Blue Jersey - Recent Diaries

Monday Lobby Day for Marriage Equality

Jay Lassiter — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:23:14 GMT

There's been a lot of buzz about the progressive coalition headed to Trenton Monday to lobby towards Marriage Equality. (details below, hat tip Alison Pelzman)

I'll be there. Lots of my friends and allies will be there too. Will you? Consider this a pre-lobby day open thread.

Rally with the Garden State Equality/BlueJerseyACLU-NJ/DFA in Trenton Monday, November 23.
We're meeting at:
Garden State Equality's New Jersey Office
110 W. State Street, Trenton
Monday, November 23, 2009
8:30 a.m.
If there's a day to take off work for a cause, it's Monday. Your day off could mean a lifetime of equality for families in New Jersey.
If you live in another state, just promise to help us raise hell, deal? If we win, we'll celebrate at the Atlantic City boardwalk. If we lose, we'll go to the casinos and take bets on what we'll see first: civil rights for New Jersey's gay families or a lesbian Miss America.

Christie Governing: "By Invitation Only"

Winston Smith — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

[Note: cross post - for version with links, go to:
http://wolfenotes.com/2009/11/...

We have been writing in depth about the Christie transition process, particularly the threats to the environment posed by a planned moratorium on regulations. (see this and this and this)

But a well crafted quote can often better portray what's going on than thousands of words of analysis - especially when it is from the horse's mouth.

In this case, Lieutenant Governor elect Guadagno managed to let the cat right out of the bag.

In one quote, she revealed both how Christie thinks about governing, and exposed WHO that governing will serve:

Guadagno said Christie will evaluate all of New Jersey's regulations to see how to make things easier for businesses that want to invest in the state. He's looking at what he can freeze by executive order when he takes office, Guadagno said.
...
There will be 15 meetings between now and Christmas with groups throughout the state, but most of the meetings are by invitation-only, Guadagno said.

"It's just to get an idea of where we're going," she said.

Guadagno is in charge of what will be known as the Red Tape Review group - or commission. They're still working out which word to use, because one carries certain legal connotations, Guadagno said.

[complete Star Ledger story here:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.s...

So let's recap what Guadagno just said:

1. The prime objective is to make things easier (code for more profitable) for business;
2. The process is closed to the public and will be driven by business interests;
3. The Christie team has no clue "where they are going" and will rely on business interests to set priorities and the direction of policy;
4. Christie will use slogans like "red tape" and "bureaucracy" to mask his agenda and smear government and public employees.
5. The Christie team is so inexperienced with actual governing that they don't even know the vocabulary and can't even name the process they are establishing.

Only the beginning.

WEDDING CRASHERS

ckatz — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:55:58 GMT

So, is it really going to be Democrats who walk away from the altar? Really?

After the long and romantic courtship of the state's gay and lesbian electorate. After the invites to hundreds of long-overdue gay weddings are in the mail? After all the promises to say, "I do" when the vote got posted. As the sun begins to set on the Corzine administration with pen in hand and the lame duck is roasting to a warm finale?

After all that, how can you just walk away? How?

Think of the economy! Think of all that festive glass smashing and chair-carrying? Think of all those cash register and church bells a-ringing and soap bubbles popping? Think of all that glitz and glamour, the tears and taffeta, the champagne and cannolis. Think of all those new cute cake toppers! New Jersey is billions of dollars in the red and marriage equality can only help our bottom line as gay couples flood into the state with their wallets and pocketbooks jingling. One independent report puts that number at $248 million a year without a single penny of cost to taxpayers. Do not let those treasures be abandoned like so much rumpled wedding garb on the honeymoon night.

Think about love! People who love each other want to be married. Let them. They have been fully warned. And, no, civil unions do not work here, so move on. Last year, the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission found that civil unions are not only not equal to marriage but that the rights are not even close to equal. Enough said.

Think about the people! The people of New Jersey are behind the freedom to marry. Poll after poll says so. The people that aren't excited about it will find something new to complain about by next election cycle for sure. An eight-year debate and a substandard civil union solution is not the end of this conversation. It's New Jersey! We live and let live. The time is now for New Jersey to live and let love.

Think about yourself! As British Prime Minister William Gladstone said, " Justice delayed is justice denied. " Five states already have laws that allow marriage equality. Seriously, Iowa allows the freedom to marry. Iowa! New Jersey has led the way on civil rights issues in the past. We are a progressive state with an electorate that leans left on social issues. If Democrats take a walk on New Jersey's LGBT community then the community will take a walk on Democrats. And a good part of the progressive base will walk away, too.

