I sat down with NJ Congressman (and fellow south Jersey homeboy) Rob Andrews the other day to try to make sense of the election day tea leaves. During our podcast-able interview, the Congressman and I hit a lot of topics including an Iraq war teaser (note to peaceniks: Andrews is calling for a radical new course in Iraq), his thoughts on blogs and alternative media, Camden county poll numbers, George Norcross, and even rollplaying Tom Kean Junior without a trustfund. And yeah, we talked a lot about the election, too. I decided to leave this interview largely unedited because I found that polishing it up took out all the best (and most releavling) moments.
My lasting impression of Rob Andrews is that he'd make a fantastic New Jersey Senator one day. I have a few reasons why I say that, but I'll share just one with you here: the way he spoke of his wife and two daughters. The guy is clearly smitten with the ladies in his life, and it has turned him into a feminist. And any man who's a bona fide feminist has a tremendous lot of ego strengh which to me is a big deal. Just my two cents. Now go make yourself a cup of tea (or hot chocolate) and listen for yourself.
DoubleSpeak, an online radio show hosted by brothers Matthew & Peter Slutsky, recently paid a visit to New Jersey. They spent two days here and interviewed Governor Jon Corzine, DSC chair Joe Cryan, and Menendez internet director Scott Shields. They do a really entertaining show. Check it out.
The lastest edition of the Blue Jersey Podcast is ready for you and your I-Pods. This time, we landed US Senator Robert Menendez and he was eager to discuss an issue on a lot of our minds: the War.
Here at Blue Jersey we are pretty excited about the podcasts we've done thus far. And with an eye on the future, we've lined up some really intriguing interviews for the near future. Titillated? Stay tuned, I promise it's only gonna get better!
Our latest podcast installment is ready for public consumption:
It's an interview with Democracy for America chief Jim Dean, who was gracious enough to oblige my request for a sit-down. In the interview, Chairman Dean shares his hopes and insights for Election 2006, and beyond.
We're trying something new with this podcast. This one has some photos from the intervew embedded into it. If you have itunes or an ipod, you can see the photos while the podcast plays. Click here to subscribe to our itunes feed:
So check it out and feel free to let us know how you like it. The whole podcast medium is still so new and we're open to feedback. Like I said, we're committed to getting the best scoops (and the most compelling figures in the NJ political landscape) and your feedback makes us better.
We're excited to present the second "Under the Dome" podcast from Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (click for all past segments). In this segment, Reed interviewed Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman John McKeon. Reed will attempt to interview all caucus members, so keep checking back for updates. Click below to listen, and don't forget to subscribe to the Blue Jersey podcast to automatically get these podcasts in iTunes as we release them.
Da da da daaaa! News Roundup for Friday, July 7, 2006, and what a news roundup it is!
The top story of the day for all of New Jersey is that the budget impasse has ended and the state is back on-line. After a six day shutdown of all but essential state workers, the State Assembly and the Governor reached an agreement on the budget last night, enabling 80,000 workers to return to their jobs. For the full story: here's how the Star-Ledger tells it, here's how the Daily Record tells it, and here's how the Courier Post tells it. Many media outlets are playing this as "Corzine v Roberts", like it was some kind of boxing match. There's all kinds of talk of egos and so on, but probably the most sensible take on the whole thing is this editorial from the Herald News, which tells us that it didn't have to be this way. Too true.
Don't miss the podcast on this page in which Assemblymember Reed Gusciora interviews other members of the assembly for their views on vital stuff. I mean, really, it's all about stuff.
In other important news, the latest drought status report from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection says that we are no longer in a drought watch. We've been in a mildew watch at my house for weeks.
A seventeen acre parcel of land is being put on sale by the Edison Housing Authority, but residents claim that development of this piece of wetlands would jeopardize the wildlife that is there. The land was auctioned off a month ago, but the auction was invalidated because there had been no public notice given. The new auction requires bid submissions be in by today. This one bears watching as "[r]esidents called the entire process suspect." Hmm.
