A 2018 Wave Is Building

From Political Wire:
December 13, 2017


First Read: “If you thought Moore’s flaws — and the allegations against him — were the only reason why Republicans lost in Alabama, you haven’t been paying attention to 2017. The seven major races this year have underscored that Democratic voters are fired up, that Republican ones aren’t and that Trump is unpopular, even in red states.”

“This is how a wave happens, and the wave heading in 2018 got bigger and bigger during every contest this year — first in Georgia (which Democrats still lost), then in Virginia last month and then Alabama last night.”

Nate Silver: “Not every race is going to go as badly for Republicans as this Alabama Senate election — but if enough go half as badly, or even a third as badly, they’re still in for a rough time next year.”

This sums it up; What a Liberal Does on the Fourth of July

I've posted this same article for a few years now, it's a blast from the past that unfortunately needs stated time and again. Conservatives and the right- wing don't have a monopoly on patriotism or pride in their country. And in this age of Trumpism it will be the liberals that just might save us from totalitarianism.


By Dan Bimrose,Founder, LiberalFix.com
Post @ Huffingtonpost.com
6/30/11

For certain elements of society the word liberal has become interchangeable with such words as communist, socialist and fascist.

While liberals such as myself choose to associate themselves with such historic figures as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, those same elements of society would suggest that each of us tree hugging "ne-er do wells" have a secret room with a secret wall painted red and devoted to displaying pictures of Hitler, Mussolini and Lenin.

On a day when we should all celebrate our nation and some of us recount historically accurate stories of our nation's birth, there are members of society who find it difficult to imagine that it would be possible for self-styled liberals, progressives and Democrats to find cause for celebration on the Fourth of July.

This all too common charge that those like us are unpatriotic and un-American is an allegation that I take great umbrage with.

By definition conservatives and liberals do not think alike and that is just fine. The idea, however, that liberals are unpatriotic is absurd. Those who say such things are guilty of one of two things, they are either ignorant or they are lying with the intent of influencing your opinion so that it more closely represents their opinion.

Liberals do find it difficult to stomach the assertion that our founding fathers believed that there is an inherit bias toward discrimination in the documents and actions produced by those very same founding fathers.

I will allow that the 3/5 compromise which allowed for slaves to be counted as 3/5 of a white man for the purpose of determining a states representation in Congress, and the lack of a provision guaranteeing women the right to vote were monumental fails in regards to discrimination. The need to compromise to achieve a bigger goal allowed for these fails to exist.

Time, acquired wisdom, and progress would eventually fix these wrongs. Liberals respect, honor and cherish the Constitution as an evolving document capable of being changed when we as a nation are ready for change.

We believe that the founders had it right when they said in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." We believe this to be the very worthy intent of our founding fathers.

We acknowledge conservatives love the Constitution as well. Well, they love certain parts of the Constitution. Different conservative groups would love to repeal a variety of amendments including the 8th, the 14th, the 16th, the 17th, the 19th and possibly the 26th amendment.

Liberals do believe that children born in the inner city or poverty stricken rural areas deserve the same access to health care as blue bloods spending the holiday on Martha's Vineyard. We are not unpatriotic because we believe this. Perhaps you could call us compassionate, but not unpatriotic.

We understand that we pass on more to our children than just budgets and balance sheets. We also pass on the environment and the planet to our children and grandchildren. Regardless of whether or not we feel that global warming is real or a myth we still value clean water and clean air.

We may not appreciate the wars we are currently fighting in the Middle East, but we love and respect our soldiers. After all they are our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, wives and husbands.

We believe that teachers, policeman and firefighters should be paid and paid well due to their value and service to our community.

We believe that all of our children deserve libraries, gym class, and the opportunity to star in their school play.

We believe our country is great because we are a melting pot, not in spite of it. We value diversity. This is the American Way. This was the American dream.

We pay our taxes, but think that the wealthiest amongst us and the most profitable industries can share in bearing a little extra burden to fix our government's mistakes.

We believe that our senior citizens are people who have served our countries and their families well. They deserve not just our respect, but the ability to retire with the reasonable assurance that their health needs and financial needs will be met.

No, we do not agree with everything and most of the time we do not agree with anything, but it is not necessary to call each other unpatriotic or un-American. Liberals do not think conservatives are evil, we just think they are wrong. Perhaps some of the name calling conservatives out there will learn that liberals are Americans too.

What will I be doing this 4th of July?

More than likely my children will wake me up early so that we can go to the local parade, but before we leave for the parade I will hang our flag outside.

I am assuming and hoping the day will be filled with at least two Italian sausages smothered in onions, one elephant ear, and multiple lemon shake-ups. At the parade I will shake hands with a few elected officials, but reserve my support and encouragement for those politicians that are Democrats. In my part of Indiana, they need all the help they can get.

I will conclude the day by watching the local fireworks display right before rushing home to put the kids in the tub so I can clean off the cotton candy that has become caked on their faces. With any luck I will not have to get out the tweezers to remove a roasted peanut from my youngest daughter's ear.

We will go straight from the tub to the bedroom where we will sing songs and the kids will say their prayers before being tucked in and given strict orders to "sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite".

So what do liberals do on the 4th of July?

Pretty much the same thing everyone else does.

Happy 4th of July and God Bless America.

Mary Jo Fabiano & Ralph Borgess For Middletown Township Committee

www.abettermiddletown.com

The Nation: A City Clerk Opposed an Early-Voting Site at UW–Green Bay Because ‘Students Lean More Toward the Democrats’

People cry foul and make a big deal about how dead people are still on the voting lists and are somehow casting votes for Democrats - believe me when I say, there are just as many dead Republicans casting votes as there are Democrats.

I'm not saying that this type of voter fraud is actually happening, I'm saying that voter lists for both parties have the names of deceased individuals still on them. It's the job of county election officials to make sure that those names are taken off voter lists. But when it comes to actual voter fraud and voter suppression however, Republicans are the masters of the domain.

The Nation just published another example of Republican voter suppression efforts happening in Wisconsin. If you search the internet, you can find numerous other example just like this one:

Carly Stumpner, a junior biology major at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, had an hour between classes to vote during Wisconsin’s April 5 presidential primary. But when she arrived at her polling place on campus, the line stretched for two hours across the student union. She returned to the polls a second time after her classes, but the line had only grown, and Stumpner had to get to a meeting for work. She wasn’t able to vote because of the long wait times, a frustrating experience for her and many students at UWGB that day.

When polls closed at 8 pm, there were still 150 students waiting to vote. “Some people described it as chaos,” reported Ellery McCardle of the local ABC affiliate. “People were standing shoulder to shoulder, there was absolutely no room to move around in here.”

After the primary, leaders of eight different student groups—including the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian parties and the Black Student Union—asked the city to put an early-voting location on campus to alleviate long lines. But city officials ignored the request and opened only one early-voting site on September 26 for the entire city—the third-largest in Wisconsin—at the clerk’s office, a 15-minute drive from campus, which is open only during business hours. City Clerk Kris Teske, an appointee of Republican Mayor Jim Schmitt, a close ally of Governor Scott Walker, said the city didn’t have the money, time, or security to open an early-voting location on campus or anywhere else.

But privately Teske gave a different reason for opposing an early-voting site at UW–Green Bay, writing that student voting would benefit the Democratic Party. “UWGB is a polling location for students and residents on Election Day but I feel by asking for this to be the site for early voting is encouraging the students to vote more than benefiting the city as a whole,” she wrote on August 26 in an e-mail to David Buerger, counsel at the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. “I have heard it said that students lean more toward the democrats…. I have spoken with our Chief of Staff and others at City Hall and they agree that budget wise this isn’t going to happen. Do I have an argument about it being more of a benefit to the democrats?”

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That Time When ...

Chelsea Clinton Coming to Monmouth Tomorrow to Campaign for Hillary Clinton in Long Branch & Hazlet

On Tuesday, May 17, Chelsea Clinton will return to New Jersey ahead of the Democratic presidential primary on June 7th to campaign for her mom at events in Long Branch and Hazlet.

At these events, she will ask New Jerseyans for their support and urge them to go out and vote for Hillary Clinton. She will also discuss why her mom is the best candidate to raise incomes for New Jersey families, to improve education, and to break down the barriers that hold too many Americans back.

