Letter: Allow Felons to Vote in NJ

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


Dear Editor,

The old saying is that if you don't like the law, then change it.

But in New Jersey, persons incarcerated, on parole, or probation for an indictable offense (felony) are unable to legally vote. In our state 164,100 people are under the noose of the racist, discriminatory prison industrial complex - with 37,600 of them in a cage, behind bars (Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013).

A small number of these people may be behind bars or under supervision for a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor), but most have been convicted of an indictable offense (felony) and therefore aren't allowed to vote.

We must change the law to remove this unjust barrier to voting by allowing convicted persons to vote. Incarcerated persons should be registered to vote from their last residence (or location of homelessness). Additionally, these newly eligible voters must also be allowed to be candidates for elected office.

On paper America has abolished slavery, but unequal enforcement, police misconduct, and poverty leading to felony convictions have become the new Jim Crow against people of color and other enemies of the state.

Besides, as Bridgegate has once again proven, New Jersey is already run by criminals.



Rev. Dr. Eric Hafner
Former Congressional Candidate
Toms River, NJ

Greetings...

Fulop Announces Campaign For NJ Governor

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, April 1st, 2015


Jersey City, NJ/ Wall Street, NY) – Today, Mayor Steve Fulop proudly announced his candidacy for New Jersey Governor. Running on the Republican line, Fulop has already started lining up key supporters and staff.

“Everyone knows Jersey City has always been just a stepping stone for me,” said Fulop. “I want to be governor. And the easiest path will be pursuing my ambition via the Republican Party – where so many of my financial and political allies already reside. By announcing today, I hope they’ll forgive my support for the DREAM Act and Paid Sick Leave, and instead remember how - from education reform to privatization efforts - I’ve carried their water and taken their money for a long time.”

Fulop originally planned to wait until 2016 to make his official switch to the GOP. However, last night he had a dream where he was swimming across the Hudson River and Steve Sweeney and Philip Murphy were about to overcome him. Even worse, John Wisniewski, Raymond Lesniak, Marie Corfield, Joe Piscopo and NJ Weedman weren’t far behind. So, this morning, Fulop put away his blackberry, slipped into his wetsuit and made the big announcement.

“Abandoning his allies has worked out swimmingly for Fulop, so I’m going to take a page from his playbook and support Fulop for Governor,” said Joshua Henne, Fulop’s new spokesman. “The way he’s flipped back and forth so often as to what’s politically expedient, there’s a 50-50 chance Fulop would switch back to being a Democrat after 2017 anyway.”

Over the course of the next year, Fulop plans on hiring Christie’s campaign staff and apparatus. NJ Transit’s Michael Drewniak will become Fulop’s Communications Director…as soon as Christie Communications Director Maria Comella signs off. All other hires will transpire as soon as the Christie presidential campaign crashes and burns on the fields of Iowa and New Hampshire - where Christie is being outpolled by Donald Trump.

Governor James E. McGreevey, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and State Senator Kevin O’Toole will serve as Fulop’s Campaign Co-Chairs.

“I just want to be relevant again,” said McGreevey. ”As a Former-Governor-American, I can attest that Fulop hits the political trifecta: my non-stop work ethic, a low moral compass and even more transactional than I ever was.”

“Even though he had to google my name, Fulop has long enjoyed strong connections to Monmouth County Republicans,” said O’Scanlon “The same people down here who’ve supported me and were instrumental in Mitt Romney’s campaign have long backed Fulop - even before they were caught soliciting $10,000 a head at a fundraiser for his mayoral election in Jersey City. Hey, so long as he’s against red light cameras, Fulop’s my guy!”

“When I funneled Fulop tens of thousands of dollars for his mayoral campaign, I had to sneak it in at the last minute so voters didn’t know about it until after Election Day,” said O’Toole. “Today, New Jersey’s Republican Party is building bridges…instead of closing them. With Fulop at the top of our ticket, we’ll continue the stellar job Christie’s done for our state’s economy, transportation infrastructure and pension fund.

In July 2013, Fulop invited Christie to headline his swearing-in ceremony. Throughout that year’s gubernatorial campaign, Fulop failed to lift a finger to help Democratic nominee Barbara Buono. In fact, Fulop set up meetings between his Jersey City Council Team and Christie gubernatorial campaign operatives – as Christie aide Matt Mowers testified about during legislative Bridgegate hearings.

