U. S. Senator Bob Menendez was in Belleville, NJ. on September 25 looking for votes from American Veterans and throwing around Presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” remark. Menendez likes to contrast himself with Romney. He told the veterans how much he understands them and their lives. What a joke.
How can he? How can a career politician like Bob Menendez play the champion of the “middle class” when he has lived as a member of that most elite of elites, the “political class”, for nearly all of his adult life? In other words, he is that rarity of rarities – a one percenter among one percenters.
Starting out as a young man on the make, Bob Menendez hitched on to corrupt Union City boss Mayor Musto and became one of his ardent henchmen – until a palace coup got rid of Boss Musto and replaced him with Boss Menendez. And what kind of a boss was Bob Menendez? To know the politician, you must go back to his roots, in Union City, back when he had his first taste of power, back when he was Mayor Menendez – boss of Union City.
In the winter of 1988, a story broke about an American veteran, down on his luck, living in low income housing, stuck in Union City. The Record (Bergen County) carried this report on December 9, 1988:
I wonder what we are made of. What sort of lot are we? Last week the Seattle Sea Hawks scored a contested victory over the Green Bay Packers. The game was decided when temporary refs erroneously deliberated a final second play that many observers and fans say stole victory from the hands of the Packers. There was outrage among sports commentators as well as with the players and the fans alike. Before the owners and refs came to an agreement, the players talked of a walk out, the media unceasingly broadcast slow-motion instant replays and there were even reports of Twitter chat inciting violence against the commissioner.
In other news, an American Ambassador was ripped from a sovereign US embassy in Benghazi, Libya by Al Qaeda terrorists on the 11th anniversary of September 11th; he was raped, he was tortured, he was murdered; secret intelligence documents were stolen from him, with the names of Libyans aiding America and not an ounce of righteous anger from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or the Obama Administration condemning either the riots or Al Qaeda’s role. In fact, speaking before the UN, Obama chastised those that would criticize Islam.
For that matter, there’s not an indication of indignation from either Congressman Frank Pallone or from Senator Bob Menendez, despite the fact that Al Qaeda has claimed the lives of numerous people from our local community. The attack on our embassy was yet another act of war on the American people. History has proven that ignoring Al Qaeda incites and emboldens them. Al Qaeda is the perpetrator in Benghazi and yet this President and NJ’s elected representatives refuse to acknowledge the uncontestable fact that Al Qaeda remains a viable threat to us despite Bin Laden’s death. In fact, Obama rejects this reality and the Democratic leadership remains unwilling to hold him accountable.
Nonetheless, the facts are irrefutable. Not only did multiple foreign news sources, from the UK, Israel and Middle Eastern news outlets report that the US had advance warning of the attacks against US embassies, but the personal journal of murdered ambassador J. Christopher Stevens indicates that he was aware that he was the target of a terrorist hit squad and that he feared for his safety and the safety of his fellow Americans. CNN, the source of the contents of Steven’s journal also reports that the Ambassador feared, “a rise in Islamic extremism and al Qaeda’s growing presence in Libya”.
Nonetheless in an alternate reality propped up by our media and the complicit Democratic Party, appearing before the UN Assembly last week, Obama characterized violence in the Middle East as nothing more than “a bump in the road”. And despite reams of definitive evidence that indicates that the attack in Libya was a coordinated terrorist attack by Al Qaeda extremists, Obama has advanced a lie for three weeks, asserting that the violence in Libya was in response to an anti-Islam video on YouTube made by an insensitive American.
Standing before the nations of the world Obama said, “a crude and disgusting video sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world. I have made it clear that the United States government had nothing to do with this video, and I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity. It is an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well…”
Just like the football game last Monday night, where there was concrete evidence for the world to see, there is an abundance of irrefutable evidence detailing what happened leading up to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens abduction and murder. Moreover, President Obama has neglected his duties as Commander In Chief, attending only 38% of his President’s Daily Brief (PDB). Since JFK, every president has attended nearly every PDB, with the exception of Obama. Had he kept his oath to defend our nation he would have fortified our embassies, instead of disarming them with rubber bullets, as has been widely reported by men in the field. America must confront terrorists with force not speeches.
But Obama will not see that justice is done, because to him nothing but a “bump in the road” has occurred. Certainly nothing happened, which would require a military response. But what is most troubling is that too few of us will do anything about it either. If public anger changed the NFL, how much more so could it reform failed foreign policy and revitalize a weakened national security.
What I fear is that we will complain about football, we will complain about our government, but too many of us will sit idly by while Americans are slaughtered in the name of Allah, in the name of YouTube or in the name of apathy and we will not raise our voices in protest, because where there is no righteousness there can be no righteous anger. Is this who we really are?
–Ernesto Cullari is a former Republican Candidate for US Congress
If case you missed it, view the debate between U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and State Senator Joe Kyrillos here.
Joe Kyrillos held is own tonight, but did not do what he need to do to close the gap in the polls and make a race of his contest to unseat Bob Menendez.
Menendez came better prepared to attack Kyrillos and better prepared to defend himself. The incumbent U.S. Senator seemed to have a better command of the facts, higher energy and was clear about the message he wanted to convey.
