Michael Moore on Trump Voters: 'I Understand Why They Are Angry'

Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, appeared on MTP Daily with Chuck Todd yesterday to talks about his documentary "Trumpland" and his views on the presidential race. It's enlightening and gives insight into each candidate and their supporters.

Say what you want about Moore, it doesn't matter. he's never been more right than he is in this interview.

Eenie... Meenie ..... Miney.... Mo

Who do you want answering the White House phone at 3 a.m.? ....

 Or how Homer Simpson became a Democrat.

Trump meets The Honeymooners

I had top pass this along, it's just too good not to.

NJ Watchdog: Christie hopes CNN debate begins comeback

On the ropes, Christie hopes CNN debate begins his comeback

With his White House run on the ropes, Chris Christie came out swinging Wednesday night at the prime-time Republican presidential debate on CNN.

Instead of duking it out with the other 10 GOP hopefuls on the stage, the New Jersey governor aimed his blows at opponents who weren't present -- President Barrack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the Democratic-controlled legislature in his home state.

“In seven short years, this president has stripped away their trust and faith and belief that the next generation will have a better life,” Christie declared in his opening statement. “He’s stolen that from us, and when I’m president, I’m going to take it back.”

He also urged the other Republican candidates to unite against Clinton for her support of Planned Parenthood.

“We shouldn’t be fighting with each other,” he said. “She’s the real opponent.”

And Christie identified himself as an “outsider” – like Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Carly Firorina – explaining that he is a Republican in a blue state.

“I’ve vetoed 400 bills from a crazy liberal Democratic legislature,” he said.

While Christie tried to play nice with his GOP opponents, there were numerous skirmishes between other contenders. Front-runner Trump exchanged sharp barbs with Fiorina, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Rand Paul.

But when Trump and Fiorina started criticizing each other’s track records in business, Christie interrupted with a crowd-pleasing line.

“You’re both successful people – congratulations,” he scolded. “You know who’s not successful in this country? The middle class who’s getting plowed over by Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Let’s start talking about those issues tonight and stop this childish back and forth between the two of you.”

The question is whether Christie landed punches enough to keep his campaign off the canvas. Positioned on the far end of the stage, a half-hour passed between questions posed to him by moderators at one point.

The governor entered the debate needing to score points with viewers to revive a campaign that’s taken a beating in public opinion polls.

Earlier this week, Christie fell to 11th place with only 1 percent support among GOP voters in both the ABC News/Washington Post and CBS News/New York Times polls.

The story is online at http://watchdog.org/238568/christie-cnn-debate/.

Running 4 Years Too Late, Christie Wasted His Summer On Campaign Trail

In light of tonight's 2nd GOP debate I thought that I'd post an OpEd that ran earlier this week in the Newark Star-Ledger on Chris Christie and the 2016 election. The piece was written by my friend Joshua Henne, president of the political consulting firm White Horse Strategies.

Running 4 Years Too Late, Christie Wasted His Summer On Campaign TrailBy Joshua Henne

It's hard to be "telling it like it is" when clearly no one cares what you have to say. That's precisely the lesson Gov. Chris Christie learned this summer.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Four years ago, Gov. Christie was basking in the limelight and pushing away big name donors from Wall Street to Iowa who journeyed to New Jersey on bended knee, begging him to jump into the presidential race.

Flash forward to today. The scantest of media contingents trek to his events. Gov. Christie didn't make the Koch brothers' five-candidate list and barely made the first GOP debate by the hair of his chinny chinny chin. After squeaking onto the stage, it became painfully clear that Fox News didn't give a flying fig he was even there. Gov. Christie clocked an anemic six minutes of airtime, logging merely four questions – the first being a full-frontal assault on his failed fiscal gubernatorial record. Other times, moderators used him as an angry wind-up toy for split screen slap-fights with Rand Paul and Mike Huckabee.

Now, Gov. Christie is in peril of not even making the next debate. CNN's latest national polling has him outside the top 10 looking in. If I declared for the GOP nomination this afternoon, we'd literally be tied within the margin-of-error.

It's been over two months since Gov. Christie entered the race – not with a bang, as was long the plan, but with a whimper. When Jeb Bush announced his candidacy, he immediately jumped 6 percent. Donald Trump spiked 11 percent. Gov. Christie slid from 4 percent to a mere 2 percent. In Iowa, he's dropped down from a lackluster 5 percent in the spring to a near-non-existent 1 percent. Gov. Christie even fell to tenth-place in New Hampshire, where he's all but established residency with 20 visits since 2013.

Clearly, every single nomination path Gov. Christie thought he'd have to himself has been closed off worse than access roads to the George Washington Bridge. Gov. Christie's solitary pitch was as the sole viable option who'd stand a chance in a general election. But this rationale only worked compared with an uninspiring 2012 field.

