Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Chances of beating Pallone in 2010: Little!

Art has the scoop as MoreMonmouthMusings, Former Monmouth County Freeholder Anna Little is officially in seeking to unseat 20+ year incumbent Frank Pallone. This news is HUGE as Anna Little is a real Republican who has real experience and a real chance at defeating Pallone and I couldn't be happier to see her name appear as a candidate, unlike other names I've heard mentioned as possible candidates including:

Diane Gooch who seems to have made large monetary donations to Pallone and other Democrats, 'nuff said.

Mary Pat Angelini who voted for One Gun A Month, which is inexcusable, and she also voted to Expand NJ FamilyCare which makes me worry that she might be on board for ObamaCare if she were in Congress.

Bill Barham has also been mentioned - I don't know much about him, maybe getting on the Little bandwagon without knowing Barham (if he gets into the race) is unfair.

On this news I'll state for the record that I WILL NOT be running in this year's primary and immediately offer my support and endorsement for Anna Little over the current list of known possible candidates, if that means anything to anyone. I was CONSIDERING running again with Angelini and Gooch as the only other names in the game, but with Little stepping up, I believe there is a great candidate in a position to defeat Pallone, which I would not say about Gooch or Angelini and I can only hope that the GOP at all levels from local, county, state and national as well as the Tea Party folks, take advantage of the opportunity to strongly back a strong candidate in Anna Little in a year that Pallone is vulnerable and should finally be voted out of his cozy office.

Frank Pallone is part of the problem, he is a virus on our district. Despite Pallone's claims, he has poorly represented the people of CD6 in Congress and is part of the problem that is:
1) high unemployment, high taxes and an IRS that terrorizes and threatens citizens
2) closed forts that continue to deteriorate while jobs at those forts are lost to other states
3) polluted beaches and waterways
4) uncontrolled illegal immigration that threatens out workforce, social services and security
5) high inflation, trillion dollar federal deficits and yet decreased spending in areas like NASA and our military
6) unaffordable tuition rates for citizens while foreign students and illegal aliens get Gov't help
7) gasoline prices that continue to hover at the $3/gal mark, high energy costs (oil, gas, electric) because of regulations that prohibit offshore windfarms, offshore oil or gas drilling, onland nuclear power or onland windfarms.
8) Two ongoing wars costing the lives of young Americans and the taxpayers of America with no end in sight
9) Irrational gun laws that make criminals out of law-abiding citizens
10) FEMA requires additional flood insurance along the Jersey Shore and Frank, who wrote the healthcare bill for his pal Obama, is somehow powerless to stop them.
11) Pallone EXTORTS thousands of dollars from ReGen executives, and seems to have gotten away with it - the issue has been swept under the rug. Pallone continues to EXTORT huge sums of money from pharmaceutical and healthcare companies alike.
12) Pallone voted to continue funding ACORN

Frank Pallone bad, Anna Little good - tell a friend.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Chris Christie is Rockin' "It"

I think we've all wonder what "it" is, whatever "it" is, Christie has "it". Here is our new Gov. on CNBC hitting home run after home run.














Here is the "new" story to accompany the video.

So far I'm impressed, and Christie seems to recognize that there is much more to do, and it won't be easy, for any of us, but in the long run, I think he's right - the tough choices will pay off.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Joe Stack's Note is Fascinating, to me

First, let me state clearly: I absolutely do not condone or advocate violence and am deeply sympathetic to the family and friends of the IRS employee who was murdered today by Joe Stack. I'm equally sympathetic to the family and friends of Mr. Stack and all of the other taxpayers out there who he, seemingly, believes he died for.

With that said, I think it's worth a review of Mr. Stack's critique of the IRS, and government in general, as his writing is really quite fascinating and in many ways quite accurate, and sad.




"East Side Dave" from the "Ron & Fez Show"
Mr. Stack begins his letter by invoking the cry of "no taxation without representation" and he states "These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a 'crackpot', traitor and worse". Quite accurate. Mr. Stacks points to many flaws in the IRS code and for that critique, what has the "news" done so far today? They have painted a picture of a man who is out of his mind, somehow wrong about every single one of his opinions and beliefs, without so much as a consideration for what he has written. He's called a "terrorist" by his Congressman, but from my quick efforts with Google, his Congressman has never once called the tactics used by the IRS and it's employees "terroristic". Indeed, the IRS and it's employees actions can surely be labeled "terroristic" and will continue to be, which is the problem.

Stack then goes on to note that the CEOs and executives of major corporations have been given handouts, bailouts officially, for essentially running their corporations into the ground and then accurately points to an overly complex tax-system " too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand" and again, I must agree with him.

Remember when Timothy Geithner didn't pay that $35,000 in taxes? What about Nancy Killefer who also didn't pay her taxes? Tom Daschle? These are some of our political leaders. Surely at least one of them has read the tax code? Or have they? Have you ever tried to read all of the tax code, here I'll help get you started [irs.gov]. The truth is that Mr. Stack isn't wrong about this - the tax code is thousands of pages, forms, circular references and a bit of your your IRS agent/judge/jury happens to be that day you appear in court, if you're lucky enough to have your day in court and not just have your pay, home, cars or life taken from you by another man (and by man I mean human). Not to mention that the code/law establishing the IRS and giving it authority is more thousands of pages of law. For that matter, pages of "law" don't read like a book, they read "such as", "wherein", "hereforto" and each specific word has some specific meaning, which often requires looking up the meaning in some other law.

Stack also notes "The law 'requires' a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing". Again, clearly, Obama's friend's didn't read the code, or understand what they were signing. And I personally would love to sign my tax forms this year and attach a note "I did NOT read all of the tax code and make no representations as to the completeness or accuracy of my claim beyond what TurboTax has provided for me"... but surely I would be a 'crackpot' for doing that, and would be inviting an audit from the tax man as well. To label Stack as a "crazy" for this much is still incorrect in my opinion, unless of course you think Obama's friends knowingly lied on their tax forms?

