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.
Middletown— Senator Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth/Middlesex) this weekend reiterated his call for the Legislature to enact reforms to New Jersey’s public education system in the closing weeks of the 2010-2011 legislative session at a roundtable discussion on principal and teacher evaluations at Princeton University.
“New Jersey is a national leader in student achievement,” said Kyrillos, “yet too many students still move through the system without receiving the quality education to which they are entitled. Reforming our public education system will not just make the good schools better, it will help children trapped in failing school districts obtain the education they need to build better lives and futures.”
Senator Kyrillos provided opening remarks to the forum, “Leading the Charge”, hosted by education reform advocates Better Education for Kids, Students First, and Princeton Students for Education Reform. They day’s panel discussions included public school teachers and administrators, representatives of the Department of Education, as well as leaders from the American Federation of Teachers and New Jersey Education Association.
Kyrillos said he is proud to sponsor two bills that are part of Governor Christie’s education reform agenda, the Opportunity Scholarship Act and the School Children First Act. “Quality education starts with an effective teacher in every classroom. That is why it is so important that we modernize teacher evaluations, tenure protections, and pay structure to value student achievement over seniority. In addition, children in chronically failing districts need options to improve the instruction they’re receiving immediately. The Opportunity Scholarship Act will provide these students an opportunity to enter a high quality school setting in the short term while we work to fix the systemic problems that are all too common in certain districts in New Jersey.”
By Dan Jacobson, also published in the November 17, 2011 edition of the triCityNews
Out of the boredom of last week’s elections – pathetically few were even close – came an interesting development.
It’s the rise of twenty-six year old Vin Gopal as the most promising new Democrat in Monmouth County.
In fact, we’d say Gopal is the most promising Democrat in a generation, ever since Congressman Frank Pallone burst on the scene as a thirty-one year old Long Branch Councilman almost 30 years ago.
We’re not saying Gopal will go as far as Pallone. And I know them both. I worked with Frank for several years in the very beginning, starting from when I was in college. Although I’ve grown to disagree with Pallone’s politics, the guy remains among my favorite people. Frank is probably the smartest, most self-effacing and fun person with whom I’ve ever worked. That doesn’t excuse his bullshit votes on issues like health care reform, of course. I’m just making an observation about the man’s political talents, and great personality.
Gopal is not at that level. Who is? But Gopal has made his own mark. I’ve also observed him quite closely the past few months. He was the Democratic candidate for state Assembly in the 11th District. I ran as a pox-on-both-their houses Independent.
Gopal built his own organization led by campaign manager Vlad Gutman and field director Joe Grillo of Asbury Park. It was a great campaign for a first-time candidate. Gopal lost by about 3,000 votes out of 35,000 cast. That was the closest of any of the legislative races in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
I’d like to see Vin become the next Monmouth County Democratic Chairman. The sooner, the better. Not that I’m a Democrat. I left the party because interest groups in its political base make demands on economic issues that are way too much for me to accept. It’s a joke.
Yet I’ve always advocated for more competitive elections in Monmouth County. I don’t like an all-Republican county Board of Freeholders any more than an all-Democratic Red Bank Borough Council. Above all, it’s boring to cover.
It’s also not good for the public. Because it’s either political party making decisions for the rest of us. They put their candidate on the ballot, and they just win. That’s why Gopal should rise quickly in the Democratic Party, and put his energy to work in reinvigorating the party and making it more competitive.
Gopal is close with current Democratic Party Chairman Victor Scudiery. He’s always refused to discuss that position while Vic holds it. Hopefully, Scudiery sees what we see and is planning to hand the reins over to Vin. It’s a no-brainer.
Gopal responded well under fire as a candidate. And he learned a lot about campaigns as a result. Gopal was the target of a barrage of negative mail by the Republicans, some of which was downright defamatory. And Vin showed enough promise that the Asbury Park Press endorsed him – the only Democrat they endorsed for a legislative seat in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
So we thought it time to check in with Gopal and see what he’s thinking about the future, as well as his thoughts on the Assembly campaign. Our first question, of course, is his reaction now to those attack mailings sent by Republican incumbents Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande. The mailings inferred he was involved with money laundering while a 20 year old college student working on a campaign. Even the Asbury Park Press couldn’t take it – they blasted the Republicans in an editorial for their tactics.
