Clinton for veep group says she’s out of the running

This just in.
VoteBoth.com, a website created by former aides to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) to push her as presidential candidate Barack Obama’s running mate, is shutting down because Clinton is “no longer under consideration.”

According to the website Barack Obama has picked Hillary Clinton to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. It is because of this that they feels Hillary is no longer in the running for the second spot on the ticket.

Click on the headline to read the story

Middletown's meeting to discuss COAH turned ugly last night

I received a few phone calls today about last nights meeting in Middletown to discuss the COAH rule revisions that will be taking effect. I wasn't there but from what I have been told it turned very ugly.

As it turns out, the story about the meeting last night that appears in today's Asbury Park Press does not go into any detail about what happened during and after the public comments portion of the meeting. 

After opening the meeting for comments, a very long, uncomfortable moment passed without anyone interested in speaking. Just before the meeting was going to be closed, Matt Morehead, Chairman of the Bayshore Young Democrats raised his hand to address the crowd.

 

It was at this point, I am told that it got ugly. Even before Mr. Morehead could get a word out he was immediately bombarded with hisses and catcalls. It seems as though the auditorium was packed with local members of the Middletown Republican Party, who were all just waiting for Mr. Morehead  to speak.  

When Matt finished his comments and attempted to leave the building he was accosted and surrounded in the lobby of the Middletown Arts Center by the same people who would not allow him to speak his mind inside of the auditorium.  I am told that he was called several choice names that can not be printed along with being labeled as a communistic socialist. 

It is unfortunate that these people have to act so childish. Instead of taking out their anger on the true culprits, the township's Republican leadership who had 23 years in which to fully comply with COAH, they instead direct threats and insults at Matt Morehead for pushing the affordable housing issue to the forefront of discussion. For some reason these people feel Matt is responsible somehow for the state's elimination of the use of RCA's to help towns meet their affordable housing requirements, which is simply not true. The elimination of RCA's had been discussed long before Mr. Morehead arrived on the scene.    

I am sure that Matt will have more to say about this on his blog "A Voice for the Youth" soon.

You can click on the headline to read the APP's account of what happend at the meeting.

Obama Ready to 'Duel' McCain

From the Hill's Briefing Room comes an article from Walter Alarkon who is reporting that John McCain's new ad comparing Barack Obama to pop stars Britney Spears and Paris Hilton has bloggers on both sides in a tizzy. While conservative bloggers find it effective, liberal bloggers and a former McCain aide call it childish.

It's too bad McCain has to resort to factually inaccurate attack ads so early in the campaign. I think it show that his "straight talk" persona is more media hype then  genuine. 

It’s Time for Congress to Issue an Apology for Slavery

July 29th, 2008

Today, the House of Representatives will consider
H.Res.194, an apology for slavery and Jim Crow which I
introduced in February 2007. This resolution, which is
cosponsored by more than ¼ of House members, acknowledges
the long and painful history of slavery in America and its
successor, Jim Crow. Moreover, Congress played an important
role, either through legislation or inaction, in sustaining
both of these noxious institutions. Several states and the
United Kingdom have expressed regret for their roles in
slavery or the transatlantic slave trade. Australia has
apologized to its Aborigines for the mistreatment they
received at the hands of the Australian government for much
of the last century. In light of these facts, it is long
past time for Congress to issue an apology for slavery and
Jim Crow, and I look forward to the House adopting this
historic measure later today.

Suicide hot line got calls from 22,000 veterans

I saw this story from the Associated Press which was reported on RawStory.com it states that more than 22,000 veterans have sought help from a special suicide hot line in its first year, and 1,221 suicides have been averted.

The VA teamed up with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to launch the hot line last July after years of criticism that the VA wasn't doing enough to help wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is good news for our returning vets, finally the government is starting to take seriously the mental health issues which are effecting our returning soldiers. It is a crying shame that our men and women who are returning from the front of the "War on Terror" in such conditions that so many of them have considered taking their own lives.

Click on the headline and read the story

A Response from Todays California Quake

While at work today, news came over the radio about the 5.8 magnitude quake that hit southern California today.

The company that I work for has a production facility just outside of Anaheim and late this afternoon we received the following communication from the plant, which I thought might be of interest to some of the readers of this blog. Particularly if they have friends or family in the area:

Incident Level: Incident - With Serious Potential

Description: An earthquake of magnitude 5.8, centered 20 miles northwest of the plant struck
at 11:42 AM PST. Ten aftershocks occurred in the next dozen minutes, including three
estimated at 3.8. The quake was about 8 miles below the earth's surface.

There were no injuries and the site was evacuated for a short time. There is minor damage
to ceiling tiles but no major structural damage or other process lines such as natural
gas lines. The site is resuming production although a number employees are nervous about
returning to work.

It was good news to hear that none of our friends were hurt in the quake and I hope that if anyone of you reading about the earthquake had friends or relatives in the area that they too are safe and sound.

Walsh back Emails being open through OPRA

I recieved the following Press release from Democratic Candidate for Middletown Township Committee, Partica Walsh and thought I would pass it along.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

July 28, 2008

POC: Patricia A. Walsh
Democrat for Township Committee
Tel: (908) 601-1252
Email: awalsh386@aol.com

Walsh back Emails being open through OPRA

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Middletown Democrat for Township Committee
Patricia A. Walsh said she would lobby to make E-mails written from township-owned
computers accessible to the public through OPRA.

“I believe it is the public’s right to know what happens on the machines they buy,”
Walsh said. “A public servant should always be mindful that the taxpayers are the boss,
and it is to them they are accountable.”

Walsh said it is her intention to lobby to create a more transparent government in town
because it is what is right. “There can be excuses for not doing what is right, which
is what this Township Committee is giving the public, but that can never live up to being
as good as just doing the right thing.”

Walsh said she is seeking the Township Committee’s support in a program of backing up
all existing Emails, to ensure that any potentially unauthorized correspondences by
members of the administration are not destroyed.

Specifically, Walsh said she wants correspondences preserved where it involved
communications between department heads, attorneys, members of the governing body, and
historical information where it involves E-mail discussions about sensitive issues such
as COAH and the recent aborted tax assessment of Middletown.

In addition, Walsh said she wants to preserve all existing files on administration
desktops, to review these and ensure that unauthorized programs and actions have not been
taken by the administration in the performance of their duties in town.

“I do intend to clean house, with the help of the committee, and make any township
officials who have been remiss in their duties accountable,” Walsh said.

But beyond accountability for the past, Walsh said permanently opening up taxpayer-access
to E-mails by the administration is just “good government.”

Walsh admitted there are some E-mails that, by law, would not be able to be open for
public review. However, she said those would amount to a relatively small percentage of
the whole.

“This township has been governed by people who are comfortable in secrecy and executive
privilege for too long. They have lost their way and have forgotten that the Town Hall
they wield power from is the property of the taxpayers of Middletown and is not their
private domain,” Walsh concluded. “It is my intention to offer the Middletown
Committee’s majority a fresh lesson in government, which has always been intended to be
by the consent of the governed, and not instead of it.”

