Governor Chris Christie: I believe that the Occupy movement and the Tea Party movement come — their genesis — is from the same feeling, which is an anger that government can’t get things done. And so, now, that is the last similarity between the Tea Party movement and the Occupy movement. But I believe that the cause for their anger comes from the same place. They look at Washington D.C. and they look at a president who is a bystander in the Oval Office. You know, I was angry this weekend, listening to the spin coming out of the administration about the failure of the Supercommittee. And that the President knew that it was doomed for failure so he didn’t get involved. Well then what the hell are we paying you for? It’s doomed for failure so I’m not getting involved? Well, what have you been doing exactly? I mean, I will tell you that I think both parties deserve blame for what’s going on in Washington D.C., both parties do. They’re spending more time talking at each other than talking with each other. We all know what the solutions to these problems are, we’ve done them in New Jersey in many areas, but we don’t have the political will to get them done. And in New Jersey, the reason why they got things done is because I called people into a room and said we’re going to solve this problem and I had people of good will on the other side who said they believed it was their obligation, regardless of party, to get done things like pension and benefit reform. That Mayor Redd can tell you personally how it’s helping her and her budget situation in Camden. Why the President of the United States refuses to do this is astonishing to me. I mean, you know, if he wanted to run for Senate again and just be 1 of 100, I’m sure he could have gotten reelected over and over again in Illinois. When you’re president, it’s kind of what I was talking about before, you know 41, 21 and 1, well he’s the one in Washington. And he’s got to get something done here. And it’s not good enough just to say well, I’ll get it done after the election.
In a must read column at InTheLobby, Jim Morford traces the historical roots of the Occupy movement to the French Revolution and issues a warning of post election violence in 2012 should the movement continue to grow.
The 8th annual Sandy Hook Elves Holiday Gift Drive will be held next Sunday, December 4 from 12PM to 3pm at Bahrs Landing in Highlands.
There is no cost to attend the event. Guest are invited to bring new, unwrapped coats, jackets, sweatshirts, footballs, basketballs, skateboards, gift cards or cash. The gifts are turned over to Long Branch school administrators who distribute them to the parents and guardians of 13 through 18 year old students of the Long Branch school system, based on their needs.
All are welcome, including children of all ages.
Bahrs is providing chowder, seafood chili, and vegetarian soup free of charge. There will be a cash bar.
Entertainment will be provided by Bahrs’ best Karoke singers, who happen to be very good!
“Sandy Hook Elves” and “Coats for Kids” is the brainchild of Atlantic Highlands resident Dale Distasio. Over the years the event has grown by word of mouth as other community groups, like the American Legion posts in Highlands and Keyport, started to participate.
There’s no 501 c3 involved. No administrative costs and no tax deductions. 100% of the gifts make it to kids.
Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella said that he will not be a candidate for Freeholder and that he strongly supports current Howell Mayor Bob Walsh for the post. DiBella said that he and Walsh, formerly political adversaries, have become close friends.
Walsh and Holmdel Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso are the currently declared candidates to fill the vacancy caused by Freeholder Director Rob Clifton’s election to the State Assembly. A new Freeholder will be elected at a Republican County Committee convention on January 14, 2012. The winner will take office immediately and will have to defend the seat in the 2012 and 2013 general elections.
Other candidates mentioned by party leaders or said to be considering a bid include Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle, Affiliated Republican Club Vice President Bob Burlew of Keyport, former Middletown Committeeman Tom Wilkens, Manalapan Deputy Mayor Ryan Green, Freehold Township Deputy Mayor Anthony Ammiano and Wall Committeeman George Newberry.
Holmdel Mayor Patrick Impreveduto, Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso and Senator Joe Kyrillos at a June 2010 fundraiser. Photo credit: livingmedia.com
Holmdel Deputy Mayor told MMM that she intends to inform GOP Chairman Joe Oxley that she will be a candidate for Rob Clifton’s seat on the Monmouth County Freeholder Board this week.
DiMaso said she has garnered the support of many Monmouth County Republican leaders, including Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, and that she is 100% committed to becoming a Freeholder in this, her third attempt at seeking the office.
DiMaso lost the 2005 nomination to Lillian Burry and the 2008 nomination to John Curley. She said she is excited about the prospect of being Curley’s running mate in November and hopes to have his support at the January 14th Monmouth GOP convention which will elect Clifton’s successor. Clifton, the current Freeholder Director, is vacating his seat in order to be sworn into the State Assembly, which he was elected to on November 8.
