Governor Chris Christie took his tax fight to a standing-room-only town hall crowd in Brick Township (Ocean County) yesterday afternoon.
And at that Brick gathering, my dear Save Jerseyans, we caught a welcome glimpse of the no-nonsense style of politics that quickly transformed Chris Christie into a national figure; you’ll likely remember his viral warning to beachgoers in the run-up to Hurricane Irene:
Surely, the contrast between Christie and Corzine in Election ’09 couldn’t have been clearer. I was proud to have been one of his earliest and most vocal grassroots supporters. I still am.
But what is our state party’s winning contrast with the liberal legislature right now in this ongoing budget fight?
Assemblyman Gilbert Wilson, D-Camden, has sponsored legislation that would compel genetic parternity testing of all infants at birth, according to a report on NJ.com. The cost of the test would be born by the parents or the insurer.
While Wilson said the measure applies to mothers and fathers alike, “mostly this should be geared towards the father because with the mother, of course, there is no doubt.”
The problem is not limited to guests on angst-ridden television talk shows, said Wilson, a Democrat from Camden County who goes by the nickname Whip.
“I’ve heard different stories about fathers who are raising children and paying support for a child and come to find out years later that it wasn’t their child,” he said. “It’s a devastating thing to find out.”
Wilson said the bill would allow men who turn out not be a child’s father to seek reimbursement for support or other expenses they have incurred raising the child.
Our liberal friends at Blue Jersey called the bill “man-centered, not kid-centered. Shame.”
It seems to me that the legislation is truth centered but nanny state centric.
The bill doesn’t seem to have much of a chance of becoming law according to the NJ.com piece.
Wilson might have a shot of getting Republican support for the bill if it granted either parent named on a birth certificate the authority to order such a test at his/her own expense….if they don’t already have that right.
Throughout the spring and summer the conventional wisdom has been that the Monmouth GOP will not face serious challenges in legislative and county races of 2011. 2011 is supposed to be a “good Republican year.”
It still could turn out that way. Probably will. But MMM has learned that the Democrats think they have unexpected opportunities.
On the legislative level, the Trenton Democratic machine has taken interest in the new 11th district.
Back in April after the new legislative map was released the Democrats were scrambling to field a slate of candidates. No Democratic elected officials would challenge Republican incumbents Senator Jennifer Beck or Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande and Mary Pat Angelini. Now the Democrats think the 11th is in play and will dedicate financial and human resources to elect Ray Santiago to the Senate and Marilyn Schlossbach and Vin Gopal to the Assembly.
Both sides fear that Independent Assembly candidate Dan Jacobson will draw votes away from them and could end up being a spoiler. In his column in last week’s triCityNews, Jacobson said that he expected to take votes from both sides and that he would need 20% of the voters to cast an uninformed protest vote for him in order to win a seat. Jacobson said he expects Beck, Casagrande and Angelini to prevail in November.
On the county level, the Democrats are planning a character assassination on Freeholder Lillian Burry. They will allege conflicts of interest on Burry’s part going back to her tenure as Mayor of Colts Neck and continuing in Freehold.
Our friends at Politickernj have gone old school in the new media age. They are using a long abandoned journalistic tool to find out what their subjects are really thinking: Alcohol.
Last week Max Pizarro got some tipsy Democrats to reveal what they really think of President Obama:
“But I’m at the point with Barack Obama where I don’t like him,” the source added – then whispering under the bar buzz – “I hate him.”
“He’s not a leader,” a second high-powered Democrat groaned. “Say what you want about Christie, but he knows how to wield power. Barack doesn’t.”
“He’s very thin-skinned,” said the source. “He can’t deal with criticism, that’s why he’s going to Africa with his family on a safari. Is he nuts? A safari in this economy?”
The Democrats Pizarro drank with think Obama is still a lock to win New Jersey’s 14 electoral college votes handily next year. That is the conventional thinking. However, I bet those same Democrats thought in 2008 that the equally disliked Jon Corzine was a lock for reelection.
Turning their attention to New Jersey gubernatorial politics, Politickernj’sBack Room got blank stares from two “Democratic Party bigshots” drinking on condition of anonymity when asked to speculate who would challenge Governor Christie in 2013.
Newark Mayor Corey Booker? “Newark is too much of a wreck,” and “his time has come and gone.” Congressman Bill Pascrell? Would have been great “ten years ago.” Senator Barbara Buono? “We need someone outside of Trenton,” like Christie was in 2009.
