Jeff Cantor for Monmouth County Sheriff

Colonel Jeff Cantor has served as a Marlboro Town Councilman since 2004. He has over 30 years of proven leadership experience with executive responsibility of organizations ranging from 12 to 3500 personnel and he is now running for Monmouth County Sheriff. He has served, as a high-level adviser and leader in political-military decision making in multi-national environments, in the United States, Europe and deployed to Afghanistan & Iraq. He has worked with various governments to enhance their civil-military operational capacity and has responded to natural & man-made disasters and provided humanitarian assistance around the world.

If you haven't seen it yet, here is Jeff Cantor's campaign TV spot that has been running on various local cable channels.



And here is Jeff Cantor's campaign radio spot if you haven't heard over the airwaves recently.

President Obama's Weekly Address 12/25/14: Happy Holidays from the President and First Lady

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President and First Lady wished Americans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and thanked our brave troops for their service. Especially as our combat mission in Afghanistan comes to a responsible end in the coming days, we are reminded of all that military men, women, and families sacrifice to keep us safe. The President and First Lady asked everyone to take some time this holiday season to visit JoiningForces.gov and find out how to give back to the men and women in uniform who have given so much for all of us.

Newsletter: "203"

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

At the President’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday, I was joined by Mark Wetherbee – a two-tour Vietnam veteran, a Ewing community leader, and one of the multitude of New Jerseyans struggling with unemployment.

Mark, who volunteers for the Ewing Township Green Team, the Kiwanis, and HomeFront in his free time, was laid off in October from his job as a property and facilities manager.  Since then, he has sent out 203 resumes.  He has had one interview.

The fact that someone as qualified and hardworking as Mark can’t find work speaks volumes about the need to extend long-term unemployment insurance, a program that Republicans canceled at the end of last year.

I invited Mark to attend the State of the Union this week, not because he is unique, but because he isn’t.  When the unemployment insurance extension expired in December, 90,000 New Jerseyans were immediately kicked off the program.  To put that in perspective, that’s enough people to fill every seat at this weekend’s Super Bowl – with another 7,500 people attending a job fair on the football field.  Another 90,000 New Jerseyans will lose their unemployment insurance prematurely in the months ahead.  Mark Wetherbee could, unfortunately, be one of them.

As the President said in his address, “They need our help, but more important, this country needs them in the game.”

Upcoming Town Halls in East Windsor and Milltown

On Saturday, February 15, I’ll be hosting town hall meetings in East Windsor and Milltown.  I hope you’ll attend to share your views and hear updates on issues affecting the community.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

10:00 a.m.
East Windsor Senior Center
40 Lanning Boulevard
East Windsor, New Jersey
1:00 p.m.
Milltown Borough Hall
39 Washington Avenue
Milltown, New Jersey

The C.I.A. Should Be an Intelligence Agency

This week the New York Times reported the concern of intelligence agencies that, as the Afghanistan war winds down, they will lose the bases from which to launch drone rocket strikes.

The Central Intelligence Agency should not be launching deadly military strikes. We would be better off if the C.I.A. returned to being an agency that collected and analyzed intelligence and stopped being a secretive paramilitary organization.

With rare exceptions, if America cannot justify military action publicly, we should not be taking military action.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Armed Forces Day

Today is Armed Forces Day. We'd like to thank all who have served and are serving this great country of ours!

As a side note,  Yahoo has a fascinating yet haunting slideshow that shows the faces of British servicemen, highlighting both the physical and emotional transformations that the young men have endured before, during and after their deployment to Afghanistan. The pictures span a period of seven months and add credence to the saying "War is hell".

http://www.defense.gov/afd/

Pallone Statement on Obama State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s State of the Union Address to Congress:

“President Obama offered a strong agenda to addressing some of our nation’s most challenging problems. I was encouraged to hear his emphasis on creating jobs, rebuilding our economy and working together to stem violence in our culture.

“The president’s jobs agenda must be acted on by this Congress. As the president noted, manufacturing has been a bright spot for our nation’s economy and we should continue to take steps to encourage American businesses to make their products here in America. Manufacturing can continue to be a driver of our economy and we should work together to foster growth.

“I was also pleased to hear President Obama make a commitment to working to reform our energy future and address climate change. He rightly noted that weather events like Superstorm Sandy, which devastated so much of Jersey Shore, are a frightening indication of the power of climate change and why we can and must take action while we can still make a positive impact. I agree with the president’s position that we must take steps to expedite the transition to alternative energy, which will be good for our planet and our economy.

“As the president said, energy is ‘just one part of an aging infrastructure’ that needs to be addressed. I was excited to hear the president talk about his ‘Fix it First’ and ‘Partnership to Rebuild’ plans. These could be positive steps that could create jobs while rebuilding our nation.

