A quick question for the NJ State Senate

by: FogerRox

Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 02:57:34 PM EST

As the New Jersey State Senate soon moves to vote,  I have a simple question for our State Senators voting on Gay Marriage today: Whats in your future?

UPDATED: Lautenberg/Menendez support Lieberman?

by: Jason Springer

Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 04:52:46 PM EST

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Both of New Jersey's Democratic Senators voted to keep Joe Lieberman as Chairman of the Senator Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Lieberman, an Independent Democrat who backed John McCain for President, held his post by a 42-13 vote, with Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez voting in the majority.

3 more Senators come out against Lieberman. None are from NJ

by: Adam L a/k/a clammyc

Sun Nov 16, 2008 at 10:57:18 AM EST

   As a chairman of one of our significant committees in the Senate, not just going off and supporting a presidential candidate of the other side but also criticizing the candidate on our side, and also involving himself in a couple of senate races on the other side. The question is, is that acceptable? The answer is no.

That makes three Senators who have come out against Lieberman since I posted about this on Thursday.  Pat Leahy and Bernie Sanders, both of whom have a vote in the caucus about matters such as this, have come out stronger -- saying that Lieberman should not retain his Chairs.

And we know this was all kicked off by Majority Leader Harry Reid who was leaning towards stripping Lieberman from his Chairmanship.

To date, we still have not heard what our two fine Senators have to think about Lieberman, and we would certainly love to find out.  Even more appropriate here is the fact that Senator Lautenberg lost his seniority when he came back to the Senate to save a seat for the Democrats a couple of years after retiring.

If you are so inclined, the phone number for the Senate switchboard is (202) 224-3121, and you can be connected to either of our Senators' offices.

If you do call and do get through, please share any comments or reactions, as it may only take a few "brave" (meaning actually doing the right thing when their party is stabbed in the back) Senators to provide enough cover for other Senators to do the same.  And we have already seen a few come forward.

Quote of the Day: You are no longer welcome

by: Jason Springer

Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 12:51:52 PM EST

A letter sent to Councilman Sheehy from Committee Chairman Charles Crane gives us this:

As the Linden City Chairman for the Democratic Organization, please accept this letter as your official notification that you are no longer a part of the Linden Democratic Organization. You are no longer welcome to attend any Democratic meetings or functions from this day forward

What say our fine Senators about the "Lieberman problem"?

by: Adam L a/k/a clammyc

Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 12:00:00 PM EST

Since Lieberman is (1) not a Democratic Senator except in his own mind when it serves his ego (2) did everything he could to make sure that there was not a Democrat in the White House, (3) spoke at the Republican National Convention against Obama and (4) failed to conduct any oversight whatsoever in his role as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in the Senate - not into the Katrina failure, not into, well, anything - he really hasn't earned the right to be in a leadership position in the Democratic Caucus.  If he wants to continue caucusing with the Democrats, that is fine (and something that Obama has said he would like to see).  However, caucusing and being Chairman of a Committee are two different things altogether.

This pertains to NJ in a very tangible way.  When Senator Lautenberg returned to the Senate in 2002, he was rewarded for saving the Senate seat by being stripped of the 18 years of seniority he previously built up.  This also held true when Hubert Humphrey returned to the Senate after serving as Vice-President under Lyndon Johnson.

Taking the actual precedent out of the mix - both Humphrey and Lautenberg returned to the Senate in order to further serve their own party.  Lieberman has threatened repeatedly to leave the Democratic Caucus, has actively undermined the Democratic Party at every turn, and has now threatened to possibly caucus with the loser party er, republicans, if he doesn't keep his Chairmanships.

My initial thought is "screw him, get his ass out of the caucus".  If the Democrats win all 3 outstanding Senate races, that will bring them to 60 with Holy Joe, who is certainly no guarantee to vote with the Democrats on many issues anyway.  In fact, it will probably be easier to get someone like Snowe or even Voinovich or Specter to vote for cloture more often than having a Lieberman threat every time he wants something.  The bottom line is that he is only out for himself and frankly, is a whiny petulant self serving ass who is certainly no friend of the progressive movement.

