By Dan Jacobson, Originally published in the July 28th, 2011 edition of the triCityNews
I’m running as an Independent for the state Assembly. And I’m not about to kiss the Tea Party’s ass. No way.
But they shouldn’t be offended.
I’m not kissing anybody’s ass. I’m just calling it like I see it in this campaign – exactly as I’ve done at this newspaper for over a decade.
So all you Tea Party types, here’s what I’m about. Make your own call.
My beliefs are united by one thing – a knee-jerk reaction against the concentration of power, wherever it may be found. That includes government employee unions who use mandatory dues to elect those sitting across the bargaining table. That includes powerful corporations that get government favors instead of competing in the free market. It also includes big media – my disgust with the Gannett-owned Asbury Park Press is well-documented. And it includes political parties who order elected officials what to do. I recoil against it all.
Some key issues? I think school vouchers should be tried in poor urban school districts. I want competition between the public and private sectors to better the education system. And I support the recently-passed pension and health benefits reform bill as a step in the right direction, although its supporters in Trenton overstate its impact. (Of course, the bill – surprise, surprise – leaves unstated who will pay the taxes that it clearly requires. Wow, what courage. No wonder the pension system has been underfunded for 15 years.)
The mainstream media has tagged the Tea Party with such divisive figures as Sarah Palin (an idiot) and Michele Bachman (a wacko). The media calls them Tea Party favorites and Tea Party darlings, suggesting the movement is narrow, extremist and divisive. I just don’t see it that way.
The Tea Party movement has done a great service to this country by forcing the Republican Party back to its limited government principles. Voters need that option. The best example? Had the Tea Party been around before 2006, when the Republicans lost control of Congress, it would be a much different country today.
In 2006, conservative Republicans stayed home because the GOP was spending like crazy liberals – and that delivered the House and Senate majorities to the Democrats. That gave us Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. The Tea Party movement would have prevented that. Under Tea Party pressure, Republicans would never have strayed so far from their limited government roots. Those that did would have been defeated in Republican primaries by Tea Party candidates. In that scenario, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid would never have come to power. Conservative Republicans would have voted in 2006, continuing House and Senate Republican majorities.
Two years later, I voted for Barack Obama – John McCain simply didn’t have the temperament to be President. But it was a grim choice. I predicted in this space that a Democratic Congress with a Democratic President would be disastrous. Turns out I was right. What a different story it would have been – and a very good one – if Obama had faced a Republican Congress from day one in dealing with the economic crisis.
Think about that for a moment. Had the Tea Party been around before the 2006 election, the Republicans may have kept control of Congress. None of the nonsense we endured under Pelosi and Reid would have happened.
Obama and a Republican Congress from the start would have been great for this country. I love that we elected an African-American President whose father was a Muslim. You won’t see France doing that. Obama’s problem is his utter lack of experience in the private sector or feel for free market economics. Yet he had tremendous potential as a leader with a Republican Congress – they’d be a check on each other’s excesses. After all, Bill Clinton soared after Newt Gingrich and the Republicans took over Congress. Obama should have been a success. It’s a shame what happened.
Look, the Democrats are idiots on economic policy. We all know that. They’re clueless on how to fix a free market economy. Democrats are around to make sure this country doesn’t turn into a theocracy. That’s why we elect them. I’d rather not live in Iran, thank you.
So I blame the Republicans as much as anyone for today’s economic mess by straying from their limited government principles – and handing the Congress over to Reid and Pelosi back in 2006. That was a complete disaster for this country. A catastrophe. What a shame the Tea Party movement wasn’t around back then to stop it.
In that context, the Tea Party movement certainly doesn’t look extremist to me. Quite the opposite. I think the broad majority of people in our area, and in this country, would agree with my analysis: President Obama and a Republican Congress from the start would have been great for this country. Certainly much better than what we got.
The local people I know who support the Tea Party principles of limited government are almost all self-reliant, self-employed types who can’t stand political bullshit. Definitely my kind of folk. It’s a streak of economic libertarianism we share. (I also have a libertarian streak on social issues.)
As for endorsements from local Tea Party groups, I doubt I’ll get them. Nor do I particularly care – I want voters and groups to do whatever the hell they want. I know there’s one Tea Party group in Colts Neck, which is in the new 11th District where I’m running. We’ll see what they do.