Today, his opponents trump every advantage Gov. Christie thought he had. Twice elected governor of America's largest swing state, Bush's family dynasty enjoys deeper ties to the identical money men Christie was banking on. Normally, with so many snowbirds and retirees, a Northeastern governor could fare well in the Sunshine State. Facing Bush – and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio – Gov. Christie has no shot.

Gov. Christie believed he had a lock as a fresh voice for a bright GOP wave. However, Sen. Rubio – without speaking a single word – stands for a new generation by virtue of his life story as the son of immigrants. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is the sitting executive – of a swing state – who balanced the budget and presides over a diversified economy on the mend. And as a blue state Republican who cut pensions and rammed through union-busting right-to-work legislation, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has Gov. Christie outflanked on using workers as piñatas.

Truly "telling it like it is" in New Jersey would mean ticking off the litany of Gov. Christie's abject failures over the past half-decade: a record-breaking nine credit downgrades on his watch; leading the nation in foreclosures, while the rest of America was on the upswing; consistently lagging the region and country on joblessness; ignoring crumbling rail and road infrastructure, putting not just commute times, but lives in jeopardy. It's been an absolute mess.

With no accomplishments, Gov. Christie can only cling to a personality-driven campaign. Even here, he trails Trump as the unhinged guy who spouts crazy stuff. And there's only room for one delusional, misogynistic, bombastic carnival barker with an inflated sense of self who helped usher in dark days for Atlantic City.

When it comes to pulling the trigger on an electoral run – especially for "Leader of The Free World" – it's all about timing. Gov. Christie is four years too late and already quite a few dollars short. People simply don't like or respect him. If this governor was truly "telling it like it is," he'd admit he has no chance. Christie only rationale for running is enjoying the travel and perks...and it's a heckuva lot better than staying home to deal with the mess he's created.

Obama Says He Could Win Again If He Ran

Looking at the current crop of GOP presidential hopefuls, I think he could win too.

July 28, 2015 By Taegan Goddard / Political Wire

President Obama asserted that,  “he could win a third term if allowed by the Constitution, but said he was looking forward to life after the presidency, when he will be able to take a walk and spend more time with his family,” the New York Times reports.

Said Obama: “I actually think I’m a pretty good president. I think if I ran, I could win.”

Chris Christie Jumps Into the 2016 Presidential Race

If you haven't heard by now shortly after 11:30 this morning, New Jersey Governor (our governor) Chris Christie made it official and announce his intentions of seeking the 2016 GOP nomination for President.

All I have to say is good for him and good riddance if wins. But if he actually wins the presidency  and runs the country the way he has as governor of NJ - God help us, we'd be in a deep of sh*t as a nation.

In the meantime, it's one more clown for the already overcrowded clown car. I'm just telling it like it is...

Letter: Make NJ 1st In The Nation

Dear Editor,

To promote tourism to New Jersey, our state should make our presidential primary the first in the nation.

People should be calling their state legislators to ask why we’re last and letting the folks in New Hampshire and Iowa determine our fate.

Change the New Jersey 2016 primary date to Monday, January 4th.



Eric Hafner
Toms River

Martin O'Malley: A Hillary Alternative

There are many Democrats around the country that aren't ready to just hand Hillary Clinton the Democratic nomination next year, many of us feel that she needs to earn it first.  That is why many of us are looking for an alternative. Unfortunately, alternative Democrats are hard to find at the moment. It seems they are afraid of the Clinton juggernaut unless that is, you're the former governor of Maryland and your name happens to be Martin O'Malley.

O'Malley has been quietly going around Iowa and New Hampshire seeking support in advance of his own 2016 campaign announcement.  He hasn't been flashy or made a lot of headlines as of yet but he is a true progressive, isn't afraid to show it and he has a record to stand on. Martin O'Malley is a former a two-term Mayor of the city of Baltimore and a former two-term Governor of Maryland:

"Called “the best manager in government today,” Governor O’Malley has been nationally recognized for his skillful leadership of Maryland through the recession, as well as his success in implementing critical progressive priorities such as raising the minimum wage to $10.10, signing marriage equality into law, abolishing the death penalty and passing the DREAM Act to provide in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. During his two terms, O’Malley recovered 100% of the jobs lost during the recession, first and foremost by investing in education, innovation and infrastructure. Under his leadership, Education Week magazine named Maryland’s public schools #1 in the nation for an unprecedented five years in a row, the College Board listed Maryland as one of the top states in the country for holding down the cost of college, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named Maryland #1 in innovation and entrepreneurship three years in a row. As a leader in sustainability, O’Malley expanded renewable energy, accelerated energy conservation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and took bold action to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Prior to serving as Governor of Maryland, O’Malley served two terms as Mayor of Baltimore. Governor O’Malley received his bachelor’s degree from Catholic University and his law degree from the University of Maryland..."