2011 GOP Freeholder contenders: Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, Howell Mayor Bob Walsh, Wall Committeeman George Newberry and Freeholder-elect Gary Rich. Photo credit Rhoda Chodosh
In what is sure to be an interesting undercurrent of the race to fill the vacancy, DiMaso says she has the support of Howell Municipal Chairman John Costigan. Howell Mayor Bob Walsh, who has won his races in Howell as an Independent, is the other declared candidate in the Freeholder race. Walsh sought the nomination in 2011, losing to now Freeholder-elect Gary Rich.
Monmouth County Senator asserting her independence from Christie’s party discipline
Senator Jennifer Beck, R-11, is set to co-sponsor a new gay marriage bill, according to the Star Ledger’s Auditor.
Beck, who was elected in her new 11th legislative district by a comfortable 13% margin earlier this month, made gay marriage an issue in the 11th district race when she told Jane Roh of the Courier Post that she would reverse her earlier party line vote against gay marriage and when she told Garden State Equality that she would vote to override Governor Christie’s anticipated veto of such a bill.
Beck, who was on the short list to be Christie’s Lt. Governor during the 2009 gubernatorial campaign, has also bucked the Governor’s legendary party discipline over Republicans in the legislature with her support of spending on womens’ healthcare.
In a fluff piece about Senate President Stephen Sweeney published in today’s Asbury Park Press, Beck had nice things to say about Christie’s potential 2013 rival:
Some are immune to what state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, calls Sweeney’s “charisma.” Beck, though on the other side of the political aisle, is not one of his detractors.
“I trust him,” Beck says. “When he gives his word on an issue, you can rely on that. It’s easy for the Senate president to be dismissive. Steve is not.”
Christie’s success compromising with Democrats during his first two years in office was due in large measure to the fact that he didn’t have to compromise with compliant Republicans. Beck’s independence is worth watching. If other Republican legislators believe it is safe for them to stray from the Christie corral, the Governor may have a tougher time advancing his agenda in 2012 and 2013.
The Republican County convention to elect a Monmouth County Freeholder to fill the coming vacancy caused by Freeholder Director Rob Clifton’s ascension to the State Assembly will be held on Saturday January 14th, according to GOP Chairman Joe Oxley. The location and exact time has yet to be determined.
A quorum, 50% plus 1, of all Republican County Committee members, as certified by the Superintendent of Elections, must be present for the election to be to be official.
Howell Mayor Bob Walsh is a candidate. Those considering entering the race include Holmdel Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso, former Freeholder Bill Barham, Wall Committee member George Newberry, Keyport Councilman Bob Burlew, Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle, Manalapan Deputy Mayor Ryan Green, former Middletown Committee member Tom Wilkens and former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella.
Over 50 years ago, President Kennedy recited one of the many great lines in his historic inaugural address when he said “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
In these troubled times, there is something that all of us can do for our country. That is to “Buy American-Made In the USA.” This year, holiday shoppers in the United States will spend over $10 billion when shopping for gifts. This at a time when there are millions of people without jobs or health insurance through no fault of their own.
There are many manufacturers of American-made products, struggling to survive, whose future depends on strong sales during the next four weeks. For many workers, those sales determine whether they are still working in January or whether they join the ranks of the unemployed.
While buying American isn’t always easy, if you make a conscious effort to look at labels showing the country of origin on products before you purchase, it’s not as hard as you might think. If you are in a store looking for a partucular item, you could ask to see “American Made” products. You can also use the Internet to research companies that offer American-made products, such as clothing and toys. Just do a search for “American Made ______” (item you wish to purchase). In many cases you can purchase American made products right off the Internet.
Buying American can be everyone’s holiday gift to our country and to our fellow citizens. The job you save might be a neighbor’s, a relative’s or your own.
It is oft cited, as it was again today in this column by Asbury Park Press writer Steve Falk, that the oldest shore Thanksgiving Day football rivalry is Toms River South v Lakewood, at 92 straight games.
Knowing that Asbury Park played Neptune on Thanksgiving more than 92 years ago, I asked Mr. Falk if his info was correct. He told me that there was a period of about 20 years somewhere around the 1920s to the 1940s where Asbury Park did not play Neptune on Thanksgiving, so TR v Lakewood is the oldest continuous Thanksgiving rivalry.
I was just wondering three things from you Neptune guys:
1. Any idea why Asbury Park didn’t play Neptune for 20 years (I assume it was Neptune’s fault)?
2. Any idea who Asbury beat (naturally) and Neptune lost to (naturally) during those years?
3. Will either of you Neptune Turkeys be there tomorrow when Asbury Park (9-1) carves up Neptune (9-1) by a score of 21 to 6?
Be it for Christmas or not until next Thanksgiving, consider deep frying the turkey for your next feast.