He then goes on to discuss "exemptions", which are quite interesting to me personally and Stack once again nails so many problems in so few words. Let me start by saying this, when some man purchased the Mercedes-Benz CL55AMG I now own for $130,000, he paid about $9,100 in taxes, give or take a few dollars. He also paid some title fee, a registration fee, a luxury tax, maybe a gas guzzler tax and who knows what other taxes. A vehicle history report indicates that the man who first purchased this car purchased it as a "company car" - a corporate lease, so I'm certain he "wrote it off", whatever that really means. Now I'm certain that the tax code was not intended for this. I'd like to think the idea was that my friend who runs a construction company NEEDS a 4x4 pickup in order to do work. I can absolutely assure, a CL55 AMG serves absolutely no purpose for any business use, period. MAYBE, just MAYBE, if you were a real-estate exec who needed to take a fancy client to see a fancy multi-million dollar house, you'd want your agent to have a fancy car - but certainly not a 2 door coupe with 500hp, MAYBE you wanted an S, but not a CL. Stack doesn't note the double, triple or more taxation, BUT my CL55 was sold after 3 years to someone else, let's guess they paid $60,000 for it, so the government took another $4200ish in taxes, on a car they already collected taxes for. They also took more fees for registration, title, etc. I then purchased the car a third time and paid another $2000+ in taxes, fees, title, etc. Not to mention I'm paying those sales taxes with money I have already paid income taxes on, OR that the person I bought the car from probably has to pay income taxes for the sale/profit, but I haven't read the tax code so that part is just a guess.

The next several paragraphs of his letter offer his personal story, again mostly relate-able topics. At some points he blames others for his problems, which may or may not be so, but what he says towards the end of his letter is quite interesting as well. He says, "I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are."

Out of coincidence, a friend had sent me a link to some Ross Perot quotes just yesterday. Among those quotes I was reminded of this gem: "If you see a snake, just kill it - don't appoint a committee on snakes. " Again, Stack is more than right. The politicians (in his words "thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags is far more accurate") are already talking about how to regulate small planes, what new rules and regulations need to be put in place and how to deal with small aircraft over big cities. But where is the politician asking for a review of the IRS, the tax code or the methods used by the IRS to harass, scare and perform outright thuggery to get money from taxpayers, who probably don't have the money, while "exemptions" are made for corporations, politicians or if those companies don't have the money, the government gives them a handout.

And please don't take this as being anti-corporation or anti-capitalism, that could not be further from the truth. Love him or hate him, I recently heard Mike Bloomberg say something which I thought was kind of smart, he essentially said that we should be happy when Wall St guy get huge bonuses or paychecks - because the city can tax that money. If those Wall St. guys pay 50-60% or more of their income into taxes, fees, etc like me, then I've got to say, Bloomberg is right, I just can't imagine how taking 50% of *ONE* guys $50million bonus leaves the city in debt and needing to raise taxes even though the streets have huge potholes in them and the bridges and tunnels haven't be improved, expanded or added to any time soon and schools don't have money for textbooks, etc... hrm, must be more of that tax-code magic.

So do I think it was "ok" then for Mr. Stack, who I honestly believe is right in most of his assessment, to attack a Federal building and it's employees? I'm not going to answer directly but I'll pose this question instead, do you think it is "ok" for Federal employees to come knock on your door, shotguns in hand, to take your property?

Surely the killed IRS employee is someone's mom, dad, brother, sister, etc, do I want to explain to that employee's child, mom, etc that the employee is dead? Again I won't answer directly, but I ask this, surely Mr. Stack has a wife, kids, mom, etc, do you want to tell the IRS employee's mom, dad, child that their son, daughter or whatever threw some family out on the street over a few dollars in taxes? Or do you want to tell Mr. Stack's wife and kids that they'll be sleeping in the gutter tonight so that Uncle Sam can sell their house and property (for a loss) to the highest bidder? Do you also want to explain that it's not like the tax money is really needed anyhow because the government will just print some more money out of thin air or take a loan from the Chinese or Japanese if they need more money?

So I must say, what Mr. Stack wrote has certainly hit a sour note with me as a person and a taxpayer. I don't think he did the right thing by attacking a Federal building (and not just because it's MY tax money that'll get spent to repair the building now) and killing a federal employee (and not just because my tax money will go as some kind of "reward" to the killed employee's family), but I can also more than understand the anger and frustration that Mr. Stack feels towards the IRS and the tax system. I have little doubt that anything will change, except maybe some new regulations on small aircraft as he notes will happen, and I believe that the Tea Party folks will continue to be called 'crackpots' and the left will continue to be called 'traitors' and socialists. I'll continue to pay the majority of my earnings to the government as a tax, fee, licence, etc and continue to fear that one year I'll honestly and legitimately forget a tax form or incorrectly file a form and lose everything I have worked so hard to earn, including my two GM Pontiac Firebirds and the Benz. I'll also continue to fear that someone will somehow perceive me, through this blog or anything else, as "anti-government" and use that as a reason to take away my 2nd amendment rights, and maybe even my 1st amendment rights, and I doubt I could get a fair and speedy trial because my peers live in the same fear and would dare not question the law and be labeled a 'traitor' themselves.

It is a scary world we live in, but I'll always remember what my parents told me as a child when it was time for some test, "just do your best" and when it comes to obeying the law, since none of us can really know all of the laws and understand them all, that's just what I'll do, and it's just what I'll urge you to do. So don't go crashing a plane into a building,any building, I'm POSITIVE that much is illegal.



RAW DATA: Joseph Andrew Stack Suicide Manifesto

... I'll offer my $0.02 on this later when I get home from work and have time, but here is the rather interesting raw text (as published by FoxNews) of Joseph Stack's final note - which they call a "manifesto" but, having read about half now, I would call a reasonably accurate description of where we are... In case it disappears from the mainstream news sites sooner rather than later....


If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt asking yourself, “Why did this have to happen?” The simple truth is that it is complicated and has been coming for a long time. The writing process, started many months ago, was intended to be therapy in the face of the looming realization that there isn’t enough therapy in the world that can fix what is really broken. Needless to say, this rant could fill volumes with example after example if I would let it. I find the process of writing it frustrating, tedious, and probably pointless… especially given my gross inability to gracefully articulate my thoughts in light of the storm raging in my head. Exactly what is therapeutic about that I’m not sure, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy. Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all. We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principals represented by its founding fathers. Remember? One of these was “no taxation without representation”. I have spent the total years of my adulthood unlearning that crap from only a few years of my childhood. These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a “crackpot”, traitor and worse.