“I thought the mailings were incredibly unfair,” he said. “But Caroline Casagrande and Mary Pat Angelini are politicians. They do what they gotta do to get reelected. It amazes me that as incumbents that they couldn’t focus on what they had done in office, but instead focused on Joe Vas.” (Vas was the former Mayor of Perth Amboy on whose campaign Gopal worked. Vas has since gone to jail on various corruption charges.)
“It was also an interesting experience in it showed how important money is in politics,” said Gopal, who claims the Democrats were outspent by 4-1. “We got hit with mailings every day, and some voters would get two in one day. They really got their message out. They had a great get out the vote operation. I learned essentially how strong the Monmouth County Republicans are.”
And from the sounds of Gopal’s future plans, leading the Democratic Party to competitiveness – or at least trying to – is a natural one.
“I’m going to go back and focus on my businesses,” said Gopal who publishes a group of monthly community magazines and also runs a specialty marketing firm.
“I’ll also be active and support people who are good in politics,” he said. “I just love the organizational part of politics, in particular building the organization itself.”
Sounds good to us. Someone has got to rebuild the Democratic Party in Monmouth County. This one party rule bullshit is downright boring.
With Just 56 Days Remaining In The Session, Let’s Hope The Legislature Gets Back From Their Current Vacation Ready To Finally Address Some Of New Jersey’s Most Pressing Issues
“You know we have more work to do, the tool kit has to happen. We have to find a way to put a tool kit together, again I’m sure it will be some kind of a compromise, but the core principles will be the same. … We need to continue to work now and seize the momentum that the Governor said to continue to make improvements in New Jersey.”– Senate President Steve Sweeney, Press Conference On Bipartisan Property Tax CapCompromise, July 3, 2010
THE LEGISLATURE HAS FAILED TO TAKE ACTION ON KEY ELEMENTS OF GOVERNOR CHRISTIE’S REFORM AGENDA
Education Reform
Failed to take action on the Opportunity Scholarship Act (S-1872/A-2810) which establishes a five-year pilot program to provide tax credits to entities contributing to scholarships for certain low-income students.
Failed to take action on the School Children First Act (S-2881/A-4168) to provide for an educator evaluation system based on multiple measures of teacher effectiveness.
Failed to take action on the Urban Hope Act (S-3002/A-4264) which provides for the creation of as many as ten “transformation school projects” in the worst performing districts.
Failed to act on Charter Reform (A-4167) to provide critical updates to strengthen and improve New Jersey’s charter law.
Civil Service Reform
Legislature-passed Civil Service Reform failed to include the critically needed opt-out and furlough options for municipalities.
Sick Leave Reform
Public employee unused sick leave and vacation payouts cost New Jersey taxpayers over $43 million in 2010.
Ethics Reform
Failed to take up Governor Christie’s Ethics Reform Package, Introduced back in September, 2010.
Failed to Act to bring Accountability and Transparency to the Legislature through Increased Disclosure (CV of A2768)
Shadow Government Reform
Failed to Act on Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Oversight and Accountability to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners and the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission.
Failed to Act on Governor Christie’s Comprehensive Shadow Government Reform Legislation.
MEANWHILE, SEVERAL OTHER CRITICAL TOOL KIT REFORM BILLS LANGUISH IN THE LEGISLATURE
A-1646/S-1781
Directs that one sample ballot shall be delivered to each residence address where at least one resident thereof is registered to vote.
A-2951/S-2174
Eliminate eligibility for State retirement systems for non- government groups and associations.
A-2958/S-2012
Allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against a taxpayer’s delinquent local property taxes.
A-2953/S-2024
Permits layoff plans as substitute for employment reconciliation plans for joint meetings or shared service agreements under certain circumstances.
A-2955/S-2135
Employee Discipline Reform. Limits right of appeal of disciplinary action taken by employer against certain public employees.
A-2960/S-2043
Concerns collective negotiations for school employees; repeals law prohibiting school boards from imposing terms and conditions of employment.
A-2961/S-2025
Authorizes executive county superintendent of schools to require implementation of shared services arrangements and to approve school district collective negotiations agreements prior to execution of agreement.
A-2962/S-2027
Concerns collective negotiations for public institutions of higher education.
