Friday, October 31, 2008
A Halloween Trick -The Rat Monster
In the spirit of Halloween, here is a great prank that was played on a guy named Bryant, who is a member of PETA. This little prank was from the TV show ScareTactics.
The premise of the prank is to bring a PETA member (Bryant) to an biological research lab that had recently been abandoned in order to clean it out. While looking around Bryant finds a genetically mutated "Rat Monster" !
The premise of the prank is to bring a PETA member (Bryant) to an biological research lab that had recently been abandoned in order to clean it out. While looking around Bryant finds a genetically mutated "Rat Monster" !
'Halloween in the Time of Cholera'
An obsessive-compulsive collector shares his fascination with vintage Halloween photographs, using Flickr to impart these haunting images.
"My theme is 'Halloween in the Time of Cholera,'" collector Steven Martin told Wired.com in an e-mail interview. "The idea being that people back then were probably on a more intimate level with death — and that would have affected the way they celebrated Halloween."
Martin, who has amassed a vast collection of vintage images through eBay, said he's using pictures from 1940 and earlier for the Flickr countdown.
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween to everyone!
In celebration of this most pagan of holidays, for most of the day I will be putting partisan politics aside and will be posting various tibits that deal with or is releated to Halloween.
There's some interesting, creepy and amusing posts coming throughout the day, so make sure you continue to check in as the day goes by. If you like, leave me a comment or story about your favorite or creepiest Halloween experiance and I 'll post it for all to enjoy.
(I hope you like the picture, while it is slight offensive to some,it is my favorite example of how creative some people are when it comes to expressing themselves)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monmouth Univ. In Jeopardy of Losing IRS Tax Exemption - Scharfenberger May Face Disciplinary Action
Monmouth University has been put in a precarious positions and is in jeopardy of losing its IRS tax exemption status thanks to Middletown's extremely partisan Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger.
On October 19th the good mayor, who moonlights as an adjunct professor at Monmouth University, used Monmouth's email system to write a partisan letter of support for Pam Brightbill and Tony "the fibber" Fiore, the Republican Candidates for Middletown Township Committee. This letter also contained biased and untrue claims against their democratic opponents.
In his partisan zeal, he then emailed this letter which was titled "message from the mayor", to a dozen of his fellow Middletown republicans and asked them to forward it to as many residents as possible.
(click here for larger view of email)
As an organization exempt from federal income tax pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Monmouth University is prohibited from directly or indirectly participating or intervening (including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for elective public office. Even activities that encourage people to vote for or against a particular candidate on the basis of nonpartisan criteria are prohibited. According to the IRS, whether an organization is engaging in prohibited political campaign activity depends upon all the facts and circumstances in each case.
POLICY
A. While the University encourages students and employees to exercise their civic duty by registering and voting, and further encourages political debate and discussion, the University prohibits the use of University resources to support partisan political efforts. In addition, University policy prohibits the following.
This partisan act by Mr. Scharfenberger was in clear violation of Monmouth University's Guidelines for Political Activity which states:
As an organization exempt from federal income tax pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Monmouth University is prohibited from directly or indirectly participating or intervening (including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for elective public office. Even activities that encourage people to vote for or against a particular candidate on the basis of nonpartisan criteria are prohibited. According to the IRS, whether an organization is engaging in prohibited political campaign activity depends upon all the facts and circumstances in each case.
POLICY
A. While the University encourages students and employees to exercise their civic duty by registering and voting, and further encourages political debate and discussion, the University prohibits the use of University resources to support partisan political efforts. In addition, University policy prohibits the following.
- Employees are not permitted to utilize University resources to support political candidates. This includes the use of University letterhead, postage, e-mail accounts, message boards, or other University resources.
- Employees should not post political statements (e.g., bumper stickers) on University-owned vehicles or uniforms.
- No one is permitted to release the names of University employees or students to an outside party, including but not limited to providing such lists for political purposes.
- Campaign contributions on behalf of the University are not permitted....
A. If the IRS finds that the University has engaged in prohibited campaign activity, the University could lose its tax-exempt status and could be subject to an excise tax on the amount of money spent on that activity.
B. In cases of flagrant violation of the law, the IRS has specific statutory authority to make an immediate determination and assessment of tax. The IRS can also ask a federal district court to enjoin the University from making further political expenditures.
C. In addition, contributions to organizations that lose their section 501(c)(3) status because of political activities are not deductible by the donors for federal income tax purposes.
In the coming weeks it will be interesting to find out just what the out come of this incident will be. Scharfenberger's careless one-upsmanship and biased partisan politicking using Monmouth University's resources, is clearly a violation of Monmouth's policies that govern such activities and puts the university in clear danger of losing it's tax exempt IRS status.
This incident is just the latest example of how ethically challenged Scharfenberger is.
Lets hope that Monmouth University decides to take the proper disciplinary actions against the mayor for putting the institution in such a potentially bad situation.
McCain Gave "Radical" Professor Rashid Kahlidi $448,873 In Grants
John McCain and his surrogates have attempted to paint Sen. Barack Obama as holding anti-Israel views because of his relationship with Palestinian-American Professor Rashid Kahlidi. They claim that Kahlidi holds a “very hostile view of Israel” and has “a connection to the PLO.”
The “public record” shows that Khalidi is a well-respected, mainstream scholar of Middle Eastern studies.
The inaccuracy of the McCain camps characterization of Khalidi as being "hostle to Israel" and a supporter of the PLO, is the fact that while McCain served as chairman of the board for the International Republican Institute he distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, the Center for Palestine Research and Studies, totaling $448,873.
"This, of course, just goes to show how absurd it is to suggest that Khalidi is some sort of radical polemicist. The guy is such a credentialed and respected scholar that even right-leaning organizations have funded his work, simply because it's good work. They may not agree with his personal conclusions, but Khalidi's scholarship gets taken seriously." Noted Ezra Klein of the American Prospect
The “public record” shows that Khalidi is a well-respected, mainstream scholar of Middle Eastern studies.
The inaccuracy of the McCain camps characterization of Khalidi as being "hostle to Israel" and a supporter of the PLO, is the fact that while McCain served as chairman of the board for the International Republican Institute he distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, the Center for Palestine Research and Studies, totaling $448,873.
"This, of course, just goes to show how absurd it is to suggest that Khalidi is some sort of radical polemicist. The guy is such a credentialed and respected scholar that even right-leaning organizations have funded his work, simply because it's good work. They may not agree with his personal conclusions, but Khalidi's scholarship gets taken seriously." Noted Ezra Klein of the American Prospect
Middletown Dems, Byrnes & Short Oppose Town Center and Object to Accusation to the Contrary
Middletown Democratic Committeemen Partick Short and Sean Byrnes rleased the following in response to a letter written Greg Vasil, President of the Concerned Citizens of Middletown:
Township Committeeman Patrick Short and I have read with dismay Mr. Vasil's recent letter to, The Two River Times. We have no issue with his position on the Town Center project. In fact, we agree with Mr. Vasil: We don't want the project either. We have been very clear on this with both of us voting to petition the state Supreme Court to overturn the recent Appellate Court decision that ruled in the developer's favor. Indeed, before his election, as he did with the athletic complex in Lincroft, Mr. Short led the campaign to block the project.
Where we take issue with Mr. Vasil is when he parrots the campaign mantra of our mayor. Since last year, Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger, when speaking in public and when writing to newspapers, has claimed that we support the Town Center and that we are in the pocket of the developer, Joseph Azzolina. These accusations, like so many made in this year's campaign, have no basis in fact and are part of a desperate effort to hold on to power in Middletown.
We find it quite revealing that a party that has held power for 30 years campaigns on fabricated allegations, rather than on their record of governance. Given the history of controversy involving Republican elected officials in Middletown, our mayor and his party have calculated that this year's Republican candidates will gain votes if he casts the Democrats as favoring the Town Center. So, although we have stated openly our opposition to the project and have voted accordingly, our mayor – and now Mr. Vasil – continue to suggest otherwise.
The comments attributed to Mr. Short in the mayor's recent introduction of an ordinance to rezone the property in question are misleading. Each of us took issue with the mayor's decision, taken without any discussion with other committee members, to re-introduce the identical ordinance that had been struck down only weeks earlier by the Appellate Court. We did so, in part, because we feared this action would cause the court to take matters into its own hands and judicially order the approval of the Town Center project.
The Appellate Court's recent decision severely criticizes Middletown and comes very close to ordering that the project move forward. We made a motion to table the ordinance for two weeks to allow discussion and to correct numerous errors in the ordinance that the mayor overlooked in his haste to make it a campaign issue. Even as we voted on our request for this brief period of time to discuss the ordinance, the mayor immediately alleged a connection to Mr. Azzolina. Regrettably, with nothing else to campaign on, there is little we can do to silence these baseless allegations until this election is over.
In truth, Mr. Azzolina, the developer of the Town Center project, is a long-time Republican, and the Town Center idea came from the Republican Party. He split with the current leaders of his party, who initially encouraged him to purchase the property to build Town Center. We find it somewhat amusing that our mayor, and now Mr. Vasil, would attempt to use this Republican Party spat to criticize Democrats as supporting the Town Center. We work for Middletown residents, not Mr. Azzolina. If he has expressed support for us, he has a right to do so, but any effort to characterize that support as a quid pro quo for our support of Town Center is mistaken.
Sean Byrnes and Patrick Short
Middletown Township Committee
Township Committeeman Patrick Short and I have read with dismay Mr. Vasil's recent letter to, The Two River Times. We have no issue with his position on the Town Center project. In fact, we agree with Mr. Vasil: We don't want the project either. We have been very clear on this with both of us voting to petition the state Supreme Court to overturn the recent Appellate Court decision that ruled in the developer's favor. Indeed, before his election, as he did with the athletic complex in Lincroft, Mr. Short led the campaign to block the project.
Where we take issue with Mr. Vasil is when he parrots the campaign mantra of our mayor. Since last year, Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger, when speaking in public and when writing to newspapers, has claimed that we support the Town Center and that we are in the pocket of the developer, Joseph Azzolina. These accusations, like so many made in this year's campaign, have no basis in fact and are part of a desperate effort to hold on to power in Middletown.
We find it quite revealing that a party that has held power for 30 years campaigns on fabricated allegations, rather than on their record of governance. Given the history of controversy involving Republican elected officials in Middletown, our mayor and his party have calculated that this year's Republican candidates will gain votes if he casts the Democrats as favoring the Town Center. So, although we have stated openly our opposition to the project and have voted accordingly, our mayor – and now Mr. Vasil – continue to suggest otherwise.
The comments attributed to Mr. Short in the mayor's recent introduction of an ordinance to rezone the property in question are misleading. Each of us took issue with the mayor's decision, taken without any discussion with other committee members, to re-introduce the identical ordinance that had been struck down only weeks earlier by the Appellate Court. We did so, in part, because we feared this action would cause the court to take matters into its own hands and judicially order the approval of the Town Center project.
The Appellate Court's recent decision severely criticizes Middletown and comes very close to ordering that the project move forward. We made a motion to table the ordinance for two weeks to allow discussion and to correct numerous errors in the ordinance that the mayor overlooked in his haste to make it a campaign issue. Even as we voted on our request for this brief period of time to discuss the ordinance, the mayor immediately alleged a connection to Mr. Azzolina. Regrettably, with nothing else to campaign on, there is little we can do to silence these baseless allegations until this election is over.
In truth, Mr. Azzolina, the developer of the Town Center project, is a long-time Republican, and the Town Center idea came from the Republican Party. He split with the current leaders of his party, who initially encouraged him to purchase the property to build Town Center. We find it somewhat amusing that our mayor, and now Mr. Vasil, would attempt to use this Republican Party spat to criticize Democrats as supporting the Town Center. We work for Middletown residents, not Mr. Azzolina. If he has expressed support for us, he has a right to do so, but any effort to characterize that support as a quid pro quo for our support of Town Center is mistaken.
Sean Byrnes and Patrick Short
Middletown Township Committee
Joe The Unlicensed Plumber Making A Fool Of Himself
Is he a plummer, a country singer, a writer or does he want to run for Congress? Apparently he wants it all and he hired his own publicist to help him get it.
Joe "the Plummer" Wurzelbacher has become the latest american to achieve their 15 minutes of fame. I can only hope that it ends as soon as the election does. Keith Olbermann, I think agrees.
Joe "the Plummer" Wurzelbacher has become the latest american to achieve their 15 minutes of fame. I can only hope that it ends as soon as the election does. Keith Olbermann, I think agrees.
The Obama Infomercial: American Stories, American Solutions
If you missed the Obama infomercial last night, you missed something extraordinary. It was a strong, caring, thoughtful and positive message that was very persuasive. If you missed it, take a look at it here.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Halloween Safety Tips
With Halloween just a few days away, it is important to keep in mind the following safety tips when preparing for that most spook-tacular day .Trick-Or-Treating
• Make sure that an adult or older responsible youth accompanies young children.
• Plan and discuss the trick-or-treat route your children intend to follow, ideally a well-lit, well-populated course. Instruct your kids to stick to this route, and establish what tie they should return home.
• Write your child’s name, address and phone number on a piece of paper and slip it in a pocket or pin it to his/her costume, in case your child gets separated from the group.
• Review pedestrian safety rules with your children, including looking both ways before crossing the street and not crossing the street between parked cars.
• Tell your children to walk on sidewalks, not on the street; where there are no sidewalks, children should walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
• Teach your children to stop only at homes that are well-lit, and never enter a stranger’s home.
• If you’re driving your kids around to trick-or-treat make sure they get out of your car on the curb side, not on the traffic side of the road.
• Instruct your kids not to eat any of their treats until they get home. Be sure to wash any fruit and it into small pieces before giving it to your kids to eat.
Costumes
• Knives, swords, and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible material. Sharp toys present all sorts of dangers, including injuring your child if he or she trips and falls on it. Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.
• Trim trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape.
• Give your child flashlights to carry so they can be more visible to motorist.
• If your child is wearing a mask, make sure that it has large holes for the eyes and mouth. Also, avoid hats that will slide over your child’s eyes.
Other Halloween Fun
• Avoid giving treats that can be harmful to young children, including gum, peanuts, hard candies and small toys. Also, remember that many children have food allergies to peanuts and dairy products.
• When carving pumpkins, kids should not be allowed to use knives, its best to let children clean out the pumpkin and draw a face on it.
• If you set out jack-o-lanterns on your sidewalk or porch, be sure there is enough room for kids to pass through in groups without the danger of costumes catching on fire.
• Explain to your children the consequences of vandalism and other antics, such as animal cruelty. Both are unacceptable and punishable by law.
Obama Confesses to Socialist Leanings: "I Shared My Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich"
Barack Obama went beyond the prepared remarks in pushing back on McCain's "socialist" attacks, ad-libbing about the shadowy Marxist and redistributionist leanings he's secretly harbored since kindergarten:
"By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten," Obama said, as per the prepared remarks. Then he added: "I shared my -- I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
- TalkingPointsMemo
"By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten," Obama said, as per the prepared remarks. Then he added: "I shared my -- I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
- TalkingPointsMemo
Ten Millionth Voter Contacted
Johnny, a volunteer in Ohio, knocked on the door of the 10 millionth person contacted by the Obama campaign.
Mayor By Title Only, Scharfenberger Often Misrepresents His Position
Mr. Scharfenberger continuously misrepresents his position on the Township Committee as Mayor.He is Not an elected mayor by the 67,000 residents of Middletown.
He was appointed Mayor by the 5 members of the Township Committee.
Middletown's form of government is a Municipal form of government where a body of five committee members have equal power.
No one person has any more power than another; whether their title is Mayor, Deputy Mayor or Committee member. The board appoints a board head, so called Mayor, which gives that person authorization to sign for the board and represent the board on government matters. Rather than five signatures on an approved Resolution or Ordinance there is one.
Scharffenberger far exceeds these privileges when he endorses candidates while using the title of Mayor.
Understand Scharffenberger was appointed Mayor when he broke a 2-2 tie between committee members, 2 for and 2 against, and voted for himself to break the tie. Thus becoming Mayor of Middletown by one vote; His Own!
Middletown's form of government is a Municipal form of government where a body of five committee members have equal power.
No one person has any more power than another; whether their title is Mayor, Deputy Mayor or Committee member. The board appoints a board head, so called Mayor, which gives that person authorization to sign for the board and represent the board on government matters. Rather than five signatures on an approved Resolution or Ordinance there is one.
Scharffenberger far exceeds these privileges when he endorses candidates while using the title of Mayor.
Understand Scharffenberger was appointed Mayor when he broke a 2-2 tie between committee members, 2 for and 2 against, and voted for himself to break the tie. Thus becoming Mayor of Middletown by one vote; His Own!
Quote of the Day
"We're set up, unlike other states in the union, where it's collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs."
-- Gov. Sarah Palin, quoted by the New Yorker, a few weeks before she was nominated for vice president.
-- Gov. Sarah Palin, quoted by the New Yorker, a few weeks before she was nominated for vice president.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Bayshore Young Dems and Brookdale Dems Teamup for Fundraiser
Monmouth County Bayshore Young Democrat and
The Brookdale Democratic Club Fundraiser
Thursday night Oct. 30 2008.
Dublin House In Red Bank.
From 7-9 PM.
$25 per person.
Includes hors dourves and the great company of each other.
Cash bar.
Topics of conversation are youth issues.
Sarah Palin Is A "Whack Job"
The divisions in the McCain-Palin campaign continue to widen with one senior McCain aide telling Mike Allen that Gov. Sarah Palin is "a whack job."
Meanwhile, George Stephanopoulos said this about the "demoralized" McCain campaign on ABC News this morning: "Palin is going to be the most vivid chapter of the McCain campaign's post-mortem... Those loyal to McCain believe they have been unfairly blamed for over-handling Palin. They say they did the best they could with what they got."
- Political Wire
Meanwhile, George Stephanopoulos said this about the "demoralized" McCain campaign on ABC News this morning: "Palin is going to be the most vivid chapter of the McCain campaign's post-mortem... Those loyal to McCain believe they have been unfairly blamed for over-handling Palin. They say they did the best they could with what they got."
- Political Wire
Food Pantry of Keyport Fundraiser a Great Success Thanks to Mallet & Mason
I attended the food drive / fundraiser for the Keyport Food Pantry last night in Hazlet. The event, which was held at the Shore Cafe was a great success thanks in large part to the efforts of Amy Mallet and Glenn Mason, the two Democratic Candidates for Monmouth County Freeholder.