Fulop is currently polling whether to announce Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer as his Lieutenant Governor. These Hudson “reformers” have a shared history of playing footsie with Christie’s political operation and dangling a gubernatorial endorsement. Both went on to immediately use Bridgegate as a tool to garner national media attention.

“Um, Fulop told me he’d deny it if I ever told anyone he asked me about being Lieutenant Governor,” said Zimmer, in yet another interview with MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki. “I know this, because I wrote it in my diary.”


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April Fools!

CURRIE: THE STATE OF THE STATE IS... NEGLECTED

Christie’s Ethical Scandals, Policy Failures Linger In State He Abandoned

(Trenton) – In anticipation of Governor Chris Christie's State of the State address, New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie is outlining some of issues that deserve the governor's attention -- many that Chris Christie said he would support; that is, before he changed his tune and left the state for all or part of 137 days last year.

When presidents and other executives deliver their annual assessments on the state of affairs, they often confidently proclaim that conditions are strong or getting stronger. If reality serves as a guide, that will not be the case in New Jersey. In fact, the governor's frequent absences and preoccupation with Republican politics -- not to mention the myriad scandals he created -- beg the question: how would Chris Christie know the true state of the state when he is so often elsewhere?

During last year's address, Christie sidestepped questions about his involvement in the apparent political payback scheme that shut down lanes on the George Washington Bridge, threatening public safety. And, since that time, he has fought efforts to obtain basic information about his administration's operations, continued to bully constituents and members of the media, and unrepentantly abused the powers and resources of his public office.

"Governor Christie has been an unmitigated disaster for our state. While he wastes taxpayer dollars in a shameless effort at self promotion, his policies trample the hopes and dreams of New Jersey families. In the wake of his hypocrisy, Sandy survivors have been left out in the cold and pensioners were robbed of funds they were promised. Meanwhile, his economic record is one of repeated credit downgrades, increased property tax burdens, and stunted job growth," said Chairman Currie. "The true state of the state is vulnerable and neglected and, for this reason, the governor should really strike an apologetic tone."

Currie outlined a few steps the governor should take during his state of the state address to restore the state's shattered sense of trust:

• Encourage Republican state legislators to vote their conscience on the upcoming override of his veto of meaningful reform of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which passed the Statehouse with unanimous support.
• Promise to revisit the Sandy Bill of Rights he vetoed, so that storm survivors may obtain information about the status of their claims, people have greater rights to appeal if they’re denied funding, and regulators can clearly see how funds were allocated.
• Offer a realistic plan for funding the $2.4 billion in pension payments that the governor promised but then withheld -- a plan that does not include more cuts, more finger-pointing at his predecessors, or other excuses that put the priorities of Republican presidential primary voters ahead of New Jersey's interests.
• Restore funding to the Transportation Trust Fund, which would allow desperately needed improvements to roads and bridges, as well as other new projects that would stimulate New Jersey's sputtering economy.
• Commit to responsibly lowering property tax burdens on New Jersey families, which actually increased nearly 19 percent under Christie.
• Pledge to stop the arrogant and potentially illegal abuses of power and resources that have embarrassed the state and tied up legal and legislative channels with ethical scandals, investigations and litigation.

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.

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

NBC 4 New York: After 9 Months, Federal Probe of GWB Closure Finds No Link to Christie, Federal Sources Say

Governor Christie just may have been telling the truth, He may not have known anything about he George Washington lane closures last year, but it should be kept in mind that this was an anonymous sources in the Federal prosecutors office that leaked this information. No official word was released by Prosecutor Fishman's office. Chris Christie's administration is still under investigation for other Port Authority shenanigans.

From NBC4 New York:

The U.S. Justice Department investigation into New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s role in “Bridgegate” has thus far uncovered no information he either knew in advance or directed the closure of traffic lanes on the George Washington Bridge, federal officials tell NBC 4 New York.

The September 2013 closures -- where several entrance lanes to the George Washington Bridge in Ft. Lee were shut down causing a traffic nightmare for commuters -- has been the subject of several federal and state investigations.

Federal officials caution that the investigation begun nine months ago is ongoing and that no final determination has been made, but say that after nine months authorities have uncovered no information Christie either knew in advance or ordered the closure of traffic lanes.

According to one former federal prosecutor, who had no involvement in any of the probes into the bridge closure, investigations of this kind will often turn up a solid connection early in the inquiry.

“My experience with federal law enforcement is that once you reach critical mass if you don’t have it within nine months or so you’re not likely to ever get it,” former federal prosecutor Robert W. Ray said.

When the final report is issued, Christie may still face complications from the scandal, said Lee Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion....