A-2963/S-2026
Amends State college law to remove certain employees from civil service system and allow boards of trustees to conduct collective bargaining.
A-2964/S-2172
A-3219
A-3220
Authorizes the establishment of probationary periods for non-tenured faculty members at State colleges.
Amends State college law to allow boards of trustees to conduct collective bargaining.
Amends State college law to remove certain employees from civil service system.
A couple of MMM commenters have taken issue with the fact that we have not mentioned Joseph Rudy Rullo as one of the candidates for the 2012 GOP nomination for U.S. Senate.
From the looks of his website, its hard to tell if Rullo is running for Senate or if he is promoting his solar energy business.
He says he loves the GOD of Abraham and JESUS CHRIST. That he is a boy scout and likens himself to Mr. Smith who wants to go to Washington to make the real estate market stable, and end political and corporate corruption so that all Americans can be confident once again as players on a level playing field in our economy.
He says the focus of his campaign will be to give jobs to the unemployed, to turn consumer inconfidence into booming economic growth, to hold corporate and political leaders accountable to the constitution of the United States of America, to redirect financial and legal power to working legal Americans, to reward companies that employ Americans and tax companies that outsource to foreign countries, to freeze funding of countries like Pakistan that support terrorists and give that money back to America, to tax countries like China until they trade fairly and ethically in the United States, to identify every source of energy this country can produce within its borders and put America back to work, to support WTC victims and responders who are not being helped by the government with cancer and other related health problems, and to hand back government back to the people.
Rullo had ambitions to run for Congress in 2010. He owns the website rullo4congress2010.com, the content of which promotes his solar energy company.
Forgive us for not taking Joseph Rullo seriously and including him in the posts about the U. S. Senate race.
Heretofore when covering the Senate race we will mention Rullo with a link back to this post, if we remember to do so.
If you’ve been following the snooze lately, you might have heard that NJ’s own UMDNJ tried to force nurses with religious or moral objections into assisting with abortions, which seems to be a violation of Federal and State law. UMDNJ has countered by arguing that they are requiring their nurses to assist with “pre-” and “post-” care, which sounds like a case of testing semantics to me. Regardless of if their order for nurses to assist at any point violates the federal or state law, there seems to be another, much larger problem that is going unnoticed in the snooze; UMDNJ performs abortions.
Maybe that’s old news to you the reader, but it was news to me because, at least as far as I knew, federal law, specifically the Hyde Amendment, prohibits federal tax dollars from funding abortions. UMDNJ boasts on it’s website “Over the last five years, UMDNJ has attracted $628 million in federal research grants.” In other words, UMDNJ has received $628 million in federal dollars, and performs abortions. They may or may not have received funds directly for abortions, but it wasn’t so long ago that the US House Voted for strip funding from Planned Parenthood after similar concerns about abortions being performed there were brought to light.
The Record’s Herb Jackson reports that U.S. Senator Robert Menendez has raised over $10 million in special interest contributions for his 2012 reelection campaign. A look at the Senator’s FEC reports reveals that $5.3 million of that money was raised last quarter and that he had $6.9 million in cash on hand on September 30th.
Despite Menendez’s weak poll numbers, whoever the GOP nominates to challenge him will have a heavy lift. New Jersey voters are split 40-38 percent over whether the Hudson County poll deserves another term, according to Quinnipiac, yet they favor him 43-39 percent over an unnamed Republican.
Most All of the Republicans vying for the nomination are unnamed in the minds of New Jersey voters. Joe Kyrillos, Mike Doherty and Anna Little are names well known in political circles and to readers of this site, but are not households names throughout New Jersey. At the pace Menendez is raising money, the GOP nominee will likely need to raise $25 million or more to compete.
Little Impact
Anna Little’s fliration with the Senate race has many Republicans shaking their heads. Others are scratching their heads. Little’s FEC reports indicate no money raised in 2011 for her announced rematch against Frank Pallone. Yet Little has been sending fund raising letters,”paid for” by Anna Little for Congress 2012, the expenses for which are not reported, and is traveling the state and the country seeking support and singing God Bless America.
Should Little actually enter the Senate race and forsake a potential rematch against Pallone, her candidacy in the primary will ironically benefit State Senator Joe Kyrillos. Little would split the hardline conservative/Tea Party/Loneganite vote with State Senator Mike Doherty, making what is already expected to be a smooth ride for Kyrillos, should he choose to seek the nomination, even easier than previously anticipated.
