Oury/Ferriero running an illegal partnership?

District Nine in the House? (4.00 / 5)

A four rating is a vote for Mr. Rothman to publicly state he is for honest and open government - and if that means Joe Ferriero can't get his support, then so be it.

And honestly - does anyone think the cult of personality that is Michael Wildes could possibly threaten Mr. Rothman?  Personally, I think Wildes is probably next on the Christie Inquisition list.

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by: Thurman Hart @ Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 00:00:15 AM UTC

There were a lot of players (4.00 / 1)

during this whole Primary.  Rothman showed courage at first in supporting Lautenberg - which was the right thing to do.

I would have been happy to share our column with either of them.  I also understand that after Rothman spoke up to support Lautenberg, he couldn't just jump off the line to the RBD line after sacrificing a lot just to keep Lautenberg there.  So I understand why he stayed on the BCDO line with Lautenberg. It is also why we had TWO choices for columns in the Primary - under Lautenberg and Rothman or Shulman, and then under RBD should Joe throw us off the line again - which he did.  

At that point - when Joe was trying to get rid of all dissent by using the old kick them off the line trick, Lautenberg and Rothman did not have to support the BCDO freeholder candidates - but they did.  Again, they shared the column with them so - by association, they supported them.

But when Rothman and Corzine and Codey actually spoke on Ferriero's Behalf - they tipped their hands.  

Lautenberg did not heartily endorse Joe.  Rothman did.  Corzine did.  Codey even made a robo-call - which did not escape the notice of ethics watchdogs.  THAT is where Rothman erred.  He endorsed a man who has done things HE witnessed that were not ethical.  He helped Lautenberg, but was that a calculated political move too, or the courageous stand it was seen as at the time?

Rothman needs to explain himself to actual progressive Democrats.   Like me.   Now, before the Independents and the Republicans do it for him in November.  

In this whole thing, the one who came out looking the best is Dennis Shulman, who has my respect and will have my support in November.  Rothman, not so much.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 14:46:02 PM UTC

I strongly suspect (0.00 / 0)

I strongly suspect Rothman's active endorsement of Ferriero's entire enterprise for the duration of this Spring was the market price for Ferriero's support of Lautenberg. You have every reason to be disappointed, but perhpas not outraged. You may disagree with Rothman's priorities, but he used his political capital in a reasonable manner, IMO. The situation in 2010 will be different, and I see no reason for you to burn any bridges.

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by: Dvd Avins @ Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 17:49:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Simple Questions for Rothman (4.00 / 2)

Simple questions: When will Congressman Rothman finally cut the umbilical cord to Boss Joe Ferriero and help institute ethics and democracy in the Bergen County Democratic Organization?

When will Congressman Rothman stop enabling Boss Ferriero and fight on the side of the angels?

When will Congressman Rothman stop protecting the Boss and forgo making excuses for his "pal Joey"?

When will Congressman Rothman finally figure out who the good Democrats are in Bergen County? Here's a hint: The good Dems are not the acolytes of Joe Ferriero.

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by: TerryMalloy-OnTheWaterfront @ Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 02:01:09 AM UTC

of course (4.00 / 1)

Of course, they're the acolytes of Loretta Weinberg! LOL

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by: Bergendem @ Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 18:27:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

How's it goin' (2.50 / 2)

complying with those subpeonas?  Or are you busy shredding right now?

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 22:03:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

you are a child (2.00 / 1)

and you should be ashamed of yourself for making these comments.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

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by: BlueBergen @ Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 00:34:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

big difference (0.00 / 0)

Well, of course the acolytes of Senator Weinberg have nothing to be ashamed of while the acolytes of federally investigated Joseph Ferriero certainly do.....

There is a difference, isn't there?

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by: TerryMalloy-OnTheWaterfront @ Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 05:11:58 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

guilty until proven innocent? (4.00 / 1)

I'm sure everyone who voted for Menendez should be ashamed, seeing as he's under federal investigation as well - unless that is, you've seen some press release from Christie's office exonerating him.

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by: Bergendem @ Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 14:38:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Got your own (0.00 / 0)

BCDO mutual admiration society comprised of only two members:
BlueBergen and Bergendem

Does one of you work for Oury and the other for Ferriero?

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 16:54:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Pay-to-play payoff (0.00 / 0)

Data released by the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission "...show that 669 firms that gave $15 million in political contributions received $5.17 billion in contracts from all levels of government. That's a return of $345 for every dollar donated."  (Asbury Park Press, April 17. 2008)

Financing the Boss's political patronage machine returns 34,500% on investment!

The appearance of our Congressman fighting the Boss on behalf of Lautenberg and himself, but not for us, is extremely disappointing.

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by: Bodoc @ Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 12:06:39 PM UTC

chicken or the egg (4.00 / 1)

It's the chicken or the egg.  Is it a return on investment, or is it merely that persons involved in government work are more politically active because they deal with the politicians on a personal and professional level on a frequent basis?

By the way, Where's DeCotiis on that list?  I'm sure Frank keeps Valerie in a nice style on all those pay-to-play dollars.

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by: Bergendem @ Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 14:31:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If you are going to imply (0.00 / 0)

that Frank Huttle personally profits from pay to play, while staying anonymous - you better have more to back that up.  Your buddies got subpeonas.  Frank gives his money and time to keep the Bergen Performing Arts Center running.  Slandering someone who is a pillar of the community while you are protecting open advocates of Pay to Play is pretty low - even for you.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 17:01:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Your argument is a false one. (0.00 / 0)

I am a politically active Civil engineer.  I don't get GOVERNMENT contracts.  All of my work is private sector.  Easy - no Conflicts.  

If anyone works in the arena of government contracts, they can support someone running for office without monetarily propping up that campaign to the point that the candidate is beholden to that donor.

You are still trying so hard to make Pay - to - Play seem right while at the same time attempting to smear folks by implying that they do it too - even when you have no evidence.   Well, which is it?  Is it something you can smear someone with  - or is it Okey Dokey?  You sound pretty conficted.

Speaking of a Chicken an egg question -  Did you sell your soul for cash FIRST and THEN agree to blog for Joe and Dennis, or did you agree to Blog for Joe and Dennis FIRST and then sell your soul for cash when you saw the gravy train coming to an end should ethics reform actually come to pass in NJ?

It would be easier to believe your line of nonsense if you didn't hide behind your anonymous moniker.  You somehow seem ashamed of being associated with Joe and Dennis.  If I were you, I'd be ashamed of supporting the NJ corruption poster boy twins.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 17:19:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]