“The most important thing we can do for the future of our nation is to provide the best education in the world to our children and I was interested to hear President Obama’s proposals on improving our education system. We need to create new opportunities for our children to continue to be competitive in the global economy.

“President Obama also touched on the challenging issue of immigration reform and the need to address poverty in the wealthiest nation on Earth by calling for an increase in the federal minimum wage. We need to improve wages in the United States so that we working families can gain access to the middle class.

“Along with improved wages, must come equality and fairness when it comes to earning, which is why equal pay for equal work continues to be critical for improving our economy. Women must earn the same wages as men for the same work and not have to worry about discrimination in the work place. I was also encouraged to hear the president call to the Violence Against Women Act that passed in the Senate today and I look forward to voting for in the House.

“President Obama’s commitment to continuing to ensure our nation’s security while working to finish our job in Afghanistan will also be critical to strengthening the country. He noted that we face a different set of challenges now, so it is time to consider reducing nuclear weapon stockpiles while improving our security against cyber threats.

“The President also touched on critical issues like equality and improving voting rights. I agree that we can and must find solutions to these pressing issues in the 113th Congress.

“Finally, I stand with President Obama and plan to work with him to prevent gun violence in our nation. We cannot lose more innocent lives to gun violence in this country and we need to work together to find develop a plan that protects all Americans.

“President Obama’s State of the Union address set out bold plans for his presidency and the 113th Congress. Many of the president’s initiatives can be achieve with a bipartisan approach. Democrats and Republicans must work together to achieve these common goals and I look forward to addressing our nation’s challenges head on with my colleagues in Congress.”

President Obama's Weekly Address 1/12/13: Ending the War in Afghanistan and Rebuilding America

WASHINGTON, DC— Following his meeting with President Hamid Karzai, President Obama used his weekly address to update the American people on how we will end the war in Afghanistan, and how our goal of ensuring that al Qaeda never again uses Afghanistan to launch attacks against America is within reach. The war will be over by the end of next year, and we must now focus on the task of rebuilding America, strengthening our economy, and supporting our brave troops and veterans, and the President is confident we can meet these challenges by working together as a nation.

President Obama's Weekly Address 12/22/12: The President and First Lady Extend a Holiday Greeting and Thank our Troops for their Service

WASHINGTON, DC—In this week’s address, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and thanked our brave troops and their families for their service. The President and First Lady asked the American people to visit JoiningForces.gov to find ways to honor and support our veterans and military families, and said that we must all come together, as we always do, to care for each other during this holiday season.

President Obama's Weekly Address 9/1/12: Honoring Our Nation’s Service Members and Military Families

President Obama marks the second anniversary of the end of major combat in Iraq, by thanking our servicemen and women for the outstanding work they did.

President Obama's Weekly Address 5/5/12: A New Chapter in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama spoke about his recent trip to Afghanistan, where he met with our brave troops and signed an historic agreement that will help put an end to the war. The goal of defeating al Qaeda is within sight, we have killed Osama Bin Laden, and the President has now signed an agreement with Afghanistan that details a new relationship in which the Afghans will soon be responsible for the security of their nation. As we look towards that future, we must also focus on the type of nation our troops return to. This is why the President called on Congress to take the money we are no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the other half to rebuild America. It’s time for America to make the choices that ensure a strong middle class where everyone a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.

Rush Holt; The Debt Ceiling Downer

For the moment we have put the debt crisis behind us. That is small comfort as the economy at large, the job situation, the housing market, and the financial markets continue to suffer. The Tea Party in Congress and its enablers should never have been allowed to threaten America’s good name in order to advance their view of a diminished government and trickle-down economics. They should never have been allowed to force a closed-door, hurried revision of our entire economy. And they certainly should never have been able to get away with a deal that increases inequities in our society and our economy. You, like most Americans, may have watched in dismay—or even in disgust—as Washington fumbled the self-imposed crisis.

Putting aside the distasteful process and the worrisome prospect that government by hostage-taking will continue, this week I had to face the immediate questions: Was the resulting deal going to help the economy? Would it create jobs? Would it reduce the crippling inequities in our economy and society? Would it bring down the deficit, as was the ostensible goal? On all counts my answer was “No,” and I voted against the resolution on the House floor.

I am pleased that we as a country are paying our debts, but I lament the damage done to the institutions of government and the good name of the United States as the most reliable, most creditworthy entity in the entire financial world. I lament especially the damage done to our view of ourselves. The negotiations were based on Tea Party premises: that our deficit is the principal concern facing us, that America is a pitiful debtor nation, that we must lower our sights, that we must end the quest to free our people from want and inequalities, that we cannot afford any longer to be the nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all are created equal. Are we no longer the America of the 1940’s that paid for millions of GI’s to go to college and buy homes, while rebuilding ourselves and Europe, when we were faced with a national debt much greater than today?

The deal this week may have the beneficial effect of showing that in the long run the United States intends to bring expenditures more in line with revenues. In the short term, though, the deal is a downer. It not only avoids dealing with today’s principal needs—job creation and economic growth—it actually will cost jobs and preclude any economic stimulation. At a time when clearly the economy is shaky, it is a mistake to declare, as the deal effectively does, that the federal government will have no direct hand in getting the economy moving. To meet next year’s target of spending reductions will require cuts equivalent to the budgets of all the following government operations combined: the EPA, the National Park Service, the Small Business Administration, FEMA emergency and firefighter grants, and the Women-Infants-and-Children food grants. In subsequent years, the cuts would be even ten times larger. Why should we rally to the cry, “No, We Can’t?” Have we forgotten that barely a decade ago we paid down the deficit with strong economic growth, job creation, and budgetary discipline without resorting to gimmicks, triggers, or Balanced Budget Amendments?

I would have liked to vote on a plan that protected the major functions granted to Congress under the Constitution rather than turning them over to an undemocratic, isolated committee of twelve. I would have liked to vote on a plan that would have accelerated withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, saving lives and dollars, and that would have produced savings in our healthcare costs and dealt with the looming loss of 30 percent of doctors’ reimbursement under Medicare. Instead, the plan that was presented was negotiated on the turf of the Tea Party, which seems to think that it is anti-capitalist to ask those individuals and companies doing well in this economy to bear some of the load, even though the one or two percent of people with the highest income have seen their income grow by about 25 percent while everyone else has seen an effective decline and America’s largest corporations have reaped immense profits by using loopholes and offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes.

Nevertheless, I am making it my job to beat back the pessimistic view in Washington that gave rise to this deal. We must not let this deal be the chart of our country’s future course. It is based on false premises that fail to recognize the inherent fairness that is characteristic of our people, the ingenuity and entrepreneurial energy that have sparked our economy for generations, and the unshakable American meliorism that says we can and must make life better for each succeeding generation. I think that now, more than ever, we must have a realistic view of our situation so that we can strongly defend equality and build a community that reinforces the opportunities for each individual.


Sincerely,

RUSH HOLT
Member of Congress

President Obama's Weekly Address 6/25/11: Strengthening America by Investing at Home

WASHINGTON – Speaking to the American people from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, President Obama discussed the vital role advanced manufacturing will have in strengthening our economy and creating good, middle-class jobs. The President believes that realizing our nation’s potential requires more than simply cutting spending; we have to foster development at home, so that the United States will continue to grow and attract the world’s best talent, ideas and job-creating technologies. This week, the President announced the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, which will link the federal government with our nation’s finest minds to insure that our best ideas quickly become our best technologies. By providing American innovators with the resources they need to make their ideas a reality, our nation’s strong legacy of manufacturing, development and middle-class opportunity will continue to grow.

Middletown residents describe death of bin Laden as 'awesome'

I would have liked to have seen this for myself this morning.

By The Associated Press

MIDDLETOWN — A home improvement contractor read Bible verses aloud this morning at the train station in Middletown, where 37 residents lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.

The news that Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces sparked elation in this community, which suffered the second-worst loss of life in New Jersey during the 2001 attacks by al-Qaida terrorists.

Several commuters used the word "awesome" to describe their reaction to the news of bin Laden's death.

But their enthusiasm was tempered with sadness over the lives of Middletown residents lost in the attacks.

Contractor Mike Lonergan read biblical passages to commuters waiting for trains, proclaiming "the wages of sin is death."

Nearly one-quarter of those killed in the 9/11 attacks were New Jersey residents.

Send a message to our troops

I found this link while going through the online addition of the Asbury Park Press. The link is from USAToday and it allows individuals to video record a special holiday message to those serving in our military. The video below is an example of what the messages could look like, it is really all up to you. I hope many take advantage of this opportunity.

"This holiday season, many American families are separated by war — some for the second or third time as troops serve repeated tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Now USA TODAY is providing a way for those families to share video messages and for everyone to join the conversation. To send your own message to the troops, simply press record."

President Obama's Weekly Address: Tax Cuts & Unemployment Insurance

With President Obama visiting troops in Afghanistan, Vice President Biden says Congress must extend both the middle class tax cuts and unemployment insurance for the sake of those families and the broader economy.

President Obama's Weekly Adress 11/20/10: New START Treaty "Fundamental" to Security

The President says ratifying the New START, a pivotal treaty with Russia on nuclear weapons, must happen this year. He explains that failure to ratify the treaty this year would not only mean losing our nuclear inspectors in Russia, but also undermine the international coalition pressuring Iran, put at risk the transit routes used to equip our troops in Afghanistan, and undo decades American leadership and bipartisanship on nuclear security.

President Obama Speaks to the Muslim World

The President's speech "A New Beginning", outlined his personal commitment to engagement with the Muslim world, based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. It discusses how the United States and Muslim communities around the world can bridge some of the differences that have divided them.

The President spoke for 55 minutes, so if you do not have time to watch the whole video, below it are excerpts taken from the speech courtesy of the White House facebook page.



"I have come here to seek a new beginning between the US & the Muslim world based upon mutual interest and mutual respect"...

"I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."...

"Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared."... 

"America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis."...

"America’s strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable."...

"America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own."...

"America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people."...

"Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together."...

"Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential"...

"I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world."...

"We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written."...

"The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God’s vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth."...

Memorial Day 2009; Remembering the "Faces Of The Fallen"

This Memorial Day as people gather to celebrate the beginning of the summer, lets not forget the 4,962 service men and women who have given their lives to protect our freedoms, while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is import that we remember the "Faces of the Fallen". Those men and women, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our Country. 

To see and remember the latest heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice  in the service of our country, to protect and uphold each of our rights and freedoms, click>>> Here

Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day !

U.S. Troops On Inauguration

Does anyone wonder what our military personnel think of their new President? Soldiers stationed in Afghanistan send their warm wishes to President Obama and share their thoughts on the critical transition facing our nation's new Commander-In-Chief.

Raw Video: Troops in Iraq Celebrate Christmas

It's nice to see that even in Iraq, the Christmas spirit is still alive and well.

British soldiers in Iraq prepared for Christmas on Monday by decorating their base in the southern city of Basra. Britain has around 4,500 troops in Iraq, most of them based at an airport camp on the outskirts of Basra. (Dec. 23)

Here's a wish for a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year for all of the troops now stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. My your missions be accomplished and our return home to your families and country be imminent.  God Bless you all. 

Legalizing Marijuana Tops Obama Online Poll

Break out the blunts and pass the munchies, the results are in from the Change.gov online poll that asked for people's opinions on what are the most important issues that they would like to see an Obama administration address. The issue that topped list was wether or not the president elect would consider legalizing the use of Marijuana.

With all of the more pressing concerns that face our nation like the economy and Iraq, I found this rather amusing and I an sure it was not what team Obama was asking for.

  

The following letter was posted on the Congressional Blog page of The Hill, it was written by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Deputy Director Paul Armentano:

 
Be careful what you wish for.

Last week, the website Change.gov — the official website of the Obama Transition Team — asked the public to provide them with a list of the top public policy questions facing America. Visitors to the site were then asked to vote on which questions should take priority for the incoming administration.

According to the website, “participation … outpaced our expectations. … Since its launch … the Open for Questions tool has processed over 600,000 votes from more than 10,000 people on more than 7,300 questions.”

Ironically but perhaps not surprisingly the top question for the new administration — as chosen on and voted by the general public — was one most politicians seem utterly unwilling to talk about.

“Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?”

To anyone thinking the #1 question was some kind of fluke, consider this: More than a dozen of the top 50 vote-getting questions pertained to amending America’s drug policies. For example:

Question #7: “Thirteen states have compassionate use programs for medial Marijuana, yet the federal government continues to prosecute sick and dying people. Isn’t it time for the federal government to step out of the way and let doctors and families decide what is appropriate?” The public’s demand for the Obama administration?”

Question #13: “How will you fix the current war on drugs in America? and will there be any chance of decriminalizing marijuana?”

Question #15: “What kind of progress can be expected on the decriminalization and legalization for medicinal purposes of marijuana and will you re-prioritize the “War On Drugs” to reflect the need for drug treatment instead of incarceration?”

Following the poll, the Obama Transition Team posted the following reply, “Over the next few days, some of the most popular questions selected by the Change.gov community will be answered by the Transition team, and their responses will be posted here on the site.”

So will Obama’s team respond to the demands of the electorate and initiate an honest, objective, and long-overdue review of U.S. Marijuana policies? Or will the incoming administration — like the outgoing one — hide their collective heads in the sand?

It was just over a month ago when statewide marijuana law reform initiatives in Massachusetts and Michigan prevailed with more votes than America’s soon-to-be 44th President — once again reaffirming the widespread popular support for changing our nation’s antiquated and punitive pot laws. It wasn’t clear that either the national media or the incoming administration were listening then. Are they listening now?