While very few working people would say they haven’t had their fair share of taxes (as can I), in my lifetime I can say with a great degree of certainty that there has never been a politician cast a vote on any matter with the likes of me or my interests in mind. Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say.

Why is it that a handful of thugs and plunderers can commit unthinkable atrocities (and in the case of the GM executives, for scores of years) and when it’s time for their gravy train to crash under the weight of their gluttony and overwhelming stupidity, the force of the full federal government has no difficulty coming to their aid within days if not hours? Yet at the same time, the joke we call the American medical system, including the drug and insurance companies, are murdering tens of thousands of people a year and stealing from the corpses and victims they cripple, and this country’s leaders don’t see this as important as bailing out a few of their vile, rich cronies. Yet, the political “representatives” (thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags is far more accurate) have endless time to sit around for year after year and debate the state of the “terrible health care problem”. It’s clear they see no crisis as long as the dead people don’t get in the way of their corporate profits rolling in.

And justice? You’ve got to be kidding!

How can any rational individual explain that white elephant conundrum in the middle of our tax system and, indeed, our entire legal system? Here we have a system that is, by far, too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand. Yet, it mercilessly “holds accountable” its victims, claiming that they’re responsible for fully complying with laws not even the experts understand. The law “requires” a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing; if that’s not “duress” than what is. If this is not the measure of a totalitarian regime, nothing is.

How did I get here?

My introduction to the real American nightmare starts back in the early ‘80s. Unfortunately after more than 16 years of school, somewhere along the line I picked up the absurd, pompous notion that I could read and understand plain English. Some friends introduced me to a group of people who were having ‘tax code’ readings and discussions. In particular, zeroed in on a section relating to the wonderful “exemptions” that make institutions like the vulgar, corrupt Catholic Church so incredibly wealthy. We carefully studied the law (with the help of some of the “best”, high-paid, experienced tax lawyers in the business), and then began to do exactly what the “big boys” were doing (except that we weren’t steeling from our congregation or lying to the government about our massive profits in the name of God). We took a great deal of care to make it all visible, following all of the rules, exactly the way the law said it was to be done.

The intent of this exercise and our efforts was to bring about a much-needed re-evaluation of the laws that allow the monsters of organized religion to make such a mockery of people who earn an honest living. However, this is where I learned that there are two “interpretations” for every law; one for the very rich, and one for the rest of us… Oh, and the monsters are the very ones making and enforcing the laws; the inquisition is still alive and well today in this country.

That little lesson in patriotism cost me $40,000+, 10 years of my life, and set my retirement plans back to 0. It made me realize for the first time that I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie. It also made me realize, not only how naive I had been, but also the incredible stupidity of the American public; that they buy, hook, line, and sinker, the crap about their “freedom”… and that they continue to do so with eyes closed in the face of overwhelming evidence and all that keeps happening in front of them.

Before even having to make a shaky recovery from the sting of the first lesson on what justice really means in this country (around 1984 after making my way through engineering school and still another five years of “paying my dues”), I felt I finally had to take a chance of launching my dream of becoming an independent engineer.

On the subjects of engineers and dreams of independence, I should digress somewhat to say that I’m sure that I inherited the fascination for creative problem solving from my father. I realized this at a very young age.

The significance of independence, however, came much later during my early years of college; at the age of 18 or 19 when I was living on my own as student in an apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My neighbor was an elderly retired woman (80+ seemed ancient to me at that age) who was the widowed wife of a retired steel worker. Her husband had worked all his life in the steel mills of central Pennsylvania with promises from big business and the union that, for his 30 years of service, he would have a pension and medical care to look forward to in his retirement. Instead he was one of the thousands who got nothing because the incompetent mill management and corrupt union (not to mention the government) raided their pension funds and stole their retirement. All she had was social security to live on.

In retrospect, the situation was laughable because here I was living on peanut butter and bread (or Ritz crackers when I could afford to splurge) for months at a time. When I got to know this poor figure and heard her story I felt worse for her plight than for my own (I, after all, I thought I had everything to in front of me). I was genuinely appalled at one point, as we exchanged stories and commiserated with each other over our situations, when she in her grandmotherly fashion tried to convince me that I would be “healthier” eating cat food (like her) rather than trying to get all my substance from peanut butter and bread. I couldn’t quite go there, but the impression was made. I decided that I didn’t trust big business to take care of me, and that I would take responsibility for my own future and myself.

Return to the early ‘80s, and here I was off to a terrifying start as a ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ contract software engineer… and two years later, thanks to the fine backroom, midnight effort by the sleazy executives of Arthur Andersen (the very same folks who later brought us Enron and other such calamities) and an equally sleazy New York Senator (Patrick Moynihan), we saw the passage of 1986 tax reform act with its section 1706.

For you who are unfamiliar, here is the core text of the IRS Section 1706, defining the treatment of workers (such as contract engineers) for tax purposes. Visit this link for a conference committee report (http://www.synergistech.com/1706.shtml#ConferenceCommitteeReport) regarding the intended interpretation of Section 1706 and the relevant parts of Section 530, as amended. For information on how these laws affect technical services workers and their clients, read our discussion here (http://www.synergistech.com/ic-taxlaw.shtml).

SEC. 1706. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.

(a) IN GENERAL - Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:

(d) EXCEPTION. - This section shall not apply in the case of an individual who pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker engaged in a similar line of work.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE. - The amendment made by this section shall apply to remuneration paid and services rendered after December 31, 1986.

Note:

· “another person” is the client in the traditional job-shop relationship.

· “taxpayer” is the recruiter, broker, agency, or job shop.

· “individual”, “employee”, or “worker” is you.

Admittedly, you need to read the treatment to understand what it is saying but it’s not very complicated. The bottom line is that they may as well have put my name right in the text of section (d). Moreover, they could only have been more blunt if they would have came out and directly declared me a criminal and non-citizen slave. Twenty years later, I still can’t believe my eyes.

