Poll: President Obama Hits New Low in New Jersey

A new Quinnipiac poll released today shows President Obama has fallen to his lowest approval rating in the Garden State ever.

From Politico:

Garden state voters disapprove, 52 percent to 43 percent, of the president’s job performance - his lowest score in the state since taking office, according to the Quinnipiac Polling Institute.

...

Disapproval of the president is 88 to 10 percent among Republicans and 60 to 34 percent among key independent voters.

New Jersey Democrats still overwhelmingly approve of the president, with 77 percent approving of his job performance and 19 percent disapproving.

There is also a large gender gap among voters in New Jersey, as 50 percent of women approve of Obama, with only 45 percent disapproving. 60 percent of men, on the other hand, disapprove of the president’s jobs performance, with only 36 approving of it.

Obama still polls well head-to-head against GOP challengers, however.

That said, Obama currently leads possible Republican challengers in head-to-head matchups in the state, beating former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 47-41 percent; Texas Gov. Rick Perry 49-36 percent; and businessman Herman Cain 47-38 percent.

The final Quinippiac presidential approval poll taken in New Jersey before the 2009 gubernatorial election showed Obama enjoying a comfortable 55/39 approval split. Chris Christie, of course, won that contest over Jon Corzine by roughly 3.5 points even though Corzine received considerable help from Obama during the campaign.

Meanwhile, after Chris Christie's approval rating bottomed out at 44% in June of this year (47% disapprove), he has rebounded to an astounding 58% in Quinnipiac's latest poll (only 39% disapprove).

Can the GOP steal a win in New Jersey in next year's election? It's still a long shot, but polls are trending in the right direction.

Oh, this is my first post here. I'm John E. Nice to meet you.

Obama Approval Hits New Low in New Jersey

I'm starting to notice a trend here. Yesterday the bombshell came that the failed president has hit a record low of 36% in New York. Now a new Quinnipiac poll released this morning show Obama fading to just 44% in New Jersey.

President Barack Obama is headed in the wrong direction as New Jersey voters disapprove 52 - 44 percent of the job he is doing, down from a 50 - 46 percent positive score June 21 and the president's lowest score ever in the Garden State.
...
New Jersey voters say 49 - 45 percent that Obama does not deserve to be reelected, but say 45 - 37 percent that they would vote for Obama over an unnamed Republican challenger in the 2012 presidential race.

We'll see about that next November. If he's polling well under 50%, he won't be winning the state, let alone nationally.

Governor Christie, meanwhile, is more popular than Obama.

New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie stops his slide and flattens out with a 47 - 46 percent job approval rating from New Jersey voters, his best score in four months, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

NJ Unions Dealt Crushing Defeat

A historic win for Chris Christie. Taste the bitter tears of union members "forced" to pay their fair share.

New Jersey lawmakers tonight voted to enact a sweeping plan to cut public worker benefits after a long day of high-pitched political drama in the streets and behind closed doors.

Union members chanted outside the Statehouse and in the Assembly balcony, and dissident Democrats tried to stall with amendments and technicalities. Although they successfully convinced top lawmakers to remove a controversial provision restricting public workers’ access to out-of-state medical care, they failed to halt a historic defeat for New Jersey’s powerful unions and a political victory for Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

Nearly 8500 people gathered in the streets surrounding the Statehouse in Trenton to defend their stance on pension and benefit reform. Collective bargaining was the overall theme, but some delved deeper as to what exactly is important to them and their families as a bill awaits a vote in the state assembly.

"Together, we’re showing New Jersey is serious about providing long-term fiscal stability for our children and grandchildren," Christie said in a statement released after the vote. "We are putting the people first and daring to touch the third rail of politics in order to bring reform to an unsustainable system."

Imagine, a governor keeping the promises he campaigned on.

By the way, support was bipartisan. The media should love that, right?

Supporters of the bill — including Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) — have said the state needs to cut costs because the pension and health systems are underfunded by more than $120 billion in total.

Christie, who has staked his reputation on shrinking government costs, has called the bill an example for the rest of the country. New Jersey is one of 23 states that have asked employees to pay more for their pensions since the Wall Street financial crisis battered retirement systems in 2008, according to the Pew Center on the States.

Consider this a win-win for Christie, and a stinging defeat for the unions. Oh well.