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NJ WATCHDOG: Christie's ethics watchdogs fail to bark or bite

For immediate release:

When it comes to ethics, Chris Christie can talk the talk. But does the New Jersey governor walk the walk when his ethics watchdogs are actually lapdogs?

Christie’s hand-picked Ethics Advisory Panel did not take action during its first four years – a period in which Bridgegate, Doublegate and other controversies came to light.

In response to a public records request by New Jersey Watchdog, the governor’s office reported it cannot find any decision by the panel.

Created by executive order, the panel has the power to penalize and fine the governor or lieutenant governor for ethical infractions. But as governor, Christie picks the panel members – and he retains the power to rescind any executive order anytime he chooses.

The existence of the Ethics Advisory Panel did not prevent the conflict of interest faced by the governor and his administration in Doublegate – a pension controversy implicating Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

A state pension board requested a criminal investigation of alleged pension fraud in May 2011. The case was assigned to the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice – even though Guadagno was DCJ’s former deputy director.

Faced with a choice, Christie did not use his constitutional power to appoint a special prosecutor or investigator to handle a probe likely to involve his lieutenant governor. The Ethics Advisory Panel had the authority to review the matter at its own discretion and issue a public determination.

But that never happened.

The story is now online at http://watchdog.org/163209/christie-ethics-watchdogs/.

10 ways Chris Christie's White House ambition hurts Jersey

If you haven't read the front page of today's Newark Star-Ledger you should. Tom Moran, the Ledger's Editorial Board Editor has a good take on how Chris Christie has hurt New Jersey due to his personal ambitions for a much higher office. 

By Tom Moran/ Star-Ledger

Gov. Chris Christie last week rejected the notion that his ambitions for the White House are driving his behavior as governor.

"Regular people don’t see it that way," he told reporters. "You all have been asking me about running for president since 2010, so is every action I’ve taken since 2010 been through the prism of the presidency? I don’t think so and I don’t even think you all can make that argument."

Granted, no one can peer into the man’s heart. We’d need his diary to divine his true motives.
And no sane person would argue that Christie’s "every action" has been dictated by the need to seduce the Republican base. He did concede the science on climate change, a move that will alienate the flat-Earth crowd in the Republican base, no small loss. He appointed a Muslim judge and called conservative critics of the move "crazies."

Worst of all, he hugged that usurper, President Obama, in the heat of the 2012 presidential race.

But enough nuance. Time to accept the governor’s challenge and make the case that he’s running this state with one eye on the White House, that he is putting New Jersey second, behind GOP primary voters.

The list below offers 10 cases in point.

1. Birth control

In his first budget, Christie cut $7.4 million in funding for family planning, giving up a potential 9-1 match in federal dollars as well. The money was not used for abortions, but for birth control, cancer screenings and other services for low-income women without insurance.
Six Planned Parenthood clinics were forced to close as a result, and others cut back their hours.

Christie claimed his only motive was to save money. But giving up that 9-1 federal match is irrational budgeting. And this program was tiny, amounting to less than 0.03 percent of the state’s $31 billion budget.

Gov. Pinocchio had political motive for this one. Funding Planned Parenthood clinics would have been tough to justify on the trail.

2. Gun control

Christie vetoed four gun control bills, including one that would ban .50-caliber sniper rifles, and another this month that would limit ammunition magazines to 10 bullets.

On this issue, he is an incoherent mess. He proposed a ban on .50-caliber rifles himself last April, then vetoed the ban that reached his desk. And he’s offered no rational reason why New Jersey gun owners could possibly need more than 10 rounds in a magazine.

"The last thing he wants is the right mad at him for being a gun control advocate," said Julian Zelizer, a political science professor at Princeton University. "He’s now entering the Republican primaries as a fragile candidate. He can’t have any more enemies."

3. Climate change

Yes, the governor conceded the science. But he’s following the GOP playbook when it comes to policy.

He pulled New Jersey out of the regional agreement to reduce emissions from power plants. He diverted roughly $1 billion from the state’s Clean Energy Fund for unrelated purposes. He withdrew from a bipartisan lawsuit aimed at reducing emissions from Midwest coal plants. And in the Hurricane Sandy recovery, he has set requirements for building heights that are 1 foot lower than in surrounding states.

So if he gets grief for his rational talk about the science, he can defend himself by showing that his policies are perfectly aligned with the dictates of the Koch brothers, the billionaire kingmakers who earned their fortune on fossil fuels. Even the flat-Earth crowd in the party’s grass roots might forgive him when they take a second look.