During 1987, I spent close to $5000 of my ‘pocket change’, and at least 1000 hours of my time writing, printing, and mailing to any senator, congressman, governor, or slug that might listen; none did, and they universally treated me as if I was wasting their time. I spent countless hours on the L.A. freeways driving to meetings and any and all of the disorganized professional groups who were attempting to mount a campaign against this atrocity. This, only to discover that our efforts were being easily derailed by a few moles from the brokers who were just beginning to enjoy the windfall from the new declaration of their “freedom”. Oh, and don’t forget, for all of the time I was spending on this, I was loosing income that I couldn’t bill clients.

After months of struggling it had clearly gotten to be a futile exercise. The best we could get for all of our trouble is a pronouncement from an IRS mouthpiece that they weren’t going to enforce that provision (read harass engineers and scientists). This immediately proved to be a lie, and the mere existence of the regulation began to have its impact on my bottom line; this, of course, was the intended effect.

Again, rewind my retirement plans back to 0 and shift them into idle. If I had any sense, I clearly should have left abandoned engineering and never looked back.

Instead I got busy working 100-hour workweeks. Then came the L.A. depression of the early 1990s. Our leaders decided that they didn’t need the all of those extra Air Force bases they had in Southern California, so they were closed; just like that. The result was economic devastation in the region that rivaled the widely publicized Texas S&L fiasco. However, because the government caused it, no one gave a shit about all of the young families who lost their homes or street after street of boarded up houses abandoned to the wealthy loan companies who received government funds to “shore up” their windfall. Again, I lost my retirement.

Years later, after weathering a divorce and the constant struggle trying to build some momentum with my business, I find myself once again beginning to finally pick up some speed. Then came the .COM bust and the 911 nightmare. Our leaders decided that all aircraft were grounded for what seemed like an eternity; and long after that, ‘special’ facilities like San Francisco were on security alert for months. This made access to my customers prohibitively expensive. Ironically, after what they had done the Government came to the aid of the airlines with billions of our tax dollars … as usual they left me to rot and die while they bailed out their rich, incompetent cronies WITH MY MONEY! After these events, there went my business but not quite yet all of my retirement and savings.

By this time, I’m thinking that it might be good for a change. Bye to California, I’ll try Austin for a while. So I moved, only to find out that this is a place with a highly inflated sense of self-importance and where damn little real engineering work is done. I’ve never experienced such a hard time finding work. The rates are 1/3 of what I was earning before the crash, because pay rates here are fixed by the three or four large companies in the area who are in collusion to drive down prices and wages… and this happens because the justice department is all on the take and doesn’t give a fuck about serving anyone or anything but themselves and their rich buddies.

To survive, I was forced to cannibalize my savings and retirement, the last of which was a small IRA. This came in a year with mammoth expenses and not a single dollar of income. I filed no return that year thinking that because I didn’t have any income there was no need. The sleazy government decided that they disagreed. But they didn’t notify me in time for me to launch a legal objection so when I attempted to get a protest filed with the court I was told I was no longer entitled to due process because the time to file ran out. Bend over for another $10,000 helping of justice.

So now we come to the present. After my experience with the CPA world, following the business crash I swore that I’d never enter another accountant’s office again. But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle. After considerable thought I decided that it would be irresponsible NOT to get professional help; a very big mistake.

When we received the forms back I was very optimistic that they were in order. I had taken all of the years information to Bill Ross, and he came back with results very similar to what I was expecting. Except that he had neglected to include the contents of Sheryl’s unreported income; $12,700 worth of it. To make matters worse, Ross knew all along this was missing and I didn’t have a clue until he pointed it out in the middle of the audit. By that time it had become brutally evident that he was representing himself and not me.

This left me stuck in the middle of this disaster trying to defend transactions that have no relationship to anything tax-related (at least the tax-related transactions were poorly documented). Things I never knew anything about and things my wife had no clue would ever matter to anyone. The end result is… well, just look around.

I remember reading about the stock market crash before the “great” depression and how there were wealthy bankers and businessmen jumping out of windows when they realized they screwed up and lost everything. Isn’t it ironic how far we’ve come in 60 years in this country that they now know how to fix that little economic problem; they just steal from the middle class (who doesn’t have any say in it, elections are a joke) to cover their asses and it’s “business-as-usual”. Now when the wealthy fuck up, the poor get to die for the mistakes… isn’t that a clever, tidy solution.

As government agencies go, the FAA is often justifiably referred to as a tombstone agency, though they are hardly alone. The recent presidential puppet GW Bush and his cronies in their eight years certainly reinforced for all of us that this criticism rings equally true for all of the government. Nothing changes unless there is a body count (unless it is in the interest of the wealthy sows at the government trough). In a government full of hypocrites from top to bottom, life is as cheap as their lies and their self-serving laws.

I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.

I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are. Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn’t so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer. The cruel joke is that the really big chunks of shit at the top have known this all along and have been laughing, at and using this awareness against, fools like me all along.

I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.

The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.

Joe Stack (1956-2010)

02/18/2010

Thursday, February 11, 2010

A Poll Says: People Who Didn't Vote, and Republicans, Are Unhappy With the Federal Gov't

The Washington Post is claiming that a new poll indicates that two-thirds of Americans are unhappy with the way that the federal government is working. Shocking. The dummies at the Post then go on to try to claim that this means that two-thirds of people should get involved with the Tea Party and/or start to like Sarah Palin, or Republicans in general, since the Democrats are the ones, perceived to be, in power.

The problem with their little poll seems to be that they don't make a note that reminds the reader that ONLY about 130 million voted in the 2008 elections that made Obama president and solidly put Democrats in charge of the Senate and House. I stress the word ONLY because 130 million people really is ONLY about one-third of the population, meaning that the same two-thirds of the population who didn't bother to vote, either way, in 2008 are likely the same two-thirds who aren't happy with the direction of the federal government, which we can blame on Democrats but shouldn't forget that we do have some "Republicans" (like Chris Smith D4, Leonard Lance D7, and Frank LoBionda D2) sitting in Congress voting for Cap and Trade. so the Rs are certainly not all blame free either.

