Obama will headline campaign event for Phil Murphy

TRENTON — Former President Barack Obama will host an event this fall for Democratic nominee for governor Phil Murphy, the candidate’s campaign confirmed Tuesday. The news was first reported by political newspaper The Hill. Derek Roseman, a spokesman for Murphy, confirmed the report but said there were “no details” to share yet about when, where or… Read the rest of this entry »

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President Obama commutes sentences of 3 N.J. prisoners

WASHINGTON — Three New Jersey men convicted of drug-related crimes will be released from prison on Dec. 1 after President Barack Obama on Wednesday commuted their sentences. In total, Obama commuted the sentences of 214 prisoners across the nation. White House counsel Neil Eggleston said the prisoners had been put behind bars “under outdated and duly… Read the rest of this entry »

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Russian Zoo Names Black Goat After Barack Obama

A Russian zoo, made famous by the unlikely bromance between a tiger and a goat, has now named a newcomer to the attraction after U.S. President Barack Obama. The Primorsky Safari Park has adopted a goat named “Obama” from a farmer in the city of Sochi, the location of the last Winter Olympics in 2014, NBC… Read the rest of this entry »

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President Obama to speak at Rutgers commencement

PISCATAWAY a U.S. President Barack Obama will speak at Rutgers University’s 250th anniversary commencement, the White House announced Thursday. The announcement comes more than two years after Rutgers President Robert Barchi wrote to Obama asking him to speak to the graduating class. This year’s graduation ceremony is on May 15 at High Point Solutions Stadium in… Read the rest of this entry »

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U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Obama’s Clean-Power Plan – States Get Temporary Stay

President Barack Obama At least for the short term, New Jersey will not have to adopt tough new plans to curb emissions that contribute to global warming as ordered by the Obama administration. With the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision late Tuesday to temporarily block implementation of the Clean Power Plan, the state can hold off imposing… Read the rest of this entry »

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Obama carbon emissions rule halted by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court halted the EPA’s major anti-global warming initiative late Tuesday evening, dealing a major blow to President Obama’s hopes of overseeing a green energy transition in his final year in office. The 5-4 decision by the court puts the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation on hold while a lower appeals court hears states’ challenge to… Read the rest of this entry »

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Obama announces crackdown on gun purchases, but it illustrates the limits of his office

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama launched his unilateral attempt to crack down on illegal gun purchases on Tuesday, blaming the “constant excuses for inaction” from Congress as justification for his exercise of executive power. But in an emotional address quoting the Bible, the Constitution and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Obama also tacitly acknowledged the… Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth Poll: PUBLIC BALKS AT TRUMP MUSLIM PROPOSAL

But most say the government not doing enough to protect US

West Long Branch, NJ – Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the US receives little public support in to the latest national Monmouth University Poll.  In fact, more Americans believe that radicalized US citizens pose a greater threat than terrorists who infiltrate our borders.  At the same time, a majority support sending US ground troops to the Middle East to fight ISIS.

Few Americans (32%) believe the US government is doing enough to prevent a future terrorist attack on American soil, while 59% say it is not doing enough.  The public was more divided in January, when 44% said the government was doing enough and 49% said it was not.  However, they are not persuaded by a number of proposals put forth in recent weeks to stop such attacks.

Donald Trump’s proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States generates little support, even among his fellow Republicans.  Just 26% of Americans are in favor of this idea while 67% are opposed.  Majorities of Democrats (83%), independents (64%), and Republicans (52%) oppose such a ban.  In fact, only those voters who specifically support Trump for the GOP nomination favor such a ban (61% to 29% opposed).  Among other Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, nearly 2-in-3 (65%) oppose a ban on Muslims entering the country, with only 26% in favor.

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Listening to Obama

By Art Gallagher

Unlike many conservative and Republican pundits on television and social media, my reaction to President Obama’s Oval Office address last evening was positive. He surprised me.  I though last night’s speech revealed a shift in the president. Albeit a low bar, I thought Obama’s address was his best since he’s taken office.

When I said so on social media, a friend and man that I respect asked if I was under the influence of drugs, alcohol or lack of sleep. Fortunately I am not suffering from any of those afflictions.  But over the course of 2015 I have noticed that I suffer from a combination of empathetic and sympathetic listening.   I first noticed this affliction last February at a town hall meeting that Governor Christie held in Burlington County.  I walked into that town hall really down on the Governor I once supported enthusiastically.  During the course of the meeting I noticed I was becoming enthused about him and the job he was doing for New Jersey again.  I woke up on the drive home and started to practice fact checking my own initial reactions to political speeches.

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Syrian family first to arrive in N.J. since Christie’s ban on state help

A family of seven on Monday became the first to arrive for resettlement in New Jersey since Gov. Chris Christie directed state agencies to stop helping Syrian refugees settle here. The international aid group Church World Service confirmed that a Syrian family it is helping arrived late Monday afternoon. So far, the group has received no… Read the rest of this entry »

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