Think about your children and grandchildren! Marriage equality is a the future and our kids already know it. If a ten-year old boy can take a stand and refuse to say the pledge of allegiance until there is "liberty and justice for all", including the LGBT community, then our legislators can do it too. Will you tell your kids and grandkids that you stood up for civil and human rights and respecting all families? Or will you tell them that you sat on the fence and looked the other way while discrimination continued?

Do the right thing for the state's gay and lesbian community and for all of us. Let them eat cake! Wedding cake that is. It's time. Actually, it is past time. Bring marriage equality up for a vote. Now. And, just say "I do."
----------------------------------
To contact your legislator and urge them to post and pass marriage equality!

Man Up for Gay Rights

carolh — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:23:12 GMT

The ridiculousness of our current situation is brought into full focus daily for me. I live with my boyfriend of 15 years. We are not married. Yet, the number of times ordinary citizens of our fair state refer to him as my "husband" is so often I have stopped correcting them. When I mention how long we have been together, people look at me oddly and ask constantly, why DON'T you get married? Why aren't you married? What's wrong? How Come? As if there were something seriously wrong with us. The question and variations on that question are too numerous to even count.

My boyfriend and I are at one end of the crazy expectations of our culture, while my good friends who would dearly love to be married, are at the exact other end. Our state denies them the right that some (like my parents) would almost FORCE us to take advantage of. Does anyone else see something completely screwed up about this picture?

This past year has seen some interesting politics here in NJ. The national spotlight nearly blinded us as the GOP shone it on us to somehow prove our Governor's race was a referendum on the Obama administration. As NJ Democrats, can we at least get this one thing right? Can we all agree that we need to finish the fight begun by our leaders like the late Byron Baer? I know you're politicked out right now. I now you are tired, looking forward to falling asleep on the couch in front of a football game after that second piece of pumpkin pie. But we have a very important fight still ahead of us.

I saw Senator Weinberg last night. The thing that continues to inspire and amaze me about her is that she never stops thinking about the next battle ahead. She is indomitable, not one to rest and look back too long. She is always on to the next challenge. And Marriage Equality is on her mind. While everyone else was partying in Atlantic City this past week, or licking their wounds over the election results which were just a few weeks ago, Senator Weinberg was working for us on the next big battle for Civil rights here in NJ.

As the Senator who replaced Byron Baer just 4 years ago, it is fitting that Senator Weinberg would take up that banner and continue to fight for equal rights for all of us.

What upset me was hearing that some of our NJ Democratic legislators - are getting cold feet when it comes to marriage equality. Which is odd, considering that Democrats who have voted for LGBT rights tend to KEEP their legislative seats, not lose them and that the entire Assembly just turned over and the Dems still have control. Why on earth are some Dem legislators hemming and hawing about doing the right thing? When they were ELECTED with the help of progressive Dems across the state like Steven Goldstein. Why NOW?

We have a chance here, a very good one, while Corzine is still Governor. Our most progressive Governor ever. These Dems need to "man up" and stand for something Democratic. Civil rights is a perfect place to start. Instead of being known for corruption, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be known as the legislature that FINALLY brought us all into the 21st century and brought us closer to our forefathers vision of true equality.

Call your state legislators and tell them to grow a Democratic spine. Remind them that there are many of us Dems out here, who have LGBT friends and family we care deeply about. Remind them that progressives vote based not just on whether someone has a D after their name but HOW THEY VOTE when they are representing us in Trenton. Are they representing Democratic ideals of democracy or not. Tell them to "man up" and to do the right thing, while the goal is still within reach. Pass the next Civil rights law in NJ - Marriage Equality.

Jersey politics isn't for the faint of heart. We need our legislators to man up. Stand for something. You can pass Marriage Equality, but you can't do it or much of anything else if your favorite position is cowering in a corner.

In New Jersey, We Need Sanctity of Marriage Boards

joeynovick — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:33:21 GMT

There has been a lot of talk about putting the issue of marriage equality on the ballot in New Jersey.

This is something that Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose , Senator-Elect Michael Doherty, and Assemblyman Michael Patrick King would like to see. "Let the people decide," they say.

If the Republicans want this issue on the ballot in New Jersey, then I think we need some ground rules on just who should be allowed to vote.

Of course, divorced people should be taken off the voter rolls. If they can't maintain the sanctity of their own marriage, who are they to determine the sanctity of other marriages? DONE.

I'd also disqualify anyone who committed adultery or any couple living together in sin. GONE.

