Contributors
Wally Edge
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a watchdog group that promotes ethics and accountability, has filed a complaint with the ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's nothing more difficult to see than the history before your eyes. It sometimes takes generations to understand the significance of ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
OK, he didn't say precisely that, but when the Chairman of the Budget Committee informs us that governmental spending is the key to prosperity, ... >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
The media, which loves headlines and knows little history, is trying to sell President Elect Obama as another Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that ... >
Joey Novick
When I was eleven, way back in 1965, my family was invited for Thanksgiving to my cousins’ cousins, a Jewish-Italian family who lived in the ... >
Juan Melli
After the entire Star-Ledger editorial board opted to accept the paper's buyout offer, John Farmer, a 26-year veteran of the paper, was tasked ... >
Carla Katz
A couple of weeks ago, my mother, Angelina Katz, did her second debate on behalf of Barack Obama. A debate? My mother? If you knew her, you’d be ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
A rained out MusicFest this past September has provided Union County with $275,000 in insurance monies. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders ... >
Murray Sabrin
Today the Asinine Watch begins. With so many illiterate statements made about the economy by elected officials in recent days and weeks, it was ... >
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Quote of the Day
"Because he had to dress for his speech immediately, he had to purchase an entirely new set of clothes. The campaign credit card used to pay for the clothing was reimbursed in total by the airline, which wrote a check for $952.04 to the congressman on July 20, 2007. The congressman then endorsed the check over to the campaign account on July 20, 2007. Thus, the campaign incurred no expense for the clothing." -- Francis Tagmire, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, on why Andrews used campaign funds to pay for clothing. A Washington, D.C. watchdog group has filed a complaint against him.
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- Dec 3 2008
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Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
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James R. Lambert: Convicted Felon, Head of Authority― ONLY IN NEW JERSEY...AND PENNSYLVANIA
Why can't we find a role for Christie in Washington? ― MIKE KELLY
Christie Gives Notice, and G.O.P. Gains Hope ― DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI
Christie's legcy― THE BERGEN RECORD
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Syndicate
Lonegan and Shaftan
What I can't believe is that Rick Shaftan defended Lonegan in yesterday's paper. I guess Lonegan and Shaftan support the hiring of illegal immigrants as a way to evade paying taxes (which is against the law). Shaftan and Lonegan are the Larry Craigs of New Jersey - they preach one thing in public, but then practice the exact opposite in private. Kinda makes you wonder if there are OTHER things they denounce in public but then practice in private. This is a pretty "wide stance" for them to take. Hmmmmmm . . . . . . . . .
Lonegan
This guy is a joke. He would be dominated in the primary by almost anyone. The only people that suuport him are the crazy conservatives. New Jersey voters would laugh at him. The only way I run him is if Codey ends up running, just so we can all get a good laugh at an election that would be 80-20..maybe worse..
Lonegan the "cornered rat"
abandoned by the conservative base with no where to go. Lets hope that this years election spawns real public servants from Bogota.
And...
...apparently he loves Chulapas
Jenny
Rich Shaftan did not defend Lonegan, he defended himself. Shaftan is Lonegan's campaign manager who came up with all the Lonegan stunts to get headlines and free media over the past couple of years. Now, he is just trying to pull Lonegan's chestnuts out of the fire to keep his '09 client viable.
"The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions." -
Daniel Webster
Republican Conscience
I think you're about half-right on this - I agree with you that Shaftan gets a paycheck from Lonegan, and that Shaftan is defending Lonegan only because he wants to keep getting that paycheck. But you give Shaftan too much credit - his role with the Lonegan organization has diminished over the past two years - remember, Shaftan was the guy who was only able to get 8% of the primary vote for Lonegan in 2005, which was pretty embarrassing.
Jenny
Shaftan and Lonegan have been joined at the hip far back as 2001. (My memory only goes back that far it may go further back.)