A vote is scheduled next week among the members of the Senate Democratic Steering Committee with respect to whether Lieberman should be stripped of his Chairmanship.  And while neither of our fine Senators are on that Committee, a subsequent vote may be held with respect to Lieberman's future and seniority.

To date, I have not seen any comments by either Senator Lautenberg or Senator Menendez on Lieberman's election season antics, and would be interested to know where they stand on someone who pretends to be a lifelong Democrat but acts more like a Judas.  The phone number for the Senate switchboard is (202) 224-3121, and you can be connected to either Senator's office.

If you do call and do get through, please share any comments or reactions, as it may only take a few "brave" (meaning actually doing the right thing when their party is stabbed in the back) Senators to provide enough cover for other Senators to do the same.

Also, if you want, FireDogLake has a petition that you can sign if you want to Dump Joe.

Lautenberg "welcomes" Lieberman back to Senate

by: Jason Springer

Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 12:04:34 PM EDT

"He was on the wrong side of the rope line," Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Democrat of New Jersey, said about Mr. Lieberman's high-visibility convention pitch for Mr. McCain. "It is a decision that is hard to comprehend."

Quote of the Day (at 6:30 a.m.!)

by: huntsu

Tue May 27, 2008 at 06:37:06 AM EDT

"We don't need another Lieberman in the Senate," says [Congressman Frank] Pallone. "We don't need more people who can't be counted on to vote for Democrats."

Sabrin scolds Lieberman

by: Juan Melli

Tue May 13, 2008 at 12:56:55 PM EDT

"But the fact that the spokesperson for Hamas would say they would welcome the election of Senator Obama really does raise the question, "Why?"

And it suggests the difference between these two candidates.

"With over 150,000 brave Americans in Iraq and millions of their family members back home watching our Presidential campaign evolve, I expect more civility and honesty from Senator Joe Lieberman and so should Senator John McCain. Senator McCain should denounce these comments or Senator Lieberman should apologize directly to Senator Barack Obama."

I have a fundamental difference of opinion about our foreign policy with Senators McCain and Lieberman, but that doesn't mean we cannot discuss those differences without disingenuous attacks. You can disagree with Joe Lieberman on foreign policy and still be a friend of the Jews! Perhaps Senators McCain and Lieberman are needing their vitamin boost of Straight Talk!"

How'd that endorsement work out?

by: Juan Melli

Sun Dec 16, 2007 at 04:15:15 PM EST

Today we learn that Joe Lieberman will be endorsing fellow war-monger John McCain for president.

Endorsements by New Jersey politicians don't mean too much in Connecticut, or anywhere else for that matter, but it's still worth being reminded that even otherwise smart politicians make really bad decisions in the name of political expediency.

The question for Senators Lautenberg and Menendez: should Lieberman be stripped of his committee assignments? What if Lieberman registers as a Republican to vote for his favorite candidate on Super Tuesday? What then?

Blue Jersey's Presidential Strawpoll - 2004 Edition

by: JRB

Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 02:07:20 PM EDT

But since Blue Jersey wasn't around during the primaries in 2003/2004, let's find out who we supported back then. Unlike the strawpolls, this isn't asking who you voted for, as the nomination was clinched by the time of Jersey's June 2004 primary. Tell us who you primarily supported before the nominee had been decided.

New DHS Rules Gut Chemical Facility Security

by: JRB

Wed Feb 07, 2007 at 03:34:43 PM EST

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stops accepting comments on security regulations for facilities that make, process or store dangerous chemicals. Their rules, proposed at a time they'd receive the least attention, go unchallenged. The DHS now has complete, unassailable authority over hazardous sites.

Feel any safer?

It happened like this: in October of last year, President Bush signed the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007, which contained a section providing DHS "with authority to promulgate "interim final regulations" for the security of certain chemical facilities in the United States." By this act, DHS was given the authority to pre-empt existing state laws governing chemical plant security, and to make and implement its own rules -- even when those rules reduce security.

This is the case in New Jersey, where strong state regulations on chemical plant security will be replaced by the weaker federal ones the DHS released on December 22 -- the Friday before Christmas. Alongside Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins, Senator Frank Lautenberg stood up to this attack on our security.

Lautenberg charged that the Bush administration and "their cronies in the chemical industry" are trying to repeal New Jersey's strong chemical security laws.

"When most of us were preparing for the holidays, the Bush administration tried to sneak chemical-industry-friendly regulations past the American people. We caught them, and now we're going to act," said Lautenberg, ... a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

"Pre-empting state laws, like those on New Jersey's books, will only make our people less safe," he added. "I will take every step to ensure that doesn't happen."

According to the new DHS rules, if states have problems with changes in regulations, they can always appeal them -- to the DHS. That's right: the only recourse the states have to improve their chemical security is to go through the department that weakened it in the first place.

Heckuva job.

Updated: Menendez Gets Vague on Lamont

by: Juan Melli

Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 02:11:16 PM EDT

"Joe Lieberman is a good friend and an excellent Senator who has served his country with dignity. He ran a hard-fought campaign, but the voters of Connecticut have spoken and I support their decision. I fully support Ned Lamont's candidacy. Americans are fed up with George Bush's status quo policy in Iraq and last night they spoke loudly and clearly that they want leaders who will take the country in a new direction..."

And both candidates were asked about Lieberman’s re-election bid. Mr. Mendenez, who appeared first, said he supports Mr. Lieberman’s run as an independent candidate. “I wish him well,” he said, “and hope he returns.”

He then warned the crowd that Mr. Kean, who was to appear second, would try to tell the crowd that Mr. Menendez supports Mr. Lamont.

Update: Statement from the Menendez campaign:

“Bob Menendez endorsed Ned Lamont after his primary victory and that endorsement stands today.  Last night, he was asked about Joe Lieberman during a forum and he restated his admiration for Senator Lieberman, as he has always done, and said that he would look forward to serving with him again should he be re-elected.  After the forum, he was asked by a reporter what he meant by that and reiterated that his endorsement has not changed.  His endorsement of Ned Lamont has not changed -- period.”

Cory Booker's Bunk About Joe Lieberman

by: Steven Hart

Sun Aug 13, 2006 at 01:03:17 PM EDT

"To throw this guy out because he has different views from the core of the party is absurd," Booker said during the interview.

  Booker said Lieberman has been an outspoken advocate of issues that affect cities such as Newark. If voters are upset with Lieberman for his support of the Iraq war, said Booker, then they should also take a look at the other senators who also voted in favor of invading Iraq.

  "You have to hold accountable more than half of the Democrats who voted for the war in the first place," he said, noting that Sen. Hillary Clinton had also supported the war.

Blue Jersey Calls It For Lamont

by: huntsu

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 10:58:57 PM EDT

Since it is going to be pretty hard to pick up over 7,000 votes with just 9,000 or so uncounted, I am unofficially officially calling this for Lamont for all of Blue Jersey!

No one gave me that authority, but I am doing it anyway. :-)

That said, it's close enough that yutz Lieberman is probably going to go through with his independent run and draw resources and focus away from races that need them.  The pressure must be applied to get him out of this race.

Connecticut Results

by: Media In Trouble

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 08:56:42 PM EDT

HOLY CRAP: Lieberman camp is talking about closing a gap tonight and that the campaign has exciting momentum for moving forward.  The Dye seems cast for Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Lieber.

Lieberman to confirm shortly.

So what if it's not Jersey. This is important to us activist/bloggers. The formula for taking back the party is working.

For the intrepid reporters getting the entire story wrong. The formula is this:

Candidate reaches out to netroots. Netroots spread message. Candidate uses intrepid messages from Netroots in press appearances. Netroots get motivated and positive feedback mechanism is effectuated. Candidate gets free army of Volunteers/Fundraisers. Candidate uses message to win election.

Simple:

Courant says 95.32% precincts AGAIN 95.32% reporting

Lamont 51.92%
Lieberman 48.08%

(Lehrer just said that with 94% Lamont has lost a point if you round to the nearest integer... Lamont has 51.7%)

Live results here
(Speaking of beer, I am brewing some right now).

Listen live to Live coverage with Brian Lehrer its pretty good.

Wow NPR reporting that Lamont HQ thinks they won.

Current winner of Dump Mike T-Shirt:

Jay Lassiter (no fair, you have to donate it).

PS. The Governor race neck and neck 87% in and its still 50/50.

Coffee Talk: "Ned Lamont is the left's Barry Goldwater... Discuss"

Coffee Talk part two: "Left is lowering expectations... is this because they forsee a loss? Or is this because they want to turn up the gloating later?"

UPDATE: We will know by tommorow at 4PM wether or not Lieberman will be a cheater cheater pumpkin eater, he must file his petitions by then. Unofficial, word is they are setting these up by the buffet table at the victory losers party.

Former record turnout for Democratic Party Primary in Connecticut...25% today's turnout "likely to approach mid-30s." - Discuss...

If Lieberman goes the way that Brian Lehrer is discussing, he will have been 0 for 3 in elections in the last 6 years alone.  In other words... nobody really likes LIeberman once they figure out who he has become.

Mike Ferguson, Joe Lieberman and Ralph Reed? Wow!

by: blue7thpac

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 05:33:37 PM EDT

Joe Lieberman is in a fight for his life in today's Connecticut Senate Democratic primary, and the prevailing argument against Lieberman is that he has lost touch with the needs of his constituents with regard to the Iraq War, civil rights and backing President Bush unilaterally.

Mike Ferguson is being challenged heavily by Assemblywoman Linda Stender and is facing the same complaints that he is out of touch with his constituents on contraception, embryonic stem cell research, and on the Iraq War.

And what do these three seemingly different politicians from different parts of the country running for totally different offices have to do with each other?  In the 1990s they were all leaders of the religous right, working to tear down the wall separating church and state.  Ralph Reed was the Executive Director of the Christian Coalition, Mike Ferguson was the Executive Director of the Catholic Campaign for America, and Joe Lieberman was well known for claiming religion was "under attack."

Report from the Ned Lamont Road Trip

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 04:50:11 PM EDT

Ned Lamont just walked in the door, to thank everybody:

Why the CT Senate Race matters in NJ

by: Jeff Gardner

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 03:59:56 PM EDT

Here's why. As Tom Hughes, DFA's executive director, said in an email to members today:

This race has changed the political landscape. 

It boils down to this: We have a powerful three-term incumbent Senator on the ropes because he won't question the Republican mess in Iraq.  We've shown that Democrats can't be a rubber stamp for President Bush's "stay the course" approach.

The Iraq war is the defining issue of this year's elections. It's that simple.

It Ain't In Jersey, But How About Lieberman-Lamont Predictions?

by: huntsu

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 03:57:53 PM EDT

Plus, I wanna do this.

Use the comments to post your predictions in percentages to three points (53.1 %, for example) in the comment section, and the one who gets closest to the actual numbers wins a Dump Mike t-shirt.

My guess?  Lamont 53.1 %, Lieberman 46.3 %

ALL GUESSES MUST BE IN BY 7:59 P.M. EDT!

Cory Booker's weekend in Connecticut

by: Jay Lassiter

Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 07:47:37 AM EDT

Boston Globe:

Earlier in the day, Lieberman campaigned in a pair of predominantly African-American churches. Flanked by two prominent black leaders -- Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, N.J., and Eleanor Holmes Norton, the House delegate from the District of Columbia -- Lieberman recalled marching with Dr. Martin Luther King and continuing his work on civil rights while in the Senate.

I am disappointed in Cory Booker that he chose to get out of town for a few days to campaign for Ann Coulter's favorite democrat, Joe Lieberman.  Note to Cory:  aren't there enough fires to put out in Newark? 

A couple intrepid members of the BlueJersey team are in Connecticut working for the Lamont team.  It's too early for me to call and get the skinny, but at 8am, I'll be calling their mobile phones to shake 'em down for the scoop.  I am giving them a break 'cuz they were up really late last night fighting the good fight.

Ladies and gents, this race in Connecticut between the incumbent Lieberman and upstart (and darling of the liberal blogoshere) Ned Lamont is the election of the season for democratic voters.  If this were football, this election would be the conference championships.  But more than that, this race -- and Connecticut voters --will in large part determine the future of the Democratic party.

Stay tuned...