FBI agents monitoring Internet chat rooms used by extremists learned in recent months of the plot to strike a blow at the city's economy by destroying vital transportation networks, one official said.
Good work, FBI.
Just to liven up your day and give you something to mention to your co-workers, here are some fun facts about New Jersey. The state flower is the African Violet and the state tree is the red oak...African Violet? Is the African Violet native to New Jersey? Shouldn't the state flower be native to the state? I've seen plenty of red oaks around the state and even have one in my yard, but most people can't keep an African Violet blooming in their own bathrooms. CORRECTION: Reader RedDesert corrected my information regarding the state flower, which is the common violet, not the African violet as I had been misinformed by a certain web site that I will never trust for information on New Jersey again.
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora was on assignment for Blue Jersey. During all the madness in the State House, he found time to briefly interview Assemblymen Lou Manzo, Fred Scalera and Paul Moriarty earlier today. We've spliced together the three short interviews into one convenient 5 minute podcast. Reed asks the hard-hitting questions the Star Ledger is too afraid to ask, including "what is the best rock band of all time?" Click below to listen, and don't forget to subscribe to the Blue Jersey podcast to automatically get these podcasts in iTunes as we release them.
Much has been written about the Democratic primary contestants in the 5th Congressional District of New Jersey on this web log, and both candidates have written here themselves. Now you can listen to one of them speaking her mind in another in the continuing series of Bluejersey.net podcasts.
Camille Abate addressed a meeting of the Northwest New Jersey Democracy for America in Hackettstown on April 5. Minutes later, Bluejersey.net interviewed Ms Abate. What followed was a wide-ranging interview in which she said much of what she has said in her postings on this web log, as well as discussing civil liberties and the war in Iraq at some length. Listen as Camille Abate gives us her views and offers the information the Demcoratic voters in the 5th need to decide who will represent them in the election and, potentially, in Washington.
It isn't hard today to find Democrats who think the Party needs to stampede left. The reason we are losing, they claim, is that we have followed the Republicans as they ran to the right. As a consequence, a whole bevy of disenfranchised, unrepresented lefties stays home on election day after election day. This has led many to conclude that anyone who calls themself a "moderate" must automatically be a DINO.
New Jersey's Ninth District Congressman Steve Rothman proves this is simply not true. In this exclusive Blue Jersey podcast, Congressman Rothman dispels the notion that a moderate cannot stand strong on principles and fight hard for his constituents.
President Bush’s spokeswoman is claiming that the administration now supports a delay in the United Arab Emirates takeover of operations at six ports.
State Senator Joe Vitale is sponsoring a powerful healthcare bill that would require businesses with over 1,000 employees to provide a health care stipend.
We sat down with Congressman Frank Pallone to discuss taking back the House in 2006, the republican prescription drug disaster, why he's proud to be a democrat, and more, including - blast from the past - the Superfund! (Listen now)
Pallone let his feelings be known on the corruption scandals rocking Washington:
I really question whether the republican leadership is going to do ANYTHING about ethics reform.
on appealing to the base:
We HAVE to motivate our progressive voters, or we don't win.
and even on marriage equality:
I have no problem with gay marriage. I'm hopeful that the Supreme Court of New Jersey will actually say that it is constitutionally based and can't be prohibited.
If you've already subscribed to our feed through iTunes, it should download for you next time you start the program. If you haven't already subscribed, you can subscribe here
The State Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee started picking through the Medicaid budget yesterday in search of savings. The Committee proposed a new office of oversight for Medicaid spending, which is currently split between the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Human Services.
Governor Corzine stated yesterday that he wouldn't consider privatizing the Turnpike to assist the failing Transportation Trust Fund. He stated his current choice will be to (sigh) borrow more money and refinance the existing debtload instead. The Governor said that this would not be the only facet of his plan but nothing else has been stated yet.
