politics 
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Sun Feb 14, 2010 at 12:53:20 PM EST
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It seems to me that if most of our schools have eliminated civics classes, the political party that works to educate its members to the structure, process and history can build in an advantage. Yo, Democrats? - - promoted by Rosi
As a person who teaches political science, I understand that I probably have an overblown sense of importance about my field of expertise. After all, if I won the lottery, I'd just keep throwing money into various studies and dream programs of study until I was broke again. But I want to make a case here for the very real need for a basic familiarity with the reality of our political system, its design, and the foundation of it.
The immediate impetus for this came from this quote from a local tea partier: "A progressive believes government knows what's best for people. Our government believes in government from top down. Conservatives, our founders, believed in government from people up. It's something we slowly have to go back to. This is not going to happen overnight. We have to awaken to the fact that both parties have done us wrong. Bush took us there on a steam train. Obama's taking us there on a rocket ship."
I emphasized that third sentence because it reveals a whole world of ignorance about everything I want to talk about. First, our country was founded by wild-eyed radicals, not conservatives. Second, they were not a uniform group of thinkers (some delegates even boycotted the Constitutional Convention). Third, while they trusted the common man to run his own affairs, they did not trust the common man to run the government. They were, first and foremost, elitists, confident in their ability to reshape the world to their will.
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Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 09:27:39 PM EST
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I had the honor, privilege and good fortune of seeing then-Senator Obama speak in Hoboken, on November 2, 2006, at a campaign event for Senator Menendez. Afterwards I called my father and said "I think I just saw the next President of the United States." Two years later, November, 4, 2008, he and the American voters proved me right; I attended a victory party for President Obama, Senator Lautenberg, for "Change we can believe in," for the American people, and for, I think, the world.
I felt like that watching the State of the Union; less euphoric, more focused and disciplined.
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Tue Sep 29, 2009 at 10:30:00 AM EDT
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Politico had a story yesterday talking about how the NRSC will be trying to score political points against Democats up for re-election during the healthare debate:The NRSC already has its eyes on Democrats up in 2012 - and plans to bombard Democrats who sit on the Finance Committee with attacks on their votes on controversial amendments during the Committee deliberations beginning Tuesday. Its top 2012 targets on the Committee: Nelson and Conrad, as well as Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. That news didn't sit well with Senator Menendez:Menendez accused the Republicans of playing politics, and he's surely one who would know, given that he chairs the NRSC's counterpart, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
"...Senate Republicans have absolutely zero interest in reforming health care," Menendez said through the DSCC. "If Republicans think the health care crisis is just a game or political opportunity, they clearly have not learned the lessons of the past two elections." And for course the NRSC answered with a response worthy of Pee Wee Herman saying I know you are, but what am I:NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh responds: "When you consider that the DSCC has issued literally dozens of press releases and fundraising appeals attacking Republicans on health care in recent weeks, these remarks are ironic and unfortunate to say the least."
Didn't this whole story start with the fact that the Republicans were going to try to play politics with the process of legislating and governing in committee? But of course to the NRSC it's only the Democrats playing politics. For New Jersey, whether it's on the politics of the DSCC or the policy of the Finance Committee, Senator Menendez finds himself in the middle of everything.
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Mon Sep 28, 2009 at 10:30:00 AM EDT
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Politico had a story yesterday talking about how the NRSC will be trying to score political points against Democats up for re-election during the healthare debate:The NRSC already has its eyes on Democrats up in 2012 - and plans to bombard Democrats who sit on the Finance Committee with attacks on their votes on controversial amendments during the Committee deliberations beginning Tuesday. Its top 2012 targets on the Committee: Nelson and Conrad, as well as Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. That news didn't sit well with Senator Menendez:Menendez accused the Republicans of playing politics, and he's surely one who would know, given that he chairs the NRSC's counterpart, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
"...Senate Republicans have absolutely zero interest in reforming health care," Menendez said through the DSCC. "If Republicans think the health care crisis is just a game or political opportunity, they clearly have not learned the lessons of the past two elections." And for course the NRSC answered with a response worthy of Pee Wee Herman saying I know you are, but what am I:NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh responds: "When you consider that the DSCC has issued literally dozens of press releases and fundraising appeals attacking Republicans on health care in recent weeks, these remarks are ironic and unfortunate to say the least."
