If you want to go as a delegate, the state Democrats are offering two free workshops this month to walk you through the process. The Democratic National Convention, which is expected to confirm Barack Obama as the party's nominee against whatever wholly inadequate nominee the GOP throws up in their infinite wisdom. The Democrats meet in Charlotte, North Carolina - Sept. 3-7, 2012.
At the workshops they'll review the delegate selection process and go over the deadlines requirements. These are the first two workshops. More will be scheduled after the new year.
NJDSC Bergen County Delegate Selection Workshop Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, 687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck
NJDSC Middlesex County Delegate Selection Workshop (following MCDO county committee meeting)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Woodbridge Hilton, 120 Wood Avenue South, Iselin
Here's a couple links to the docs that lay out how delegates will be selected. Enjoy:
As KendalJames points out, OSA, on the legislature's plate this month as a side dish to lame duck with gravy, sounds harmless. He tells it:
Opportunity! Scholarships! Action! All of these things sound awesome, and even moreso when you string them together - "Opportunity Scholarship Act" - it just rolls off the tongue, like "Madoff Investment Securities," or "House Un-American Activities Committee."
Somebody actually wants to know. Democratic State Chair Asm John Wisniewski wants to hear what you think about education. Honestly, I don't know if the votes are already aligned for some of the ed 'reform' we've heard is coming in lame duck. History teaches me to be as wary of Democrats in this issue as the GOP (not Wiz). But if I'm being honest, I don't remember anyone of his standing asking for this kind of input, either. It's good.
I'm told responses are pouring in. Parents. Teachers. School Board members. Activists. Education experts. People without kids in the schools. What they're writing about is broad - not just about charters, or vouchers, but suggestions on parent involvement, what kids are learning, etc. Of course, the test for me will be whether how all this info will get out of the NJDSC HQ on West State Street and across the street to the legislators who will be voting. And of course, the degree to which they take it in. We'll see.
As the debate over New Jersey's education system continues across our state, your ideas and input are needed now, more than ever.
Recently, I hosted representatives of New Jersey's education community for a roundtable discussion on the state of public education in New Jersey.
The event, held at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in New Brunswick, examined education initiatives and issues expected to be part of the upcoming legislative debate. Representatives of various constituencies involved in and/or affected by the state's education policies, along with members of the general public were invited to participate in and observe the roundtable discussion. You can see a short video featuring some of the discussion here.
Prior to the discussion, participants heard from Dr. David Driscoll, Chairman of the President's National Assessment Governing Board, past president of the Council of Chief State School Officers and former Commissioner of Education in Massachusetts. Dr. Driscoll discussed his experience in Massachusetts when that state implemented its landmark education reform law. You can see Dr. Driscoll's remarks here.
What we need now is input from you! I am asking for your suggestions on what needs to be considered as we move forward in this debate over our children's future. Submit your ideas to educationideas@njdems.org
We need to ensure this process isn't about ideology, but rather about making education better and your feedback is crucial to crafting a plan that works. There are a variety of opinions and it's essential that we bring everyone to the table in order to develop the best solutions.
Thank you for everything you do. I look forward to your suggestions.
John
Video from the Education Roundtable that inspired Wisniewski's outreach efforts - below the fold.
Earlier today, I received the following e-mail from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.
Dear Supporter,
As the debate over New Jersey's education system continues across our state, your ideas and input are needed now, more than ever.
Recently, I hosted representatives of New Jersey's education community for a roundtable discussion on the state of public education in New Jersey.
The event, held at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in New Brunswick, examined education initiatives and issues expected to be part of the upcoming legislative debate. Representatives of various constituencies involved in and/or affected by the state's education policies, along with members of the general public were invited to participate in and observe the roundtable discussion. You can see a short video featuring some of the discussion here.
Prior to the discussion, participants heard from Dr. David Driscoll, Chairman of the President's National Assessment Governing Board, past president of the Council of Chief State School Officers and former Commissioner of Education in Massachusetts. Dr. Driscoll discussed his experience in Massachusetts when that state implemented its landmark education reform law. You can see Dr. Driscoll's remarks here.