4. The gas tax

The condition of New Jersey’s roadways ranks 46th in the nation, according to a study by Reason Foundation. Nearly 10 percent of our bridges are structurally deficient, and another 26 percent are functionally obsolete, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
But the trust fund for transit projects is broke. Worse, Christie broke the piggy bank and spent nearly $3 billion that had been set aside for the Hudson River tunnel. And he’s borrowed billions more to squeak by, breaking a promise and adding to the state’s crushing debt load.
The math is unforgiving: We need to raise the state’s gas tax, the third lowest in the nation. Privately, most Republicans concede this.

But raising any tax could be toxic on the trail. So count this as another mess Christie is leaving behind to protect his presidential ambitions.

5. Bridgegate

Christie was not content to just win last year’s election. He wanted a gigantic victory with bipartisan support to show that he could win a national election. That’s why his staff was pressing Democratic mayors such as Fort Lee’s Mark Sokolich for endorsements, even when it was clear Christie was coasting to victory.

In the end, the governor won re-election in a 22-point landslide, and the story line seemed solid.

Bridgegate wrecked that. Aside from exposing the ugly underbelly of the Christie administration, it has been an expensive distraction for the state government. The governor’s whitewash by attorney Randy Mastro is expected to cost taxpayers at least $3 million. On top of that, taxpayers are paying the legal bills for most of the key players, and for the Democrats, which are unknown at this time.

Continue reading

NJ WATCHDOG: Double trouble for Christie

For immediate release:

BRIDGEGATE AND DOUBLEGATE SPELL DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR CHRISTIE

Long before Bridgegate, Gov. Chris Christie and his administration have quietly tried to escape Doublegate – an alleged $245,000 pension fraud involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

New Jersey Watchdog revealed last week that an investigation by the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice was virtually non-existent, producing only a secret five-page report following a 13-month probe.

Today, NJ Spotlight followed up with a comprehensive report by Mark Magyar.

Bridgegate and Doublegate spell double trouble for the Christie and company. While Bridgegate has gained national fame, the details of Doublegate are still not widely known. Here is a summary comparing the two scandals:

Bridgegate is an investigation into whether the Christie Administration closed traffic lanes at the George Washington Bridge as retribution against the mayor of Fort Lee, who refused to endorse Christie in the 2013 election.

Doublegate began as an investigation into alleged pension fraud involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. It now focuses on whether the Christie Administration effectively sabotaged the investigation.

Bridgegate was investigated by an outside law firm hired by the governor. The inquiry was headed by attorney Randy Mastro.

Doublegate was investigated by the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice. Despite an apparent conflict of interest – Guadagno is a former deputy director of DCJ – Christie did not appoint a special investigator or prosecutor.

The Bridgegate report by Mastro is 360 pages. It was publicly released and posted on the Internet at http://gdcreport.com/.

The Doublegate report by DCJ is five pages. It remains a secret document, despite a public records lawsuit by a New Jersey Watchdog reporter.

During the Bridgegate probe, Mastro and his associates interviewed 75 witnesses during a two-month period

During the Doublegate probe, there is no record that DCJ contacted, interviewed or took statements from anyone during a 13-month investigation.

Christie held two press conferences to discuss Bridgegate – a two-hour marathon in January and another one in March after the Mastro report was released.

Christie and Guadagno have repeatedly refused to answer questions about Doublegate.

The Democrat-controlled State Legislature has aggressively pursued an investigation of Bridgegate that has dimmed Christie’s chances of pursuing the White House in 2016.

The State Legislature has essentially ignored Doublegate, which could bring the pension abuses of both Democrats and Republicans into the public spotlight.

New Jersey Watchdog’s latest update on Doublegate is online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/06/02/christie-guadagno-investigation-2/.

CHAIRMAN CURRIE WOULD "ASK THE GOVERNOR" TO REIMBURSE NEW JERSEY FOR HIS BRIDGEGATE SELF EXAM

(Trenton) -- Tonight, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman wants to know whether the governor will reimburse the state taxpayers for the rising costs of his attempted political rehabilitation, including the sexist "whitewash" compiled by Christie’s loyal, hand-picked lawyers and campaign contributors. Christie is scheduled to appear on New Jersey 101.5 FM at 7 p.m this evening.

