Happy 6th Birthday, Blue Jersey

Happy Birthday Blue Jersey (4.00 / 3)

Thanks for reminding us of this birthday! It is no small feat to keep a blog going, to grow it, to develop a community, and to make it have wide influence.  For you newer folks, Rosi provides the inspiration and perspiration that makes it all possible.  

"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 @ Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 23:44:20 PM UTC

Right back at you, Bill. (4.00 / 1)

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:28:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Proud to have been a part of this n/t (4.00 / 2)

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by: Jason Springer @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 00:38:14 AM UTC

Thanks! (0.00 / 0)

Thanks Jason - Blue Jersey User #7.  

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:27:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

User #3 here (4.00 / 2)

I am so very proud to have seen Blue Jersey grow by leaps and bounds in the last 6 years. This is a wonderful site and a great community for New Jersey progressives. Here's to 6 - no, 60 - more!  

"We are the leaders we've been waiting for." - Paul Wellstone

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by: Stephen Yellin @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 00:54:13 AM UTC

All hail #3! (0.00 / 0)

Stephen is indeed Blue Jersey's User #3.  

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:26:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you to everyone (4.00 / 2)

Real life has been interfering with my blogging lately, but have truly enjoyed engaging with the writers and the readers of this site.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:05:45 AM UTC

Right back at you, Hopeful. (4.00 / 1)

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:29:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

And since she can't say it herself (4.00 / 5)

Major, serious, enormous kudos to Rosi, whose stewardship of Juan's creation has contributed immeasurably to the progressive community in NJ and beyond. Where would we be without RE?

"We do not consider patriotism desirable if it contradicts civilized behavior." - Friedrich Durrenmatt

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by: KendalJames @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:20:18 AM UTC

Aw, shucks. (0.00 / 0)

Gee, you're swell.  :-)

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:30:55 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amen! (4.00 / 5)

Rosi is the center of what we do here. Many, many thanks to her for her stewardship of the site.

I am proud:

- To be a Democrat.

- To be a teacher.

- To be a union member.

- To write for Blue Jersey!

http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com

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by: Jersey Jazzman @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:22:34 AM UTC

Booyah! (0.00 / 0)

Thanks, Jazz.

Thanks for everything. Everything, everything.


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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:36:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Happy Birthday, Blue Jersey! (4.00 / 3)

I've been around for a long time, too.  And I need to join the Rosi chorus.  She will demure about her role, but her tireless work and progressive voice are the main reasons this blog is so successful.

Love ya, Rosi!!

--Linda

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by: the pollster @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:55:23 AM UTC

Not hardly. (0.00 / 0)

But thanks. :-)

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 03:42:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You callin' me a liar? n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: the pollster @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 13:28:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Um, no. (0.00 / 0)

:-)

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 13:51:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

When do we eat cake? (4.00 / 3)

Mmmm... birthday cake. :)

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by: Jeff Gardner @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 03:30:55 AM UTC

Okay, (0.00 / 0)

Jeff's in charge of cake.  

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 03:41:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

How about some Blue Velvet... (0.00 / 0)

...cake with green-colored cream cheese icing, since New Jersey is the Garden State.  You could get Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich Village to make cupcakes like this.

I know that Red Velvet cake is more common, but not really appropriate under the circumstances.  You could also watch the movie, Blue Velvet, while eating Blue Velvet cake.

I know that Magnolia is not in NJ per se, but it is close enough and there isn't a bakery in NJ that comes close to making anything as good as what they make.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 08:28:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yum. (0.00 / 0)

Think the Cake Boss will be pissed?  

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 10:43:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

F him if he can't take a joke (0.00 / 0)

Why should he?

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 21:30:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

how exciting (4.00 / 2)

i wonder if anyone else remembers their first diary?

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 10:44:55 AM UTC

my first diary (4.00 / 1)

and I was so intimidated too - even after all I had written previously elsewhere.

It was basically saying that I just moved to NJ-5 and wanted to help Retire Garrett.  August 2006.

Sadly, still trying to do that 5+ years later.....

happy birthday, Blue Jersey - and so many friends I've met along the way!

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 11:57:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

First diary, methinks (4.00 / 1)

This might have been my 1st - 50-State Strategy Kicks Ass in Flemington, NJ. I remember I got a call from somebody I knew at DNC that Howard Dean had printed it out and was walking around the 3rd floor showing it to people. Yeah, that didn't suck.

Now, years later, and all that amazing well-funded ground work has been channeled into ... OFA. Can't say DNC's recent path is inspiring.

(except maybe for this to which I still say Woo hoo!)

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 12:13:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

My first diary (4.00 / 2)

Is discrimination alive and well in Secaucus?, Jan 27, 2010 - a story which combined violence against two gay residents, a civil court judgment against the town, cronyism, the city council, Garden State Equality, and a measure of justice.