Additionally, if anyone is over 45 who has never been married ----they should not be allowed to vote. If they can't commit by then, are they really committed to America? BUH-BYE.

While we're at it, if Republicans want this done on a state by state basis nationally, perhaps we should have the vote done in NJ on a county by county basis. Maybe even on a town by town basis. After all, if we're trying to protect the institution of marriage, and we're letting people vote on it, maybe we should put weddings up for a vote, or at least before local officials who are surely committed to protecting the sanctity of marriage in their own towns. Maybe we need ---in addition to Planning Boards, School Boards, Fire Districts, and Borough Councils ----a Sanctity of Marriage Board.

The Sanctity of Marriage Board. An elected group of pious and committed community minded folks who can decided who should marry, and who should not. What's another level of government bureaucracy in state with 566 municipalities?

Currently, a couple shows up to city hall and applies for a wedding license. All very clerical and merely ministerial.

But maybe it would be better for the happy couple to appear before the Sanctity of Marriage Board and prove to the duly elected leaders of the community that each of them are committed to the institution of marriage. They could have witnesses too! Maybe the bride's mother pleading with the Board for their approval, or a jilted boyfriend seeking a denial in order to get a second chance with the bride.

It's all quite clear to me now.

Imagine the election campaigns for the coveted spots on the Sanctity of Marriage Board? An SMB incumbent walking door-to-door campaigning for votes might hear comments like, "Our property taxes have gone down, and I do like the additional trash pick-up day, but how could you let that nice college girl from the Feldman family marry that dirt-bag from the Zansky clan?"

Or, "I set my sister up with a doctor. A doctor! And you voted against their wedding. And now, she's living by herself in an apartment with twenty cats! You lost my vote, pal!"

Of course, this is all quite reasonable because marriage is too important an institution to be simply left to adults making private decisions about their own future.

Marriage is a sacred institution, so sacred, that it must be put up for a vote.

Joey Novick can be reached via email at joeynovick@earthlink.net.

It has to be bigger than a single party

Thurman Hart — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:01:18 GMT

In my lifetime, the words "Republican" and "Conservative" have become virtual synonyms. It is perhaps the most unfortunate truth of our political times, and, if we don't change that, I believe that our efforts to make a better world will ultimately be doomed. As long as "Republican equals conservative" then "Democrat" will be taken to equal "Progressive" (or "liberal," if you prefer).

Of course, we know that the Democratic Party is not liberal at all. At the national level, we are still haunted by the specter of Joe Lieberman being a necessary part of our Senate caucus. Then there is Arlen Specter, not to mention Ben Nelson (NE), Evan Bayh (IN), and others. The Blue Dogs, in the House, are enough to maintain the Democratic Majority, but also enough to nearly halt any real progress. Even New Jersey's own John Adler cannot be counted among dependable Progressives - because his district is too strongly Republican.

At the state level, we now have Steve Sweeney to thank for a good dose of reality. New Jersey's Democrats are simply not going to move on something as simple as marriage equality, no matter if a majority of us support it or not. Jeff and Jay and Mark and Brian and Steven and the rest of my gay friends who are now literally too numerous to count are simply not enough of a priority for Democrats to man-up and do what's right. You know why? Because they are afraid of being denounced as "partisan." And in electoral calculus, "partisan" is more negative than "Progressive" is positive.
Here's a hard truth to knock around: Democrats are going to have to accept conservatives if they want to remain in the majority (talk to me privately about Tx-17, Tx-19, or NM-2, as examples). The simply mathematical truth is that not enough Progressives live in think enough numbers across the various lines of Congressional and Legislative Districts for things to be otherwise. At least as long as Progressives allow themselves to be defined as "Democrat" only.

Historically, it is an anomaly for such things to happen. In large part, the post-war consensus in America is a result of liberal Democrats and liberal Republicans agreeing, in large part, in what was good for America. Even as Franklin Roosevelt passed the baton to Truman and then on to Kennedy and Johnson, the Republican Party was dominated by men such as Thomas Dewey, Dwight Eisenhower, and Nelson Rockefeller. Even Gerald Ford, Wendell Willkie, Richard Nixon, and Bob Dole (in his pre-1980 persona) had more in common with the great Democratic Presidents of the post-war era than they do with anyone currently referred to as a "leader" in the Republican Party.

I'm not arguing for anyone to change parties or to quit fighting for Progressive ideas. What I'm arguing is that Progressives should be willing to go to the mat for Progressive Republicans as much as they are for Progressive Democrats (okay, maybe a little less). I'm arguing that a "Progressive movement" must be bigger than a single party if it is going to be an actual, you know, movement.