Didn't this whole story start with the fact that the Republicans were going to try to play politics with the process of legislating and governing in committee? But of course to the NRSC it's only the Democrats playing politics. For New Jersey, whether it's on the politics of the DSCC or the policy of the Finance Committee, Senator Menendez finds himself in the middle of everything.
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Fri Jul 24, 2009 at 07:13:15 PM EDT
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(Crossposted from http://www.dailykos.com/story/... . Please recommend there if you have an account. Thanks!)
Hot off the wire, and hot on the heels of the mass arrest of several New Jersey politicians (as well as several rabbis) on corruption charges, comes the news (now confirmed) that Governor Jon Corzine has selected State Senator Loretta Weinberg as his running mate for the 2009 gubernatorial race.
If anything good came out of the scandal that has rocked the Hudson County Democratic Party (although that was not the only area of New Jersey where politicians were arrested, it was the epicenter of events), it's that Governor Corzine turned to Senator Weinberg today after previously considering several other possibilities (including State Senator Barbara Buono and "The Apprentice" winner/philanthropist Randall Pinkett).
Loretta Weinberg is the epitome of a progressive reformer. She's also one tough grandmother who's not going to let Chris Christie run away with this election.
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Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 07:32:15 AM EDT
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Is this all New Jersey cares about? I know times are beyond tite, but it is all you here about as an issue in campaigns the budget this or that. What about other issues? Do children in NJ mean nothing? I don't know now more than ever I feel as though trying for reform is a lost cause. Because now do people not only believe DYFS is a broken monster we could never fix, but now it would cost too much to even look at. The other day Nj 101.5 was interviewing Senators and congress men asking for our questions. The problem was the only ones they would allow were those on the budget. When I raised the question of DYFS reform the screener said well, it would cost too much anyway. So we just go on letting kids lives get flushed away because we are too concerned about money?
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Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 09:36:50 AM EDT
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The conventional wisdom is that the recently announced federal probe into the dealings of former Corzine friend, Carla Katz, with the local CWA which she had led, will score United States Attorney Chris Christie political points with Republicans, Independents, and some anti-Corzine Democrats. Governor Corzine has been battling to keep emails between Katz and himself from becoming public and Katz is already under investigation by the national CWA for alleged improper conduct. Christie's federal investigation promises more negative Katz headlines, more unfavorable publicity for the Governor, and positive publicity for Mr. Christie. However, Mr. Christie's possible gubernatorial ambitions may actually be undermined by this probe.
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Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 12:05:54 AM EST
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I am writing this comment to correct some late-breaking misinformation about Barack Obama's women's rights record.
Obama is 100% pro-choice. As the former President of NARAL, Karen Mulhauser has recently written, he "always has been and always will be. That's why he made sure that FDA-approved contraceptives were covered by insurance plans for women in Illinois as a State Senator. That's why Obama spoke out against South Dakota's attempt to outlaw all abortions. And that's why Obama has worked so hard to make sure that low-income and college women can access affordable birth [control]. (You can find Mulhauser's complete statement on Huffington Post, and you can find detailed information about Obama's record at "barackobama.com.")
Nevertheless, emails and rumors now circulate in New Jersey which argue, falsely, that Obama is "weak" on choice and other women's rights issues. One of the emails, sent by New York NOW, was posted on February 1 on Blue Jersey by Xpatriated Texan as a comment under "Me or Your Lying Eyes". XT refuted the email with a long list of facts about Obama's consistent support for choice, but facts do not seem to matter to folks who want to distort Obama's record.
In Iowa and again in New Hampshire, untruths were told about Obama's strong pro-choice record. One Hillary Clinton supporter (Lorna Brett Howard) actually switched to Barack because she was familiar with work for women's rights in Illinois and was shocked that so many falsehoods were being circulated about his record. See youtube.com/watch?v=OVuMYKs8iJs (showing statement by Lorna B. Howard).