In my humble opinion, if two-thirds of the population doesn't feel inclined to vote for either party, and is unhappy with the direction that the government has taken, then it can only mean that one party or the other, or a new party, is in a prime spot to actually represent the people and change the course of our nation. The conservative wing of the Republican party seemingly represents a large portion of that two-thirds of the population, but I have to say, Sarah Palin is certainly not the spokes-person for the conservative wing of the party, nor is Rush (or, believe it or not, me).

The Tea Party Movement is a worthy effort, but if anyone intends to really change the way our federal government operates, the Tea Party folks must stop presenting themselves to the public at large as a fringe organization full of anti-government, ultra-right-wing militants who are just loud Republicans. I know that the Tea Party Movement is much more than that, and I am happy to see the Tea Party movement still making waves and gaining momentum, but they too must recognize that for any "change" to happen, they must reach that two-thirds of the population who are dissatisfied with the government, AND didn't vote before.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Solution to Illegal Immigration


This comic is sadly funny in an awfully true way... or maybe border patrol should order 60 Remington 870s?


The IRS is Buying Guns, and So Should You

It seems as if the IRS is in the market for sixty (60) Remington 870 shotguns. I don't know about the exact cost of the specific model the IRS intends to purchase, but for what it's worth, you can head over to your local Dick's Sporting Goods and purchase a Remington 870 Express 5 round, 12 gauge for yourself (with your FID of course) for about $300 after taxes.

I'm not sure why the IRS needs shotguns to collect income taxes, maybe because they recognize that gun sales means a more peaceful society, but I will say that I know firsthand that the Remington 870 is a great weapon and I would recommend having one, just in case someone ever tries to illegal break into your home looking for money or some other personal belongings... and by someone I mean like a gang or some other group of thugs, not the IRS of course... For a few dollars, you can also learn how to safely and properly handle such a firearm and use it in a defensive situation which I also recommend.


Thursday, January 28, 2010

It was Everything But the State of the Union

My apologies for being away from my blog for so long with no update. I'll give my own State of the Hogan Household in a moment, but first let me add my $0.02 (free to you) on Obama's First State of the Union address.

First, let me say that I personally expect, and believe, that the State of the Union address is supposed to be a chance for the President to tell We The People of the CURRENT condition of our Union of State. After telling us the CURRENT condition of our Union of States, the President can then lay out his agenda and plan to improve the State of the Union. Perhaps my understanding or exceptions are what is wrong.

So as I listened to President Obama last night, I could not help but think that his State of The Union speech lacked one critical component of the State of the Union speech: an assessment of the CURRENT State of the Union. His speech sounded more like a campaign speech full of wishful thoughts and more promises of things to come rather than a real assessment of the current State of the Union. Ie, "I'm going to repeal don't ask, don't tell". Ok fine, what is the current State of the Union's military? Are we winning wars, losing wars, getting out of wars as promised a year (or two) ago? How did "I'm going to close Gitmo" work out? What is the current State of the Union's Gitmo detention center? "I haven't raised a tax on the middle class". What is the current State of the Union's middle class? Are they not 10+% unemployed and down 20-30-50% on their retirement funds? And unless you call small business owners part of the middle class, then to borrow from Joe Wilson, "You Lie". Maybe I'm just a right wing gun toting lunatic, it is possible but I'd never admit it, but I just didn't hear a State of the Union, all I heard were more promises and campaigning, more asking We The People (and Republicans) to just go
along with him on everything and never question his wisdom or agenda.

So let me give an example... suppose *I* were asked to give the State of the Hogan Household... it might go something like this:

Despite a 10% decrease in revenues for the year ended 12/31/09 compared to the year ended 12/31/08 due to a pay cut early in the year, savings are up 4% for the year, 7% extra was paid towards my mortgage each month... and now I'm like a real Republican and have 'invested' (poorly) in a Mr. Fancy Pants High-End German car.

Additionally, I have accepted an additional 2-4 hours per day work load to make up for a decrease in new production during the other 8 hours of work due to a decrease in staffing at my place of employment. I have spent $X to repair or improve infrastructure throughout my home without borrowing additional money which has raised the assessed value $Y.

Further, I have invested an additional $A on educational opportunities for myself including first aid training, cpr training, firearms safety courses, work-related computer programming training which I believe has raised my value as an employee and makes future work opportunities available to me.

And that really is my current State of The Hogan Household and why I haven't had time to update my blog as frequently as I would like. It is also why I MAY not consider another run for Congress against Mr. Frank Pallone this year but the good news is that several well known and respectable Republicans are considering a run against him and I will do my best to assist any worthy candidate, from any party, to defeat Pallone this year.

Anywho, I just wish President Obama had provided an honest assessment of the current State of the Union. I wish he noted that we're still, and deeper, into two foreign wars despite his old promisses. I wish he noted that despite TARP and auto bailouts and other non-sense bailouts, unemployment is still at 10+% nationwide and GM still went bankrupt. People are still losing their homes to banks who are providing limited loans at high interest rates and giving back .000000001% interest on savings... which is then taxed as income. Obama could have noted that the divide between the rich and the poor has never been greater, that party lines have never been more divided or more black and white. He could have noted that the American people (rightly) gave millions to rebuild Haiti but Detroit still looks like Mogadishu and the American people do nothing to rebuild (because that would be socialism?). Obama could have noted that (if you believe the NRA) firearm sales are high, and crime low. Instead, I just heard heard more promises of things to come, without mention of things that didn't come, despite pledges that they would happen, but again, maybe I'm just a stupid right wing fanatic who won't give Obama credit for the nothing that he's said or done.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

The Gov't Health Insurance Disclosure Box

The Federal Reserve, love 'em or hate 'em, has this federal law in place which essentially forces all of the credit card companies to disclose, in plain English and in a simple to follow box, all of the information about the terms of the card. If you have a credit card of any sort, you know the box I'm talking about, first line says APR: $X, next line Other APRs: $Y, Grace Period: Z days... and so on.

And now the Democratics, not the US Senate, the Democrats, have passed this new Gov't Healthcare plan.