Recently, news reports and editorials, like this one, have highlighted inappropriate political activities that public employees in the Christie administration have engaged in during the governmental work day, pointing out that, “the governor's office is not supposed to be used for political campaigning.” Not only has the governor failed to address this concern, he has not explained why the costs of the report his lawyers prepared should be borne by state taxpayers.

Clearly, Garden Staters are concerned about the governor’s abuse of the state treasury for political purposes. According to an NJ.com online poll, the vast majority of respondents (88 percent) believe that he (not we) should pay for the internal bridge scandal review.

“The media serves an important role in holding public officials accountable, but for months Chris Christie has been selective about what questions he will entertain, when and where those questions can be asked, and who is able to ask them. His evasiveness only generates further concern. I have many questions but tonight I would like to know the answer to this straightforward question: Governor, will you reimburse New Jersey taxpayers for the discredited political whitewash that you commissioned?” said Chairman Currie.

Currie Asks Christie To Reimburse State For Political Spending

(Trenton) -- Today, after Governor Christie's so-called town hall meeting in Fairfield, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman asked the governor to reimburse the state taxpayers for the rising costs of his political endeavors.

Specifically, Currie does not believe that any of the costs for the sexist "whitewash" compiled by loyal, hand-picked lawyers should be borne by state taxpayers.

Governor Christie's town halls are more political theater than substantive discussion, as the governor uses the platform to take cheap shots at the Democratic Party-controlled legislature. And, despite increased scrutiny concerning the scandals the Christie administration created, the governor's campaign-related activities for other Republicans have been more frequent and his willingness to speak to the media have become less frequent.

"The governor has turned the town hall meeting into a political farce: one part stump speech, one part comedy routine. Christie's remarks last one third of the allotted time, and he often dismisses the most reasonable critics. He also eagerly disparages Democratic lawmakers. What he will not do is address legitimate questions about how public resources were abused by government officials," said Chairman Currie.

Currie continued, "From the 24 million dollar special election last Fall to the recent taxpayer-funded Bridgegate whitewash, the governor needs to stop using the state treasury like an ATM to pay for his attempted political rehabilitation. At a minimum, the Christie campaign apparatus should reimburse taxpayers for his silly self-exam. Why should we pay for these activities? If the governor were serious about tackling public concerns, he would cooperate with the State Legislature's investigation, and stop blaming others for his mistakes."

Recent news reports and editorials have also highlighted the inappropriate political activities that public employees in the Christie administration have engaged in during the governmental work day.

BridgeGate Hits Next Level As Feds Launch Grand Jury Investigation

How soon does David Wildstein and Bridget Kelly start to sign like canaries?

From Talking Points Memo:

ERIC LACH – APRIL 4, 2014, 5:57 PM

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey have convened a grand jury to investigate the George Washington Bridge lane closures, ABC News reported on Friday.

Twenty-three grand jurors on Friday heard testimony from Michael Drewniak, press secretary to Gov. Chris Christie (R). Drewniak's attorney, Anthony Iacullo, told ABC News his client was not a target of the investigation.

"I'm not going to get into the specifics as to what would be discussed in the grand jury," Iacullo said. "I would say though that Mike is a witness and we have been assured that he continues to be a witness throughout these proceedings and Mike has continued to cooperate as requested by the government into this inquiry."

In January, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey confirmed that it was looking into the lane closures, which caused a multi-day traffic jam in Fort Lee, N.J. in September. But as ABC News reports, the existence of the grand jury confirms that the matter has evolved into a criminal investigation. Last week, a legal team representing Christie's office released a report claiming the governor had no role in the closures, and pinning blame for the plot on two former Christie allies: former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive David Wildstein and former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly.

ABC News on Friday also reported that a team of state prosecutors in New Jersey are monitoring the federal case, and "are prepared to continue the investigation on the state level if the feds turn it over to them."

Christie Holds Town Hall Today In Fort Lee

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, April 1st, 2014

(Fort Lee, NJ) – Today, Governor Chris Christie will hold his 117th Town Hall meeting in Fort Lee.
“Just like every other town hall we’ve held this year, Fort Lee is a municipality I carried last November,” said Christie. “I look forward to meeting with local residents and answering what’s on their mind. Frankly, folks don't care about unimportant things like closing access lanes to the George Washington Bridge. If for some reason they do care, they can just read the completely comprehensive, impartial, thorough report on the matter released last week.” “……,” said Michael Drewniak, Christie Spokesman. “……..”