Blue Jersey does a good job of promoting Progressive activism among Democrats. I guess I'm asking that it learns to go as good of a job in supporting and promoting Progressive activism among Republicans. There are Republicans out there that are inclined to listen (like Bill Baroni, perhaps, on a good day). There are Democrats that won't. And this is too important to this father to put partisanship above success (and, by the way, congrats to Bert Lefkovic for Jacob Zachary Lefkovic).

another progressive born today

rachael'sdad — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:25:22 GMT

Jacob Zachary Lefkovic was born at 8:00am this morning. Both he and his mom are doing well and look forward to the passage of marriage equality legislation during the upcoming lame duck session.

Roundin' Up The NJ News

joeynovick — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:02:51 GMT

Pardner, you're a busy person. You need a news round-up you can just nibble on, and then get on with your day.

So here goes, NJ buckeroos:

Highland Park restaurant offers customers 'pay what you can' option-Elected officials go there in droves

HIGHLAND PARK -- It's not "all you can eat." It's more like whatever you can pay. A restaurant here is offering customers an innovative dining option - choose the size of your portion, then pay what you want. People who can afford to pay extra help subsidize those less fortunate. A Better World Cafe, housed in an historic brick church, is the fifth restaurant of its kind in the nation, which some are nicknaming "Robin Hood restaurants."

Who are their most frequent customers? You guessed it: New Jersey elected officials.

Mayor Brian Wahler of Piscataway, a frequent customer, finished his tomato soup, and said that he "forgot his wallet" yet again. Mayor Michael Wilson of Freehold, after his chicken salad sandwich, indicated that he had to "submit a voucher for payment to his Borough CFO", and that "the check would be in the mail" soon.

Former N.J. gubernatorial candidate Daggett seeks state ban of robocalls

Former independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett's campaign today asked for a state investigation into automated calls it says "severely damaged our candidacy." Daggett came in a distant third on Election Day , when Republican Chris Christie won the governor's race by defeating Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

Mr. Daggett started an advocacy organization called Ban RoboCallsNJ, and was seeking volunteers to assist in calling other citizens to gain their support. At a press conference last Monday, Daggett said, "I shall begin a campaign immediately to lobby the Legislature and call upon them to ban robo-calls entirely."

"We will be phone banking all this week from my former headquarters, and we need at least one hundred volunteers per week for an effective campaign." Mr. Daggett indicated that there were no volunteers as of yet, but would be hiring www.dialmycalls.com to assist with contacts. "We need to make use of the new technologies to get out our message effectively and quickly before the end of the Lame Duck session."

Bloomsbury man snaps photo of I-78 vehicle fire

Scott Papics, of Bloomsbury, was coming home from work at Lowe's in Flemington about 3:25 this afternoon when he came upon a vehicle fire in the Interstate 78 median near mile marker 9 in Bethlehem Township, N.J. He was stopped in traffic on I-78 East when he snapped a photo with his iPhone.

Amazingly, his phone had a camera and he was so stuck in traffic, that he had time to snap a photo, write this story for the Star-Ledger, file it with the AP Newswire, and broadcast it from his car on to NJN-all before exit 15 on I-78. The Star-Ledger immediately laid off twelve more reporters and six photographers, and began hiring commuters stuck on I-80 and the I-287.

Deep Thought: Sweeney Edition

vmars — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:57:40 GMT

It appears that simultaneously holding two, non-contradictory thoughts at the same time is too hard for some of our legislators.

Looks like Runyan v. Adler in 3rd cd

ken bank — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:03:25 GMT

It seems State Senator Chris Connors is leaning against a run in the 3rd district. This leaves the door open for ex-Eagles football player Jon Runyan to become the nominee since there doesn't seem to be any credible opposition.

Connors offered the best hope for the GOP since he is very popular in Ocean County and would have likely gotten the same margin as Chris Christie. It's puzzling he wouldn't take a shot at running for Congress since this is probably the best chance he'll ever have.

I can't see Runyan defeating Adler. He's a political novice who didn't even register as a Republican until a few weeks ago. He probably hasn't even voted in many elections, and nobody seems to know anything about his views.

New Jersey Environmental Federation

NJ Liberal — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:16:28 GMT

Unbelievable. After endorsing Christie, these people have the nerve to call me and ask me for MORE money.