I ask a simple question... which Senator will be the one who reads all 232,34,345,756,234,345,541,646 pages of the bill, referenced bills, other bills, laws and guidelines and puts together all of that information into the same, easy to read, easy to understand Summary of Benefits that I'm used to seeing? Let me give the example of what I would like to see based on a format that my HR people send me year after year, and maybe someone out there can point me this information presented just this way:

Plan Your Monthly Contribution
Single $0
Employee & spouse $200
Employee & child(ren) $200
Family $400

Now, I'm pretty sure that most of my readers are Republicanish, aka have jobs, and have seen a chart like this at every place they have ever worked for. The numbers might be higher or lower but I'm sure that the format is similar. I doubt the Democrats who vote for this healthcare bill have constituents who have seen such a chart but I'm pretty sure that if you are one of them you'll understand it very quickly - you pay $X and get "coverage" for the number of people specified.

Now comes the second half of the information that the HR people will send me which outlines what "coverage" means. It looks something like this:

Benefit Cost/Co-Pay
Physical Examination, including immunizations for persons to age 19 in accordance with Company's schedule of covered well exams $0
Physical Examinations, including immunizations for persons over age 19 in accordance with Company's schedule of covered well exams $25 per Visit
Mammogram $0
Routine Gynecological Care $25 per visit
Inpatient Care: Semi-Private Room and Board $250 Copayment per Day to $1,250 Maximum per Admission, $2,500 Maximum per Year


... and so that list would go on and on with the costs *I* would have to receive some kind of professional service(s).

So, with that said, would a polite Democrat from either the house or senate please send me:
1) My monthly contribution (ie, the total number of tax dollars I will give to the gov't for healthcare)
2) My summary of benefits

I'll also note that ALL of the important, to me, information is condensed neatly into an easy to understand *2* page document, I'll be generous in understanding that Democrats are a bit dimwitted and settle for up to 4 pages to summarize my costs and benefits. I'll provide a fax number if needed. Thank you.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Oceanport Needs to Get Vocal About Fort Redevelopment Again

From Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace ( a copy of the attachments are The Bill and The Response E-Mail)

All-

Please read the attached e-mails from Oceanport resident Jay Coffey regarding Senate Bill 10, the "Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Authority Bill." His concerns regarding this pending legislation are spot on and I couldn't agree more. This issue is time sensitive as it is being discussed in the Senate on Thursday, December 3.

The future of Fort Monmouth has been one of my passions since before I was elected Councilman for the Boro of Oceanport. Unfortunately, Oceanport has been forced to accept many things under the current structure of FMERPA. In fact, Oceanport was one of 2 towns to vote against the Redevelopment Plan in 2008. Many of our residents have been very outspoken in their belief that the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth will not be a benefit for the taxpayers of Oceanport but rather a detriment.

In my position as a Councilman, I have even advocated the possible use of deannexation. Many years ago, the federal government took possession of the land now known as Fort Monmouth for use as an Army base. Deannexation is the process by which Oceanport would refuse reacceptance of this same land. We may be able to simply walk away perhaps leaving the land to another town. Maybe Fort Monmouth would remain it's own entity and become its own community within Monmouth County.

I am deeply concerned about the Fort Monmouth Redevelopment Bill as it currently stands. This Bill is being sponsored by a Senator from Union, New Jersey. While the bill is co-sponsored by a Senator from Monmouth County, I can't help but wonder what interest a Senator from Union has in Monmouth County? What's in it for his district?

Why is this bill being pushed through a "lame duck" session rather than waiting for the new Administration? I believe the voters of New Jersey have spoken and therefore, new legislation should be held until January of next year inorder to insure that the wishes of our State residents are respected. If the voters had wanted the current form of government, I believe our current governor would have been reelected.

My concerns regarding this bill are numerous:

The Bill calls for 5 votes by appointees of the Governor and 4 votes from the towns and County most affected by its passage. Why does the State need a majority? Shouldn't the local communities have a majority say in what occurs in our communities? Again, the voters have placed their trust in Governor Elect Christie. Shouldn't we wait for him to make any/all appointments?

Why does the Governor appoint the Chairman of the Committee? Subsequently, the chairman would appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Chairman should be voted on by the members of the Committee and approved by a majority vote inorder to insure fair representation of the local entities.

What exactly is a Fort Monmouth Special Improvement District? Why do we want this? What exactly is a Transportation Improvement District and why do we want one? What exactly is an Infrastructure District and why do we want one? Do these "districts" involve ratable sharing and COAH sharing across the Fort Monmouth communities? Why can't each community operate on its own within the confines of the plan?

How is COAH going to be handled? While probably not specific to this bill, we would want each town to handle it's own COAH obligations and not share among the "redevelopment district."

Why is the potential use of Eminent Domain included?" Is there a plan for future use? As we've learned from neighboring towns, residents don't look favorably on the use of Eminent Domain by Federal, State or Local Government.

There is no mention of when or how this new Committee will "expire." Do we really need that much oversight here or can each town handle it with the help of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority? Are they trying to create more levels of Government?

I will not stand by while Oceanport gets the short end of the stick. I stand ready to do whatever it takes to stop this from bill from passing in its current form.

I have posted additional information on my Facebook page.

We need your help to stop this Bill from moving forward. Please call Senator Beck and voice your concerns. Her office number is 732-933-1591 or email SenBeck@njleg.org.

Thanks!
Joe


Folks:

For a change, this isn't a sports related or humorous e-mail. Instead, I am writing to alert you to the fact that the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, including our very own State Senator, Jennifer Beck, is looking to push through a last minute bill before the new Governor takes office. This bill will vest control over the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth in a brand new Authority created by the State of New Jersey. Senate Bill No. 10 ( a copy of which is attached to this e-mail for both of you who really like to read legislation), entitled the "Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority Act" is up for consideration on Thursday by the Senate. This bill is being co-sponsored by Senator Ray Lesniak of Union County and Senator Jennifer Beck of Monmouth County. The net effect of this bill is that the State of New Jersey, through its Economic Development Authority, will both staff the newly created Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority AND act as the master developer for the development of the Fort property. Once again, similar to what happened in the previous legislation, the three host communities (Oceanport, Tinton Falls, and Eatontown), the entities having the greatest and most intimate interest in the redevelopment of the Fort, are being given a combined three votes (one for each Mayor) and the State is being given five votes. The ninth voting member is from the County.

Asking you to read and comprehend this bill, which was only introduced on November 23, 2009, is a bit much. I read it last week and I was so outraged by its content that I ended up writing a nine page screed to four of our council members (a copy of the cleaned up version of that screed is also attached to this e-mail). Asking you to read and comprehend my screed at this late date is also a bit much. But I can give you ten reasons why we should be vehemently opposed to this bill and they are set forth at the bottom of this e-mail.

The Borough of Oceanport's Municipal Council meeting has been moved up from December 3rd to December 2nd (tonight at 7:00 pm). This bill will be a hot topic of discussion. If you are ever going to attend a Municipal Council meeting, this would be a good one to go to. Some of Oceanport's elected officials will be going down to Trenton on Thursday to oppose this bill. They will be spitting into the wind, however, without our help. Whether you have the time to read the bill or my screed or not, the fact is that our local elected officials are dead set against the bill. Even if you don't have the time to read the bill, the fact that it is being rushed through in the lame duck session before the new State administration is in place smacks of something being done that is not completely on the up and up. We need to contact Senator Jennifer Beck and tell her that the citizens of Oceanport are against Senate Bill No. 10. and that she should withdraw her co-sponsorship of it at once. She needs to be told, in no uncertain terms, that the residents of Oceanport want this bill to be stopped dead in its tracks right now. Senator Beck is operating under the assumption that we, her constituents, are asleep at the wheel and that this bill will pass without anybody raising a fuss about it. Oceanport's Municipal Council was not consulted on the contents of the bill until after it was completed. If this was a Municipal Council action, we would be showing up in big numbers at Council Meetings to oppose it. State legislators don't have to worry about that because hardly anybody will take the trip to Trenton to complain and, even if they do, there is no guarantee that they would be given the opportunity to be heard. The only real way to be heard on this issue is to contact Senator Jennifer Beck's office. Her Senate phone number is 732-933-1591. Take a few moments, place a call and let her know how you feel about the bill. You can also send an e-mail to her (and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblyman Declan J. O'Scanlon) by visiting her Senate website at:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=303

Click on "contact your legislators", check all three names, click on "Select Your Representatives" and then fill out the e-mail form. In the e-mail subject box you should type "Senate Bill No. 10". If she doesn't hear from us, then we only have ourselves to blame.

Thanks for indulging my rant.

Jay Coffey

10 Things That I Hate About Senate Bill No. 10 (A/K/A: The NJ Economic Development Authority's Lifetime Employment Act of 2009)

1. Our Senator, Jennifer Beck, is co-sponsoring a bill she only saw for the first time a week before it was introduced and co-sponsor is Union County Senator Ray Lesniak.

2. It creates another NEW authority (the "Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority" or "MERA") to oversee the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth.

3. The host communities have no real say in the development of the Fort. MERA has nine voting members, only three of whom are from Oceanport, Eatontown and Tinton Falls. Five voting members are State appointees. The ninth voting member is from the County.

4. It creates a NEW office within the N.J. Economic Development Authority with which to staff MERA.

5. MERA must pay for the costs associated with the NEW office staff from the NJ Economic Development Authority

6. It authorizes MERA to enter into an agreement with the N.J. Economic Development Authority which will make the latter the "master developer" of the Fort Monmouth property. The NJ Economic Development Authority has absolutely NO experience as a master developer of this type of project.

7. The legislation contemplates, promotes and/or creates debt creation vehicles and financing schemes such as the Fort Monmouth Special Improvement District, the Fort Monmouth Transportation Planning District, infrastructure districts and franchise assessments.

8. Municipal site plan approval and municipal subdivision approval shall not be required for any project undertaken by the NEW authority or the EDA.

9. The plan and the development and design guidelines and land use regulations adopted by the authority shall supersede the master plans, the zoning and land use ordinances and regulations, and the zoning maps of the host municipalities.

10. This is a lame duck bill that is being pushed through the legislature in an expedited fashion before the new Governor takes office. There can be no good reason (for the host communities) why this bill is on such a fast track.

BONUS REASON: The Legislature of the State of New Jersey (the people who brought us EnCap, Xanadu, and the New Jersey School Construction Corp. fiascos) has a multi-billion dollar budget gap and we are being asked to entrust the management of our financial future to the very same people who can't even manage their own fiscal affairs. The State will control the development and we will be left with the fallout.

As an unrelated note from me - I find it worth noting that the NJ State Senator in question, Jennifer Beck, is the same Jennifer Beck who was too busy to vote against the One-Gun-A-Month legislation that was passed earlier this year.

The Problem in America

In case you didn't know it, today, the day I write this blog entry, is December 2, 2009.

You might, or might not, know that last night, on December 1, 2009, US President Barack Hussein Obama delivered a important speech outlining his plan for US involvement in Afghanistan including sending an additional 30,000 troops, costing another $30 billion (because why measure in lives lost or destroyed by taking young men from their home life and family or mention that the cost is just a low estimate at best). I'll leave the other details for you to read on your own, because this blog entry is really just here to note the problem in America.... which I again will not state, but demonstrate in this picture.



This is why we'll never see reduced taxes, a smaller, less powerful government or any of our most rights, The People, as a whole, just don't seem to care. Maybe those calls for a War Tax or The Draft might be on to something, people just aren't paying attention to the severity of the wars our country has been engaged in for the past decade. Another US Serviceman was KIA today it's not showing in Google Trends, no one seems to care.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Today marks 220 Years of Freedom in NJ

On this date in 1789, The Great State of New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. Regardless of what today's broken legislative and judicial systems tell you, all of these years later, you still have these most basic rights, and the government can not, and must not, take these rights from you:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.


So go ahead and exercise your rights today New Jersey. We were first to think these were great ideas 220 years ago and in my humble opinion, these are all still great ideas today.

