Garden State: NJ Open Thread and round-up

Since joining Daily Kos, I've had the pleasure of meeting many fellow New Jerseyans.  There are many of us here.  I suppose that's one of the many hidden benefits of living in a blue state!

With so much going on nationally, we rarely have the chance to talk about New Jersey affairs.  I've decided to change that.  Please join me for some Open Thread chit-chat.  I'll toss out a few news items from this week that I'd love to hear your thoughts on.  I've also done a Jersey-centric "diary rescue" of sorts.

I do hope to make this a weekly diary, so please speak up with those suggestions!

There's plenty of big news in NJ this week.  These are the items that stick out for me:

Christie's corruption indictments:

Of the eleven NJ officials indicted on corruption charges last week, only one is a Republican.  Surprised?  You shouldn't be.  US Attorney Christopher J. Christie is a Bush appointee with an agenda.  You'd think that the US Attorney firing scandal would have made Mr. Christie hesitant to target Dems so blatantly, but you'd be wrong.
Mr. Christie criticized Democratic leaders Friday for not demanding the resignation of two indicted state senators.  He's pretty political for a US Attorney, isn't he?  He is a politician himself, though.  Many of you might not be aware that Mr. Christie was a Republican Freeholder in Morris County before his appointment.  He also holds the dubious distinction of serving on Alberto Gonzales' Advisory Committee.

The Doug Palmer Club:

The U.S. Conference of Mayors, of which my own Mayor, Doug Palmer, is the head, met in Trenton last week.  Ho, hum, right?  Wrong!  Frank Weeden, who lost his bid last year to replace Palmer, organized a protest to draw attention to our Mayor's less than stellar performance.  Frank Weeden got my vote last year, partially because he was the only candidate who actually graced my doorstep.  His website, www.missingmayor.com, is worth a visit.

Virtual Voting:

Our state's voting machines will not be paper-trail ready before Super Tuesday.  Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg gave the go ahead today for the State Attorney General's Office to seek an extension from the Legislature, which they are almost certain to get.

Rush Holt speaks at important meeting Sunday:

The Coalition for Peace Action and the ACLU of New Jersey are sponsoring a meeting on Sunday the 23rd to discuss the Protect America Act and other post 9/11 civil liberties issues.  Rush Holt will be among the speakers at the Trenton Friends Meeting House.  See you there!

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I'd love to hear what's making news for the rest of you guys.  What's the scoop?  These are the stories that hit big with other NJ Kossacks this week:

NJ diary round-up:

  * papicek and ArgusRun weigh in on the NJ corruption indictments.

  * Rush Holt scores points with dave1042 by speaking out on the Protect America Act.

  * MrLiberal goes local with in depth analysis of the NJ-39 campaign, here and here.

  * Ekaterin gives us the details on the recent NJ Supreme Court victory for reproductive rights.

  * Mike Ferguson (NJ-07) isn't making any friends on DKos this week.  goldberry and Linda Stender tear him a new one.

  * Scott Shields has made it his business to rid us of Tom Kean, Jr., and he wants to make it your business, too.

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What's going on at Blue Jersey?  I've recently joined that fantastic site, but haven't had much time to check it out yet.  In light of my plan to post this NJ Open Thread weekly, I plan on making it top priority.  In the meantime, if any of you have caught anything over there worth sharing, toss us the links.

I'd also like all the news on your candidates for the 2008 Congress.  Links for campaign websites would be great.  Let's here what you're doing to make Jersey even bluer!

UPDATE:

Along with several members of my city's civic association, I had the pleasure of talking with Mercer County Freeholders Anthony Carabelli and Keith Hamilton last Saturday.  County Executive Brian Hughes' campaign manager was present to take photos, so if you live in Mercer County, my smiling face may be hitting your mailbox soon!

UPDATE 2:

State Senator Shirley Turner will be present at the next meeting of our city's civic association to discuss the status of pending legislation.  Wednesday, September 19th at 7:00 PM, Columbus Park Building at Bayard & Chestnut in Trenton.  Hope you can make it!

•  Heading to the kitchen...

  ...to make myself a drink.  I hope you'll join me!

  by revelwoodie on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:08:22 PM PDT

  •  Thanks. I am originally from New Jersey.

    I also used to live in Texas but now live in Virginia.