Details on the trip are as follows:

Long Branch Organizing Event
WHERE: Charlie's Ocean Grille, 29 Avenel Blvd, Long Branch
WHEN: 12:00 PM, Tuesday, May 17
PUBLIC RSVP

Hillary for New Jersey, Monmouth County Office Opening
WHERE: Monmouth County Democratic Headquarters, Airport Plaza Shopping Center, 1342 State Route 36, Hazlet (NOTE: Storefront next to Forum Tuxedos)
WHEN: 2:00 PM, Tuesday, May 17
PUBLIC RSVP

According To Moody's Democrats Win Big In 2016

It may be a little premature to be making such bold predictions but nevertheless I'm happy to read all about Moody's take on the 2016 presidential election:

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Our Moody's Analytics election model now predicts a Democratic electoral landslide in the 2016 presidential vote. A small change in the forecast data in August has swung the outcome from the statistical tie predicted in July, to a razor-edge ballot outcome that nevertheless gives the incumbent party 326 electoral votes to the Republican challenger's 212. 

Just three states account for the change in margin, with Ohio, Florida and Colorado swinging from leaning Republican to leaning Democrat. The margin of victory in each of these important swing states is still solidly within the margin of error though, and will likely swing back and forth in Moody's monthly updates ahead, underlining the closeness of the election to come. Furthermore, three of the candidates for the Republican nomination enjoy favorite-son status in Ohio or Florida, potentially making the outcome of those important states even more unpredictable.

It takes 270 electoral votes to win a U.S. presidential election. Our July forecast predicted a Democratic win with 270 electoral votes, to 268 for the Republican, regardless of who wins either party's nomination. Read More: Deep Dive Into Moody's Model.

The primary factor driving the results further to the incumbent party in August is lower gasoline prices. Plummeting prices and changing dynamics in global energy markets from Chinese weakness and the Iranian nuclear deal have caused us to significantly lower our gasoline price forecast for the next several years. This variable is very significant to voter sentiment in the model, with lower prices favoring incumbents....

Read More

What a Liberal Does on the Fourth of July

A blast from the past that I think sums it up pretty well.

By Dan Bimrose,Founder, LiberalFix.com
Post @ Huffingtonpost.com
6/30/11

For certain elements of society the word liberal has become interchangeable with such words as communist, socialist and fascist.

While liberals such as myself choose to associate themselves with such historic figures as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, those same elements of society would suggest that each of us tree hugging "ne-er do wells" have a secret room with a secret wall painted red and devoted to displaying pictures of Hitler, Mussolini and Lenin.

On a day when we should all celebrate our nation and some of us recount historically accurate stories of our nation's birth, there are members of society who find it difficult to imagine that it would be possible for self-styled liberals, progressives and Democrats to find cause for celebration on the Fourth of July.

This all too common charge that those like us are unpatriotic and un-American is an allegation that I take great umbrage with.

By definition conservatives and liberals do not think alike and that is just fine. The idea, however, that liberals are unpatriotic is absurd. Those who say such things are guilty of one of two things, they are either ignorant or they are lying with the intent of influencing your opinion so that it more closely represents their opinion.

Liberals do find it difficult to stomach the assertion that our founding fathers believed that there is an inherit bias toward discrimination in the documents and actions produced by those very same founding fathers.

I will allow that the 3/5 compromise which allowed for slaves to be counted as 3/5 of a white man for the purpose of determining a states representation in Congress, and the lack of a provision guaranteeing women the right to vote were monumental fails in regards to discrimination. The need to compromise to achieve a bigger goal allowed for these fails to exist.

Time, acquired wisdom, and progress would eventually fix these wrongs. Liberals respect, honor and cherish the Constitution as an evolving document capable of being changed when we as a nation are ready for change.

We believe that the founders had it right when they said in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." We believe this to be the very worthy intent of our founding fathers.

We acknowledge conservatives love the Constitution as well. Well, they love certain parts of the Constitution. Different conservative groups would love to repeal a variety of amendments including the 8th, the 14th, the 16th, the 17th, the 19th and possibly the 26th amendment.

Liberals do believe that children born in the inner city or poverty stricken rural areas deserve the same access to health care as blue bloods spending the holiday on Martha's Vineyard. We are not unpatriotic because we believe this. Perhaps you could call us compassionate, but not unpatriotic.