Yet another adds his voice to the MoreMonmouthMusings "N" word Controversy

Also received last night via a personal email is the following statement from a good family friend of mine Tony Orsini. The last I heard, Tony is the Municipal Chairman of  Holmdel's Democratic Committee. 

Tony also wanted me to pass along his comments about Art Gallahger the readers of this blog:

How would Mr. Gallagher feel about someone saying this to him: "Do
you know what the difference is between an Irish funeral and an
Irish wedding? One less drunk."

There's still a big difference between calling someone a subhuman
slave versus a drunk. Anyone can be called a drunk and there's no
historical, anthropological or sociological context. Anyone who
knows anything about history realizes it is hurtful, degrading, and
suggestive of some sort of genetic inferiority.

I guess Mr. Gallagher has no African-American friends who can
explain this to him. No surprises there. He might be made to
realize that they are more intelligent than he is.

Mr. Gallagher, don't freak out because Mr. Obama might be our next
Prez: genetically, Obama is actually 51% white...you know, like
Derek Jeter.

I refer him to Lincoln: "It's better to shut up and make people think you're stupid rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt."

  

Thanks Tony for lending your voice to this debate.

Schwebel adds her vioce to the MoreMonmouthMusings "N" word controversy

I recieved a personal email (not a blog comment Art) last night from the former Chairwoman of the Middletown Human Rights Commission Carolyn Schwebel, Ed.D.

Mrs Schwebel who is currently the vice chair of the Monmouth County Human Rights Commission wanted me to pass along to the readers of this blog and to the readers of Art Gallagher's MoreMonmouthMusings the following thoughts;

On a sunny day, two young friends taking a walk smiled at the family they passed. The cute little girl yelled at one, "Go back where you came from!" The young African-American man, "stabbed" again, replied, "I live across the street. I came from here!"

"You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,"
(-Oscar Hammerstein, 1949)

A nine-year-old school child came to me in tears, saying,
"Larry keeps calling me a (N-word) and laughing."

"He jests at scars that neverf felt a wound."
(Romeo, in Shakespeare)

A local blogger disingenuously uses the "N-word" in offensive ways: "Take an ( 'N-word') to lunch," In a purported effort to enhance interacial understanding and communication.

" What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach,..."
(Captain in "Cool Hand Luke")

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can really hurt me!"

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Maya Angelou

Thank You Dr. Schwebel for your thoughtful insights

Gallagher's Column"MoreMonmouthMusings" dropped by Courier

I just heard the good news. 

As of today, Art Gallagher's column "MoreMonmouthMusings" has been dropped from the Courier weekly paper. 

It seems as though the fallout over his racially charged posts and his clumsy attempts to start a discussing about race has started. And from what I have just recently heard Art is not very happy about it.

I have been told that because of this, Art will be using his MoreMonmouthMusing forum to go after any and all Democrats and the NAACP, who he feels is responsible for the Courier dropping his column.

At this point, my only comment to him is go ahead and try. If you want this years election turned into a referendum on race you and all of your Republican candidates will loose.

Further more it will force the people that Art Gallagher supports to address the issue and either come to his defense or speak out against him.   Either way it is not a position in which the county GOP would like to be placed in.  

Stay tuned for further developments

MoreMonmouthMusings's Art Gallagher is loosing it

I recieved the following email from Art Gallagher this morning, I think that he is loosing it and has started to crack under the pressure of all contorversy he has surrounded himself with "N" word. His email also pionts out how intolerant he actually is towards anyone with a difference of opinion. 

"Mike,

This post is pure demagoguery. Reading it, I can understand why you don't think you are qualified to have a conversation about race.
You are also not qualified to make an assessment of me, my qualifications or the level of respect I may or may not have in the community.
I can appreciate Mr. Dangler's upset with my posts. But you are just a blowhard who knows nothing of what you are talking about trying to make a name for yourself. Try Mud Raker.
"The N-word is not acceptable speech, has never been acceptable speech by anyone, and will never be acceptable speech for anyone, of any race, political party or consequent to any agenda."
This statement is simply not true. Do some research lazy boy.
I have no ill feeling towards Art Gallagher Really? I have ill feeling towards you after this post.
and I do not necessarily wish him any harm.
You don't necessarily wish me any harm? That means under certain circumstances you do or would wish me harm! Or are were you just being linguistically lazy again?

To Rick: You post disappoints me. While we have our friendly and occasionally testy banter, I really thought you had a stronger character....like your father, and his team mates obviously did.
To say Caucasians have no business talking about, using, or even discussing the use of the "N" word perpetuates the separatism that is at the heart of the problem of relationships between the races.

A bunch of white guys arguing over the N-word is absurd and I'm working hard to keep this conversation I started from devolving into that. But Rick, you are smart and sensitive enough to know that this conversation is not about the N-Word. It is about race relations, as I have said so many times and as you said in the beginning of your post. You're in one of the races. You're qualified. By the way Rick, you may well be a decendent of slaves, as you might learn reading MMM this coming week.
No that that's off my chest...as I have said numerous times in my posts, I am working to increase understanding and acceptance between whites and blacks. Toward that end, I have spent the better part of the week, and will continue until I'm done, researching the history of slavery and race. I've learned some shocking and disturbing things. There will be a series of posts about what I've learned next week at my place. I've already got posts going through Thrusday. Check them out." 

McCain flip flobs on Iraqi Timetable for Withdrawl

The NY Times is reporting today yet another flip flop by John McCain. His current change in thinking involves a timeline for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

For months John McCain has strongly opposed setting a timetable for withdrawal and has criticized Barack Obama suggesting one. The debate has shifted however in recent days as Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, moved closer to Obama’s position.

Click on the headline and read the story in the NY Times

Corporate sponsorships a source of revenue for school district

I have to say that when I first heard of the idea by the Middletown Board of Education, to seek corporate sponsorships for the school system I was very sceptical. The idea of selling the naming rights to the cafeterias and hallway did not seem to me as such a good idea.

Our kids today are bombarded with to many advertisements that shape and manipulate their choices, from the clothes and shoes that they wear, to the snacks and drinks that they consume. At this stage of their lives (K-12 grade) kids are very susceptible to outside influences and parents today must watch closely to ensure that those influences do not become negative or in some way harm their child's development.

So when I saw that article, buried several pages inside of the Independent this week that reported the BOE had entered into an agreement with Corporate Marketing Associates (CMA) to seek corporate sponsorships to the school system I had to read it.

 I am now happy to report that I am not as upset over it as I could have been. It seems as though sponsorships will more or less be limited to signs at the high school fields,  flags on Web sites, or pages in an ad journal and not the selling out of the Middletown schools themselves. 

Click on the headline to read the article in this weeks Independent

It was a great night at the Monmouth County Fair

It was a great night at the Monmouth County Fair, the atmosphere was electric and the weather was beautiful. If like me, you haven't made it to the fair in awhile I recommend that you go and have a good time. The carnival rides, games and food seemed to be enjoyed by many of those that attended.  And how can you pass up a chance to watch the always exciting pig races!

I spent most of my time meeting and greeting people while helping out at the Monmouth County Democrat's booth. I was very surprised at how enthusiastic the people were when they stopped by to talk to us. We had a constant and steady stream of visitors and must have register 30 or more new Democrat for the upcoming general election on November 4th. It was also stunning to see how many young people came up to us and wanted to help out.

Democratic Candidate for Freeholder, Glenn Mason of Hazlet, was there all night meeting and talking to interested passersby who all seemed to be genuinely interested in his candidacy.

Also stopping by the booth was Josh Zeitz, Democratic Candidate for the 4th Congressional district. Josh spent a few hours with us and was also greeted warmly by crowds.

I met Josh briefly a few months back at the Monmouth County Democratic mini-convention but never had the chance to talk with him. This time around I found him to be a very nice, down to earth person, who knew the important issues that effected his district. He also had many ideas about how he could bring about change in our nation. I wish him a lot of luck in his uphill battle to unseat incumbent Chris Smith in the 4th district.   

GOP cyber-security expert suggests Diebold tampered with 2002 election

To those of you who are interested in, or are worried about voter fraud and the use of Diebold voting machines, should read an article that was recently written by Larisa Alexandrovna and Muriel Kane of Raw Story. They wrote an interesting piece last week about how a leading cyber-security expert and former adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) says he has fresh evidence regarding election fraud on Diebold electronic voting machines during the 2002 Georgia gubernatorial and senatorial elections.

Click on the headline to read all about it.

MiddletownMike will be at the Monmouth County Fair

If anyone is interested I will be attending the Monmouth County Fair tonight. 

I have volunteered to help man the Monmouth County Democratic booth.

The fair hours tonight are 5pm to 11pm.

Stop by and say hello, it would be my pleasure to meet you all. 

Obama Forces Flip-Flops to Paralyze McCain

The Huffington post's Michael Carmichael had a great piece the other day that was posted on Yahoo, about how Barack Obama has been able in recent weeks to force President Bush into a series of flib-flops that has left the McCain camp virtually paralyzed.

"or many months, Obama called for a timetable for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and direct negotiations with the governments of the Axis of Evil and other nations with which the US government has disagreements.
For just as many months, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, John McCain, Condoleezza Rice and their ideological guru, John Bolton, argued -- strenuously and vociferously -- against Obama's timetable for withdrawal from Iraq and his "naïve" proposal for negotiations the neocons described as talks with terrorists and states that sponsor terrorism."

Click on the headline to read the Michael Carmichael's opinion from Yahoo

John McCain's Neverending War

This video features John McCain talking about the Iraq war from 2002 through the present, exposing — in his own words — the lie behind his claim that he was the war’s "greatest critic." It demonstrates his chilling commitment to fighting this war no matter what the people of America — or Iraq — want.

It's a little long but worth the watch.

Snarky Alert ?

I just need to respond to Barry Goldwater over at the Voice of Reason.

If you feel that I continually use bad grammar, spelling and punctuation in my blog postings then please send a comment whenever I seem to upset your elitist sensibilities. Unlike yourself, I did not grow up with a silver pen in my mouth. 

I am just an average guy that has to work the night shift to make a living, while you sit in your ivory covered chambers somewhere.

I do appreciate the shout out though. 

The use of the "N" word is not and never will be Accetable

I have just finished watching MoreMonmouthMusings's  Art Gallagher interview that has been posted by Jim Purcell over at the Insideclamdigger blog and I just have a few comments about it.

Art looks a little disheveled, like he has just woken up from a long winters nap, and at times he seems awkward while trying to explain his position.  He fumbles over much of what he has to say, much like Don Imus did when he tried to explain himself to Al Sharpton. 

At one point, Art tries to link the controversy around Belmar Mayor Ken Pringle's use of the word "Guido" to describe the bennies that flock to his shoretown and his own ill attempts to address race. Unfortunately I don't see much of comparison in this argument.  

While guido may not have been the smartest choice of words by Pringle to discribe the many tourist that crowd the beaches of Belmar each summer, it is certainly not looked at in the same light as the "N" word.  Is guido offensive to some, absolutely, does it make you want to cringe at its mention. I think not. 

The use of the N-word is unacceptable for use, in any way, inside modern English language. It is wrong because the word represents hundreds of years of oppression by white people against black people. The issue of whether the N-word can be used, or should be used, is being hidden behind a "Free Speech" argument and that is ridiculous.

The N-word as a term is not against the law to use. However, I would hope that no one who is in charge of anything, especially tax money, or the promotion of anyone who is intending on spending tax money, should be comfortable with the everyday use of that word. In particular, I would hope that anyone who is involved with politics would not, as a matter of course, use that word because it is classless, tasteless, hate filled and demonstrates a race agenda by using it.

The N-word is not illegal, and no one is saying it should be. It is just terrible that some people are trying to bring it back into fashion again in everyday language. There is a difference between the First Amendment and yelling 'fire' in a movie theater. The way that so many bloggers, who happen to be conservatives, are throwing this word around and trying to gain support for it, I suppose, is unnecessarily dangerous and wrong.

How this argument could be had in the 21st Century, in the United States, is amazing. That this argument is coming out of the political community in Monmouth County is doubly so.

The N-word is not acceptable speech, has never been acceptable speech by anyone, and will never be acceptable speech for anyone, of any race, political party or consequent to any agenda.

I have no ill feeling towards Art Gallagher and I do not necessarily wish him any harm. The problem is that he is a white, conservative member of the Republican Party, in the mostly white, conservative county of Momouth. He is not really qualifed or respected enough in the community to be expected to bring about an intellegent discussion on race and the use of the "N" word.       

Words carry not only meaning, but evoke evils from the past as well...

Matt Morehead, over at the Voice For The Youth blog has posted a thoughtful and compassionate response to Art Gallahger's ill conceived attempts to address race relations and the use of the "N" word.

Matt also notes that one of Art's supporters is none other than Eric Sedler, Chairman of the Monmouth County Young Republicans.

I wonder if Joe Oxley, the new Chairman for the Monmouth County GOP, also supports Art Gallahger and his MoreMonmouthMusings rants when it comes to is attempt to address race and the use of the "N" word? 

Click on the headline to read Matt's response to Art Gallagher

Obama has 14 point lead in N.J.

According to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll released this morning.

Barack Obama leads John McCain by a 48%-34% margin in New Jersey.
Without leaners, Obama leads 42%-28%.
Among likely voters, Obama leads 50%-36%, including leaners.

You can read more about it the results of the poll by clicking Here to read the summery in the Asbury Park Press or click on the headline to see PolitickerNJs account.

McCain not natural-born citizen

I fell it necessary to respond to the recent post over at MoreMonouthMusings that questions Barack Obama's qualifications to be the next President of the United States.

Mr. Gallagher found some obscure Israeli blog that states that Obama's birth certificate is a forgery and that Obama is not a natural born citizen,which would then make his run for the White House unconstitutional. 

This is clearly nothing more than a right wing smear attempt to try and draw attention away from the question about John McCain's own constitutional question of being qualified to be President.

McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone prior to the 1937 law granting citizenship to children of U.S. parents in the Panama Canal Zone. A lawsuit challenging McCain's qualifications is pending in a federal court in Concord, N.H.

This has been reported in many respected national newspapers like the Washington Post,

not some right wing obscure blog from Israel.

Art, before taking out the garbage make sure you have checkout what's been left behind in the kitchen first.   

Click on the headline to see my own obscure blog reference about McCain's natural born status

The Fiore Resumé Surfaces

Check out Melissa Gaffney's post over at her SableMinded blog. It seems as though she got a hold of the resumé which Anthony Fiore submitted to the Township for inclusion into it's Talent Bank program.

For people that do not know what the Talent Bank is, it's resumés that are submitted to the township for consideration of inclusion onto various volunteer boards and commissions within the Township. Examples of such boards or commissions would be the Safety Committee,Human Rights Commission or in Fiore's case, the Planning Board. Most, if not all of the posistions on the various boards and commissions are filled by politically connected individuals in town.

If you take a look at Fiore's resumé, it is amazing that he was even considered at all for a position, let alone the mother of all boards, the Planning Board, his resumé is totaly devoid of facts or explanations of experiance. It seems that he holds to the belief that less is more, much of what he has listed is nothing more than fluff.

Keep in mind that Fiore is 31 years old and some of his experiances do not seem plausible:

A member of the Carteret Recreation Commission 1995-1997 (in fact may have held just a summer job.)
A member of the Carteret Human Relations Commission 1997 (he was 20 yrs. old??)
A member of NJ Federation of Baseball Umpirers 1995-2001 (umpired Little League games?)
Sargent-at-Arms for the Carteret Republican Municiple Committee 1997-2001 (at 20yrs old ?)
Carteret Republican Municipal Chairman 2002-2003 (at 23yrs.old)

How did any of this make Anthony Fiore qualified to sit on the Planning Board or run for Township Committee? The Middletown GOP has a big problem on their hands and needs to fix it.

Click here to read Melissa's blog and to see Anthony Fiore's resumé for yourself.

(Image courtsey of the Courier)

The Issue of Race

While thumbing through the Sunday edition of the NY Daily News I came across a special pull out section that I had never scene before, it was titled "Rise Up". Having read the rest of the paper and needing something else to pass the time with I decided to take a look at it and I am kinda glad that I did. I found the contents to be an honest and interesting look at race in our country.  

It seems that the magazines purpose is to address the issues of race in our society by understanding our differences, bridging our divisions and celebrating our commonalities. 

I thought that with the recent controversey surrounding Art Gallagher and his attempt to re- introduce the "N' word into our everyday vocabulary over at his blog, MoreMonmouthMusings, that I should pass along a true representation of how race can be addressed in an intellegent way as opposed to the clumsy and offensive attempt by Mr. Gallagher.

RiseUp's Founder and Publisher, Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D. had the following to say in her Publisher's Note column. I found it to be thoughtful and thought provoking. If Art Gallagher can understand what she has written here maybe he wouldn't be trying to justify the use of such a hateful and offensive word like Nigger! :

"No matter the outcome of the presidential election, one thing is certain, the issue of race will be front and center over the course of the campaign, whether it is openly discussed or remains — uncomfortably — the elephant in the room. The candidates will likely work hard to avoid making race an issue. But on talk shows, in coffee shops, bars and barbershops, and around the dinner table across America, it will surely be a topic of lively — or perhaps heated — conversation.
Such conversations beg for candor.

As we come face-to-face with the powerful influence of race, it will serve us well to truly look at the history of race and racism in America. We must, if we ever hope to achieve a society where race is a non-issue. A society where the question, “Is America really ready to elect a black man or woman, or a brown man or woman president?” seems silly. When the contributions of all Americans are chronicled and commemorated in the same history books. When the rich, complex and complete American story in all its shame and glory is taught and told in classrooms and living rooms everywhere.

But today is not that day. We must acknowledge the role race still plays in American life and engage in constructive, liberating dialogue to minimize, mitigate and ultimately nullify its destruction effect. We must peel away the layers — much like an onion — letting the tears flow, if need be, to get to the heart of things.

Let’s look a little closer at a layer at the very core of our beliefs about race and racial differences: the family unit. This will require an open mind and some painful admissions on everyone’s part about American families — both black and white.

Black and white families in America have traveled different and widely divergent paths. One of privilege. The other of paucity. One is carried forward by a history in which the presence of both parents has been valued and promulgated. The other is burdened by the history of slavery in which the family unit was raped and destroyed; separating mother from father; father from child. One has experienced freedom of movement within society, with automatic acceptance. The other has faced constant rejection, both blatant and subtle.

One has enjoyed a certain level of economic prosperity. The other has too often found itself trapped in a perpetual cycle of poverty. One has benefitted from good schools and educational opportunities; the other subjected persistently to sub-standard learning environments. One lives in a neighborhood free of blight and crime; the other constantly plagued by both.

These realities shape our fears, resentments and biases, and keep us wondering why.

Why, black folks wonder, do some white teenagers from comfortable neighborhoods build bombs and go on shooting rampages, killing their fellow classmates, teachers and family members? Why, white folks wonder, do some black teenagers sell drugs, rob the elderly, and shoot fellow teenagers for money or a jacket?

Black folks think affirmative action and set-asides are needed to level the playing field. White folks think such measures are reverse discrimination.

And, of course, there are black and white folks who think none of the above. They understand that we all are the sum total of our experience that begins with and is shaped by the family of which we are a part.

There are black and white folks who share an immovable faith in the human will and the spirit to overcome adversity and impoverishment. There are black and white folks who fervently believe that some day race will not define how we see each other, how well we work together to build stronger families, stronger communities and a better America."

Click on the headline to be redirected to RiseUp.com

Middletown Committee fails to provide fiscal leadership

I just recieved the latest Press release from Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee Jim Grenafeg and thought that I would pass it along:

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate Publication

July 21, 2008

POC: Jim Grenafege
Democrat for Township Committee
Tel: (732) 872-0890
Email: j.grenafege@att.net

Middletown Committee fails to provide fiscal leadership

Middletown Township (Monmouth County, NJ): The Middletown Committee, led by a Republican Majority, is not getting the job done where it involves fiscal leadership, according to Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Jim Grenafege.

“A 7.1 percent tax increase is not what our taxpayers need. We need to be watching every dollar just as our residents are. Years of non-stop bonding and unnecessary expenditures must and will come to an end when my running mate and I are elected to the Governing Body,” Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Patricia A. Walsh said.

Grenafege said a perfect example of fiscal irresponsibility exhibited by the Committee Majority is the selling of the cell tower leases for $850,000. “For the one-time budget fix they’re doing, I ask where is the Committee going to get that sum next year? In fact, because of the sale the township will be losing $92,000 in lease fees that it ordinarily counts as revenue annually,” he said.

Walsh said, “For some reason the Committee Majority thinks it can keep coming back to the taxpayers with its hands open. They lack fiscal responsibility. It is clear that with our troubled economy, gas prices and housing problems the Governing Body has to put more controls, including caps, in place to govern its expenditures and spending habits.”