Some readers may be asking: So, if Obama is so strong on choice, how could he have been attacked on this issue? The answer is simple. Obama did something that is complicated to explain, and anything that is complicated to explain is vulnerable to attack in the context of sound bite politics.
When Obama served as a state Senator, he voted "present", instead of "no" on a few anti-abortion bills. He did this at the request of Planned Parenthood which had developed a strategy of opposing such bills with "present" votes, rather than "no" votes, so that moderate senators in rural areas would be less vulnerable to attack for their votes at election time. "Present" votes could prevent the the passage of a law that required a certain percentage of affirmative "yes" votes. On politically volatile issues, however, these votes were harder to use than "no" votes as attack points at election time.
Obama, by the way, did not need to worry about voting "no" on anti-choice legislation: He was not representing a district in Chicago that made him vulnerable on this issue. In short, his "present" votes did not reflect political timidity or raw self-protection. Rather, Planned Parenthood wanted him to vote "present" to provide political cover and make it easier for more moderate, downstate, rural Senators to vote the same way. It is not much of an exaggeration to say that Obama's "present" votes were a form of political altruism. . .
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Sun Dec 30, 2007 at 12:28:50 PM EST
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The following is an excerpt from the Auditor from star Ledger:
"Meeting across the Pond When he's not out locking up crooked pols or (not so quietly) running for governor, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie is often found on his way to or from a Bruce Springsteen concert. And even though The Boss was thou sands of miles and an ocean away last week, that didn't deter the federal lawman.
The Auditor caught up with Christie in London a couple days ago, after the U.S. attorney and his family took in not one but two shows on the European leg of Springsteen's tour. Christie, his wife, Mary Pat, and their four children caught The Boss first in Paris and then in London, between taking in sights such as the Louvre.
"Bruce, in Paris, was amazing," said Christie, who's seen Springsteen in concert nearly 100 times. "The audience was pretty wild."
Springsteen said he scored the tickets courtesy of Springsteen drummer Max Weinberg, whose late father was an assistant U.S. attorney before Christie took over the office in 2002. Weinberg and Christie have become friends in recent years and, in light of the tour schedule, Christie said he was able to "plan the vacation in concert with the concerts."
Understanding how much trouble could be caused by junkets and those who pay for them, Christie had a message for The Auditor: "Your readers should not be concerned about who paid for the concerts or my vacation." So how was this missed, who did pay for your trips Mr. Christie?
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Thu Oct 25, 2007 at 12:23:42 AM EDT
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As Governor Corzine's tenure continues, it is becoming more and more apparent that he is realizing his vision of a fiscally responsible and ethical government will not come to fruition during either his current term or a second term, should he seek one. He took office thinking that his vast bank account would enable him to be independent and allow him to lead without owing anyone anything. It appears that he has come to realize that despite his bank account, the recalcitrant politicians in Trenton are reluctant to advance any reform that will cut them off from the public trough. Therefore, Governor Corzine's reform agenda depends on Assemblymen and State Senators. As a result, his thoughtful ideas stand little chance of passage. For the greater good, Governor Corzine could bring about the kind of change he alleges he would like to see happen. However, he would have to forgo a second term, be willing to make lifelong enemies, and conceivably use some of his own assets. In short, the Governor would have to exhibit what many consider to be selfless genuine leadership. To that end, the following are some suggestions:
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Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 11:27:27 PM EDT
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In the wake of several high-profile corruption stings in the State of New Jersey, it is an opportune time to seriously improve the condition of Garden State politics. The following roadmap for reform is meant to provide some thoughtful ideas to help generate a public and constructive dialogue about these important issues in order to enable both our elected leaders and our citizens to begin to develop a consensus for reforming New Jersey politics.
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 at 02:41:58 PM EDT
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Have you heard the latest installment of Blue Jersey BlogTalkRadio? Of course we air live every Saturday morning, but each episode is available for download. I must confess the response to our radio show have been uneven thus far.
For example: You guys are morons. If you feel you must continue this little radio show thing you really should practice a lot more. Assholes! Or
I laughed so hard it was like a 30 minute ab workout. You guys are HI-larious! So take a listen and judge for yourself.These podcasts and more are just waiting to be downloaded to your iPod. What? You didn't know you could do that? Well - you can! Just subscribe here:
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Wed May 23, 2007 at 11:20:58 PM EDT
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Cross-Posted from ShapTalk.com: Politics has always had its share of negativity and personal invective. In the election of 1884, Republicans backing James Blaine for President circulated the phrase "Ma, ma, where's my pa?” referring to an affair Grover Cleveland, the Democratic nominee, had engaged in prior to entering politics. Unfortunately, such a tactic is tame by today’s standards. In Hudson County, Democrat Sal Vega, who is running for State Senate against Brian Stack, accuses Stack and his allies of harassing and “paying off” the opposition and “abusing” City employees. Also in Hudson County, Assemblyman Manzo and Sandra Bolden Cunningham have unleashed assaults against each other for the right to claim the contested Senate seat there. On the Republican side of the aisle, Larry Casha and Jay Webber are engaging in a fiercely negative campaign for the District 26 Senate seat, with Webber recently stating that Casha “is proud of his tax and spend record.”
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Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 10:55:39 PM EDT
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Cross-Posted from ShapTalk.com:
Fifty years ago, women would typically vote for the candidates their husbands voted for or would not vote at all. Times have thankfully changed and women now have a significant role in campaigns and elections. Whether it be the soccer moms of the 1990's or the security moms post-9/11, the role of women in politics has taken on greater importance, especially in the last decade. As a significant voting block, women have become critical to the election hopes of any politician. However, the number of women serving in elected office continues to be dwarfed by the number of men who serve. In New Jersey, on the Republican side of the aisle, something is being done to address this problem: the Christine Todd Whitman Excellence in Public Service Series. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party currently has no comparable program.
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 01:48:03 AM EST
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This first clip (there's one more after this) has three speakers. The second is Paul LaClaire speaking on behalf of his son Matthew LaClaire. The other two speakers obviously were defenders of the Kearny "teacher" in question, David Paszkiewicz. Here's a link to a recent diary that contains links to various sources for the audio files at the core of this case. http://www.bluejerse...
It's in a quicktime format and runs around 15 minutes. If it loads slow for you and stops/sputters; just pause it and leave that window alone for a spell. Then come back after it's loaded and it should play smoothly.
I'm trying to load a second, longer excerpt. If you appreciate this one; the second will be better.
Unfortunately my battery crapped out so the end of the event was not recorded by me. However, I dare say, there'll be more than enough to get the flavor of what our Constitution is up against.
Part 2 is Below The Fold....
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Wed Jan 31, 2007 at 09:05:03 PM EST
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Cross-posted from Channel Surfing:
 Molly Ivins was a rarity among political columnists -- a real humanist who saw through the purely partisan manner in which most of the political world worked, a writer of uncommon clarity and a razor-sharp wit.
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Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 11:03:48 AM EST
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( - promoted by jmelli)
Cross-Posted from ShapTalk.com:
New Jersey has a vast array of campaign finance laws. The compliance book provided to candidates for public office and others is complicated and filled with nomenclature that few outside the Legislature, the Republican and Democratic Parties, and some election lawyers understand. Despite all the laws on the books including "Pay to Play" reform on the State level and in many municipalities, influence peddling achieved through campaign contributions continues largely unabated. Why? Because of the skirting of campaign finance laws through a process known as "wheeling."
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Sat Jan 06, 2007 at 06:22:55 PM EST
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Cross-posted from ShapTalk.com:
Public confidence in our elected officials continues to crater and apathy has become a fact of life in New Jersey politics. Corruption by many of our representatives is no longer a question of "if" but "when." Negative political campaigns are now the norm, further contributing to the cesspool that is New Jersey politics. While we can be all "doom and gloom" and spend our time complaining, the truth is that we can do something to rectify the situation. There is a remedy to our problems with politics in New Jersey: sunshine. That's right, some good old all-natural sunshine. Here are a few simple ideas that we, as citizens, can facilitate to create more open, transparent and accountable government.