“In light of spokesman Mike Drewniak barely speaking to the press for the past 85 days, today I am proud to join Governor Christie’s circle of trust,” said Joshua Henne, Christie’s new spokesman. “The governor and I both love Bruce Springsteen and the Mets. For those reasons, it’s an honor to work the cones alongside Governor Christie today in Fort Lee.”

As always, today’s town hall will have several ground rules. However, based on recent disruptions of attendees attempting to ask difficult questions, a few more regulations have been added. For example, there will be no questions allowed about anything that starts with the letter “S”. This includes – but is not limited to – the following terms: “Subpoenas”, “Samson”, “Stepien”, “Scandal”, “Sokolich” and “Serbian”.

Exceptions will be made to the rule when it comes to “Superstorm Sandy” – however it will only be allowed if the question is about Christie’s fleece or to simply make an obsequious statement of support for the governor. You will be cut off or ignored if you ask about funneling Sandy funds to towns not hit by the hurricane, how the Economic Development Authority has failed to get grants to affected small businesses, or how relief dollars were used for a “Stronger Than The Storm” commercial showcasing Christie and his smiling family in an election year.

Please arrive very, very, very, very early - as traffic has been known to build up at the nearby George Washington Bridge during rush hour. Because this is the first Town Hall not held in a municipality with a mayor or other elected officials friendly with the governor, those attendees endorsing Christie will be given preferential seating, as well as the potential to have access to Sandy rebuilding funds.

Special to today’s town hall will be a specific lane dedicated for the “children of Buono voters.” And if anyone has questions about why that is, and why it takes so long to drive through the town, police officers have been told to direct questions to Mayor Mark Sokolich. If you are a reporter, don’t even try to ask a question during or after the event. Members of the media will have to wait another 80 days for the next opportunity to be berated by Governor Christie when he holds his next Friday 3 pm press conference.

Attendees are encouraged to ask what David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon are like in person. Sports are a good topic, too. For example, feel free to ask Christie who he thinks the Dallas Cowboys should draft next month. However, please do not ask questions about how quiet Christie was during the Super Bowl following the release of David Wildstein’s letter alluding to evidence existing on bridgegate. Along those same lines, please refrain from asking about how the Christie Administration bungled the NJTransit system going to-and-from the SuperBowl even though they had years to plan for the event.

Participants are encouraged to snap a “selfie” with the Governor. Especially if they have adorable children in tow and tell Christie how great he is. However, any signs calling on Christie to resign, asking how an investigation on bridgegate can be considered “thorough” without interviewing the five key members of his administration - or expressing any First Amendment rights at all for that matter – will be immediately confiscated.

For commentary following today’s town hall, you can catch both Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Senator Loretta Weinberg on MSNBC this evening at 5 pm, 5:20 pm, 5:45 pm, 6 pm, 6:25 pm, 6:50 pm, 7:15 pm, 7:30 pm, 8 pm, 8:20 pm, 8:45 pm, 9 pm, 9:15 pm, 9:30 pm, 9:45 pm, 10:10 pm, 10:30 pm and 10:50 pm.

GOV. CHRISTIE TEACHES POLITICAL LESSON ON SELF-EXONERATION

Report by Mark Lagerkvist
Posted on March 29, 2014

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he wants to learn from Bridgegate. But in reality, he is teaching a lesson on how a skilled politician manipulates public opinion.

In the classroom of the real world, here is the syllabus for Christie’s new course in Surviving Scandal 101:

• Investigate yourself – and announce the results before other investigations have a chance to get very far.
• Hire your friends and former colleagues to conduct the investigation. Pay them $1 million, possibly more.
• Don’t use your own money. Stick taxpayers with the bill.
• Enjoy a good laugh when your investigators use circumstantial evidence to embarrass your enemies or conclude your foes are lying.
• Leak the results of the 360-page report to The New York Times to get front-page coverage.
• Hold an hour-long press conference to comment on your self-exoneration. If reporters ask questions you don’t like, instruct them to “cut back the commentary” or “get the facts right if you want to ask me a question.”
• Claim responsibility for being a leader, but be sure your subordinates take the blame.
• Offer interviews to ABC and Fox to sell your version directly to the national electorate. Tell everyone that Bridgegate won’t affect your decision on whether to seek higher office. PS – If your wife and kids are present, Diane Sawyer is more likely to be sympathetic.
• Quietly resume the 2016 Christie for President campaign. Fly to Las Vegas the next day to woo a billionaire political supporter.

For extra credit, click here to read the report of the investigation and click here for a replay of the press conference.


