President Reagan’s son: Learn when to shut up, Mr. President | Opinion

By Michael Reagan As we’ve said here before, Donald Trump has to learn to just shut up and let things go. The failure to do that is the worst Achilles heel of a president who seems to have half a dozen Achilles heels. Because he can’t think on his feet, because he doesn’t know how to… Read the rest of this entry »

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To combat hate, share your love

By Art Gallagher

August 12, 1958 was a big day in my mother’s life. I don’t even remember it

I’ve intentionally stayed out the the raging debate over the terrible events in Virginia last weekend and the adequacy, or lack thereof, of President Trump’s response to them.

I consider most of the ranting, from both the left and the right, to be bullshit political posturing, or ass covering, that will make no positive difference at all in improving our quality of life. It won’t make a positive difference how we relate to people who don’t look like us, dress like us or talk like us.  On the contrary, the raging narrative in the media seems to be increasing our divisions.

The best result, so far, of the current media narrative is that we are apparently no longer on the verge of nuclear war with the crazy fat kid in North Korea and the Russians are apparently no longer attempting to hijack our republic.

I’m inviting my little corner of the Internet to use the upset caused by recent events to create some love and harmony. I think its contagious.

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McKenna Slams Singer’s Endorsement Of Flancbuam In LD 30 Race, Questions Candidate’s Qualifications

By Bob McKenna

Bob McKenna

So there it is, finally out in the open. In his comments to MMM regarding his endorsement of Mr. Flancbaum for the LD 30 Assembly position, Senator Singer is quoted as saying, “ I had to defend my county “ ( Ocean ). I’m confused, I thought this Assembly seat, as well Senator Singer’s position, was about the representation at the state level of the residents, businesses and taxpayers of the 14 municipalities comprising LD 30, 12 of which are in Monmouth County.

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OpEd: Asbury Park’s New Charter School and Religious Funding

By Tommy DeSeno

“College Achieve” charter school is trying to open in Asbury Park. It’s operated by Mike Piscal, who is known in the education field for making charter schools in California go broke, for having lax policy on sexual harassment and choosing spokespeople the likes of Bill Cosby. After California he spent two years in Las Vegas, then recently had a failed attempt to open a charter school in Brooklyn.

Having come back home to New Jersey, he incorporated “College Achieve” charter school with no assets other than the $75.00 filing fee, with an address at his father’s house in Toms River.

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State Candidates on Notice

By Patrick Short

Patrick Short , former Middletown Township Committeeman

The races for State offices this year are going to be exciting and I can’t wait for the truths, half-truths, or no truths be told.  Who knows how one will vote this year.  The water is very rough. One side remains angry. The other side who hung too close to Christie’s coat tail is very vulnerable.

To get my vote:

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OPINION: SENATE VOTE NEXT LOGICAL STEP IN OBAMACARE REPEAL

By Laurie Ehlbeck

Obamacare has been, to put it mildly, burdensome for small businesses in New Jersey. Soon, the Senate will have a chance to do something about it.

Year after year, when the National Federation of Independent Business surveys its members, they say their number one priority is healthcare, but the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, has made things more difficult for them. Its onerous taxes and mandates have increased costs and reduced choices.

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Beck: School Funding Should Be Fair and Transparent

Senator Jennifer Beck

By Senator Jennifer Beck

The biggest issue facing our state is property taxes.  And the biggest impact on that issue is school taxes.

Over the next several weeks, a new plan for school funding will be debated in Trenton.

There aren’t a lot of details being provided on this plan or its methodology, but estimates suggest that it could end up costing Monmouth County schools over $100 million in state school aid.

This plan, if estimates are true, isn’t a fair or equitable solution to our school funding crisis.

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Repairing the Asbury Park Press’ Conservative Insufficiency

By Tom DeSeno

The Asbury Park Press is the only daily paper targeting two New Jersey counties.  If that sounds small, consider those two counties have a larger population than eight U.S. states. They double the population of Washington DC. That makes the AP Press important not only as a courier of news, but considering its monopoly, as a sculptor of opinion in our great national debate.

Owned by media giant Gannett, the largest newspaper publisher in America and parent of USA Today, there exists available resources to publish a product that mirrors the Press’ considerable responsibility (if Gannett is willing to open the spigot on resources, that is).

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Kim Guadagno is New Jersey’s Best Hope To Defeat Phil Murphy

By Art Gallagher

I’m voting for Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno in the Republican Primary tomorrow because I’m convinced she’s the only candidate in the field who can defeat former Goldman Sachs banker Phil Murphy, the likely Democrat nominee, in November and prevent the return of unbridled government spending and taxation that will occur if Democrats regain control of the State Executive branch.

Guadagno’s primary campaign has been brilliant in its simplicity. She has deftly managed to put distance between herself and Governor Chris Christie while keeping her eye on the prize….winning the gubernatorial nomination.  Kim has demonstrated that she knows that she is out to win an election, not to sell investors on a business plan. She’s presented herself as likeable, relatable and wanting to make New Jersey “Better.” Her appeal is emotional, not cerebral.

The most likeable candidate is going to win in November. Read the rest of this entry »

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Democrats in the 13th District: Vote for Joshua Leinsdorf for Senate in the Primary

By Art Gallagher

Over the Memorial Day weekend I noticed that Sean Byrnes, the establishment candidate for State Senate in the 13th District Democratic Primary, has put up lawn signs to get people to vote for him on Tuesday, June 6.   Byrnes is being challenged for the nomination to compete with Republican Declan O’Scanlon in November by Joshua Leinsdorf of Atlantic Highlands.   The winner of the LD 13 Senate election will replace Senator Joe Kyrillos in the Senate.

Given that Byrnes is taking the primary challenge from Leinsdorf seriously, I thought I should too.  I invited Mr. Leinsdorf to sit with me for an interview.  He surprised me. I thought Leinsdorf was an attention seeking gadfly perennial candidate.  I found him to be a sincere, smart and thoughtful man who has common sense ideas on how to solve New Jersey’s many fiscal problems.  Win or lose, he wants to influence public policy. He claims that even his losing campaigns have made a difference.

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