"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance

 and a people who mean to be their own governors

 must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."

Monday, October 31, 2005

State Spending and Taxes are Driving Jobs from New Jersey

Out of control spending and taxes in New Jersey are having serious consequences for the state’s economy and job base.

During the past four years, New Jersey lost 125,000 jobs in the four highest-paying sectors -- finance, information, manufacturing and business services, said Rutgers economist James Hughes. During the same period, the state gained 112,900 jobs in the below-average-pay sectors of leisure and hospitality, education and health services.

New Jersey is often described as a "'knowledge economy," and its large, fluid, well-educated, skilled work force is often invoked as the saving grace that compensates for an absurdly high cost of housing and an overstretched transportation network.

But overall job growth here lags relative to the nation's; hence our "'competitive position is being eroded," says Rae Rosen, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Why is New Jersey losing good paying jobs? Because the leaders in Trenton have been listening to people like John Shure, who heads the Trenton liberal think tank New Jersey Policy Perspectives:

"New Jersey has the highest median household income in the country, and that could not happen if this were a barren wasteland in terms of its hospitality to business," he said. "The changes in the corporate business tax are finally requiring business to pay their fair share."
Businesses don’t pay taxes, people do. The cost of taxes placed on businesses and business owners are passed onto customers in terms of higher prices for the firm's goods and services; the reduction of funds available for business expansion; and in lower employee salaries and fewer jobs. When business taxes and the cost of government red tape reach the point where businesses are no longer competitive, firms are driven out of the state or out of business. In either case jobs are lost.

It is not possible to tax a state, or a country for that matter, into prosperity. This is a concept lost on John Shure, the present crew in Trenton and on Jon Corzine. Invest, prosper and grow is a great slogan, but should refer to the people of New Jersey and not to the government of New Jersey. Corzine expansive list of new state programs may sound visionary to “progressives”, but don’t be fooled. The more the state spends, the more people will be taxed and the more good paying jobs that will be lost in New Jersey.

More of the same is what Jon Corzine offers – greater spending, higher taxes and lost jobs. Doug Forrester offers real change – state spending and tax polices designed to reverse the state’s downward spiral to benefit all New Jersey residents.

Update: Please not the name is Jon Shure and not "John Shure" as the name appreared in the Star-Ledger article cited in this post.



Sunday, October 30, 2005

Star-Ledger Endorses Doug Forrester For Governor

The Star-Ledger has endorsed Doug Forrester for Governor of New Jersey concluding - “Doug Forrester is the shock therapy the state needs.”

Obscenely high property taxes -- highest per capita in the nation -- are only a symptom of the chronic illnesses that infect New Jersey: an antiquated tax structure, runaway spending and a culture of corruption.

Forrester is the candidate who has the best chance of stanching the self-inflicted wounds that undermine the state's abilities to meet its obligations and to operate with the trust of its citizens.
We have arranged the key points in the Star-Ledger’s endorsement by major issue and candidate. The entire Star-Ledger endorsement may be read here.

Corruption

Corzine:
He hasn't convinced us he can stand up to the entrenched bosses of his party or to the powerful public employee unions.

Put simply, Corzine appears to suffer from the same disease of wanting to please everyone that contributed to the downward spiral of James E. McGreevey's administration.

Forrester:
Forrester is the candidate who has the best chance of stanching the self-inflicted wounds that undermine the state's abilities to meet its obligations and to operate with the trust of its citizens.

Property Taxes

Corzine:
Corzine would increase property tax rebates, not decrease property taxes themselves. He says he would support a constitutional convention to do that but wouldn't want it to deal with spending. Good luck accomplishing anything with that rule.

Forrester:
Forrester is promising to reduce taxes but is unrealistic about how he'll pay for the shortfall. Promising to find waste in state government when its biggest costs are mandated personnel expenses is silly. He recognizes, however, that relying most heavily on the property tax is wrong.

State Spending

Corzine:
Corzine has talked of even more bond debt to pay for school construction, the transportation trust fund, stem cell research and environmental programs. And he has called for programs to expand Abbott-type assistance for education and to offer more equitable health care. We're not arguing against these ideas, but we've yet to hear how they'll be financed.

Forrester:
Forrester has offered a more focused and programmatic approach to state government. It is one that begins with a consistent budget policy rooted in a realistic assessment of revenue available. In plain language, it's time to end the let's-make-a-deal-for-political-allies thinking that happens too often in New Jersey before the means to pay for the schemes are nailed down.

Leadership/Qualifications

Corzine:
Corzine faced no primary opposition because he made considerable contributions early and often to his Democratic cohorts, including the powerbrokers, to such an extent that no other voices could be heard over the din of the cash register.

