Jeffery Goldberg’s account in The Atlantic of the Springsteen concert he attended with Governor Chris Christie and his entourage at The Rock is a must read for friends and foe of Christie. Mitt Romney’s vetters and the DGA will be reading it. You might as well.
Christie is having a Town Hall meeting in Brick on Tuesday the 26th, four days before the State’s budget is due or the government shuts down, except for the State Police and the Casino Control Commission.
Bruce is invited but probably won’t show. You are invited too!
The following is a statement from Robert Gordon, Co-founder of the Bayshore Tea Party Group, which includes the speech he would have delivered to the Monmouth GOP Convention last week had him nomination been accepted.
Given the points Gordon makes, MMM asked him why he is not challenging the Chairman’s election. He said the had thought about it but concluded that such action would not be productive.
On Tuesday evening, June 12, 2012, we attempted to get my name entered into nomination for chairman of the Monmouth County Republican committee. That attempt failed for a variety of reasons. First, I was told by Joe Oxley, the current chairman, that we were discourteous in not notifying him of our intention at least two weeks in advance. What transpired after our exchange with Mr. Oxley, was unfortunate, but predictable because of the absence of bylaws or the adherence to Robert’s Rules of Order. I did offer my apology to Mr. Oxley, however I was dismayed by Mr Oxley’s adamant aversion of rules and the resulting response from the floor when my nomination was denied without explanation. It is unfortunate that a simple matter of producing County committee bylaws was not undertaken at a much earlier time, thereby short-circuiting any issues of this type. It was not our intention to embarrass Mr. Oxley or anyone else in this organization.
My considering running for this office came about as a result of several issues. First was the failure to produce bylaws in compliance with Title 19. Our first priority should be to comply with this requirement. Second was the nature of the campaign for chairman being contested by Christine Hanlon and John Bennett. For two weeks my mail box was filled with what in my opinion was negative campaign material. I felt that I should be receiving materials that clearly define what each of these candidates intended to do in strengthening the Republican Party, and this particular County committee. This clearly was not the case. I felt the need for an expanded responsibility for each of the members of this committee in communicating with the public in their respective districts. We represent those people and that representation requires us to convey information from the County committee to the public, and convey the public’s concerns to that same committee. I believe that we should expand this responsibility, and ask our committee members to become more active in the processes of local and state government. We must be the conduit that enhances the flow of information to our constituents and ask them to contact their local and state representatives on all of the issues that will have a bearing on the quality of life in their neighborhoods. We must be diligent in monitoring the activities of our local and state representatives. We must be confident that they are acting in a manner that is consistent with the qualities of good government and conforming to the principles which got them elected. We should not discourage the participation in our local committees as has been the case in this last election.
I am a conservative. I believe in smaller government, fiscal responsibility and adherence to the Constitution of the United States and the state of New Jersey. My speech, a copy of which follows, outlines my sincere wish for unity and a return to the conservative principles of Ronald Reagan. I have stated some items of concern where Republican representatives have not been consistent in sticking with conservative principles. This should concern us all.
John Bennett was elected chairman in a very closely contested election. I congratulate him on his victory. We wish to offer whatever help is necessary to ensure the restoration of unity in this party and the return to conservative principles, so necessary to restoring the quality of life that we have come to expect in New Jersey.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE NOMINATION SPEECH THAT I HAD PREPARED FOR THE EVENING OF JUNE 12TH, 2012:
Responding to the New York Times series on on the lax conditions at New Jersey’s halfway houses, Governor Chris Christie has ordered Department of Corrections Commissioner Gary Lanigan to step up inspections of the facilities and report violations and recommendations for changes to the Governor’s office.
“While many of the disturbing accounts reported in today’s New York Times documenting lax oversight and accountability in some of New Jersey’s halfway houses took place prior to this administration, we have an obligation to ensure the community placements program is effectively and safely operating today. This administration takes its responsibility to properly administer this program very seriously which is why we have increased monitoring of halfway houses with enhanced site visits, fines for noncompliance and a new inspection monitoring system that has led to a dramatic decrease in the number of walkaways under this administration.
“New Jersey has been on the cutting edge of pursuing policies that both ensure our most violent offenders stay off the streets, such as closing the early release loophole, and support a more rehabilitative approach focused on nonviolent offenders. We need to constantly ensure these policies are being responsibly and safely implemented which is why I am calling on the Department of Corrections Commissioner Gary Lanigan to immediately step up inspections of all halfway houses and report any violations and recommendations for changes to the deputy chief of staff for policy.”
Parts one and two of the NYTimes series can be found here and here.
In Chris Christie:The Inside Story of His Rise to Power, authors Bob Ingle and Michael Symons describe U.S. Attorney Christie’s reluctance to use Solomon Dwek as informant during the Operation Bid Rig investigation in 2006. “Do I really want to get in bed with this guy?” Christie is described as asking his deputies who were pushing for approval to make Dwek an informant.
Ironically given how Democrats and defendants have argued that the July 2009 arrests based on Dwek’s sting were politically motivated to help Christie, the Deputy U.S. Attorneys advocating the sting argued to Christie that he would have been acting politically if he did not approve Dwek’s cooperation.
If this Star Ledger article by Matt Friedman is an indication of charades to come this summer, the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee will make Joe Oxley’s confirmation hearing for his Superior Court Judgeship nomination a payback for the unceremonious end to former House Speaker, Senator and Commissioner of Community Affairs Joe Doria’s career when he his home was raided during the July 2009 federal operation.