With the Monmouth County Republican Election Day Sweep **long** behind us it’s time to look forward to the next big race, and I don’t mean the Presidential election of 2012, I mean the race for the open Monmouth County Freeholder seat now that Rob Clifton is moving up to the State Assembly. It’ll be up the Monmouth County Republican Committee Members (and I bet there are quite a few who don’t even know it) to vote for his replacement and it seems the horse trading and whisper campaigns have already begun, in fact they seem to have started a while back as if Rob’s election to the Assembly was certain.
My usual disclaimer: Don’t expect to get insider information out of me. If I know, or think I know something, I’m sure its that I’m among the last to know and it’s only a repeat of information someone else passed on to me.
Here are the names I’ve heard or been told are considering seeking the seat, and some names that I’ll add to spread my own rumors and get the discussion going.
Bob Burlew of Keyport seems to be interested in the seat according to multiple people. I’d normally be glad to name my sources names here but the truth is that at least three different people mentioned this to me and I speak to a lot of people about a lot of different things so I don’t want to misquote anyone. I don’t know anything about Bob Burlew, but I have met Bob a few times, seems like a nice enough guy. Maybe my old pal, Keyport Mayor Bob McLeod, or some other Keyport reader/Bayshore guy can chime in with all of the positive things about Bob, you can keep any negatives to yourself, this should be a friendly contest, right? FWIW – Bob has a brother, Ed. Ed was one of the recent county elections that went to a recount. I must have ADD or something as that tid-bit is irrelevant, but i figured I’d pass it on so readers would be know.
Speaking of Bobs, it’s hard to overlook that Howell Mayor Bob Walsh, who dropped out of this year’s primary the morning of the nominating votes, ran the circuit with Gary and Lillian. There was not a candidate’s forum or fundraiser (that I attended) that I didn’t also see Bob Walsh. Either Bob is a good, dedicated Republican (like me!) or Bob (and I) wanted to remind folks he’s around and ready to serve as a Freeholder. For the record, I am not available or ready to serve as a Freeholder, but thanks for considering me! I appreciate your support but I’m going to have to turn you down, this time. Worth noting that Bob Walsh seems to have a friend in Jim Gianell from Red Bank and Jim seems to have a lot of solid connections, and more important, I’ve spoken to Jim enough to believe that Jim is another libertarian leaning/conservative Republican so I think if a like-minded guy is pushing Walsh, it’s because Walsh is probably on the same page too. I can confirm that Bob is a likable guy, his line is that Howell is 53,000 people and 63sq miles and everyone of them from end to end love him — his ego might be burst but I think he’s mistake, my parents who live in Howell would love him more if someone repaved Larabee Blvd at Alexander down near Rt547/9 where those Russian churches are, it’s pretty bad – I won’t drive my beater car down that road. However, of slightly more importance, and also noteworthy, Bob Walsh may or may not have the support of someone I’m pround and honored to refer to as my friend, Howell Chairman Uncle John Costigan, who seemed to be supporting Lucas earlier in the year.
Speaking of Lucas, Manalapan Republicans won control of the township there. Lucas could be interested in the open seat, and his town would do just fine already in Republican hands, but I suspect his Preserved Farm purchase with the Freeholder board and his effort to get to State Assembly over Clifton may eliminate support for Lucas, who since I know you all care about my opinion, seems to be a good person and as far as I know and can tell from the few candidate forums I’ve spoken to him at, a good Republican. His story about when his child was born makes me laugh – the punchline is “…looks just like you!”, HA! Ask him for his views and position on abortion and he’ll tell you the story; the answer is that he’s solidly pro-life.