We understand that we pass on more to our children than just budgets and balance sheets. We also pass on the environment and the planet to our children and grandchildren. Regardless of whether or not we feel that global warming is real or a myth we still value clean water and clean air.

We may not appreciate the wars we are currently fighting in the Middle East, but we love and respect our soldiers. After all they are our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, wives and husbands.

We believe that teachers, policeman and firefighters should be paid and paid well due to their value and service to our community.

We believe that all of our children deserve libraries, gym class, and the opportunity to star in their school play.

We believe our country is great because we are a melting pot, not in spite of it. We value diversity. This is the American Way. This was the American dream.

We pay our taxes, but think that the wealthiest amongst us and the most profitable industries can share in bearing a little extra burden to fix our government's mistakes.

We believe that our senior citizens are people who have served our countries and their families well. They deserve not just our respect, but the ability to retire with the reasonable assurance that their health needs and financial needs will be met.

No, we do not agree with everything and most of the time we do not agree with anything, but it is not necessary to call each other unpatriotic or un-American. Liberals do not think conservatives are evil, we just think they are wrong. Perhaps some of the name calling conservatives out there will learn that liberals are Americans too.

What will I be doing this 4th of July?

More than likely my children will wake me up early so that we can go to the local parade, but before we leave for the parade I will hang our flag outside.

I am assuming and hoping the day will be filled with at least two Italian sausages smothered in onions, one elephant ear, and multiple lemon shake-ups. At the parade I will shake hands with a few elected officials, but reserve my support and encouragement for those politicians that are Democrats. In my part of Indiana, they need all the help they can get.

I will conclude the day by watching the local fireworks display right before rushing home to put the kids in the tub so I can clean off the cotton candy that has become caked on their faces. With any luck I will not have to get out the tweezers to remove a roasted peanut from my youngest daughter's ear.

We will go straight from the tub to the bedroom where we will sing songs and the kids will say their prayers before being tucked in and given strict orders to "sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite".

So what do liberals do on the 4th of July?

Pretty much the same thing everyone else does.

Happy 4th of July and God Bless America.

No excuse for layoffs at Brookdale

Vin Gopal is chairman of the Monmouth County Democrats and is the author of this article that appeared in yesterday's Asbury Park Press:

The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has gutted funding to Brookdale Community College three years in a row. It’s plain and simple: What was once the educational pearl of Monmouth is now in jeopardy as a direct result of the one-party-controlled freeholder board.

A recommendation made last week by the college’s Board of Trustees (most of whom are selected by the all-Republican freeholder board) announced a plan for 210 layoffs of faculty and staff. This comes after the third year in a row of significant cuts by Monmouth County’s freeholder board to Brookdale’s funding.

Monmouth County’s funding has dropped an astounding 23 percent in just three years — more than $6 million. The college is expecting another $1.5 million cut in county funding for 2015, a 6 percent drop in a year. Brookdale officials are expecting funds raised by tuition and fees to increase by 2.5 percent next year and enrollment has dropped 12 percent in just three years.

The freeholders claim that money for Brookdale is not there. That is simply not true. Instead of properly funding Brookdale Community College, the board has allowed $6.5 million taxpayer money, annually, to be wasted on managing two county-run nursing homes. Government-funded nursing homes are a thing of the past and counties including Mercer, Sussex and Salem have all successfully sold their own to competent private buyers, all of whom have done an excellent job operating them with the same quality of care.

Government used to run these types of care centers in the 1960s and 1970s, but we do not need to be in the nursing home business in 2014. We need to be providing students and their parents with affordable educational options, especially at a time when the importance of a college degree is increasing faster than ever. Monmouth freeholders have the opportunity to do this and protect those jobs at Brookdale.

This past election, in a big landslide year for national Republicans, Monmouth County residents narrowly voted to re-elect Monmouth County Republican Freeholders Lillian Burry and Gary Rich with 53 percent of the vote. This should be a wakeup call to county Republicans, not a moment of celebration. County Republican freeholders usually win Monmouth by larger margins. Residents are realizing, more and more, that county Republicans are responsible for our high taxes and waste.

There is no Republican or Democratic way to fix a pothole. There is a right way and a wrong way. The Monmouth County Democrats have taken the position that privatizing the nursing homes because it is what is right for the 630,000 residents of this county.

