blood alcohol level state-wide for which a person can be considered to be guilty of drunk driving.

She is a tireless advocate for protecting New Jerseyan's health. Against stiff opposition, Loretta took on Big Tobacco and sponsored the law making indoor public places smoke-free. She stood up to insurance companies and succeeded in forcing hospitals to provide longer stays for new moms and their babies. And she has made combating autism a primary focus as the sponsor of several laws funding treatment, education and research for autistic children.

The list goes on and on. For over forty years, Loretta Weinberg has been an advocate for better health care, honest government, environmental protection, women's rights, and protecting the pocketbooks of New Jersey's working families.

She shares my commitment to our state and my vision for what New Jersey can be, and I cannot think of a better person to serve as New Jersey's first Lieutenant Governor. I'm confident that as you get to know her you will become as big a fan of Loretta Weinberg as I am.

I'm confident that Loretta's steadfast commitment, her deep legislative experience, and her personal integrity will prove to be invaluable as we continue to build on the remarkable successes of my first term. I know that Loretta will be a partner that I can trust and will become a unique and important voice in the next Corzine Administration.

I'm confident that she will set the highest standard for what New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor can and should be, and I'm looking forward to working side-by-side with her over the next four years.

I know that together we will continue to do great things for the state of New Jersey.

Governor Jon Corzine

Pallone Would Step In If Corzine Steps Down

Congressman Frank Pallone "made it known" that he would step in and run for Governor, if Corzine bows out, according to an article in the NY Times.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker expressed his commitment to Corzine's candidacy in the same article.

Corzine: "No f...ing way"...

..when asked by Former Morris County Prosecutor Michael Murphy if he was going to drop his re-election bid. (Source: Wally Edge)

Corzine also said he would increase property tax rebates 40% in 4 years.

Sad and Tragic Legacy

Former Senator Wayne Bryant was sentenced to four years in federal prison yesterday for bribery and pension fraud yesterday, a day after 44 corruption and money laundering arrests made international news.

Senator Steve Sweeney told the Asbury Park Press how sad he is because of all the good things that Bryant did in his career, and because a friend of Sweeny's joked "the missed you" while they were working out at a gym. Poor Steve Sweeney.

Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts called referred to the Bryant sentencing as "tragic."

Bryant's sentencing, the 44 arrests and Joe Doria's resignation are not sad or tragic. They are cause for celebration!

What is sad and tragic is citizens, young and old, leaving their homes because they can't afford the property taxes. What is sad and tragic is young adults who grew up in New Jersey settling elsewhere in the country, far from their families, because New Jersey is unaffordable. That is the legacy of New Jersey's political leaders who have participated in or tolerated a system wraught with built for corruption.

Obama's Approval Ratings Drop Below 50%

Corizne is in deep doo doo.

Rasmussenreports' daily tracking poll has President Obama's approval ratings dropping below 50% for the first time.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 30% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-eight percent (38%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8.

Just 25% believe that the economic stimulus package has helped the economy.

The Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern.

Overall, 49% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Today marks the first time his overall approval rating has ever fallen below 50% among Likely Voters nationwide. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.

The MoreMonmouthMusings seat of my pants poll indicates that Obama's popularity and credibility were damaged by his visit to New Jersey last week. Obama's embrace of the failing Corzine was so incredulous that nationwide voters are questioning his judgement. Suddenly he can't get his health care plan through Congress, questions are again rising over his birthright citizenship and DON'T BLAME ME, I VOTED FOR McCAIN bumper stickers are on back order.

History will blame his healthcare proposal on the decline of Obama's presidency, but in reality his visit to the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ was the beginning of the end.

Chris Christie For Governor Releases Latest Television Ad:

PARSIPPANY, NJ - Today, Chris Christie's Campaign for Governor released its latest television ad entitled, "Fiercely Independent." This is the Christie campaign's first television ad of the general election and it showcases the positive message of Christie's campaign and his commitment to ending politics as usual.



Script For "Fiercely Independent" (TV: 30):


CHRISTIE: As U.S. Attorney I put corrupt public officials in jail - Republicans and Democrats.

As Governor, I'll make the same tough, independent decisions without regard to party or politics.

New Jersey's problems are too big to be solved with one party's solutions.

Whether it's school choice, clean energy, or revitalizing our cities.

We'll need good ideas from both sides.

If you want partisan politics as usual, well I'm not your guy.

If you really want to change Trenton, let's start by changing Governors.

Commentary:

Chris is on the right track running against partisan politics as usual, ala his "I'm not a Whitman Republican" quote in his interview with me in April. However, the GOP still needs his coat tails in many places throughout the state. Given Christie's strong showing in the polls, I hope that Chairman Jay Webber along with the Christie campaign are targeting Democratic Assembly seats to pick off in November.

On a more personal note, unless that "Mets" tie is a lucky charm, Chris should retire it for the rest of the campaign. Maybe I just notice it because he joked about when I interviewed him, but I notice it everytime he wears it. It is becoming like Ellen Karcher's red dress.

WNBC-TV:Norcross Working To Replace Corzine With Booker or Pallone

WNBC-TV is reporting that South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross is "working behind the scenes" to get Jon Corzine to end his bid for re-election. Reporter Brian Thompson says that Norcross wants Corzine to be replaced on the November ballot by Newark Mayor Corey Booker or 6th District Congressman Frank Pallone.

What They Are Saying About Doria:

From NJ.com

"He was always by-the-book, straight as an arrow, no implication ever -- ever -- of any wrongdoing," ~ former longtime Republican Senate President and Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco.

"one of New Jersey's great public servants" who has "brought integrity and intelligence to everything he has done." ~ Jon Corzine

"one of the finest human beings I ever had the pleasure of serving with.'' ~ Senate President Dick Codey

Here's what we've had to say about Doria at MoreMonmouthMusings:

Doria Nominatation a test of how serious Corzine, Legislature is about cleaning up corruption ~ November 26, 2007

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 ~ November 25, 2007

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!

....

Now that the election is over, where is the reform and clean government? ~ November 29, 2007

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.”

....

Republicans on Doria: Silence ~ November 27, 2009

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.

Doria Resigns

The Star Ledger is reporting that Governor Corzine asked for and received DCA Commissioner Joe Doria's resignation today, after the news broke that the FBI search Doria's home and office.

Corzine also said that he thought Assemblymen Daniel Van Pelt and Harvey Smith should resign.

To quote my friends at InTheLobby,

"Funny, but we don't remember the governor feeling the same about Sens. Sharpe James or Wayne Bryant needing to resign when they were indicted.

What could have changed?"

