Caption Contest, budget open thread

by: Jay Lassiter

Thu Jun 28, 2007 at 02:28:01 PM EDT

"Knew intimately what a public asset the Turnpike is."

Update: thanks to Pennquaker08 for the winning caption. A masterstroke.

First of all, the budget was signed moments ago with minimal drama. Corzine looked spry and I'll have the update in a minute or two...

But in the meantime, here's a little something to chew on in the form of a caption contest. I snapped this stunning portrait in the outer office of the Governor's wing whilst waiting for the press conference to begin.

So whether you're a wordsmith, a gay American, or just a hater... we want your best caption creation.

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A Child's Stigma

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Thursday's News Roundup, Open thread

by: Jay Lassiter

Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 05:58:08 AM EDT

Congressman Frank LoBiondo is afraid of Rosie O'Donnell and Barbara Streisand. Read the article and you'll know why maybe he should be. I guess when you've never had a serious challenge, you grow a little thin skinned.

The NJ Clean Elections program is slated to make (limited) comeback this campaign season. I suspect that if folks like me and you were ever to make a run for office, this type of scheme would be a the way to go. So who's running?

A budget without Wayne Bryant is like a fish without a bicycle.

I hesitate to use the words "McGreevy" and "blower" in the same sentence, but here goes: McGreevey subpoenaed in whistle-blower suit.

Maybe one day the powers-that-be will turn Petty's Island into the next locale for the reality show Survivor. They can vote contestants off one at a time and the winner gets to choose the island's future. But that's just my morning fantasy. Find out what the real plan is here.

The new chief at UMDNJ sees a bright future for the state's medical school. With a salary like his, I'd be optimistic too, but that's just me.

Way down in South Jersey, Whelan joins race for state Senate and provides the Dems with the best chance to flip that particular disctict in decades. More from South Jersey here and here.

That's all until next time. This is an open thread so fire at will!

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Thursday News Roundup

by: Jay Lassiter

Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 12:03:33 PM EDT

The state sentate is facing a bit of an exodus, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the early 1970's. Fully one quarter of the Senate (and counting) will be turned over in November and that's before the first vote is counted. That figure does not include folks who get voted out like Tom Kean Junior.

A lot of media response about ex-Gov. McGreevy's paternity suit with his ex-wife. As a Gay American, I like what Monica Yant Kinney has to say about it all. Regarding McGreevy, part of me says everyone deserves the grace to ammend their life while the other half wonders WTF?

Joe Cryan defends budget grants and puts them into some context.

A generation gap in Newark? Corey Booker is mute on his support of Congressman Payne's Congressional reelection. Aparently there's no love lost between Mayor Booker and Asm. William Payne, either who happens to be the Congressman's bother.

This is old news generally, but the latest tidbit about our early-ish presidental primary can be seen here.

Did I miss something? Tell me all about it in the comments section.

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Setting the record, umm, straight?

by: Jay Lassiter

Tue Nov 28, 2006 at 11:27:19 AM EST

Remember back in the day when everyone knew Governor Mc Greevy was gay, but The Scandal hadn't yet broke? Seems like ages ago to me, too.

Well, tonite the McGreevy/Cipel saga takes another little twist and our ex-gayGov's strapping Israeli lover, Golan Cipel, shares his side of the story.

Courier Post:

The first sit-down interview by American television with Golan Cipel, the one-time aide ex-Gov. Jim McGreevey said he had a relationship with, will air during an 11 p.m. (CBS) newscast tonight.
In the interview Cipel talks for the first time since McGreevey's book and responds to his claims that they had a sexual relationship.

That's WNYC for all your north Jersey types, and KYW for those of us in the south. According to the Philly CBS affiliate, "Viewers will hear Cipel's response and a detailed version of what he says happened with McGreevey."

Now if you're like me, you're thinking detailed version and maybe shuddering a bit. But of course I am fascinated to hear what he has to say. Besides, this is on network TV, so the interview should be relatively tame.

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Monday September 11 News Roundup/Open Thread

by: Jay Lassiter

Mon Sep 11, 2006 at 08:59:43 AM EDT

It's all nine-eleven, all the time in the State, the Nation, and the World. I would say it's hard to believe it's been that long, but the President has done an awful good job punctuating his every change of direction with some reference to the tragedy. Anyway, while folks like you are me are doing our best to mourn the fifth anniversary of terror attacks that killed almost 3,000 Americans, including some from Burlington County, GOP golfers will be trying to break par -- between breaks for cocktails. Read it and cringe. Or weep. Or hurl.

Wednesday (September 13) is the second meeting of the state's death penalty commission. It's at the Statehouse annex in Trenton from 2pm-4pm. From the New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty's website: "Join members of NJADP and other interested citizens of New Jersey as we observe the 2nd public hearing of the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission. This is a public hearing - everyone is welcome and all interested parties are urged to attend."

Former NJ Governor (and heterosexual) Jim McGreevy is set to launch a month-long national book tour tomorrow with the taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show. He'll be making several stops in NJ, including a book reception hosted by our friends at Garden State Equality on Sept. 19 in Woodbridge and four other New Jersey bookstore appearances on his schedule: at Barnes & Noble stores in Moorestown and Edison on Sept. 23; Watchung Booksellers in Montclair; and Here's the Story in Union on Sept. 24. No word yet whether the book tour will be making any stops at any of the state's "dirty" bookstores. Meanwhile gay escorts in the New York and Philly metro areas are praying that the ex-Gov. won't be naming names.

The NY Times poses this rhetorical question to Kid Kean this morning: "IF you were an employee of a company and were disgruntled with its performance, who would you want to hold accountable? The chief executive, who is popular with key constituents and wields clout over your financial well-being? Or at least one, if not two, of the chief executive’s top lieutenants, both unpopular, and presumably easy to scapegoat?"

We know the answer to that question. It remains to be seen how Junior deals with the consequences of the Iraq mess as the campaign hits its highest gear. We can, however, be sure where Senator Menendez stands on Iraq. He outlines his unwavering position beautifully in a podcast interview with Blue Jersey. In any event, this race is still close.

NJ-3 Democratic Candidate Rich Sexton recently unveiled his flashy new website, done by South Jersey's favorite tech genius Jason Springer. Additionally, there is a really cool concert/fundraiser this weekend in Moorestown for the Sexton campaign featuring the musical stylings of Phil Roy whose tunes have been recorded by Mavis Staples, Los Lonely Boys, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Aaron Neville, Guster, Widespread Panic, Tuck and Patti. His songs have also been included in movies including, "As Good as it Gets", "Leaving Las Vegas", "The Mask", "Love + Sex", and "Me, Myself and Irene". Phil Roy will be in South Jersey on Saturday singing and raising money for Rich Sexton's run for Congress. Hey, if you had to choose between "Sex" and "Sax" which whould you pick? Yeah, I thought so.

So what's on your mind?

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