The solution for Brookdale is crystal clear. The All-Republican freeholder board can privatize the nursing homes and save Brookdale students and families a tuition increase and save the 210 folks about to get laid off. The ball is in their court.

Join us in holding them accountable by locally joining a political party that will fight for every taxpayer in this county. Locally, the Monmouth County Democrats are fighting for taxpayers in our 53 towns.

Your Vote Matters....

Quick Facts On New Jersey Primary Elections

Today is Primary Election Day here in New Jersey and the polls are open from 6 a.m to 8 p.m

Did you know?

Primary elections are important. Candidates within a party may have different experiences, priorities, and can disagree on many issues. It is important to vote for a candidate you believe best represents you.

Here are a few quick facts courtesy of the League of Women Voters:

1. New Jersey holds closed primaries, meaning voters select from candidates within their declared party. Currently, only the Democratic and Republican parties qualify for primary elections.

2. Registered unaffiliated voters may declare a party at the polls on Primary Election Day.

3. If you do declare at the polls, you retain this party affiliation unless you file a party affiliation declaration form with your county Commissioner of Registration after the election.

Could Chris Christie Republicans be the biggest losers?

And so it begins, the Republicans from the far-right waste no time bashing Christie after his election victory on Tuesday, he he he ...

The Virginia race strips away almost any reason why conservatives should not look toward a third party in 2016, as the national Republicans attempt to foist another "candidate who can win" down their throats.

By Rick Manning - NetRightDaily

National political pundits are busily fluffing up the narrative that the 2013 gubernatorial election has made New Jersey Governor Chris Christie the front runner for the Republican nod for president in 2016, while the narrow loss by conservative Ken Cuccinelli in the Virginia governor's race spells the beginning of the end for the conservative movement.

The Washington Times writes in its coverage of the New Jersey Governor's race that the decision by Democrats to not put up a credible challenge to incumbent Chris Christie, "… helped to clear the path for Mr. Christie to drive up his margin of victory in the governor's race, which political observers and Republican insiders said would send a message that the national party can broaden its appeal and bolster its brand without tacking to the tea party right.

They are wrong for at least three reasons. Two of these are tactical and one is strategic.

New Jersey Governor Christie dramatically increased his own electability during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy when just prior to the 2012 presidential election, he went out of his way to embrace President Obama, earning support within the state, and enmity from Republicans around the country. Few outside of New Jersey will forget the damage Christie's hug did to the Party's chances to defeat Obama.

The result is that the very same event that helped propel Christie's in-state popularity will be disastrous for him outside the state.

On the other hand, the Virginia governor's race was decided by one percent with Democrat Terry McAuliffe receiving well under a majority of the votes after significantly outspending Republican Cuccinelli. Two campaign tricks tipped the scales to McAuliffe and each were worthy of his sleazy reputation.

A major Obama fundraiser/cash bundler was discovered in the last days of the campaign to have been the primary funder of the third party "Libertarian" candidate revealing that he was nothing more than a shill put up by the left to siphon votes from the other economic freedom candidate in the race – Cuccinelli. The third party candidate libertarian poser received more than 6 percent of the total vote.

The second dirty trick engaged in by McAuliffe was a robocall perpetrated by the Virginia Democratic Party to conservative voters alleging that Cuccinelli supported Obamacare. This admission of the unpopularity of Obama's signature achievement was an overt lie, as Cuccinelli was the first Attorney General in the nation to challenge Obamacare in court. The tactic was designed to suppress likely Cuccinelli voters who opposed the law, but were so disgusted by Republican cave-ins in D.C. that they were susceptible to this type of attack.

Thirty years ago, in one of my first political campaigns I was taught a truism that no longer is valid. After I got done complaining about how we were being unfairly treated in the media, my boss answered, "They have the media and we have the money, our job is to spend that money effectively so we can beat their free media advantage."

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Democrat had the media, an approximate two to one spending advantage and the help of a third very important group – the institutional Republicans who continually bad mouthed the conservative candidate and sat on their collective thumbs hoping Cuccinelli would lose so they could declare that only a moderate could win.

The 2.5 percent loss proves that these Republicans who always try to foist "electable" candidates who stand for nothing in primaries would rather deny a conservative victory than have their narrative be proven wrong. If anything the fact that Ken Cuccinelli barely lost after being pilloried in the media without the resources to make his case is an affirmation that conservative principles are winners when people hear them articulated.