Looking outside of Trenton, the drinking Democrats see Congressmen Frank Pallone and Rush Holt:
“If Frank gets banged up in redistrcting he may be the best guy to do it,” said the first source. “He’d be ticked enough, angry enough, he could easily unite the progressive wing of the party. He’s got the money. Obviously, he has no strong friends among the bosses. That could be a problem. The question goes to whether he would want to be governor. I’ve always heard his primary interest is senator.”
MMM hereby throws its unequivocal support behind Pallone for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2013. We’d love to see him get “banged up” in redistricting….like putting Long Branch into Chris Smith’s district…setting up a race between the two most senior members of the New Jersey congressional delegation that Smith would win easily, assuming Pallone chose to compete. Given the choice of running against Smith for congress or retiring and launching a gubernatorial bid, we think Pallone would challenge Christie. After losing his first statewide race against Christie, Pallone could launch his 2014 U.S. Senate campaign, assuming Frank Lautenberg retires again.
Holt for Governor? We hope those guys had a designated driver.
“Yes, I admit he’s not the world’s greatest speaker, but he’s gotten better,” said the second source. “Plus, he’s a good campaigner. Rolls up his sleeves. He gets it. He realized he had a legitimate challenge from Scott Sipprelle (last year), and he rose to the occasion.”
Middletown- Trenton Democrats’ empty budgetary promises and political rhetoric just more of the same.Senator Joe Kyrillos released the following statement demanding that Trenton Democrats take a moment to understand that their election year games have real consequences.
“Trenton Democrats are using an election year to play on the emotions and real issues of our neediest citizens. By passing a budget filled with empty promises – but no funding – Trenton Democrats have crossed the line into the dangerous and disingenuous. Not only are they playing election year politics, they are doing so in a manner that misleads the public about specific programs, as well as the state’s finances. Democrats overstate the surplus while ignoring that education funding has gone up $850 million over last year, funding for the AIDS Drug Distribution Program has been protected at the same level as last year, and hospital funding has gone up by $20 million.
“If these Democrats have any sense of decency they will be honest with the people they claim they want to help, instead of continuing to put forward myths, lies and distortions about what we can really afford.”
TRENTON – The political theater being carried out by Trenton Democrats over their unconstitutional budget is disingenuous and must end.Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon released the following statement demanding Trenton Democrats start being honest about their budget and to stop misleading New Jerseyans:
“Trenton Democrats’ sickening display of political posturing has to immediately end. Democrats know that their budget did not provide funding for their election year spending spree yet they continue to play on the emotions of our residents.
“New Jersey women still have access to comprehensive health care services in every county and under Governor Christie support for Family Health Services has increased by more than $30 million. By using blatant distortions and lies about program funding, they are misleading the public about what services will and will not be available to them. This is a dangerous new low. This shocking display proves that the current Democratic leadership lacks the soul necessary to govern.”
Congressman Frank Pallone raised $162,678 in campaign cash during the first quarter of the 2011-2012 election cycle. He spent $144,185 on entertainment, travel, salaries, an auto lease and contributions. Pallone has $3,148,393 in cash. His March 31 FEC report can be viewed here.
Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, who has been positioning himself to be Pallone’s Democratic successor in Congress since 2005, raised $1500 in the first quarter, spent $155, and has $45,894 on hand.
The New Jersey State Democratic Party will be celebrating their victory in the redistricting battle on Wednesday evening at the Heldrich in New Brunswick, the same hotel where the Redistricting Commission was holed up for the last week of negotiations with “11th member,” Dr. Alan Rosenthal of Rutgers.
State Democratic Chairman John Wisniewski sent the following message to the Democratic faithful this morning:
By now you’ve probably heard the news. The tiebreaking 11th member has chosen the Democratic Legislative map proposal that will be in place for the next 10 years. This is a monumental victory for our Party and it’s time to celebrate with Democrats from across New Jersey at the 2011 Jefferson Jackson Dinner this Wednesday night, April 6th at the Heldrich in New Brunswick.
There’s still time to reserve your seat NOW by going online to deleted by MMM. If Wisniewski wants the contact info printed here he can buy an ad.
This will be a great night to energize our party and I hope you will be there with our guest speaker Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland, who has been a strong voice for Democratic values across the nation as the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.
Video of O’Malley deleted contact artvg at aol.com for ad sales.
The victory with the adoption of our Democratic map at yesterday’s meeting of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission in Trenton ensures progressive, forward-looking and inclusive state government for the next decade. The Democratic momentum is building and we’re well on our way down the path to victory in November.
I hope to see you as we celebrate this Wednesday Night.