What we need now is input from you! I am asking for your suggestions on what needs to be considered as we move forward in this debate over our children's future. Submit your ideas to educationideas@njdems.org
We need to ensure this process isn't about ideology, but rather about making education better and your feedback is crucial to crafting a plan that works. There are a variety of opinions and it's essential that we bring everyone to the table in order to develop the best solutions.
Thank you for everything you do. I look forward to your suggestions.
John
My reply to educationideas@njdems.org is below the fold. I encourage everyone reading this diary to e-mail the NJDSC with your own replies and share them in the comments section or write your own diary.
Warm congratulations and a Blue Jersey Woo Hoo! to Babs Casbar Siperstein, who broke ground again just a few minutes ago by her election to the DNC's Executive Committee. That vote came at the DNC Fall Meeting in Chicago. Babs, the first out transgender person in the DNC's history now rises to help lead the national Democrats, joining its top-most leadership committee.
There are now two New Jerseyans on the DNC Exec. Committee. Babs joins Tonio Burgos in that work. Babs sent us a jubilant email a few minutes ago. But we're looking forward to hearing more of this story when she gets back from Chicago.
The jury is no longer out. The cut and hope policies of the current crop of tea party conservatives simply doesn't work in the real world, and neither does their delay and obfuscate strategy for derailing the Obama Administration. The recent downgrade of America's sovereign debt should serve both as evidence of this, and warning for future fiscal cycles.
While Standard and Poor's doesn't make policy recommendations, it is telling to look at their report and see what caused them to downgrade America's bonds. It denounces the "political brinksmanship" that led our statutory debt to become "political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy." It notes that "modest" savings are identified but "new revenues have been dropped down on the menu of policy options."
This is from the NJDSC communications shop, a mashup of New Jersey taxpayer reaction to the news that Gov. Chris Christie commandeered a $12.5 million, 55-foot Homeland Security helicopter to get there in style to his kid's ball game and a meeting with Iowa GOP bigwigs.
Few days ago we showed you one reason why the Governor's losing support from women. This video, a sampling though it may be, shows one reason women, men, older, younger ... people from all walks of life here and from north to south ... might be seeing Christie's willingness to spend thousands of your dollars for his private comfort in light of what he doesn't want to spend on education, on women's health care, and on quality of life for the rest of us:
Twas a good convention. I was moved by speeches given by Chair John Wisniewski, our Senator Frank Lautenberg and most notably the one passionately delivered by Speaker Sheila Oliver. The theme of all was: remember why we're Democrats, and go back to the grass roots who share our values. Young people, candidates, vendors and many interesting folk in attendance. The breakout sessions were informative, and meeting other Dems was most satisfying. Made some great connections with other women throughout the state who want to help with the womens' access to health care issue. Also enjoyed meeting some of the very famous Blue Jersey bloggers in person. They were all over the convention. Rosi, with her trusty computer, kept all of you up to date in real time.
But why do some in our ranks continue to try to plant negative stories with the press? Not designed to help anyone!
Along with the Women's Political Caucus, we hosted the Women's Health Roundtable in Trenton this past week. Very well attended and representatives of the various groups including nurses and other health professionals, womens' organizations, and providers were outspoken in describing what the cuts to these health programs mean for women and their families. Thanks to Jay Lassiter for being there with his camera. I did describe the Governor as having initiated a "war on women". Mike Drewniak, Gov's press secretary, responded with: 'that's over the top - everyone knows Chris Christie is a loving husband and devoted father to two daughters'. I would assume that's very true, and would only add: And they have very good health insurance and access to health care! more below...
After a late-night last night of the official welcoming reception at the Democratic State Conference, followed by a Hudson County Dems-sponsored shindig, followed by Atlantic City bar-hopping and after-parties, this morning was the convention's official Welcome Breakfast. And it turned into something of an ad hoc solidarity rally, because the first buzz topic that needed to be addressed was why and how the Democrats moved a conference scheduled for weeks at the Tropicana Casino, to Bally's. You already heard about some of this. But NJDSC Chair John Wisniewski gave an account of the tense week of not knowing and hoping for a resolution, then getting the word that wasn't going to happen in time. And nobody here would cross a picket line if there was one, or much want to reward Tropicana's owner with conference business if they were playing hardball with workers who already gave concessions. Tropicana's owner is Carl Icahn, the real-life inspiration for Wall Street's "Greed is Good" Gordon Gekko.