Outside of the Bobs and Lucas, another name to consider might be former Freeholder candidate and re-elected Town Committeeman, Wall’s George Newberry. I was, and still am, a big fan of George. Sure, I’ll hear how he comes across as a boring guy (which I don’t think is accurate) who speaks a little slower than a John Curley or Tom Arnone, but I had the pleasure of talking to George enough to believe that George is involved for the right reasons, and those reasons are doing the right things for taxpayers. The claims were that George was Chairman Joe Oxley’s “pick” this year. Chairman Oxley never directly told me George was his choice, never seemed to push him over any one else and if George was his “pick”, then I think Joe was backing a solid candidate and I don’t see why Joe, as a voter and a Chairman, shouldn’t get a vocal say and be able to support a guy he likes, if Joe even likes him, how would I know? And don’t get me wrong, after getting to know Gary, I’ve come to love him and I think the committee as a whole got it right to nominate Gary over George this time, but with a seat open again, in my mind, George is a good fit and ready to serve, today, along side John, Tom, Lillian and Gary, should he be interested, and I think he was the second highest vote getter at the nominating convention so some other folks probably agree with me. Of course, the knowledge of the masses in the entire committee may find another Gary Rich or John Curley, and that could certainly trump George as a candidate.
Some other folks worth noting, Joe Irace of Oceanport is always a well liked and popular guy who is a good, solid Republican.
Ocean Township has a list of good, solid Republicans they could push, Joe Hadden being one of them, and with State Committee Woman Christine Hanlon and Mary Pat from his town, he’d seem to have some strong advocates. Plus I’d volunteer for Joe and, clearly, I’m a proven King Maker!
Neptune Township has a young, rising star Jim Frostick who has Don and Jeff Beekman on the ally list along with (I think) the Neptune regulars in Jim Granelli, Warren Lapp and maybe/hopefully Former Mayors Mike Golub and Tom Catley. In a case of full disclosure — I work in the private sector as a VP of IS for the company where Jim is VP of Sales. If you haven’t met Jim Frostick yet, I suggest you do – he’s very inteligent, and humble, and has an outstanding work ethic and ability to be reasonable and rational. He currently serves on the BOE in Neptune, and I think he’s capable of much bigger things.
Middletown has it’s own long list of good Republicans, currently elected or not, it could push. I don’t personally know them, but I’m sure Chairman Carton does and with a large, active committee, I’m sure they could do well.
I’d also like throw Mayor Mike himself, Mike Halfacre from Fair Haven, who backed out of a US Congress run last year, into the race for a Freeholder seat, except I won’t because I’ve met his wife and she might not be interested in having Mike be a Freeholder. Mike has done a GREAT job addressing property tax issues in his town, I’d bet he could do a great job for the county as well. I should disclose: I’ve been the shooting range with Mike, he’s a very, very pro-2A guy, a decent shot and a heck of a nice guy to be around, so maybe I’m biased. Mike has his own set of anonymous trolls that like to bad mouth him here on MMM, but those clowns aside, Mike certainly seems to be a qualified guy with the right track record for a Freeholder. Plus the trolls will likely go after Mike for issues that just don’t apply to a Freeholder, ignore the trolls.
And again, don’t take my word for anything or think I’m here to tell you exactly who is running as if these are the only contenders, nor am I telling you who to nominate and vote for, I’m just an Average No One taking names (of Freeholder Candidates) and kicking ass (because if Lillian can say “kick ass” then so can I!). I’m sure in the vast field of anonymous cowards, one of you knows of at least one more name to consider or has some more solid information to share.
Former Highlands Mayor and former Freeholder Anna Little is considering a primary run for the GOP nomination to challenge U.S. Senator Robert Menendez in 2012.
An announcement posted on TPATH, a website run by Tea Party activist Dwight Kehoe, declared that Little is running:
Breaking News – (TPATH) Anna Little, one of New Jersey’s most dynamic supporters of the Constitution and smaller government, has set her sights on the US Senate race in 2012.
Anna announced today that her battle to unseat one of Obama’s most ardent supporters, Robert Menendez, will run hand in hand with the battle to save America by making Obama a one term President. She intends to use all her resources, energy and considerable enthusiasm towards that goal.
The Anna Little For Senate Campaign Will be holding its first campaign meeting this coming: Tuesday
November 15, 2011
at 5:00PM
Keyport IHOP.
Little’s spokesman Larry Cirgnano told Politickernj that the 2010 6th Congressional District nominee is “leaning” towards the Senate race.
State Senator Joe Kyrillos has established an exploratory committee for the Senate nomination and is considered the front runner by GOP insiders. State Senator Michael Doherty and former Roxbury Mayor Tim Smith are also expected to compete for the nomination. Jets owner Woody Johnson has been rumored to be considering a run.