Unlike in New Jersey where the Republican moderate dominated his opponent in campaign cash, and the Democrats chose not to run a campaign against him, Cuccinelli was literally starved of funds and support by the Republican chattering class. The Republican National Committee whose sole purpose is to elect Republican candidates failed to produce anywhere near the nine million dollars they pumped into Virginia four years earlier — it was just $3 million this time — in one of the most obvious acts of "friendly fire" campaign sabotage.

Strategically this has major implications for these professional Republican operatives who have already publicly declared war on their Party's political base.

The Virginia race strips away almost any reason why conservatives should not look toward a third party in 2016, as the national Republicans attempt to foist another "candidate who can win" down their throats.

Politically, this puts the Republican ruling class in deep trouble. If someone like former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin were to run as a third party alternative to a Christie-type, it is difficult to find a single state that Christie or someone of his ilk would carry. And it is relatively easy to identify at least twenty states where a third party Palin would likely be favored over both Christie and a Democrat opponent.

Sometimes you can win a battle but lose the war, in the next couple of year's establishment Republicans may just find themselves wishing they had gone all-in for the conservative in Virginia, as Ken Cuccinelli could become the symbol of the one way relationship they expect from their much despised political base.

If given a choice, that base just might figure out that they never actually needed the Republican Party bosses after all. When that happens, the Republican Party will go the way of the Whigs and a new, populist, limited government party will take its place.


Rick Manning (@rmanning957) is the vice president of public policy and communications for Americans for Limited Government.

CHRISTIE'S INFLUENCE ONLY SKIN DEEP

From NJ State Democratic Committee:

Democrats Boast Local, Legislative Victories

(Trenton) – Tonight, New Jersey Democrats will maintain majorities in both the State Senate and State Assembly, and may actually strengthen our legislative hand, demonstrating that voter's fondness for Chris Christie's brash persona only runs skin deep, the party's top official declared.

"Democrats are proud of the trust that New Jersey voters put in our party, and we remain dedicated to tackling the challenges facing middle-class families. The fondness that New Jerseyans have for Mr. Christie's bluster, while it defies logic, only runs skin deep. Christie could not break the bond voters have with their Democratic leaders, from legislative districts to freeholder boards. We knew Chris Christie would go to any extreme to avoid accountability and to promote his brand, but it is surprising how incapable he is of helping anyone else -- not just middle-class New Jerseyans, but even members of his own party," said John Currie, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.

Christie has compiled an economic record that would make Herbert Hoover blush, with 400,000 of the state's residents unemployed, lackluster job creation, and property tax burdens that have risen by nearly 20 percent. And, just today on national cable television, Christie embraced his true conservatism, validating the argument made by Senator Barbara Buono and others that we can expect even more of his damaging policies in another term.

In addition, after Christie wasted $12 million in taxpayer funds on suppressing turnout, unnecessarily scheduling a separate election to fill the U.S. Senate seat now held by Cory Booker, Democrats were compelled to mobilize voters twice within a month's time.

Despite Christie's inflated poll numbers, Democratic candidates overcame these challenges at the county and local levels, highlighting their commitment to real property tax relief, to restoring access to women's health care services, and to protecting our neighborhoods from the threats posed by dangerous firearms. Meanwhile, county party organizations and local campaigns ran strong door-to-door outreach efforts that successfully targeted extremist elements in the Republican ranks for defeat, and captured majorities on legislative bodies, flipping control from Republican to Democratic hands.

PALLONE FOR SENATE ANNOUNCES MIDDLESEX ENDORSEMENTS

(Long Branch) – Middlesex County Elected officials announced their endorsement of Frank Pallone today and released the following statement:

Frank Pallone has been a leader in the Democratic Party for years and he is clearly the best choice to be our next United States Senator. He's been leading the charge in the fight for Democratic values and has always been on the front lines without hesitation for President Obama. Whether it is the fight to increase the federal minimum wage, the work he's done to protect our drinking water for our kids and grandkids or the leadership role he took in securing federal Sandy aid, Frank Pallone is always standing up for New Jersey's middle class.