ITL is also citing a Wall Street Journal report naming Solomon Dwek as the cooperating witness who brought down 44 public officials, so far, in the current investigative sweep:

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal has more on the cooperating witness who brought down the house of cards:

The key to the investigation was an Orthodox Jewish real-estate developer, according to a person familiar with the matter. Solomon Dwek was arrested on bank-fraud charges in 2006 and was forced to seek bankruptcy protection for himself and his companies, which owned about 300 residential and commercial properties. Mr. Dwek, 36 years old, a religious-school head and philanthropist from Ocean Township, was charged with defrauding PNC Bank out of $25 million. Mr. Dwek remained free on a $10 million bond. A lawyer for Mr. Dwek couldn't be reached for comment.

To ensnare most of the defendants, the Federal Bureau of Investigation used Mr. Dwek to attempt to bribe numerous public officials in New Jersey, including Hoboken and Jersey City, according to a person familiar with the matter. The probe roped in several other real-estate developers who also wanted to bribe officials. The criminal complaints unsealed Thursday referenced an unnamed "cooperating witness" who represented himself as a real-estate developer seeking to pay bribes. A person familiar with the matter said Mr. Dwek is the witness.

"The politicians willingly put themselves up for sale," Mr. Marra said in an afternoon news conference. "They existed in an ethics-free zone."

Statement By Chris Christie And Sheriff Kim Guadagno On Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt

PARSIPPANY, NJ - Today, Chris Christie and Sheriff Kim Guadagno released the following joint statement calling for the resignation of Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt following his arrest today:

"Now more than ever, New Jersey needs elected officials who are committed to honesty, integrity and a higher standard of ethics. Assemblyman Van Pelt has failed the people he was elected to serve and has violated their trust. He has no other choice but to resign immediately and allow the people of Ocean County to elect an official who will put the people before personal self-interest."

Doria In Feds Sites

From NJ.com's coverage of today's corruption arrests throughout NJ:

Federal authorities also searched the office and home of Joseph Doria, the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. Investigators were seen lugging boxes from Doria's Bayonne home. Separately, FBI agents arrived at his Trenton office shortly after 9:30 a.m.

Doria, 63, previously served a the Democratic mayor of Bayonne for nine years and represented Hudson County in the State Senate. Before becoming a senator in 2004, he served 12 terms as an assemblyman. He could not be reached for comment.

"Stop The Negativity: Stand By Your Record"

Chris Christie's Campaign for Governor today released their latest web video entitled, "Stop The Negativity: Stand By Your Record." The web video features Governor Corzine praising Chris Christie's work as U.S. Attorney, including him stating, "I was an endorser and supporter of Chris Christie as U.S. Attorney to clean up corruption. I am going to continue to be." (Jon Corzine, "On the Record," NJN, June 10, 2005)

When Jon Corzine's not trailing in the polls, he praises Chris Christie and commits to running clean campaigns. Now in 2009, Jon Corzine has found himself trailing Chris Christie in 21 straight public opinion polls, and will resort to using any tactic to try to distort and smear the record of Christie.

Corzine's 2000 Campaign Says New Jerseyans "Deserve A Clean Campaign." ''But we agree with Bob Franks that New Jersey voters deserve a clean campaign and we plan on running a campaign focused on the issues,'' he said." (Tim Haggerty, "At car wash, Franks vows clean race but rubs Corzine," The Times of Trenton, 07/22/00)


Corzine Agreed With The Principle Of Bob Franks Clean Campaign Pledge. "Shea said the Corzine campaign had received the Framework for Civility just yesterday afternoon and agreed with it in principle. He said Corzine will have to look at it further before he decides whether to sign it." (Tim Haggerty, "At car wash, Franks vows clean race but rubs Corzine," The Times of Trenton, 07/22/00)

Jon Corzine Promised A Clean Campaign While Running For U.S. Senate.
"Jon Corzine yesterday promised a clean campaign for U.S. Senate. To that end, the Democratic candidate signed the Framework for Civility for Political Candidates, sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance. Among its promises: Refraining from deception, half-truths, falsification or innuendo in describing opponents, assuming responsibility for the words and actions of your campaign staff, and ensuring that your campaign organization has documents supporting factual claims about you or your opponent's record or background" ("High Noon in Hudson?" Jersey Journal, 08/26/00)

Sometimes the Asbury Park Press Just Does Not Think Things Through

Middletown Deputy Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno, and Gubernatorial Candidate Chris Christie at today's round table at the Middletown Elks Club

In an editorial today, the Asbury Park Press said that although they did not endorse her for sheriff in 2007, that they are "not entirely displeased" with Chris Chrisite picking Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno as his running mate.

Obviously, Monmouth County voters didn't care that the APP didn't endorse Kim in 2007-we elected her- why would the APP think we care about that endorsement now? Especially since they are "not entirely displeased" with her, because of her accomplishments in office and that maybe what they didn't like about her in 2007 was an "aberration."

The editorial board ended their piece by calling for Kim to step down as sheriff while she campaigns for lieutenant governor. Some MMM readers have also called for Guadagno to step down.

That is a boneheaded idea. Kim is no bonehead. I have no doubt the APP's opinion will make about as much a difference to her now as it did in 2007. None.

Why is it a boneheaded idea? I'm glad you asked.

If Kim were to resign, thereby creating a vacancy in the office of Monmouth County Sheriff, it would be up to Governor Corzine to appoint a new sheriff, with the advise and consent of the Senate.

Corizne is notorious for moving very slowly in making appointments. He's having a heck of a time choosing his own running mate. Even if the governor were able to make up his mind quickly with the help of Deputy Freeholder Director John D'Amico and chose former Freeholder candidate and Emergency Management Coordinator Glenn Mason for example, the Senate is in recess for the rest of the summer. By the time the Senate reconvenes, holds hearings where Glenn could answer questions about the nature of his appointment to Emergency Management Cooridinator just a few months after he lost the election for Freeholder, it would probably take until October to confirm him. That would be too late for the office of sheriff to be on the November ballot to fill the unexpired term. That assumes the Senate will even reconvene in September.

So, if Kim Guadagno were to resign now to campaign for lieutenant governor full time, Monmouth County will be without a sheriff at best until the fall. What good does that do the residents of Monmouth County?

Those who think Kim's job won't get done while she's campaigning don't know Kim.

Any non-incumbent candidate for public office, be it town council or governor, juggles two jobs,the non-paying job of candidate and the job that puts food on the table, unless they have the fortunate circumstance of not having to work for a living while campaigning. Knowing Kim Guadagno, she is managing her life so that all of her responsiblities, to her family, to the citizens of Monmouth County, and to the citizens of New Jersey, get fulfilled. Her family and staff will pitch in for sure. She'll be up early and late, on the phone and the computer, making sure the job gets done.

