Match up the names

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg

Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:00:00 AM EST

Sheila Y. Oliver
Valerie Huttle
Loretta Weinberg
Chris Christie
Reed Gusciora

If you match up all 5, you get a free subscription to Blue Jersey, the best online progressive blog in the nation!

Former GOP Chairman videotapes boys in shower

by: johnleesandiego

Mon Jan 02, 2012 at 02:59:55 PM EST

http://www.politickernj.com/ba...

It's like every time we turn around some icon of conservativism is involved in pedophilia (or covering it up is the case with Joe Paterno). Makes one wonder what they all mean when they say "family values"

Against It Before They Were For It

by: huntsu

Thu Dec 22, 2011 at 04:10:47 PM EST

You could still call the Congresscritters at the number below and ask them WTF.

Wonder Why NJ's "Moderate" GOP Is Raising Taxes? Ask Them!

by: huntsu

Thu Dec 22, 2011 at 03:46:00 PM EST

"As Senator McConnell's statement today makes clear, the only thing standing between 160 million Americans and a tax increase is House Republicans' refusal to act." – Nancy Pelosi  

Well, if you want to ask our “moderate” GOP delegation to the United States Congress why they are standing in the way of bipartisan agreements on taxes, unemployment and energy exploration legislation passed with 90 percent support in the Senate, here’s their addresses and phone numbers.  

Frank Lobiondo (R-2)
5914 Main Street
Mays Landing, New Jersey
Phone: (609) 625-5008

Jon Runyan (R-3) 4167 Church Road
Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054
Phone: (856) 780-6436  

Scott Garrett (R-5)
266 Harristown Rd, Suite 104
Glen Rock, New Jersey 07452
Phone: (201) 444-5454  

Leonard Lance (R-7)
425 North Avenue East
Westfield, New Jersey 07090
Phone: (908) 518-7733  

Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11)
30 Schuyler Place, 2nd Floor
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
Phone: (973) 984-0711

Whitman Quits the Republican Party

by: huntsu

Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 04:05:49 PM EST

Former New Jersey Gov. Christie Todd Whitman (R), who is leading a group to draft a third-party presidential candidate, is encouraging Jon Huntsman to make an independent bid for the White House, Politico reports.

Said Whitman: "I would hope he would do it, frankly. He's someone that I would support."

It's amazing to me that the Republican Party can continue to win elections, to take Drumthwacket, to win the House and have a shot at winning the Senate when they drive solid conservatives like Christie Todd Whitman and Jon Huntsman out of the party.

A Blow to My Pride: A Young, American Muslim's Response to the GOP

by: thekidthatcares

Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 04:37:58 PM EST

Cross-posted with Huffington Post.

The Backstory:

       Growing up, politics was completely an invisible subject in my life. I spent my earlier years not knowing the difference between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party --- I had incorrectly believed it was something much simpler -- just two people with completely different opinions vying for the same post. It is safe to say that I had no party influence from the beginning.

       When I turned ten, I wanted to be one of those two people. I had this extreme sense of patriotism that often seemed embarrassing for both my family and friends. I likened the fourth of July to my second birthday, and in fact, enjoyed it more. I cannot say much has changed from then and now, except the fact that I no longer have any interest in becoming a politician or anything of the sort.

Could low voter turnout give NJ the blues

by: defendcom

Mon Nov 07, 2011 at 05:11:45 PM EST

LD-11 GOP Liars Caroline Casagrande & Mary Pat Angelini can't smear Vin Gopal

by: Rosi Efthim

Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 11:45:02 AM EDT

Of course you can. Candidates circling the ethics drain do it all the time. And that's what Republicans Caroline Casagrande & Mary Pat Angelini are banking on; if they suggest to enough voters that rising Democrat Vin Gopal is a crook, maybe they can keep their jobs.

The GOP's clearly concerned that Gopal might win. He's an effective, eloquent and inspiring candidate. Gopal's entire team, among other nods, won Democracy for America's national endorsement (disclosure: it was my pleasure to alert DFA to their strengths). Asbury Park Press endorsed Gopal, too, urging voters to consider him over Mary Pat Angelini.

So. What did Casagrande and Angelini do? They sent mail , produced by NJ GOP but approved by the two of them, that attempt to tar Gopal with the crimes of Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas, who went to jail for corruption. This kind of crap is right out of the Karl Rove playbook; create a scary-enough bogeyman and the voters will do what you want.  

Philly.com on the Republican Primary

by: Hopeful

Sun Oct 23, 2011 at 11:40:09 PM EDT

GOP Doublespeak

by: deciminyan

Fri Oct 14, 2011 at 10:15:00 AM EDT

“People, Not Politics.” That’s the tag line on the yard signs for the GOP candidates in the 7^th Legislative District. And it’s about as misleading as Fox’s tag line, “Fair and Balanced.”

I’ve written before about how the head of the ticket, Senator Diane Allen, puts politics before people. Her silence during the Senate debate on women’s health care and her failure to vote to override the governor’s veto were clearly political and not in the best interests of the people of Burlington County. This course of action flies in the face of her past record of independence from the party hacks, but it seems that she has transformed into just another Republican who votes lock step with their Tea Party leaders. Putting politics ahead of people was also her choice in supporting the governor’s paean to the Koch brothers by promoting increases in respiratory diseases with the withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

As bad as that is, her running mates are even more anti-people and pro-politics. Mount Laurel Mayor Jim Keenan, who flip-flopped on his position on the 2% property tax cap (perhaps under the influence of Trenton politicians?) is not in favor of allowing two people who are in love to marry. He and his running mate, businessman Chris Halgas, are strongly committed to marriage discrimination. Both subscribe to the failed premise that tax cuts promote jobs, thus putting corporations in front of people on their priority list. And I suppose their slogan is accurate if you consider the subset of people who are millionaires. All three support tax breaks for the wealthy while cutting services to the other 99%.

Allen, Keenan, and Halgas are certainly entitled to campaign on whatever platform their political masters gin up for them. But don’t give the voters Orwellian Doublespeak when you frame this pro-wealthy anti-middle class agenda as “People, Not Politics.” 

Another Way the GOP is Derailing the Economy

by: deciminyan

Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 12:57:00 PM EDT

Rail transport is an often under-appreciated aspect of the engine that drives the economy. It is more fuel-efficient than automobiles, and the portion of the Northeast Corridor that runs through New Jersey is critical to the state's and nation's economy.

Yet, two days after Irene, a portion of the Amtrak system in New Jersey remains closed. This also impacts New Jersey Transit which uses the same tracks.

The faux-fiscal conservative GOP has consistently worked to reduce and eliminate Amtrak subsidies, probably because the typical passenger is not one of their millionaire benefactors. Yet, the impact on the economy due to workers unable to get to their jobs is never a factor in the GOP's calculation.

Europe and China are making huge investments in infrastructure to benefit their economies. Floods, snowstorms, and hurricanes are a fact of life in the northeast. Amtrak needs funds not only for their day-to-day operations, but to invest in preventative and restorative infrastructure so that events like those this past weekend don't  make New Jersey less competitive in the world market.

NJ Teachers & Union Members: Here's What Pres. Obama is Thinking About You

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 02:56:30 PM EDT

This isn't strictly New Jersey, but it's germane as hell when you consider that Gov. Christie is building a national future for himself on the backs of public employees in New Jersey. And Democrats and independents will want to know where the president stands - in clear opposition? Christie's making NJ the forefront - along with states like Wisconsin and Ohio - of a national GOP attempt to shift public thinking away from its historical support of union workers as the bedrock of the middle class to a belief that union workers are the people greedily stealing from and ruining the middle class. But unlike the leaders of those states, our governor has skillfully maneuvered that message - here, but especially nationally to movement conservatives hungry for his 2012 candidacy - into big-league GOP stardom. Is it presidential? He keeps demurring, but he does it like wallflower who can't stop lifting her skirts for all the boys to see. Especially the boys in Iowa.

But Barack Obama is the president. Blue Jersey, is the president's message strong enough, consistent enough, and clear enough to oppose the well-funded anti-union propaganda campaign of Gov. Christie and his disciples?

You tell me.

Here's a portion of Pres. Obama's remarks, yesterday at an outdoor Town Hall-style gathering at the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, northern Iowa. The questioner is Bev Kromgezmi, a high school social studies teachers who taught some of the people in yesterday's crowd. His answer, after the jump.

THE PRESIDENT:  How was she?  Was she a good teacher?  (Applause.)  You got thumbs up.

    Q    What can I say?

THE PRESIDENT:  What did you teach?

Q    High school social studies.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, that's important stuff.

    Q    Many unions, especially public sector unions, helped you get elected in 2008.  Those public sector unions and their members gained their salaries and benefits through collective bargaining.  Recently, those benefits have been under attack.  And I realize that this is a state issue mostly, but what can you do to help support collective bargaining in the states and, most of all, support the public sector unions, the middle class, many of whom are union members?  Thank you.  (Applause.)

Jump for his answer.

NJ Teachers & Union Members: Here's What Pres. Obama is Thinking About You

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 02:50:17 PM EDT

This isn't strictly New Jersey, but it's germane as hell when you consider that Gov. Christie is building a national future for himself on the backs of public employees in New Jersey. And Democrats and independents will want to know where the president stands - in clear opposition? Christie's making NJ the forefront - along with states like Wisconsin and Ohio - of a national GOP attempt to shift public thinking away from its historical support of union workers as the bedrock of the middle class to a belief that union workers are the people greedily stealing from and ruining the middle class. But unlike the leaders of those states, our governor has skillfully maneuvered that message - here, but especially nationally to movement conservatives hungry for his 2012 candidacy - into big-league GOP stardom. Is it presidential? He keeps demurring, but he does it like wallflower who can't stop lifting her skirts for all the boys to see. Especially the boys in Iowa.

But Barack Obama is the president. Blue Jersey, is the president's message strong enough, consistent enough, and clear enough to oppose the well-funded anti-union propaganda campaign of Gov. Christie and his disciples?

You tell me.

Here's a portion of Pres. Obama's remarks, yesterday at an outdoor Town Hall-style gathering at the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, northern Iowa. The questioner is Bev Kromgezmi, a high school social studies teachers who taught some of the people in yesterday's crowd. His answer, after the jump.

THE PRESIDENT:  How was she?  Was she a good teacher?  (Applause.)  You got thumbs up.

    Q    What can I say?

THE PRESIDENT:  What did you teach?

Q    High school social studies.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, that's important stuff.

    Q    Many unions, especially public sector unions, helped you get elected in 2008.  Those public sector unions and their members gained their salaries and benefits through collective bargaining.  Recently, those benefits have been under attack.  And I realize that this is a state issue mostly, but what can you do to help support collective bargaining in the states and, most of all, support the public sector unions, the middle class, many of whom are union members?  Thank you.  (Applause.)

Jump for his answer.

"...Shall Not Perish From This Earth."

by: The Journeying Progressive

Tue Aug 09, 2011 at 03:25:26 AM EDT

I've been blocking out news coverage today and cringing every time I hear a partisan or pundit prognosticate about the decline of America, or our supposed shuffle closer to doomsday.

My heart breaks hard every time I think about the selfless men and women we lost in Afghanistan this weekend. Brothers and sisters alike, it seems almost trivial to sit here tonight and type--a freedom they have won for me--while so many are facing grim realities and long, tense moments of combat half a world away.

It's easy to lose focus of who you are and what you stand for in times like these.