 - See more at: http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/03/29/christie-bridgegate-investigation/#sthash.5ksoCM8n.dpuf

CHAIRMAN CURRIE ON GOVERNOR'S OVERDUE AND INADEQUATE PRESS CONFERENCE

For Immediate Release:
3/28/14

(Trenton) -- Today, John Currie, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement in response to Governor Christie's long overdue, often combative, and grossly inadequate press conference, which again sought to distract attention from the numerous allegations of administrative wrongdoing.

"It’s been 78 days since Chris Christie had a press conference to profess his sadness. Now, after spending an estimated $1,000,000 of the taxpayer’s money he wants the media to accept an incomplete and one-sided report as evidence of his innocence. The shameless and self serving nature of this public relations ploy only invites more doubt about the governor’s claims of ignorance."

"The resignation of David Samson changes little about how this scandal unfolded. After we learned that New Jersey citizens were put in harm’s way — stuck for days of gridlock for no good reason by the Governor’s top aides — we expected Governor Christie to be truthful and contrite. We needed him to demonstrate a genuine desire to make amends, and to cooperate with a real independent investigation. Instead, he chose defiance, diversion and delusion."

"Perhaps we should not be surprised. This is the same governor who says he takes responsibility, but then, in the same breath, blames others. This is the governor who lets Sandy Survivors linger out in the cold and entangled in bureaucratic red tape, while he jets around the country raising money from Republican fat cats. His behavior is not befitting of New Jersey's highest office, and it certainly ought to preclude any sort of promotion. Let’s remember: Governor Christie is not the victim of the scandal that he created, the people of New Jersey are."

CHAIRMAN CURRIE REACTS TO CHRISTIE'S $1,000,000 PR STUNT

(Trenton) -- John Currie, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, reacted to the release of the report that was compiled by Governor Christie's hand-picked team of lawyers at extraordinary taxpayer expense. The million dollar taxpayer funded distraction fails to put forth an explanation for the scandals created by the governor's office.

"The fact is this ‘report’ is a public relations stunt, plain and simple. It's unfortunate that Governor Christie would waste taxpayer funds to create a distraction from his administration’s negative attention. Clearly, the governor views our taxpayer monies as a retainer for another one of his own public relations campaigns," said Chairman Currie.

Currie continued, “The recent scandals are a consequence of his administration's dysfunction, his own staff’s disrespectful attitude toward public service, credible allegations about the governor’s office’s misuse of public funds, and the fact that New Jersey citizens were put in harm's way by his political appointees. The $1,000,000 and counting is being spent so Christie's cronies can delay the truth about the leadership style that allowed this scandal to occur in the first place."

NJ DEMS REACT TO GOV. CHRISTIE'S CPAC SPEECH

(Trenton) -- Today, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, John Currie, is criticizing Governor Chris Christie for his appeal to the Conservative Political Action Conference and his casual relationship with the truth.

"Truthfully, we rarely see Governor Christie because he has taken up residence in a state of denial, where he caters to conservative donors on behalf of Republicans in other states. If he cared about New Jersey, he would be addressing the problems affecting middle class families, many of which he created, and answering questions about the scandals engulfing his office," Chairman Currie said. "Instead, he brazenly repackages his record into something that bears little resemblance to the truth."

Currie continued, "The fact is, the Christie administration let down the survivors of Superstorm Sandy, drove business out of New Jersey, undermined women's health care services, and blocked meaningful reforms for raising the minimum wage, ensuring equal opportunity for all, and keeping our neighborhoods safe. Meanwhile, his senior political appointees were endangering commuters and badly abusing the power and trust of Garden Staters. It's embarrassing that the governor wants to export his failed approach to public service, and curious that conservatives would even allow him on their stage."

Three months after the so-called Bridgegate scandal flared, Governor Christie still does not show a hint of concern that senior members of his administration put politics ahead of public safety -- an issue that he brushes off as "a distraction."

CHAIRMAN CURRIE STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR CHRISTIE'S OCEAN COUNTY TOWN HALL

(Trenton) -- Today, John Currie, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, reacted to Governor Christie's town hall meeting in Toms River, New Jersey. The troubled governor again used the event as a platform to divert attention from his administration's unfolding scandals, to talk himself up and to blame the federal government for the state's many problems.

Three months after the so-called Bridgegate scandal flared, Governor Christie still does not show a hint of concern that senior members of his administration put politics ahead of public safety -- an issue that he brushes off as 'a distraction.'

