More proof that the lame Asbury Park Press is in the tank for Pallone

The Neptune Nudniks are promoting an anti-Anna Little video in their Sunday edition, with a link on their website, that refers to Little with a sexual slur.  The five minute video has so many copyright violations that YouTube wouldn’t host it.  You would think Hollis Towns, the head nudnik, would know better.  Apparently not.

I’d embed the video if not for the blatant copyright violations.  Like Frank Pallone’s negative ads, I think this video would win Little more votes that it would cost her.

The video was made by Hazlet resident Yetta Weissen who says she’s a film maker.  A real film maker would not steal other artists property with impunity as Weissen does with this vulgar and amateurish production.  She told the Nudniks that she has been too busy with her day job and her film making to be engaged in the NJ-6 campaign.  She made the video, she says, as a reaction to a friend saying, “I don’t know, I’m just going to vote Republican.”

Weissen’s day job was with Focus World International, a Holmdel based marketing research firm in 2008 when she donated $276 to the Obama campaign.

As an proof of how lame and irrelevant the Nudniks have become, as of 1:20 this afternoon only 53 people have viewed the video today, including me.

If you must view the video, I’ve given you enough information to find it yourself.

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Prosperity is dead

We might as well all just quit working, saving, investing and inventing.  Prosperity is dead. 

It must be true.  I read it in the Asbury Park Press.

Governor Christie killed it, according to the Neptune Nudniks in their editorial, A death blow for prosperity, by killing the ill conceived ARC tunnel project that would have boosted New York’s economy while New Jersey tax payers  paid the open ended bill. 

What a bunch of hyperbole.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that Monmouth and Ocean counties don’t have a reliable and trustworthy news organization to serve the region, the head Nudnik wants to export his special brand of propaganda throughout the nation.  Hollis Towns, the Executive Editor of the Neptune Nudniks was recently elected president of the Associated Press Managing Editors.

“I’m thrilled to be elected president of an organization with such a rich history and bright future,” said Towns, 46. “I plan to build on the successes of the past year by growing the membership, extending our reach and launching an important national reporting project with The Associated Press.”

Good grief.  Did the APME members read his rag before electing him?  This nudnik is going to launch an important national reporting project with the internationally syndicated Associated Press?

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Look who is covering Little and Pallone!

The Asbury Park Press has a front page piece about the Monmouth University Poll on CD-6.  There is even a positive headline for Anna Little,
Poll: Little closing in on Pallone in 6th District race.  Good for the Nudniks, they easily could have written, Little still trailing Pallone.

They’re probably trying to get back into the CNN news feed.

Actually the credit should go to Patrick Murray.  The Nudnik article was basically a rewrite of his press release for the poll.

With this line, Frank Pallone will need to bet on a strong turnout in more Democratic areas of this district to fend off this challenge,” Murray acknowledged that the incumbent is not winning this race.  The poll predicts a strong Democratic turnout in its sample.  Such a turnout can not be counted on.

There is no question this race will be determined on turnout.  As my friends at InTheLobby write today, Independents are siding with Republicans nationally by 14%.  In NJ-6, Little leads Pallone by 21% among Independents, according to Murray. Up from 14% three weeks ago.  The increase in support among Independents correlates with Little’s increased name recognition.  Three weeks ago, 45% of the voters had no opinion of her. Now that number is down to a still very high 31%.

Frank Pallone is on the verge of losing to a relative unknown.  As Little becomes more known, her support swells.  She’s easy to vote for, despite Pallone and Barbara Buono trying to paint her as extreme and out of the mainstream.

Murray credits the “Anna’s Army” ground game, lead by “General” Russ Cote, as the reason that Little has closed the gap so significantly in three weeks.  There is no question that The Bayshore Tea Party’s passionate and tireless troops continue change the political landscape of Central Jersey.  If Anna wins, they will have made that unpredictable result happen.

However, also contributing to Anna’s surge is Governor Christie’s personal involvement in the campaign, and Frank Pallone’s own TV ads. Pallone’s “positive” ad emphasises how out of touch he is with the district.  In my own unscientific poll of 5 CD-6 voters, 80% said they were less likely to vote for Pallone after seeing the ad. 20% were undecided.  Pallone’s “negative” ad attacking Little is a complete failure.  100% do not believe Little is the extremist Pallone portrays her to be. The ad can’t help but increase her name recognition.

Finally, Diane Gooch’s ad for Voice For My Child , while not mentioning Little, has given Independents an additional reason to vote against Pallone.

Little’s TV advertising will start airing tomorrow.  Her direct mail pieces have been going out for the last week.  She is poised to win this, but still needs help. 

Do what you can to get out the vote for Anna Little in CD-6.  Donate, talk to friends and family, email your friends links to her ads.  As Governor Christie has repeatedly said, we don’t want to wake up on November 3 regretting the one thing we didn’t do. 