It was a lively event attended by over 50 people, all of which donated non-perishable food stuffs or contributed monetarily to the Food Pantry, a SUV full of food was gathered and more than $1500 was collected.
I recorded the following interview with Mallet & Mason,it's a little to hear Amy and Glenn over all of the people but it give you an idea how lively and crowded the Shore Cafe was.
SCHARFENBERGER USED MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY EMAIL TO PUT OUT CAMPAIGN LIES
According to Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Jim Grenafege, Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger used his Monmouth University E-mail account to campaign for Middletown Republican candidates for the governing body.
“It is disgraceful to use a university’s name to debase someone in a political campaign,” Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Patricia A. Walsh said. “Mr. Scharfenberger has done nothing than attempt to lower the dignity of a great academic institution in the name of partisan politics. Of course his nonsense fails, but he should be reprimanded for the attempt.”
Mr. Scharfenberger is an instructor at the university.
Walsh, a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon, in Pennsylvania, and Grenafege, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, both believe that Monmouth University is an institution that is on the rise academically where it involves its prestige and brand.
“I have full confidence in the ability of the university to address this matter externally, because university officials have already assured me that they have addressed it internally,” Grenafege said. Walsh echoed his sentiments.
Grenafege said that actions, such as Mr. Scharfenberger’s, open up the university for sharp criticism and even questions where it involves its not-for-profit status, not to mention the overall objectivity of an institution that is attempting to emerge as one that polls various public questions. “I believe that Mr. Scharfenberger’s actions were quite unfortunate,” Grenafege said.
Note: I made a few phone calls over to Monmouth University yesterday to inquire about Mr. Scharfenberger's use of it's email system for political purposes but so far I have not received any response. I'll keep trying in order to see how the University feels about it.
Call Center Workers Walk Out En Masse Over Anti-Obama Script
Some three dozen workers at a telemarketing call center in Indiana walked off the job rather than read an incendiary McCain campaign script attacking Barack Obama, according to two workers at the center and one of their parents.
Nina Williams, a stay-at-home mom in Lake County, Indiana, tells us that her daughter recently called her from her job at the center, upset that she had been asked to read a script attacking Obama for being "dangerously weak on crime," "coddling criminals," and for voting against "protecting children from danger."
Williams' daughter told her that up to 40 of her co-workers had refused to read the script, and had left the call center after supervisors told them that they would have to either read the call or leave, Williams says. The call center is called Americall, and it's located in Hobart, IN....
Nina Williams, a stay-at-home mom in Lake County, Indiana, tells us that her daughter recently called her from her job at the center, upset that she had been asked to read a script attacking Obama for being "dangerously weak on crime," "coddling criminals," and for voting against "protecting children from danger."
Williams' daughter told her that up to 40 of her co-workers had refused to read the script, and had left the call center after supervisors told them that they would have to either read the call or leave, Williams says. The call center is called Americall, and it's located in Hobart, IN....
Middletown Democrats Oppose Town Center
According to Middletown Democrats for Township Committee Patricia Walsh and Jim Grenafege, they join Middletown committeemen Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes in opposition to the Town Center project in the township."The Town Center project was created many years ago by Anthony Mercantante, who is now the township administrator, and approved by the former all-Republican Township Committee to become a part of the old Master Plan in Middletown," Grenafege said.
For more than a decade, Grenafege said, this project has been the centerpiece of an inter-Republican feud in Middletown not involving Democrats in any manner.
" Middletown Democrat has never backed the Town Center, approved the Town Center, allowed the Town Center or promoted the Town Center", Walsh said. "There would not even be a Town Center project if the Middletown Republicans on the governing body did not create it."
Consequently, Walsh and Grenafege join with Byrnes and Short about this important community concern.
"However, what has occurred has been repeated attempts by the current Middletown Committee Republican Majority to disobey New Jersey's court system where it involves its recent ruling with regard to this project," Walsh said.
“I am an American, who acknowledges the rights of the courts to decide legal matters in this country," Grenafege said."The fact of the matter is that the Middletown Committee's Republican Majority screwed this up where it involves the creation of this project and, later, in the actions it took to eliminate this project. This majority has demonstrated yet another symptom of its inability to lead or manage."
"What is left to do is obey the American court system. If an appeal of this decision is likely to win, then fine, but I will not pour money into an open hole where it regards this project anymore" Walsh concluded.
The candidates are calling for the appointment of a better township attorney, more capable and successful in litigation, to evaluate the matter in an expert fashion before deciding the future legal pursuit of this matter. "I have to know there is a chance that the township's position will win in court against the project before we put more money into it," Grenafege concluded.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Young Democrats Of America: Text Your Vote
Young Democrats,
Do you have a million things to do before Election Day? Well, that makes two of us! We're all hard at work, going door to door and street teaming to get young voters to the polls, and we know you have a bunch of things on your plate as well. There are only a few days left and between school or work, trying to sneak in some laundry or a world series game, and making sure we elect Democrats, we're all very busy people.
Sometimes we even forget to set time aside to vote -- us! The Activists! And even more often, we forget to remind all of our friends and family to vote as we narrowly focus on our campaign's targets - forgetting how much of an impact we can have on those closest to us.
The Young Voter Revolution has a solution! We'll send you a text message on Election Day to remind you to get out to the polls. And don't worry, we didn't forget about your friends and family either; you can send them the info they need to get their text message reminders too.
So sign up by visiting
www.youngvoterrevolution.com/mobile
Please pass the above link on to your YD chapter, your email friends, to your Facebook and MySpace friends, to your coworkers, and to your family. Just get your friends and family to sign up for their reminders, and we'll do the rest - that's one thing you can check off your list!
Got your cell phone in your hand? You can also text VOTEDEM to 35328 to pledge to vote for Democrats via phone and sign up for our reminders.
So go back to your volunteering, your laundry, to studying, to work, or to that world series game - and let us worry about the rest!
Don't let up until we cross that finish line,
Tony Cani
YDA National Political Director
Fear Grips Middletown
This is no Halloween ghost story.
Fear has gripped long time appointed officials, department heads and their staffs, who roam the hallways of Middletown’s Town Hall. Fear of what you ask? It is the fear of losing their jobs.
In recent weeks many individuals that work for Middletown have been in quiet contact with members of the Middletown Democratic Party, in hopes of maintaining their positions within the township when the Democrats take control after the election. The handwriting, it seems is being written on the walls and they are looking to hedge their bets.
These individuals who wish to remain nameless due to their positions in town and for the fear of retribution, are desperately fearful of losing their jobs because many of them needed to “tow the Republican line“ for so long, that they often allowed their jobs to become politicized.
The real horror story however that many of these people are telling stories about, is of being “Shook Down” for contributions to the Middletown Republican party or to its candidates. It was made clear to them that in order to continue serving the township as appointed officials, department heads or as members of various boards or commissions in town that it would be in their best interests to contribute.
If come January, Democrats are in control of Middletown and these allegations are found to be true then watch out because then, the real horror show will start and heads throughout town may be rolling.
A Message From The Hazlet Democrats
This year, under the leadership of Mayor James DiNardo, the Township Committee has been doing an outstanding job for Hazlet. With the addition of Joe Marques to the Township Committee this year they are energized, motivated, and hard working. Their main focus is to improve the quality of life for Hazlet residents. They are achieving this through a number of efforts to upgrade the Hazlet park system, adding recreational opportunities for our children, and foremost reducing municipal taxes. It has been a long time since Hazlet has had a committee accomplishing this much. There have been many efforts to reduce costs to Hazlet this past year, and numerous more ideas being considered.
The Democratic Administration has been hard at work at controlling costs for the township. There are numerous shared services initiatives and cost control measures underway that have yielded well over $460,000 in savings so far.
• Hazlet currently participates in the Bayshore Consortium, a group of towns in the Bayshore Area, exploring bulk purchase agreements,and shared services.
• In August the Hazlet Sewerage Authority was closed. The billing will now be processed through the Town Hall. This is saving Hazlet a over $200,000 a year.
• The Health Department has been outsourced to Monmouth County. This is saving Hazlet over $260,000 a year.
• The Townships recycling program was changed this year to pick up every 3 weeksinstead of the previous 2 week schedule.
The Democratic Administration has been hard at work at controlling costs for the township. There are numerous shared services initiatives and cost control measures underway that have yielded well over $460,000 in savings so far.
• Hazlet currently participates in the Bayshore Consortium, a group of towns in the Bayshore Area, exploring bulk purchase agreements,and shared services.
• In August the Hazlet Sewerage Authority was closed. The billing will now be processed through the Town Hall. This is saving Hazlet a over $200,000 a year.
• The Health Department has been outsourced to Monmouth County. This is saving Hazlet over $260,000 a year.
• The Townships recycling program was changed this year to pick up every 3 weeksinstead of the previous 2 week schedule.
(Click on the chart for a larger view)
SHORT ENDORSES WALSH, GRENAFEGE For MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
"Government cannot be about politicians it has to be about the residents of
Middletown"
Short said this is the reason he joined the Middletown Democratic Party. "Every single campaign promise I have made to residents I kept and intend to keep into the future. I am convinced this township can do better with Pat Walsh and Jim Grenafege on our governing body," Short said.
Short said Walsh and Grenafege foster and embrace the same ideals as Short and fellow Committeeman Sean Byrnes, also a Democrat.
"This township can save money through controlling costs and turn back the tide of fiscal irresponsibility," Short said. "The committee needs to know everything about what is bought and have more control over how it is bought."
Short said that debt has traveled from $65 million three years ago in Middletown to almost $85 million today. "A public debt is a public curse, first of all," Short said. "When it involves $85 million, this binds the township to $8.5 million in annual
obligations, and Middletown can do a lot better," he said.
Short said the committee needed $2 million last year to avoid a tax increase, and just $1 million the year before. "More has to be done to save taxpayers money and I think Pat Walsh and Jim Grenafege will do the work to make that happen," Short said.
Short said that himself, Byrnes, Walsh and Grenafege would make an effective team that the taxpayers could trust.
Last year, Short and Byrnes reviewed 280 line items within the budget, making recommendations to each about how to reduce the budget. "Nothing was listened to by the Republican majority," he said.
On top of that, Short said he and Byrnes made 34 general recommendations about how to curb spending, some of which have been adopted by the county but not in Middletown under the Republican majority on the committee.
Instead, Short said the majority on the committee raised taxes 7.5 percent, and the sum over the past three years has been an increase of more than 15 percent.
"I know that Pat Walsh, Jim Grenafege, Sean Byrnes and myself can provides the leadership and strong objectives needed to reduce the budget," Short said.
The committeeman, who is also a senior manager for a Fortune 500 company, said the addition of Walsh and Grenafege to the committee would be the difference, short- and long-term, between Middletown "winning or losing in this economy."
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Quote of the Day
"Thank God she's not going to have to be president from day one."
-- Sen. Joe Lieberman, quoted by the Stamford Advocate, when asked if Gov. Sarah Palin is ready to be president. He went on to say, "McCain's going to be alive and well."
October 24, 2008
-- Sen. Joe Lieberman, quoted by the Stamford Advocate, when asked if Gov. Sarah Palin is ready to be president. He went on to say, "McCain's going to be alive and well."
October 24, 2008
Palin: 'I Don't Know' If Abortion Clinic Bombers Are Terrorists
The buffoonish nature of Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy has mostly been a disaster for the McCain-Palin campaign, but it is has delivered at least one benefit: her foibles have helped obscure the true nature of her right-wing extremism.
But now, Sarah Palin's self-destructive behavior is threatening to expose even that. In an interview broadcast yesterday on NBC Nightly News, Brian Williams asked Palin whether she felt abortion clinic bombers were terrorists. Amazingly, she said that she didn't know :
"I don’t know if you’re going to use the word ‘terrorist’ there,"
What makes it so incredible is that Sarah Palin was responding to one of the easiest questions that has been posed during this entire campaign. Her answer should have been simple: of course they are terrorists.
Instead, Palin balked, saying that while bombings were unacceptable, she didn't know if they were acts of terrorism.
-Jed L Daily Kos.
But now, Sarah Palin's self-destructive behavior is threatening to expose even that. In an interview broadcast yesterday on NBC Nightly News, Brian Williams asked Palin whether she felt abortion clinic bombers were terrorists. Amazingly, she said that she didn't know :
"I don’t know if you’re going to use the word ‘terrorist’ there,"
What makes it so incredible is that Sarah Palin was responding to one of the easiest questions that has been posed during this entire campaign. Her answer should have been simple: of course they are terrorists.
Instead, Palin balked, saying that while bombings were unacceptable, she didn't know if they were acts of terrorism.
-Jed L Daily Kos.
Opie Taylor, Richie Cunningham & The Fonz for Barak Obama
See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die
Friday, October 24, 2008
Another Republican Governor Backs Obama
Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld (R) endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president, the Boston Globe reports.
Said Weld: "Senator Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate who will transform our politics and restore America's standing in the world. We need a president who will lead based on our common values and Senator Obama demonstrates an ability to unite and inspire."
Yesterday, former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson (R) announced his support for Obama.
- Political Wire
Said Weld: "Senator Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate who will transform our politics and restore America's standing in the world. We need a president who will lead based on our common values and Senator Obama demonstrates an ability to unite and inspire."
Yesterday, former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson (R) announced his support for Obama.
- Political Wire
Obama Swinging For The Fences
BY EVERY METRIC, THE DEMOCRAT'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN LOOKS AS IF IT IS HEADED FOR THE UPPER DECK.
For a political analyst, the normal posture this time of year is much like a baseball umpire's: hunched over, peering carefully as the ball approaches the plate, watching for whether it breaks left or right, whether it's coming in high or low. But, these days, we analysts are more like outfielders, watching in awe as a ball seems on a trajectory to not only clear the fence but very likely land in the upper deck.
By every metric, Barack Obama's presidential campaign appears headed for the upper deck. Polls (both national and state-by-state), organization, money, and momentum are all running strongly in Obama's favor. At this point, one wonders whether Obama's winning margin could be greater than Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's 5.6-point win over President George H.W. Bush in 1992, more than Bush's 7.7-point win over Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988, or more than Clinton's 8.5-point win over Sen. Bob Dole in 1996. Even higher on the landslide roster is California Gov. Ronald Reagan's 9.7-point victory over President Carter in 1980 and Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's 10.9-point win over Adlai Stevenson in 1952....
For a political analyst, the normal posture this time of year is much like a baseball umpire's: hunched over, peering carefully as the ball approaches the plate, watching for whether it breaks left or right, whether it's coming in high or low. But, these days, we analysts are more like outfielders, watching in awe as a ball seems on a trajectory to not only clear the fence but very likely land in the upper deck.
By every metric, Barack Obama's presidential campaign appears headed for the upper deck. Polls (both national and state-by-state), organization, money, and momentum are all running strongly in Obama's favor. At this point, one wonders whether Obama's winning margin could be greater than Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's 5.6-point win over President George H.W. Bush in 1992, more than Bush's 7.7-point win over Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988, or more than Clinton's 8.5-point win over Sen. Bob Dole in 1996. Even higher on the landslide roster is California Gov. Ronald Reagan's 9.7-point victory over President Carter in 1980 and Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's 10.9-point win over Adlai Stevenson in 1952....
Poll: Independents boost Obama in Florida
The most recent Miami Herald poll shows that Barack Obama has opened up a 49-42 percent lead over John McCain in Florida, according to the poll, Obama earns high marks on the economy and is drawing huge support from the swing voters who decide elections in the nation's largest swing state.
President Bush on SNL Last Night
President Bush (A.K.A. Will Ferrell) made a suprise appearence on last night's special election coverage edition of Saturday Night Live. It was extremely funny and if you missed it, watch it here.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tax and Spend Middletown Republicans
In response to a letter by Middletown Republican candidate Tony Fiore,I vehemently deny that it has been the township's school board that has been the source of pain for residents where it involves taxation.
In contrast, it is the Republican-controlled Middletown Committee that has played the role of tax-and-spend politicians in this community.
Firstly, Middletown's students regularly gain acceptance to first-rate academic institutions in this country.
However, where it involves taxation, I personally believe the school board has been nothing but thrifty in its approach.
State aid to suburban school districts has been frozen for five years and the school budget was impacted, like any other business or homeowner, by the rising costs of utilities, transportation and insurance.
In addition, nine consecutive budgets have passed since I have taken office, while only three failed that were cut. Bear in mind, those cuts impacted our students, but were made when necessary.
It has been the voters in Middletown that have approved the majority of these budgets because they want a high-quality education for their children. And, it takes at least five members of the board to adopt a budget for consideration by the voters in the first place.
Meanwhile, it has been the Middletown Committee that has bonded $85 million, refused to place fiscal controls or oversight in their budget, and even refused to establish a Budget Committee to oversee departmental spending. They voted to exceed their budget cap. Finally, it was the committee, for at least 20 years, that has used deferred school taxes to balance their budget. This year alone they added close to $56 million in deferred school tax liability to further burden our residents. Combined with the total amount bonded, this places Middletown's total debt at about $141 million.
Mr. Fiore is hardly the best source of information about taxation, or anything else, given the fact he has ran on an embellished, grammatically incorrect resume throughout this election cycle, and has done nothing to contribute any ideas about how to contain Middletown's out-of-control spending.
Patricia A. Walsh
Democrat for Township Committee
Middletown, NJ
In contrast, it is the Republican-controlled Middletown Committee that has played the role of tax-and-spend politicians in this community.
Firstly, Middletown's students regularly gain acceptance to first-rate academic institutions in this country.
However, where it involves taxation, I personally believe the school board has been nothing but thrifty in its approach.
State aid to suburban school districts has been frozen for five years and the school budget was impacted, like any other business or homeowner, by the rising costs of utilities, transportation and insurance.
In addition, nine consecutive budgets have passed since I have taken office, while only three failed that were cut. Bear in mind, those cuts impacted our students, but were made when necessary.
It has been the voters in Middletown that have approved the majority of these budgets because they want a high-quality education for their children. And, it takes at least five members of the board to adopt a budget for consideration by the voters in the first place.
Meanwhile, it has been the Middletown Committee that has bonded $85 million, refused to place fiscal controls or oversight in their budget, and even refused to establish a Budget Committee to oversee departmental spending. They voted to exceed their budget cap. Finally, it was the committee, for at least 20 years, that has used deferred school taxes to balance their budget. This year alone they added close to $56 million in deferred school tax liability to further burden our residents. Combined with the total amount bonded, this places Middletown's total debt at about $141 million.