"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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 12:17:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

My first diary... (4.00 / 1)

...was the first of many to cause an uproar here.  Joe Tricarico was running for Congress as a Democrat in the 7th at the same time that the progressive buzz was revolving around Assemblywoman Linda Stender.

It was around this time that Howard Dean visited the state for the first time since becoming DNC Chairman.  Tricarico was able to get a photo taken at one of the events with Dean and posted it on his campaign website, which irritated me, since Stender had been one of the first elected officials in the state to endorse Dean when he was running for President.

I felt that posting the photo on the site was intellectually dishonest as Dean was not going to endorse anyone in a primary election, but had more of a historic bond with Stender than Tricarico.

Also, Tricarico was not known to be a particularly progressive Democrat, despite living in a red county (Somerset) where progressives often have more opportunities to run for office than they do in blue counties where machine loyalists tend to be favored.

We had just been through an election cycle with an annoyingly conservative Democrat running in CD7.  The last thing that I wanted was another one wasting our time.  I wanted the field cleared for Stender and was a little too aggressive with my rhetoric.

It would be my one and only diary as a front pager as Juan booted from the front page shortly thereafter and I have yet to be invited back since, probably for good reason.  I have no problem being a bomb-throwing gadfly out here in the cheap seats.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 21:51:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Happy birthday! (4.00 / 2)

I'm far too recent to Blue Jersey to have been present for its birth six years ago. But having joined because of the fight for marriage equality, I've stayed for the news, opinion, occasional humor and, yes, even some of the more outrageous comments. Thank you, Rosi and team, for making this the go-to site for people interested in what is going on in this state.

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by: Alex @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 12:07:40 PM UTC

What really drives marriage equality (4.00 / 1)

Thank you, Aegletes.

But what really drives marriage equality is the honesty and forthrightness of people in love who are simply family-minded. That's why there are so many straight people in New Jersey's marriage equality movement.

You can't resist it: Love's infectious.  

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 12:20:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Late To The Party ~ (4.00 / 2)

~ But Celebrating Right Along With You  

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by: johnleesandiego @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 12:54:20 PM UTC

Six years--wow! (4.00 / 2)

It's amazing how time flies when you're having fun.  (Or at my age, even when you're not.)

Rosi, you and the other regular bloggers have done and are continuing to do great things for NJ progressives and indeed for the whole state.  No doubt about it!

I wish I could contribute more but time, money, and health problems get in the way.  But I am still a faithful reader and appreciate what you do more than words can say!

Keep on keepin' on!

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."  (Teddy Roosevelt)

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by: DottieG @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 13:51:12 PM UTC

DottieG (0.00 / 0)

Thanks, from somebody who admires you a great deal.


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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 13:55:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Happy Birthday (4.00 / 2)

Blue Jersey!  

From member #963.

I've gone to other state blogs, and some are good. Of course I'm not biased, but I think BJ is topically the most exciting and intellectually/politically most rigorous blog I've been to.  (OK, there's Speedy, but what would we be without our trolls, and those who respond?)

I join the chorus.  Thanks to you, Rosi, and everyone else who worked so hard to get this blog started and thanks to everyone who has kept it going.

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by: SmartyJones @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 14:18:19 PM UTC

Smarty (0.00 / 0)

Some of our best tips come from you. That I remember. Thanks for that and everything else.  

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 14:35:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I miss Juan. (4.00 / 2)

Can't we get him back here once in a while?

#39


"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

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by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 19:12:09 PM UTC

Hoboken (0.00 / 0)

Well, you could move to Hoboken. He's the city's spokesman.

p.s. I miss Juan, too.  

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 @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 20:39:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Kudos to Rosi (4.00 / 1)

I'm late to the party, and I didn't know Juan when he was associated with BJ, but I have to recognize Rosi as the tireless backbone of this blog. As someone who has the desire and passion to write about politics, but no formal training other than a political science course at Rutgers over 40 years ago, two women have helped me hone whatever skills I have. First and foremost is my journalist wife, but close behind is Rosi who has encouraged me and taught me much about how NJ politics and the media interact. Thank you also to the other BJ writers who have helped me develop ideas. Keep up the good work.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 21:26:28 PM UTC

Happy 6th Birth Anniversary Blue Jersey (4.00 / 1)

Thank you all for breaking news and your backs to uncover the truth, provide solutions, and keep NJ Strong/Blue)!

Here's to Many Many more :-))

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by: Ed Potosnak @ Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 03:26:12 AM UTC

Happy Birthday! (4.00 / 1)

And many more!

Met some great people and great friends because of this site.  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 15:47:00 PM UTC