“It’s been 27 years of reaching into the taxpayers’ pockets and misusing what the Committee Majority must think is loose change found there. A perfect example is the Middletown Cultural Arts Center, an $8 million project that did not need to be done. This was a poorly executed project from beginning to end. From this project, the township gets $1 per year and yet the taxpayers have to pay the cost of running that building all year long. I am behind the vision and mission of the center, but other than that, the entire project was a failure where it involves planning. It could have been done another way, without the burden it has placed on the taxpayers,” Grenafege said.

“It is time for necessities and not luxuries. Whether it involves this country or this state or county, and especially this township, it is time to be fr ugal. Every level of government in our nation, including this township government, has spent too much money on things and ventures it does not need,” Walsh concluded.

McCain-As-War-Hero Myth:Nothing Honorable About the Vietnam War

Syndicated columnist Ted Rall is no supporter of John McCain and with this article published over the weekend he tries to debunk the myth of McCain's war hero status. In my opinion he is right on track with his comments.

Click on the headline to read Ted Rall's article on McCain's war hero myth.

Puffing up John McCain, POW

Back in February, syndicated columnist Ted Rall wrote an article about how John McCain uses his Vietnamese POW status to puff himself up in the eyes of the media. The tale of John McCain, War Hero prompts a lot of people turned off by his politics–liberals and traditional conservatives alike–to support him.

Click on the headline to read the article posted on CommonDreams.org then check out the following article also from Ted Rall about War Hero Myth that surrounds John McCain

Time for Some Campaignin'

Here is a little something for you to smile over this morning courtesy of jibjab and YouTube

Has Fiore’s fibs cost Nelson?

I generally do not like to deal in rumor or innuendo but I have heard from a reliable source that Middletown Republican underboss Brian Nelson has fallen out of favor with Republican Party Chairman Peter Carton.

It seems as though Carton has been under extreme pressure from higher ups in the party to win this year and retain control of the Middletown Township Committee or else.

For years now it has been alleged, that Carton is nothing more than a figurehead to the Middletown GOP and its true leader was Brian Nelson. It has 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 may have come to an end.

Both men work for the same Newark law firm, Gibbons, Del Doe, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione and it has been alleged that Peter Carton may have pushed Nelson out the door and onto the unemployment line.

It seems as though the final straw that may have broken Nelson’s back and his long time relationship with Peter Carton has been the recent controversy surrounding Middletown Republican Candidate for Township Committee, Anthony Fiore and his exaggerated resume`.

It was extremely important this year for the GOP to have a candidate that would not rock the boat and who would help Pamela Brightbill with her reelection. It was Nelson’s job to perform the candidate search and investigate Fiore’s background thoroughly, unfortunately this did not happen, possibly due to his familiarity with Fiore and his position on the Middletown Planning Board.

Who will Peter Carton find to replace Brian Nelson? Only time will tell, more importantly though is who will Carton find to replace Anthony Fiore?

Fiore's fibs Worst then Expected

I couldn't wait till tomorrow to read what Melissa Gaffney had to say about Anthony Fiore at the Courier online so I just picked up the hard copy a little while ago. After reading Melissa's report,I found the facts to be  much worst then expected.

It seems that Fiore, who stated in Melissa's original interview, that he had a "solid history" in recreation spent only the summer months of June-August of 1999 employed by the recreation department of Linden. His position there was as "playground director" which paid him a whopping $11 an hour and it seems that the only qualifications needed to hold this position is to have attended high school gym class or to have participated in little league.

As for Carteret, he spent a few weeks of the summer of 2000 working for the Department of Recreation there, however he had no job title and earned about $104 - after taxes- for the whole summer! And according to the assistant municipal clerk, there is no employment file for Mr. Fiore because he was only considered temporary summer help.  

Did the Middletown GOP know any of this before they made Mr. Fiore, Deputy Mayor Brightbill's running mate for reelection this year?  Who was responsible for screening his candidacy? This situation is certainly a black eye for the Middletown Republicans and I can't wait to see who is going to take the hit on this one.

Anthony Fiore should do the noble thing, stop the bleeding before it is to late and resign as a candidate for Township Committee, as well as his seat on the Planning Board.

Click here to read Melissa's original Courier interview 

Photo courtesy of the Courier

Middletown GOP Candidate for Township Committee- Tony Fiore caught in LIE

Melissa Gaffney is reporting on her blog this morning that Middletown Republican candidate for Township Committee Anthony "Tony" Fiore lied to her while being interviewed for an article that was published in the June 5th edition of the Courier.

It seems as though Mr. Fiore lied about being the Director of Recreation for both the townships of Carteret and Linden while attending college.

Melissa did some background work and found out that while working as summer help in Linden, Fiore was given a title of "Playground Director", not the title of Director of Recreation. In Carteret he had no official title at all.

So why would Anthony Fiore feel it necessary to lie about his experiences to a reporter, conducting a rather softball interview for the Courier? Who was he trying to impress and did he think that he could really get away with such a thing?

If Fiore is willing to pass along false information about himself in such away, how can the residents of Middletown trust him to sit on the Township Committee if elected in November?

Mr. Fiore needs to end his candidacy for the Township Committee and explain to us what he was thinking when he thought that he could pass these falsehoods off as facts.  

Anthony Fiore should also step down from his position on the Middletown Planning Board

Click on the headline to read Melissa's Sable Minded post about Anthony Fiore 

Middletown 86th Best place to live

Money Magazine has come out with its new list for 2008, of the 100 best towns to live in, and Middletown has again made it into the top 100.
In all 10 New Jersey made it into the top 100 they are;

#5 Franklin Township
#13 Parsippany/Troy Hills
#23 Piscataway
#35 Edison
#51 Hamilton
#58 Washington
#75 Union
#77 Howell
#86 Middletown
#100 Wayne

I am very happy for the residents of Middletown to be able once again to say that they live in one of the 100 best towns in the Country, but I have to question how was Middletown ranked lower then Edison and Union? Go figure.

On the down side of this however is that fact that for the 10 years we will have to endure listening to Gerry Scharfenberger and the rest of the Republicans in town bragging about how they are responsible for this great achievement.

Click on the headline to see all of the towns listed in Money Magazine's Best 100 Places to Live

The Curely Shuffle

I have to wonder what is really behind former Red Bank Councilman and current GOP candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder, John Curley's move to Middletown. It just doesn't seem right, why all of the sudden did he resign from the Red Bank Town Council and state that the reason for his resignation was that he was moving to Middletown?

From all that I have read and heard about him, he seems to be a man with a great amount of integrity, so to me this just doesn't add up.

I wonder if he made some kind of deal with the Middletown GOP to be a candidate for the Middletown Township Committee, if his current bid for Freeholder is unsuccessful this November.
After loosing the last two elections in Middletown the local Republican Party is desperate for a decisive victory to maintain control in town, I wouldn't put it past them.

Middletown GOP Smear Campaign Has Begun

Evidently sometime last week select Middletown residents were contacted to participate in a phone survey,purportedly to poll residents as to their opinions on local elections, politicians, the township committee, etc. Following a series of reasonably innocuous questions, the survey devolves into a smear campaign against Patricia Walsh.

Smearing opponents is, unfortunately, a long standing GOP practice. It is unfortunate that the Middletown Republicans are so devoid of ideas that they need to stoop to this level of campaigning so early in the season. Usually they wait until the last week of a campaign to smear their opponents, this way there is no possible way to respond to their allegations.

I guess we can look at this as a positive though, at least now we know what the local Democratic candidates, Patricia Walsh and Jim Grenafege will be dealing with until November.

It is a shame that the local GOP can't win an election on its own merits and that they have to resort to dirty tricks and smears to win it for them.

Grenafege and Walsh push for Pallone’s FEMA moratorium

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

JULY 14, 2008

POC: Patricia Walsh
Middletown Democrat for Township Committee
(732) 747-0688
E-mail: awalsh386@aol.com

Grenafege and Walsh push for Pallone’s FEMA moratorium

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, N.J.) — Middletown candidates for Township Committee Patricia Walsh and Jim Grenafege said residents would have welcome relief from the imposition of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps with recent legislation introduced by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D- N.J.

“This moratorium is desperately needed by Middletown residents, many of whom face the mandated flood insurance for the first time,” Walsh said. “Time is needed to review the flood maps for their accuracy and give homeowners other forms of relief to deal with the additional financial burden.”

Walsh and Grenafege said Pallone’s legislation would place a temporary hold on the implementation of the flood maps while allowing the community to readdress its flood plain management.

The candidates said it would also provide tax credits and grants for a community and its residents. Walsh said the Community Rating System (CRS) is something Middletown could be taking advantage of in order to decrease flood insurance costs, but isn’t.

“To a great extent, Pallone’s bill is a perfect example of the innovative thinking that the Middletown Township Committee has not provided,” Grenafege said. “Instead, the committee majority takes its typical ‘Shift the Blame to Someone Else’ approach and then do nothing about it except complain.”

Grenafege said, to date, he has not heard anything about Middletown going after grant money or funding.

“The current committee has failed residents by not moving forward with efforts to reduce the cost of flood insurance,” Walsh said. “Recently, the FEMA flood maps were rescinded in Washington, D.C., after the city took action.”

“The Township Committee has relied on resolutions and petitions to address the situation,” Grenafege said. “Instead of taking productive action, the committee passed a bipartisan resolution after several months that didn’t address the issue itself.”

“The petition does nothing more than voice disapproval over the FEMA flood maps. It doesn’t do anything concrete for the homeowners in Middletown,” Grenafege said. “FEMA has recognized this. The committee majority fails to provide ‘thought leadership’ because they prefer to fall in behind and follow a petition approach, which offers no real solutions. At best, the petition offers false hope. I would be looking for more innovative and creative thinking from the Township Committee, along the lines of expanding upon the good work Pallone has already done with his bill.”

Walsh said homeowners are desperate for some type of financial relief. “Pallone’s legislation is a step in that direction,” she concluded.

Atlantic Highlands considers purchasing a car wash

According to a story in the Asbury Park Press today, Atlantic Highlands is considering spending $1.2 million on the purchase and possible improvements to an abandoned car wash on West Ave.

Township Clerk Dwayne Harris suggested the purchase of the facility at the township's July 9th meeting. His reasoning for the purchase is because in 2009, washing vehicles in driveways and on the street will be prohibited by the state Department of Environmental Protection's storm water management regulations and as a result, every vehicle, including municipal ones, will have to go to a car wash to be washed.

Harris thinks that the car wash can be purchased then ran as an utility which would be self sustaining to generate revenue to pay for itself.  Residents would pay $5 per wash while nonresidents could possible be charged $10.

Mayor Fred Rast thought that this was a good idea, so the township will be looking into the idea further.

My personal feelings on this is that government should not get involved in the private sector, it would prohibit local businesses from competing on a level playing field. Also, if this car wash was viable in the first place, why has it sat empty for 3 years?

On the surface this seems like a good idea, but there are many hidden costs to any business and this does not sound like a venture that the town needs to get involved in. Who would manage the car wash? I am sure that an experienced person would have to be in charge of the daily

operations at a decent salary with some kind of benefits package. And who will work there kids? I think not, any car wash that I have been to lately are manned by Latinos who may or may not be illegal immigrants. The township would have to spend addition money to run background checks on the people that are hired.

It seems like a bad idea to me, if the Mayor and Township Clerk are worried about residents not being able wash their cars in their driveways anymore then maybe they should look into providing vouchers to its citizens at another local car wash. Vouchers may keep the overall costs to the township in line with whatever the overall cost of operating a car wash themselves would be, without any of the legal headaches associated with running a business of this type.   

Click on the headline to read the APP story

 

Anheuser-Busch Agrees to Be Sold for $52 Billion

The NY Times is reporting this morning that Anheuser-Busch has agreed to sell itself to the Belgian brewer InBev for about $52 billion, the two companies confirmed Monday in a joint release, putting control of the nation’s largest beer maker and a fixture of American culture into a European rival’s hands.

To me this is sad news, as I have mentioned before I a former employee of AB and feel that it is a same that an American icon such as Budweiser will no longer be an American company. We will have to wait and see if they will even be able to keep their name or just be absorbed into the InBev brand.

Click on the headline to read the story in the NY Times

MiddletownMike "Affordable housing is a necessity for working families"

Be sure to take a look at the Courier online today for my column on affordable housing.  I question who needs and qualifies for affordable housing, while giving a little bit of personal background information.

Click the headline to read the MiddletownMike column in the Courier.

APP to Middletown"Don't blur responsibilities"

In today's editorial section of the Asbury Park Press, the paper questions the motives behind Mayor Scharfenberger's call for landlords to verify the immigration status of the people that they rent to.   

The APP comes to the same conclusion that most of us do, that this is a bad idea which leaves the township open for unnecessary litigation in light of the fact that similar ordinances as the one proposed by Scharfenberger, have been struck down by the courts in other jurisdictions.

Click on the headline to read the editorial

Anheuser-Busch to Vote on Takeover

The New York Times is reporting that The board of Anheuser-Busch is scheduled to vote on Sunday on a sale of the company to the Belgian brewer InBev for nearly $50 billion, people briefed on the matter said.

The sale would end more than 150 years of independence for the nation’s largest beer company and a fixture in American culture.

Click on the headline to read the story in the NY Times

US suffers heavy Afghan losses

This is breaking news from the BBC.

Nine US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, in one of the biggest losses of life in a single incident since operations there began in 2001.
The troops died when insurgents attacked a military outpost in the north-eastern province of Kunar, close to the border with Pakistan.

To me this is truly sad to hear and it hit home personally, my nephew returned home after a 15 month tour in Afghanistan a few months ago. He will be State side for 12 months before possibly having to return to Afghanistan  or Iraq.

It is a shame that we had lost the real focus of the war on terror by invading Iraq and then neglected the mission in Afghanistan.

I can only hope that when the new presidential administration takes office, whether it be Democratic or Republican, that it refocuses efforts in Afghanistan to bring hostilities there to an end.

Click on the headline to read the story

Survival of the Sudsiest

I don't know how many of you read George Will's column on a weekly basis, but I am sure that most of you know of his work.

Usually Mr. Will writes and opines  his conservative views about what is happening in and around Washington and Middle-America. Every now and again he writes about other topics that are near and dear to his heart like baseball, he is an avid Chicago Cubs fan. This week he devoted one of his columns to the subject of beer.

In light of InBev attempt to take over Anheuser-Busch, George wrote about how beer drinking has aided in human evolution and the concept of Survival of the Fittest(Sudsiest).

As usual, his writing is a little cerebral but it is humorous and worth the read.   

Click on the headline to read the article from George Will

  

McCain camp: Obama needs $200 million to ‘keep pace’

The hill.com is reporting that Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s campaign said in a memo Thursday that, in order to “keep pace” with the Arizona senator, Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would have to raise $200 million between now and Election Day.

McCain’s camp argued that, with help from the Republican National Committee (RNC), it has more resources than the Illinois senator.

I think that this maybe wishful thinking and an attempt by the McCain camp to get Obama to start spending money early inorder to level the playing field.

Click on the headline and read all about it yourself.  

New Jersey: America's Best Place to Raise a Family

Blue Jersey's Jeff Gardner posted an interesting piece yesterday afternoon. It seems as though he stumbled upon a Forbes Magazine article that lists the top 20 counties in the Country to raise a family.

Three of  the 20 best counties  to raise a family are located right here in the Garden State;  Morris County at #6 leads the way, followed by Hunterdon at #7 and Somerset at #16.  

Click on the headline to see what Jeff has to say about New Jersey'e best places to raise a family 

Facts About Middletown's COAH Obligations

 I recieved this email today from Matt Morehead, Chairman of the Monmouth County Young Democrats, it explains some of the facts behind Middletown's obligation under COAH.
Thanks Matt for passing it on.

To all:
There are a lot of misconceptions going around about Middletown and its COAH obligations. Where I understand the fears that many of you have about how this issue will impact this year's campaign. I am writing to fill you in on some real facts about Middletown and its fair share obligation.

FACT ONE:
Middletown will not have to build 8,000 units of affordable housing. This number that the mayor has been throwing around is total not true. You would only do this if you add together all three rounds of our obligation together and times it by a factor of 4. As we all know Middletown has built and signed RCAs (Regional Contribution Agreements) for many of its round one and two fair share obligations already. The problem that Middletown is having with round one and two is that they are short on the construction of a good number of these units and they have not funded a portion of their RCAs at the same time. When the new rules take effect the RCAs that Middletown has not paid for most likely will come back to the town. When this happens our total obligation will be somewhere around 800-900 units 

FACT TWO:
You do not have to build affordable housing at a 4 to 1 ratio of market rate to affordable. You have the ability to build developments that are 100% affordable. The town can do this, a developer can do this, or a nonprofit like HUD can build it. The only one of these three that impacts the tax payer is if the town chooses to foot the bill for the construction. There is also a trust fund set up to help with the cost of this construction (though Middletown has made it so it does not currently qualify for these funds because of past practices). You have the ability to attract privet companies to build managed care facilities like nursing homes, facilities for mutably handicapped people, and group homes. If I remember right these also count as one and a half credits per room. Also most of these put no children into the school system and will have little if no cost to the tax payers on that end.

FACT THREE:
These obligations do not come totally from a Supreme Court ruling. In 1975 the Supreme Court handed down its Mt. Loral dissension that stated that every municipality has the responsibility to provide a realistic expectation of its regions affordable housing needs (present and future). When towns were not responsive to this ruling  the New Jersey Legislature was forced to act. In 1985 the Fair Housing Act was signed into law by Gov. Kean (who ironically enough was a Republican).This law made affordable housing a constitutional obligation and also created COAH (The Commission On Affordable Housing). This group was charged with creating the guidelines for every municipality in the state and making shore that they were met. This group also monitored the progress of this process and has the ability to find towns noncompliant. If a town falls under noncompliance they are left open to developers to build anything they wish as long as they build at least 20% of the development as affordable. This is done thru a builders remedy lawsuit. With this the courts decide how the town is developed not the planning board. Towns that are noncompliant also can get no state grant money. The first questions on the applications for state money is, are you COAH compliant?

FACT FOUR:
Middletown is not totally compliant. Middletown is on the verge on becoming noncompliant. The town has not totally lived up to the law. The town falls short in its round two plan and has not funded all of its RCAs. This is why the town is facing a big problem. They have had 23 years to fulfill their obligation. Now with about ten years left they are finding that they may not be able to fulfill there obligation in a proper manner. The town has spent it time and our money instead on costly legal battles that have all ended in defeat (on a side note all this tax money has gone in the pockets of our townships attorneys and the townships special attorney for COAH).

FACT FIVE:
Middletown was ordered to repay a trust fund setup to offset the cost of the construction of affordable housing. The town was allowed to tax developer and companies to lessen the burden on residents to construct affordable housing. They were to put this tax money into a trust fund which was monitored by COAH. COAH found that the town over spent this money on administration, on what is essentially a checking account . The town was then ordered to repay over $82,000 to the account. This means that over $82,000 was shifted to the residents of Middletown if they actually paid the money back . This is also most likely why the town does not qualify for state money for affordable housing.


Matthew Morehead
Chairman- Monmouth County Bayshore Young Democrats

Matt can be contacted through the Bayshore Young Dems by clicking here

Bush will veto Medicare bill, White House says

The Hill's Jeffrey Young is reporting that President Bush will stand by his longstanding threat to veto Medicare legislation passed by the Senate Wednesday, the White House confirmed.
The veto will set up override votes in the House and Senate, where the legislation passed with more than the two-thirds majority needed to overcome the president’s rejection.

Click on the headline to read the article

Latino Univision comes to Middletown

The Courier's Melissa Gaffeny was at Middletown Town Hall on Wednesday and interviewed Cecelia Reynolds, editor and publisher of Nosotros, a Freehold-based newspaper, who said she came to the broadcast in Middletown because she does not want this legislation to spread throughout the state of New Jersey.

Univision Channel 41 , is the leading Spanish-language media company and came to Middletown in an effort to halt any notion of legislation that could limit illegal aliens in the community.

Caption:  illegal immigrant Duck

Click on the headline to read Melissa's story in the Courier and to watch her YouTube interview with Cecelia Reynolds go to Melissa's Simplysable blog link to the left.

Kennedy returns to decide Medicare vote

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) returned to the Senate Wednesday to break a stalemate on stalled Medicare legislation, making his first appearance in the chamber since he was diagnosed two months ago with brain cancer.

Click on the headline and read all about it from The Hill

A Vote for America’s Seniors (Sen. Max Baucus)

In a related item from The Hill.com, Democratic Senator from Montana Max Baucus, is blogging about the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. This is the bill that John McCain missed the vote for on June 26th.

In this blogg, Baucus provides a little background and information about the history and details that are contained in this bill.

Click on the headline to read the blogg.

Dems to target McCain for Medicare non-vote

    The Hill news is leading this morning's edition with the following story:

Senate Democratic leaders are poised to blame Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for the chamber’s failure to advance Medicare legislation.

The measure that would avert a sharp cut in payments to physicians stalled in the Senate on June 26 by one vote. McCain, the GOP presidential candidate, did not attend the vote and has yet to declare his position on the issue.

Click on the headline to read the story

Anheuser-Busch Sues Belgian Suitor

NPR.org is reporting that Anheuser-Busch has sued InBev, calling the Belgian brewer's plan to buy the iconic U.S. brewer "illegal." Matt Sepic, of member station KWMU in St. Louis, says the suit seeks to bar InBev from soliciting support from Anheuser-Busch shareholders.

Click on the headline to read and hear all about it

Plan: Punish illegal immigrants' landlords

Apparently Middletown Mayor Scharfenberger came up with another one of his draconian, noecon, racially motivated and inflammatory comments about illegal immigrants at Monday nights workshop meeting. The mayor never seems to disappoint us when it comes to putting his foot in his mouth.

It seems that the mayor wants to the Township Committee to consider an ordinance that would penalize landlords for renting to people who are in the country illegally.

The mayor thinks this is a good idea even though the Burlington County community of Riverside rescinded its local immigration enforcement law after a federal judge struck down a similar law in Hazleton, Pa.

While looking over the comments left by readers, I was in total agreement with an anonymous responder localboomer who wrote the following: 

It's interesting that the mayor isn't targeting Middletown businesses that serve the public & individual residents who hire illegal aliens for everything from car washes & restaurants to lawn service & cleaning. Half the businesses in town would probably close, and can you imagine the uproar if homeowners were fined or arrested every time an illegal alien mowed their lawn? I'd pay to watch THAT town meeting!

No, Scarfenberger & supporters are willing to overlook all those cheap, immigrant-provided goods & services as long as the people providing them sleep in someone else's town.

Talk about the best of both worlds! And just think about all the votes that will earn him while not angering those local business owners!

Middletown's recent overcrowding situation didn't even involve illegals & Scarfenberger is aware that a similar ordinance was struck down by the feds. Just enforce an over-crowding ordinance that treats everyone equally, Mr. Mayor.

Talk about grandstanding!!

Click here to read the story in the APP

Affordable housing deal nixed

An appeals court on Monday voided an affordable housing swap that would have resulted in Galloway Township sending Bridgeton $2.135 million for about 60 home rehabilitation projects.
The regional contribution agreement, or RCA, had been approved by the state's Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) in October 2006 after both towns had agreed to an amended version of the swap, which was initially agreed upon at the same dollar amount in spring 2005.
The Fair Share Housing Center, a nonprofit organization opposed the deal on the grounds it did not meet state requirements.

Will this ruling have any inpact on Middletown in the near future, we will just have to wait and see, but more than likely not.
Middletown is the States #1 abuser of RCA's and theTownship Committee has already been put on notice that they will not be able to further use RCA's as a away to meet their COAH obligations.

Click onto the headline to read the story from NJ.com

To the Magic Kingdom and Back Again

     I just returned from a week in the Magic Kingdom down in Orlando, it was a long and tiring week that was full of fun and  just a little aggravation, I am however happy to be back in Middletown.

I have never been to the land of Disney during the summer and was expecting the worst... the crowds, the heat and the cost, as it turned out it wasn't that bad. 

The weak economy must have started to keep people away, the parks were not full as I was expecting. I never had to wait longer than 30 minutes(most less than 20, some no wait at all) to gain access to any of the major attractions but 1 and that was the newest, Toy Story Mania, at the Disney Hollywood Studios that set me back 70 minutes.  I talked to plenty of park guest and they all had the same opinion as I did, it seemed that all of the parks were slow for a holiday week, maybe a 1/3 off of normal attendance. Off course when I talked to the workers back at Port Orleans Riverside Resort where I was staying about this, they all assured me that they were very busy and that on the 4Th of July you wouldn't be able to walk around the Magic Kingdom. 

Many of the locals that I spoke to had mentioned that they could not remember a time when Disney advertised so much on their local TV channels. They said that have been swamped with commercials for the past few weeks. 

My family avoided the Magic Kingdom the 4Th and instead went to the Animal Kingdom Park,it was dead! We finished touring the park, seeing and riding all of the attractions before 5 pm, so we left and went back to our resort and waited for that evenings fireworks show, which was spectacular. 

The weather all week was generally overcast gray skies, which kept the temperature down and made the trip bearable. And lucky for us, we only got caught in the rain once. The rest of the time we were indoors waiting on an attraction. Saturday and Sunday turned out the be the hottest and nicest days.

Overall the cost of the trip was very affordable, however if it was not paid for in advance a few months ago, I would have probably stayed home and saved the money.

 I like a lot of other people are worried about the economy and I may have been better off if my family and I stayed home, as it had seemed  others had. 

    

Grenafege Stumps for Blue Ribbon Commission

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

JULY 7, 2008

POC: James Grenafege
Middletown Democrat for Township Committee
(732) 872-0890
Email: j.grenafege@att.net

GRENAFEGE STUMPS FOR
BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): According to Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Jim Grenafege, the formation of the Middletown Blue Ribbon Budget Commission is an important part of his strategy to repair the municipal budget process.

“One of the things I believe in is that there is tremendous amount of talent in the community: Not just talent from a potential perspective, but talent that has been developed. If appropriately invited to take part in the governmental process, top corporate leaders in this community will participate,” Grenafege said.

The retired human resources executive holds a Master’s Degree in counseling from Montclair State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Johns Hopkins University. After 26 years as a corporate manager, Grenafege said business has taught him that inclusiveness and constructive input from top executives are vital in presiding over any large corporation.

As a result, Grenafege is proposing that an all-volunteer committee be convened comprised of leading corporate CEOs, COOs, Accountants, Engineers and Finance professionals that will lend their experience to the community.

“I want to be a consensus builder, along with fellow elected officials in this township, to create a better, more common sense government that is cost efficient and fiscally responsible,” Grenafege said.

The candidate, “You can look inward for inspiration and for decisions, but being elected on the governing body is really about community. All of this community is not involved in Middletown, and I think that is because it really isn’t invited to do so. I want to invite this community back to its own Town Hall.”

Grenafege said that, at the Committee meetings, it is clear there isn’t the level of receptivity for public participation that could be there. “There are people showing up for very specific reasons to the committee sessions, but there isn’t a wide sense of community,” he said.

Grenafege said he intends to begin the process of re-inviting the community back to its own government with the Blue Ribbon Commission, but the more important work starts after that.

“Creating a common sense, workable and prudent town budget is the most important thing officials do, but the next job is to get back in touch with Middletown and all of its communities and get a firm hold of what the residents of Middletown want – not just a few political leaders. It is time for town officials to stop speaking in the monologue and start listening again.”

Happy 4th of July

I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July this year and I hope that you will enjoy my little SchoolHouse Rock tribute to our Nation.

God Bless America !

No more Kings



Fireworks


Shot heard around the world.


The Preamble