Controversey is swirling around Governor Corzine's pick for state treasurer. Bradley Abelow has been accused by businessmen who say they were victims of a short-selling scheme by the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp., where Abelow was a board trustee. Abelow has stated that "lawsuits against DTCC "have been largely dismissed or withdrawn and have nothing to do with me personally or my service on the corporation board.""
Lawyers are arguing that Our Fair State's new rules for pay-to-play restrictions are confusing. At a hearing yesterday for the Election Law Enforcement Commission, Dover Twp. (Ocean) attorney Garry Mundy testified about ill-defined terms, questionable timeframes for permissable donations, and whether local ordanances supersede or enhance the state's ban, among other issues.
Acting Environmental Commissioner Lisa Jackson is requesting public hearings on safety of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. There are concerns with corrosion of liners at the site, vulnerablity to aircraft attacks, and monotoring and management of aging equipment. Excelon submitted an application for renewal of the power plant's licence last summer; if renewed in 2009, the plant will remain licenced until 2029.
U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings makes her first visit to Our Fair State today. She will be speaking at Fairleigh Dickinson University then visiting the acclaimed Robert Treat Academy Charter School in Newark. She is not expected to visit any public schools where Children have been Left Behind.
NJ Transit is reviewing just how many people will use a proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex rail line. Let's hope they have better luck predicting ridership there than they did on the RiverLine.
The Star-Ledger editorial weighs in on the port deal with UAE-owned Dubai Ports World. Bush's defense of his position on this deal? "Trust us."
Have you heard the Sen. Menendez podcast interview? You can subscribe to BlueJersey's podcast so you never miss one!
Dick Cheney was in Newark today for a fundraiser for Tom Kean, Jr. No word yet on whether Kean Jr survived. "This gives new meaning to a campaign shooting itself in the foot" - Brad Lawrence, Menendez consultant.
Why does NJ support a $1.6 billion plan to deepen the NY-NJ harbor but oppose a $500 million plan to do the same in the Delaware River? The official answer is environmental concerns. Hmmmm....
A memorial mass for Laurel Hester will be held at noon March 4 at St. Mary's By the Sea Episcopal Church in Point Pleasant. (NY Times obituary)
Corzine won't be raising the gasoline tax. "You can't even say it's on life support," said one legislative official. Instead, he'll borrow billions to refinance the debt. A short term fix, for sure.
You've got mail! And if you're Corzine, you've got 13 people to read the 7,000 letters you've gotten in the past month.
Jersey City's got a serious chromium problem: "On a field trip earlier this month to a known chromium waste site on Garfield Avenue - that was supposed to be covered with a protective liner - the researchers found chunks of chromium sitting on top of the liner, a block from homes."
Links of the day: Tom Wyka for Congress, running in the 11th district. Learn more about his opponent Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen at MeetRodney.com. NJ-11 and Blue 11th are keeping an eye on Frelinghuysen, too.
BlueJersey's podcast series soon will be continuing with our next guest, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6).
Congressman Pallone has graciously agreed to sit down with me for a half-hour interview that will be recorded and available as a BlueJersey.net podcast. And you, dear reader, are invited to whisper your questions into my ears. Best questions will be included in the interview.
I was just IMing with my friend who lives in the “hood†in Princeton (Maclean St.) and he was complaining because the BlueJersey podcast was taking so long to download. He only has dial-up internet connection. How could this be?? It turns out that Verizon does not offer high-speed internet in his neighborhood. They only offer high-speed internet where they think they can make a profit.
Now Verizon wants to get a statewide franchise from our legislators. They want to take over all of our communications with a legalized monopoly, putting all competition out of business with one easy bill. They’re putting out press releases like this one claiming customers want this – while the competing cable companies, which on their website Keep it Local produce another poll showing the opposite.
Verizon is fooling customers by promising them the moon and the stars in service, without mentioning the downsides.
Wealthy customers and neighborhoods will continue to be favored while others will be neglected -- this might be ok when we're talking about some other market-driven service but not communication.
Without competition, service will become even worse (as if Verizon service could become worse).
With a statewide franchise, local public access channels will be dead.
But there are huge amounts of money involved and the legislation is backed by some Democrats.
We're very excited to announce that our first podcast is live and ready to download. If you've already subscribed to our feed through iTunes, it should download for you next time you start the program.
For this month's podcast, we sat down with Congressman Rush Holt to hear his thoughts on the upcoming State of the Union, political blogging, NSA domestic spying, rising energy costs, the President's upbringing (hint: it involved immersion in oil) and more.
On Medicare Part D: "I'm not going to accuse them of designing it to fail - although that thought has crossed my mind."
Holt answers the question: "Where are the Democrats?" and shares his thoughts on how to regain a Congressional majority.
If you're already subscribed to our feed, the podcast should download for you the next time you start up iTunes. If you have iTunes (free download) and haven't yet subscribed, just click the button below to subscribe to our feed. Otherwise, you can access the mp3 file directly through this link.
An interview with Congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey will be available as a podcast at Bluejersey.net on Monday, January 30. Subscribe to the podcast now and listen to a fascinating discussion that goes to the heart of issues of the day.
Congressman Rush Holt on the war in Iraq and Homeland Security: "I have found no one who actually feels safer, and can demonstrate that she or he is safer, because of our war in Iraq."
On warrantless domestic surveillance: "I see no justification for the program that the White House has described. I see no reason to have an ongoing spying mechanism against Americans...now you have some functionary in the NSA, or worse, some political appointee in the White House, deciding whose phone is going to be tapped, whose email is going to be bugged, whose life is going to be invaded."
On presidential overreach and whether Congress should have limited White House power when authorizing the Iraq fiasco: "The majority leadership certainly dropped the ball on this."
On the question of "Where are the Democrats?": "I think there are many Democrats who are standing up and fighting...Jim McDermott, Louise Slaughter, there are a number of us who are standing up, who are speaking out. But remember, we are in the minority."
Congressman Holt is refreshingly honest, something his constituents have learned to expect from the transplanted West Virginian and former assistant director of the Plasma Research Laboratory at Princeton University. He doesn't speak in sound-bites, but tells the whole story with exceptional clarity.
I'll be conducting a half-hour interview with New Jersey's own Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) this weekend. What would you ask the congressman if you had the opporunity? I'll take the one or two best commenter questions and put them in the interview. Now that's what blogging is all about. Has Chris Matthews ever asked you what you'd like to ask one of his guests? I didn't think so.
The interview will be available as a Bluejersey.net podcast. If you have iTunes on your computer, click the link on this site's front page to subscribe to the podcast.
We're excited to announce that Congressman Rush Holt will be our guest on the first Blue Jersey Podcast which will be out by January 30th. We want our podcasts to be an opportunity for our community to dialog with elected officials, so use the comments below to note any questions you'd like us to ask. We can't promise that we'll use all of the questions, but we will make our best effort to include as many as possible.
If you have iTunes on your computer, you can click on the button below to automatically subscribe to our podcast and listen to our short intro.
We also recently added tags to our diaries. Tags are just keywords that anyone can assign to categorize an entry. If you create a diary, useful tags that you might include are names, locations (legislative districts, counties, municipalities), and issues. For example, in the previous diary titled "Ocean Co. Freeholders: Impotent", the tags chosen were "civil rights, lesbian, gay, Ocean County, freeholders, Laurel Hester". Any community member can add/change tags, though if that functionality is abused to include irrelevant or malicious tags, members will be banned. It's best to use tags that already exist. Also, don't use obvious tags like "New Jersey" or "politics" which would probably apply to every single diary on the site. Here is a complete list of existing tags. For example, clicking on the Laurel Hester tag will display the three diaries that have been tagged with that name. In the future, tags will make it easy to search for content, so start tagging now. It's also possible to add tags to pre-existing diaries.
We're very excited to announce that our first podcast is live and 