Kyrillos came off halting, uncomfortable and unclear in his message.
In the second half hour, Kyrillos seemed to step up his game. But his efforts to “land a punch” fell flat as his delivery was cautious and reserved. It was if he was trying to land a punch while being nice about it.
I don’t see the race changing much based upon what happened tonight. It’s not over, as there are two more debates and a month of campaigning. Most voters are not yet focused on the down ballot offices. Joe need to step up his game.
Joe Kyrillos and Bob Menendez will face off tonight in a U.S. Senatorial debate at Montclair State University. The event will be broadcast on NJTV and live streamed on njtvonline.org at 8PM.
Menendez, the incumbent Democrat is seeking his second term term in the Senate. He was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine in 2006 to fill the seat that Corzine vacated when he was elected governor. Menendez defeated State Senator Tom Kean, JR in 2006 to earn his own term. Prior to his appointment to the U.S. Senate, Menendez represented Hudson County in the House of Representatives for 13 years. He served four years in the State Assembly and one year in the State Senate before being elected to Congress. Menendez was also Mayor of Union City while serving in the Assembly.
Kyrillos has represented Monmouth County in the State Legislature for since 1988. He served as GOP State Chairman in the early 2000’s, was Mitt Romney’s 2008 New Jersey campaign chair and Governor Christie’s campaign chairman in 2009.
Despite their long careers in public service, neither Menendez or Kyrillos are well known statewide.
30% of registered voters, including 25% of Democrats, did not know enough about Menendez to express an opinion about him in September 25 Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll. That is a horrible statistic for an incumbent U.S. Senator that indicates he was not been engaged with his constituents. The campaign has not boosted Menendez’s name recognition much. In February, the Senator was unknown to 33% of the electorate in a Monmouth/APP poll.
Kyrillos has done a much better job increasing his name ID with voters this year. In February, 80% hadn’t heard of him and 14% heard of him but did not know enough about him to express an opinion. In the September 25 poll, 48% of likely voters had no opinion of Kyrillos and 12% had never heard of him. Of the 39% of likely voters who know of Kyrillos, 27% view him favorably.
It seems to me that Romney performed best tonight. He didn’t let Obama mischaracterized his proposals. He had a superior command of the issues. He was aggressive yet respectful.
Yet there was no knock out punch.
Obama seemed to be to be detached and disinterested. I don’t recall Obama ever having the demeanor he displayed tonight. He did not engage the camera or Romney. He and Jim Lehrer seemed to be having a nice chat.
Monmouth GOP Headquarters. Who's missing? Click on photo for full view
Anna Little’s congressional campaign has failed to respond to the Federal Election Commission’s demands for accurate information about the campaign’s finances.
As reported by MMM on September 12, the FEC wrote Little’s husband and campaign treasurer, Rob Little, three separate letters in late August regarding serious deficiencies in the campaign’s April 2012 quarterly report, the 12 day pre-primary report, and the June 2012 quarterly report. The April and pre-parimary reports lacked donor information. The July report, which reported a negative cash balance of over $11,000, did not jibe with the previous two reports. The FEC demanded that all of the reports be ammended and that they be filed electronically. The deadline for the April amendment was September 28. The pre-primary report amendment was due on October 1 and the July amendment was due yesterday. None of the amendments are posted in the FEC website.
The FEC’s letters stated in bold print that requests for extensions would not be considered and that failure to comply could result in audits and enforcement action.
The FEC analysts who wrote to Little referred MMM to the press office. The press office spokewoman told MMM that reports that are filed electronically are posted to the commission’s website “almost immediately.” Reports that are submitted via paper are posted “within 48 hours.” The spokeswoman twice suggested that MMM contact the campaign. “It will be interesting to hear what they have to say,” she said.
Rob Little told MMM that he received the letters and referred them to the campaign’s compliance officer. Little declined to give the name of the compliance officer, stating, “you’re going to twist whatever I say.”
Speaking of twisted….
The Little campaign yesterday emailed a fundraising appeal declaring that her race against Congressman Frank Pallone is winnable based on Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press polling data.
The email, signed by “Anna,” cited Monmouth University Polling Director Patrick Murray’s statewide poll released last week that measured the favorability ratings to potential Democratic gubernatorial challengers to Governor Chris Christie in 2013. Pallone scored a statewide favorability rating of 16% statewide (17% among Republicans), 9% unfavorable and 75% had no opinion. Little compared that poll to a October 2010 Monmouth survey of the old 6th congressional district that indicated Pallone was beating Little in that race by 53% to 41%.
Little’s email told her prospective donors:
THE RACE IS WINABLE
These polling numbers mean that the number of Registered voters that view Pallone as ‘favorable’ have droped 31% since we last sqaured (sic)off against him in 2010.
These polling results mean that we have 34 days to engage with the 75% of voters who are undecided and help them form an opinion about the self proclaimed author of Obamacare before they head to the polls on Nov. 6th
These polling results mean that victory in the 6th district will be awarded to the campaign that reaches that 75% first!
U. S. Senator Bob Menendez was in Belleville, NJ. on September 25 looking for votes from American Veterans and throwing around Presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” remark. Menendez likes to contrast himself with Romney. He told the veterans how much he understands them and their lives. What a joke.