Unfortunately, my suspicion is that the Republican Party will eventually co-opt these groups, which would be a shame. In addition, movements like this often collapse under their own weight as egos, personality conflicts and downright bizarre people end up dominating them. That’s when the political pros move in to defang or co-opt them. And finish them off.
But back to my campaign.
It’s not endorsements that are important to me. What I find very cool, however, is the positive response to my candidacy from people ranging from Tea Party supporters to Green Party supporters. That’s a helluva range. I love that!
It demonstrates an anti-establishment current that’s alive and well around here. It’s certainly right for these times. People want their elected to just tell them the truth – and not give them a line of bullshit to cover up some other political agenda everyone knows is being followed.
So Tea Party people, whoever you are, there you go. Make your own call in the voting booth!
(The 11th District where I’m running includes: Asbury Park, Long Branch, Red Bank, Ocean Township, Neptune, Neptune City, Interlaken, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, West Long Branch, Eatontown, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, Colts Neck, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough.)
Bloggers note: All candidates for any office are welcome to submit material for publication to MMM. So is anyone else. Send to Artvg @ aol.com.
“The Governor is extremely grateful for the quality of care he is receiving this morning and has nothing but praise for the world-class doctors, nurses and staff,” his office said.
Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13) announced this morning that she is proposing legislation that would prohibit public employees who voluntarily retire and collect a pension from receiving unemployment benefits.
MMM reported this abuse last Friday and encouraged our readers in the legislature, administration and media to do something about it. Handlin is to be commended for taking up the challenge.
The newspaper formerly known as The Asbury Park Press (their print edition masthead now reads “THE PRESS”) has irrefutably revealed itself as a far left extremist publication. In an editorial published on their website last evening, Obama caving in to GOP demands, the Neptune Nudniks have moved on to the left of the New York Times, the old Huffington Post, Daily Kos and Middletown Mike.
The Press called the President “weak,” “hardly a leader,” and said his speech Monday night was “too little, too late.” They said his speech “was not tough so much as it was petulance.” As Dan Jacobson would say, hilarious, though hysterical would be more accurate.
“Left wing extreme, Art?” you might say, “that sounds like right wing rhetoric I might read on MoreMonmouthMusings.” You’d be correct, except the nudniks are complaining that Obama “has alienated his base, gone back on what he held as rock-solid principles,” while drawing a “line in the sand” that is inside the Republican Tea Party right’s tent. APP is now short for apparatchik.
The Press did get one important thing right in their rantitorial. They correctly identified Obama’s reelection concerns and the only issue that is holding up a deal that would raise the debt ceiling, reduce the deficit and prevent a default. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, also not left enough for the apparatchiks, and Speaker John Boehner have already agreed on a plan that would raise the debt ceiling, reduce spending and not raise taxes. Obama killed the deal because it only lasted for a year. He doesn’t want to go through this again next summer only a few months before the Presidential election.
If Obama thought his economic policies and philosphy were popular with the American people, he would welcome having such a debate next year. Instead, he’s willing to put the full faith and credit of the United States of America at risk rather than debate “redistribution of wealth” and massive government expansion months before the American people decide whether or not to give him another four years.
It is no accident that most of ObamaCare kicks in after the election. This is more of the same. Obama wants his lease on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave renewed before the American people realize what he has done to them.
The “Tea Party Republican” members of congress are controlling the debt ceiling debate because Obama is letting them control the debate. If Reid and Obama agreed to Boehner’s proposal, Nancy Pelosi would deliver enough Democratic votes in the House to pass Boehner’s plan with moderate Republican support, thereby neutralizing the “Tea Party” Republicans who are uncompromising.
Obama would have to take a page out of Chris Christie’s book in order to make a deal like that. And Christie says he’s not ready to be President.
Senator Mike Doherty was our guest for the first half hour of the show. Doherty spoke about his proposed legislation to equalize education funding throughout the state and was non-committal about running for U.S. Senate next year.
During the second half hour we had a call from “Mark from Anna Little’s district” who called into to say that he had information that many people were calling their congressmen in support of President Obama’s plan (whatever that is) for the debt ceiling. Mark said another report said calls were coming into Washington in favor of Speaker Boehner’s plan. Mark’s point was to ask listeners to call their congressman to support reduced government spending.
The last twenty minutes of the show are Dick LaRossa and I speaking about the debt ceiling. Here’s what a commenter said about that portion of the show:
Art, I didn’t catch all of the show. When I was able to turn in, some guy was rambling on incoherently about Social Security bonds and some 1983 law. (Who was he?) I am a big fan, Art, but you should have cut him off rather than let him ramble on like that. I bet he put half your audience to sleep reading that non-sense for what seemed like minutes on end.