Let's see if the APP calls for Corzine's running mate, be it Senator Barbara Buono, Senator Loretta Weinberg or apprentice Randal Pinkett, to quit her or his job. I bet they don't. Will the APP call for Governor Corzine to quit his job while he campaigns? Of course not. Lots of Democrats are hoping he will quit the campaign and mail in the last few months of the job, but no one will call for him to quit the job, except maybe Dick Codey.

Christie and Guadagno In Monmouth County Wednesday

Wednesday, July 22nd

WEST LONG BRANCH

WHO: Chris Christie

WHAT: Speech


WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.


WHERE: Monmouth University School of Business Administration
Bey Hall (Young Auditorium), Room 211
400 Cedar Avenue
West Long Branch


BELFORD

WHO: Chris Christie and Sheriff Kim Guadagno

WHAT: Middletown Community Roundtable

WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Middletown Elks Lodge
251 Church Street
Belford


FREEHOLD

WHO: Chris Christie and Sheriff Kim Guadagno

WHAT: Diner Stop

WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Perkins Family Restaurant
3445 US Highway 9
Freehold


FREEHOLD

WHO: Chris Christie and Sheriff Kim Guadagno

WHAT: Monmouth County Fair

WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: East Freehold Park
1500 Kozloski Road
Freehold

Principles, Priorities and Pragmatism in the Abortion Debate

Matt Rooney's Principles, Priorities and Pragmatism in the Abortion Debate at Save Jersey is a MUST READ for all men and women of good will.

Why the Guadagno choice doesn't change anything for pro-life Republicans

By Dan Gallic

It's been with some trepidation that I weigh in on Chris Christie choice of Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno's nomination as Lt. Governor.

The reason for my hesitancy is that Guadagno represents the exact type of candidate that makes me uneasy yet the idea of having a pro-life Catholic Republican Governor is far too important to be side- tracked by failed logic of his LG choice's abortion position.

Guadango appears to be a middle-of-the-road Republican, balancing the need for the rule of law and the need for compassion, in dealing with the systemic problem of illegal immigration. She draws a wonderful comparison between Christie's position on illegal immigration and the laissez faire position of the Corzine administration which has lead to unabated illegal immigration.

Most concerning is the fact that Guadagno is Catholic and pro-choice. This is concerning, not only because supporting abortion is tantamount to disrespect and abuse of women, but also because her willingness to buck the religious institution that she aligns herself creates an impression that she knows more than the collective wisdom of the ages housed within the Roman Catholic doctrine.

Such incongruity in thought is usually found among Democrats, who are more oft ruled by their emotions than fact, which broadly explains why they spend too much, bend rules too much and are dictated by polls too much. Each of these actions are right and correct, within logical boundaries, but become vices when exaggerated.

I've come to the conclusion that Catholics, such as Guadagno, who support the murder of the unborn, is more often a product of poor primary catechism teaching, or parents who did not instruct their children properly, than it is a well thought out position. The only way a Catholic can logically argue that abortion is right and justified is to argue that life does not begin at conception, but the same Catholics that believe that life doesn't start at conception are loathe to define when life begins, leaving their “well thought out” position in quixotic logic swamp of relativism. The lack of a defined notion of when life begins reveals the fatally flawed logic of their argument and shadows a person's true intent of holding such a position.

It is in my experience that pro-choice Catholics, who are logically brought to the conclusion that their position cannot hold muster, continue to hold this position in order to justifying their previous actions, or that of a close loved one. Maybe it was a old boyfriend that demanded an abortion or maybe it was a choice she made because she was not ready to be a mother and took a path society approved of. Or maybe it was a daughter, sister, mother, aunt or close friend who had an abortion and the pro-choice Catholic cannot bear to think of this person as participating in murder, as dictated by the Catholic Church.

Ultimately being a pro-choice Catholic makes no sense. Why be part of an religion that demands your damnation for a belief that you publicly profess support for? You might as well join a wishy-washy Protestant church that allows such malignant beliefs.

This is the reason why Guadango concerns me although in the last year I have seen politician after politician, friend after friend and citizen after citizen realize that being pro-choice is not correct and changed their position. This is evidenced by recent poll results by Gallup where 42% of Americans defined themselves as pro-choice and 51% as pro-life. This brings me to the conclusion that we should be praying for Guadagno to change her position rather than fighting her nomination. The success of one is far more likely than the other.

The gubernatorial race in New Jersey is not about the right to murder your unborn child. This years election is about the Democrats, who have turned into a cesspool of moral relativism and have destroyed our economy by passing ludicrous economic policies, and Republicans, who are finally getting their act together and creating a chance for New Jersey to regain it's footing, both morally and economically.

Those who would use Guadagno's poor logic as a case against supporting a pro-life Republican governor are clearly bent on creating more power for the pro-choice Democrats, the same Democrats who seek to force Catholic hospitals to participate in the murder of the unborn through all nine months and Catholic churches to recognize and participate in same-sex marriage.

One Star For Corzine

Restaurant owners throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties beware. Andrea Clurfeld is back.

The good news for the restaurants is that Andrea is covering the the gubernatorial race and not (yet?) writing restaurant reviews. Clurfeld wrote about the Monmouth/Gannett poll that shows NJ voters give Corzine a C minus and a disapproval rate of 51%.

In her review of the poll, Clurfeld quotes Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray who says Corzine's problem is communication:

"The Corzine camp says that this budget is a product of the poor economy, and it would have been worse if the governor hadn't put New Jersey's finances on the right footing in the first years of his term," Murray said. "That message isn't resonating with the public."

Of course that message isn't resonating. It isn't true. Corzine's answer to putting the state's finances on the right footing was to raise $33 billion by "monetizing" our toll roads for 75 years and raising tolls by 800%. He said he would stake his job on getting that done. He didn't get it done, for good reason, and now he has to go.

From Clurfeld's review:

Murray said polls have shown that the governor has a hard time getting his message out. For example, a couple years ago, after Corzine held a number of town meetings, "his approval rating dropped," Murray said. "That's a result of poor communication."

With all due respect for Murray, that's not a result of poor communication, it is the result of an unacceptable message. The town meetings were about monetizing the toll roads so that Corzine could keep expanding government. New Jersey voters don't want more government.

Corzine may be a poor communicator, but he really would rather not communicate at all. He would rather just ram his plans through without discussion. He spent $800,000 of taxpayers money to come up with the toll road scheme, but he would not let the public or members of the legislature read the report. At least voter sentiment keep the legislature from going along with him on that one.

Corzine's school funding formula is an example of how he prefers to ram important legislation through with little discussion. He drafted the plan is secret and then rammed it through the legislature in the last days of the 2007 lame duck legislative session. He FedEx'd the legislation to legislators homes on Christmas eve so that they could review it over egg nog and candy canes. He then bribed retiring and defeated legislators into voting for it with pension padding jobs.