Tonight, I'm reminded of a famous speech given by a wartime American president from Illinois (emphasis added):

"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

It is easy to cower in the face of disappointment or unspeakable tragedy, to cave to the demands of those playing the temporary game of political opportunism. In these times, we should not forget who we are:

"...Shall Not Perish From This Earth."

by: The Journeying Progressive

Sun Aug 07, 2011 at 08:12:15 PM EDT

It has been a tough news weekend for the United States.

I've been blocking out news coverage today and cringing every time I hear a partisan or pundit prognosticate about the decline of America, or our supposed shuffle closer to doomsday.

My heart breaks hard every time I think about the selfless men and women we lost in Afghanistan this weekend. Brothers and sisters alike, it seems almost trivial to sit here tonight and type--a freedom they have won for me--while so many are facing grim realities and long, tense moments of combat half a world away.

It's easy to lose focus of who you are and what you stand for in times like these.

Tonight, I'm reminded of a famous speech given by a wartime American president from Illinois (emphasis added):

"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

It is easy to cower in the face of disappointment or unspeakable tragedy, to cave to the demands of those playing the temporary game of political opportunism. In these times, we should not forget who we are:

Christie-heavy GOP Congressional Redistricting Team

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 02:19:08 PM EDT

Chris Christie Robo-calls: Following Karl Rove Again, to the Wrong Side in NY-26

by: Rosi Efthim

Mon May 23, 2011 at 11:39:58 AM EDT

Once again, Christie is following Rove's lead. American Crossroads, the beefy GOP money group Karl Rove started has been pouring cash into Jane Corwin's flagging campaign, along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups. Few weeks ago, Corwin looked like a lock. But that was before widespread voter backlash to the GOP plan to end Medicare and replace it with a privatized voucher system proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, a plan even Newt Gingrich called right-wing social engineering.

All of New Jersey's Republicans - LoBiondo, Garrett, Runyan, Smith, Frelinghuysen, Lance - voted to end Medicare. But the earliest any of them might have to pay for that vote is 2012. The NY-26 special election is tomorrow, and there are a lot of nervous Republicans in America right now.  

Christie, and NJ's Republicans like my own congressman Lance, had better worry. New polling shows Kathy Hochul, longshot a few days ago, surging ahead of Corwin by 6 points.

Text of Christie's robo-call to NY, after the jump.

Creationists on Christie - plus Rush Holt, Herb Conaway & Ed Potosnak weigh in

by: Rosi Efthim

Sun May 15, 2011 at 11:50:03 AM EDT

At this weekend's Democratic State Conference in Atlantic City, I caught up with 3 men who practice both science and politics - Congressman Rush Holt, Assemblyman Herb Conaway and congressional candidate Ed Potosnak. They all had something to say about Christie's creationist parry. That's below.

We don't generally reprint or link back to sources like CBN, but it's instructive to peep in on what Christie looks like over on their side. What they "heard" in what Christie said is in CBN's headline: Christie: Schools Should Be Able to Teach Creationism, and though their article is cautious in its language, that crap plays very well over there.

Let's face it; there are only a few explanations for Christie's statement. If he was pandering, CBN is here to tell you it worked. But, wait - was he? Is it possible Christie really believes the world began 6,000 years ago? What might he think fossils are? Creationism has been debunked and debunked again. Does he not know?

GOP voters are consistently tugged toward anti-intellectualism by their leaders, the dumbing down of an entire class of voters is in sharp contrast to the intelligent (if wrong) and well-thought out (if wrong) worldview that 30 years ago was outlined by the likes of William F. Buckley and other thinkers now called paleos by post-Reagan Republicans - overcome by a generation of climate change-denyers, creationist mythologizers, and dumb if pretty spokesmodels like Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann, who is such a low-hanging fruit that a Cherry Hill high-schooler just went national with an invitation to debate her on the Constitution. Christie's statement is also germane because Christie wants to divert education funds to religious schools, a growing movement a lot of money is behind. Is he also unclear that it's science and not pretty religious myth that should be taught in schools?