Mr. Fiore is hardly the best source of information about taxation, or anything else, given the fact he has ran on an embellished, grammatically incorrect resume throughout this election cycle, and has done nothing to contribute any ideas about how to contain Middletown's out-of-control spending.
Patricia A. Walsh
Democrat for Township Committee
Middletown, NJ
$150,000 IN CLOTHES SENATOR McCAIN?
The Republican Party has spent $150,000 in upmarket designer stores on dressing Sarah Palin for the part of vice-president. During September, more than $75,000 was spent in a single shopping spree at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, and another $9,500 at Macy's in the same city - scene of the Republican party convention where John McCain introduced Ms Palin as his running mate.
Countdown's Keith Olbermann had a special commentary about this last night
Countdown's Keith Olbermann had a special commentary about this last night
Dirty Trick, not Treats
I wish that all the tricks were due to Halloween, but the people behind the evil masks are shameless local politicians and their supporters.
The situation is very simple. After over 25 years of "breathtakingly arrogant" rule and patronage, the Middletown Republicans are terrified. As a result, they are resorting to such dirty tricks as making a sandwich of "Pat Walsh" signs with theirs placed as the bread two inches away from hers., hiding their message. How silly, how sneaky, and it won't work!
Even worse, they are trying to decimate her reputation by dredging up false charges, resolved 10 years ago, by quoting her opponent in the old complaint who paid someone else to file what was really his own suit against her.
Our citizens are not that gullible and won't be fooled. The tricks will magically become a treat for Middletown, as more will vote for open government by Pat Walsh and Jim Grenafege rather than continued canards and law- breaking by the current majority.
"Let the sun shine in!"
Sincerely,
Carolyn Schwebel
Leonardo.
The situation is very simple. After over 25 years of "breathtakingly arrogant" rule and patronage, the Middletown Republicans are terrified. As a result, they are resorting to such dirty tricks as making a sandwich of "Pat Walsh" signs with theirs placed as the bread two inches away from hers., hiding their message. How silly, how sneaky, and it won't work!
Even worse, they are trying to decimate her reputation by dredging up false charges, resolved 10 years ago, by quoting her opponent in the old complaint who paid someone else to file what was really his own suit against her.
Our citizens are not that gullible and won't be fooled. The tricks will magically become a treat for Middletown, as more will vote for open government by Pat Walsh and Jim Grenafege rather than continued canards and law- breaking by the current majority.
"Let the sun shine in!"
Sincerely,
Carolyn Schwebel
Leonardo.
Brian Williams and Chuck Todd: McCain Blames Palin for Campaign Collapse
NBC News' Chuck Todd and Brian Williams were discussing the interview NBC just did with John McCain and Sarah Palin. What really stood out was the candidness of Todd's discussion of the wheels possibly coming off McCain's campaign, his willingness to discuss the tension between the two candidates and even to speculate that McCain may be starting to blame Palin for his campaign's collapse.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
McCain: Palin ‘Most Qualified’ VP Nominee in Recent Memory
Sen. John McCain gave a remarkable interview with radio personality Don Imus this morning, and the principle topic of discussion was Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Moved by a Crescent
Maureen Dowd of the NY Times wrote a great column yesterday about what motivated Colin Powell to endorse Barack Obama Sunday on Meet the Press. She writes about Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, the 20 year old Muslim US soldier from Manahawkin NJ, who was killed in Iraq:
"Colin Powell had been bugged by many things in his party’s campaign this fall: the insidious merging of rumors that Barack Obama was Muslim with intimations that he was a terrorist sympathizer; the assertion that Sarah Palin was ready to be president; the uniformed sheriff who introduced Governor Palin by sneering about Barack Hussein Obama; the scorn with which Republicans spit out the words “community organizer”; the Republicans’ argument that using taxes to “spread the wealth” was socialist when the purpose of taxes is to spread the wealth; Palin’s insidious notion that small towns in states that went for W. were “the real America.”
But what sent him over the edge and made him realize he had to speak out was when he opened his New Yorker three weeks ago and saw a picture of a mother pressing her head against the gravestone of her son, a 20-year-old soldier who had been killed in Iraq. On the headstone were engraved his name, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, his awards — the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star — and a crescent and a star to denote his Islamic faith..."
"Colin Powell had been bugged by many things in his party’s campaign this fall: the insidious merging of rumors that Barack Obama was Muslim with intimations that he was a terrorist sympathizer; the assertion that Sarah Palin was ready to be president; the uniformed sheriff who introduced Governor Palin by sneering about Barack Hussein Obama; the scorn with which Republicans spit out the words “community organizer”; the Republicans’ argument that using taxes to “spread the wealth” was socialist when the purpose of taxes is to spread the wealth; Palin’s insidious notion that small towns in states that went for W. were “the real America.”
But what sent him over the edge and made him realize he had to speak out was when he opened his New Yorker three weeks ago and saw a picture of a mother pressing her head against the gravestone of her son, a 20-year-old soldier who had been killed in Iraq. On the headstone were engraved his name, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, his awards — the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star — and a crescent and a star to denote his Islamic faith..."
We Are All Creatures of God: Why Should Race Matter?
Since our 2008 Presidential election has been going on for almost 2 years now, I thought I had heard almost every political statement going. About a week ago,a friend told me he heard a mutual friend of ours make a statement that made my blood boil , so much so that I can't let it pass without letting off steam and venting to my friends and acquaintances. So please bear with me.
The statement was " I can't bring myself to vote for a black man". The statement was made by an educated (completed graduate school) church going person holding a responsible position in their community. In this day and age, after all that we have gone through in this country, how can a native born American make a statement like this?
Since WWll, large numbers of young black men have died in our wars to protect this great country of ours, so we have the right to vote and pursue our dreams. We are all creatures of God, equal in his eyes and in our own. What a sad commentary on our times if after all these years, with all of our blessings in this country, there are still people who can't vote for a fellow human being just because he is black. And what is even worse, people who are educated and so-called religious.
And so I ask everyone that if in the next 2 weeks you hear someone make that statement, call them on it and remind them they should be voting on the issues, not on a person's skin color. To withhold a vote because a person is black is despicable, Unamerican and shameful.
Bill Butler
Middletown resident
The statement was " I can't bring myself to vote for a black man". The statement was made by an educated (completed graduate school) church going person holding a responsible position in their community. In this day and age, after all that we have gone through in this country, how can a native born American make a statement like this?
Since WWll, large numbers of young black men have died in our wars to protect this great country of ours, so we have the right to vote and pursue our dreams. We are all creatures of God, equal in his eyes and in our own. What a sad commentary on our times if after all these years, with all of our blessings in this country, there are still people who can't vote for a fellow human being just because he is black. And what is even worse, people who are educated and so-called religious.
And so I ask everyone that if in the next 2 weeks you hear someone make that statement, call them on it and remind them they should be voting on the issues, not on a person's skin color. To withhold a vote because a person is black is despicable, Unamerican and shameful.
Bill Butler
Middletown resident
Recent Middletown GOP Attacks on Pat Walsh Amount To Politics As Usual
I have read with dismay the recent letters targeting Pat Walsh, a candidate for Middletown Township Committee. Pat Walsh has served Middletown as an elected official for 12 years, longer than anyone serving on the Board of Education or Township Committee. Voters will recognize that the recent flurry of accusations -- timed just weeks before the November 4 election -- are rooted in politics, not truth. What shocks me this year is the ferocity of these attacks. Opponents of Mrs. Walsh have initiated a recall petition, written a letter to the U.S. Attorney calling for a criminal investigation, and penned letters to editors of newspapers. Her adversaries have deployed a coordinated and desperate campaign to distort Pat Walsh’s record. This pre-election smear campaign, launched against a person who has served for twelve years without incident, should not surprise anyone familiar with the tactics of her adversaries. As is the case with our national election, the stakes this year in Middletown are high. For the first time in 30 years, one party government in Middletown is threatened. If she wins, the opposing party loses control over a government that has been a source of professional work, jobs and benefits for almost three decades. As Election Day draws near, don’t be surprised if the attacks become more desperate and the truth more difficult to find.
Middletown has never needed bipartisan leadership more than now. Many or our citizens will no doubt feel the pain as our economy contracts during this current financial crisis. FEMA’s efforts to redraw Middletown’s flood maps will increase flood insurance rates. COAH’s latest round of affordable housing regulations demands coordinated efforts by the Planning Board and Township Committee to find creative solutions to avoid the potential crushing financial burden posed by these programs. Moreover, with a Recreational Master Plan now completed, my fellow Committee members and I will also be charting the future of recreation and open space in Middletown for decades to come. To do so effectively, we must allocate these important issues among ourselves and work with citizens and Township employees to formulate realistic and measurable objectives. These challenges are also opportunities, and I am encouraged because our Township has talented employees and department heads that can implement these changes that we must undertake.
Unfortunately, I am discouraged by our Committee’s absolute resistance to change. Since elected, I have proposed with the support of Patrick Short several recommendations to improve how we do business. I was surprised to find that a Township with 67,000 residents had no Finance or Budget Committee. I recommended forming a Finance Committee comprised of two Committee members and several residents to take a hard look at our budgeting process and seek opportunities to cut costs. This was voted down along party lines. I have recommended retaining a public finance consulting firm to assess municipal debt, review our personnel structure, assess our operations and make recommendations to cut costs and improve efficiency. I also recommended that we invite the Board of Education into this process. This effort was rejected. Surprised to find that the Township had no strategic plan in place, I prepared a resolution to form a Strategic Planning Committee so that we can review operations, set objectives and systematically drive our employees toward the accomplishment of those objectives. I remain hopeful that this resolution will be past some time soon. To date, however, every recommendation that I have attempted to implement has been voted down in partisan votes.
With so many challenges to take on, I watch now in frustration as our Mayor, Deputy Mayor and their supporters desperately resort to meritless personal attacks, rather than confronting in their campaign materials the myriad issues that demand our action. Our national, state and local governments stand at the brink of a financial calamity. To continue to do business as usual will doom our taxpayers to a lifetime of debt. The next several years will not be easy. Projects that seemed certain may now have to be reconsidered. Sacrifices will be necessary, but I think our citizens understand this reality and welcome an opportunity to put our national, state and local financial houses back in order. Unfortunately, at the local level, personal attacks like the ones launched here in Middletown obscure our vision and diminish our focus on these more compelling issues. Perhaps, the thousands of new voters registered in the past year will break the current veil of cynicism that hangs over local government. Here in Middletown, there is much to be done. I would ask my fellow Committee members on the other side of the aisle to step away from the shadow of their political party and cast their votes with the best interests of our citizens at heart. The recent attacks on Pat Walsh amount to politics as usual at a time when partisan decision-making amounts to failed leadership and leads to missed opportunities.
Sean F. Byrnes
Middletown Township Committeeman
Middletown has never needed bipartisan leadership more than now. Many or our citizens will no doubt feel the pain as our economy contracts during this current financial crisis. FEMA’s efforts to redraw Middletown’s flood maps will increase flood insurance rates. COAH’s latest round of affordable housing regulations demands coordinated efforts by the Planning Board and Township Committee to find creative solutions to avoid the potential crushing financial burden posed by these programs. Moreover, with a Recreational Master Plan now completed, my fellow Committee members and I will also be charting the future of recreation and open space in Middletown for decades to come. To do so effectively, we must allocate these important issues among ourselves and work with citizens and Township employees to formulate realistic and measurable objectives. These challenges are also opportunities, and I am encouraged because our Township has talented employees and department heads that can implement these changes that we must undertake.
Unfortunately, I am discouraged by our Committee’s absolute resistance to change. Since elected, I have proposed with the support of Patrick Short several recommendations to improve how we do business. I was surprised to find that a Township with 67,000 residents had no Finance or Budget Committee. I recommended forming a Finance Committee comprised of two Committee members and several residents to take a hard look at our budgeting process and seek opportunities to cut costs. This was voted down along party lines. I have recommended retaining a public finance consulting firm to assess municipal debt, review our personnel structure, assess our operations and make recommendations to cut costs and improve efficiency. I also recommended that we invite the Board of Education into this process. This effort was rejected. Surprised to find that the Township had no strategic plan in place, I prepared a resolution to form a Strategic Planning Committee so that we can review operations, set objectives and systematically drive our employees toward the accomplishment of those objectives. I remain hopeful that this resolution will be past some time soon. To date, however, every recommendation that I have attempted to implement has been voted down in partisan votes.
With so many challenges to take on, I watch now in frustration as our Mayor, Deputy Mayor and their supporters desperately resort to meritless personal attacks, rather than confronting in their campaign materials the myriad issues that demand our action. Our national, state and local governments stand at the brink of a financial calamity. To continue to do business as usual will doom our taxpayers to a lifetime of debt. The next several years will not be easy. Projects that seemed certain may now have to be reconsidered. Sacrifices will be necessary, but I think our citizens understand this reality and welcome an opportunity to put our national, state and local financial houses back in order. Unfortunately, at the local level, personal attacks like the ones launched here in Middletown obscure our vision and diminish our focus on these more compelling issues. Perhaps, the thousands of new voters registered in the past year will break the current veil of cynicism that hangs over local government. Here in Middletown, there is much to be done. I would ask my fellow Committee members on the other side of the aisle to step away from the shadow of their political party and cast their votes with the best interests of our citizens at heart. The recent attacks on Pat Walsh amount to politics as usual at a time when partisan decision-making amounts to failed leadership and leads to missed opportunities.
Sean F. Byrnes
Middletown Township Committeeman
Police Prepare for Unrest
The Hill - Leading the News
This story is truly a sad comment on the political and social situations that face the country during this election campaign.
I can only hope that things would not come to this no matter who becomes the next president or how they achieved their victory:
"Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day, preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest.
Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election, which will end with either the nation’s first black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger police presence.
Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations. Others based the need for enhanced patrols on past riots in urban areas (following professional sports events) and also on Internet rumors.
Democratic strategists and advocates for black voters say they understand officers wanting to keep the peace, but caution that excessive police presence could intimidate voters.
Sen. Obama (Ill.), the Democratic nominee for president, has seen his lead over rival Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) grow in recent weeks, prompting speculation that there could be a violent backlash if he loses unexpectedly.
Cities that have suffered unrest before, such as Detroit, Chicago, Oakland and Philadelphia, will have extra police deployed...."
I can only hope that things would not come to this no matter who becomes the next president or how they achieved their victory:
"Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day, preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest.
Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election, which will end with either the nation’s first black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger police presence.
Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations. Others based the need for enhanced patrols on past riots in urban areas (following professional sports events) and also on Internet rumors.
Democratic strategists and advocates for black voters say they understand officers wanting to keep the peace, but caution that excessive police presence could intimidate voters.
Sen. Obama (Ill.), the Democratic nominee for president, has seen his lead over rival Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) grow in recent weeks, prompting speculation that there could be a violent backlash if he loses unexpectedly.
Cities that have suffered unrest before, such as Detroit, Chicago, Oakland and Philadelphia, will have extra police deployed...."
Morning Joe Gets Schooled by Zbigniew Brzezinski on Powell/Obama Endorsement
Just call him “Zbig the Scar Slayer.” Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski just destroyed Joe Scarborough on his own show and left him speechless and lying bloody on the ground. Scarborough had been ranting and raving for most of the previous segment with Pat Buchanan, belittling the Powell endorsement because of the Iraq War of all things and beating up Obama’s Press guy, Robert Gibbs (again) ad nauseum about how Obama had lied and broken his word on public financing and how they were buying the election and how Sarah Palin with all her years as Mayor of Wasilla (please!) and Governor was more qualified to be President than Barack Obama and he was nothing more than a Community Organizer, and a State legislator with one year in the Senate and blah, blah, blah.
A few minutes before they went to the break, Mika announced that Lawrence O’Donnell had arrived in the studio, so that was a good sign. But when I saw the 80 year-old Dr. Brzezinski pull himself up onto that stage, I knew Joe was in for all he could handle and more. Of course I wasn’t disappointed. When Joe was stupid enough to ask about the lack of experience of Barack Obama, Brzezinski countered beautifully, making the intellectual argument for Barack Obama sound like lyric poetry. He made the case for Barack’s intellect, temperament and good judgment over the unpredictable volatility of John McCain. (I’ll have the video as soon as it’s available.)
Brzezinski points out that Powell’s endorsement shows that Obama’s administration will be a bi-partisan administration, as it must be. He says one has only to look at what Obama has accomplished in this historic campaign and the millions of people he has inspired at this time in history when our nation is mired in this deep and dangerous crisis. He is a transformative figure. Besides, look at the guys who made the worst foreign policy decisions in our lifetimes, Donald Rumsfeld, and Dick Cheney. They had thirty years of “foreign policy experience.” Look what they got us into. Give me Barack Obama’s wisdom any day.
We didn’t hear any more from Joe. He was pretty much knocked out for the rest of the interview. Gotta love it. You just have to hit these guys where they live. You have to wait them out while they rant and rave and go through their little talking points. And when they are finished, you start making the intellectual argument for truth. They’ll end up on the ground with a bloody nose every time.
A few minutes before they went to the break, Mika announced that Lawrence O’Donnell had arrived in the studio, so that was a good sign. But when I saw the 80 year-old Dr. Brzezinski pull himself up onto that stage, I knew Joe was in for all he could handle and more. Of course I wasn’t disappointed. When Joe was stupid enough to ask about the lack of experience of Barack Obama, Brzezinski countered beautifully, making the intellectual argument for Barack Obama sound like lyric poetry. He made the case for Barack’s intellect, temperament and good judgment over the unpredictable volatility of John McCain. (I’ll have the video as soon as it’s available.)
Brzezinski points out that Powell’s endorsement shows that Obama’s administration will be a bi-partisan administration, as it must be. He says one has only to look at what Obama has accomplished in this historic campaign and the millions of people he has inspired at this time in history when our nation is mired in this deep and dangerous crisis. He is a transformative figure. Besides, look at the guys who made the worst foreign policy decisions in our lifetimes, Donald Rumsfeld, and Dick Cheney. They had thirty years of “foreign policy experience.” Look what they got us into. Give me Barack Obama’s wisdom any day.
We didn’t hear any more from Joe. He was pretty much knocked out for the rest of the interview. Gotta love it. You just have to hit these guys where they live. You have to wait them out while they rant and rave and go through their little talking points. And when they are finished, you start making the intellectual argument for truth. They’ll end up on the ground with a bloody nose every time.