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Wed Dec 20, 2006 at 01:48:11 PM EST
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I almost never listen to New Jersey 101.5, but when a friend called and told me that Dennis Malloy of "Dennis and Judy" was discussing Corzine's signing of the transgender civil rights bill into law yesterday, I couldn't resist tuning in.
After about five minutes of hearing this right-wing boob expound on how "Comrade Corzine" was preventing business owners from freely discriminating against anyone they don't like, being the loudmouth transgender radio host I am, I just couldn't stand it anymore and picked up the phone...
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Sun Oct 15, 2006 at 06:21:48 PM EDT
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Following is one of the five documents that are the Foundation of North Jersey Impeach Group
To read the formatted text suitable for printing, go to:
NJ Resolution to Impeach
The language of the resolution is taken from both the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York and the After Downing Street Organization. It's tailored for our legislature in New Jersey, but the substance of the text can be used in any state with the "mechanical particulars" adapted to the requirements of each state's process.
North Jersey Impeach Group
117 Chestnut Drive • Wayne • NJ 07470•5639
973 • 694 • 5035
impeachthem@gmail.com
A Resolution to Impeach President George W. Bush
and Vice President Richard B. Cheney
WHEREAS, George W. Bush subverted the Constitution, its guarantee of a republican form of government, and the constitutional separation of powers by undermining the rightful authority of Congress to declare war, oversee foreign affairs, and make appropriations. He did so by justifying the war with false and misleading statements and deceived the people of the United States as well as Congress. He denied the electorate the right to make an informed choice and thereby undermined democracy; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney conspired with others to defraud the United States of America by intentionally misleading Congress and the public regarding the threat from Iraq in order to justify a war in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 371; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush, abused his power by failing to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by directing or authorizing the National Security Agency and various other agencies within the intelligence community to conduct electronic surveillance outside of the statutes Congress prescribed as the exclusive means for such surveillance, and to use such information for purposes unknown but unrelated to any lawful function of his office; he also concealed the existence of this unlawful program of electronic surveillance from Congress, the press and the public; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush has admitted to ordering the National Security Agency to conduct electronic surveillance of American civilians without seeking warrants from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, duly constituted by Congress in 1978, in violation of Title 50 United States Code, Section 1805; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush, abused his power by violating the constitutional and international rights of citizens and non-citizens by arbitrarily detaining them indefinitely inside and outside of the United States, without due process, without charges and with limited – if any – access to council or courts. He failed to faithfully execute the laws of the United States by allowing his administration to condone torture, failing to investigate and prosecute high-level officials responsible for torture, and officially refusing to accept the binding nature of a statutory ban on cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney conspired to commit the torture of prisoners in violation of the “Federal Torture Act” Title 18 United States Code, Section 113C, the UN Torture Convention and the Geneva Convention, which under Article VI of the Constitution are part of the “supreme Law of the Land;” and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney acted to strip American citizens of their constitutional rights by ordering indefinite detention without access to legal counsel, without charge and without the opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention, based solely on the discretionary designation by the President of a U.S. citizen as an “enemy combatant,” all in subversion of law; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush, in his conduct of the Office of the President of the United States, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, arrogated excessive power to the executive branch in violation of basic constitutional principles of the separation of powers; and
WHEREAS, In all of this George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney acted in a manner contrary to their trust as President and Vice President, subversive of constitutional government to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of New Jersey and of the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Petitions from the country at large may be presented by the Speaker of the House according to Clause 3 of House Rule XII; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson’s Manual Section LIII, 603, states that impeachment may be set in motion by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State;
Be it resolved that George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney, by such conduct, warrant impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States;
Be it resolved further, by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, That our Senators and Representatives in the United States Congress be, and they are hereby, directed to cause to be instituted in the Congress of the United States proper proceedings for the investigation of the activities of the George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney, to the end that they may be impeached and removed from such office;
Be it resolved further, That the Clerk of State of the State of New Jersey be, and is hereby, instructed to certify to each Senator and Representative in the Congress of the United States, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, under the great seal of the State of New Jersey, a copy of this resolution and its adoption by the legislature of the State of New Jersey. The copies shall be marked with the word “Petition” at the top of the document and contain the original authorizing signature of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the Assembly of New Jersey.
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