Booker, Menendez vote yes on historic “nuclear option” (via NJ.com)
New Jersey’s two senators were among 52 votes in the upper chamber today in favor of the so-called “nuclear option” eliminating the filibuster and allowing a simple majority to approve executive and judicial branch appointments. The ‘majority rules’…
Bianca Levin, Senator Cory Booker’s girlfriend, per the NYPost. facebook photo
Really. And it’s news! The New York Post broke the story and now everyone is running it.
Bianca Levin, a 36 year old Beverly Hills entertainment lawyer has been dating New Jersey’s junior U.S. Senator since she co-hosted a fundraiser for his campaign last June. Levin represents Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Her firm represents Clint “The Chair” Eastwood.
Lynsie Lee, the Oregon stripper and Chasing NJ sports reporter, who was linked to Booker via private twitter messages, doesn’t care.
The Battle of Monmouth is in the municipalities today.
Monmouth Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal is hoping to be the Gene Michael of politics. Michael, the New York Yankees General Manger in the early 1990’s, rebuilt the mediocre team back to dominant glory by focusing on new talent in the farm system. As a player, Michael was a master of the hidden ball trick. In baseball the hidden ball trick is when a position player fakes throwing the ball back to the pitcher after a play, only to tag out the base runner when he take a lead off the base.
Like Michael, Gopal is trying to build his farm team in Monmouth County municipal races, knowing he can’t win the big show in the short term, with an eye on future dominance of Monmouth County government and the State of New Jersey. Also like Michael, Gopal always has a trick up his sleeve behind his youthful smile and pleasant demeanor.
Gopal hasn’t even fielded a team in 23 races in 16 Monmouth County towns. Yet he has the press and New Jersey’s Democratic leadership convinced he’s building a future empire from the bottom up.
But if he doesn’t deliver the goods tonight, Gopal could end up as a Hardy Peterson, the Yankees General Manager who only lasted in the job for one year, 1990, instead of Michael, and find himself challenged for the county chairmanship when his first term ends in June.
The towns to watch tonight are Red Bank, Aberdeen, Eatontown, Highlands, Hazlet and Marlboro.
Posted: November 5th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2013 Election, Monmouth County, Monmouth Democrats, Monmouth GOP | Tags: "LaHornicca", Aberdeen, Cliff Moore, Cory Booker, Declan O'Scanlon, Eatontown, Frank LaRocca, Frank Nolan, Hazlet, Highlands, Jennifer Beck, Marlboro, Mary Tyler Moore, Monmouth County Dems, Rebecca Kane, Red Bank, Vin Gopal | 3 Comments »
The Auditor: Booker gets prime office space, Belmar Republicans go after Christie and more (via NJ.com)
Getting into the U.S. Senate at an unusual time has its perks. After Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was sworn in on Thursday, he didn’t get the usual rookie hazing: the worst office space available. Instead, the former Newark mayor nabbed Office 141 in…
Cory Booker will be sworn in as a U.S. Senator on Halloween, October 31, according to Associated Press reports.
New Jersey’s senior Senator will, by tradition, escort Booker into the Senate Chamber. Vice President Joe Biden, the Constitutional President of the Senate, will swear Booker in.
Booker told the Wall Street Journal that reforming federal narcotics laws is on the top of his list for goals to accomplish in the final 15 months of the late Senator Frank Lautenberg’s term that he was elected to complete last week. Booker said he plans to reach across the aisle and work with Kentucky Senator Rand Paul to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing laws for non-violent drug offenders.
For those who try to read political tea leaves, the only lesson to be taken from the results of the Special Election this week is that apples and oranges make fruit salad.
For conservatives and Tea Partiers enthused that Steve Lonegan lost to Cory Booker by a significantly lower margin than Joe Kyrillos lost to Bob Menendez last year, consider this; Kyrillos had more votes in the 2012 general election than Booker and Lonegan had combined on Wednesday. More people voted for Joe Kryillos in the 2012 U.S. Senate race than voted for Chris Christie in the 2009 gubernatorial race.
For Trenton Republicans hopeful about taking control of the State Senate, consider this; If the fact that Lonegan lost Senate President Steve Sweeney’s district by only 347 votes, .9%, means that Sweeney is more vulnerable to Niki Trunk’s campaign than previously thought, does that mean that Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt is a shoe-in to defeat Senator Jeff Van Drew in Cape May where Lonegan won by almost 19%? Does the fact that Booker won Mercer and Middlesex Counties handedly mean there is no hope of picking up the Senate seats in the 14th and 18th districts? None of the above.
Should Monmouth County Democrats conclude that they have a fighting chance on November 5, because Lonegan beat Booker here by only 9%. Let them think that.
Posted: October 18th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2013 Election | Tags: #NJSen, Bob Mendenz, Cory Booker, Jeff Van Drew, Joe Kyrillos, Niki Trunk, Steve Lonegan, Steve Sweeney, Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt | 6 Comments »
What kind of U.S. senator will Cory Booker be? (via NJ.com)
NEWARK — Cory Booker, who captured national attention as Newark’s charismatic mayor, now joins the world’s most exclusive political club after a U.S. Senate campaign built on big ideas and the vow to be a healer in politically polarized Washington…
photo credit: Charles Measley
Former Mayor Steve Lonegan conceded the Special U.S. Senate election to Newark Mayor Cory Booker.
Lonegan was funny and gracious in his concession speech. “I said to myself, ‘Who wants that job anyway?'”
He thanked Governor Chris Christie for his ” bookend support” from his endorsement to robo calls. Lonegan said he couldn’t expect anymore from Christie, “other than putting up lawn signs, and the thought of Christie running up and down the highway putting up lawn signs…”
Lonegan congratulated Booker and said , “May God be with him with the decisions he has to make.”
Lonegan said he has done his part in serving the country and is going back to the public sector.
Posted: October 16th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Senate Special Election | Tags: Cory Booker, Special Senate Election, Steve Lonegan | 1 Comment »The Associated Press just called the NJ Special Election for U.S. Senate for Newark Mayor Cory Booker.
With 58% of the districts reporting, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is leading by 13%, 56%-43%.
Posted: October 16th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Senate Special Election | Tags: Cory Booker, Special Senate Election, Steve Lonegan | 2 Comments »Very slow reporting from Morris and Somerset, which should be strong for Lonegan, Mercer slow to report, they should be strong for Booker.
Lonegan underperforming in Monmouth and Burlington.
Posted: October 16th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Cory Booker, Special Senate Election, Steve Lonegan | Comments Off on With 47% of the districts reporting statewide, Booker up by 13© Copyright 2024 | MoreMonmouthMusings | All Rights Reserved