O'Neal Compton - The Whole American Hog
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
26 newspapers that backed Bush in 2004 switch to Obama
Editor and Publisher notes that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) has a significant lead over Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in newspaper endorsements — 121-42. At least 26 papers that supported President Bush in 2004 have moved to Obama, versus just four that supported Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) switching to McCain. “In California alone, the Obama-Biden ticket picked-up six newspapers that endorsed President Bush in 2004. He also gained a few papers, such as the Los Angeles Times and Cleveland’s Plain Dealer that did no[t] endorse either candidate in 2004.”
-Think Progess
Asbury Park Press: Return Holt to Congress
I don't know what has gotten into the Asbury Park Press but I like what I am seeing from them this week. First Barack Obama, then Frank Pallone and now they have endorsed Rush Holt for a 6th term in Congress, all Democrats!
"Rep. Rush Holt has been a strong, consistent voice for the 12th Congressional District on issues that matter, especially national security, education and energy independence. With the nation facing the worst economic crisis in seven decades, voters should give Holt, a Democrat, a sixth term to help right the ship.
Holt's incumbency is a major plus in a Democratic-controlled Congress. He sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which deals with a variety of homeland security matters of local and national concern, including port security and the threat of nuclear terrorism.
His background as a physicist, educator and arms control expert serves his constituents well in tackling complex issues methodically, beyond the cloud of partisanship. Holt works to bridge interrelated issues, such as developing a renewable-energy industry as a means to both economic recovery and national security. He was one of the few members of Congress who saw the flawed arguments for invading Iraq and voted against allowing President Bush to divert our military's attention from Afghanistan to the quagmire in Iraq....
...Holt, who has represented the district ably and with integrity for 10 years, deserves another two years."
Holt's incumbency is a major plus in a Democratic-controlled Congress. He sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which deals with a variety of homeland security matters of local and national concern, including port security and the threat of nuclear terrorism.
His background as a physicist, educator and arms control expert serves his constituents well in tackling complex issues methodically, beyond the cloud of partisanship. Holt works to bridge interrelated issues, such as developing a renewable-energy industry as a means to both economic recovery and national security. He was one of the few members of Congress who saw the flawed arguments for invading Iraq and voted against allowing President Bush to divert our military's attention from Afghanistan to the quagmire in Iraq....
...Holt, who has represented the district ably and with integrity for 10 years, deserves another two years."
JOIN AMY MALLET & GLENN MASON: HELP THE KEYPORT FOOD BANK
*** Hosted by ***
Lenny Inzerillo
Monday, October 27th 2008
6:00pm-9:00pm Shore Café Hwy 36, Hazlet
Please bring non perishable food and enjoyed wine and cheese with Freeholder Candidates Amy Mallet and Glenn Mason.
For more Information
Contact:
Lenny Inzerillo (732) 673-2989
GOP candidates are bad for Middletown
What is the Middletown GOP's motivation in this campaign that is affecting their judgment? It certainly isn't dealing with the real issues that Middletown residents are facing on an everyday basis ” like putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their family's head.
A possible motive could be covering up damage this Republican-controlled government has thrown in the face of Middletown for the past 27 years. The contamination at the Arts Center and Town Hall has been ignored, to the point where a state agency had to step in and start charging fees for the township's oversights in the project.
When I've walked neighborhoods, what residents keep telling me is they simply can't afford their homes anymore. They can't afford their mortgages, their children's college education or their taxes.
Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger's praise of Middletown being in Money Magazine's Top 100 Places to Live in the Country forgets some things: Middletown isn't taking enough care of its own right now and the quality of life has declined.
What has this administration done to maintain the quality of life its residents enjoy? It has turned away many young people in its mismanagement of affordable housing, allowed properties to remain unsafely contaminated, and pretended as if FEMA was unreal, like it "couldn't happen to us."
Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill and her running mate, have charged me with raising taxes in a town where I don't yet sit on the committee. They have made assumptions, and the only reason for this is because they are running against me in a political election.
In exercising their apparent judgment, they are choosing to attack opponents, literally fabricating issues and spinning truth. The facts remain, but the truth is this: The Middletown GOP administration is on a path that will ruin this community, if allowed to fester any further.
It is evident their judgment has not been influenced by the public at all. The Middletown GOP is plagued by self-serving motivations, cronyism and partisan gifts handed out by chairman Peter Carton.
Jim Grenafege
Democrat for Township Committee
Middletown resident
A possible motive could be covering up damage this Republican-controlled government has thrown in the face of Middletown for the past 27 years. The contamination at the Arts Center and Town Hall has been ignored, to the point where a state agency had to step in and start charging fees for the township's oversights in the project.
When I've walked neighborhoods, what residents keep telling me is they simply can't afford their homes anymore. They can't afford their mortgages, their children's college education or their taxes.
Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger's praise of Middletown being in Money Magazine's Top 100 Places to Live in the Country forgets some things: Middletown isn't taking enough care of its own right now and the quality of life has declined.
What has this administration done to maintain the quality of life its residents enjoy? It has turned away many young people in its mismanagement of affordable housing, allowed properties to remain unsafely contaminated, and pretended as if FEMA was unreal, like it "couldn't happen to us."
Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill and her running mate, have charged me with raising taxes in a town where I don't yet sit on the committee. They have made assumptions, and the only reason for this is because they are running against me in a political election.
In exercising their apparent judgment, they are choosing to attack opponents, literally fabricating issues and spinning truth. The facts remain, but the truth is this: The Middletown GOP administration is on a path that will ruin this community, if allowed to fester any further.
It is evident their judgment has not been influenced by the public at all. The Middletown GOP is plagued by self-serving motivations, cronyism and partisan gifts handed out by chairman Peter Carton.
Jim Grenafege
Democrat for Township Committee
Middletown resident
Obama to Leave Campaign Trail for Ill Grandmother
On Thursday, Sen. Barack Obama will "travel to Hawaii to see his 86-year-old grandmother, who has fallen ill," according to Politico.
"The change of plans means Obama will scrap scheduled rallies Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, and Madison, Wisc. He will instead head to Indianapolis, Ind., for a morning event, leave for Hawaii and return to the campaign trail Saturday."
- Political Wire
"The change of plans means Obama will scrap scheduled rallies Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, and Madison, Wisc. He will instead head to Indianapolis, Ind., for a morning event, leave for Hawaii and return to the campaign trail Saturday."
- Political Wire
McCain Giving Up on Colorado
CNN reports that top officials of Sen. John McCain's campaign are "making tough decisions" as they now see Colorado, New Mexico and Iowa no longer winnable.
Instead, the campaign's "risky strategy" is counting on Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and a comeback in Pennsylvania.
The McCain campaign responds: "We see the race tightening both internally and in public polling. We are within striking distance in the key battleground states we need to win."
- Political Wire
Instead, the campaign's "risky strategy" is counting on Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and a comeback in Pennsylvania.
The McCain campaign responds: "We see the race tightening both internally and in public polling. We are within striking distance in the key battleground states we need to win."
- Political Wire
Monday, October 20, 2008
Asbury Park Press: An 11th term for Pallone
I don't know how anyone could have missed this but, the Asbury Park Press has endorsed Frank Pallone for an 11th term in the House of Representatives today:
"Veteran Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. has been a tireless advocate for issues important to the people he has represented in his 6th Congressional District for the past 20 years. He has been a staunch supporter of measures to protect the environment, provide affordable health care and preserve the Shore's valuable tourism industry. He deserves re-election to an 11th term in the House of Representatives.
Pallone, a Democrat who chairs the key health-care subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is in the right place at the right time to work on issues important to New Jersey in general and Shore residents in particular. If re-elected, he says he will concentrate on food and drug safety, strengthening the Medicare and Medicaid programs and improving health insurance coverage...."
So far the APP is 2 for 3 in endorsing Democrats for national office. Will the APP make 3 for 3 and endorse Frank Lautenberg for Senate? And what about Monmouth County where Mallet and Mason have a great change at unseating Freeholder Lillian Burry and defeating her running mate John Curly?
Is the Asbury Park Press going soft all of the sudden? It wasn't long ago when the paper didn't see a Republican it didn't like.
The next few days will tell
The Smoking Gun Behind the Walsh Recall Petition
If there was ever a smoking gun more obvious then this please let me know.
In their efforts to discredit and slander Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee Patricia Walsh, James Cody, the so-called Chairman of the Committee to recall B. O. E. Member Pat Walsh, and his cronies, Anthony Testa, and Kathleen Bjelka (Cody’s sister) did not do a very good job of covering their fannies.
If the Republicans lose control of the township, they will lose whatever influence they have in town. Hence, a phony recall effort against Patricia Walsh in the middle of her campaign for Middletown Township Committee to embarrass and discredit her in front of the voters.
What is this smoking gun that I have found that proves that the Middletown GOP is behind this meritless and absurd recall petition and shows that James Cody and his friends are but pitiful tools being used by the Republicans in Middletown.
It is this chart (click here for original) :
The original chart is posted on another's blog site and is being sighted as one of the main reasons for the recall petition against Walsh, but that individual does not inform us as to where it came from or who created it, but I will.