But neither his time at Goldman Sachs in Manhattan nor his tenure in Washington strikes us as solid preparation to be governor of New Jersey. In the Senate, he supported worthwhile causes such as ending the genocide in Darfur and pushing for securer ports. But he voted against the well-qualified John Roberts for chief justice, apparently out of party loyalty alone.

Forrester:
Forrester, a former director of the state pension fund and a former mayor, has a better grasp of how New Jersey government, and particularly its budget process, work.
Further, we're more impressed with Forrester's internal GOP party experience -- winning a tough primary by testing his views against competing and less moderate Republican philosophies.

Endorsing Forrester

So our choice for governor is Doug Forrester. We believe that the time has come for a distinct difference in how government operates in Trenton and that he is the person to jump-start that process.



Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers # 24


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The Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers #24 is up at DynamoBuzz.



Saturday, October 29, 2005

DynamoBuzz To Host Carnival

DynamoBuzz will host the Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers this Sunday. Roberto's back online and ready to go.

All New Jersey bloggers and blog readers are invited to participate. Please send links to njcarnival@gmail.com for posts you would like featured in this week's Carnival.



It's For The Children

A Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) caseworker asked CWA members (the Carla Katz union) to help elect Jon Corzine for Governor to sign up at her deask to work on the Corzine campaign. Snips from the blast email sent on a state computer to DYFS employees:

I went to the Union meeting last night. Those of you who are interested in making phone calls, holding up signs supporting Corzine for governor and knocking on doors to encourage people to vote, please come to my desk to sign up.

Interested parties are to meet at the Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, New Jersey at 9:00 A.M. From what I was told, you are required to participate in whatever capacity chosen from 9:00 A.M. to approximately 3:00 P.M. unfortunately you will only get paid $50.00 as opposed to $75.00 for your participation.
The Inside Edge has the whole story.

In other DYFS news:
Top state officials from Human Services, which oversees the Division of Youth and Family Services, and Children's Rights Inc., the national advocacy group that sued the state for running a system they claim is harmful to kids, issued a statement last night saying they will give themselves until Nov. 18 to agree how the court-monitored overhaul of DYFS should proceed.

The statement was released by the New Jersey Child Welfare Panel, which is acting as the mediator for the discussions that began Oct. 17 and were scheduled to end yesterday.

If unsuccessful, Children's Rights could ask U.S. District Court Judge Stanley R. Chesler to appoint a special master or recommend a federal takeover of the program that oversees the state's 11,600 foster kids.



Friday, October 28, 2005

Will Corzine Trip?

There are some interesting tidbits on Politics NJ in Steve Kornacki’s article – Less than two weeks from the finish line, wondering if Corzine will trip.

If Corzine is to choke, there seem to be two scenarios for how: an October surprise, or a Democratic machine that takes a dive on him on Election Day.

The October surprise, of course, is the great unknown in any campaign. A shocking revelation about Corzine could easily erase his lead.

One thing to keep in mind, though: whispering is feverish in the days before any election, but it rarely spills into the press, and probably for good reason.

The question of Democratic turnout is more interesting, because New Jersey is one of the few states where the machine still breathes -- and where candidates, generally Democrats, can live or die by it.

The machine hummed for McGreevey, and if it does for Corzine it'll be worth an extra few points when the ballots are counted. But if there's a jam, Corzine could find himself sweating even more than usual. The most likely problem areas for Corzine are Hudson, Essex and Bergen Counties.

If Corzine has trouble in Essex, it will be because of Sharpe James, the mayor of Newark.

It's tough to tell if James and Corzine are back on the same page. Party leaders in Essex say they are, but James did skip a Corzine event with Hillary Clinton in West Orange this week, an event that was also a major fund-raising event for the Essex County's Democratic Party. Now, Corzine's campaign has dispatched a street operative named James Benjamin to Newark, its insurance policy in case James tells his field army to stay home on Election Day.

Of course, Corzine is a very wealthy man, one who doesn't mind putting his fortune into politics. He has the means to dispatch his own operatives -- and cash -- into the streets to drive up turnout in key Democratic areas, without much help from the bosses.

Potential trips:
Is Corzine the Next McGreevey?
The Corzine Mystery Builds
Corzine's Next Scandal?
The Corzine Tape



Thursday, October 27, 2005

The Corzine Tape

We’ve been waiting to hear more on the Corzine tape we posted about on Tuesday and we have just received this:

The person who has the Corzine tape is in intense discussions with the news media about releasing it. Whether or not the tape is released before the election, those who have seen it WILL be heard from. The next 48 hours could dramatically change the direction of this race.
For the good of New Jersey, if Corzine has a bundle of scandals brewing, best they come out before the election. People can then decide if Jon Corzine is worthy of their vote based upon the facts and not fall victim to voter’s regret many had with Jim McGreevey when scandal after scandal was exposed after he was elected.