That's the real Jon Corzine. No transparency. Secret plans rammed through with legal bribes and no discussion. That type of "leadership" got him fired at Goldman Sachs and it should get him fired as Governor of New Jersey.

What concerns me about Corzine is not so much what he didn't accomplish during his first term. I'm concerned about what he will try to sneak/ram through during a second term.

The Coming Monmouth County Shuffle

If Kim Guadagno is elected Lieutenant Governor, and Dave Rible is appointed Sheriff by Governor Christie, as Wally Edge speculates would happen, the 11th district GOP county committee members would select Rible's replacement in the Assembly. The new Assembly person would compete in special election next November. This assumes Rible is re-elected this November. Does anyone know who is running against him?

Highlands Mayor, former Freeholder Anna Little would be a serious contender for Rible's seat in the Assembly. Other contenders could be Neptune City Mayor Thomas Arnone, West Long Branch Mayor Janet Tucci, and Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace.

Legislative districts will be redrawn after the 2010 census, with new boundries to be effective for the 2011 Assembly election. It would not be unthinkable for Highlands and Atantic Highlands to become part of what is now the 13th district. Geographically it would make sense, as both boroughs border Middletown and are considered part of the Bayshore.

If Highlands became part of the 13th and Little wanted to compete for an Assembly seat, she would have to hope for the retirement of Sam Thompson, in which case she might face competition from Freeholder Rob Clifton, Middletown Deputy Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger and Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza. If Senator Joe Kyrillos were to take a cabinet position in the Christie Administration or run for U.S. Senate, Assemblywoman Amy Handlin would likely move up to the Senate, leaving two Assembly seats open.

One thing you can count on..the moving and shaking has already begun and the Monmouth County Finance Gala, coming up on August 6th, just two weeks from Thursday, just became a whole lot more important for Legislator wannabees to attend.

The 11th Legislative District is comprised of the following municipalities:

Allenhurst Borough, Asbury Park City, Atlantic Highlands Borough, Avon-by-the-Sea Borough, Belmar Borough, Bradley Beach Borough, Brielle Borough, Deal Borough, Eatontown Borough, Highlands Borough, Interlaken Borough, Lake Como Borough, Loch Arbour Village, Long Branch City, Monmouth Beach Borough, Neptune City Borough, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Rumson Borough, Sea Bright Borough, Sea Girt Borough, Spring Lake Borough, Spring Lake Heights Borough, Wall Township, West Long Branch Borough

NJ Candidate Chris Christie Selects Sheriff for Lt. Governor Spot

By Tommy DeSeno

Photo: Paul Booth/Coaster

Asbury Park, NJ. New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. attorney Chris Christie doubled down on the corruption and crime-fighting plank of his campaign platform today by selecting Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno to run with him as Lt. Governor.

This year’s race for New Jersey governor is being closely monitored on a national level, with RNC Chairman Michael Steele often mentioning the race and Newt Gingrich at this year’s CPAC convention calling the race, “One of the most important elections in American history.”

Christie made the announcement this morning on Facebook and Twitter. As to the digital only press release, Christie noted that while he never used those networking sites before he ran for governor, he has used Facebook and Twitter throughout his campaign and said, “I like them” and promised to continue using them.

Guadagno has been Sheriff of Monmouth County since 2007, before that serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney as well as a New Jersey Assistant Attorney General. She is married to Superior Court Judge Michael Guadagno, who serves in the Family Division in Ocean County.

Consistent with campaign speeches she made as Sheriff, Guadagno identifies herself as a battler, opening her remarks by telling the crowd, “I’ve been in a fight. I’ve been in a lot of fights,” then turning to Christie and promising, “I know you’ve not shied away from a fight, and I know I won’t shy away from a fight.”

The live announcement having taken place in Asbury Park was fraught with symbolism, as the two former crime fighters used as a background this fledgling city on the Atlantic Ocean that has been a notorious hub for violent crime and public corruption for decades. Both Christie and Guadagno concentrated their efforts as prosecutors on bringing down corrupt public officials, including some here.

Promising to bring corruption busting to the Statehouse, Guadagno asked the crowd, “What do you think the politicians are going to think in Trenton when two former corruption attorneys are leading them?”

In response to questions and perhaps anticipating criticism from the Corzine campaign that selecting another prosecutor adds nothing new to the Republican ticket, when asked what issue she wanted to tackle above all others, Guadagno gave a two word answer: “Property taxes.”

Guadagno pushed the economic theme during her remarks: “You walk down the boardwalk and talk to people and I bet you people will tell you they have had conversations with friends and family members about leaving this state.” She said, “People can no longer afford to live here. Back when I moved here it was affordable.”
She noted that while she chose to live in New Jersey 20 years ago, she fears that if the state continues its current economic road that her three sons my have to leave New Jersey for economic opportunities elsewhere.

In a personal moment of reflection about being Sheriff in a bad economy, Guadagno lamented, “I’ve foreclosed on the homes of my friends. I’ve foreclosed on the homes of my children’s friends. Shame on Jon Corzine for not stopping this.”

Both Christie and Guadagno spoke of making tough decisions they claim the Corzine administration refuses to make, with Guadagno reminding the crowd she made the decision of laying off employees at the Sheriff’s Department due to the economy.

One issue where Christie and Guadagno split is on abortion, with Christie identifying himself as Pro-Life and Guadagno as Pro-Choice. To find common ground with her running mate Guadagno promised to work to “reduce the number of abortions in New Jersey.”

While Christie indicated that Guadagno would be his partner on all state decisions, he conceded that the role of Lt. Governor is ill defined by the legislature. In fact, Lt. Governor is a brand new post in New Jersey, having been created by Constitutional Amendment in 2005, with the first election for the position being this November.

On hand for the announcement was New Jersey Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R, Monmouth), who has a bill pending that further defines the role of Lt. Governor.

O’Scanlon noted that right now the Lt. Governor position is not subject to various campaign finance disclosure laws, and it is unclear how the office will be budgeted. He promises his bill will clarify those issues along with the Lt. Governor’s salary. “My fear is if we don’t pass this bill then the Democrats, if they win, will use the Lt. Governor’s office to create another sprawling bureaucracy with patronage positions. I want to put a stop to that before it begins.”

Democrat Governor Jon Corzine has until Monday to make his Lt. Governor selection.

Christie Nominates Kim Guadagno For LG

Today, Chris Christie announced Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno as his running mate and Lieutenant Governor candidate. The official announcement was made by video via Christie's social networking sites.