AFL-CIO NJ President Charlie Wowkanech took the stage to talk about the labor dispute at the Trop, and the flurry of calls between labor and Wisniewski and talks were disintegrating.
There's some irony that this breakfast was so union-focused. Steve Sweeney is the event's first-listed sponsor but Sweeney - who carries the title of General Organizer, International Association of Ironworkers - wasn't here. I don't know why or have any theories why. Sweeney is of course at the top of a short list of Democrats many union members resent. The subject of unflattering protest signs at the huge Trenton rally of union firefighters and cops in March. The recipient of a large inflatable rat outside his office 2 years ago, a pointed gesture of disrespect. But that isn't much of a discussion here; these conferences take on a rah-rah attitude of Democratic unity, win in November, and let's argue the details later.
Either way, NJDSC's decision, chaotic as it is to move hundreds of people to a conference across town, was the right one. AFL-CIO's Charlie Wowkanech on labor's tense week, and the NJDSC's:
8:00 pm-10:00 pm Ocean B
Welcome Reception
Hosted by Senators Jim Whelan, Nick Sacco, Donald Norcross, James Beach & Jeff Van Drew, Assemblymen Peter Barnes, John Burzichelli, Upendra Chivukula, Herb Conaway, Craig Coughlin, Patrick Diegnan, Tom Giblin, Jerry Green, Gordon Johnson, Vincent Prieto & Gary Schaer
9:30 pm-11:30 pm Hudson Hospitality Reception
Hosted by Mayor Mark Smith, Hudson County Democratic Organization Chairman
Friday May 13, 2011
8:00 am-9:30 am Ocean Ballroom
Kick off Breakfast hosted by Senate President Stephen Sweeney
10:00 am-12:00 pm Blenheim Room
General Session: Understanding Your Message with Brad Lawrence, Message and Media
12:00 pm-1:30 pm Ocean Ballroom
Women's Step Up Luncheon hosted by Speaker Sheila Oliver With Special Guests:
U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg
Mayor Dana Redd
NJDSC Secretary Janice Kovach
Co-hosted by Senators Loretta Weinberg & Linda Greenstein, Assemblywomen Nellie Pou, Celeste Riley, Grace Spencer, Linda Stender, Valerie Vainieri Huttle & Bonnie Watson Coleman
2:00 pm-5:30 pm Breakout Sessions:
Track 1: New Media and Communications
Marlborough Salon A
Track 2: Winning as a Local Candidate
Dennis Salon A/B
Track 3: Field Tactics, Targeting and Technology
Marlborough Salon B/C
4:30 pm-5:30 pm Dennis Salon C
Democratic State Committee Meeting/Voting Session
6:00 pm-7:00 pm Atrium
Cocktail Reception hosted by Mayor Cory Booker
7:00 pm-9:00 pm Ocean Ballroom
Congressional Dinner hosted by:
U.S. Congressman Rob Andrews
U.S. Congressman Rush Holt
U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone
U.S. Congressman Steve Rothman
U.S. Congressman Albio Sires
9:30 pm-11:30 pm TBD
Democrats 2000 After Hours Reception
Saturday May 14th, 2011
8:30am-10:30 am Ocean B
Breakfast with U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell
Labor dispute at the Tropicana Casino involves International Union of Operating Engineers Local 68, Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Local 255 and Painters & Allied Trades District Council 711.
NJDSC Chair John Wisniewski's statement of solidarity with labor is after the jump, in this diary.
The NJ Democratic State Committee is yanking tomorrow's NJ State Democratic Conference across Atlantic City, from the Tropicana to Bally's. Yes, it's last minute.
Why?
Because they're standing with labor, and word is that there is a dispute between the Tropicana and its union workers, with negotiation between the two sides. And if there is a picket line, the Democrats will not cross it.
As far as I am concerned this is wonderful chaos. Yes, it's a headache. And it will be a logistical all-nighter for the NJDSC staff, which is now hosting several hundred Democrats at a location nobody expected to be anywhere near. Some people will not hear about it until they arrive tomorrow to the wrong casino, and there will be some confusion.