Doria has been cleared of any wrongdoing. He has a letter from the U.S. Attorney, just like John Bennett does, but his career in public service is over. Maybe Doria can become Chairman of the Hudson County Democrats some day.
U.S. Senate nominee Joe Kryillos is in the Democrats sites as well. Dwek is the ammunition.
Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski Tuesday issued a list of questions for Kyrillos, including how often he met with Dwek, what was discussed, who else was in attendance and whether he was ever contacted by law enforcement about it. “If you deny this and suggest Dwek is lying, does that raise the possibility with you that Dwek’s testimony that convicted others should be questioned?” Wisniewski wrote.
Kyrillos campaign spokesman Chapin Fay did not directly respond to Wisniewski, instead repeating that Kyrillos did nothing to help Dwek.
During the trial of Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez it was revealed that among the diobalical schemes Dwek deployed in the 14 years leading to his 2006 arrest was a life insurance scam. Dwek paid the life insurance premiums of people close to death who could not afford to keep their policies. Upon the death of the insured, Dwek would give the deceased’s family 10% of the policy proceeds and pocket the rest.
Dwek’s father tried to get Soloman a pardon from President George W. Bush. Maybe President Obama will pardon Dwek if he helps knock Chris Christie down a notch and helps keep Bob Menendez in the Senate.
Who is this woman who, only six years ago was not involved in politics and now has State Legislators and county elected officials feverishly working the phones to make sure she is elected Monmouth County GOP Chair on Tuesday evening at Colts Neck High School?
Late last week as I was finishing up my preparation for this series, I called two of the elected officials who had endorsed John Bennett for Chair. I trust these people’s judgment and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something.
“Tell me why John Bennett will be a better Chair than Christine Hanlon,” I asked both Republicans. Neither had an answer. Both said they liked Christine and that she would be a good Chairwoman. They both spoke of their friendship with Bennett and the support he gave them early in their careers as the reason for endorsements. Neither disagreed with my concerns about Bennett’s baggage.
One of them called me back over the weekend and asked, “Why do you think Christine will be a better Chair than John?” “Bennett is too much of a risk. Fair or not, he will become a campaign issue and a distraction. No one works harder than Christine and she’s motivated by something other than personal gain,” was my reply. “How can you say that about someone who has only been involved for a few years?” the person quickly asked. “Because I’ve taken the time to get to know her, just like I took the time to get to know you when you were running.” “Oh, I was just asking.” “That’s OK, I was just answering.”
Amazon Making Plans to Open Two New Jersey Facilities, Expected to Create Thousands of Jobs, Including 1,500 Permanent Jobs
Trenton, NJ – Joined by company representatives, Governor Chris Christie announced today the beginning of a long-term partnership with global e-commerce leader Amazon.com starting with the company’s plans to begin construction on two state-of-the-art fulfillment distribution center facilities in the state in 2013. Today’s announcement establishes a future partnership committed to growing New Jersey’s economy and creating quality jobs. These distribution facilities are expected to result in at least $130 million in capital investment, along with the expected creation of several thousand quality jobs for our families, including plans for over 1,500 full-time jobs, as well as thousands of full-time temporary, seasonal and construction jobs. The investment commitment is contingent on the receipt of economic development incentives that make such investment economically viable for both the State of New Jersey and the company.
“In yet another positive sign in our state’s economic and job growth, I’m pleased Amazon is committed to helping New Jersey grow and create quality jobs,” said Governor Christie. “After months of hard work and collaboration, Amazon has joined the long list of companies that recognize New Jersey’s economic and business climate is improving. We’ve created an atmosphere of job creation, growth and investment, which is why we have taken another important step toward placing quality, good-paying job opportunities within reach of our families.”
Separately, Governor Christie also announced today that, working together, the Administration and Amazon have reached an agreement that provides certainty with regard to Amazon’s obligation to collect sales tax on purchases by New Jersey consumers. This agreement culminated after months of hard work and cooperation among Amazon staff, the Governor’s Office, the Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation, and legislative staff.
According to the agreement between the New Jersey Division of Taxation and Amazon, the company will voluntarily begin to collect and remit New Jersey sales tax by July 1, 2013, or as of the effective date of federal legislation concerning state sales tax collection from out-of-state retailers, whichever is earlier. This means New Jerseyans will no longer have the required responsibility of tracking and reporting use tax owed on their online purchases from Amazon, and the State will receive the sales tax it is due to fund programs and services for its residents.
The Christie Administration continues to take action on an aggressive, pro-growth agenda to prioritize job creation and economic growth for New Jersey families. Governor Christie secured passage of $2.35 billion in targeted, job-creating business tax cuts beginning in the current budget and has worked to secure New Jersey as the home for business investment and growth from companies of all sizes, including household names like Panasonic, Honeywell, BASF, Church and Dwight, Coca Cola and Bayer.
Since taking office, New Jersey has seen the creation of over 71,000 private sector jobs and experienced the best year of private sector job growth of the last decade in 2011.
Someone should tell Barnes, and Politickernj’s Darryl Isherwood, that Democratic NY Governor Andrew Cuomo is employing the exact same fund raising technique to promote his agenda in New York that Christie is using in New Jersey.
All of this ranting about PACs and 501(c)4’s circumventing the pay to pay laws is silly. The campaign finance system is working exactly the way it was designed to work. It decreases transparency and gives politicians something to shout at each other about while the public tunes out to pay attention to something more entertaining. That’s what the system was designed to do!
Note to Isherwood: The New York Times broke the story about Cuomo’s use of a 501(c)4.