For years it had been alleged, that Carton is nothing more than a figurehead to the Middletown GOP and its true leader was Brian Nelson. It had been Nelson’s responsibility to run the daily activities and campaigns of the Middletown GOP over the past few years and with the stunning loses that the Republicans have experienced in the last two elections and control of the township committee in jeopardy, their long time friendship was thought to have come to an end, but apparently not.
In their efforts to discredit and slander Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee Patricia Walsh, James Cody, the so-called Chairman of the Committee to recall B. O. E. Member Pat Walsh, and his cronies, Anthony Testa, and Kathleen Bjelka (Cody’s sister) did not do a very good job of covering their fannies.
If the Republicans lose control of the township, they will lose whatever influence they have in town. Hence, a phony recall effort against Patricia Walsh in the middle of her campaign for Middletown Township Committee to embarrass and discredit her in front of the voters.
What is this smoking gun that I have found that proves that the Middletown GOP is behind this meritless and absurd recall petition and shows that James Cody and his friends are but pitiful tools being used by the Republicans in Middletown.
It is this chart (click here for original) :
The original chart is posted on another's blog site and is being sighted as one of the main reasons for the recall petition against Walsh, but that individual does not inform us as to where it came from or who created it, but I will.
This chart came directly from the Middletown GOP. How do I know this?
It is quite easy to figure out actually, if you call up the properties of the original chart you will find that it was authored by non other than Brian Nelson.
Who is Brian Nelson you ask?
Brian Nelson is a long time friend and co-worker of Middletown Republican Party Chairman Peter Carton. Both men work for the same Newark law firm, Gibbons, Del Doe, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione. Before moving to Tinton Falls, Nelson was a republican committeeman in town and had a seat on the Middletown Sewage Authority along side of Carton, collecting salary, health and retirement benefits from Middletown.
For years it had been alleged, that Carton is nothing more than a figurehead to the Middletown GOP and its true leader was Brian Nelson. It had been Nelson’s responsibility to run the daily activities and campaigns of the Middletown GOP over the past few years and with the stunning loses that the Republicans have experienced in the last two elections and control of the township committee in jeopardy, their long time friendship was thought to have come to an end, but apparently not.
So what's next to be pulled out the "dirty tricks" bag of the Middletown GOP, they don't have many left and their desparation is becoming evident. It has become obvious the the republicans have no new ideas and do not have the will enough to lead by example.
Instead of addressing the issues that effect Middletown like lowering taxes, which Pam Brightbill voted to raise by 16% over the past 3 years, and cutting the budget because to many of their friends are making a living at the taxpayers expense in Middletown, GOP wishes to distract the voters with a phony recall petition against their main rival and threat to their dominance Patricia Walsh.
Art Gallagher is a Partisan Hack and I Have the Audio to Prove it
"Hey Mrs... Walsh I'm uhm, not really in charge of the layout of the website or uhm, you know, necessarily if I can make any changes once I summit it.."
The following audio clip is a message left on the voice mail of Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee, Patricia Walsh's answering machine a few weeks ago.
This rambling and often incoherent message was left by JJ Sullivan, the supposedly impartial reporter who was hired by Art Gallagher of the MoreMonmouthMussings blog to cover the goings on in Middletown and Keyport.
Out of all the towns in Monmouth County and the bayshore in particular, why would Gallagher feel that it was so important to cover Middletown and Keyport? The answer, Revenge.
Revenge against Jim Purcell and the Courier newspaper for dropping his column in the wake of his infamous "N" word controversy and Middletown Democratic Party leader Joe Caliendo, who Gallagher feels organized his firing from the paper and his censorship from the Middletown Human Rights Commission.
In his misguided angry and angst, Gallagher has allowed himself to become a tool of the Middletown GOP and his once insightful and at times thought provoking blog has been turned into a clearing house for lies and falsehoods about Jim Purcell and his friends, as well as the Middletown Democrats, in particularly Patricia Walsh.
You see, Walsh and her running mate Jim Grenafege are on the verge of becoming the latest democrats elected to the Middletown Township Committee. The Middletown Democrats need only win one seat to gain the majority on the committee for the first time in over twenty years, but to win both seats and a super majority that would mean that they would control
bonding and all that goes along with it (good-bye Mr. Carton), and the Middletown Republicans can't let that happen no matter what. So, the Middletown GOP entered into some sort of unholy alliance with Art Gallagher, an alliance that I am sure will come back to bite him right in the ass.
The Republicans provided to Gallagher an ancient deposition from a law suit that was brought against Patricia Walsh 10 years ago and settled in 2001. In this deposition Walsh admitted that her legal bills where mounting and that she borrowed money from a friend to help cover her legal expenses. This loan, which has been paid back, has been turned into some kind of "dirty deed" by Gallagher and the Middletown Republicans.
In his attempts to discredit Walsh and the Middletown Democrats, Gallagher hired a reporter, JJ Sullivan, to cover the non-story for his MoreMonmouthMussings blog.
Gallagher handed over to his reporter, the information that was provided to him by officials in the Middletown GOP (Mayor Scharfenberger?), and told Sullivan to make the story happen.
The following audio clip I am told is the one and only attempt by Gallagher's reporter to contact Patricia Walsh for a comment. While you are listening, please note that Sullivan does not explain why he is calling for a comment or what he will be writing about, just that he wants to talk to her about some allegations. He tells Walsh that she would be able to call him over the weekend, but he had to have the story submitted by Friday night and he didn't know whether or not he would be able to make any changes to it once it was submitted, which would lead one to conclude that JJ was afraid that Art Gallagher would have editing control over what was finally published.
The following audio clip is a message left on the voice mail of Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee, Patricia Walsh's answering machine a few weeks ago.
This rambling and often incoherent message was left by JJ Sullivan, the supposedly impartial reporter who was hired by Art Gallagher of the MoreMonmouthMussings blog to cover the goings on in Middletown and Keyport.
Out of all the towns in Monmouth County and the bayshore in particular, why would Gallagher feel that it was so important to cover Middletown and Keyport? The answer, Revenge.
Revenge against Jim Purcell and the Courier newspaper for dropping his column in the wake of his infamous "N" word controversy and Middletown Democratic Party leader Joe Caliendo, who Gallagher feels organized his firing from the paper and his censorship from the Middletown Human Rights Commission.
In his misguided angry and angst, Gallagher has allowed himself to become a tool of the Middletown GOP and his once insightful and at times thought provoking blog has been turned into a clearing house for lies and falsehoods about Jim Purcell and his friends, as well as the Middletown Democrats, in particularly Patricia Walsh.
You see, Walsh and her running mate Jim Grenafege are on the verge of becoming the latest democrats elected to the Middletown Township Committee. The Middletown Democrats need only win one seat to gain the majority on the committee for the first time in over twenty years, but to win both seats and a super majority that would mean that they would control
bonding and all that goes along with it (good-bye Mr. Carton), and the Middletown Republicans can't let that happen no matter what. So, the Middletown GOP entered into some sort of unholy alliance with Art Gallagher, an alliance that I am sure will come back to bite him right in the ass.
The Republicans provided to Gallagher an ancient deposition from a law suit that was brought against Patricia Walsh 10 years ago and settled in 2001. In this deposition Walsh admitted that her legal bills where mounting and that she borrowed money from a friend to help cover her legal expenses. This loan, which has been paid back, has been turned into some kind of "dirty deed" by Gallagher and the Middletown Republicans.
In his attempts to discredit Walsh and the Middletown Democrats, Gallagher hired a reporter, JJ Sullivan, to cover the non-story for his MoreMonmouthMussings blog.
Gallagher handed over to his reporter, the information that was provided to him by officials in the Middletown GOP (Mayor Scharfenberger?), and told Sullivan to make the story happen.
The following audio clip I am told is the one and only attempt by Gallagher's reporter to contact Patricia Walsh for a comment. While you are listening, please note that Sullivan does not explain why he is calling for a comment or what he will be writing about, just that he wants to talk to her about some allegations. He tells Walsh that she would be able to call him over the weekend, but he had to have the story submitted by Friday night and he didn't know whether or not he would be able to make any changes to it once it was submitted, which would lead one to conclude that JJ was afraid that Art Gallagher would have editing control over what was finally published.
It Seems Like only Yesterday: Happy Anniversary Honey
Whoa, it does seem like only yesterday that I tied the knot and committeed myself to a life of marital bliss. It has been 18years since Debbie and I married each other and I am looking forward to the next 18(or 28 or 38...) because as they say "Our best years are still ahead of us!"
Happy Anniversary !
Sunday, October 19, 2008
South Jersey Sojourn - Cranberry Festival, Renault Winery, Smithville and the Jersey Devil
The weather this weekend was fantastic for a classic fall sojourn to South Jersey. My family and I spent Saturday driving many of the back roads and taking in the sights of the southern part of our State.
We made stops at the Cranberry Festival which was being held in Chatsworth, the self proclaimed Capital of the Pine Lands, Renault Winery and Smithville before ending the day having dinner at the Oyster Creek Inn at Leeds Point, Leeds Point being the fabled birth place of the Jersey Devil.
(All photos the property of MiddletownMike)
We made stops at the Cranberry Festival which was being held in Chatsworth, the self proclaimed Capital of the Pine Lands, Renault Winery and Smithville before ending the day having dinner at the Oyster Creek Inn at Leeds Point, Leeds Point being the fabled birth place of the Jersey Devil.
(All photos the property of MiddletownMike)
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