Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Michael Arrington decries Yahoo’s demise. It’s a good read . . . This was e-mailed to me today. It’s an old one, but the addition of New Jersey in the last spot added a level of humor/gut-wrenching bile that is not there otherwise . . . Twitter has been returning an Over Capacity message quite a bit recently . . . Is it any wonder that FriendFeed has captured my attention . . . I am surprised this thread continues over at Groundspeak. It seems to break all the guidelines. Of course, pot shots at conservatives is considered fair game by so many . . . $77 to fill the gas-guzzler. Sigh . . . My girl Stephanie won this week on Top Chef. Best of luck in Puerto Rico . . . Here’s the first test: former state senator Nick Asselta is now on the state BPU. The gas companies are demanding rate increases of 20%. Will Asselta take a conservative approach to this or will he rubber stamp it? . . . Blue Jersey’s response to NJ Senate President Dick Codey’s comment highlights a fundamental difference between liberals and conservatives: asking the Turnpike Authority to tighten its belt is not de-funding, it is requesting for efficiency . . . good actors leave the audience wanting more. Harvey Korman and Sydney Pollack are two who did that this week . . . another actor, however, makes us wish she had packed it in already. It’s unfortunate too as I always liked Susan Sarandon, despite her liberal tendencies . . . Obama left Trinity United Church. What took him so long? Evidence that he will do whatever to get himself elected. This doesn’t help him . . . Beetle pointed to a picture of poison and asked what it was. Unsatisfied with the answer she declared it was pirate milk . . . We were at Target tonight and walked by the lingerie. There was a thing that was about my daughter’s size. Okay, it was a bit larger, but not designed for anyone who should be wearing a thong. And who should be wearing thongs? I think the simple answer is if one is not having sex, she has no need for a thong. Anyone who could have squeezed into this thing is too young for sex . . .
Posted in Entertainment, GPS Games, Geocaching, Miscellaneous, New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Friday, January 11th, 2008
. . . and no, we’re not discussing his oft-rumored skirt chasing.
In November, New Jersey held its state senatorial election. In the First District, where I live, Republican incumbent Nick Asselta lost to Democrat state assemblyman Jeff Van Drew. I refused to endorse either candidate and voted for neither.
Asselta is unfit to work for the public. Long ago he tried to circumvent the process to acquire drugs using his political position to do so.
So, what does a defeated career politician do in New Jersey? He sells himself.
Right at the end of the lame duck session, Republican Asselta crossed party lines to join Governor Corzine to add a half billion dollars to state spending next year. Why would Asselta do this?
Asselta was appointed to the state Board of Public Utilities. That position will raise Asselta’s taxpayer-funded salary from $49,000 as an ineffective state senator to $125,000 to sit on this board.
Asselta represented a district that included 10% of the special needs districts in New Jersey. He sold them out for his own personal gain. Even Jeff “I Sponsor Every Bill” Van Drew and Nelson “Little Buddy” Albano voted No on this.
Asselta is the poster boy of New Jersey politics.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, November 6th, 2007
Yes, today is Election Day and again I was on top of the world. What a wonderful day!
In the eCache household, we celebrate Election Day. It is so important and we relish participating in the democratic process. What a positive symbol of our nation.
From the moment I wake through the rest of the day, I am on cloud nine. I understand most do not share my joy. Despite the downpour this morning, I was smiling ear-to-ear.
I wore my new patriotic bow tie. I had kept forgetting to order it last year for Flag Day, but I had it for today and perhaps I’ll break it out again on Veterans Day (although I’ll be out geocaching).
As promised, I voted a resounding No on all four ballot questions. I took Fritz in with me and as Beetle finished pushing the Cast Vote button for Gert, she came into my booth to do the same. We passed on voting for a state senator. Neither Sen. Asselta nor Assemblyman Van Drew is worthy of a vote. I voted for Donohue and Clark for Assembly and Grucio (my boss) and Roberts for freeholders.