    But I grew up in Basking Ridge New Jersey and attended Ridge High school. My Mom still lives there and I go back frequently to visit. I was just there this past summer for a week and talk to my childhood friend on the phone at least a couple times a week who still lives in Basking Ridge.

    And, I follow New Jersey politics assiduously. The senate race between Menendez and Tom Kean, Jr. for a while, had me sweating bullets. It amazed me how Tom Kean, Jr. seemed to think that if he hid behind his famous daddy's name, he might be able to fool the voters into voting for him without having to participate in any debates.

    I am also extremely aware of how Linda Stender almost unseated that right wing jerk, Mike Ferguson. I am closely watching this re-match. She may pull it off this time.

    I also paid strong attention to the Governor's race between Jon Corzine and that clown, Doug Forrestor. Man, that Forrestor is probably the biggest flip-flopper I have ever seen.

    I also remember when Gov. Jim Florio was defeated by Christie Whitman and was very upset about that. Gov. Florio had the courage to do the right thing and raise taxes in order to balance the budget. He inherited a budget which was deep in the red and left office with a fiscally healthy balanced budget. For this, the voters kicked him out of office. What they got in return was Christie Whitman who with her reckless tax cuts, left the state in a fiscal mess with her borrow and spend policies.

    ****Most important: I LOVE REP. RUSH HOLT and was escatic when he unseated that horse's ass (excuse my language), Rep. Mike Pappas a number of years ago. Rush Holt is a renassaince man and I really hope that he runs for the Senate if/when Frank Lautenberg retires. He would make a fantastic U.S. Senator!****

    Even though I haven't lived in New Jersey since my early 20s, I am steeped in New Jersey politics. Thanks for your post!

    by VirginiaBlue on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 08:39:16 PM PDT

    •  Pallone

      Would make an even better Senator

      by DKHOLLA on Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 08:32:04 PM PDT

  •  Why, I was just enjoying

    a glass of wine when I read this, so I did in fact join you for a drink.

    Speaking of wine, I have a random, Jersey-related question:

    How come if I want to buy local wine, I have to drive to an actual vineyard to purchase NJ wine?  Why isn't it carried in liquor stores?  (Or am I looking in the wrong stores?)

    I mean, we HAVE vineyards here in Jersey - I've BEEN to a few.  Buying Jersey wine seems like a good idea, insofar that if I'm going to drink wine, it's better if it come from 50 miles away, rather than CA or abroad, right? So why can't I ever find it in stores?

    by ChaosMouse on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 09:17:31 PM PDT

    •  Good question

      I guess it depends on the store.  I have seen it once or twice.  The best way to get your favorite store to stock NJ wine is probably to suggest it to the manager.  If enough people do that, maybe they'll order a case or two.

      I gave out bottles of NJ wine with my husband's and my name on the label as wedding favors.  It's not that expensive, and ordering a case yourself from a local winery is a great way to support the NJ wine community.

      by revelwoodie on Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 05:23:29 AM PDT

      •  Nice wedding favor

        I actually got NJ wine from a wedding too, once.

        About 2 years ago, I actually went to a couple of vineyard tastings in NJ, and we stocked up - it seemed like a good idea to buy from local vinters, and the wine wasn't bad. A lot of the whites were quite good, and we found one or two reds we liked too.  We're the kind of family that goes through wine slowly but steadily, usually a glass apiece with dinner most nights, and I'd rather buy it locally to support smaller vinters and reduce the shipping.

        After that stock-up ran out, I went looking for the stuff in local liquor stores, and couldn't find any Jersey wine, or even Long Island wine (which is also realtively local).  Looks like I may have to make another trip to a vineyard and stock up again.  

        But it annoys me that in a state that has vinyards, it's so hard to find local wine!  Maybe badgering the local liquor store will help...

        by ChaosMouse on Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 06:27:11 PM PDT

•  Thanks for the diary

  I'm also from NJ. Nice to know what's going on.

  by Pitias on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:11:33 PM PDT

  •  Are you on Blue Jersey yet?

    I've heard it's great.  It's even gotten national recognition.  I've only posted there once, so far, but I plan to visit more often.

    by revelwoodie on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:15:09 PM PDT

    •  How can I find out more about it?

      Sounds interesting. Thanks.

      by Pitias on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:19:39 PM PDT

      •  Here's the link:

        Blue Jersey

        by revelwoodie on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:23:10 PM PDT

•  Grew up in NJ, now live in Michigan

  Union Township, Exit 140. Home of the flagship on Route 22.

  by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:21:11 PM PDT

  •  Born in Newark and spent my teenage years

    and college years in Westfield.  My first teaching job was in Hunterdon county, but I have lived in AZ for 32 years now.  My dad still lives in Nj, so I keep up with the goings on and go back as often as possible.

