Rush Holt To Hold Town Hall Meeting in Tinton Falls on Dec. 4th

Rush Holt, Congressman for the 12th Congressional District will be holding a town hall meeting Tinton Falls . The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 4 at the Ranney School , which is located at 235 Hope Road in the Distance Learning Center.

Giants: Plax could be in trouble with the law

From Newsday- Here is the Giants' statement on Plaxico Burress, issued at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday:

“We are aware of the fact that Plaxico was involved in an apparent accidental shooting last night. We have been in contact with Plaxico since shortly after the incident. Plaxico suffered a wound to his right thigh. Obviously, our primary concern is for Plaxico’s health and well-being, and given the circumstances, we are relieved to say he was released from a New York City hospital at approximately 2 p.m. today. We have been in touch with NFL Security on this matter. At this point, we are attempting to gather all the facts surrounding this incident. This incident could become a matter for law enforcement officials, and because of that, we have no comment on any of the details.”

Breaking News: Giants' Burress Shot in Leg at Club

From the Associated Press: New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was accidentally shot in the leg at a nightclub.

Bush Pardons Scooter Libby In Giant Turkey Suit

A Thanksgiving Message from Barack Obama

President-elect Barack Obama addressed the nation on the occasion of Thanksgiving, nearly one hundred and fifty years after President Lincoln called for the last Thursday in November to be set aside to acknowledge our blessings.

Dying Boy's Last Wish Granted : A Reason to Give Thanks

Seattle, Washington - Brenden Foster spoke, and hundreds answered.

Eleven year old Brenden Foster died this day of Friday, 21 November 2008, but throughout this world he will be remembered always. His darkest hour was his brightest light. This is a story as much of his words as it is of his deeds.

His dying wish was to help the homeless. "They're probably starving, so give 'em a chance, food and water." It has become a national movement. He wasn't afraid to die. He had said that he just wanted to make a difference, before his time came. And he did!


Touched by a young boy with an old soul, kind hearts answered Brenden's urgings to feed the homeless and took part in KOMO's Stuff the Truck food drive in honor of Brenden on Thursday.

"They're probably starving, so give'em a chance," he had said.

And so many did just that. In these hard financial times, many put their own needs aside to think of Brenden's last wish.

"I'm so thankful for what I have that I just have to give," said Joan Riley.

"He's just a little old man in a child's body. It's a shame he has to go early. Very wise young man," said Karen Blacketer.

Blacketer has little to give these days; she lost her job. But she believes in Brenden's dream and knows the need is great. So she dug deep in her pocket and gave to those less fortunate.

And she wasn't alone.

Lines of cars formed at Fred Meyer stores in Federal Way, Bothell and Issaquah. People donated cart after cart of groceries, boxes of food that will stock the shelves at Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline.

Local businesses jumped in as well. Schwartz Brothers Bakery donated 3,500 muffins.

We didn't just stuff the truck; we stuffed six and a half. Generous souls helped raise more than $60,000 in cash donations. And along with the donations, many shared smiles and tears while talking about their inspiration, beloved Brenden.

Brenden was once the kid who ran the fastest, climbed the highest and dreamed of becoming a marine photographer. Leukemia took away all those things, but not his dying wish to help others.

Brenden saw TV coverage of the incredible turnout, and his family members said their sick boy was simply overjoyed amid his pain and discomfort.

"He doesn't have much time....24, 48 hours. Course we never know. That's up to God," said his grandmother, Patricia McMorrow.

Brenden's only 11 but his grandma says he's at peace with his passing.

"He's ready. He's told us that the angels have come three times and he's ready to go with them," Pat said.

Leukemia will win this round, but Brenden wants everyone to know this is just the beginning of the good he wants to inspire.

"He tells us that when he's an angel, he's going to keep doing the good work," Pat said.

He was a regular kid, who wanted to become marine photographer. Some time ago had been diagnosed with leukemia. As death was staring him in his face, its others that he was thinking about. The homeless caught Brenden's heartfelt attention. He had said, "Well, I was getting back from one of my appointments and I saw this big thing full of homeless people and then I thought. I should just get them something." That the country, even the world responded, he said, "I think that is great. You think that's great?"


He had one more wish, and that was to sprinkle wildflower seeds to save the bees. He had heard that the bees were dying off. His wish was answered by a retired pilot who asked his flying friends to sprinkle wild flower seeds around the world on Brenden's behalf.

He spoke with the wisdom of ages. Of that which made him feel sad, he had said was, "When someone gives up." His advice was, "Follow your dreams. Don't let anything stop you." Asked what he thought the best things in life are, he said, "Just having one."

If we can learn anything in this life, we can be inspired to do so by this young man.

Three years ago, doctors diagnosed Brenden with leukemia. His body may have been held back but his spirit excelled far beyond the dreams of most of us. On death, "It happens. It's natural," He said.

"I should be gone in a week or so", he had said. "I had a great time. And until my time comes, I'm going to keep having a great time," he said. I heard that he saw angels coming for him three times in the night before he left us. Then Brenden took his darkest hour and turned it into the brightest of light that truly can inspire the world.

God bless his little soul.
We all should remember Brenden this holiday season (and always) by thinking of the less fortunate. Give to you local food bank or shelter and help others in need.

President-elect Barack Obama and family volunteer at Chicago food pantry

Saying he wanted his two daughters "to learn the importance of how fortunate they are and make sure they are giving back," President-elect Obama and his family volunteered at a food pantry near their home on the South Side of Chicago this afternoon.

St. Columbanus Church, where President-elect Obama has volunteered before, feeds nearly 500 people a week. But he pointed out that times are particularly tough.

"The number of people who are getting food this year is up 33 percent," he said. "It gives a sense times are tough -- and I think that on Thanksgiving it's important for us to remember there's a need for support."

When a group of children appeared in the window of the church's school, President-elect Obama decided to visit the school's auditorium, where hundreds of the school's students quickly assembled.

Livin' With Ahnuld- Devouring Turkey

Holiday Humor:Things you can only say @ Thanksgiving

Top 10 things you can only say at Thanksgiving!

10. Talk about a huge breast!
9. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.

8. If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!
7. That's one terrific spread!
6. It's a little dry, do you still want to eat it?
5. Just wait your turn, you'll get some!
4. Don't play with your meat.
3. I didn't expect everyone to come at once!
2. How long will it take after you stick it in?

and the Number #1 thing you can only say on
Thanksgiving....

1. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.

Mater Dei students collect 5,672 pounds of food

During this time of need for all food banks through out the area, the students of Mater Dei High School in Middletown collected 5672 pound of food to be donated to the Food Bank. Great job to all of the students and high school that participated in this effort.

This fall the Mater Dei community answered the challenge to fight hunger in Monmouth County by participating in the Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties' annual Holiday Hunger Challenge.

The Student Activity Board's goal was for Mater Dei students to donate 4,000 lbs. of food to the Food Bank in time for Thanksgiving.