That guy was my partner, Dick LaRossa. Dick was passionate that there will be no Social Security crisis if the government defaults. He was railing against Obama and the Democrats scare tactics regarding the debt ceiling. I have to go back and listen to the end of the show myself to be sure I understand what he was talking about!
I hope you enjoy the show and that you will tune in next Tuesday from 5PM-6PM at WIFI AM 1460 or on the Internet at WIFI1460AM.com.
Michael Aron, the guy who made New Jersey Public Television interesting during his 29 year stint at NJN, has joined NJTV, the station’s successor.
Aron has been named Vice President of News and Public Affairs of the Foundation for New Jersey Public Broadcasting and Chief Political Correspondent of NJTV. His two highly esteemed weekly shows, On The Record and Reporters Roundtable will return soon. Aron will also contribute statehouse coverage to the stations “NJ Today” nightly broadcast when it premieres in the fall.
State Senator Mike Doherty will be our guest for the first half hour of this afternoon’s LaRossa and Gallagher: Real Jersey Guys Radio Show which will be broadcast live on WIFI AM 1460 and on the Internet here from 5PM till 6PM. The show is sponsored by Repatriot Radio.
The Borough of Oceanport past a resolution in support of the plan last week. Councilman Joe Irace said,
“Our School District is one of the many treated unfairly by the State of New Jersey when school aid dollars are appropriated. According to Senator Mike Doherty, our Borough gets back $0.01 for each dollar we send to Trenton.
If all school tax revenue collected by New Jersey were to be distributed equally to each student, it would equate to $7,481 per student. Given our enrollment projections, adoption of this plan would result in an increase in State school, aid of $4,122,031.00 annually. This change would provide meaningful tax relief for Oceanport residents immediately.”
During the second half hour former State Senator Dick LaRossa and I will be discussing the negotiations happening in Washington over the federal debt ceiling and taking your calls.
If you would like to be part of the show, call into 609-447-0236 or 609-447-0237.
In an email to “Members and Friends,” Don Adams, President of the Independence Hall Tea Party PAC, declared that the PAC’s favorite candidate to challenge U.S. Senator Robert Menendez is Anna Little:
Independence Hall Tea Party PAC
July 25, 2011
Dear Members and Friends,
Not surprisingly, all five of the region’s Democrat US Senators voted against the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act this past Friday.
The real surprise is that we let them get away with it. Three of the five are up for
re-election in 2012–Bob Casey (D-PA), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ).
In New Jersey, several strong candidates have been mentioned as possible opponents to the tax loving, spendaholic Bob Menendez.
Our favorite is Anna Little. As a PAC endorsed candidate, Anna won an upset primary victory in the 2012 New Jersey 6th Congressional District race. She then narrowly lost the General Election to incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone in a district where Democrats largely outnumber Republicans.
Anna has been planning a rematch against Pallone, but PAC members have been discussing a Draft Anna Little for US Senate campaign.
Anna is an ideal senate candidate. She is articulate, charismatic, knowledgeable, and conservative. She has prior elective experience, serving as a Monmouth County Freeholder and Mayor of Highlands, NJ. She speaks fluent Spanish, and, if elected, would become the state’s first female US Senator.
If you agree with the draft Anna Little campaign, you’ll have an opportunity to tell Anna, yourself, at a luncheon withGrover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform.
Lunch with Grover Norquist
When: Tuesday, July 26, 12 Noon-2 PM
Where: Iberia Restaurant, Iberia Peninsular, 63-69 Ferry Street, Newark, NJ 07105 Host: Anna Little
Also, meet Bruce Gardner and Beverly Elliott of TEA for Education, a national organization.
Costs:You are responsible for your ala carte meal. Anna Little Campaign
Contribution strongly recommended.
On behalf of the PAC Board of Delegates,
Don Adams, President
If you are unable to make lunch in Newark tomorrow, feel free to express your thoughts on the idea of Little running for U.S. Senate next year here in the comments. I’m sure the word will get back to her.
Personally, I think Little should hold out for the Vice Presidential nomination. If elected, she would be the first female Vice President of the United States that speaks fluent Spanish, was a Monmouth County Freeholder, Mayor of Highlands, and who lost to Frank Pallone.
By Art Gallagher