Check out his website and his Twitter page @GovernorOMalley to start familiarizing yourself with him. I think he makes an attractive alternative for the anti-Hillary crowd.

Official Video: Hillary Clinton Announces 2016 Campaign

CHAIRMAN CURRIE APPLAUDS SECRETARY HILLARY CLINTON'S 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

For Immediate Release:
4/12/15

(Trenton) -- Today, New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie applauded the announcement of former U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton, that she will seek the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

“I am excited that Hillary Clinton has declared her intent to seek the White House in 2016. She is the embodiment of America's pioneering spirit. Throughout her career she has been dedicated to expanding the middle class and creating a safer, more secure world,” said the Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, John Currie.

"I know a challenging campaign lays ahead, but, as a general principle, it would be nice if our sisters, daughters and granddaughters could look to the highest office in the land without wondering whether a glass ceiling bars their entry,” Currie added. "No matter who ultimately becomes the Democratic nominee, I am confident that he or she will win the White House."

Hillary Clinton's life is an inspiring story of hard-work and determination. An attorney, public servant, former First Lady, U.S. Senator from New York, well-traveled U.S. Secretary of State, mother and, now, grandmother, she is especially qualified to lead the United States of America. The New Jersey Democratic State Committee does not endorse candidates in competitive Democratic primary campaigns, but anyone interested in learning more about Secretary Clinton may visit her website www.hillaryclinton.com.

Hillary Clinton Declares Her Candidacy For 2016

With simple tweet this afternoon, Hillary Clinton let the world know that she will seeking the Democratic nomination for President in 2016.

Here she is last night preparing for the big announcement!!

Letter: Voters Should Learn About U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:

Dear Editor,

There has been a lot of talk about the 2016 Presidential Election in New Jersey, but voters should learn about the best potential candidate: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Bernie Sanders has the leadership experience necessary to serve as President. He has a strong record in Congress of supporting a Universal Health Care System, Pro-Choice rights, Free Higher Education, LGBT Rights, Ending the War on Drugs, Defending Working Families from Income Inequality and Opposing Wars.

We need to make American Worker’s Rights and our Social Welfare system comparable to that of European countries, like Sweden and Norway. Sanders policies would give average Americans the equal opportunity to share in our countries great wealth and to succeed, that the super wealthy currently enjoy.

New Jersey voters should support a potential bid by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to be elected as U.S. President in 2016. We have seen the disasters of self-serving Republican leadership in our state and we need the Independent, Social Democratic wisdom and vision of Senator Bernie Sanders.

Young voters, including high school and college students should begin building support on their campuses for Senator Bernie Sanders through social media and ensure supporters are registered to vote. For young voters, this is our last only chance to take back the country for our generation and put in the social policies and laws we support. All U.S. citizens age 18 and over on Election Day in November 2016 are eligible to vote.


Eric Hafner
Toms River

Op-Ed: A Nomination For Christie Seems More Remote Than Ever

By Joshua Henne

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, Gov. Chris Christie was flying high, fresh off a resounding re-election victory and poised to take over the Republican Governors Association. Today, Christie is surely not shedding a tear to see the calendar flip on 2014 — a year that brought brutal Bridgegate headlines and record credit downgrades to the state and finally exposed his distinct lack of accomplishment. Not to mention the looming specter of federal and legislative investigations.

But, it’s Jeb Bush’s recent Facebook proclamation that he’s actively exploring a presidential run that’s truly the cap to Christie’s political fall of Icarus-like proportions. The announcement by Florida’s former governor rips away the final shred of hope Christie had to magically thread the 2016 nomination needle. His sole pitch to voters, donors and pundits alike was that he’d be the only viable option out in the fields of Iowa who’d stand a chance in a general election. However, with an ever-diminishing pool of moderate Republican primary voters, Bush can easily bigfoot the competition.

Twice elected governor of America’s largest swing state, Bush’s tenure was, unlike Christie’s, mostly scandal-free. Moreover, Bush actually has executive accomplishments under his belt. In fairness, Christie has shepherded through a few items, such as bail reform and addiction treatment, but it’s not as though these issues send Republican voters rushing to the polls.