Look, I'm as big an environmentalist as the next guy. I've supported NJEF for years, but there's such a thing as destructive tunnel vision. How can you possibly support a man who thinks that childhood education equates with baby sitting?

The response of the caller was, "I'm sure you are familiar with the concept of choosing the lesser of two evils." For me, at least, there is not a worse thing she could have said.

It'll be interesting to see whether Christie actually does anything good for the environment, and how much this boneheaded move has cost NJEF.

New Jersey residents make their money here, then move out of state.

joeynovick — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:29:35 GMT

Cross posted at PolitickerNJ

Seems like everyone makes their money here, and then moves to Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

Some to avoid high property taxes and higher auto insurance rates.

Some 'cause, I guess they have to.

Former New Jersey state Sen. Joseph Coniglio has reported to a federal prison camp in Pennsylvania to begin serving a 2 1/2-year sentence for influence-peddling. The Paramus Democrat was accused of using his role on the powerful Senate Budget Committee to channel millions of dollars in public funds to Hackensack University Medical Center in exchange for a $5,000-a-month consulting fee. He served in the state Senate from 2002 to 2007.

Former state Senate President John A. Lynch spent 2 1/2 years at a federal prison camp in Loretto, Pa., before being released in June to a halfway house in Newark. The once-powerful Democrat admitted in 2006 that he secretly accepted tens of thousands of dollars from a contractor while lobbying to help him develop state parkland.

Sharpe James, the former Newark mayor, is in a federal prison camp in Petersburg, Va., serving a 27-month sentence on corruption charges. The minimum-security facility is about 25 miles southeast of Richmond.

Hopefully when the 44 who were indicted over the summer are done with their trials, some of them will decide to stay in the Garden State.

What does legalized Medicinal Marijuana really mean?

rachael'sdad — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:22:20 GMT

If the bill, legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes becomes law during the lame duck session, will the cannabis clubs that have sprouted up all over California become prominent in New Jersey as well, or is it more likely that someone with a prescription from their doctor will be able to go to their local pharmacy and buy a dime, eighth, quarter, half, or ounce bag?

While the former distribution model is probably more likely than the latter, if the latter model was adopted, the next question to be asked is whether or not the Department of Banking and Insurance will be issuing any directives with regards to how health insurance companies should be providing coverage of the purchase of legally prescribed marijuana.
Will NJ Weedman be consulted in the determination of which kinds of marijuana should be considered generic, brand name, or non-formulary? Will marijuana be available in 30-day supplies? Will 60-day and 90-day supplies be available via mail order? Will bongs, pipes, rolling papers, baking pans, and brownie mixes be covered as medical devices? Will Grateful Dead, Blues Traveler, Phish, and Dave Matthews Band CDs be assigned some ancillary theraputic quality as well? Will One-Size-Fits-All tie-dyed t-shirts replace hospital gowns?

I apologize if this poor attempt at humor (I should have consulted with Joey Novick before posting) appears dismissive of a legitimate and worthwhile legislative initiative, but as the saying goes, there is some degree of truth in all humor, and the truth of the matter is that if marijuana is going to be legalized for medicinal purposes, people who need it for this purpose should not have to pay through the nose to get it.

Most of the exorbitant cost of marijuana is due to the extreme markups and inefficiencies in distribution that are part and parcel of illegal enterprises, but if the distribution of medicinal marijuna is not an illegal enterprise, should steps be taken to ensure that it is sold at a cost that is more in line with other prescription medicines and covered as such by insurance companies?

While it is a good thing that the Obama Administration has issued a directive that FBI resources should not be dedicated towards the enforcement of federal marijuana laws when such enforcement conflicts with state laws that legalize medicinal marijuana, this directive still does not solve the problems of cost and coverage.

I don't know anything about growing marijuana and whether there are actually parts of our state where the climate and soil are appropriate for such an endeavor, but it would seem that growing Jersey Fresh marijuana solely for the purpose of providing a supply for legal medicinal purposes would be a way to prevent commingling with marijuana that is brought into the state by illegal enterprises and reduce the cost incurred by individuals who need it.

Is it possible that an endeavor like this could dovetail with efforts to purchase land for Open Space preservation and possibly make both programs much more cost effective in the long run? It seems to me that it would be better for the state if it could actually grow something on preserved land that would enable it to pay back the bonds with something other than taxpayer dollars and make the preservation of open spaces in this state less costly and more popular.

Finally, if medicinal marijuana was grown on state-owned land, harvested by state-employed farmers, and distributed by state-regulated entities, it would be harder for opponents of the legalization of medicinal marajuana to claim that this is just a smokescreen for marijuana legalization.