With that said, I'm go leave work early, head over to a church then go shoot guns at Brick Armory. If any readers are interested in joining me to exercise these rights, I'll even consider letting you use one of my guest passes for the range to save yourself a few bucks, I might even let you test drive part of my arsenal if your nice.

And if you believe that NJ has infringed on most of these rights (and you might be right), it's worth noting that North Carolina, which seems to be a hot spot for people escaping NJ, celebrates this same honor tomorrow.


Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Lonegan 2012... And Not Pallone 2010!

As of 10:30pm NJN is saying 49%/44% Christie winning with 81% of the votes counted (5% for Daggett)

So as the numbers trickle in, and it appears Christie will beat the odds and win this Gov. race, let me (hopefully be first to) suggest this:

Steven Lonegan's endorsement of Chris Christie was more powerful than Obama's endorsement of Jon Corzine COMBINED with Corzine's millions of Wall St dollars.

Surely the power of Lonegan can mean only one thing - Lonegan for President of the United States of America 2012!

On a separate note - it could also mean that come next November, Obama won't be able to help Frank Pallone, nor will Frank Pallone's millions of extorted dollars be able to stop a strong conservative from taking his seat in the house.

I have no idea how he'd feel about it, but I'd sure love to see a guy like Hank Butehorn, who I believe resides in the right district, take on Pallone, and I'm sure Hank could earn the Lonegan endorsement he'd need to win. How about it Hank?

For anyone who might not know Hank, Google can help.

P.S. Yes, I'm suggesting that I MIGHT not try to run again, we'll see. :-)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

City of Long Branch Arbitrarily Age Discriminates

The City of Long Branch (New Jersey) has officially advised that:

A curfew has been established for all persons within the City of Long Branch under 17 years of age, to be invoked on October 30, and 31, 2009. The curfew will extend from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 am. each night. Director of Public Safety, William Richards has been directed by the Mayor to strictly enforce the policy.

I have to say that "when I was your age..." I would trick or treat with Mom and Dad all over Keansburg, all day long, where I grew up, and then we would head over to Keyport until 9-10 at night. It was a good time and once it was dark out, the general (unwritten) rule was don't go knock on doors where the lights are all out and bother people. Must have been simpler times ALL of those years ago.

And why 17? Isn't the magical number to be an adult 18? or is it 21? I think it might even be 40 to purchase cigarettes now. So when did it become 17? And why 17 for this curfew, why not 37, or all ages. Isn't this age discrimination? This NYRA Analysis is worth a read.

And if this is due to a concern of annoying the neighbors, then I can state for the record that I'll be more annoyed at a 62 year old grandma, or a 18 year old trick-or-treater for that matter, ringing my door bell at 1am than I would be at a 13 year old. I expect the kids to be out in the dark on Halloween begging for free candy - Religious Zealots beware - it's a day for the kids to have some fun with the ghosts and goblins, no harm no foul, no one is indoctrinating witches on the 31st to the best of my knowledge.

And if the claim is safety for these youngsters, then I'd say maybe the Mayor could ask Mr. Richards to have the clowns over at public works report the street light that is out in front of their public works yard on Branchport Ave (pole number is 53434, nearest address is 164 Branchport Ave, and nearest cross street is Irving Pl). I'd report it but I much prefer to be nearly run over by Long Branch police officers who speed through the lot on their cell phones at night (ok, since this has only happened to me 4 times in the 3 years I've been walking the dog past this location every night), plus it's fun for me to wait and see how long it takes the police, who are supposed to look out for public safety, ignore the street lights that are out. As a FYI - the light right beside this one is also out (#466 if you care to report it that one too). There are also two lights out in front of the Board of Ed building on Broadway which I refuse to report myself, call me negligent.

Curfew's stink, regardless of age. They aren't preventing any crimes, only preventing the good citizens from enjoying a night out. Those who are going to commit crimes could care less about the date and time, or the existence of a curfew.

P.S. - For the record, I'm thinking about going out trick-or-treating myself after 8pm, free candy and thanks to the mayor discriminating against them, no competition from the kids.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Another "Unlikely"Dagget Endorsement

Remember Gene Baldassari, New Jersey's First Candidate from the Modern Whig Party? In a press release today, Baldassari has endorsed Chris Daggett for Governor of New Jersey. The press release follows:
Baldassari Supports Daggett in Unlikely Endorsement

Hamilton, NJ - In an unlikely advocacy, 14th District Assembly candidate Gene Baldassari has endorsed Chris Daggett for Governor. According to Baldassari, “Some people are accusing me of departing from my lifelong support of small government, fiscal responsibility, and freedom.”
“However”, Gene added, “the real issue in this election is the inability of Chris Christie and Jon Corzine to properly represent NJ citizens. At least Chris Daggett would not be attached to the powers that have held our State hostage to an incurable addiction of spending and taxation.”
Baldassari is running under the banner of the Modern Whig Party. This movement, restored by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and centered in Washington, has Chapters in 26 States. Along with their prescribed principles of fiscal responsibility, common sense, and rational thinking, the Modern Whig’s promote an end to party bickering by supporting candidates and officials who advocate a citizen oriented platform, regardless of party affiliation.
Links:
Full Text of Baldassari Endorsement:
Baldassari Campaign Site
Campaign Contact:
Dan Sexton: 609-528-4979
The endorsement really is "UNLIKELY" for several reasons as the two candidates could not be further apart on the issues. I would have expected someone with Baldassari's positions to endorse a candidate like Jason Cullen. The only way this endorsement of Daggett makes sense is, as Gene Baldassari has noted, if people simply vote third party (Daggett) and vote for Baldassari because they voted for an Independent Gov.

I personally still want to believe that people are doing their homework on each candidate and voting for the candidate who best represents their own beliefs and opinions, not the person that they think might win, or the person that they think offers the loudest protest vote, or the person who represents a party (or not) rather than their own individual interests.

November should be interesting... if I were a betting man, I'd say based on the polls, the media coverage, the endorsements and the undeserved support of Daggett by people who likely have no idea where he stands on most issues and probably wouldn't vote for him if they did, NJ should be prepared to deal with Corzine for another 4 years when he wins re-election with well over 60% of the vote.