Did anyone notice that The New York Times completely overlooked the $32.9 billion budget adopted by the state legislature on Monday?

Despite its run-up to the grand event, nary a mention could be found on its inside pages or in the Metro section.

With all the picketing, legal saber-rattling, TV and radio ads, and political arm-twisting over the proposed pension changes, how's the average Jersey Joe and Jane supposed to stay in the know?

This is "inside baseball" at its best. So it's important the daily newspapers distill the facts for readers.

Credit The Record for its Sunday series which went a long way towards reminding us how the State got into this hole -- while sorting out what's now at the heart of the current pension reform controversy.

With all the picketing, legal saber-rattling, TV and radio ads, and political arm-twisting over the proposed pension changes, how's the average Jersey Joe and Jane supposed to stay in the know?

This is "inside baseball" at its best. So it's important the daily newspapers distill the facts for readers.

Credit The Record for its Sunday series which went a long way towards reminding us how the State got into this hole -- while sorting out what's now at the heart of the current pension reform controversy.

Someone from South Carolina once told me Jersey style politics reminded her of the deep South – that is, about 80 years ago when political bosses used to run the roost.

In the final days of her candidacy, Hillary Clinton tried to make the argument that her candidacy had a better shot of patching together the 270 electoral votes needed to win the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue than her opponent Barack Obama. 

Despite the fact that Real Clear Politics reported Clinton leading in the popular vote and she won 6 of the last 9 primary contests, the press gave little credence to her proposition, including our own media outlets.

If you’re a betting person, you probably can’t resist speculating about who will really be the Democrat challenger in the 1st Congressional District this fall. 

After all, Rob Andrews indicated he would not seek to reclaim his seat if his last minute US Senate primary bid was unsuccessful.   And his wife, Camille, was reportedly only running as a temporary placeholder on the ballot until party leaders had time to select a replacement nominee.

Once the dust settles after the state's second primary on Tuesday, the budget countdown should begin in earnest by the media.

The Senate rules now require that a budget resolution be filed in committee at least 14 calendar days before a House vote. That leaves only two weeks after Tuesday's election.

The New York Times' editorial endorsement of Frank Lautenberg comes as little surprise. After all, the NYT board has endorsed the junior-senior-junior-senior senator from the Garden State since he first ran for the seat back in 1982. 

What is a bit puzzling is their new cut on the age issue. 

No doubt the Rob Andrews’ cold shoulder snub by his Democrat Congressional colleagues is newsworthy.

As reported yesterday by the NY Times, Andrews’ “fellow Democrats in the state’s Congressional delegation are shunning him, avoiding teaming up with him on legislative work and seldom speaking with him,” (

But the Times’ article goes on to say the snub is “striking even in the rough-and-tumble of New Jersey politics”"

That may be a bit of stretch.

Let’s get this straight. Does U.S. Attorney Chris Christie think he only has a role to play when there’s a violation of US federal criminal law?

Apparently that’s what we’re supposed to believe based on the hot-off-the-press statement issued by Christie's office on Monday following his immigration remarks over the weekend.

Here’s the red flag: