President Obama's Weekly Address 10/8/11: Growing the Economy with the American Jobs Act

WASHINGTON—In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that the Senate will vote on the American Jobs Act next week, which independent economists have said will put Americans back to work, grow the economy, and give working people and small businesses a tax break. It is time for those who oppose the jobs act to explain why they are fighting against something that we know will improve the American economy, put teachers in classrooms, cops on the streets, and construction workers back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges. President Obama urged all Americans who support the American Jobs Act to call their Senators and tell them to put a stop to the gridlock in Washington and pass the jobs act next week.

President Barack Obama says he is 'confident' Gov. Corzine can win re-election

by Josh Margolin/Statehouse Bureau
Wednesday June 24, 2009

WASHINGTON -- President Obama today said he is confident Gov. Jon Corzine will be re-elected this fall, though he is well aware of the tough political climate in which Corzine is running for a second term.

"I think very highly of Jon Corzine. I think he's a terrific public servant," the president said during a White House interview with a handful of newspaper reporters from around the country. "I'm confident that he can win re-election. I don't think it's surprising that he may have a significant challenge."

Listen to audio of President Obama answer a question on Gov. Corzine and his re-election campaign

For his part, Corzine traveled around the country last year to campaign for Obama -- after first supporting Obama's Democratic presidential primary opponent, Hillary Clinton. New Jersey Democrats view Obama and his rock-star popularity as one of the key elements in their plans to turn the governor's sagging approval ratings into an Election Day victory in November.
The other main ingredient is Corzine's personal wealth, which the governor has tapped for previous campaigns and could conceivably bury the Republicans in an avalanche of television advertising from New York City to Philadelphia.

After serving with Obama in the U.S. Senate, Corzine ran for governor in 2005. In the fall election, Corzine is facing popular Republican Chris Christie, who made a name for himself prosecuting corrupt government officials as New Jersey's chief federal lawman.

Teabagging New Jersey

Teabagging?, Teabagging? Do Republican anti-tax groups even know what they are referring to when they call themselves "teabaggers" ? Knowing how sexually repressed most Republicans are that make up the base of the Republican Party, I would think not.

When these modern day anti-tax groups, cheered on by Fox News, hold tea parties across the country on April 15Th to protest against State and Federal spending, refer to themselves as teabaggers how can I take that seriously?


It really makes me snicker and brings all kinds of adult humour to mind.


Here is an explanation of what these Tea Parties are all about, courtesy of Rachel Maddow.

Now, I have never been teabagged and I never will, I prefer other pleasures that life has to offer. However, I do know a number of you out there may enjoy themselves at these "teabagging parties" and I wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun, so below is a list of a few parties being held around New Jersey on April 15th.

Watch out Governor Corzine the teabaggers are coming :

Belmar
Noon - 3:00pm
16th Avenue boardwalk
————-
Flemington
Noon - 2:00pm
The northwest corner of Main Street and Court Street
————-
Hackensack
4:00 pm - 6:00pm
Bergen County Court House, Hackensack, NJ (Court Street Side)
————-
Jersey City
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Liberty State Park
- - ——-
Morristown
Noon
On The Green at the center of Morristown
————-
Newark
12:00 pm
Gateway Center One - 782 McCarter Highway
————-
Piscataway
5:00pm
Johnson Park (River Road, Piscataway Township)
————-
Trenton
11:30am - 4:00pm
New Jersey State House, 125 W State St
————-
Vineland
1-4PM
722 E Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360

Enjoy the party everyone!!

Why does Middletown Spend Money on Lobbyists When our Federal Elected Officials Are Bringing Home the Bacon?

The way the Middletown Township Committee spends our money is amazing. In an effort to obtain some federal funds they have, once again, hired a lobbyist for $65K to go to Washington and see if they can come back with something to show for their efforts. Hopefully, our town officials have not used our tax monies for naught.

Recently, our own Senator Menendez has shown that he is doing his part by obtaining some funds to the tune of over $610K for New Jersey and Middletown in particular to enact some energy saving programs.

Congressman Frank Pallone is working to ensure that three specific projects that directly affect Middletown are funded. These projects are for hurricane and storm damage reduction in Pt. Monmouth, dredging of the channel to the Leonardo marina and the dredging of the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. The projects total over $13.5M. Senator Lautenburg is standing behind Congressman Pallone, in the Senate, to support these projects.

This is the reason why we elect representatives like Senator Menendez and Congressman Pallone to office. It is a shame that we cannot get the same results from our representatives at the state level. Just because they are not in the controlling majority does not mean that they can’t get anything done in Trenton. When our elected officials refuse to work across party lines there will be no positive results for those they represent. The residents of Middletown need leaders that will work for everyone, not just those that elected them. It is time to recognize those that are finally getting results for their efforts.


Dora Crisafulli
Middletown, NJ

Closing Gitmo just the beginning

Eric Marolis of the Toranto Sun Times expressed the following opinion in this mornings edtion about the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison, as well as other CIA secret "Black" prisons around the globe. It's an opinion in which I happen to agree with:

Kudos to President Barack Obama for closing the U.S. prison at Guantanamo, Cuba, and the CIA's network of secret, or "black,'" prisons abroad, both blots on America's honour and grave violations of international law.

The U.S. conquered Cuba in the 1898 Spanish-American War. Washington then installed a U.S. citizen as president who granted Washington base rights to Guantanamo in perpetuity. A century later, the U.S. made a similar sweetheart deal in Afghanistan.

Now is an excellent time for Obama also to close the U.S. base at Guantanamo and return it to Cuba. Gitmo is a military white elephant. Returning it to Cuba would be a good start to thawing relations between Havana and Washington.

Obama's next step in returning America to its senses should be ending use of the propaganda terms, "terrorism," and "war on terror."

Read more>>> Here

Kilroy win gives Dems 79-seat House majority

The Hill- Leading the News

Ohio Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy has won the last outstanding House race, handing her party a 79-seat majority and putting its gains for November’s general election at 21 seats.

House Democrats’ majority now stands at 257-178.

Kilroy was declared the winner over Republican state Sen. Steve Stivers after the counting of outstanding provisional ballots put her up more than 2,000 votes. Stivers has conceded.

Kilroy, a Franklin County commissioner, will replace retiring Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio). Kilroy fell just short of unseating Pryce in 2006.

"In Washington, I will work together with Democrats, Republicans, and President-elect Obama to tackle the real problems that our community faces,” Kilroy said in a statement. “Over the next few days I will be in contact with Rep. Deborah Pryce to begin a smooth transition so that no constituent services are delayed during these tough economic times."

Stivers said in a statement: “While I am extremely proud of the race I ran, ultimately, [it] was not enough. I have called Commissioner Kilroy to congratulate her for her hard-fought victory, and I wish her well in Washington.”

Republicans stole a seat from Democrats on Saturday in the delayed congressional races in Louisiana, when GOPer Joseph Cao shocked indicted Rep. William Jefferson (D) in a low-turnout affair.

In the other Pelican State race delayed by Hurricane Gustav, Republican John Fleming holds a 356-vote lead with all precincts reporting and appears to have defeated Democrat Paul Carmouche, but there might be a recount.

National Mall Will Be Open to the Public on Inauguration Day

WASHINGTON, DC—In keeping with its pledge to make the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama one of the most open and accessible in history, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced today that, for the first time, the entire length of the National Mall will be opened to the public so that more people than ever before will be able to witness the swearing-in of the President from a vantage point in sight of the Capitol.

The PIC has worked closely with officials from the District of Columbia government, the National Park Service, the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC), and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) to make space at this historic location available to members of the public who are unable to obtain tickets to the swearing-in. Those who come to witness the swearing-in on the Mall will be able to watch and listen to the ceremony on large screens that will be provided by the PIC along the Mall.

“We’re grateful to local, federal, and military officials for their efforts to open up the National Mall to Americans who want to participate in this historic occasion,“ said PIC Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau. “These arrangements represent our committee’s continuing commitment to make next year’s historic inauguration as accessible as possible to citizens in Washington, D.C., and across the country.“

“This will be an Inauguration for all Americans,“ said Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “And so we are dedicated to opening it up so that people from across the country can gather together in America’s front yard. We remain hard at work to ensure the day’s festivities are safe and accessible for visitors, residents, and businesses alike.“

In the past, the National Mall has been used as a staging area for participants in the inaugural parade. But in response to early indications that more Americans than usual may travel to Washington to join in celebration of our shared values and common purpose, officials have worked tirelessly in recent weeks to relocate the parade staging area. Inaugural parade participants will be announced next week.

In the coming days and weeks, the PIC will release further information about viewing the inauguration from the National Mall and other inaugural events. For updates, please visit  www.pic2009.org.