On matters of wider import – especially economic ones – Christie has been an abject failure. On his watch, New Jersey went the wrong way on mortgage foreclosures and consistently trails the nation/region when it comes to joblessness. The state suffers America’s second-lowest bond rating, and a record eighth credit downgrade came after Christie broke his own law by failing to fund the pension trust fund. This last move was particularly damaging. For years, Christie touted pension reform as his hallmark accomplishment, which was supposed to be his calling card to getting things done and working across the aisle. It’s not just that Christie lives up to the old cliché of saying one thing and doing another; worse, he’s said one thing and done absolutely nothing.

Despite selling himself as a tough-talking truth-teller who speaks his mind, in reality, Christie clams up on contentious questions. This past month alone, he’s refused to weigh in on the Keystone pipeline and the CIA torture report. Unlike other GOP likely contenders, Christie waited four full days to chime in on Cuba. On immigration, Bush clearly states his stance, detractors be damned. Conversely, Christie has ducked the issue, even while on a “trade mission” in Mexico.

Christie has burnished a reputation of everything always being about, well, Christie. In October 2011, he commanded the lectern for a 54-minute press conference to say he wasn't running for president. The following summer, he turned his Republican National Convention keynote into a long-winded exercise in self-promotion at Mitt Romney’s expense.

While these moves were rooted in vanity, more egregious is how Christie turned his back on his own party in his home state.

As beloved former Gov. Tom Kean said, the week after Christie’s re-election, “No governor I know in any state has won by 20 points and had no coattails.” Kean would know. In 1985, realizing he was waltzing to re-election, he devoted his post-Labor Day efforts to helping the down-ballot candidates. Flash forward to 2013, when Christie struck a deal with Democratic power brokers to keep their legislative seats safe. Then, this past year, while traipsing across America to raise money for candidates from Maine to the Midwest, Christie left New Jersey’s Republican State Committee in financial despair.

Christie has put his faith in wooing the well-heeled set who pony up the big bucks needed for a national campaign. Yet, the Bush dynasty enjoys longer, stronger, deeper ties to the very fund-raising base and campaign apparatus Christie would need to tap into. These relationships stretch back not only to Bush’s brother’s presidential campaign, but their father’s before that. Heck, Christie owes his own political career to parlaying prolific fund-raising for George W. Bush into a plum U.S. attorney post.

Major Republican donors look for return on investment. Does anyone believe they’ll bet on an undisciplined wild card with clouds over his head? Or will they back the man whose politics they like, whose family they know and who comes off as the adult in the room?

When given the chance to shine in front of deep-pocketed donors, Christie failed to impress. He embarrassed himself with naive answers on how he’d handle Vladimir Putin. He stumbled on Israel in front of Sheldon Adelson’s crowd in Las Vegas. As strong as he is on swagger, Christie comes across staggeringly light on substance.

Bush appeals to the growing Hispanic demographic, enjoys deeper donor ties and has a better, less scandalous gubernatorial record. Christie offers decision makers nothing more than a ticking time bomb in terms of both his temper and Bridgegate legal troubles, not to mention a history of not being a team player. It’s clear Christie’s final flicker of hope to catch even a whiff of the GOP nomination has been snuffed out. All that’s left is his face-saving decision not to run due to “family reasons” and to “finish the job” in New Jersey.

**************
Joshua Henne is founder of White Horse Strategies. Follow @JoshuaHenne on Twitter.

If He Runs For President Will Christie Be Forced To Quit As Governor?

Why hasn't anyone talked about before?

On his show this past Sunday, Steve Kornacki, host of MSNBC's UP w/ Steve Kornacki, outlined Chris Christie’s potential predicament he will find himself in if he plans to run for President in 2016. If Christie declares his candidacy for President after being reelected as NJ Governor this fall, it is extremely likely he would have to resign as governor so that he could raise campaign funds from Wall Street firms.

As a "result of two federal rules, one from the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board dating back nearly two decades and the other from the SEC in 2011, that drastically curb the ability of employees of Wall Street firms to donate to governors seeking federal office and of the uniquely broad appointment powers that come with the New Jersey governorship. Put together, they have the potential to prevent Christie from raising millions of dollars from a cash-rich sector – the financial services industry – that has been particularly enthusiastic about him."

According to a new book written by Dan Balz,“Collision 2012”, Mitt Romney was very concerned about this issue last year when he courted Christie to be his vice-presidential running mate. When Romney asked Christie if he would resign as governor to be on his ticket, Christie laughed not realizing that Romney was serious - when Christie refused Romney turned to Paul Ryan.

Kornacki wrote about all this yesterday on Salon.com, it's an interesting read that New Jerseyan's should take a look at before deciding to vote for Chris Christie again in November,  it's a potential game changer. If Christie runs for President and resigns one year after reelection than essentially, voters will be voting for Lt. Governor Kim Guadagon to be NJ's next governor, not Christie!

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy