The State of our Union

He's begun. Do you have your drink ready?

SotU blogging, revisited

Rep. Tim Ryan will NOT be at www.mydd.com after all. According to the Stakeholder, the DCCC's blog, Congressmen John Conyers, Rush Holt, Frank Pallone, Tim Ryan and Jim McDermott will be there also.

The State of the Union Blog Response

UPDATED 2:30PM!

The following members of Congress will be participating in a blog response to the State of the Union speech this evening:

Congressman Rush Holt (NJ-12) www.bluejersey.net
Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-6) www.njfordemocracy.com
Congressman Jim McDermott (WA-7) www.washblog.com

These start about 10:30PM, after the speech.

(hat tip to jmelli)

Rep. Rush Holt podcast!

The first bluejersey.net podcast is up: an interview with Rep. Rush Holt of the 12th district.

I'm listening to it right now, and I can tell you it's a good interview. Also- for the few of you who may check this blog who aren't lucky enough to be residents of Our Fair State- this is not a Jersey-centered discussion, so listen anyway. Some highlights:

"It just makes no sense to continue our dependence- psychological, military and economic- on oil."

"I have found no one who actually feels safer, and can demonstrate that she or he is safer, because of our war in Iraq."

"I see no justification for the program that the White House has described. I see no need to have an ongoing spying mechanism against Americans. I see no need for them to be conducting this on their own suspicions, not by demonstrating a probable cause of action before a court."

Must... go... listen... again....

It was so easy to subscribe to the podcast, even I could do it without panicy phone calls to computer-savvy people.

Carnival of NJ Bloggers 37

The carnival, along with extensive historical data analysis, is over at SmadaNek.

We're number six!

Here, Ann, have some creme brulee

From CNN:

Poison Justice Stevens, Coulter jokes
Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, speaking at a traditionally black college, joked that Justice John Paul Stevens should be poisoned.
Coulter had told the Philander Smith College audience Thursday that more conservative justices were needed on the Supreme Court to change the current law on abortion.
Stevens is one of the court's most liberal members.
"We need somebody to put rat poisoning in Justice Stevens' creme brulee," Coulter said. "That's just a joke, for you in the media."

Or a threat. Why aren't this woman's fifteen minutes over yet?

The Xpatriated Texan is organizing action. Contact UPI, distributors of Coulter's column, and tell them her hateful ways and uninformed commentary are not wanted.

(And, if you haven't seen it, here's the video of Ann arguing about Canada's involvement in Vietnam. Just something more to get you in the mood to write angry letters about her.)

Next NJ Blogger Carnival

Don't forget to submit links to njcarnival@gmail.com by midnight tonight to be included tomorrow.

Wait on the pitchforks

The Quinnipiac poll numbers from yesterday show that we're worried about the budget: 54% see very serious problems in our budget, 38% see somewhat serious ones. In general, we'd rather see services cut than our taxes raised, 57% to 28%. And we absolutely don't want a gas tax, even if it's to fix up the roads: 69% oppose that (increased 12 points from the same time last year.)

So, what are we gonna do about it?

Well, according to Gov. Corzine's budget advisory group, we have to consider expanding the state sales tax to include previously exempt sales (such as tanning salons and limo services,) implementing a temporary income tax surcharge, and:

For this fiscal year, to ensure state spending remains balanced, the group's
proposal includes requiring state departments to cut budgets, freeze work-force
levels, slice salaries of nonunion employees, mandate a week off without pay for
state workers and prepare layoff plans.

The unions flipped about the week off w/o pay. Carla Katz (you may remember her, she's president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034, the largest state employee union) said "That's a pay cut as far as we're concerned, and we would vehemently oppose a program like that." And the Repubs were quick to condemn also; "I am disappointed by the direction this report has taken. It fails to consider the consequences of adding to the tax burden on New Jersey's families." said Sen. Peter Inverso, R-Hamilton.

I'm not ready to throw stones yet. First, it's a draft report, not strong recommendation. Second, let's see what parts of it actually get proposed as law. (That temporary income tax thing will never pass- really, who believes it would actually be temporary?)

The new Governor now has to reconcile his committee's proposal with the polls showing what residents of Our Fair State want, while remembering that he has the tough decisions of who gets how much of what they want. Before the Repubs and the Unions bring out the torches and pitchforks, let's see what happens next.

Let's just call him "Junior"

Tom Kean Jr. wants Senator Menendez to vote to confirm Alito to the Supreme Court. No big surprize there. But the senator hasn't yet said how he will vote, and hopefully he's listening to the people. Reported on NorthJersey.com:

"If we can't count on our two senators to fight for New Jersey and a highly qualified judicial appointment, who can we count on to fight for us?" Kean said.
...
""We take the views of all our constituents seriously," Menendez spokesman Matthew Miller said. "Right now, the calls into our office are going 83 percent against confirmation, but we'll add Junior's call to the list.""
With the Republican's campaign sometimes omitting the "Jr." in the candidate's name, Democrats have begun pointedly dropping the "Tom Kean." Kean is the son of former Gov. Thomas H. Kean, and his name is probably helping to make him more of a threat to Menendez than most Republicans would be in Democratic-leaning New Jersey."

I like that. Let's just call him Junior.

Let's hope it's just his genetic popularity that's causing the closeness in the race so far: the latest poll figures (from Quinnipiac) show Menendez with a slim 2% lead over Junior, 38%-36%. However, for "favorable" ratings, 64% of residents state that they haven't heard enough to make up their minds about both Senator Menendez and Junior. There's plenty of time; I'm sure we'll hear a lot from both men in the next few months.

(hat tip to bluejersey for the NorthJersey.com link)

Rep. Chris Smith on Oprah today

Yup.

Smith to visit Oprah, discuss trafficking law
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-Hamilton, will appear on Oprah Winfrey's television show today to talk about a bill he sponsored to strengthen and expand the nation's laws against human trafficking.
President Bush signed the bill, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, into law earlier this month. Last fall, Winfrey encouraged her viewers to send letters and e-mails to their elected representatives in support of the bill.

Am not an Oprah watcher, so I don't know if I'll see it. It's good trumpeting for Smith though, an issue that is important and a bill he sponsored. I'd say it's all good publicity for re-election this year, but still no one has signed up to run against him for the NJ-4 congressional seat so I doubt he's very worried. (The 2nd and the 11th also have no Democrat challenger yet.)

So, who's going to run against Chris Smith? Who should?

Xyzzy

If you've been around personal compters since the early eighties, you'll quickly recognize those letters. Now, go read Defective Yeti's Iraqi Invasion: A Text Misadventure.

You are in a twisty maze of passages, all alike.

(Hat tip to The Contrarian.)

Carnival of New Jersey Bloggers XXXVI

Welcome to the Carnival! The tents are up, the weather is pretty good for this time of year, and we're glad you're here. Let's see what's going on in the blogosphere in Our Fair State this week.

Our Stories

Daniella's (Mis)adventure this week was going to see The Daily Show taping. It's Handless Mutant-Retard Month over at Laughing at the Pieces. Truth wants to know what's wrong with me?"- but it's a slippery slope at Imaginary Therapy. We're Trading with Tom over at D'igital Breakfast, looking for the dummy spots. We're gettin' F.I.L.T.H.y over at This Full House. Shamrocketship is thinking about how someone might be remembered. Prussian Tiger over at Surrounded by Women knows whose fault it's not. Bob at the Rix Mix just can't get away from religion. GiggleChick is thrilled about the launch of a new website she's designed. *Rob at Usdin.net announces a new episode of the Jersey Jamcast. Catheters and drunks are on tap over at No/w/here. Jay tells us of the odd, ironic advantage to being HIV+ at Lassiterspace. Gil analyzes Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech at Virtual Memories. Tata at Poor Impulse Control may be controlling her temper, but she still can't take hypocrites.

New Jersey

Janet at The Art of Getting By is ready for smokers to Take it Outside. The Xpatriated Texan discusses Ocean County Lt. Laurel Hester as a hero who shouldn't be made a martyr. El Zorro over at The Old Fox's Den also expresses outrage at the treatment of Lt. Hester by Ocean County. BlueJersey.net announced earlier today that Lt. Hester should be receiving domestic partner benefits after all. Lou at Cinnaman wants the truth before we all River Dance down the Delaware Dredge. Roberto at Dynamobuzz discusses Corzine's inaugural speech and some challenges ahead for Our Fair State, while TigerHawk discusses Corzine's choice in locations. The Jersey Tomato mourns the loss of Krispy Kreme. Fausta discusses Ben Franklin on his 300th birthday. Suzette is leaving to get her mojo back. Jersey native Greg Gethard talks about one amazing acting class.

In the News

Tami, the One True wants legislators to Read The Bill! Dossy notes that witchhunts may still be around in Mass., especially if there's kinkiness involved. The Nightfly notes: "Severed fingertip - fifty dollars. Putting that fingertip in restaurant chili - nine years. Cost of subsequent frostees at restaurant - zero dollars. Making fun of everyone involved - PRICELESS." Karl isn't going to let the terrorists stop him. Steve Hart at the Opinion Mill wants respiratory distress related to Ground Zero to be called "Whitman Lung." Andrew at Did I Say That Out Loud? is sick of the same old 9/11 song. Media in Trouble discusses David Drier's interview on NPR, the deaths at this year's hajj, and the Washington Post's ombudsman. Tom at Fractals of Change wants the NY Times to discuss all the alternative fuel options. Roderama has us a little worried about Rutgers breeding fearless mice.

Around Town

Dossy found a new family place- Unbelievea-Bill's. Tammany on the Hudson notes that Public Safety is Job Zero when it comes to the Lincoln Highway bridge. Enlighten is no fan of the Sports Arena Deal for the Medowlands.

Entertainment

The Contrarian notes the connection between Comedy Central and NJ pols- but, what can we say, he's not a Springsteen fan. Maureen at Jersey Writers discusses Boardwalk Memories: Tales of the Jersey Shore, about thirteen shore towns with actual boardwalks. We're talking Ferris Bueler over at A True Jersey Girl. Nordette Adams and Aberjhani will be together- on CD, that is.

Blogging

Mike at the Ipso Facto Comic tells it like we all know it really is. But, Noreen Braman has turned her blogging into a "blook!" Fred at The Eternal Golden Braid is distributing erotica with his blog!- or is he?


Thanks for visiting the Center of NJ Life, and we hope you enjoyed reading what our fellow residents are saying. Next week the carnival travels over to SmadaNek. You can submit posts during the week at njcarnival@gmail.com . Have a great week!

Tough luck, casinos!

Press of Atlantic City:

Corzine not ready to ban smoking on casino floors

Asked if it was fair to only give an exemption to casinos, Corzine answered, “Is
it fair to undermine the economic well-being of an enormous asset like the
casinos, which claim that this will have real impact with their ability to
compete with Las Vegas or all of the other elements of gaming around the country
or around the globe?”

I ask, is it fair to treat casino workers as second-class citizens compared to other workers around Our Fair State?

The bill is S-1089/A2067. Write your state senators to let them know how you feel.

Carnival Submissions for tomorrow

I'll be accepting submissions until about 11PM tonight, if you want to be included in the Carnival of NJ Bloggers tomorrow. Send to njcarnival-at-gmail.com.

HR 550: Keep trying!

Eariler this week, Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) stepped down from his chairmanship of the House Administration committee due to his involvement in the Abramoff scandal. He says it's temporary. Yeah.

Anyway, HR 550- the bill sponsored by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) that has gotten so much blogswarm attention late last year- was being held up in that particular committee! The new, uh, temporary chair is Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R-MI), who is the longest serving member of the committee. Rep. Ehlers authored some of the language of the Help America Vote Act of 2001 and is considered more moderate than Ney. Hopefully, he'll see some merit in a paper trail for voter verification!

