A Little More on NJ1 and the Andrews

by: huntsu

Thu May 29, 2008 at 04:56:14 PM EDT

I really don't see that as the case, and would like to put a stop to that as a line of attack if I can.  Here's my reason.

Andrews needs to run a very strong campaign and turn out huge pluralities in South Jersey in order to win.  He's going to lose in North Jersey, and probably by a good margin.  Without a blowout win in the south he's got no chance in hell to pull this fight out.

But if there were 5 or 10 people duking it out to get the nomination in NJ1 -- Andrews strongest territory of all -- it would blunt his plurality there.  At least one of those people would want to run with Lautenberg, filling out his line with a strong candidate and delivering reverse coat-tail votes up ticket.  Others would not align at all.

Further, the fight would drown out Andrews in NJ1 and become a major campaign issue throughout the state in a "Look at the chaos he caused by running!" kind of way.  It's a fun story because the traditional media loves to cover a fight instead of issues, and Andrews' positions and retail campaign would be drowned out in the rest of the state.

This is the same reason Andrews wants debates, so that he can get face time about his issues and Lautenberg's age.  Having a "civil war" in the NJ1 vacuum he created would have totally blunted any effort to talk about why he is running or why Lautenberg is too old, and destroyed his candidacy.

The only solution at that late date was to promise all the people interested in the seat a chance after the primary to go in front of the NJ1 county committee members to win the seat in a fair, if undemocratic, fight.

And the only way to do that was to put someone on the ballot with the party line who had no interest in actually getting the nomination.

And the person he can trust the most is Camile Andrews, so she got the nod.

But now he has promised the entire state that he is running for US Senate and not for the House, and he has promised many powerful people in the district that they will have a fair shot at the seat.

Were he to take the seat at this point he would be seen as an untrustworthy turncoat and lose the support of those powerful people for any future statewide run.  Anyone who knows or has even watched Andrews for a while knows that what he wants is a statewide gig, primarily Drumthwacket.

And he can't do that without the powerful Democrats of NJ1, or with the tag of someone who is so ambitious he put his wife on the ballot as a hedge against losing a nomination fight that was a long-shot to begin with.

That's why he can't take the seat back when he loses to Lautenberg: the blow to his support in NJ1 Democratic circles and the tag as an ambitious politician willing to say anything and do anything to keep power would prevent him from ever getting what he wants: statewide office.

Andrews hit for running "scam" in CD-1

by: 12mileseastofTrenton

Thu May 29, 2008 at 09:23:02 AM EDT

Undermining the democratic process in NJ-1

by: Juan Melli

Tue May 27, 2008 at 12:31:16 PM EDT

Andrews responded that it's a three step process. The first step is that the voters would choose if they "support a new process or not". That's code for undermining the usual democratic process. If voters choose to do that by voting for his wife, then step 2 is that she steps down and Democratic committee members select the real candidate, and step 3 is the general election in November.

Since the Democratic nominee will almost certainly win in November, in essence, this comes down to whether voters next Tuesday are actually voting to severely limit the pool of voters (to just Democratic committee members) who will choose their next Representative. Andrews didn't singlehandedly create this situation, but he definitely enabled it, and that's very disappointing.

Is Camille Andrews' campaign 404? (Update: no)

by: Juan Melli

Fri May 09, 2008 at 11:31:38 AM EDT

Camille Andrews' congressional campaign website is no longer online (404 Not Found). The website had been up as late as Monday of this week (google cache).

Is it just a temporary glitch or a sign of something more? Anyone know what's going on?

CQ: Adler #10 in Increasing Cash On Hand

by: huntsu

Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 09:22:44 AM EDT

10) John H. Adler, Democrat, New Jersey's 3rd District ($1 million cash on hand; increase of $416,000)

Adler, a state senator, is the presumed Democratic nominee for the south-central New Jersey constituency in which 12-term Republican Rep. H. James Saxton is not seeking re-election. Adler got off to an early start that has enable him to build a big fundraising lead over the district's Republican contenders.

For a list of how all New Jersey US House candidates did this year, check out this great chart by Scott W from earlier in the week

Camille Andrews in NJ-1

by: Juan Melli

Sun Apr 06, 2008 at 05:56:25 PM EDT

Third Quarter Cash on Hand for Democrats

by: Hopeful

Mon Oct 15, 2007 at 05:59:18 PM EDT

Rob Andrews (NJ1)	$2,429,899
Rush Holt (NJ12)	$623,200
Frank Pallone (NJ6)	$3,105,223
Bill Pascrell (NJ8)	$1,031,440
Don Payne (NJ10)	$751,399
Steve Rothman (NJ9)	$1,838,631
Albio Sires (NJ13)	$132,605

Your politics 101 quiz:  Which of these Congressmen is thinking of running for the U.S. Senate?