Today’s union protest, like other recent demonstrations, did nothing to stop the bill. But it did highlight the growing fissures in the state Democratic Party, which has struggled to counter Christie.

The crybabies at the NY Times call it "deep cuts" and a "broad rollback" of worker rights. Aww.

What we've got here is a governor who's taken an unsustainable debt load and put our state on the path toward fiscal sanity. Contrast him with the current occupant of the White House, who's managed to do the exact opposite.

Flashback: Commission Recommends Choppers For NJ Governors After Corzine's SUV Crash

Interesting little tidbit here pertaining to the idiotic Chris Christie Helicopter Kerfuffle, which CBS buries way down in the next-to-last paragraph:

A special commission recommended New Jersey governors use helicopters as a matter of safety after the 2007 car crash involving then Gov. Jon Corzine.

Oh, that's right.

Now, a more common-sense recommendation at the time might have been to, you know, drive in the vicinity of the speed limit and wear a seat belt. In other words, use your head. Obey the law. But, whatever. Helicopters.

For safety!

Added bonus: Helicopters, unlike SUVs, cost NJ taxpayers no additional money. Presumably, that is true no matter who is Governor.

Except I don't recall Corzine ever going the extra mile and actually reimbursing the state for the expense.

Cross-posted.

UPDATE: Silly me. I should have remembered that fat-cat gazillionaire Jon Corzine of course paid for his own helicopter rides.

My bad.

Unexpected! NJ to Take in $913M More in Tax Revenue for 2012

Naturally, before the money is even counted the Democrats are eager to spend it. Can we at least point out the Governor may be on the right track fiscally and applaud him for getting our finances in order?

New Jersey is projected to take in $913 million more than expected in tax revenue through June 2012, according to new projections by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services.

The revised estimate will likely spark a partisan battle over how to spend the unexpected windfall as lawmakers consider Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed $29.4 billion budget.

Why do we automatically have to go and spend it? Why not step back and take a solid look at where the money would best go. I have an idea: Property tax relief. Of course the Democrats want to dump it right back into failing schools. What a surprise.

"The governor has balanced his budgets on the backs of the middle class, now this gives us an opportunity to undo that," said state Sen. Paul Sarlo, who as head of the Senate Budget Committee reviewed the OLS estimates.

Sarlo (D-Bergen) said he will push the administration to use the money for additional property tax relief and funding to schools, but stopped short of saying Democrats will offer their own budget proposal.

Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) said the money should be used to "restore some of the pain" Christie has caused with his budget cuts.

Why would anyone expect the Democrats to offer their own plan when they can stand on the sidelines and take cheap shots at Christie? They should give the man a standing ovation, yet instead they're stil whining like babies.

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said officials need to approach any good news prudently.

"While New Jersey is seeing signs of economic recovery, it is important to keep moving forward on a sound fiscal path and not revert back to Trenton’s out of control spending ways at the first sign of growth," Drewniak said.

Exactly. Remmeber this is a projection. It could well fall short, we could have a double-dip recession or any unforeseen calamity could affect the budget. So Christie's thinking ahead, not looking to just go on a spending binge.

It should help his image nationally while you have the GOP gazing longingly in his direction. Just imagine if such success continues under his leadership for a few years.

Frankly, I'm surprised the Democrats haven't given Obama the credit yet.

Christie Calls Teachers Union 'Political Thugs'

Tell us something we don't know, Governor.

New Jersey's Gov. Chris Christie took another shot at his state's teachers today by describing their union leaders as "political thugs."

In an interview with ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer, Christie offered no apology for his often tough talk that has left some teachers feeling bruised. He also talked about the presidential possibilities of both himself and his "friend" Donald Trump, and criticism by Jersey rock icon Bruce Springsteen.

While sitting in the school library at Lincoln School in Kearney, N.J., Christie told Sawyer that it's essential for his state's education system to change and he blames the teachers union for the harsh cuts his administration is making, that includes layoffs and larger classrooms.

"I believe the teachers in New Jersey in the main are wonderful public servants that care deeply. But their union, their union are a group of political thugs," Christie said.

Typically, ABC failed to note union leaders have openly fantasized about his death.

Meanwhile, a lighthearted moment from Christie today.

Sen. Frank Lout-enberg (D-Natch): Planned Parenthood Opponents "Don't Deserve the Freedoms That Are in the Constitution"

"...but we'll give it to them anyway."

Well, isn't that nice of the Senator?

Say, I thought this bum retired over a decade ago. What happened?



Via RealClearPolitics.

Cross-posted.

Judge Decides NJ Isn't Spending Enough on Public Schools

Why do we even bother having governors and a legislature if judges can simply decide on their own how much taxpayers are forced to pay for schools?

Gov. Chris Christie's deep cuts to state school aid last year left New Jersey's schools unable to provide a "thorough and efficient" education to the state's nearly 1.4 million school children, a Superior Court judge found today.

Judge Peter Doyne, who was appointed as special master in the long-running Abbott vs. Burke school funding case, today issued an opinion that also found the reductions "fell more heavily upon our high risk districts and the children educated within those districts."

"Despite spending levels that meet or exceed virtually every state in the country, and that saw a significant increase in spending levels from 2000 to 2008, our 'at risk' children are now moving further from proficiency," he said.

Gov. Chris Christie's office said that Judge Doyne himself acknowledged that the Supreme Court limited his inquiry by excluding consideration of the state's budget crisis.

"Critically, he also noted that, despite the fact New Jersey meets or exceeds all other states in spending for 'at-risk' students, many of those students continue to fail to meet basic educational proficiency," said spokesman Michael Drewniak. "The Supreme Court should at last abandon the failed assumption of the last three decades that more money equals better education, and stop treating our state’s fiscal condition as an inconvenient afterthought."

Maybe if these kids are still failing we ought to look at the teachers.

Oh wait, we already tried that and it resulted in death wishes for the governor.

We're already spending well over $13,000 per pupil already and cannot afford the runaway spending. Christie has tried, but it seems nothing he does matters when a judge can just decide it isn't enough.

Terrorist to Speak at NJ University

So nice to see a taxpayer supported university not far from me is welcoming an unrepentant terrorist with open arms.

Special guest, Bill Ayers, speaks about the interaction between education and activism. Talk will by followed by book sale/signing and discussion.

If you're in the neighborhood:

Thursday, March 24th 2011, 8:15 pm - 10:30 pm
Location: University Hall, Room: 1030
Sponsored By: Students for a Democratic Society

I wonder if Governor Christie is aware we've got terrorists speaking at our public universities?

North Jersey tea partiers have sent out an action alert.

BRING A PRO-LIBERTY SIGN!!! Homemade signs are GREAT, store-made signs -- for example at FedEx Office, formerly known as Kinko's -- are GREAT. (I will be bringing my 2' x 2' sign.) You can search the internet for suggested sign slogans. For example, Google the term "tea party slogans" and that will bring up several websites that have dozens -- hundreds -- of suggestions each.

* Bring a camera, and especially if you are able, bring a digital recording device. This will help us document the event, and also, these devices serve as great deterrents to any thugs who might wish to infringe upon our unalienable moral right to speak freely.

* If you have any pro-liberty literature that you would like to pass out to any open-minded folks on campus passing near us, definitely feel free to exercise your free-speech rights in this manner!

* Although free speech includes angry speech, please DO NOT disrupt Ayers’ talk in any way that prevents peaceful discourse (for example, joining in a multi-person chant which drowns out whomever is speaking in room 1030). Even communists have free-speech rights – and we stand for the rights of all individuals, yes, even the creepy, hate-filled, anti-liberty, small ‘c’ communist ones.

* We are a PEACEFUL organization. We do not expect this Tea Party Protest to be anything but peaceful. Please conduct yourself accordingly at all times. Should any unfortunate situations arise, please do your best to defuse the situation peacefully (which often means simply walking away, and sometimes means simply calling the police, who no doubt will be present on campus this Thursday evening, and thankfully so).

I look forward to seeing YOU at Montclair State on this Thursday evening, March 24th!

More from Liberty Chick.

Shocking Report Recommends Evaluating Teachers By Performance

Next thing you know these teachers will start being held accountable for their performance. No doubt this will be interpreted as an attack on teachers.

New Jersey teachers should be judged by both their classroom performance and student test scores, a Christie administration task force recommended in a report made public Thursday.