Two things can be done here: first, if you haven't signed Rep. Holt's petition about HR 550, go now and do so. Second, contact your representatives and make your wishes known about verified voting- then contact Rep. Ehlers and tell him you want the bill passed by the committee. (Only residents of his district can contact him electronically, so it's the old-fashined snailmail, phone or fax for the rest of us.)

Tags: HR 550 verified voting rush holt

NJ is a bit more fair today

From the Ocean County Observer:

Hester to win as freeholders change mind
Will vote to extend benefits Wednesday
Posted by the Ocean County
Observer on 01/21/06BY DON BENNETT STAFF WRITER
TOMS RIVER — Reversing themselves after months of battering at public meetings and in the press, Ocean County's freeholders are scheduled to vote Wednesday to extend pension benefits to the domestic partner of Lt. Laurel Hester and other members of the Police and Fire Retirement System.
The decision came after a political teleconference among the Republican leaders of the county yesterday afternoon.
The agreement that emerged calls for the freeholders to vote Wednesday, after a closed-door meeting that is a routine part of their caucuses, to extend the pension benefits to Hester and her partner, Stacie Andree.
In addition, state Sen. Andrew Ciesla, R-Ocean, has asked the state Office of Legislative Services to prepare a bill he will sponsor that will eliminate the difference in the pension inheritance rights of members of the police and fire retirement system and other state public employee retirement systems.

Quoted on Bluejersey.net:

Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality: "Truth be told, we did lose hope for a reversal in the last couple of weeks. We had applied all the pressure in the world, embarrassing the freeholders and few public servants had ever been embarrassed before in the state of New Jersey or in this country, and they would not budge. Finally they did. Hallelujah! There is a God....Now that the Ocean County freeholders have done the right thing, we thank them with all our hearts and welcome them to the New Jersey of the 21st Century, where compassion and common-sense prevails over hatred and outmoded homophobia."

In Ocean County, a change is coming. Our Fair State is a better place to live today, for all of us.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, go here, here and here. I'm remiss by not blogging in a long time on this issue, which has big impact on the life of one woman, and on the equality of all residents of Ocean County- indeed, the equality of all residents of Our Fair State.

(Big ol' tip of the hat to bluejersey.net.)

I can't believe he's really doing that

Tom Kean Jr. has decide to run for senate under his dad's name. Wait- I mean, he plans to drop the "Jr." from his name, reports Wally Edge of PoliticsNJ:

The presumptive favorite for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination will run as Tom Kean -- not as Tom Kean, Jr., as he did in previous races for Congress, State Assembly and State Senator. Tom Kean is the son of Thomas H. Kean, who served as Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990.

I guess daddy's coattails weren't enough; he wants to be absolutely sure that voters confuse him with his dad.

Scott Shields (from whom I lifted almost this entire post) said it best at BlueJersey.net: "really, really gross."

Interesting interview

On this morning's Radio Times, second hour, is an interview with Duncan Black (aka Atrios.) Atrios is one of the few bloggers who makes a living at our hobby. He's being interviewed by Dave Davies of the Philadelphia Daily News, who also discusses blogging with Michael Cornfield of the Pew Internet and American Life project.

I heard the very end of it earlier and am relistening to it now. The RealAudio and mp3 is available at the above link.

Include the casinos!

Shirley Turner(D-Ewing), and John Adler(D-Cherry Hill), have introduced S-1089 - and in the Assembly, Jim Wheelan(D-Atlantic County) and Reed Gusciora(D-Trenton) have introduced A2067- to include Atlantic City casinos in Our Fair State's Smoke Free Air Act, which goes into effect April 15.

Why should casino workers not get the protection from secondhand smoke that the rest of Our Fair State gets? The casinos should never have gotten an exemption in the first place, so let's get them in now.

The bill is supposed to be in the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee soon. Make your voice heard.

NJ Carnival is coming here!

The Carnival of NJ Bloggers will once again be here this Sunday, January 22nd. If you are a blogger in Our Fair State you can submit a post for the big tent at njcarnival@gmail.com.

(Your blog doesn't have to be about Our Fair State, BTW. As long as you're a NJ blogger you can participate.)