Hopefully, this diary has inspired a chuckle or two as well as some serious thinking about how good government and public policymaking can have unintended benefits.

Not Only Racist, But Stupid, too.

joeynovick — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:02:07 GMT

From NJ.com:
cross posted at PolitickerNJ.com

A swastika and the word "Jews" were reported spray-painted on a wall of the NJ Transit train station in Somerville last night. "This is unusual, we've never had anything like this in Somerville before," said Capt. George Fazio.

Stanley Stone, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey said the increase of swastikas in central Jersey over the past year have concerned the federation. "Clearly when things like this happen we find it disturbing, but before jumping to conclusions we want to make sure we have all of the information," he said.

And apparently these anti-Semitic graffiti artists were not only racist. They were stupid, too. They drew the swastika backwards.

Ralph Nader coming to Monmouth County on December 5th

vingopal — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:39:59 GMT

Whether you love him or hate him, this is a great opportunity to hear and meet former presidential candidate, businessman and consumer rights advocate Ralph Nader on December 5th.

His new book has received amazing reviews and this is an event that I think people of all political views should attend - even if you disagree with him, a great chance to see an up close and personal, intimate interview.
The event is being hosted by Bookmark It Events and will be from 7pm to 9pm at Brookdale Community College on Saturday, December 5th.

BookmarkIt Event Caption:
"Get Up! Don't Let America Down!"

Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us. Is that a joke? Nope. It's the title of Ralph Nader's new book, an inspiring, revolutionary, and (oh yeah) fictional account of 17 famous American billionaires committing their personal and professional resources to a greater good (otherwise known as society)

The interview is going to be done by BookmarkIt Owner Jacquie Dalton, who has interviewed everyone from Dina Matos McGreevey to Robert Wagner to Darryl Strawberry.

For more information or to buy tickets (only $24.99), visit http://www.bookitevents.com

Hope to see everyone there!

Republicans seeking "horror stories" to support environmental rollbacks

Winston Smith — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:29:56 GMT

[Note - cross post - you need link for this one so read it at:
http://wolfenotes.com/2009/11/...

Here we go again. The Republican-business community Orwellian Wurlitzer big lie machine is being ginned up.

Have they no shame?

The Republican party has put the word out in the NJ business community to drum up "horror stories" on the impacts of regulations. This is being done in a coordinated effort to mislead the public and rollback all sorts of public protections from business excess, especially for the environment and public health.

Read full post at:
http://wolfenotes.com/2009/11/...

Flu shots yes or no?

raygun — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:14:45 GMT

A lot of fear out there, get the shot, dont get the shot.

I already had the seasonal one and hope to get H1N1.

How about you other bloggers?

BTW did you see news video of cheerleader who was debilated by the shot?

http://www.pennjersey.info/for...

Very strange, she cant walk right but she can run. Yikes.

Green House gas emissions continue to rise - NJ's control efforts a sham

Winston Smith — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:47:48 GMT

A new national report by Environment America Too-Much-Pollution-Report-11.12.09.pdf shows that US emissions of green house gas continue to rise. The study analyzed only carbon dioxide emissions, a key global warming pollutant, for the periods 1990-2004 and 2004-2007.

This Report calls into question whether current efforts to reduce emissions are serious - because they clearly are not effective. The Report also calls into question whether the "cap and trade" approach in legislation pending before Congress is workable.

[Read complete post with links, here:
http://wolfenotes.com/2009/11/...

Geraldo Rivera Claimed "Hate Monger" Dobbs Unwelcome At Fox

Nick Lento — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:34:20 GMT

This should squash any ambitions Dobbs has of running for office in NJ, or that Christie/Guadagno may have of hiring Dobbs as New Jersey's "alien hunter".

The speech was given over a year ago, but it would be truly shocking, even for Fox, if they back peddled after giving Rivera assurances that Dobbs would be working at Fox.

If anyone has any doubts that Dobbs is radioactive toast, check this out...

Corzine to head BoA?

cktung — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:55:50 GMT

CNBC reported a rumor that there is consideration for Bank of America to hire outgoing governor Jon Corzine as their CEO, though they think eventully BoA will find an insider for that job. In an earlier video, they were also not sure whether Corzine is interested in the job.
I like Corzine a lot. Not what he says, but what he does. Not sure he wants the job or not. The day he becomes BoA CEO might be the first time I consider buying BAC shares, though, I think, his record at Goldman Sachs wasn't too spectacular?