In the video Christie said, "Times are tough and the issues are too serious not to be tackling our state's problems head on. We just cannot afford to do it any other way. That's why you'll see Kim and I all across the state of New Jersey whether it's on their front porches or in diners, talking directly to you, the people of New Jersey about your problems and your concerns."

Guadagno said, "As a Federal Prosecutor and later as the Monmouth County Sheriff, I had to make tough decisions. This is the time in New Jersey's history where we have to make tough decisions, Chris. I am proud to be a part of your team because I know you will face those challenges head on."

Feds Probing McGreevey and Codey Roles In Encap

The Record is reporting that federal investigators have subpoenaed the governor's office for more than six years of documents, records and e-mails related to the failed EnCap golf and housing project that was proposed to be built atop Meadowlands landfills.

The subpoena covers September 1999 to Jan. 16, 2006 — from the time EnCap Golf Holdings was chosen by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission to develop in the area until just after the state finalized a set of favorable low-interest and no-interest loans for the project. January 16, 2006 was the day before Jon Corzine was sworn in as governor.

Hat tips to The Linden Forum and Bob Ingle for bringing this story to our attention.

Bateman May Challenge Chris Smith

Alan Bateman, former Deputy Mayor of Holmdel and 12th District Congressional candidate last year, told Politickernj that he is considering mounting a primary challenge to 4th District GOP Congressman Chris Smith, rather than seek the 2010 GOP nomination to challenge Rush Holt in CD 12.

Bateman's Holmdel home has been on the market for six months and he wants to move into the 4th district, according to the Politickernj article.

Bateman said that Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre's candidacy for that CD 12 nod "has no impact on his decision."

Halfacre will be appearing on WOR-TV's on Sunday July 19, noon, to discuss the gubernatorial race, Obama's visit and speculation over LG candidates.

Great Speech Mr. President

No, not the one in Holmdel. Even Jon Corzine could tell the President's heart wasn't in that one. If we believed the words the President delivered in Holmdel, we might think he was modeling his presidency after Jon Corzine's governorship. Some of his policies, like cap and trade and his health care plan are dumber than Corzine's 800% toll hike scheme, but I still don't think he is trying to model himself after Corzine, or hopes that the American economy is like the New Jersey economy in last months of his term.

The speech President Obama delivered yesterday I really liked was the one delivered in New York at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the NAACP:

Obama tells NAACP more yet to do on civil rights
By PHILIP ELLIOTT (AP) –

NEW YORK — Saying that civil rights leaders from decades past paved the way for his election as the nation's first black commander in chief, President Barack Obama paid homage to the NAACP and advised members that their work remains unfinished.

Obama traced his historic rise to power to the vigor and valor of black civil rights leaders, telling the nation's oldest civil rights organization Thursday night that their sacrifice "began the journey that has led me here." He also prodded them to look beyond simply African-American rights as the group celebrated its 100th convention.

"Make no mistake: The pain of discrimination is still felt in America," the president told the friendly audience that erupted in standing applause and the occasional "Amen" during his remarks.

Rousing his audience, Obama offered his most direct speech on race since winning the White House, a mix of personal reflection and policy promotion. He had worked on the address for about two weeks and revised it until shortly before he spoke, his aides said, underscoring the importance of his message and his audience.

Implicit in his appearance was that he is seeking the backing of the powerful NAACP and its members for his ambitious domestic agenda. He also is careful not to forget a groundswell of black voters who reshaped the electoral map, although they didn't singularly deliver him to the White House.

Painting himself as the beneficiary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's work, Obama cited historical figures from W.E.B. DuBois to Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr. to Emmet Till to explain how the path to the presidency was cleared by visionaries.

Despite the racial progress exemplified by his own election, Obama said African-Americans must overcome a disproportionate share of struggles, including being more likely to suffer from many diseases and having a higher proportion of children end up in jail.

"They're very different from the barriers faced by earlier generations. They're very different from the ones faced when fire hoses and dogs were being turned on young marchers," Obama said. "But what's required to overcome today's barriers is the same as what was needed then. The same commitment. The same sense of urgency."

Obama expanded his message of equal rights beyond the black communities. He said many Americans still face discrimination and suggested the NAACP — looking to declare a mission for its second century — might embrace a broader mandate in coming years.

Obama's remarks, steeped in his personal biography as the son of a white mother from Kansas and black father from Kenya, challenged the audience — those in the room and those beyond — to take greater responsibility for their own future.

He urged parents to take a more active role, residents to pay better attention to their schools and students to aspire beyond basketball stars and rappers.

"I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers," Obama said. "I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court justice. I want them aspiring to be president of the United States."

With that line, Obama drove the hotel ballroom audience to its feet.

Throughout his comments, Obama sought a balance, contending that the government must foster equality but individuals must take charge of their own lives. It was reminiscent of earlier Obama speeches, calling on fathers to help their children and adopting a tone that at times seemed drawn from the pulpit.

"We have to say to our children, `Yes, if you're African-American, the odds of growing up amid crime and gangs are higher. Yes, if you live in a poor neighborhood, you will face challenges that somebody in a wealthy suburb does not have to face," Obama said, returning to his tough-love message familiar from his two-year presidential campaign.

"But that's not a reason to get bad grades, that's not a reason to cut class, that's not a reason to give up on your education and drop out of school. No one has written your destiny for you. Your destiny is in your hands."

Today, Obama said, it is not prejudice or discrimination that presents the greatest obstacles for blacks, but rather structural inequities_ in areas such as education and health care. Still, he said discrimination persists — and not just for blacks — and chided those who may contend otherwise.

Today is the first anniversary of FoxNews breaking the story of the Reverend Jesse Jackson referring to candidate Obama as a nigger and threatening to cut his nuts off, because Obama delivered a similar message to the one above on the campaign trail.

Today is also the first anniversary of me reacting to Jackson's words in a provocative manner of my own which prompted a local newspaper and the Middletown Democrats to try and smear me, and friends of mine by association, as racists, for their own political purposes. It didn't work. That paper is now gone and the Middletown Democrats are almost gone.

Obama Voters For Christie

Christie Welcomes President Obama

Kyrillos: The High Cost of Corzine’s Neglect of Economic Development

New Jersey Unemployment Surges to 9.2%

Senator Joseph Kyrillos, senior Republican on the Senate Economic Growth Committee, said today’s report that New Jersey’s unemployment rate surged to 9.2 percent in June shows the state is paying a terrible price for Trenton’s inexcusable neglect of economic development over the last eight years. In addition to having the highest unemployment rate in the region, Kyrillos noted that New Jersey led the nation in new jobless claims during the week of June 27.

“Increasingly grim reports show the painful consequences of eight years of leaders who have deliberately turned their backs on the businesses that create jobs,” Kyrillos said. “New Jersey’s unemployment rate continues to be far higher than any neighboring state’s because Trenton enacted policy after policy that discouraged private sector job creation.”

Unemployment was well above 10 percent in numerous New Jersey cities during the first quarter including Atlantic City (14%), Trenton (18%), and Newark (13%), Kyrillos noted with sadness.

“Residents of our urban areas pay the highest price in suffering for the governor’s neglect of economic development,” Kyrillos said. “This Legislature should be in session today debating economic development measures that will start to bring jobs to our state’s cities.

“Governor Corzine should start the session by calling for the repeal of excessive business taxes and apologizing for the state’s clumsy mismanagement of economic development efforts during his administration,” Senator Kyrillos said.

RGA Launches New Television Ad

The Republican Governors Association launched a new television advertisement today explaining why Jon Corzine is attacking Chris Christie. The ad also highlights that despite his 2005 campaign promises to the contrary, Corzine has raised taxes by billions of dollars. Unemployment is also up 73 percent since he became governor.



“New Jersey can’t trust Jon Corzine. He promised to cut taxes and bring jobs to New Jersey, but he’s done exactly the opposite,” said RGA communications director Mike Schrimpf. “Now, Corzine knows he can’t defend his own record, so he’s falsely attacking Chris Christie. You need to watch what Corzine does, not what he says.”

The facts:

* During the 2005 campaign, Corzine said “I believe in cutting property taxes” and “not higher taxes.”

* Jon Corzine raised taxes by nearly $1.9 billion in his very first budget and recently signed a state budget that hikes taxes by nearly another $1 billion.

* When Corzine took office unemployment was at 4.8 percent. By March 2009, unemployment had climbed to 8.3 percent.

* The Tax Foundation found that New Jersey has the worst business climate in the nation.

Lonegan Wins "Shut Up And Sit Down" Award

By Dan Gallic

Back when I was blogging on a regular basis for a number of conservative blogs I wrote a weekly feature titled, “Sit down and shut up!”. This article was dedicated to the person or organization that was creating trouble for the sole purpose of garnering attention for themselves.


I am duty-bound, by reason of my participation in today's civil society and a proud member of the Republican party, to write another “Sit down and shut up!” column dedicated to Steve Lonegan's ridiculous letter and press release issued yesterday which asked for, … well no, actually demanding the passage of a resolution at the Republican State Committee.


Now, I will be the first one to say that the Republican State Committee, along with it's leadership, has lacked any formal reason and was more a rubber stamp for the establishment's idiotic moves than anything else in the past, but the recent State Committee has a number of new energetic new members, even a couple who worship Steve Lonegan, that might make the organization one of substance.


At their first meeting two committee members, the one's who worship Steve, offered a resolution that tied the NJGOP platform to the national one. Well, according to the rules governing most meetings, a meeting is convened, it's called into action, business is done and in the midst of business being done a member of the group may call for a motion and if the motion is seconded it is debated and voted upon.

Well, that's where the story gets stupid. NJGOP's attorney decided that motion was invalid due to some silliness and squashed the motion. OK.. OK... I can here the Lonegan people screaming at me from here. The attorney was Mark Sheridan, yes, the same Mark Sheridan the argued for the Estabrook/Unanue/Zimmer candidacy was valid in last year's US Senate primary. Guess what people, the guy was paid to argue hypocrisy and he prevailed. Now he's being asked to argue silliness and he is arguing silliness, as he is paid to do.

These events happened nearly a month ago. At the same meeting the new chair of the New Jersey Republicans was installed, the Christy-chosen conservative extraordinaire Assemblyman Jay Webber. Shouldn't the Lonegan lovers be happy? Or at least content for five minutes? Lonegan's answer was a resounding “NO!”.

Yesterday's Lonegan letter, condemning the NJGOP for not acting on this motion and condemning Mark Sheridan for not following Roberts Rules of Order, was a selfish act perpetrated by the loser in the New Jersey Republican primary. It reinforced one thing, Lonegan is a loser.

There is NOTHING to gain, but attention for one's self, by making this issue a grandiose flutter of useless motion. Such actions are usually saved for important causes or issues that move the ball forward for a particular candidate. This is not the case here.

All Steve did was throw down a gauntlet to the state committee demanding this impotent resolution be passed. The state committee now has two ways to act, they either pass it and bend to a loser's demands or reject it, either by not bringing it up or voting it down, and thus Steve has an issue in which to attack them. Although attacking an organization that the general public has no idea exists is a strange way to lobby for passage of a motion.

Steve's letter is not about principled action or righteous indignation on the part of conservatives. It is about Steve Lonegan, and his ill-advising advisor Rick Shaftan, requiring attention at a time when the attention should be given to the positive message that Chris Christie is delivering in stark contrast to tax-raising, big government, debt-incurring Jon “I never say a liberal spending idea I didn't like” Corzine.

If Steve Lonegan was truly interested in becoming a great part of the Republican party he would be standing next to the NJGOP and throw darts at Jonny-boy Corzine on Christie's behalf. Instead he offers more of the same and for that reason Steve Lonegan is honored to be this week's “Sit down and shut up!” honoree.

Quinnipiac: Christie Up By 12% Head To Head With Corzine, 9% With Daggett Considered

Obama Approval At 60 Percent Among Likely Voters

A Quinnipiac Poll released this morning shows GOP gubernatorial nominee leading Jon Corzine 53 - 41 among likely voters in the New Jersey Governor's race. In a three way race with independent candidate Christopher Daggett, Christe leads 47-38, with 8 for Daggett.

In the two-way face-off, Corzine leads 76 - 19 percent among Democratic likely voters, while Christie leads 89 - 7 percent among Republicans and 64 - 28 percent among independent voters. This is a jump from Christie's 56 - 32 percent lead among independent voters June 10.


In a three-way race, Daggett gets 13 percent of independent voters, with 54 percent for Christie and 24 percent for Corzine.

In other news, the Asbury Park Press is quoting a "high ranking state Democratic official" as confirming that The Apprentice, Randal Pickett, will be Corzine's running mate. An official announcement will coincide with President Obama's visit to Holmdel for a rally to support Corzine on Thursday.

Why Principle Matters

By Steve Lonegan

Since the Primary Election, loyal Republicans have been baffled by the behavior of the GOP establishment in New Jersey. First, operatives in the campaign of our nominee for Governor, Chris Christie, monkeyed around with the social issues page on his website, gaining the attention of the media before resolving what they caused.

Then, at the meeting of the Republican State Committee – the men and women elected from each county to formulate and advance the party’s principles – the party leadership blocked a move to formally adopt the platform of the national Republican Party, as well as blocking a resolution condemning Governor Corzine’s tax hikes. At least one major newspaper, the Star-Ledger, linked the leadership’s refusal to adopt our Party’s platform to the fact it contains Pro-Life and Pro-Traditional Marriage planks.