But, this can also be a fine foxhole situation. We'll all be thrown together, figuring out which room in a brand new (mocked up in pencil?) tangle of conference rooms we're supposed to be in next. More importantly, this decision is an opportunity for New Jersey Democrats to the Democratic Party will not be crossing a picket line, and in a state where unionized workers are routinely belittled and undervalued by a chief executive building his national GOP rep by scoring points off working people, I relish the chance to let it be known I don't truck with that.
Details are still in flux, at least some details. Labor update to come. Hotel room details to come. And I will post the conference schedule, which focuses on Training, as soon as I get the changes. Use this diary as an Open Thread for your thoughts and feedback, questions and logistical concerns.
Each week, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee compiles the Chairman's week in review, recapping the news of the past 7 days. You can subscribe by email, view on our website or find and share on social media.
In this week's installment, we highlight:
Don't Miss the 2011 Democratic State Conference. Rosi had a great diary about what you can expect the other day here at Blue Jersey
Overcoming Christie's initial veto, Legislation to provide Help For Small Businesses To Hire Workers was signed into law
Blue Jersey was there as Chairman Wisniewski Rallied Burlington County Democrats
Christie's claims on $271 million bill for Canceled ARC Tunnel are "Simply Not Accurate"
"I'm Looking at Shutting Off Streetlights"
Mountain Creek Forked Over Campaign Cash To the GOP Days Before A Favorable Bill Was Made Law
Christie's Highlands Appointee Diametrically Opposed To Highlands Act
Christie's Budget Targets NJ FamilyCare and Working Families
The Courier Post says that Christie's travel expenses are "As Transparent As Hundreds Of Blacked Out Details"
Congressional Corner looking at our members of Congress and their work fighting for New Jersey
The Roundup from Under the Dome in Trenton with Legislation and news.
If you're planning to get your Democrat on at the Democratic State Conference in AC, you've got about 24 hours to register at the discounted rate of $111. This year's conference focuses on training and new media. And with Christie's favorables crumbling under the weight of his own aggression, and a well-financed NJGOP gearing up to give Christie the Republican legislature he's asked for, it seems to me it's a good time for 3 days of putting our heads together and muscling up. I'm a huge proponent of skills training. It's a good time for the DSC to focus on that right now, and good that this conference comes in May, not September.
So, if you weren't planning on going, there may be a few reasons to rethink. In the post-Christie universe, there could be a lot of value in rank-and-file progressive activists showing up. If there's a struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party, it is between those leaders whose sense of mission is unshakable in the face of a headline-grabbing cocksure governor and those for whom forward movement is challenged by that cocksure governor whose own party marches in lockstep behind him. This is the struggle that plays out here at Blue Jersey every day.
Each week, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee compiles the Chairman's week in review, recapping the news of the past 7 days. You can subscribe by email, view on our website or find and share on social media. In this week's installment, we highlight:
Debunking Christie and Republican Millionaire's myth
The State Conference is Just Around the Corner
Christie is a "bully" and the "biggest hypocrite in the statehouse"
Responding to Christie's latest attempt to Blame Someone Else
Seeking Answers on Privatization
Calling to Halt Closure of the Vineland Developmental Center until impact can be determined
Congressional Corner looking at our members of Congress and their work fighting for New Jersey
The Roundup from Under the Dome in Trenton with Legislatiom and news.
