Obama’s Obsession

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Can the GOP live without social conservatives?

In a column posted on GOPUSA.com, David Limbaugh says,

The Republican Party can choose to ostracize social conservatives and their issues, or try to purge them altogether from the party and its platform. But they better be careful what they wish for, because if they do, it will be the end of the party as we know it.

Would that be a bad thing?

Limbaugh says that Christians believe not only that social issues are the most important of the day, but that the underlying disintergration of the nation’s moral fabric is the root of our economic problems.  They are probably right.  He reports getting emails and reading articles from Christians who want to double down on social issues and some even suggesting that Christians redirect their focus away from politics and toward evangelism.

That is exactly what they should do.

Redirect their focus away from politics and toward evangelism.  The GOP should not ostracise social conservatives.  Social conservatives should redirect their focus away from politics and toward evangelism because their political efforts are not working.  As the election results in Missouri and Indiana suggest, states that Mitt Romney won but where Republican social conservative Senate candidates Todd Akin and Richard Murdock lost very winnable races, the political efforts of social conservatives have become counterproductive.

Social conservatives are losing the political battles because a significant portion of the electorate who agree with their moral point of view and strive to live accordingly don’t believe that religious morality should have the force of secular law.  They are losing the cultural battle because they are fighting it politically…attempting to force their moral point of view…rather than evangelically….sharing the Good News with free people who have choices.

Eliminating choices will not convert hearts and minds.  Hearts and minds need to be converted freely before social conservatives will live in a world that reflects their moral vision.  If that happens, there won’t be much of a political fight about the issues social conservatives consider the most important.

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450,781 Powerball Winners in New Jersey

The $579 million jackpot was won by two lucky bettors.  One from Arizona and one from Missouri.  Odds are they were Romney voters.

There were 450,781 winning tickets sold in New Jersey.  8 of those tickets matched five numbers but not the Powerball.  The prize is 1 million dollars.  If the bettors had bet an extra dollar on the Power Play, the prize would have been $2 million.  I wonder if those people are happy they won the million or kicking themselves for not betting the extra buck and doubling their prize.

31 New Jersey players matched 4 numbers and the powerball.  29 of them won $10,000.  The 2 that bet the power play won $40,000.

I’d bet the 29 who won $10K instead of $40K are kicking themselves harder than the 8 who won $1 million instead of $2 million.

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How much is the Powerball Jackpot worth after tax?

Got your ticket(s) yet?

If you win, take the cash option.  Taxes are probably going up on the rich next year.

The jackpot is now up to $550 million.

Under current tax law, if you take the 30 year annuity your annual $18,333,333 will be taxed $4,583,333 by the IRS and $1,980,000 by the State if you live in New Jersey, for a net annual payment of $11,770,000.

If you take the $360,200,000 cash jackpot, the feds will take $90,050,000 and New Jersey will take $38,901,600, leaving you with a net payment of $231,248,400.

Source: USAMEGA.com

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Mohamed Morsi

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Republican Suckers

Making Sense, by Michael Reagan

Republicans had better learn from history — and from Ronald Reagan’s mistake.

President Obama and his fellow big-spenders in Congress are promising if they get higher tax rates today they’ll make even higher spending cuts tomorrow.

It’s an old sucker’s game. Republicans — and the rest of the country — should know it by now, because for three decades we’ve all been suckers.

If history is our guide, and Republicans in Congress don’t grow a spine, by this time next year we’ll have higher taxes, higher spending, more debt and a bigger government.

Twice before, Republicans have been fooled into playing the Democrats’ con game.

It happened to my father early in his first term when he sought to close a growing federal deficit caused by the deep economic recession. He believed Democrats in Congress would keep their pledge to make $3 in future spending cuts for every $1 in immediate tax increases.

In 1982 he signed a compromise tax bill with the horrible name of TEFRA — the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act. And, when those promised spending cuts never materialized in Congress, TEFRA became one of the biggest regrets of my father’s presidency.

My father was duped by the duplicity of Democrats. And so was George H.W. Bush less than a decade later, when he foolishly allowed himself to be taken for the same ride.

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Report: Sweeney will run for Governor if Booker doesn’t

The Star Ledger is reporting that State Senate President Steve Sweeney told three Democratic insiders that he will run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2013 if Newark Mayor Cory Booker does not.

Booker has said that he will make a decision “as soon as possible.”

Neither man stands much of a chance to defeat Christie if his sky high approval ratings hold up.

In a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released yesterday, Booker performed the best of several Democrats in a head to head match up with Christie by losing by 13%, 53%-34%.  Sweeney was not included in the Eagleton poll.  Had he been, it is unlikely he would have polled much better than Senator Barbara Buono or Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald who each polled in the low 20’s.  In a September Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll, 35% of New Jersey voters were familiar with Sweeney.  19% had a favorable impression, 15% had an unfavorable impression.

Both Sweeney and Booker have federal PACs.  They both been rumored to covet Frank Lautenberg’s seat in the US. Senate, which is up in 2014 when Lautenberg will be 90.   A run for Governor, if he lost respectably, would boost Sweeney’s statewide name recognition and leave him with a better shot to compete for the 2014 Senate nomination against Booker and Congressman Frank Pallone.  Pallone is likely to seek the Senate seat only if Lautenberg does not seek another term.

The nomination is Booker’s for the asking due to his high national profile and fund raising ability.  National Democrats are hopeful that Booker can beat Christie, thereby taking the Governor out of contention for the 2016 presidential race.

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Romney will lunch with Obama at White House tomorrow

The White House has announced that former presidential candidate Mitt Romney will have lunch with President Obama at the White House tomorrow.

Could Romney be joining the administration?   Treasury Secretary?  Ambassador to Libya?

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Christie Appoints Former Executive Assistant Attorney General to Manage Storm Recovery

Ferzan to Oversee Governor Christie’s Vision for New Jersey’s Long-Term Rebuilding Efforts

Trenton, NJ –Taking a critical step forward in the recovery and rebuilding of New Jersey communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Governor Chris Christie today tasked Marc Ferzan to manage Hurricane Sandy Recovery efforts within the Office of the Governor. Mr. Ferzan will be responsible for directing the vital task of overseeing and coordinating Governor Christie’s long-term recovery efforts for New Jersey in cooperation with all federal, state, local, private, and non-governmental partners.

Mr. Ferzan’s first task will be assembling a core team to guide this effort and the different areas of focus that require long-term strategic planning. Additionally, Mr. Ferzan will begin to immediately work with Governor Christie’s Cabinet, state personnel, federal and local governments and sources outside of government to bring together all information and resources established since Hurricane Sandy to build on and effectively execute the rebuilding efforts for the State of New Jersey.

“The magnitude of the challenges we have faced from Hurricane Sandy was met in equal measure with the bravery and selflessness of first responders and public servants, the resilience of families, and our collective hope to move forward, rebuild, and restore our state. We have a long way to go to rebuild, but the people of New Jersey have already shown that we are ready to meet the challenge,” said Governor Christie. “This will not be an easy task, but it is a top priority of my Administration. To make steady progress and to ensure our commitment to our communities that have been devastated by the storm, I’m naming Marc Ferzan, a smart, proven and capable manager, to bring people and government together, build consensus, and effectively handle the many facets of this effort moving forward. I thank him for returning to the service of our state in this critical role.”

In addition, Governor Christie announced the retention of Witt Associates, a team with vast experience in disaster recovery and large scale mitigation management, to assist in the long-term rebuilding process. James Witt is a special advisor to the State of Louisiana, assisting with the nation’s largest long term recovery effort in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and previously served as FEMA director under President Bill Clinton. Witt Associates will provide strategic support to the state in all facets of recovery and mitigation; resources for appropriate resolution services to assist in the state reconstruction; and senior level consultation in all facets of the intermediate and long term recovery process.

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Guadagno’s status as Christie’s running mate not yet determined

Lt Governor Kim Guadagno. Photo credit: Tim Larsen/Governor's office

Governor Chris Christie said that he has yet to talk to Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno regarding her joining his ticket for reelection.
During a press conference this morning, Christie said that he was extraordinary pleased with Guadagno’s performance as New Jersey’s  first Lt. Governor.

Christie announced that he will run for reelection on Monday in Port Monmouth. Today he said that he and Guadagno had not talked about her candidacy yet because they have been busy working on the recovery from Superstorm Sandy.

Guadagno, who also serves as Secretary of State, has served as the Christie Administration’s ambassador to the business community and heads up the Red Tape Review Commission.

While Guadagno has gotten high marks for her service as Lt. Governor, she has been dogged by allegations and litigation brought by NJ Watchdog that while Monmouth County Sheriff she inappropriately classified Michael Donovan’s position with the sheriff’s office as “chief warrant officer” when he actually held the position of “chief of the law enforcement division” so that Donovan could collect a $85,000 per year pension while also collecting his current salary.  Had Donovan’s position been properly classified, according to NJ Watchdog, he would not have been entitled to collect the pension.  Rather, he would be contributing $18,000 per year to the pension fund.

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