"The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions." -
Daniel Webster
Lonegan
Is a joke, we all know that. Onto the cartoon-another stinker. Why if he hates "Mexican" food is he sitting and eating at a Taco Bell (Is the joke supposed to be that Taco Bell is not really Mexican food? Is this a shot at Taco Bell?Is Taco Bell the de facto ambassador of Mexican culture?)? Furthermore, the illegal immigrants that he hired were from Guatamala-not Mexico. This cartoon is not only confusing, but it is insensative and it shows that Tornoe has no understanding of the illegal immigration problem. Only that he needed a cartoon and taking a shot at Lonegan is easy this week or at least it should have been-Tornoe somehow messed it up.
SJBlue
I'm actually with you on this one!:-)
Feel honored.
"I can remember way back when a liberal was one who was generous with his own money."- Will Rogers
SJBlue
I think Tornoe is trying to illustrate Lonegan's hypocrisy. And it's a funny cartoon. Lighten up.
I agree
I think he was just trying to show that Lonegan says one thing and does the opposite, as in the case of the illegal immigrants. But it is kind of a bad cartoon.
If Tornoe added
about 150 pounds, the character graphic could be recycled for Chris Christie.
By the looks of it...
...Chris Christie has spend enough of his time in fast-food restaurants.
And I agree with everyone else...lighten up!
The Lonegan factor.
I find it amazing that in a state dominated by Democrats, the media feeds off Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan having some guys build signs and some lunch to boot.
Anyone who knows the cyncism of local cops knows that these jokers were after Lonegan because he doesn't cave or bend to the ridiculous demands of the PBA & FOP who are bankrupting the state with lifetime benefits NO ONE in the private sector receives!
The average pay for a NJ police office is now around $100K per year. That's more than a college educated teacher with years of experience. It's more than most elementary school principals!
So the threat isn't Corzine's sales tax increase or his failed property tax program or the fact he's already hinting at a $3 billion dollar defecit, the threat is Steve Lonegan who is legally blind helping out a couple of guys looking to make a decent day's pay?
The hypocrisy of liberal Democrats soaking the system and the media feeding off it like a overblown pregnant tit is bit ridiculous, don't you think?
Lonegan is a stand-up guy. That's more than anyone can say about most of the Democrats in this state using the system for personal financial gain.
Demsanddonts, that's not how it works
In this country, we do not take unconnected crimes, crisis and news items, rank and prioritize them against each other, and then jettison the ones that are not monumentally huge. If that were the case, then no one would ever get a traffic ticket, the media would never report on Britney Spears, and all disorderly persons offenses (a la Larry Craig) would never be pursued.
However, in this country, we DO pursue news items and we DO prosecute crimes regardless of whether they are or are not the MOST important or MOST impactful ones. Steve Lonegan's crime has NOTHING to do with what Governor Corzine or President Bush or Congressman Ferguson or Senator Lautenberg is doing. NOTHING. I understand that you WANT to obfuscate and minimize Lonegan's hypocritical actions and crimes, but unfortunately for you, Lonegan will be held accountable for HIS actions, and Corzine will be held accountable for HIS actions, and so on. They are not connected.
And for the record, Lonegan is NOT a stand-up guy. He is a hypocrite and a lawbreaker who should be indicted, prosecuted, convicted and jailed.
Hysterical Jenny
What's left to be said?
Lonegan should be jailed for what?
You think letting Mexicans run wild across the border is okay! You want to give them driver's licenses and free health benefits. You want them to let their children destroy what's left of public education by admitting them into a system they have no right to attend.
But Lonegan should go to jail because a couple of disgruntled cops who didn't get a big enough raise hate him?
Lonegan has guts. You are nothing but a hysterical liberal who is part of the problem here in America.
You hate a man you never met. Get a life.
Pathetic, demsanddonts
Sorry, D&D but you're wrong again (that's TWICE today!). First, I don't hate Steve Lonegan - in fact, I don't hate anybody. I just think he's a hypocritical lawbreaker, which you can't possibly dispute. Second, I do not want to let Mexicans run across the border, or give them drivers licenses or free health care. Third, I am not a liberal. And fourth, I DO have a life - a wonderful one, actually - and I highly recommend you heed your own advice and try to get one yourself.
Steve Lonegan stands accused of tax evasion - when you hire illegal immigrants to avoid paying FICA and income tax, you are EVADING TAXES. In case you're not aware, this is ILLEGAL. This is what Al Capone and Leona Helmsley and others went to prison for. And that is exactly where Steve will likely end up. But anyway, I'm tired of this thread - I'm logging off for the night, and maybe you should do the same. If you sleep on it, I'm sure you'll see that I'm correct. It was my pleasure educating you today, btw.
Tornoe
Bringing Dino and SJBlue together... I get that RT is trying to point out that Lonegan is a hypocrit, he just did it so poorly.
Demsanddonts and Jenny
To my friend Demsanddonts, this really doesn't surprise me.
Labor unions, no matter who they represent, operate like legalized mafia, looking to destroy anybody and everybody in their path in order to get their way. Not to mention that you've got liberal pols and special interest groups trying to discredit him as he is currently waging a campaign to get all four ballot questions that will raise our already heavy tax burden even more, defeated.
As for J'Slo, you're just judge, jury, and executioner, aren't you? You may not be a hardcore liberal but you sound to me like a George Silos Republicrat. I guess as long as you're name is Steve Lonegan or you're affiliated with him in any way, you're guilty until proven innocent in J'Slo's. book.
Comparing Mayor Lonegan to Al Capone is also a pretty big leap. That analogy could apply to say, David Delle Donna, but not Steve Lonegan.
"I can remember way back when a liberal was one who was generous with his own money."- Will Rogers
No Habla Inglis
Only a man that calls for immigration rules and regulations can be A hypocrit when it comes time to have the heat on him.
meet steve's new running mates - Pablo Escobar and Tony Montana.
He needs to be replaced and fast - he is a disgrace to the office and accusing the police dept for picking on him - pleaseeee - i gather hes the only one that can pick on a group of pple.
Please Steve Run Run Run
So we can see you lose lose lose!
;-)
From Frederick Douglass
Gone again 09'
IF Steve Lonegan won the GOP nomination for Governor, I'd really start questioning the logic of Republicans in this state....o wait, I already am.
I don't even understand how Bogota voted for him, unless he got illegal immigrants to vote for him too..
Gandhi sez
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
No Joke!
I remember the prior debate for NJ Governor. I remember seeing Mr. Lonegan for the very first time on that debate. I also remember how impressed I was on this guy's articulate and UNIQUE responses, demeanor, and stance on every issue. After a little more research, I found him to be an extremely smart straight-shooter; unfortunately for the other side, he's politically savvy, but doesn't come off to me as a politician. He's not hungry for the power; he truly desires to change NJ from going in the WRONG direction.
I voted for Mr. Lonegan in the primaries, and was depressed to say the least when he lost. Since then, I met Steve in one of his NJ discussion sessions, and have to admit that I was quite impressed with him again. Glad to see he's going STRONGER than ever.
So statements like, "this guy is a joke" (first post above) are comical to me. He has more momentum now than anybody else in NJ politics.
It will be hard for any of you to say that our politicians held our best interests at heart when NJ files for bankruptcy, and NJ residents have to bail out Trenton!
No Joke!
I remember the prior debate for NJ Governor. I remember seeing Mr. Lonegan for the very first time on that debate. I also remember how impressed I was on this guy's articulate and UNIQUE responses, demeanor, and stance on every issue. After a little more research, I found him to be an extremely smart straight-shooter; unfortunately for the other side, he's politically savvy, but doesn't come off to me as a politician. He's not hungry for the power; he truly desires to change NJ from going in the WRONG direction.
I voted for Mr. Lonegan in the primaries, and was depressed to say the least when he lost. Since then, I met Steve in one of his NJ discussion sessions, and have to admit that I was quite impressed with him again. Glad to see he's going STRONGER than ever.
So statements like, "this guy is a joke" (first post above) are comical to me. He has more momentum now than anybody else in NJ politics.
It will be hard for any of you to say that our politicians held our best interests at heart when NJ files for bankruptcy, and NJ residents have to bail out Trenton!