Obama Circle ‘Shaking with Laughter’ Over Hillary Rosen Distraction

By Ann Kane

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Guadagno Certifies Obama’s Candidacy

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, in her capacity as Secretary of State and Chief Election Official of the State of New Jersey certified all  presidential primary candidates yesterday afternoon, including President Barack Obama.

Obama’s only Democratic opponent, Randall Terry’s petitions were successfully challenged.  Terry’s name will not appear on the Democratic primary ballot.

Guadagno’s certification was done without announcement or fanfare via posting on the Secretary of State web site yesterday afternoon.

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Heroic or reckless?

Both.

Thank God no one died in the fire that Newark Mayor Cory Booker ran into last night.   There is no doubt in my mind, nor apparently in Booker’s based upon his remarks this morning, that Devine Intervention was a play.

God was looking out for Booker and for his neighbor who was trapped in the fire.  He was looking out for Booker’s security detail.  For their lives, their families and their careers.

Had Booker perished in the fire last night, it wouldn’t be long before his security detail was scape goated by the press and/or by ambitious politicians looking to fill the void.

Heroism in the face of grave danger is by its nature reckless.   Thank God tragedy was averted in Newark last night.

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Lautenberg, Menendez and Pallone visit Sandy Hook, vow to fight for lab

U. S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez, along with Congressman Frank Pallone held a press conference at Sandy Hook yesterday to let the public know about their efforts to keep the James J. Howard Marine Laboratory from being shuttered due to budget constraints at NOAA.

Let’s hope they are more successful than they were with Fort Monmouth.

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Christie’s “Condesending” Message

“I’ve never seen a less optimistic time, in my lifetime, in this courtry.  And people wonder why. I think it’s really simple.  It’s because government’s telling them stop dreaming, stop striving, we’ll take care of you.  We are turning into a paternalistic entitlement society…”

“….more importantly, there will be more money, more hope, more aspirations, in the hearts of our children and grandchildren than there are today.  And that’s what will make the 21st century the second American century.  That more than anything else, will allow the United States to export hope, and liberty and freedom around the world.  Not by just saying but by living it everyday in the way we conduct ourselves and in the way we govern ourselves.”

~Governor Chris Christie

Chris Christie believes that unrestrained by oppressive and “paternalistic” government, that ordinary people can and will live lives of accomplishment.

Tom Moran, that sanctimonious polyhistor responsible for The Star Ledger’s editorial page, thinks that makes Christie conceded.

The Asbury Park Press editorial board,  the Nudniks of Neptune who have fewer orginal thoughts that Joe Biden, agrees with Moran.

Christie made his remarks at a George W. Bush Presidential Center gathering in New York on Tuesday, April 10.  Moran posted his rant calling the governor’s message “condescending” early yesterday morning, the 12th.  The Nudniks followed yesterday evening calling Christie’s message “hectoring,” “insulting” and “condescending.”

The editorialists of New Jersey’s two largest news outlets must be appalled by Christie’s soaring popularity. 

It was the content of Christie’s remarks in between the two phrases I quoted above that got to the liberal regressive pundits.  Without naming the president, Christie had the audacity to point out that the Obama agenda has not resulted in hope, but in pessimism.  That if it continues we will be financially and morally bankrupt, waiting for the check to show up rather than striving for bigger checks.

Here’s what Christie said, unfiltered by the bias of Moran, the Nudniks or MMM:

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Kyrillos Raises $1.75 million

Middletown – April 12…  Today, New Jersey State Senator Joe Kyrillos’ campaign for U.S. Senate against Bob Menendez made public the results of its first filing with the Federal Election Commission.  

Putting Senator Kyrillos’ fundraising among the ranks of top tier incumbents and challengers alike for U.S. Senate seats around the country, the campaign revealed that it had raised over $1.75 million as of its first deadline on March 31st, 2012, from almost 2,000 individual donors – 90% of whom are New Jersey-based contributors.  The campaign reported $1.4 million cash on hand.

Kyrillos’ strong fundraising report comes on the same day the results of the most recent Quinnipiac University Poll were made public, showing Kyrillos closing in on Menendez – who is still only at 44% on the ballot.  Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute said, “Menendez’s numbers are lackluster, to say the least … This race could get interesting.’”   Incumbents polling under 45% are in significant danger and Menendez has been consistently under 45% in recent public polling.  This is Jon Corzine territory.

PolitickerNJ reports, “State Sen. Joe Kyrillos’ campaign for U.S. Senate has picked up steam over the past month with a new poll showing the Republican within 9 points of incumbent Democrat Bob Menendez.”