Under the direction of Steve Sciarappa, Associate Principal, Mater Dei students and faculty have been collecting food donations for the last six weeks. On Sunday, November 23 approximately a dozen students gathered at the school and spent the morning boxing and labeling Mater Dei's donation. In the early afternoon, a caravan from Mater Dei delivered the school's Holiday Hunger Challenge donation to the Food Bank's warehouse in Neptune.

After all the boxes were unloaded and weighed, Mater Dei's donation totalled 5,672 lbs.

Many local high schools generously supported the Food Bank's Holiday Hunger Challenge in an impressive display of what students can do to make a difference in their communities. Mater Dei's support for the Holiday Hunger Challenge is really in a league of its own, according to the Food Bank's website:

Biotechnology High School (250 students): 110 lbs.

Colts Neck High School (1,700 students): 684 lbs.

Freehold High School (1,425 students): 2, 737 lbs.

Jackson Liberty High School (1,425 students): 134 lbs.

Manalapan High School (2,100 students) 506 lbs

Marlboro High School (2,100 students): 485 lbs.

Mater Dei High School (400 students): 5,672 lbs.

Rumson Fair Haven High School (1,000 students): 651 lbs.

Shore Regional High School (749 students): 680 lbs.

Although Mater Dei's enrollment is less than 5% of the total combined enrollment of these schools, its students collected almost twice as much food as they all did.

Mater Dei is extremely proud of the kindness, compassion, and generosity of our students and their families.

For more information please contact:

Ray Brush, Director of Advancement
Mater Dei High School
538 Church Street
New Monmouth, NJ 07748
Tel: 732.671.9100, extension 18
Email: rbrush@materdeihs.org

Treasury may have to request funds from Congress

The Hill, Leading the News-

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is close to running out of money and soon may have to ask Congress for access to the rest of the $700 billion package it approved for rescuing the economy.

Paulson has said that he intends to leave the second $350 billion of the package for President-elect Barack Obama's administration, but the government's moves in just the last two days leave Paulson with only about $20 billion in funds for the nearly two months remaining until Obama’s inauguration.

The continuing market volatility and tough credit markets could force Paulson to seek access to the funds, particularly as the government continues to unveil new programs to prop up the economy.
On Tuesday, Paulson did not rule out requesting access to the remaining funds.

“When the time is right, we’ll avail ourselves of the congressional process,” Paulson said during a press conference.

Treasury has the authority to spend $350 billion of the $700 billion Congress authorized in October under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, known as TARP. The government has committed about $330 billion so far, leaving it with about $20 billion before it would have to make its request to Congress.

Paulson must submit to Congress a plan on how Treasury would use the money in order to access the final $350 billion. Lawmakers could choose to restrict how Treasury can use the money.

Two new efforts that the government announced this week have pushed Paulson closer to having to make a request.

One day after putting together $20 billion in aid for Citigroup, Treasury announced it would provide $20 billion to the Federal Reserve for credit protection as part of the two new programs to prop up the home mortgage and consumer credit markets.

The Federal Reserve offered assurances Sunday on $306 billion in troubled assets for Citigroup as part of the effort to save the firm, which was seen as being on the verge of collapse.

The government has set up a new $200 billion program aimed at unfreezing lending in the consumer credit markets for student loans, car loans and other asset-backed securities. Paulson also suggested that the program could be expanded to additional types of assets, such as commercial mortgage-backed securities and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities.

“That $200 billion is a starting point. This is — it's going to take a while to get this program up and going. And — and then it can be expanded and increased over time,” Paulson said.

The Federal Reserve set up a program on Tuesday that could support up to $600 billion in debt issued by or backed by the hobbled government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. "Nothing is more important to getting through this housing correction than the availability of affordable mortgage finance," Paulson said.

Vatican can be sued for priest sex abuse: US court

A US appeals court has ruled that the Vatican can be sued for the sex abuse committed by US priests.

The Vatican had tried to block a class action lawsuit alleging that it orchestrated a cover-up of sexual abuse by clergy with the argument that it was protected by laws granting sovereign states immunity from most US civil proceedings.

Central to the case is a 1962 Vatican mandate unearthed in 2003 which outlined a policy of "strictest" secrecy regarding allegations of sexual abuse by clergy and threatened those who spoke out with excommunication.

A federal appeals court ruled that the case brought by three Kentucky men can proceed because exceptions in the law allow the Vatican to be held liable for the actions of church employees acting within the scope of their employment in the United States.

Click HERE to finish reading this story

Turkey Carving 101

Thanksgiving is just a couple days away and for anyone who has not carved a turkey before here is a valuable demonstration. I have been in charge of slicing up the bird for many years and even I found a few helpful hints for carving while watching this video.

Ray Venezia, manager of the meat department at Fairway Market, demonstrates his method for carving a turkey to get the most meat from the bird.

Obama Pledges to Cut Wasteful Spending

Associated Press -
President-elect Barack Obama pledged to make deficit reduction a goal of his administration Tuesday, but only after recovery from the financial crisis is well under way.

Bailouts for Bankers, Not a Cent for Autoworkers

John Nichols, The Nation-

This is the part of our nation's surreal economic crisis that seems particularly surreal:

The U.S. auto industry, which employs 3 million Americans in auto plants, parts and supplier networks and dealerships nationwide is broadly understood as being essential to maintaining America as an industrial force. It's financial collapse, which even critics of moves to bailout the industry suggest is imminent, would devastate workers, retirees and communities in every state of the nation. Despite the grumbling from anti-union zealots, the auto giants have radically retooled in a manner that makes the cost of producing a vehicle at a unionized plant of General Motors, Ford or Chrysler roughly equivalent to the cost of running a car off the line at a non-union plant. And to top it all off: Auto plants actually produce something that most Americans consider to be useful.

Yet, proposals to provide what now seems to be a very small bailout -- $25 billion -- are currently stalled.

At the same time, the whole of the federal government is scrambling to buy as much as $50 billion in "toxic assets" -- bad loans and other products of irresponsible financial practices that are of dubious value -- from Citigroup, a global banking concern that makes money by charging working families exorbitant interest rates for credit. According to the Wall Street Journal, "[The move to protect the banking concern] would mean taxpayers could be on the hook if Citicorp's massive portfolios of mortgage, credit cards, commercial real-estate and big corporate loans continue to sour."

Perhaps, in some wild calculation of American interest, Citicorp is worthy of a bailout.

But what mad calculus would make Citigroup more worthy than the auto industry?

And why the urgency with regard to Citigroup and the casual disengagement with regard to the industrial giants that, for all their flaws and perils, remain what Barack Obama correctly described as "the backbone of American manufacturing"?

Something is fundamentally wrong with a federal government that offers bankers a bailout and autoworkers as cold shoulder.

Lewis Black rant mocks tacky 'Obamabilia'

From Raw Story-

"Just think about it," said comedian Lewis Black in a recent installment; "two months before he even takes office, Barack Obama has already earned a permanent place on 'Mount Crapmore.'"

Black took the time in a recent "Back in Black" segment to chronicle the various ways in which merchandisers have invited hot-pocketed revelers to commemorate President-elect Obama's historic ascent. Items available include souvenir coins, collector plates and specially branded prophylactics.

Said Black: "The election of Barack Obama has once again demonstrated America's greatest gift: Our capacity to embrace hope and idealism... and then turn it into worthless, disposable crap!"

The video was broadcast on Comedy Central's The Daily Show 

Citigroup’s Spending Indefensible and Unacceptable (Rep. Elijah Cummings)

From the Hill's Congressional Blog-

After reading yesterday morning that Citigroup–which has already received $25 billion in bailout money–is adamant in maintaining its $400 million naming rights to the new New York Mets stadium, I was shocked to learn that the company came to the federal government asking for an additional multi-billion dollar lifeline. Surely, if the company has the funds to paste its name to a recreational facility, it has the money to maintain its operations and keep the 52,000 jobs it announced last week it would be eliminating.

While I understand that Citi is under a contractual obligation with the Mets, I cannot understand why the organization seems to be refusing at the very least to explore options out of that contract. This type of spending is indefensible and unacceptable to Citigroup’s new partner and largest investor: the American taxpayer. My constituents in Maryland did not turn over their hard-earned wages to fund a baseball stadium in New York.

One would think that the Mets would be open to finding a new sponsor, as well. Why would any team want its new stadium, the symbol of a new era of victories, to be named after and symbolized by a company claiming to be on the brink of collapse?

I strongly urge Citigroup to find a way out of this contract and instead spend that $400 million on retaining its employees and restoring confidence in its operations. Furthermore, I encourage Citigroup and every other corporation depending on taxpayer dollars to stop the reckless spending, and I again insist that Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke start holding these companies accountable. We cannot continue to pour taxpayer dollars into buckets with holes.

Schumer Steps Down at DSCC, Menendez to Take Over

From the Hill - Leading the News
Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) has decided against a third term as Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) chairman after leading his party to gains for two straight cycles.

Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.) will take over as DSCC chief, reports The New York Times, which sourced the story to unnamed party officials.

Schumer has led the DSCC since after the 2004 elections. Under his leadership, Democrats in 2006 won control of the Senate. In this year’s elections, the Senate Democratic Conference improved from 51 seats to at least 58 seats, with results of races in Minnesota and Georgia still pending. No incumbent Democratic candidate lost a race during Schumer’s tenure.

Schumer earned a reputation as a tireless surrogate and master fundraiser on behalf of his candidates. The DSCC raised more than $121 million during both of the last two cycles, giving it a $32.6 million cash advantage over the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2006 and a $42.7 million advantage this year.

Thanks partly to his success two years ago, Schumer was elevated to vice chairman of the Senate Democratic Conference, the third-highest leadership position in the conference.

He said earlier this year that he was open to a third term as DSCC chairman.

Messages left for the DSCC were not returned by press time.

Bush Grants 14 Pardons, Two Commutations

From the Hill- Leading the News
President Bush on Monday granted what could be a first round of pardons for a number of convicted criminals before he leaves office in January.

Bush granted 14 pardons and two commutations Monday. Speculation has swirled around whether the president will grant a full pardon to I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff, after commuting his sentence in 2007 for committing perjury in the CIA leak investigation. In addition, Bush could grant some form of executive clemency to a number of Republican congressmen who have been convicted and jailed for corruption.

But no big Washington names were present in the batch of pardons released by the Justice Department on Monday. Instead, many small-time criminals benefited from Bush’s pardon power. Several drug dealers, a bank embezzler and even someone who violated the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act saw their criminal records wiped clean by the White House.

Additional high-profile figures have petitioned the Justice Department’s Office of the U.S. Pardon Attorney, such as media baron Conrad Black and "America Taliban" John Walker Lindh. Several lawmakers have also pushed for Bush to weigh in on behalf of Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos, two U.S. Border Patrol agents who have been sentenced to prison after shooting a Mexican drug smuggler during a routine border stop three years ago.

Bush has not been known to be generous with his power to wave away a criminal record, though. The president has now pardoned 171 individuals and commuted sentences for eight people, a relatively small number compared to past administrations.

President-Elect Obama's Weekly Radio/Web Address 11/22/08

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US president-elect Barack Obama announced Saturday that he had ordered his economic advisers to produce an economic recovery plan to create 2.5 million new jobs over the next two years.

Well be working out the details in the weeks ahead, but it will be a two-year, nationwide effort to jumpstart job creation in America and lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy, Obama said in his weekly radio address.

Obama, who has vowed to make the economy his priority when he takes office from President George W. Bush in January, said the effort should produce 2.5 million new jobs by January of 2011 and lay the foundation of the countrys economic recovery.

His announcement came two days after government data showed that new jobless claims had surged to a 16-year high, in a new sign that the worlds largest economy appeared to be sliding into a deep recession.

Holmdel Volunteer Board & Committee Appointment Opportunities

Mike Sockol, President of the Holmdel Democratic Alliance has announced that the Township of Holmdel is accepting resumes/letters of interest from residents of Holmdel for the following volunteer boards and committee positions:

Agricultural Advisory Committee

Bayonet Farm Committee

Board of Health

Cool Cities Committee

Cross Farm Advisory Committee

Cultural Appreciation Committee

Economic Development Committee

Holmdel Environmental Commission

Financial Advisory Committee

Open Space Advisory Council

Planning Board

Recreation Advisory Committee

Recycling and Solid Waste

Shade Tree Committee

Swim Club Advisory Committee

Tennis Committee

Traffic Safety Advisory Committee

Zoning Board of Adjustment

TV/Motion Picture Industry


Each term will require the applicant to attend meetings which will be set by the Committee.

All applicants are asked to fill out a Volunteer Appointment Form. 

Please forward the completed application to:

 mdoloughty@holmdeltownship-nj.com

                   or send to 

Township Clerk, Township of Holmdel

PO Box 410, Holmdel, NJ 07733 

                    or fax to

               732-946-0116

 by December 31, 2008.

The Sarah Palin Turkey Massacre

In her attempt to pardon this years Thanksgiving Turkey, Sarah Palin allowed herself to be interviewed while turkeys were being slaughtered in plain view behind her. You can see it all in this clip from "Countdown"

Clinton Will Accept Obama Offer

Sen. Hillary Clinton "has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state, making her the public face around the world for the administration of the man who beat her for the Democratic presidential nomination," the New York Times reports.

Clinton "came to her decision after additional discussion with President-elect Obama about the nature of her role and his plans for foreign policy."

-Political Wire

Work is complete on turf field at Middletown High School North

According to the Asbury Park Press, the ongoing artificial turf field project at High School North is finally completed, offering the possibility that the Thanksgiving Day homecoming game could be played there — the first home game North would see in two seasons.