This proposed evaluation system, if enacted by the Legislature, would influence high-stakes decisions about teachers’ pay and tenure once it’s phased in over the next few years. The report recommends piloting the system this fall.

"As a superintendent, it’s startling to me that we still use models of evaluations solely focused on teaching, rather than on teaching and learning," said Brian Zychowski, task force chairman and superintendent of North Brunswick schools.

The unveiling came one day after the state’s largest teachers union denounced any measurement of teachers based on student performance.

Yeah, how dare we judge them by how students perform. We should all just believe they're doing the best they can and take their word for it. And not even think of touching their lavish benefits or asking them to kick in more than 1.5% for their health benefits.

The New Jersey Education Association argued using student test scores to evaluate teachers would weaken curricula and promote teaching for the sake of passing a test. For this, Gov. Chris Christie once again publicly scolded the union.

"I find it fascinating that before the report was even issued or made public that the New Jersey Education Association already came out opposed to it," Christie said Thursday at a press conference. "Their charge is to protect the worst teachers, and they know the worst teachers will be outed."

Here's Christie discussing this radical plan to hold teachers accountable.

Change: NJ Unions Thugs Suspended For 'Sick-Out'

We highlighted this heartless group of spoiled union punks yesterday. Three of them are now suspended. Let's hope the rest of these greedy, heartless bastards are held to account and those suspended are soon fired.

Three union workers who called out sick to attend a labor rally at the New Jersey Statehouse last week have been suspended.

The move comes a day after Gov. Christie told NBC New York in an interview that "people who call in sick better be sick." Christie issued his warning ahead of another labor rally that drew thousands on Thursday.

Monmouth County officials said the three employees suspended without pay Thursday work for the county's Senior Citizen Area Transportation service and are members of CWA Local 1038.

The county said the workers were among 14 in the department who called out sick; officials alleged that 174 developmentally disabled adults who depend on the county's services ended up "waiting for buses that never came."

"These employees are being suspended without pay based on the fact that we have evidence to prove that they were not home sick as they had claimed," said Lillian Burry, a county official.

State Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), who first complained of a "sick-out," applauded officials for the suspension, noting some workers were "caught on camera" at last week's rally.

He wants officials to keep reviewing video to see "if others were absent without proper excuse."

Some lamestream media outlets are making hay of the fact Governor Christie has said he supports collective bargaining. They want want to read the fine print.

"In fact, I love collective bargaining," Christie told the audience. "We're ready to collectively bargain. Let's have it be real collective bargaining, where someone is in there representing the people who pay the bills."

I suspect today's suspensions have Christie's fingerprints all over them. If the unions think they have a pushover in Christie, I wish them luck.

More here.

:This action by our SCAT employees is offensive to everyone because it adversely impacted our most vulnerable population," Freeholder Director Robert D. Clifton said in a statement. "The administration will continue its investigation into those who called out sick until we are satisfied that every employee who misused the county's sick leave policy is disciplined within the constraints of the Civil Service process. This is a prime example of why Civil Service reform is needed."

There's hope.

“Anyone who shrugs and abandons their contracted responsibilities should receive the strongest discipline allowed, up to and including termination,” Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Curley said. “They are responsible for aspects of government that are mandatory in dealing with public health, safety and well being.”

NJ Democrat Defies Union Thugs: 'We’ve Got To Be Fair With Taxpayers'

When you're a greedy, spoiled union goon used to life sucking off the public teat, those are words you never, ever want to hear. Especially when it's a prominent Democrat uttering them. Naturally they're already making empty threats against him and are having a temper tantrum. They just refuse to accept the fact the free ride is over.

Calling it an attempt to throw out collective bargaining rights, leaders of New Jersey’s public workers unions Monday said they will launch a full court press against a bill sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney that would force public employees to pay more for their health care benefits.

Hetty Rosenstein, state director for the Communication Workers of America, said her union would picket, extract pledges from lawmakers to oppose it and hold "lobby days" against the bill (S2718) over the next several weeks.

"It becomes illegal to negotiate anything different than what’s in that bill," said Rosenstein. "It preempts all collectively bargaining."

Bill Lavin, president of the state Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, said police and firefighters will protest it at a Statehouse rally Thursday and press all 120 lawmakers.

