Bret Schundler on notice

A lightning rod we do not need (4.00 / 1)

In a comment responding to Senator Weinberg's Monday diary, I had said, "Bret Schundler can be charming, articulate and give the appearance of reasonableness.  Underneath that appearance lies a web of abhorrent conservative social beliefs and scary educational policies.  In spite of our need for education reforms, I can only guess that his accession to Education Commissioner, working in tandem with Governor Christie, will lead to the Perfect Storm. Schundler is a lightning rod we do not need.  

She kindly responded to my post saying: "This afternoon the Judiciary Committee released Mr. Schundler for a full vote "without recommendation" which is a signal that the majority of the committee expressed some concern over his nomination.  His next step is a vote before the full Senate."  

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." - Sen. Ted Kennedy

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by: Bill Orr @ Tue Mar 02, 2010 at 19:59:44 PM UTC

Bret Schundler (does not equal) Howard Dean (0.00 / 0)

And then there's this.

Trying to deceive the voting citizenry is not exactly a great life lesson for the kiddies.  

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 Mar 02, 2010 at 20:29:44 PM UTC

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Senator Cardinale, Secretary Schundler - my gay lifestyle includes... (0.00 / 0)

1.   Griping about insufficent parking at Garden State Plaza
2.   Grinning with glee when neighborhood kids want to shovel out my driveway for 20 bucks
3.   Preparing my kitchen counters for Passover
4.   Being embarrassed by relatives in restaurants who return their food every single time
5.   Laughing at Joey Novick's jokes

What a radical lifestyle, dudes!

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by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair @ Tue Mar 02, 2010 at 22:51:32 PM UTC

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Does that mean that... (0.00 / 0)

...with the exception of laughing at Joey Novick's jokes (because nobody really laughs at Joey Novick's jokes - just kidding, Joey), the entire Orthodox communities of Englewood and Teaneck are gay?

If so, one would expect that they would have been more supportive of marriage equality.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Mar 02, 2010 at 23:50:56 PM UTC

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maybe she didn't want to get sucked into a war on religion (0.00 / 0)

Other senators, however, expressed more support.

"I'm looking forward to working with you," Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) said as she cast her vote.

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by: Winston Smith @ Tue Mar 02, 2010 at 22:45:19 PM UTC

I also said...... (0.00 / 0)

(something like cause I can't remember the exact words)...."I find it difficult to accept that you are just going to be an "implimenter"  without trying to influence educational philosophy with your own ideas....".let's hope that is true.  He was emphatic each time a question along these lines was posed.  He will be interesting to watch.  There's the legislature as a whole, the education committees in both the Senate and Assembly (Theresa Ruiz chairs in the Senate and Pat Diegnan in the Assembly), and the State Board of Education all of whom will keep their eyes on him.  There's certainly no guarantees here.  People are getting what they voted for in Christie.

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by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Wed Mar 03, 2010 at 03:37:28 AM UTC

A "progressive" state with Schundler for commissioner (4.00 / 1)

I'm often told how progressive New Jersey is. I think that's open to debate. But regardless of how progressive most New Jerseyans really are, it's remarkable that a state as well-educated and which is home to so many businesses in the scientific field can have such a benighted education commissioner, a man who is so backward in his thinking with respect to sexuality, evolution, etc. He will certainly be one to be watched very closely and I too am very skeptical that he is merely an "implementer." Besides, even if he were, let's remember that he would be implementing the policies of another social conservative, the governor. Elections have consequences and we'll have four years to ponder the consequences on education.

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by: Alex @ Wed Mar 03, 2010 at 12:18:04 PM UTC

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