"I am grateful to receive the endorsement from Middlesex County leaders. My only mandate each day is to fight for New Jersey's middle class taxpayers and remain undeterred by special interests and the Tea Party conservatives who would attack our Democratic principles. I believe it is most important to stand up for the things we believe in as Democrats and never back down from that fight,” said Pallone.

The following elected officials have announced their support for Congressman Frank Pallone in the August Special Election Primary:

Senator Bob Smith (D-17)
Assemblyman Joe Egan (D-17)
Assemblyman Peter Barnes III (D-18)
Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-18)
Senator Joe Vitale (D-19)
Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-19)
Assemblyman Craig Coughlin (D-19)
County Clerk Elaine Flynn
Surrogate Kevin Hoagland
Freeholder Director Ronald Rios
Freeholder Deputy Director Blanquita B. Valenti
Freeholder Carol Barrett
Freeholder James Polos
Freeholder Charles Tomaro
Mayor James Cahill – New Brunswick
Mayor Frederick Henry - South Amboy
Mayor John McCormac – Woodbridge
Mayor Gary Minkoff – Highland Park
Mayor Dan Reiman – Carteret
Mayor Thomas Vahalla - Metuchen
Mayor Brian Wahler –Piscataway

Passaic County Democratic Chairman Currie To Lead State Party.

In a joint statement issued today by Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Barbara Buono announced that Passaic County Democratic Party chairman, John Currie will be the new state party chairman.

The choice of Currie was a compromise between Buono, who preferred Assembly Jason O'Donnell for the position and State Senator Raymond Lesniak who was backed by Sweeney and South Jersey party boss George Norcross.

"Today, we talked and determined that the issues that bind us together are far stronger than any disagreements. The Democratic Party has long been a champion for working and middle class families and this year's election is far too important to allow party in-fighting to affect our ability to help them. Our focus must be on defeating Governor Christie and winning elections up and down the ticket.

"In the interest of party unity, Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell and Senator Ray Lesniak have agreed to rescind their candidacies for chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee (NJDSC). Passaic County Chairman John Currie has graciously accepted the position and will be the next leader of the NJDSC.

"By removing themselves from contention for State Chair, Assemblyman O'Donnell and Senator Lesniak continue to exhibit the qualities that make them tremendous leaders within the Democratic Party. They understand that compromise is a necessary and important part of a vibrant democracy and both will work hard to ensure that Democrats win across the state in November."

Republicans Fuming Over Chris Christie's Senate Decision

The New Jersey governor's decision to hold the Senate race in October 2013 means it will be difficult for the GOP to contest the seat. 

From the National Journal-

Republicans are fuming over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's decision to hold an early special election to fill the seat of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, with several Washington-based operatives suggesting he's putting his own interests ahead of the GOP's. The decision to hold a separate special election in October 2013—just two weeks before his own election—would give any interested Republican candidates little time to announce, organize a campaign, and raise the necessary money to take on a top-tier Democrat, likely Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Christie announced at a Tuesday press conference that the election to fill Lautenberg's seat will be held Oct. 16, just before his own gubernatorial election on Nov. 4. The primaries would be scheduled for Aug. 13. Christie acknowledged he was legally able to schedule a special election in November 2014, but he wanted New Jersey voters to elect their senator as soon as possible. Christie was less clear about whether he was legally allowed to schedule an election to coincide with his own, emphasizing that he didn't want to waste any time in seating the newly elected member. On several occasions, he repeated his decision had nothing to do with politics.

"There's no political purpose. The political purpose is to give the people a voice," Christie said. "The issues facing the United States Senate are too important not to have an elected representative making those decisions."

The governor's decision, along with growing GOP expectations that his appointee will be a placeholder, means that the GOP's chance at a pickup now looks like a long shot. But Christie protected his own interests by scheduling a separate 2013 election, ensuring that Booker wouldn't usher a surge of Democratic voters that could hurt Christie's November prospects.

That did little to mollify Republicans with a stake in retaking the Senate next year. While none wanted to be quoted publicly, all dripped with disdain for Christie's decision, calling it self-serving. And several pointed to the fact that holding an extra election one month earlier could cost the state about $25 million--a price tag that could dent his image as a fiscal hawk.

"I think this ends his 2016 chances. It's year after year with this guy," complained one senior Republican official....