I'm a fan of this kind of roundup to Dems. Nice work. - Rosi
Each week, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee compiles the Chairman's week in review, recapping the news of the past 7 days. You can subscribe by email, view on our website or find and share on social media. In this week's installment, we highlight:
The Jefferson Jackson Dinner is fast approaching with special Guest, Governor Martin O'Malley
The Philadelphia Inquirer examines Chris Christie's 24% property tax increase in South jersey
The Star Ledger says it's time for the Governor to End the Blame Game
The AC Press looks at the "most blantly political Governor" and his use of taxpayer funded campaign events he calls town halls
Chairman Wisniewski responds to Chris Christie's stance on collective bargaining being non-negotiable
Democrats continue standing up for Women's Health against Republican attacks
The Court says Christie's Education cuts are unconstitutional
Democrats examine Christie's budget proposals, their true impact and real costs
Congressional Corner looking at our members of Congress and their work fighting for New Jersey
The Roundup from Under the Dome in Trenton with Legislation
The Governor is trying to end-run negotiations with the state's largest public employee union. Chris "I love collective bargaining" Christie wants to take off the table proposed changes in health care benefits for 38,000 New Jerseyans, precisely the sort of issue meant to be worked out in negotiation. For a hundred reasons, Christie gives the state plenty of reason to doubt his word about his love of collective bargaining. Add to that, the tag team of Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney; the union man's alliance with the union-busting governor is a relationship that has produced a howl in two very large pro-union rallies outside the State House. From inside the State House, here is what NJ Democratic State Chair Asm John Wisniewski had to say today:
Despite relentless and factually incorrect attacks by the Governor, the CWA has come to the bargaining table and laid out a proposal through the collective bargaining process that will save taxpayers millions of dollars by gradually increasing the contributions made by workers for their healthcare," said Wisniewski. "While the Governor talks about his support for collective bargaining, his actions show he is in lock step with his union busting pal, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, by failing to obey New Jersey law and negotiate in good faith with New Jersey's workers. Public workers are willing to do their part to help solve our state's budget crisis by bringing thoughtful, innovative and cost-saving proposals to the table for discussion. Unfortunately, the Governor seems more interested in arguing and scapegoating than negotiating. That's not bargaining, it's dictating and it certainly won't solve our problems.
Jobs. Economic stimulus. Women's health care. The budget choices that lead to our rising property taxes at home. The list goes on.
The Republicans in the state legislature are already so deeply bonded to their governor that they adhere to his policies even when something better, more independent and more intelligent should be expected of them. Whatever price we all pay for that would be higher if the GOP gets what it wants in November: a GOP-controlled NJ legislature.
This, called GOP Legislators Choose Polling Over Policymaking comes from the NJDSC communications shop. What do you think of it?
POLITICO says the Eastern Seaboard is not big enough for the both of them. And now Martin O'Malley, Governor of librul Maryland and one of Christie's most pointed critics, is coming to Christie country. O'Malley's the guest of honor at NJDSC's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner April 6 in New Brunswick.
O'Malley decries Christie's abusive treatment of public workers, thinks he's a shortsighted, budget-slashing union buster. Calls Christie a hypocrite over his tough budget talk for skipping a $3 billion payment into the state's pension fund and allowing New Jersey property taxes to increase. O'Malley sees Christie's attention-grabbing antics as the stuff of a comedian whose theatrical efforts to poach business from Illinois don't add value to the economy and do nothing to bring people together or solve problems. Christie says O'Malley spews pablum. But I think he knows some of the crass hypocrisy O'Malley calls him on is starting to be noticed by the press and ordinary New Jerseyans, as some of Christie's "magic" wears off and people see past his brash.
This is a collision course that could be instructive. The Democrats have their eye on O'Malley for the White House some day. The Republicans want Christie for the White House, sooner than he plans (watch him demur on cue, like a shy wallflower showing a little leg).
It's a kick to read in the Washington Post today that Blue Jersey's made their list of best state-based political tweeters in the country, via Chris Cillizza's political column The Fix. We have our readers and Cillizza's readers at The Fix to thank for that, because he compiled the list after asking for nominations from his own Fixistas and sifted through them all for every state in the country.
Cillizza apparently was thinking (here's his call for tweeter nominations) most of people he chose would be reporters. In his NJ list, only 2 are; Ginger Gibson of the statehouse bureau shared by Star-Ledger & Bergen Record and New Jersey reporter for the Wall Street Journal Lisa Fleisher both made Cillizza's list.
The rest of us are all progressive or Democratic partisans. more below
Chris Christie will find this, from the communications shop at NJDSC, an inconvenient video. Particularly if you post it to your own facebook, Twitter and other places where you can help remind people that words have consequences beyond getting a media-savvy governor on teevee, and on stages in Republican strongholds across the country in front of adoring audiences.
Easy to bluster. Easy to strut. Easy to talk tough. Much harder when those words cycle back at you. Just like your mama told you in 4th grade - actions speak louder than words. From the NJ Democrats:
Last week, then-Republican Chair Jay Webber sent a public letter to Democratic Chair John Wisniewski to "get the process jumpstarted" on redistricting public hearings, stating that "we believe those hearings have been delayed long enough" and that they were "eager to hold multiple hearings to listen to New Jerseyans' views on this once-a-decade event.
They apparently weren't all THAT eager though, based on my experience today. More details below the fold.