"It’s totally unacceptable. I think if that were to pass, it will guarantee that the Democrats will lose the majority," he said. "We’re shocked that Steve Sweeney, who calls himself a Democrat, would act in this manner ... He’s rolled over for the governor in every instance."

The pushback comes as the legislation has gained bipartisan support in the state Senate, with Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) signing on as a prime sponsor.

Public employees pay 1.5 percent of their salaries towards their health benefits. Under Sweeney’s plan and a proposal by Gov. Chris Christie, workers would pay a portion of their premiums instead and would have more plans to choose from.

Under Christie’s plan, public workers would pay 30 percent of their premiums within three years. Under Sweeney’s, they would pay a sliding scale based on income, with the highest earners eventually paying 30 percent. Christie’s plan would require current retirees to pay part of their premiums.

"I understand people being emotional, but we really have to be fair with people. We’ve got to be fair with taxpayers," said Sweeney, who denied the bill was an attempt to eliminate collective bargaining. "I’m the guy that did paid family leave. I’m the one that did the minimum wage (increase). I’m absolutely pro-worker."

Anything above the current 1.5% they're paying and they come absolutely unglued. Is it any wonder they're not receiving an ounce of sympathy from those of us in the private sector who pay a much higher percentage?

By the way, when the shrill Ms. Rosenstein follows through on her promise to hold "lobby days," let's just hope her people don't leave seniors and dialysis patients stranded again.

Name That Party: NJ Democrat To Be Sentenced in Child Porn Case

Of course the AP doesn't mention he's a Democrat. Typical. If he were a Republican it would be noted in the first sentence.

A former New Jersey lawmaker who championed legislation fighting child pornography will be sentenced for viewing nude images of underage girls.

Neil Cohen could be sent to prison for five years Monday.

Cohen acknowledged viewing and printing images meant for sexual gratification from a computer in his former legislative office.

He left at least one image at a receptionist's desk, leading to the investigation and charges.

Cohen will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law and be subject to lifetime supervision by the Parole Board.

Previously.

'I Can't Spend Money I Don't Have. I'm Not Barack Obama'

What's up with this crazy Chris Christie? He actually wants to cut taxes to spur economic growth? Doesn't he know that according to the Democrats that's money we don't have?

New Jersey has a top income-tax rate of 9 percent, compared with 3 percent in Pennsylvania. New York's also is 9 percent.

Garden State homeowners also are burdened with the highest property taxes in the nation.

Christie, who noted that the state's revenues have been virtually flat, said he hoped to cut taxes within a year or two.

He has already battled the Democratic-run Legislature over taxes, having devoted a bill to extend a tax surcharge on the wealthy. The governor did get lawmakers to substantially reduce state spending.

Christie said his focus in the short term will be to continue to hold down spending.

"There are going to be some worthwhile programs that are cut," Christie said.

"I can't spend money I don't have. I'm not Barack Obama. I can't print it," he said on WOR's "The John Gambling Show."

Meanwhile, greedy New Jersey Democrats lost another battle to the Baddest Governor on the Planet yesterday.

Name That Party: Former Hoboken Mayor of Unknown Party Gets Two Years in Prison

You would think the local newspaper would at least be able to identify this "youthful ex-mayor" they seem smitten with.

Peter Cammarano III, the youthful ex-mayor of Hoboken who became the face of the biggest political corruption sting in the state's history, was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.

Arrested just three weeks after taking office, he pleaded guilty in April to accepting $25,000 in illegal campaign contributions in exchange for his support of high-rise building projects being proposed by an undercover informant who was posing as a crooked developer.

Cammarano was one of the most prominent of the many public officials nabbed in the sting last year, which led to the arrests of more than 40 people, including mayors, state legislators, five rabbis and a man accused of trying to broker the sale of a black market human kidney.

Cammarano had faced up to 2 1/2 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

In case it's not clear what party Cammarano is affiliated with, this should help clear up any confusion.

That's Cammarano on the right. You might recognize the three hacks on the left.

Naturally, the AP refuses to identify Cammarano as a Democrat. Safe to say it'd be in the headline if he were a Republican.

At least this outlet is still practicing actual journalism.

Sneaky Dems Plant Phony Tea Party Candidate in NJ Congressional Race

Who is this man?

