A Warning to Those Who Exercise Eminent Domain Powers

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday May 22, 2008 · 4:43 AM PDT

2008/05/22 · 04:43

Earlier this month, a three-judge panel upheld a decision awarding $18 million to the Halper family, former owners of a farm in Piscataway, New Jersey, which was taken by the Township through eminent domain. The Halpers had argued that they were entitled to the market value of the property when they had exhausted their legal options in 2004 while the Township sought to pay the family $4.3 million, the value of the property when the condemnation complaint was filed in 1999. The Court found that the Halpers were entitled to the market value of the property in 2004, holding that the legal actions undertaken by the family should not be used against them when determining the appropriate market value of the property.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday April 15, 2008 · 5:31 PM PDT

2008/04/15 · 17:31

Last week, Camille Andrews, wife of Congressman and candidate for the United States Senate Rob Andrews, was selected to be on the June Primary ballot as the Democratic candidate for her husband’s seat in Congress. Is Mrs. Andrews qualified to serve in Congress? Absolutely. Is her selection a wise political move? Absolutely not. In fact, the selection of Mrs. Andrews to run for Congress undermines her husband’s insurgent campaign.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday April 01, 2008 · 7:31 PM PDT

2008/04/01 · 19:31

This past month, Stanford Law Professor Larry Lessig and Joe Trippi, former campaign manager for Howard Dean and senior advisor to John Edwards in their runs for the White House, teamed up to form "Change Congress," a national movement to help end corruption in the United States Congress (www.change-congress.org). The organization is advocating for several important measures that will help reform Washington, asks all candidates to pledge to undertake these reforms, and encourages citizens to promote these important issues by agreeing to a similar pledge.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday March 13, 2008 · 6:04 AM PDT

2008/03/13 · 06:04

Hillary Clinton’s strong showing in Ohio’s primary coupled with a victory in the primary of the populous state of Texas has re-energized her flagging campaign and ensured that the race for the Democratic nomination will go into April and, most likely, even longer. The problem for the Democrats is that the longer the race goes on, the more expensive, as well as more competitive and negative it will also become, perhaps irreparably tarnishing whoever will win the Democratic nomination. These issues may well turn off the newly-engaged first-time voters who have been so numerous in the Democratic primaries this year. On the other hand, Senator McCain has the opportunity to limit his spending and, at the same time, throw punches at the Democratic candidates while he is insulated from attacks by those in his own party, enabling him to continue to maintain his high positive ratings while the approval ratings of Obama and Clinton fall. A shop-worn nominee, a divided Democratic Party, and an independently-minded Republican nominee with high approval ratings spell trouble for the Democrats in November.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday February 19, 2008 · 8:47 PM PST

2008/02/19 · 20:47

Approximately a month ago, the pundits were entranced by the inevitability argument promulgated by the Clinton Campaign, believing the spoon-fed line that Hillary Clinton was the heir to the White House "throne" and unbeatable. Something has happened since then, actually a lot: The Clinton juggernaut has revealed itself to be a house of cards. Her prodigious fundraising has been unmasked as a traditional operation that basked in the glow of large donors whose contributions have now largely maxed out, leaving the once behemoth campaign struggling for dollars. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton’s high-powered (and expensive) political team has shown itself to be adept at shooting the candidate in the foot by promoting her as a candidate of experience when the American electorate is looking for an end to the status quo in Washington.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday January 22, 2008 · 7:03 PM PST

2008/01/22 · 19:03

First it was Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire Co-Chair Billy Shaheen, then Clinton pollster and top strategist Mark Penn, and finally BET Television Founder and prominent Clinton supporter Bob Johnson, who raised the question of drug use by Barack Obama WHILE HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. Clinton surrogates have continued to fan the flames. Could this be an attempt by that campaign to scare voters into changing their support from Obama to Clinton? The "drug use" attack against Obama has worked: his momentum has slowed and Mrs. Clinton is now ahead in key states. Interestingly, the Clinton supporters raising the issue of Obama’s drug use did not question Bill Clinton’s use of drugs post-high school or his excuse that he did not inhale. If it were just the "drug use" attack, perhaps it could be forgiven. However, other tactics employed by Clinton allies and Mrs. Clinton herself raise troubling questions as to whether her possible presidency would employ similar strategies.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday December 27, 2007 · 5:44 AM PST

2007/12/27 · 05:44

It’s the time of the year when we reflect on the past year and make our resolutions for the new one. Because we can never be sure that our elected officials do reflect on the past and vow to make changes in the New Year, here are some resolutions that our representatives in Garden State government would do well to make and keep.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday December 12, 2007 · 7:49 PM PST

2007/12/12 · 19:49

If I’m John Edwards or John McCain or Fred Thompson, I’m feeling pretty good right now. I’m slightly behind the front runners in my Party and the folks who are ahead of me are engaging in an all-out negative assault against each other. That’s where John Edwards and John McCain find themselves in both Iowa and New Hampshire and where Fred Thompson finds himself in South Carolina, the first few key presidential primary states. If I’m either of the Johns or Fred, I run a positive, issue-based campaign through the South Carolina Primary and let the front runners continue to attack each other between now and then.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 10, 2007 · 4:34 PM PDT

2007/10/10 · 16:34

Despite the enactment of "Pay to Play" legislative initiatives throughout the State, legalized bribery continues unabated in New Jersey. Loopholes are continually being exploited to raise money for candidates and political causes on the backs of those with business before the government or those seeking to receive such business. As a result, the same breed of politician remains in power and those who contribute get a leg up on the competition when it comes to the awarding of government business.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 03, 2007 · 7:45 PM PDT

2007/10/03 · 19:45

A recent Quinnipiac poll revealed that nine out of ten New Jersey voters believe that corruption is a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem. However, a sizeable majority of voters polled said that the issue would not sway their vote to the Republican column despite the announcement of several recent high profile corruption cases against prominent Democrats. What does this mean for New Jersey residents?

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday September 19, 2007 · 8:25 PM PDT

2007/09/19 · 20:25

In the wake of several high-profile corruption stings in the State of New Jersey, it is an opportune time to seriously improve the condition of Garden State politics. The following roadmap for reform is meant to provide some thoughtful ideas to help generate a public and constructive dialogue about these important issues in order to enable both our elected leaders and our citizens to begin to develop a consensus for reforming New Jersey politics.

shaptalk

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday August 09, 2007 · 6:03 PM PDT

2007/08/09 · 18:03

The recent collapse of an interstate bridge in Minnesota that sent a number of people to their deaths is a chilling reminder of the financial starvation of our nation’s needs here at home, needs that were tragically and poignantly showcased during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Meanwhile, we squander hundreds of millions of dollars on domestic bureaucratic programs, such as No Child Left Behind and the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill, that fail to adequately meet the needs of our citizens. We also export billions overseas to fight in a war that was initiated because of the threat of weapons of mass destruction that never existed and to fight terrorism that has since exponentially increased. In the meanwhile, political posturing rules the day at the White House and in Congress. Where are our priorities? Who is minding the store?

Newer
Older

RSS

A Warning to Those Who Exercise Eminent Domain Powers

Why Mrs. Andrews?

It is Time to “Change Congress”

The Long Slog Ahead

Is Obama Inevitable?

Hillary Clinton’s Campaign – A Foreshadow of her Presidency?

New Year’s Resolutions for Garden State Government

If I’m Either of the Johns or Fred...

“Legalized Bribery” Continues Unabated

Corruption and the November Election

A Roadmap for Reform

Minnesota Bridge Collapse: Financial Starvation Rears Its Ugly Head