If you’re in CD-12, or know people who vote in CD-12, do the same for Scott Sipprelle.  Send them the link to this ad.

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The Neptune Nudniks Cop Out In CD-3

By Art Gallagher

If there was any doubt left that the Asbury Park Press’s candidate endorsements are irrelevant to the electorate, the Nudniks made the point themselves today when they published an editorial declining to endorse a candidate in the New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district.  The 3rd district includes Toms River and 22 other Ocean County towns that the APP purports to serve.

The Neptune Nudniks don’t like GOP candidate Jon Runyan because he is a former NFL star who, they say was once rated the second dirtiest player in the league.  They don’t say who rated him that way or why it is relevant to his being elected to Congress.  They say Runyan “seems to have stolen the playbook from the conservative elements of the Republican National Committee and adopted it as his own,” as if that was a bad thing.  For voters in the 3rd district, who prior to sweeping John Adler into office on Barack Obama’s coattails in 2008 had not sent a Democrat to Washington in decades, Runyan’s conservatism will probably be enough to elect him.

As with their lazy and thoughtless endorsements of Frank Pallone and Rush Holt, and their grossly slanted “news” coverage of the 6th district race…they did not cover the debate between Anna Little and Frank Pallone, they barely mentioned Pallone’s corrupt interference into the FDA’s medical device approval process on the behalf on campaign contributor today’s non-endorsement, yet they prominently covered Pallone’s fictitious $400 million to revive the New Jersey fishing industry…today’s non-endorsement in the 3rd district race clearly demonstrates that the APP has joined The Huffington Post, The Daily Kos and The New York Times as members of the left stream media.

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Sipprelle responds to the Neptune Nudniks

By Scott Sipprelle (Published in today’s Asbury Park Press)

The Asbury Park Press’ recent editorial endorsement in the 12th Congressional District race correctly described the contest between 12-year incumbent Rep. Rush Holt and me as providing voters a stark choice between two very different candidates with different visions about the future direction of our country.

Beyond that, the editorial read more like one of Rush Holt’s negative campaign attacks against me – nasty in tone and short on facts. I thank the editorial board for allowing me the opportunity to respond and set the record straight.

First, I encourage everyone reading this to visit my website at www.supportscott2010.com and read my comprehensive “Blueprint for Renewal.” I am confident they will find it to be the most detailed and thoughtful series of position papers put forth by any congressional candidate in the country this year.

I set out to run a positive campaign of ideas and I am proud to have done just that.

Now, on to the specific issues:

The editorial board falsely accused me of opposing insurance coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. This is a completely fabricated claim that has been promulgated by Holt. In fact, my website lays out a novel plan for large national insurance pools of “uninsureds,” grouped by medical specialty that would be subsidized by federal dollars.

The editorial board also parroted one of Holt’s misleading attacks against me regarding unemployment benefits, quoting a statement they claim was extracted from my campaign website. My campaign website has never had any reference whatsoever to unemployment benefits, another mistake that indicates a sloppy research effort by the Press or an excessive reliance on talking points distributed by Holt.

The truth is that while congressional Democrats have offered to extend benefits indefinitely and congressional Republicans have called for cutting them off immediately, I have discussed a sensible compromise that is both compassionate and fiscally responsible, while focusing on the critical task of rebuilding America’s economic engine.

The best social welfare net is a job. Holt has no plan to create private sector jobs; he is offering just more of the status quo.

The board’s most ridiculous attack against me was regarding partisan politics. The fact of the matter is Holt votes with his party nearly 99 percent of the time and believes any idea offered by a Democrat is good and any idea offered by Republican is bad. He’s part of the problem in Washington and has contributed mightily to the toxic environment there.

On the other hand, I have supported a reform Democrat for mayor in my hometown of Princeton against an entrenched political machine, and I took considerable flak during the Republican primary for my financial donations to Democrats with whom I agreed on certain issues. There is only one candidate in this race who has demonstrated a willingness to reach across the aisle to solve problems – and it is me.

Less than two weeks from today, voters will go to the polls to make a historic decision. I would like them to believe I am the candidate who can make America work again.

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The Neptune Nudniks Drop The Ball Again

By Art Gallagher

If you know anyone who still gets their news from the Asbury Park Press, tell them that the Health Care Forum sponsored by the Monmouth County Medical Society has been moved from Riverview Medical Center to the Oyster Point Hotel.  And tell them that Falsetto Frankie has pulled out.

The Neptune Nudniks posted this story on their website today, Pallone, Little to debate Thursday at Riverview Medical Center.  MMM reported yesterday that the venue had changed to the Oyster Point, and earlier today that that Phoney Palloney pulled out.

The Star Ledger got the facts right, U.S. Rep. Pallone unable to attend public health care forum with challenger Anna Little, even if their headline is a bit Phoney.  Of course Pallone is able to attend.  He just chooses not to. 

MoreMonmouthMusings called Pallone’s office this afternoon to find out what was so pressing that the Congressman could not meet the doctors of the Monmouth County Medical Society and members of the public, along with Mayor Little, to discuss his major acheivement, the ObamaPalloneCare health care reform bill.  No one from the Congressman’s office has called back yet.

Kathleen Maher of the Ocean Township Democratic Club told MoreMonmouthMusings that Pallone’s office told her today that he is planning to attend the club’s monthly meeting tomorrow evening from 7:30-8:30, subject to an unexpected change is scheduling.  The meeting is at the West Park Recreation/Senior Center on West Park Ave between Route 35 and Whale Pond Rd, about a 15 minute drive from the Oyster Point Hotel.

Pallone should do the right thing and attend both events.  He can leave the Oyster Point and still get to the Ocean Township Democratic Club before that meeting ends. Or he could ask Kathleen to have the club members come to the Health Care Forum.

As for the Neptune Nudniks, they should really hire a fact checker to read MMM and NJ.com before they publish anything about politics or government in Monmouth County.

They should also publish their endorsement of Shaun Golden for Monmouth County Sheriff on their website.

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Neptune Nudniks Endorse Falsetto Frankie

In honor of the Soprano State MoreMonmouthMusings hereby adds Falsetto Frankie to Phoney Palloney as our favorite nicknames for the congressman from New Jersey’s sixth district.

In the most telegraphed endorsement since The New York Times endorsed Barack Obama for President, the Asbury Park Press endorsed Falsetto Frankie for another term in Washington this morning.   The endorsement found its way to the Nudniks’ website.  Their endorsement of Shaun Golden for Monmouth County Sheriff, which appeared in yesterday’s print edition, has yet to make its way to app.com.

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The Asbury Park Press Finally Reports On Pallone’s Pay To Play Scam

Not surprisingly, The Neptune Nudniks let Pallone spin the stroy

By Art Gallagher

The Asbury Park Press has finally reported Congressman Frank Pallone’s interference with the Food and Drug Administration on behalf of a campaign donor.

After receiving campaign contributions from ReGen Biologics, a Hackensack based medical device manufacturer, and its executives in 2008, Pallone, Congressman Steven Rothman and Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menedez , the four legislators pressured the FDA into approving ReGen’s Menaflex knee patch. Menaflex had previously been rejected twice.  This week the FDA reversed the decision and announced it was rescinding the approval.

Pallone told the Asbury Park Press that what he did was routine, what he would do for any constituent. 

ReGen is in Hackensack which is not in the 6th congressional district.  ReGen CEO Gerald Bisbee, who along with his wife Linda contributed $32,000 of the over $50,000 contributed to the legislators and the Democratic party, lives in Connecticut.  John Dichiara, the company’s government affairs director, wrote checks for $20,800.  He lives in New York.

Pallone told the APP that he has three staffers who help residents who are having trouble with government red tape.

Maureen Nevin of Asbury Park has not had as much “routine” help from Pallone.  She hasn’t made any campaign contributions, according to campaignmoney.com

Patrick Donohue hasn’t given any money to Pallone either. Maybe that is why Frank won’t release  H. Con Res. 198, a resolution recognizing Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury as the leading cause of death and disability in the United States for children and young adults from birth until 25 years of age and endorsing the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan, from the committee he chairs.

Pallone told the APP that the FDA has mismanaged the project from the beginning. He said that the product is approved in Europe and that, “This is a product that could have helped people. It could have saved people a lot of pain.”

That’s not what Pallone was saying in May of 2009.  He, Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak signed a 16 page letter to the FDA raising questions about the ReGen Menaflex approval and asking them to review it.   That hardly seems routine.  I guess the APP fact checkers missed that.

During his Red Bank town hall meeting in August of 2009, Pallone said “Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman are the two finest people I know in Washington.”

Let’s summarize what we know of Pallone’s involvement with ReGen and the FDA so far.

1) In 2008 Pallone received campaign contributions from ReGen executives and then he joined his NJ colleagues Rothman, Lautenberg and Menedez in applying pressue to the FDA to approve the ReGen product.

2) In 2009, Pallone reversed course.  He joined Waxman, “one of the finest people he knows in Washington” in raising questions about the ReGen product’s approval and asking the FDA to review it.  He did so in a 16 page letter with a signature larger than John Hancock’s.

3) In 2010, while in the midst of the tightest election he has ever faced in his career, Pallone flips again. He tells the Asbury Park Press that what he did was routine, like what he would do for anybody.  He said the FDA mismanaged the process from the beginning and that the product could help a lot of people.

THAT’S WHY WE CALL HIM PHONEY PALLONEY!

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Breaking News From the Asbury Park Press:

Whales and sharks eat otters in Alaska.  Feds spend $15million to find that out.

Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates have a debate.

Gay male actors have twins 

Morris County man takes plea deal in attempted squirrel drowning.

Still no reporting on Frank Pallone’s influence peddling scheme gone bad.

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