What's Wrong With Andrews?

by: mattchueb

Wed Jun 07, 2006 at 07:56:01 PM EDT

I really don't understand why South Jersey always has to take it in the butt in every statewide election.

A Candidate for "The Greatest Line in The History of The Blogosphere"?

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf

Sat May 13, 2006 at 03:43:15 PM EDT

If there's one thing I've learned from blogging, and from the flaying Mike McCurry got when he acted like a stuffy corporate shill, it's that we're not idiots, and we refuse to be treated like idiots any more.  Regardless of what you think of her politics, one day we're going to have to confront the fact that Hillary Clinton disagrees with us on that point.

Sweet Bleedin' Jeebus on a Garage Creeper, Matthew, I do believe you have nailed it. It kinda crystallizes how I have been feeling about all of them these days, like they would spit on us but they don't want to waste the saliva.

Big Pharma: Improper Sales of Medicines targeted

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf

Sun May 07, 2006 at 12:11:17 PM EDT

"Everyone wants to kick around [pharmaceutical companies] these days, and you don't really want to go through a trial about your marketing activities, even if you think they are appropriate," added John Kamp, executive director of the Coalition for Healthcare Communication, a group of trade associations.

Prosecutors, Kamp says, have unfairly criminalized activities that federal drug regulators and courts had permitted. Doctors often prescribe drugs off-label, and if the physicians inquire about such uses, manufacturers can legally provide copies of journal articles and other information. But Kamp says some prosecutors have used such information exchanges against companies.

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The industry has asked the Department of Justice to reconsider the prosecution tactics, Kamp says. Meanwhile, conservatives have reportedly lobbied Congress to cut whistleblower awards. The Washington Legal Foundation, a pro-business group, has also stepped in, filing briefs in a few false claims cases defending drug manufacturers and seeking to reduce whistleblower awards. It has also urged the Justice Department to involve the FDA more in deciding when to prosecute.

"The FDA, in general, gets it," said Richard Samp, the foundation's chief counsel. "But the FDA is very much out of the loop in many of these criminal prosecutions."

More below.

Whats going on???

by: sandy23

Fri May 05, 2006 at 03:25:10 PM EDT

Unfortunately the citizens of the City are being short changed.  They hear no legitimate discussions of issues.  Bogus debates are sponsored by supporters of one candidate to make the opponent look bad.  I have spoken with many citizens of Newark (not politically involved, just good people who want good government).. They are horrified by the antics surrounding this campaign.  This makes the last election ("Street Fight, the movie) seem like a Disney Cartoon.

I fear that many "just good people" will stay home.

Rep. Rush Holt Supports Student Campaign to Rebuild New Orleans Libraries

by: onenationcampaign

Fri May 05, 2006 at 12:21:46 PM EDT

Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) is coming to Princeton University today at 12:30 PM to support a campaign by students to aid the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.  The students -  some are veterans of last year's Frist Filibuster - are building a Levee in honor of the City of New Orleans and its ravaged library system. The Levee, which has been building on the Princeton campus since March 29th, is made out of books.   A webcam will be broadcasting images from the rally, and (hopefully) audio/video will be available later today.

Campaigns: Wanna Save Money for The Important Stuff?

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf

Fri May 05, 2006 at 11:13:21 AM EDT

Since I have been involved with Them Demon Boxen in one way or another since around 1985(Started with a Commodore SX-64. Two of them, actually. Moved to Amiga, eventually), I have learned some things. One of the things I have learned is How To Save Money and Play with Cool Stuff.

I am going to share some things I have learned with ye who are working for campaigns, so you might get some ideas on how to save some money that might go for tech and spend that on something really important, like ad buys or G-V jet rental or Shirlington Limosine rides or dinners for 14 at The Palm or stuff like that.

Jump.

What Matters Most to New Jerseyians

by: Mr. Truthiness

Thu May 04, 2006 at 06:55:09 PM EDT

It is issues such as this that spark our collective interests.  Issues like D-Day, September 11th, strippers protesting at the State House, and national homeland security that matters the most.  Issues that provoke everyone to shout:  "We are New Jerseyians, and WE STAND UNITED."

Ernie has his Dukakis moment in the turret... errm... sun... errm... whatever

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf

Thu May 04, 2006 at 09:19:57 AM EDT

Representative undergoes DEA training. Says he learned about services provided by federal agents.

Thursday, May 04, 206

By BILL CAHIR
The Express-Times

WASHINGTON | U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett may not be ready to draw a pistol and start searching suspected drug houses for methamphetamine laboratories and narcotics suspects, but the Republican incumbent now has some training to that effect.