    I know the flagship well. When I was going to college, I worked at Tandy Leather, which was on the same median, west of the flagship.  My dad remembers Rte 22 when it was grass and trees.  

    by Desert Rose on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 08:11:03 PM PDT

    •  it still is, out west

      But you have to drive past Somerville to see it.

      cheers --

      by njgoldfinch on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 08:30:29 PM PDT

•  New Jersey Fights Bush Over S-CHIP Cutbacks

  In August, the Bush administration fired a shot across the bow of those advocating the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Last week, New Jersey Governor John Corzine fired back.

  For the details, see:
  "New Jersey Fights Bush Over S-CHIP Cutbacks."

  by Avenging Angel on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:39:26 PM PDT

  •  People who criticize NJ for...

    ...extending SCHIP too far into the middle class obviously have no idea how much it costs to live in NJ!

    I can't remember the source, so I don't have a link, but I remember hearing about some study which charted actual cost of living compared to the poverty level.  Apparently, providing the bare basics for a family in NJ will cost you 300% of the national poverty level.  And people wonder why we can't afford health insurance.

    by revelwoodie on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:44:00 PM PDT

    •  it's ridiculous...

      I moved from North Jersey to a large Northwestern city earlier this summer, and was just amazed by how affordable it is out there - just to focus on living arrangements here - I'm talking about really nice apartments in the beautiful downtown area for about 600 a month or so, duplexes in nice outlying-sections of the city for 700...apartments in the 'revitalizing' sections of the city for 500-550 a month....

      You ain't finding things like that in Jersey City or Hoboken, or even in like Cranford or Red Bank, eh?

      by Hardhat Democrat on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 09:50:38 PM PDT

    •  Agreed

      The cost of living in this state is insane

      by DKHOLLA on Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 08:32:38 PM PDT

•  Does anyone know if Chris Smith...

  ...has a Democratic challenger yet in NJ-04?  I'm tired of having a Republican representative.  It's depressing.

  by revelwoodie on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 08:36:49 PM PDT

  •  I'd be depressed too if Chris Smith were my Rep.

    For such a Pro-Choice state such as New Jersey, it has one of the most staunchly, committed Anti-Choice Congressman such as Chris Smith in the entire country.

    I have been wanting to see him unseated for years. I hope that someone will successfully challenge him.

    by VirginiaBlue on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 08:46:21 PM PDT

    •  Then again, having Eric Cantor is just as depress

      ....depressing as my Congressman. So I guess we are basically in the same boat in terms of the quality of our Congressmen.  

      by VirginiaBlue on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 08:51:50 PM PDT

    •  His areas is very conservative

      Monmouth County has a very strong Republican party.

      by DKHOLLA on Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 08:33:11 PM PDT

      •  but remember the '05 Assembly race in the 11th...

        Corodemus and Sean Kean just barely hung on in a Monmouth County-shore district that was never before competitive...

        Monmouth County is definitely Republican at the moment, but they're weaker than you'd think...Somerset and Morris Counties are weakening for the R's, as well....a couple more strong Dem challengers in these places, and we (well, youze, being that I just moved to the Pacific Northwest...good luck, though!!!) could have the Republicans backed into their corners of Sussex and Cape May, desperately hanging on out there....

        Chris Smith hangs on in the 4th Congressional because he's sort of pro-labor (at least that's how he tries to come off....), as well....unfortunately he's still relatively young, but when he's gone, that'll be a wide open seat.  And the right challenger just might take him down, anyways, in a good Dem year....which 2008 will be...too bad there's no obvious high-profile challengers in that district, though...

        by Hardhat Democrat on Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 09:14:15 PM PDT

  •  agreed

    i'm from jackson and it is depressing having a seemingly permanent repub in charge.  i think that the latest candidates may have been lacking, though.  did you see stephen colbert's interview of his 2006 opponent, carol gay?  she did not look good.    

    by mark without the os on Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 10:41:22 PM PDT

•  Your diary was rescued. Good work.

  by Desert Rose on Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 08:29:49 PM PDT

  •  Wow!

    That's never happened to me before!  Cool!

    by revelwoodie on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:44:20 AM PDT