Be very suspicious when alleged "Tea Party" candidates mysteriously enter races this year and begin attacking Republican candidates. Chances are they're usually Democrat plants, and this sure look to be the case in South Jersey. Expect this to start happening across the country as desperate Democrats try to cling to power.

The 3rd Congressional District contest took a strange turn last week when an obscure, third-party candidate entered the fray.

Peter DeStefano, the independent Tea Party candidate this fall, didn't announce himself as a candidate. Rather, his name surfaced for the first time as a viable candidate in an internal poll commissioned by Rep. John Adler and released to several blogs.

But no organized Tea Party group had ever heard of DeStefano, who described himself to the Politicker NJ blog as a former Reagan Republican turned independent. Several activists sought and failed to secure face-to-face meetings with him.

After multiple attempts to reach him last week, DeStefano called the Courier-Post on Thursday.

"I've been going to diners and Wawa telling people I'm running for Congress," he explained.

"I've been doing things on social media. You can find me on Facebook." DeStefano's Facebook page appeared to have been created earlier that morning. DeStefano agreed to meet with a Courier-Post photographer last Thursday and with both a reporter and photographer the following morning. He canceled both appointments at the last minute, citing scheduling conflicts.

William Haney, president of the Burlington County Tea Party, said he heard from DeStefano for the first time when the latter asked to attend a vetting session last Wednesday for Jon Runyan, the former Eagle and Adler's Republican opponent. The Burlington organization had supported Runyan's primary opponent, Justin Murphy, and planned closed-door question-and-answer screenings for both Runyan and Adler.

But Haney became alarmed at DeStefano's attacks on Runyan during the session, actions that violated the group's decorum rules and elicited protests from members. In addition, Democratic Mount Laurel council candidate William Brown managed to get in and joined the verbal challenges to Runyan.

"Several members questioned (DeStefano's) authenticity or his allegiance to the Tea Party," Haney said the following day. "I asked him to stick around, said "I'd like to talk to you.' Immediately after the meeting he disappeared."

By Friday, Haney said the Burlington County Tea Party was ready to denounce DeStefano as a fraud candidate designed to split the conservative vote.

"I think the guy is a plant," he said.

Indeed, folks researching the guy find, well, nothing on this mystery man.

"I did try to do a little bit of research on him. There was really nothing to be found," added Jeffries, referring to speculation DeStefano is a bogus candidate. "The thought has crossed my mind. I can't prove it, but that rumor is out there."

Like a typical Democrat, it appears DeStefano is skilled at lying through his teeth.

DeStefano said he had been politically active before his name appeared in stories on Adler's poll. The Politicker blog quoted DeStefano as saying he tried to participate in the July 7 debate between Adler and Runyan on "The Michael Smerconish Show."

But after checking communications logs, Smerconish producer John MacDonald said, "We never heard from Peter DeStefano and we never communicated with him."

During last Thursday's Courier-Post telephone interview, DeStefano, a Mount Laurel resident, said he owned and ran High Street Art & Framing in Mount Holly. His age was unavailable.

The township confirmed the shop was registered to DeStefano. Visits to the store Friday turned up a locked door and storefront bare of campaign or political signs.

Seems the Democrat Adler conveniently used this guy so he'd come off looking better in an internal poll. How clever.

Adler's commissioned poll, conducted in June by Democratic pollster Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, showed the Cherry Hill Democrat with a double-digit lead over Runyan, with DeStefano pulling away 12 percent of the vote. Just 3 percent of respondents were undecided, a result polling experts say is impossible five months before an election.

Russ Conger of the Libertarian Party and Lawrence J. Donahue of the Your Country Again Party are also on the 3rd District ballot this fall. It was not clear if they had been included in Adler's poll.

Adler's campaign would not release the complete poll to the Courier-Post, nor did the campaign respond to numerous attempts for information over the course of the week about the poll and why it was released.

"This poll is not reportable in terms of the numbers," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. "Really the issue is why they released it."

there also seems to be concrete evidence of Democrat chicanery at work here.

DeStefano collected 237 signatures for his candidate petition. Asked if he had campaign staff or volunteers, he said his son is helping him.

Republicans said it was troubling that longtime allies and donors to Adler had signed DeStefano's petition. They include Marshall Spevak, who has worked for the Camden County Democratic Committee, pollster Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, Adler's 2008 congressional campaign, and Adler's state Senate office. He works on the campaign of Chris Coons, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Delaware.

Of course none of this sneaky business will make national news. Why report on Democrat dirty tricks when you can have a sustained orgasm over a spelling error by Sarah Palin?

This mystery man's page at Project Vote Smart seems rather barren. Contrast it with Runyan's page.

Instapundit links. Thanks!

Thanks also to Michelle Malkin, who's got reaction from the Runyan camp.

Hot Air also links. Thanks!

How Do You Like New Jersey Now?

Let's put it this way: Who was his predecessor?

Chris Christie on Morning Joe; Update: Squawk Box Segment Added

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Baddest Governor on the Planet this morning passed his first budget and talks about it with Joe Scarborough and White House media aide Mika Brzezinski.

Christie has also called for a special session of the state legislature.

Update: An interview from CNBC's Squawk Box.





Partial transcript from Part 2:

CHRISTIE: We need to bring the public sector into the real world of what’s going on in the private sector, because the people who are paying the bills for that public sector are the folks who are losing their jobs in the private sector. We can’t have that anymore.

JOE: I saw that there was a total of 55,000 teachers that lost their jobs. That will be a number that’s thrown out, and it sounds like a lot. No one likes to see teachers lose their jobs. But there’s been literally millions and millions and millions and millions of people in the private sector that are out of work.

CHRISTIE: Joe, there’s no doubt about it. And let me give you New Jersey as an example. Last year we lost 121,000 private sector jobs in the State of New Jersey in 2009. At the same time, we added 11,300 jobs at the municipal and school board level. This is insanity and we can’t do it anymore. And I don’t want any teacher to lose their job any more than I want somebody in the private sector to lose their job, but we simply cannot print money like the federal government. We can’t afford it any longer, and everyone has to share in this sacrifice. And to this point, the public sector unions have been exempted from the sacrifice. And the people who are paying the bills, our constituents in New Jersey who are not in the public sector, and even some that are, they are tired of it. They can no longer do it. They’re losing their jobs, they’re losing their homes, they’re losing their life savings. And we have to stand up and say “no”, and that’s what we’re doing in New Jersey.

BECCA: Governor Christie, I hear your point about how the state can’t print money; the federal government can. Is the federal government, in your opinion, doing the right thing by trying to provide stimulus right now, and some of that unemployment insurance, along those lines. Do you think that because they’re in that different position, it’s the right time for them to be using those printing presses.

CHRISTIE: Becky, I have to tell you something. We’ve been using the printing presses now for almost the entire Obama administration. And we have not seen the results from that that we’re promised when we started running the printing presses.

'Men Have Better Things To Do Than Sit Around and Gawk at Women All Day Long'

These women really don't understand us at all, do they?

Asbury Park, the Jersey Shore town made famous by Bruce Springsteen, may soon get another claim to fame - its very own topless beach.

"Baring your chest is really no big deal these days," said Reggie Flimlin, who asked the Asbury Park City Council to allow women to doff their bikini tops on a stretch of city beach.

"Why are women's rights still at the bottom of the totem pole in regards to female toplessness?" asked Flimlin, 48, who runs a yoga studio in the freewheeling town.

She said she and other women occasionally go topless on a secluded part of the beach, and aren't worried about what men think.

"Men have better things to do than sit around and gawk at women all day long," Flimlin said.

She's right in one respect. Some of us are subtle enough to peek from behind the shades.

But we do look, if only because we're always in search of that perfect pair.

Asbury Park officials are considering the idea - and a city council vote is set for July 7, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo said.

"Women in other parts of the world go to the beach topless," he said. "We think New Jersey women are just as beautiful as any women anywhere in the world."

True that. But let's just hope this little piggy isn't seen topless.

Video: Cory Booker Endorses Christie Property Tax Plan

We noted the Cory Booker endorsement of Cory Booker’s Endorsement of Governor Chris Christie’s Cap 2.5 Reform Agenda Monday.

Here's video. Worth noting is we see a lot of this Christie is a bully nonsense, so pay attention when Christie speaks of his days working with Booker while U.S. Attorney. I recall another U.S. Attorney who was also called a bully during his eight years as Mayor of New York City, and he did pretty well for himself. I'd rather Christie be perceived as a bully rather than a patsy by the whiny union thugs and Democrat machine.