Garrett, R-Warren, visited a Drug Enforcement Agency training facility Tuesday at Camp Upshur, Va. At one point, Garrett and two members of his staff took part in a room-searching exercise that state and local police officers also undertake as part of their federally supervised drug enforcement training.

The two-term congressman donned a blue jump suit, flak jacket, gas mask and Kevlar helmet to search rooms for simulated methamphetamine laboratories and mannequins positioned to look like gun-toting drug suspects.

Garrett himself never pulled the trigger on his plastic pistol, which was equipped to fire simulated paintball ammunition, or so-called simunitions, at the dummies. His press spokeswoman, Audrey Jones, and his legislative director, Jay Fahrer, fired simulated rounds at the gun-toting dummies.

A very fitting first post.

by: Mr. Truthiness

Mon May 01, 2006 at 09:49:37 PM EDT

Here is the clip of Stephen Colbert skewering President Bush who just happens to be sitting a couple seats away.

Andrews

by: pineypower

Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 02:05:56 PM EDT

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/29/95241/6384

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/nj01_andrews/4_26_06.html

It seems a little bit confusing what exactly this bill is meant to accomplish. Can anyone here shed any light?

Thanks

PS I would have put this in the open thread if there was one

Limbaugh gets off with a little wrist slap

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf

Fri Apr 28, 2006 at 06:39:22 PM EDT

The whole thing after the jump.

Kean-Menendez Letter

by: Martin

Thu Apr 27, 2006 at 01:23:16 PM EDT

"Though the November senate election in New Jersey is still a few months away, voters should now be considering which candidate, State Sen. Kean Jr. or U.S. Senator Menendez, will better represent the diverse New Jersey constituencies, providing a better plan for national security and for protecting our threatened environmental resources.  With these two issues in mind, I am certain that Bob Menendez, the first hispanic senator elected in New Jersey, is the far superior choice to the inexperienced Republican.  Since being appointed to the senate, Menendez has been particularly sensitive to the plights of average New Jerseyans, including introducing legislation that would provide a gas tax holiday from federal taxes on the rising price of gasoline. 

I also feel more secure with Menendez in office in terms of national threats, since he was one of the first senators to decry the shady and unexamined Dubai ports deal, and he has roundly criticized the Bush administration for compromising national security for personal vendetta in the Valerie Plame leak case. For South Jersey, Menendez has been a quick student of our priorities, including his opposition to the military’s proposed dumping of the VX nerve agent in the Delaware River and his call for federal funding for replenishing Ocean City beaches.

Meanwhile, as much as I have tried to find a concrete stand taken by Kean Jr., I still at lost to find any.  In a gesture of political posturing, he has decried Gov. Corzine’s budget but not offered a single substantial alternative. Further, in reaffirming his close ties to the Bush-Cheney administration, he had V.P. Cheney in Newark for a fundraiser, yet didn’t bother to attend until Cheney had left, as this might have made him seem too conservative, seemingly.  The last thing this state needs is a candidate who is unsure of where to take a stand and too close to the anti-New Jersey policies (taxation, etc.) of the Bush administration."

Hold on to your wallet as the "Corruption Tax " is on the march in Highland Park

by: jazzman23

Thu Apr 27, 2006 at 08:22:15 AM EDT

As the Home News Tribune online 3/30/06 describes:

The YM-YWHA of Raritan Valley will present concept plans to the Planning Board tonight calling for a new Y and a 12-story, 164-foot residential multifamily high-rise. The Y on South Adelaide Avenue between Route 27 and Cliff Court would be demolished and replaced by a new 43,000-square-foot facility, according to documents submitted to the borough. A 258-unit condominium high-rise would also be developed on the site by Highland Cliffs LLC, which would receive land in exchange for building the new Y.

As an everyday moderately active citizen this article did not get my blood pressure up until it was further discovered, based on my basic research, that Sam Halpern, managing member with Highland Cliffs LLC was involved in this redevelopment deal.  In fact this is the very Sam Halpern through the Wood Cliff developers, owned by the Halperins, gave 27,000 to a later indicted public official Barry C. Bowers in an ethically challenged pay-to-play licensing scheme. I fear the same tactics are taking place in Highland Park.

  In addition, the Halpern family has in excess of 47 liens and judgements against them. Begging the question, is this business relationship between the Sam Halpern in the best interest of the city of Highland Park?

  As an avid reader of this blog, I think the mainstream media is a failure. That said, I look to my fellow bloggers  to raise the issue and uncover the truth, using your ability to highlight and uncover the corruption and the Sam Halperin's of the world.

  I will be raising this issue in every public forum, I call on my fellow bloggers to do the same.