Senator Kyrillos said, “I am gratified and humbled not only by the amount we have raised for our effort thus far, but by the depth and breadth of support from my fellow New Jerseyans.  As I have traveled this great state and met with individual New Jersey taxpayers and families, the message couldn’t be clearer: we simply cannot afford more politics as usual.  Bob Menendez offers us only more of the same: more taxes, more spending and more job-killing regulation.  I have worked alongside Governor Christie and like-minded reformers to change New Jersey for the better and I am confident that this, our first, fundraising effort demonstrates that we will have the resources necessary to take this fight to our opponent and bring the same kind of change to Washington in November.” 

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Kyrillos closing the gap with Mendendez

The Quinnipiac poll released this morning has some encouraging news for State Senator Joe Kyrillos and his supporters as they campaign to unseat U.S. Senator Bob Menendez in November.

Menendez’s lead over Monmouth County’s favorite son is down to single digits, 44%-35%, with 18% undecided or not saying.   A February poll by Quinnipiac had the race at 49%-34% .

Menendez’s favorability and familiarity ratings remain anemic for an incumbent.  35% of voters have a favorable opinion of Menendez, 27% have an unfavorable view and 37% haven’t heard enough about him.  In February, 38% approved of Menendez, 24% didn’t and 36% didn’t know enough.  If this trend holds, Menendez is in trouble.

Kyrillos remains largely unknown, but the trends are in his favor.  In today’s poll 14% view Kyrillos favorably, 6% don’t and 79% don’t know enough about him.  In February 82% didn’t know enough about Kyrillos to form an opinion, 11% approved of him and 6% didn’t. 

Perhaps more encouraging for Kyrillos than the head to head numbers against Menendez are the poll results of the presidential campaign.

Quinnipiac says that Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney by 9 points in New Jersey, 49%-40%.   The presidential race in NJ tightens to 49%-42% if Governor Chris Christie is the VP nominee.

Obama won the popular vote in New Jersey by 15% in 2008.  NJ’s GOP leadership expects that he will take our electoral votes again.  However, they believe that if the race is within single digits, that Kyrillos can unseat Menendez.

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Administrative Law Judge: Obama Eligible For NJ Ballot

Administrative Law Judge Jeff S. Masin ruled that Barack Obama is eligible to appear on the Democratic primary ballot, according to a report on Conservative News and Views.

Mario Apuzzo, Esq., argued for the objectors to Obama’s petitions yesterday at a hearing presided over by Masin.  Alexandra Hill of Genova, Burn and Giantomasi argued for Obama.

Apuzzo has a write up of the proceedings on his blog.

CNV reports that Masin informed Apuzzo of his decision on the telephone at 7PM last evening and gave him a two hour deadline to file an exception to the ruling.

Apuzzo took exception to the following:

1. Judge Masin ruled that Obama was born in Hawaii with no evidence on record, after acknowledging that fact during the hearing.
2. Judge Masin ruled that Obama need not comply with statute to show that he is eligible, solely because he need not “consent” to someone circulating a nominating petition for him.
3. The judge suggested that Obama might have to show eligibility later. He laid no basis for such a ruling.
4. The judge misread the precedents and gave short shrift to the historical evidence that the Framers of the Constitution defined “natural-born citizen” as one born in-country to two citizen parents. Apuzzo devoted half of his 30-page exception to this analysis alone.

Apuzzo plans to appeal to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.

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Christie’s Approval Ratings Highest Ever

59% of New Jersey voters approve of the job that Governor Chris Christie is doing, according to a Quinnipiac Poll released this morning. 36% disapprove.

Republicans approve of the governor’s performance by 92%-6%.  Independents approve by 64%-32%.  Democrats disapprove by 64%-30%.

Women give Christie positive marks at a rate of 52%-42%.  Yet the gender gap remains.  Men approve of Christie’s performance by a measure of 67%-30%.

New Jersey’s traditionally Democratic urban areas are evenly split in their assessment of the governor’s job performance.  Christie scored 48%-48% in the cities.  “Philly Land” approves by 55%-38%, suburan areas approve by 60%-36%, ex-urban by 67%-29% and the shore by 65%-31%.

Tax decreases are popular in New Jersey.  

Voters approve of the way Christie is handling the state budget by 58%-35% and approve of his proposed 10% across the board income tax cut by 54%- 32%.   Voter also like Senate President Sweeney’s 10% property tax cut for residents earning less than $250,000 per year by 57%-24%.   If we have to choose, we prefer Sweeney’s plan by 49%-38%.

Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,607 registered voters between April 3-9.  The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.4 %.

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Santorum Suspending Presidential Bid

The New York Times is reporting that former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator will announce that he is suspending his campaign for the GOP Presidential nomination this afternoon.

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