Board attorney Chris Parton said the board has not yet decided whether the Nov. 27 homecoming game would be played on the new field, but he anticipates the board will make a decision on that within the next few days, depending on the completion of the testing and walk-through.

Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy

Borowitz Report - In the first two weeks since the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the past eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say.

Millions of Americans who watched Mr. Obama's appearance on CBS' "Sixty Minutes" on Sunday witnessed the president-elect's unorthodox verbal tick, which had Mr. Obama employing grammatically correct sentences virtually every time he opened his mouth.

But Mr. Obama's decision to use complete sentences in his public pronouncements carries with it certain risks, since after the last eight years many Americans may find his odd speaking style jarring.

According to presidential historian Davis Logsdon of the University of Minnesota, some Americans might find it "alienating" to have a President who speaks English as if it were his first language.

"Every time Obama opens his mouth, his subjects and verbs are in agreement," says Mr. Logsdon. "If he keeps it up, he is running the risk of sounding like an elitist."

The historian said that if Mr. Obama insists on using complete sentences in his speeches, the public may find itself saying, "Okay, subject, predicate, subject predicate - we get it, stop showing off."

The President-elect's stubborn insistence on using complete sentences has already attracted a rebuke from one of his harshest critics, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

"Talking with complete sentences there and also too talking in a way that ordinary Americans like Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder can't really do there, I think needing to do that isn't tapping into what Americans are needing also," she said.

HOLT AND PALLONE LAUD FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FOR FORT MONMOUTH WORKERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2008

U.S. Representatives Rush Holt (NJ-12) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6) today lauded the announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor that it is awarding the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development $3 million in federal funding to retain a portion of the Fort Monmouth workforce. This funding will allow up to 1,100 Fort Monmouth employees to continue their work until June 30, 2010. The lawmakers believe keeping these highly skilled workers on board will ensure that our soldiers fighting abroad have the support they need as they fight to protect our country. The grant will also be used to assist workers in upgrading their skills through job training, as well as for efforts designed to attract businesses seeking to enter or expand their presence in the defense, communications, and homeland security sectors.

“While we continue to oppose the decision to close Fort Monmouth and pursue ways to reverse it, the talented workers at Fort Monmouth should be given every opportunity to continue to do their important work,” Holt said.

"While I continue to oppose the closure of Fort Monmouth, this grant will provide essential funding to retain the highly skilled workforce at the fort," Pallone said. "Working with Governor Corzine, we will ensure that job creation is a priority so that the high tech jobs at Fort Monmouth stay in Monmouth County to support essential base operations."

Most Americans Favor Clinton at State

A new Gallup Poll finds that 57% of Americans are in favor of President-elect Obama appointing Sen. Hillary Clinton as the secretary of state in his administration. Just 30% oppose it.

-Political Wire

The Fall of the Republican Party

The Economist says the Republican party "lost the battle of ideas even more comprehensively than they lost the battle for educated votes, marching into the election armed with nothing more than slogans..."

"Republicanism's anti-intellectual turn is devastating for its future. The party's electoral success from 1980 onwards was driven by its ability to link brains with brawn. The conservative intelligentsia not only helped to craft a message that resonated with working-class Democrats, a message that emphasised entrepreneurialism, law and order, and American pride. It also provided the party with a sweeping policy agenda. The party's loss of brains leaves it rudderless, without a compelling agenda."

-Political Wire

Mallett Turns Monmouth Blue

Congratulations go out to Monmouth County Freeholder-Elect Amy Mallet, her drawn out victory over Republican John Curley has turned Monmouth County blue after 23 years of republican domination.

Reports of her triumph started to be reported around 6 pm last night, PolitickerNJ was the first to report followed by Save the Jersey Blog and Blue Jersey.

What does this mean to me? It means that Democrats will clean house down in Freehold and the last remnants of ol' Club Monmouth will be gone and I invision Barbara McMorrow being named as Director of the Freeholders come January.

Here is a little excerpt from what Bob Jorden of the Asbury Park Press has to say this morning:

"...The change in power means a handful of well-paying county government jobs will be up for grabs, as well as control over which firms land contracts and work assignments under the county's $470 million annual budget...."

Stay tuned in the coming days, I'm sure that there will be a lot of crying, as well as cheering being done all around Monmouth County.  

Right-wing bloggers see their chance

Leading the News-

Conservative groups are not celebrating the election of Barack Obama, with perhaps one exception: right-wing bloggers, who see a ripe opportunity to catch up with the left.

A Washington in the hands of Democrats offers online pundits on the right a fresh political target and a chance to vent against their ideological opponents. The reverse scenario allowed their liberal counterparts to blossom during the blogosphere’s infancy, when the GOP controlled the Congress and the Bush administration held power between 2003 and 2006.

But the aptly named “rightosphere,” much like its liberal counterpart, “the netroots,” doesn’t simply want to criticize the other team. It sees this as its time to reshape the Republican Party.
“The rightosphere will be much better when the right has something to oppose,” said Jon Henke, who writes at The Next Right.

Obama and Democrats will eventually provide conservatives with a “unifying grievance” that they can seize on. On the Democratic agenda could be universal healthcare proposals that would expand government programs, union-backed card-check legislation that would allow workers to bypass secret-ballot elections when unionizing, and calls to reverse momentum to expand offshore drilling, Henke said.

Being in the opposition is also a natural posture for conservatives, who want smaller government but have seen GOP lawmakers in the last few years create more federal programs, expand the deficit and spend greater sums of taxpayer dollars....

Click HERE to read more

Monmouth Freeholder Barbara McMorrow: Ask Thanksgiving Day Guests to Bring Donations for Food Pantries

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many of us are planning what we are going to eat for Thanksgiving Day dinner. However, there are also many Monmouth County residents who are not planning a big dinner on Thanksgiving Day. They are worrying about putting food on the table for their families each and every day.

As liaison to the Department of Human Services for Monmouth County, I know that this year, donations to the food pantries throughout Monmouth County are way down and requests for food are way up. There are many working families who can't put gas in their cars and food on their tables.

I have a suggestion to make. If you are hosting dinner this Thanksgiving Day, when friends and families ask what they can bring, please ask them to bring a bag of nonperishable food items. The next day, please take the food that you have collected to your local food pantry or the Monmouth Ocean FoodBank.

There is so much for which I am thankful. However, I am most thankful to know that the great generosity that defines us as Americans will inspire each one of us to do whatever we can to help those around us who are in need.

Barbara J. McMorrow
Monmouth County Freeholder

Clinton Will Accept Obama's Offer

Sen. Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of Secretary of State offered by President-elect Obama, "who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration," the Guardian has learned.

However, the Washington Post says a formal offer hasn't been made yet but notes "there is an understanding" that if Sen. Clinton "can sort out her husband's global work... she would have a good, if not completely certain, shot at it."

Said Clinton confidant James Carville: "There's a lot of momentum in the direction of this happening."

Poltical Wire

60 Minutes Interview with the 44th President part III: A Father's Promise

In this final part of the 60 Minutes Interview with President-Elect Barack Obama, Obama discusses the promise to his daughters that he make to them about getting a new dog, his Mother-in-law and a College football playoff system.

60 Minutes Interview with the 44th President part II: The Personal Transition

60 Minutes Interview with the 44th President part I: Obama And The Presidency

If you missed the 60 Minutes interview on CBS last night with our 44th president, Barack Obama, here is part I of the interview where OBama discusses the Presidency.

Glenn Mason says "Thank You"

What an experience it has been for me to have had the privilege to run in the campaign for Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Immediate thanks go out to all the volunteers who gave their time and support to help Amy and myself through this election. There is no campaign without the tireless efforts of volunteers, and I cannot thank them enough. Thanks to my family and life long friends for their unconditional support, and to true and loyal friends like Lenny, Erv and Joe Caliendo who were always there to help organize, motivate and lend their experience. Their support was unwavering and constant. I would also like to thank the Municipal Chairs, the Mayors and Committee people and the Staff at the County office as well as all the Union’s which supported us.

If it were not for Chairman Scudiery, I would never have been given this tremendous opportunity and chance to serve the people of Monmouth County.

It was a pleasure and an honor to make a run for the Office of Freeholder, and without the support from both Freeholders John DAmico and Barbara McMorrow, I am not sure I would have learned as much or made it as far as I did.

A special thanks goes to my running mate and future Freeholder, Amy Mallet. The people of this County are going to see what a brilliant and compassionate person she is as she serves this County. Once again I appreciate the chance I was given, and my only regret is I will not be able to serve the people of this county.

I believe that in future elections, with people like Chairman Scudiery and Chairman Oxley (republican), you will see better run elections with less “DIRTY” politics and more attention on the issues.

In closing, all should know that if it was not for Mike Mangan, County Director who stepped up and tirelessly took over my campaign, I would not have been able to finish as well as I did. I thank you all. I will always remember what a life changing, memorable experience this has been, and the many great friends I have met along the way.

Respectfully,
Glenn Mason

North's Lions Loses to West Windsor South 42-20 in CJ Group IV Playoffs

West Windsor-Plainsboro South quarterback Connor Farrell called Middletown North the most physical team the Pirates have played all year, but like the rest of the undefeated Pirates' opponents, the Lions could not touch the senior quarterback.

Farrell shredded the Middletown North defense for 240 yards and three touchdown passes to lead the No. 2 seed Pirates to a 40-22 victory over the No. 7 Lions in an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV quarterfinal on Sunday.

Click HERE to read all about the game.

New Stadium Is Definitely Something to Write Home About

If you're a Yankee fan, you will defintely like to read about this!

NY Times blogger Tyler Kepner and other beat writers that cover the Yankees were given a tour of the new Yankee Stadium on Friday. They were given a behind-the-scenes look at the clubhouse, as well as all of the off-limits areas.

You Won, Now What?

In the following Memorandum written to newly elected officials and their staffs by Taegan Goddard and Chris Riback, they lay out their ideas, as to what should be done by these officials to ensure that the needs of the people are met and that good government is established and adhered to. The points laid out in their memo are basic and realistic goals that all levels of government can follow, whether it's on the Municipal, County or State level, or up to the Federal.

Taegan Goddard and Chris Riback are co-authors of "YOU WON - NOW WHAT? How Americans Can Make Democracy Work from City Hall to the White House" (Scribner, 1998). Goddard has served as a policy advisor to a U.S. Senator, Governor and State Treasurer. Riback has worked as a journalist for "60 Minutes," ABC News, and the Associated Press.

Memorandum

TO: Newly Elected Officials and Their Staffs

FROM: Taegan Goddard and Chris Riback

Congratulations! The polls are closed, the votes were tallied and you came out on top! With the hard weeks of campaigning barely over, you must remember that the election was not the finish line, it's the starting gun. The tough job of governing lies ahead.

Former House Speaker Tip O'Neill may have said it best: "It's easier to run for office than to run the office."

The reality for today's newly elected officials and their staffs is little different than the fiction portrayed in the 1972 film, The Candidate. Robert Redford starred as an idealist running for U.S. Senate. He never worried much about his campaign promises, because he never thought he would actually win. So when he did, the candidate turned to his manager and asked the question the campaign left him completely unprepared to answer: "What do we do now?"

Like Redford's character, the winners of yesterday's election must now put their campaign promises into action. It's not easy because winning a campaign is very different than running a government. The elected and appointed officials swept into our governments after the elections may find it hard to get the simplest things accomplished. A different approach is needed.

"We campaign in poetry, but when we're elected, we're forced to govern in prose," former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo once said.

Turning a poet into a novelist isn't always easy. But that was our goal as we started to write YOU WON - NOW WHAT? How Americans Can Make Democracy Work from City Hall to the White House. We traveled from coast to coast -- from Connecticut to California -- interviewing officials at all levels of government to learn how they make our democracy work. From this extensive research, we identified the "Eight Traits of Highly Effective Public Officials." We show what others have done. These are the rules of effective governing, rarely passed down from one generation of public servants to the next. This is the unwritten code of getting something done in government -- and possibly making the history books.

Recognize government is not a business.
This concept, of course, runs contrary to nearly everything said, written or thought about government today. Officials at all levels of government and from both major political parties cloak themselves in this Holy Grail of political theory. Yet from the idea that citizens are much more than government's customers (they are it's owners) to the need for openness, government is not a business. Forcing government managers into private sector thinking usually causes more problems than it solves.

Rethink government's main purpose.
If a government function can be run like a business, maybe it should be one. Congress regularly funds agencies headed by new public officials who find the day-to-day work goes beyond what they expected. With management teams swept in and out over the years, most agencies perform tasks they should not. Some government functions are more appropriate for the private sector, some overlap with other agencies and some are simply no longer relevant. By using up time and energy, these excesses keep the officials from doing their best job.

Know what they want to accomplish.
Little could sound more obvious. After all, who would run for office or accept appointment to an important government position without having a clear idea of what to achieve or how government should perform? Yet stop a random public official in the halls of the Capitol and too often you'll find they lack what President George Bush called "the vision thing."

Change the old guard, the old culture - or both.
Putting one's stamp on a government agency - or even a legislative office - is never easy. Staff positions must be filled with people who share similar goals, even when too few vacancies are available. And new positions are difficult to create. The pay typically runs lower than comparable private sector jobs; and new public officials - lacking any similar experience - must negotiate the political appointments minefield, especially when higher-ups put on pressure to take their unqualified cousin for that last vacancy.

Take control of the bureaucracy.
Empowering bureaucrats is today's conventional wisdom in making government work. It is also wrong. Instead, top new public officials must learn to empower themselves. They must liberate themselves from the multiple layers of bureaucracy and arcane rules that block their ability to take control of their agency. The elected or appointed public manager is most directly accountable to the citizens and, as a result, should have the most responsibility.

Juggle many balls at once.
If there is one supreme lesson of which nearly every public official wishes he or she had been reminded before taking office, it's that time is short, and much of their time is taken by juggling crises. The crises can develop slowly, like a recession that decreases government revenues; or they can appear out of nowhere, like a scandal plastered on the front page of the morning newspaper. But make no mistake - they will come.

Manage their message.
A government official's communication skills are frequently overlooked. They're not taught in public administration programs or business schools, nor are they mentioned in the so-called management books. Yet regularly they make the difference between success and failure in public sector initiatives. If public officials do not manage their message, it will be managed for them.

Seek feedback from citizens.
American democracy, like most democracies worldwide, has evolved into a system called "representative government," which, in plain language, means, "Elect me. I know better." But times have changed. No longer is it sufficient to take office and check back four years later to see if you've done a good job.

Technology has changed government. Feedback is so easy to get, from constantly whirring fax machines to the lightening-quick responses of e-mail, that no public official can ignore it. They have a responsibility not just to put information out but to get input in return.

This does not mean that public servants should change voting positions with every new e-mail they receive. Without a core set of beliefs, any government official is worthless. It does mean, however, the concept of representative democracy has evolved, and officials ignore a willing public at great risk.

High-tech industry sees Obama as an ally

The Hill -

Lobbyists for the high-tech industry see Barack Obama’s victory last week as a boost to their interests.

Advocates are encouraged by how the president-elect embraced technology in his own campaign — by using the Internet to set new fundraising records, for example — and for his support of open access to Internet networks and tax breaks for research and development.

“The Obama position is the government has a role in promoting technology. It is a breath of fresh air,” said Josh Ackil, president of the Franklin Square Group. Ackil, a former Democratic Senate aide, now lobbies for Apple, Google and other tech interests.

Tech lobbyists have largely been disappointed by the Bush administration, which failed to deliver on the president’s promise that every American household would have broadband access during his second term....

Obama urges extension of unemployment benefits

The Hill - Leading the News

President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday lauded President Bush for convening a meeting of the world’s largest economies to address the global financial crisis but also urged more action at home.

The Illinois senator, in a radio address that for the first time was also videotaped and posted online, said a “coordinated global response” is needed to address the crisis. In addition to world leaders discussing the issue this weekend, Obama argued that Congress must do more to help struggling Americans.

“Millions of our fellow citizens lie awake each night wondering how they’re going to pay their bills, stay in their homes, and save for retirement,” he stated.

However, Obama added that Congress can take steps to address the crisis and “must act right now.”

“Next week, Congress will meet to address the spreading impact of the economic crisis. I urge them to pass at least a down-payment on a rescue plan that will create jobs, relieve the squeeze on families, and help get the economy growing again,” the president-elect said. “In particular, we cannot afford to delay providing help for the more than one million Americans who will have exhausted their unemployment insurance by the end of this year.”

Obama promised that, if Congress does not pass a second stimulus measure during its upcoming lame duck session, he would make it his “first order of business” upon taking office.

The president-elect also sought offer Americans encouragement in tough economic times. Not only did Obama express confidence that the country would overcome the crisis, he also said that the current crisis could lead to opportunities “to create new jobs, strengthen our middle class, and keep our economy competitive in the 21st century.”

Obama Talks Economic Mess in Video Address

President-elect Barack Obama urged Congress to get moving next week on an economic rescue plan that would extend jobless benefits among other actions. This is the first of Obama's radio addresses that has been will be videoed and posted on YouTube

Middletown South Defeats New Brunswick 14-7 In CJ Group III Playoffs

At times, Middletown South played like an inexperienced team, but in the end, the young Eagles did what the Middletown South teams of the last decade do regularly: they won a playoff game.

Senior running back Chris Bungee scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:49 left and the No. 3 Eagles offense rose from the dead for a 14-7 victory over New Brunswick in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III quarterfinal on Friday night.

Middletown South will host Ocean in the sectional semifinals

Read the full story HERE from the Asbury Park Press

Home Field Not Much Of An Advantage: Rockets Mauled By Bears 42-0 in CJ Group II Playoffs

My old and beloved High School team, the Raritan Rockets lost last night to the Delran Bears 42-0 in the opening round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II.

Even though Raritan hosted last nights game, home field advantage didn't seem to matter as the  Rockets were mauled by the Bears in every facet of the game.

The Bears scored on their opening drive of the game and then went on to 4 more touchdowns in the second quater. On the night Delran converted 7 of 12 on third down and 2 of 3 on fourth downs. 

It's to bad, this was a game that most of the pundits called for Raritan but it just goes to show you that game isn't over until it is played on the field.  

Even though the Rockets lost, they can still hold their heads up high for their achievements on the field this year. After going 2-8 last year, this years record of 6-3 is a great improvement. 

They have one more game against Holmdel on Thanksgiving day and if they win, it could still give them a portion of their Shore North division crown this the year.

So lets hear it for the Rockets, go beat Holmdel on Thanksgiving day and win yourselves a piece of that division crown.    

Read about the game HERE

Funny Man Bush, Are We Really Going To Miss Him?

Here's a little Friday fun, a handfull of blooper videos of some of President Bush's more unforgettable moments. Enjoy!

 

Dodd Says Auto Bailout Lacks Votes in Senate

The NY Times has just posted a column by David Herszenhorn stating how Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, who is Chairman of the Senate banking committee, has just announce that Auto industry bailout lacks votes in the Senate at this time.

"The chairman of the Senate banking committee said on Thursday that he did not believe there would be enough Republican support for efforts to aid floundering automobile manufacturers, raising doubts about whether Congressional leaders will call the House into a lame-duck session next week.

“Right now, I don’t think there are the votes,” the chairman, Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, said, adding that he personally was in favor of using money from the $700 billion financial rescue program to help General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. But Mr. Dodd said he did not believe such a bill would get through the Senate.

“I don’t know of a single Republican who’s willing to support,” Mr. Dodd said. “So I want to be careful about bringing up a proposition that might fail in light of the fact the authority exists, and under an Obama administration there seems to be a greater willingness to deal with the issue. So there are some political considerations to be made.”

Passing any legislation to aid the auto companies would require 60 votes in the Senate. Democrats have 49 seats, Republicans have 49 seats and there are 2 independents who caucus with the Democrats..."

Click HERE to finish reading David Herszenhorn's column in the NY Times

Beyond the Fat Cats

NY Times Op-Ed Columnist Bob Herbert  rants on that about how the Democrats and President- Elect Obama needs to look beyond the Wall Street fat cats and bring back a sense of fairness and equity to the economy. Its a good column and worth a look.

"The most important thing the Democrats and President-elect Obama can do with regard to the economy is bring back a sense of fairness and equity.

The fat cats who placed the entire economy at risk with their greed and manic irresponsibility are trying to lay claim to every last dime in the national Treasury. Meanwhile, we’re nowhere close to an economic recovery program that will help the people who are hurting most.

Back in September, with the credit markets frozen and the stock markets panicking, the treasury secretary, Henry Paulson, was telling anyone who would listen that his $700 billion bailout package had to be passed with lightning speed — no time to look at it too closely, no time for dissent.

The package was modified, but hurriedly. Now we learn that while all eyes were focused on this enormous new burden for American taxpayers, Mr. Paulson’s department was also engineering — separate and apart from the bailout — what The Washington Post described as “a quiet windfall for U.S. banks. ”

With virtually no public attention, and without the input of Congress, Treasury made a change in an obscure tax provision that benefited banks to the tune of well over $100 billion. Was this good policy? In the absence of proper scrutiny, how is it possible to know?

We’ve also learned that the government bailout of the giant insurer, the American International Group — already more than $100 billion — is apparently insufficient. Tens of billions more are needed...."

Click HERE to finish reading Bob Herberts column from the NY Times

Fox Business: Gerald Celente Predicts Revolution

Fox News recently aired this segment with Gerald Celente the founder of the Trend Reasearch Institute.

He mentioned that before 2012:

1. America will be the first undeveloped country
2. Revolution, food shortages, riots, marches
3. Food instead of gifts for Christmas

The segment lasted for more than 5 minutes. He said things like parents shouldn't send their kids to get business degrees or psychology degrees and send them to community colleges to learn a real skill. He kept implying that food will become the most important thing for us. He said the retail industry will die off completely but local markets will thrive.

The host even introduced him as a guy who's "predictions always come true".

Lets hope he is wrong



Gerald Celente's website:

Trendresearch.com

Gerald Celente - Founder of The Trends Research Institute

If Nostradamus were alive today, he'd have a hard time keeping up with Gerald Celente. — New York Post

Founder of The Trends Research Institute, Gerald Celente's predictions are coming true!

How to Fix a Flat

NY Times Op-Ed Columnist Thomas L. Friedman rants on about the proposed bailout of the Detroit auto industry in his column today. While I don't always agree with what he has to say, I am with him on this. Those of us that can remember the Chrysler bailout in the 80's remember what a big deal it was then, now we're talking all of  Detroit. When will it end?

"Last September, I was in a hotel room watching CNBC early one morning. They were interviewing Bob Nardelli, the C.E.O. of Chrysler, and he was explaining why the auto industry, at that time, needed $25 billion in loan guarantees. It wasn’t a bailout, he said. It was a way to enable the car companies to retool for innovation. I could not help but shout back at the TV screen: “We have to subsidize Detroit so that it will innovate? What business were you people in other than innovation?” If we give you another $25 billion, will you also do accounting?

How could these companies be so bad for so long? Clearly the combination of a very un-innovative business culture, visionless management and overly generous labor contracts explains a lot of it. It led to a situation whereby General Motors could make money only by selling big, gas-guzzling S.U.V.’s and trucks. Therefore, instead of focusing on making money by innovating around fuel efficiency, productivity and design, G.M. threw way too much energy into lobbying and maneuvering to protect its gas guzzlers.

This included striking special deals with Congress that allowed the Detroit automakers to count the mileage of gas guzzlers as being less than they really were — provided they made some cars flex-fuel capable for ethanol. It included special offers of $1.99-a-gallon gasoline for a year to any customer who purchased a gas guzzler. And it included endless lobbying to block Congress from raising the miles-per-gallon requirements. The result was an industry that became brain dead.

Nothing typified this more than statements like those of Bob Lutz, G.M.’s vice chairman. He has been quoted as saying that hybrids like the Toyota Prius “make no economic sense.” And, in February, D Magazine of Dallas quoted him as saying that global warming “is a total crock of [expletive]....”

Click on to the headline to finish reading Thomas Friedman's article

Donahue Documentary Takes On The War

by Richard Huff - New York Daily News

If he were a senior in college today, he probably wouldn't pay to see his film, "Body of War."

"Body of War" is a tough film that follows the story of U.S. Army soldier Tomas Young, whose spine was severed when he was shot after being in Iraq just five days.

The film was produced and directed by Ellen Spiro and Donahue. It hit festivals and theaters early this year, and will air tomorrow night(tonight) at 7 on the Sundance Channel.

"It's tough, it's hard-hitting and has a strong message," said Laura Michalchyshyn, general manager of Sundance. "We wanted to be able to tell a story that's real, honest and true and hasn't been manufactured."

Donahue met Young on a visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also spoke to Young's mother during her bedside vigil for her son, who is paralyzed from the chest down.

"I couldn't get him out of my head," Donahue said. "The first thing you think is, why him and not me?"

The former TV host remained in contact with Young and his family, and the film emerged.

Donahue has been against the war in Iraq since the start, and lost his show at MSNBC in 2003 because of his nightly stance against the war and the Bush administration.

"Body of War" blends footage from the debate in Congress on the war with scenes from Thomas' struggle to adapt to life without the use of most of his body.

"This is the most sanitized war of my lifetime," Donahue said. "We do not see the pain. Less than 5% of us have sacrificed for this war. What you see in this film is the drama that's taking place in thousands of homes in this country occupied by young soldiers who have come home with hideous injuries."

The film, however, focuses on just one. Young's life involves pain, multiple health problems and trouble dealing with the sort of activities most people take for granted.

"The American people do not see this," Donahue said. "This war is over to them. Less than 10% of us identified the war as a the major reason we were voting."

Sundance's decision to air the documentary on Veterans' Day is not an accident.

"It's not just about Iraq, it's about how we've treated these veterans," Michalchyshyn said. "I don't think a lot of people have conceived of the Iraq war veterans the same way as World War I or World War II veterans."

In addition to Sundance, where "Body of War" will get multiple plays, the film is out on DVD. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam wrote two songs for it, and part of the proceeds of the DVD sales at Pearl Jam's Web site go to Young.

"Before the next President swaggers in front of the camera with a big lone-star belt buckle and says, 'Bring it on,'" Donahue said, "I want them to meet the honorably discharged Army Spc. Thomas Young."

"We Can't Let This Bank Fail!"

Bruce Springsteen wants to make sure one bank remains solvent: the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

The singer will appear in a newspaper ad for the state's largest food bank that says: "We Can't Let This Bank Fail!"

Springsteen has been a supporter of the food bank for 23 years, often donating proceeds from concerts or encouraging fans to bring food donations to his shows. This is the first time he's lent his image to the anti-hunger campaign.

The Community Food Bank says the economy has resulted in a 30 percent increase in those needing food and could lead it to ration supplies for the first time in its 26-year history.

The food bank assists charities serving a half-million people each year.

President-Elect Obama: Honor Veterans By Ending the Iraq War

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nationwide - November 10 - Military Families Speak Out, an organization of 4,000 military families opposed to the war in Iraq, and its national chapter Gold Star Families Speak Out, are calling on President-Elect Barack Obama to honor the sacrifices of Veterans and their families by ending the war in Iraq. Military Families Speak Out issued the following statement on the eve of Veterans Day, 2008:

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, an armistice ended the slaughter of World War I along the Western Front. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a national holiday to honor the sacrifice of the U.S. troops who fought in that war. Since then, on November 11th, people across the United States and around the world have historically given thanks for peace, and observed moments of silence to remember those who fought and died during times of war.

Tomorrow will be the sixth Veterans Day that finds U.S. troops fighting and dying in Iraq, in a war based on lies. Our troops, our Veterans, our families, and the Iraqi people need to know that it will also be the last.

President-Elect Obama, you had the courage and the vision to oppose this war before it started, and you have pledged to end it. As Commander in Chief you will have the power to do that. But leaving U.S. combat troops in Iraq well into 2010, and leaving tens of thousands of additional troops in Iraq indefinitely, is not ending this war - it is continuing it..

4,193 U.S. troops and over a million Iraqis have already died as a result of this war. Countless others will struggle for the rest of their lives with devastating physical and psychological injuries. Each day that this war continues, new tragedies occur.

The war in Iraq was wrong from the beginning and it is wrong today. There is no justification for continuing to risk the lives of our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, and the Iraqi people.

President-Elect Obama, please honor the sacrifices of our troops, our Veterans, and our families by committing to the immediate, orderly, and safe return of all U.S. troops from Iraq and assuring that they receive the care they need when they get home.

CONTACT: Military Families Speak Out (MFSO)
Sean Donahue, Communications Director
617-983-0710 (w), 978-809-8054 (c), press@mfso.org

Military Families Speak Out is an organization of 4,000 military families opposed to the war in Iraq, with loved ones who are serving or have served in the U.S. military since fall, 2002. Gold Star Families Speak Out is our national chapter of families whose loved ones have died as a result of this war. Members of Military Families Speak Out and Gold Star Families Speak Out are available for interview -- including members whose loved ones are now serving in Iraq, members whose loved ones will soon be deployed to Iraq, and members whose loved ones were killed in Iraq.

Veteran's Day: Keeping Faith With The Original Intent of Armistice Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON - November 10 - A veterans' organization ask the nation to remember the original intent of Veterans Day.

The original Armistice Day ended World War I on November 11, 1918, but not before nearly 30 million soldiers had been killed or wounded, and over seven million taken prisoner.

Congress responded to a universal hope that this would never happen again and passed a resolution calling for "...exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding...inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches...with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples." Congress later resolved November 11 was to be "...a day dedicated to the cause of world peace."

Of the many veterans' organizations in the U.S., one exists specifically to carry out the original purpose of Armistice Day, now celebrated as Veterans' Day. In word as well as action, Veterans For Peace, a national organization with 120 chapters, is dedicated to the cause of peace.

"Unfortunately Veterans Day has turned into a day to support war rather than a day to reflect on the horrors of war and the need to work for peace," said Veterans For peace Executive Director Michael McPhearson. "Veterans For Peace has over 120 chapters around the country, many of whom will be commemorating veterans day by marching in traditional parades, conducting solemn ceremonies and vigils to give an alternative view about war and the meaning of the day," McPhearson went on to say.

"Our statement of purpose is clear and direct when it says we intend to 'abolish war as an instrument of national policy.' We want this generation of veterans to be the last," said VFP president Elliott Adams.

The former Army paratrooper and Viet Nam veteran added, "We not only speak out for peace, our organization works towards it every single day. We will continue to do so and in fact increase our efforts as VFP seeks to raise awareness of the human and monetary cost of war in the face of the global economic crisis."

Please visit www.veteransforpeace.org to learn more about VFP Veterans Day activities.

CONTACT: Veterans For Peace
Michael T. McPhearson, 314 303-8874
Elliott Adams, 518 284-2048


Veterans For Peace was founded in 1985 and includes veterans of all eras and wars from the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), World War II, the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf and current Iraq wars as well as other conflicts cold or hot. It has participated in every major demonstration against the war in Iraq. Our collective experience tells us wars are easy to start and hard to stop and that those hurt are often the innocent. VFP is represented at the UN as an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

Veterans Day Tribute

Honor all of our troops on Veterans Day this year they have helped to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today.
GOD BLESS AMERICA

Oregon Town Elects Nation's First Transgender Mayor

One of the more stranger outcomes of last weeks elections was the outcome of the mayor's race in the small town of Silverton, Oregon where the voters elected Stu Rasmussen Mayor. What makes Stu Rasmussen' s election a little odd is that he is a cross-dresser.

"In a week when America loudly chose its first African-American president, Silverton quietly made Rasmussen the country's first openly transgender mayor, according to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that works to help openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people win elected office.

Rasmussen unseated incumbent mayor Ken Hector, with whom he had long clashed — 1,988 votes to 1,512. Because Rasmussen's appearance is no secret, it was policy issues that dominated the campaign. "I've blackmail-proofed myself," said Rasmussen."

Click Here to read the story

Lions, Eagles & Rockets Make High School Football Playoffs

Congratulations are in order for the three bayshore area High school football teams to make it into the NJSIAA football playoffs, both of Middletown's high schools, North's Lions and South's Eagles and Hazlet's Raritan Rockets, earned playoff berths this year. 

The NJSIAA will finalize the pairings and the schedule for the state football playoffs today. Below are the tentative pairings for the first round, which will start this weekend. 

Middletown High School North Lions @ West Windsor South

Middletown High School South Eagles -H against New Brunswick

Raritan High School (Hazlet) Rockets - H  against Delran

Go Lions ! Go Eagles ! Go Rockets ! 

Best of luck to all 3 teams this weekend.

Refocus the Federal Role to Build Stronger Schools

We are encouraged that President-elect Obama named education as one of his highest domestic priorities. It should be. Education is the engine for the country’s long-term economic success. The federal investment in our schools should be larger and smarter, reflecting a shift from the current “top-down”, micro managerial approach, to one that assists local school districts and states in preparing all students to succeed in the 21st century economy.

NSBA believes President-elect Obama should use the megaphone of the presidency to articulate a national vision for education – one that addresses the correlation between strong schools in every community and the nation’s overall economic health; the critical role that parents, community-based and other groups can play in strengthening schools; and, how the federal government can best help states and local school boards – where the responsibility for educating students rests – in providing our students with the skills, knowledge and tools they will need to be college- and career-ready in the global economy in which we now compete. These elements should be reflected in a new Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) with an accountability framework that recognizes student academic growth based on multiple measures of learning, not limited high-stakes tests, and acknowledges local decision-making and innovation.

We are optimistic the Obama administration will not “leave the money behind,” and will instead put forward budgets that prove children and their education are a priority: by funding Title I to meet the needs of all eligible students; by making good on Congress’ long-ago pledge to fund 40 percent of special education costs; and by investing in early childhood education programs that make it possible for all children to arrive at school ready to learn.

NSBA Statement on President-elect Obama’s victory

Anne L. Bryant
National School Boards Association Executive Director