"I was hoping the governor would hit pause on the phony rhetoric and provide a credible explanation about why his administration botched the Superstorm Sandy recovery effort and how the Port Authority could be so badly abused for political purposes. Unfortunately, that did not happen," Chairman Currie said. "When eight out of ten grant applications from Superstorm Sandy survivors are inappropriately denied, it should trigger alarm and administrative action, not one-liners and finger-pointing. The people of New Jersey have a right to be angry that the Christie administration has made their lives more difficult. We deserve more substantive reform and less spin. Addressing the problems the governor helped create remains a top priority, even if Chris Christie considers them inconvenient or irrelevant."

When not covertly fundraising elsewhere, Governor Christie's limited public appearances have been held in friendly surroundings around New Jersey. The events have a heavily produced, show business quality, and have left unanswered the many serious questions about the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal, crony Sandy recovery contracts, and the shady activities of his top political appointees, including Port Authority Chairman David Samson.

ICYMI: What They Are Saying About Christie's Town Hall Meeting In Middletown

As most everyone knows by now Governor Christie spent his morning this past Thursday conducting one of his signature Town Hall meetings at the Port Monmouth NJ VFW Post 2179. It got  a lot of press from both local and national media outlets seeing that it was Christie's first public appearance since the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal broke and news that Hurricane Sandy relief funds has allegedly  been used by the governor as a sort of slush fund to gain campaign endorsements from Democratic mayors from around the state surfaced last month.

I gave you my take on the Christie's Town Hall Meeting on Thursday below are some other reports from around the web:


The Wall Street Journal: Christie Hosts First Town Hall Since Scandal
The N.J. Governor Holds 110th Town Hall, Focusing on superstorm Sandy

New York Daily News: Chris Christie avoids Bridgegate scandal at Town Hall, talks Sandy relief and weight loss

The Washington Post: At N.J. town hall, Christie’s focus is on Sandy, not scandal

The Two River Times: Christie Talks About Sandy Recovery at Middletown Town Hall

The Miami Herald: Christie hears from storm victims at town hall

Talking Points Memo:
Christie's Office Says It Didn't Weed Out Scandal Questions At Town Hall

A Report from the Townhall

Going Deep On New Jersey

WYNC: Christie Heckled at Shore Town Hall and Still Wins Over Crowd

NJ.Com:
At Chris Christie town hall, woman says officials confiscated her 'Resign Christie' signs

At town hall, Chris Christie pins blame for slow Sandy recovery on feds

The Nation: At a Town Hall Meeting, Christie Blames Obama, FEMA, Feds for Sandy Aid Problems

Blue Jersey: A touchy Gov. Christie leaves first "town hall" since Bridgegate scandal exposed

The Daily Beast: Christie Finally Finds a Crowd That Doesn’t Care About Bridgegate

The New York Times: For Christie, Awkward Return to a Setting He Once Ruled

And finally here is a link for even more stories on the Governor's Town Hall

Christie Town Hall Meeting

I was in attendance today for Governor Chris Christie's town hall meeting in Port Monmouth and as I stated earlier the event would make more news for what wasn't discussed as opposed to what was.

The hall of VFW Post 2179 was packed with members of the media from all over tri-state region;  camera crews and reporters from NY, NJ and Philadelphia along with various national news outlets and blogs where there along with a few hundred Hurricane Sandy survivors looking for answers.

Sandy victims wanted to know when they could expect some real help getting back into their homes 16 months after the storm, while the media was curious if someone would ask the governor about the George Washington Bridge scandal that has engulfed his administration for the past month.

The media left the hall scratching its head, wondering why no one asked about Bridgegate ( I did have my hand raised to ask but wasn't called upon) and many of the Sandy survivors left scratching their heads still wondering what they needed to do to get back into their homes.

The governor took the opportunity to bash President Obama, Congress, FEMA and Democrats in the State Legislature for the slow response and lack of help for needy Sandy survivors. When a gentleman tried to ask a question about why the governor wasted over $50 million on private companies to oversee sandy relief efforts instead of getting the money directly to those that needed it the most, the governor made his best post-bridgegate attempt to not talk down to the person who asked the question but made it pretty clear  he thought it was a stupid question.

And that was pretty much it, nothing news worthy as it would pertain to the various scandals circling the governor's administration came to light.

I'm sure that if you look around the internet or watch the evening news tonight you'll read or watch pretty much the same (maybe with a little more detail) as what I've posted here.

 For those who were looking for answers, there were few to be had. For those that had questions that weren't asked there will be other opportunities to do so.

Here are a few pictures that I took of today's town hall: