Full Senate to vote on Marriage Equality Thursday

WOOT! n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 13:14:50 PM CST

Finally! (0.00 / 0)

Thank you Senator Codey for seeing the light on this.

But now what do we do? How do we win the "civil unions-are-ok" people over?

And don't tell me just to show up for another statehouse rally.  

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by: njguy99 @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 13:21:57 PM CST

I'm not sure (0.00 / 0)

this is a good idea but obviously now all we can do is make an amazing showing in Trenton on Thursday. Hopefully Steven Goldstein and Garden State Equality know something we don't know about how the Senate votes are going to stack up.

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by: boomer @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 14:07:08 PM CST

It is a good idea, I say (4.00 / 2)

At this point I want everybody on the record.

At this point there are more citizens who have spoken on the record on this marriage equality bill, than have elected members of the legislature.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 14:59:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

it's now or never (4.00 / 1)

if we have the votes then just pass it already while Corzine is still in office. If we do not have the votes, then in 2011 when everyone in the statehouse faces election again-- we know where everyone stands.  And in districts like Sean Kean's and Jen Beck's if they vote no that's ammo for their opponents.

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

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by: tabbycat31 @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 15:48:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It's time for a VOTE! n/t (0.00 / 0)

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 14:36:24 PM CST

Also (0.00 / 0)

We should be promoting the heck out of this study from UCLA:

http://www.law.ucla.edu/willia...

"The report estimates that extending marriage to same-sex couples would boost the New Jersey economy by almost $200 million during the next three years, creating approximately 1,400 jobs and generating over $15 million in revenues for the state budget."

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by: njguy99 @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 15:02:16 PM CST

Nice statement from Roberts n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: Jeff Gardner @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 19:18:40 PM CST

Yes, it was. (0.00 / 0)

I still think the bill's chances in the Senate would be much greater if the Assembly had already passed the bill.

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by: princetonblue @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 19:46:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Roberts' statement (0.00 / 0)

All fired-up excellent statement on Joe Roberts' part.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 22:03:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

what was so nice about it? (1.50 / 2)

If he was such a strong supporter of marriage equality, he would have allowed the AJC to hold a hearing on Monday.

As nice as the rest of the statement might be to read, actions speak louder than words.  I understand why Jeff and Steven choose to be diplomatic during times like these, but I have to wonder how much crap they are going to take before they start dishing some out.

The next time that you complain, Jeff, about having to beg for your rights, remember all the times that you chose to kiss ass instead of kicking it.

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by: rachael'sdad @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 20:02:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

To your question, on Roberts' statement: (0.00 / 0)

There are some very decent people trying to work their way through to the right decision.

Let's not get in their way, please.

Roberts' statement was good because he's signaling support to fellow Assembly members that he still leads.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 22:08:31 PM CST

[ Parent ]

If they were decent,... (0.00 / 0)

...they would not need to work their way through to the right decision.

This is not abortion.  There is no unborn child to be concerned about.  This is not an issue where reasonable people can disagree.  This is about basic civil rights and the gentler you treat people who are struggling with this issue, most if not all of whom are struggling with it for political reasons rather than personal ones, the more likely they are to screw you over in the end.

Joe Roberts had the chance to be a leader a week ago.  Now, he is just trying to save face.

What is it going to take to make you realize that your carrots have been used up and the time has come to pull out the stick and use it?

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by: rachael'sdad @ Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 09:40:30 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Wingnut leaders issue threat to GOP moderates (0.00 / 0)

Check out this link to uberwingnut Michael Illions, the head doucheblogger over at "Crackpots With Agita", and his bold threat to any Republican State Senator who votes their conscience instead of the fear.

I'll bet Bill Baroni wets his pants when he reads this blog.

In all seriousness someone should sit down with Jen Beck, Sean Kean and other GOP fencesitters and show them this blog, look them straight in the face and ask them if they would rather vote for their conscience or their fear of Michael Illions, Rick Shaftan and Steve Lonegan.

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

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by: ken bank @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 20:02:10 PM CST

there should have been a petition drive in their districts (0.00 / 0)

Registered Democrats who support marriage equality should pledge to change their affiliation to Republican so that they can vote in the primary and support brave Republicans like Baroni.

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by: rachael'sdad @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 20:25:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm in Sean Kean's district (0.00 / 0)

and no way in hell I would ever change my registration to Republican.  His district has gone Democratic in the past (2008) and if he votes no on ME then it could light a fire under the GLBT community in places like Asbury Park and Ocean Grove to see him defeated.   (The same could be said for Beck and Red Bank)

I did tell him that as a lifelong Democrat, if he does the right thing and votes yes on the bill, he'd have my vote.

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

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by: tabbycat31 @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 20:30:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

he would need your vote in a primary (0.00 / 0)

I am only proposing this for Republicans who vote for marriage equality like Baroni.

If Kean were to vote yes, would you be willing to change your registration so that you could vote for him against whatever teabagger were to take him on?

If he were to lose that primary election, you would still be free to vote for whatever Democrat faced the teabagger in the general election.  Party affiliation only matters during primary elections.

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by: rachael'sdad @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 20:48:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I don't think there's enough teabaggers in the district (0.00 / 0)

though I could be wrong as I did witness Pallone's town hell meeting over the summer.  

Before this issue came up, the Republicans around here loved him.  Not sure if they'll flip or not, or if Kean has higher political ambitions as Beck does.  

Still I'd rather vote in the primary for whatever Democrat will challenge Kean.

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

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by: tabbycat31 @ Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 21:09:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

you don't get it (0.00 / 0)

There isn't much difference between the teabaggers and your average Republican primary voter.
Unlike Democrats, who have absolutely nothing to fear from voting the right way on marriage equality, moderate Republicans like Kean, Beck, et al actually have a long list of ambitious conservatives in their districts who would love to have the chance to challenge them in a primary and a conservative base of primary voters that could be easily mobilized by a Yes vote on marriage equality.

The only way to give these moderate Republicans the courage to vote the right way is to have a large number of registered Democrats and unaffiliateds who will pledge to register as Republicans and vote for them when they are challenged in the primary by a neanderthal teabagger.

This should not be a difficult promise for any pro-marriage equality Democrat or unaffiliated to make because in Republican-leaning districts like Kean's and Beck's, there are rarely contested primaries on the Democratic side.  If anything, the party has to work very hard to recruit candidates in these districts.

So why should Kean, Beck, et al stick their neck out and vote for marriage equality legislation if constituents like you would rather vote in an uncontested Democratic primary election than register as a Republican and give him some protection against the teabaggers.

This is Politics 101, people.  If we cannot get this right, we're not going to win anything.

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by: rachael'sdad @ Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 10:40:14 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm with you on this one, folks (0.00 / 0)

I have already called Nick Sacco's office as have many of my friends who also live in LD 32. I hope many others are doing likewise.

Keep the pressure on and keep fighting.

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by: J. Joseph Rivera @ Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 13:47:18 PM CST