As we entered, the election officers recognized us and commented on how our children are growing. Neither has missed an election yet. We posed for our photograph as we always do afterwards. The polling place was relatively busy when we went and it was not convenient to get the booths in the shot. The library at the school has been re-arranged and a bookshelf is now in the way when there is a line. Our neighbors and friends were all about. We love living where we do.
Happy Election Day, everyone!
Posted in Family, New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
I do not usually make blanket statements. Partisan rhetoric is useless. Little you read here will sound like Red Generation or Blue Jersey. I do not particularly care to listen to Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, or Keith Olbermann. No “side” is correct. A specific policy is correct or not, not a specific party. I have been a Republican and a Democrat. Neither party satisfied me.
Now as an independent, I am very much a targeted citizen. Today I received a flyer that my wife deemed trash. I looked at it and was absolutely appalled at what I read. It was an attack piece on Michael Donohue who is a Republican running for the state assembly in the First District. It was sent by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. Note that Governor Corzine is the first person one sees on that site.
The flyer attacked Donohue for his multiple jobs. According to this, Donohue has four government jobs. It doesn’t really document what those jobs are. The best I can tell, he is a solicitor for several towns. Perhaps that’s it. Then New Jersey Democrats decry:
On top of that, he maintains a lucrative private law practice.
So what? Is it now somehow bad to have a successful private job? Why is that in there?
In addition to half a million dollars in salaries and payments, taxpayers are also footing the bill for Donohue’s pension.
Huh? I do not think Donohue is collecting $500,000 on the public payroll. This is a poorly constructed sentence and designed to provide a negative opinion of the successful lawyer. I’ll accept that Donohue has a public pension . . . as does every member of the New Jersey Democratic Committee.
Then there a swipe at Donohue’s running mate Nick Asselta. While I am no fan of Asselta’s, this is just uncalled for:
In addition to his taxpayer-funded salary and pension, Nick Asselta received more lobbyist gifts than any other legislator in 2005 . . .
Lobbyist gifts are fair game. But why are Democrats lamenting Asselta’s taxpayer-funded salary and pension? Is Jeff Van Drew, who is running against Asselta, not earning a taxpayer-funded salary? Is Van Drew not in the public pension?
Furthermore, Nelson Albano, who is running against Donohue, is on the public payroll too.
Do Democrats really think I am this stupid to buy this line of crap and not challenge it?
The flyer ends with:
Our property taxes are high enough.
We can’t afford Donohue and Clark in the Assembly.
(We can’t afford Asselta in the Senate either!)
Of course, if Democrats are elected, taxpayers will pay the same amount in salary and pension benefits to the politicians. It is just astounding how skewed this is.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
Nelson Albano is one of the state assemblymen from the First District. He was elected to the legislature in 2006. I documented two years ago how Jeff Van Drew selected him as a running mate.
And what would that inside stuff be, Mr. Albano? I am confused as to why Van Drew thought Albano would be a good representative of the citizens of the 1st district. Albano’s claim to fame , as it were, is pressing for Michael’s Law. Michael’s Law increased penalties for third offenses (and beyond) of DWI. While that is a luadable mission, does it indicate a platform on which to run for state office?
Nevertheless, the First District elected him. Now two years later I wonder what Albano has done as an assemblyman. Apparently, not much. Not even Van Drew, Albano, Milam for the 1st District can come up with anything. That is why the commercial running touts Michael’s Law.
No disrespect to Albano, but isn’t this using your dead son again for politics? Two years ago the ticket used this issue, which was already signed legislation to tout the candidate. That there is nothing else in two years as a legislator to speak of is telling. Michael’s Law is old news. It may be good legislation, but it does not represent what you have done for New Jersey as an assemblyman.
As I have explained to the numerous pollsters this past week, I will vote for Norris Clark and Mike Donohue for state assembly and I will vote for no one for state senate. Neither Nick Asselta or Jeff Van Drew meet my criteria of a leader.
I want my legislators to work, not pass proclamations and other feelgood legislation.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