The impact of not adopting the platform – a set of principles to guide the party and its elected officials – would soon manifest itself. Just days later, Tom Keen Jr., the Republican leader in the New Jersey State Senate, led a small group of Republicans in voting with liberal Democrats in support of the life-time confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin to the state’s highest court.

Albin has been the state’s most liberal activist judge, authoring the radical Lewis vs. Harris decision in support of civil unions—a decision that drastically alters the meaning of marriage and changes the course of our culture without voter input. Albin is the architect of the left wing social engineering scheme known as COAH and the failed Abbott education funding mandates that have given New Jersey the highest property taxes in America. The action of these Republicans was a slap in the face to their own nominee for Governor, who has promised to appoint “conservative judges who will uphold the Constitution”.

That same day, Senate Republican Leader Kean and his allies would rise alongside Jon Corzine to support another liberal scheme – the bonding of $400 million for “open space”. No one opposes open space, but at a time when the state’s debt has reached crushing levels more debt simply isn’t rational. Lacking any platform, Republicans like Senator Kean have left themselves increasingly vulnerable to emotional, feel-good appeals.

Meanwhile, over at the Assembly, Republican Leader Alex DeCroce lobbied to pass a destructive COAH bill. This legislation gives central planners in Trenton the power to override local mayors and councils and planning boards, forcing them to convert projects approved as “over-aged-55 housing” to open housing as long as there is a 20% low income housing component. This bill shifts power to Trenton bureaucrats and developers’ lobbyists. Republicans should be united behind defending home rule, but instead, without a guiding set of principles, they are lost.

But just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, along comes the vote on the largest tax increase in America’s history -- Barack Obama’s “Cap & Trade” scheme.

Only ten days after the failure of the New Jersey Republican State Committee to adopt the platform of the Republican Party, this tragic bill passed the House of Representatives by a narrow 219 to 212, with eight Republicans joining 211 Democrats. Our state had the dubious distinction of seeing three of those prosperity destroying votes cast by New Jersey Republican Congressmen Leonard Lance, Frank LoBiondo, and Chris Smith. No other state in America saw so many Republicans vote with President Obama and the Democrats. In New Jersey, three of our five Republican congressmen did.

To make matters worse, the Atlantic County Republican Committee sent out a release attacki ng those Republicans in Congress who stood up for taxpayers and came close to stopping President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and their destructive legislation. But it should come as no surprise that in a state where Republican leaders refuse to adopt Republican principles there is no semblance of principled leadership.

The question that haunts many of us is, “Why?”

To understand how we got here, we need to look at who controls the levers of power within the GOP establishment in New Jersey. For the most part, it’s not the elected officials. In New Jersey, most elected officials are part-timers. You must look behind the Republican “leader” – to the permanent bureaucracy who runs our legislative caucuses.

The players in this bureaucracy slide through a revolving door that takes them from legislative staffer, to lobbyist, to holder of government contracts or appointments, and then back in time to secure a fat taxpayer-funded pension. These are the hollow men who are there when a freshmen legislator arrives in Trenton – and remain twenty years after he’s gone.

Only our party – the Republican Party – can bring change to Trenton. The Democrats cannot bring the fiscal responsibility New Jersey needs. They are captive of their own base vote – of public employee unions and those dependent on government. They dare not risk their contract with these constituencies.

Republicans have a base vote who wants fiscal change. It is the hollow men who reject it, and they do so for the simple reason that it is in their financial interests to maintain the status quo. At the back of every seemingly inexplicable betrayal by a GOP “leader” sits a close personal advisor with his own personal reasons. And in a state GOP without principles – that fails to adopt its own party platform – this kind of venal corruption is rampant.

That’s why it is so important for the New Jersey Republican State Committee to take a principled stand, adopt the party platform, and then use those principles when the hollow men come round with their personal agendas.

Letters from State Committee officials Rob Eichmann and Donna Ward:

LETTER 1

Hon. Jay Webber,
Chairman
New Jersey Republican State Committee
150 W State St # 230
Trenton, NJ 08608-1105

By Certified Mail and Electronic Mail

Dear Chairman Webber:

First, please allow us to offer our sincere congratulations on your election, by the Republican State Committee, as its new Chairman. We hope that the Committee is open to all points of view in the Republican family, and that it conducts itself as a model of open administration and transparency.

The meeting that was held on Wednesday, June 17th, was our first as elected members of the State Committee, but we came away from it with some concerns. At this meeting, there were a number of motions made from the floor and acted upon by the Committee. These motions involved nominations for officers and adopting the minutes from the last meeting (September 11, 2008).

After the nominations were made and officers selected, one of us – State Committeeman Rob Eichmann – made a motion from the floor to have the New Jersey Republican State Committee adopt the platform of the Republican National Committee (RNC). We had read that the New Jersey GOP was one of just two State Committees that hadn’t got around to doing so and we wanted to provide our State Committee with the opportunity to correct this oversight.

The State Committee’s legal counsel was called to the podium and he stated that the outgoing State Committee had already done this. He is misinformed. A review of the minutes suggests that the past Committee never even discussed, much less voted on, any similar motion.

When the legal counsel was asked if he was sure of what he had just said, he indicated that he was not, but then changed tactics and said it didn’t matter because the Committee needed fifteen (15) days notice for the motion.

When asked to cite a source for this ruling, he claimed that it is stated in the by-laws of the New Jersey Republican State Committee. A review of those by-laws suggests that this is also not true.

After this exchange, another of us – State Committeewoman Donna Ward – made a motion to pass a resolution condemning Democrat Governor Jon Corzine’s budget, its confiscatory tax hikes, and woefully inadequate spending cuts. Once again, the legal counsel claimed that this motion needed fifteen (15) days notice according to the by-laws.

It appears to us and to other members of the Republican Party that the legal counsel deliberately misled those in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting of the New Jersey Republican State Committee. Just as important is the question, “Why?”

We understand from individuals conversant with the ways of State Committee – including a former GOP State Chairman – that the legal counsel involved, a Mr. Mark Sheridan, is a kind of failsafe for the GOP establishment. We understand why such a person would hold a position like that, but we don’t understand why that person – or the establishment he works for – would oppose a resolution embracing the platform of the national Republican Party.

Failing to adopt this resolution is tantamount to saying that the New Jersey GOP really isn’t Republican at all. That it is just borrowing the name for convenience – while passively rejecting the values and policies of the Republican Party. If that is the case, maybe someone should just have the honesty to tell us so. If not, then the State Committee should waste no time in adopting this resolution.

Adding to our concern is the failure of the State Committee to adopt the second resolution, condemning the Corzine budget and tax increases. Is this a controversial issue within the New Jersey GOP? Don’t we oppose the fiscal policies of Governor Corzine? We think the State Committee should quickly clear-up the confusion caused at last Wednesday’s meeting by passing said resolution.

Accordingly, we think it would be prudent of you to call a new meeting of the New Jersey Republican State Committee within the next two weeks to adopt the two resolutions proposed at last Wednesday’s meeting. The mixed messages and confusion that came out of that meeting will only serve to undermine the efforts of our Party and its nominees.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Hard Copy Signed By:

Donna Ward and Rob Eichmann
Elected Republican State Committee Members


CC: RNC Chairman Michael Steele
RNC Platform Committeeman Keith Davis
RNC Platform Committeewoman Alison Littell McHose

LETTER 2

Hon. Jay Webber,
Chairman
New Jersey Republican State Committee
150 W State St # 230
Trenton, NJ 08608-1105

By Certified Mail and Electronic Mail

June 29, 2009

Dear Chairman Webber:

We appreciate your acknowledgement of our June 22nd letter. Like many Republicans in New Jersey we were excited that for the first time in many years there was an individual (you) who could articulate Republican principles to the citizens of New Jersey, and would do so.

We are, however, extremely disappointed that you have permitted an employee of State Committee, the legal counsel, to correspond with us rather than providing your own thoughts on the issue. You are the chairman and with all due respect, you should be taking the lead on this issue.

We will grant you that that is your choice to make. We will not, however, sit idly by while our party continues to operate in a state of impotence. In the three pages it took to respond to our letter, your counsel never got around to addressing our simple request for a meeting to allow the state committee to vote on the two issues that were summarily dismissed by him at the June 17th meeting. These are: (1) a motion to have the New Jersey Republican State Committee support the platform of the Republican National Committee (RNC); and (2) a motion condemning Democrat Governor Jon Corzine’s budget and its confiscatory tax hikes.

As Republicans, we are flabbergasted that we do not support the RNC platform. As Republicans, we are befuddled as to why we would not condemn Jon Corzine’s budget, tax hikes, and woefully inadequate spending cuts.

We welcome your leadership to deliver us from a party of irrelevance to a party that can win elections, and return our state to one of prosperity. That prosperity we long for must start with articulating certain principles.

Both of us made motions on June 17th to address these principles, and were summarily dismissed as if we were the enemy. In his letter to us, your counsel admitted that the by-laws do not relate to the specific language he cited in dismissing our motions on June 17th – namely, that a motion requires 15 days advance notice. Adopting an activist interpretation of the by-laws, your counsel admitted that he was applying the written rules covering the section that reads “Amendments” to motions from the floor. When the lawyers get involved it would appear that it is a case of avoiding making a difficult decision because someone wants something else to be the case.

We have several questions following the response we received from the committee counsel.

First and foremost, where in the by-laws does it state that a motion needs 15 days advance notice? In an effort to make this easy on our counsel, we are not talking about amending the Party constitution or by-laws, just a simple motion, you know, like condemning Jon Corzine’s budget, or supporting the RNC platform. (Hint, last paragraph of Article VIII (Which doesn’t appear on our website) states quite emphatically: Roberts’ Revised Rules of Order shall be the official parliamentary guide of the State Committee in all matters not covered by the provisions of this Constitution and By-Laws.

We have additional questions as well. When were the by-laws adopted for our committee? We don’t remember any motions regarding them at our meeting. Under Roberts Rules of Order, shouldn’t the by-laws be adopted at each reorganization?

When was our counsel hired? Again, we realize you have the authority to appoint counsel, but we don’t remember any discussion regarding counsel’s appointment. Don’t you think, just as a matter of courtesy it would have been appropriate to let the committee know of your decision or at least discuss it with the committee?

Which by-law specifically states that we cannot, by motion from the floor, vote on either of these items? Why wouldn’t we want to vote on either of these items? Are we not Republicans?

When will you call a meeting to vote on these two issues? Why wasn’t this addressed by your counsel? Does the Republican State Committee, for some reason, fear bringing a motion to the floor to condemn Jon Corzine’s budget in its entirety? Why does the Republican State Committee not want to call ourselves Republican, and support the platform of the Republican National Committee?

You have an opportunity to exhibit leadership, leadership that has been missing for quite some time. We urge you to do so. We urge you to do so publicly, quickly, without reservation, and without conditions.

The balance of your counsel’s letter was accusatory and threatening. We were surprised at its defensive tone. We believe that the State Committee counsel’s assertion that we are trying to gain political points is absurd on its face. We want Republicans, first and foremost the New Jersey Republican State Committee, to proudly and loudly proclaim that we are Republicans! What better way to do that than act on a motion to support the RNC Platform! We want anyone and everyone to know that we unequivocally oppose Jon Corzine’s budget! Why would a vote on a motion condemning that be out of order?

Mr. Chairman, our party faces a long climb back. It must start with your leadership and with the committee voting on the RNC platform, and being very clear on where we stand on anything Corzine proposes as far as a budget.

We were elected to help you, Mr. Chairman, and all of us across the state restore some semblance of sanity to our electoral process and healthy debate over what our government should and should not be able to do.

We submit that your leadership is critical to accomplishing this, and absent your leadership we, as a party, will once again be relegated to an irrelevant sideshow. Our impotence has gone on for far too long, and any attempt to hide behind by-laws that don’t exist will only prolong our agony.

We asked in our last letter that you would call for another meeting so that we could address these concerns and vote on these motions. We find it quite telling, and disconcerting, that in counsel’s response, on your behalf, that we never got an answer to when the meeting would be.

The leadership that is so needed has been lacking for far too long. It is why we are impotent. We, as a party, as are the citizens of New Jersey, are angry. We will no longer accept the status quo. We will no longer accept Republican Party leadership that is unresponsive to us, and is unwilling to stand up and articulate a message against big government, big spenders, and confiscatory tax collectors. Both of us enjoyed meeting you on the evening of the 17th and are confident in your ability to provide the leadership needed.

You are lauded as the new face of the party, a conservative who can lead. We urge you to lead the committee in voting for the RNC platform and in opposing anything Corzine proposes as far as a budget.

We look forward to your response to the specific questions posed, and to how quickly you can get a meeting called in order to allow us to show our support for the RNC and opposition to Jon Corzine.


Sincerely,

Hard Copy Signed By:

Donna Ward a nd Rob Eichmann
Elected Republican State Committee Members


CC: RNC Chairman Michael Steele
RNC Platform Committeeman Keith Davis
RNC Platform Committeewoman Alison Littell McHose