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Boehner 'happy' to see sequester cuts happen

In a video released Friday, Democrats launched the latest salvo in the finger-pointing game over which party is to blame for the $85 billion in automatic cuts, which launched March 1. As the video repeatedly points out, House Speaker John Boehner got,"I got 98 percent of what I wanted, I'm pretty happy."



Hat Tip - thehill.com

Monmouth United Relief Concert Raised Over $100K For Sandy Victims

I'm sorry I couldn't make it out yesterday to the Monmouth United: Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert at the Stone Pony. By the looks of this video posted on Middletown-Patch, everyone had a great time supporting a worthy cause!

The concert raised over $100,000 for the NJ Hurricane Relief Fund.

MONMOUTHUNITED: A Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert Celebrating Unity & Bipartisanship 12/30/12

On October 29, New Jerseyans, and the people of Monmouth County, faced an unprecedented natural disaster. Super-storm Sandy’s impact on our County was devastating, ravaging our famous shoreline from Sandy Hook down through Cape May, while wreaking havoc to the interior of our county, downing thousands of trees, power lines, and damaging communities throughout Monmouth. On November 23, Governor Chris Christie announced that the estimated damage amounted to a staggering $29.4 billion.

In the weeks ensuing Sandy, we have begun our comeback. Numerous efforts -- great and small -- have commenced to provide shelter, food, personal care and clothing as well as physical cleaning and construction, the singular goal of which is to "restore and rebuild."

Equally unprecedented is the MonmouthUnited for Hurricane Sandy Relief Benefit Concert, to be held on Sunday, December 30 from 1:00 to 7:00 pm, at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Featuring such esteemed artists as The B Street Band, Back-Up Jackson, Pat Guadagno Band and the Paul Roddy Band, funds raised will support the New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

This unprecedented event is the first time the Monmouth County Democratic and Republican Parties have joined forces for a benefit concert. Graciously co-hosted by Chairman Vin Gopal of the Monmouth County Democratic Organization and Chairman John O. Bennett of the Monmouth County Republican Committee, in coordination with the New Leaders Council, New Jersey Young Republicans Chair Tony Howley, and New Jersey Young Democrats President Chris James, the pivotal need right now in our great State is bigger than politics, and demands a spirit much deeper and higher than partisanship

We are inviting you to join us by purchasing tickets, enjoying the music and one another. If you cannot make it, please demonstrate your unwavering support to bringing back New Jersey --our residents, our businesses, our infrastructure and our indomitable spirit -- better than ever, with your donation.

Suggested donation is $25 a ticket and all proceeds will go directly to the NJ Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. Sponsorships are available starting at $500. Tickets are available at the door of the Stone Pony. For more information, email Joe Grillo at rsvp@monmouthdems.org, or Justin Braz at justinbraz@gmail.com.

Paddy Power pays out £400,000 on Obama victory in U.S. Presidential election

If you're a bookie, you don't pay out unless you're absolutely convinced of the outcome of a bet the Irish odds-maker Paddy Power evidently is convinced that President Obama will win re-elction on Tuesday.

From the Paddy Power blog 

Paddy Power is paying out to punters who backed Barack Obama to win theUS Presidential election 2012.

There’s still two days to go before America votes and national polls show voters remain largely undecided with nothing more than a sheet of ballot paper between Democrat Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney.

But Paddy Power believes it’s a done deal and Obama is a nailed-on certainty to win a second term.

The gutsy call sees Europe’s largest bookmaker put its neck on the line for more than £400,000 (over $650,000). Prior to the decision to pay out, Obama’s odds fell to a low 2/9 and over the past months Paddy Power has seen 75 per cent of money staked go Obama’s way.

A Paddy Power spokesperson said:

Romney gave it a good shot and is doing well in the popular vote, but we suspect he’s had his moment in the sun and is likely to be remembered more for hislegendary gaffes than Presidential potential.  The overall betting trend has shown one-way traffic for Obama and punters seemed to have called it 100 per cent correct.  Despite Romney appealing to the large evangelical and senior vote, America’s sticking with black and cool.

Paddy Power continues to offer betting right up to and including Election Day.  One of the most popular bets on offer is predicting the winning margin of the successful nominee on November 6.

To see Paddy Power’s full range of betting on the American Presidential election click here.