Rush Holt: Congressman, physicist and the man who beat the Watson supercomputer in Jeopardy
(Christie's statement) doesn't reflect well on New Jersey. If New Jersey wants to reclaim its title as the invention state, the innovation state, the source of america's productivity, then it can't be a know-nothing state. What bothers me about creationists - or icreationism-lit known as "intelligent design" is known as, is that it's lazy thinking. We've gotten ahead -  as a species and as an American economy - by thinking deliberately and concertively about how the world works - as shown by the evidence we've observed. Creationsim ignores evidence and creationists are choosing not to live in the real world.
If you want kids to be prepareed to get ahead in the real world, you should teach them to observe the hard fact of the real world.

Herb Conaway: Physician and Assemblyman:

Freedom of expression and freedom of thought are sacred in this country. Our birthright. But with respect to teaching, let's make sure we're teaching science in science class - not something else.

Ed Potosnak: Congressional candidate, former chemistry teacher:
A mistake we have made in the scientific community is referring to Darwin's theory instead of what it actually is, which is Dawrins law, which is that species evolve over time. While the explanation may change - hence why they call it a theory - the fact remains that our Governor is putting partisan politics and his political career  ahead of scientific evidence.  

GOP FAIL: Judge dismisses LD-8 residency challenge to Carl Lewis

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Apr 20, 2011 at 08:05:07 PM EDT

After the ruling, Lewis had this to say:

I am very gratified with today's decision by the administrative law judge. I'm confident that the Lt. Governor will uphold the ruling so that we can devote our full attention to the real issues facing the residents of the Eighth District. The voters want to know where the candidates stand on the serious issues facing New Jersey and their visions for the future. They're not interested in partisan sideshows that distract from that important discussion.

The Republicans contend Lewis fails to meet the state's 4-year residency requirement. They say Lewis voted in California in 2009, paid taxes there (Lewis owns several homes), and maintained a website claiming Los Angeles as home. Lewis grew up in Willingboro and bought a house in Mt. Laurel he says is his residence.  

Now's the time to join the party

by: Heather_Taylor

Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 01:55:36 PM EDT

People understand that they need to participate in the political process if they want results. For most that participation is limited to showing up on Election Day and casting a vote, for the more engaged it may be going door to door and helping out in a specific candidate's campaign.

What we don't often recognize is that those individuals who assume party leadership have a direct impact on which candidates run and what issues are on the party platform (if any).  These positions are available to ANY concerned citizen and the time to seize the power is now.

The great thing about serving on the county committee is that it does not require a large investment of time, and provides a large measure of control of who represents us in Trenton.

In addition to electing the county party chair and awarding the party line for Senate and Assembly seats along with local offices, the county committee members participate in filling vacancies in office when someone resigns in disgrace, retires, or passes away. Shockingly, more than a third of the legislature has entered office by way of a vote of the county committee, not the general public.

It's because the county committees wield so much power that Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-37) and Senator Diane Allen (R-7) sponsored the Party Democracy Act, to ensure the political parties adopt rules and procedures ensuring fundamental fairness and guaranteeing a secret ballot when making important votes.  The Party Democracy Act was signed into law in 2009, and now every Republican and Democratic voter is offered a fair chance to vote their conscience.

So if you're ready to do something, here are some basic tips for running for county committee. 1) Find out from your municipal clerk which political party committee seats are up for election this year; 2) Complete the Party Declaration Form (Democratic or Republican Party) for the County Committee you wish to run for; 2) Get a petition & required number of signatures from the municipal clerk (in most cases no more than 10 signatures needed); 3) File the petition with your town clerk by April 11th; 4) Show up on June 7th with your family and friends and vote for yourself (most seats are won with just a few dozen votes or less).

Visit www.TheCitizensCampaign.com and take our free, half-hour online class and learn the tips and tools to become a successful neighborhood party leader.  

Once elected, you have the power to adopt or amend your party constitution, create your party platform, and seek the chairmanship of your county party.

The bottom line is, if you want to gain these powers, then you need to take this opportunity to step up to the plate.