The Jury’s In On 1993 World Trade Center Bombing

Back in January we wrote:

We haven’t forgotten about the people killed or injured in the first World Trade bombing in 1993. The victims of this tragedy didn’t receive the outpouring of sympathy and financial assistance as did those of 9/11. That was wrong and should be addressed.

Still, we think it is inappropriate to sue the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for the bombing. To sue the Port Authority, is to sue the citizens of these two states. You see, we haven’t forgotten who was responsible for the ’93 attack - Islamo-fascist terrorists. The very same group that perpetrated 9/11.

The blame for the deaths and injuries from the first attack should not be shifted from the terrorists to the people of New York and New Jersey. We would hate to learn, after a trial, that a judge or jury has found the Port Authority liable for the 1993 tragedy. Let’s keep the blame where it belongs – on the terrorists.
Today Mike Hill notes a jury has found the people of New York and New Jersey 68% at fault and the terrorists 32% at fault for 1993 attack on the World Trade Center.

Obviously, both the Port Authority and Al Qaeda have a lot of money, but it will probably be somewhat easier to get into the Port Authority's pockets. I do understand that what the jury was charged with calibrating is the percentage of responsibility for the damages, not the act, but to me, that lends this decision not 1% more sense.
We had suggested a method for helping the victims, avoiding the enrichment of lawyers and keeping the blame where it belongs, on the people that funded and carried out the murders, physical harm and damage – the terrorists.

Now twelve years have gone by, lawyers will receive more compensation than the victims and the blame game has reached the point of absurdity. How odd that the people hurt will end up paying part of the damages awarded as taxpayers and will accept 68% of blame along with the rest of us.



AG: Forrester’s Campaign Contributions Okay

Forrester cleared of criminal wrongdoing over contributions

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office decided to let us know today that contributions Republican Doug Forrester made to his gubernatorial campaign and to other candidates were legal. The Newsday article says this ruling puts to rest questions about whether Forrester made illegal campaign donations.

It's always nice to be vindicated," Forrester said Thursday. "We've known for a year now we've done everything right."

The Corzine campaign, which requested the investigation, said the determination puts Forrester on notice that making future campaign contributions "may well constitute criminal violations of New Jersey's statutes."
Yes, in New Jersey only Democrat candidates can make campaign contributions.



Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Newark Weekly Rip off

Is it any wonder New Jersey is the laughing stock of the nation? From today’s Opinion Journal:

"The Newark City Council has awarded the Newark Weekly News a $100,000 no-bid contract to publish positive news about the city," reports the Associated Press:

Howard Scott, who owns Newark Weekly News, pitched the idea to the city council, which unanimously approved the idea earlier this month. "Do we have critical reporters on staff? No. Do we have investigative reporters? No," Scott said. "Our niche is the good stuff. People have come to know it, and they love it."

We found the Newark Weekly News online (link is bandwidth-intensive, since the paper is presented as a series of JPEG images), and we must say it does not appear to be the best-edited publication we've ever seen.

The headline of the lead story, an obituary for a city councilman, reads "Newark's Loss Leaves Gaping Political Whole." Even odder, the byline is "Kenya Nairobi, Assistant Managing Editor," though the masthead on page 3 lists the AME as Kenya Pope. Similarly, two other front-page stories list the author as "JahJah Shakur, City News Editor," while the masthead lists no one by that title but does cite a "City Reporter-at-large" by the name of "Jah Jah Jah."

Anyway, the Weekly News deal doesn't strike us as inherently problematic, so long as the paper doesn't pretend to be independent. The city is, in essence, contracting out a public-relations newsletter. But given the quality of the product, it's hard to see how Newark taxpayers are getting their money's worth.
What James Taranto may not realize is that Newark is heavily subsidized by the state’s taxpayers – from garbage trucks for Newark, homeland security funds, schools spending 35% more per pupil than the wealthiest community, to a $300 million sports arena. This is just another $100,000 out of the pockets of New Jersey taxpayers.



Corzine's Next Scandal?

Speculation is swirling around a Corzine scandal and political types on both sides who read yesterday's post responded with some variation of "Oh yeah, that..." (As we noted in our comments, other bloggers, with better connections to the Corzine campaign than Enlighten-NewJersey, have hinted at what it might be.) This story clearly has some traction.

But there's more. Today in an email:

That's not the end of it. Reporters are after a videotape of Corzine, inebriated, making statements that will damage him beyond belief with African Americans. (Carla Katz supposedly makes an appearance.) People who have seen this thing say it's bad. African American leaders are aware of its existence, and don't think the damage can be undone no matter how many $2 million "contributions" he throws their way. The only question is whether we find out about this before he's governor, or after.



The Corzine Mystery Builds

Is Corzine the Next McGreevey? People on both sides of the aisle have come out and volunteered more information about the Corzine revelation, but we won’t go any further until we learn more. Until then, we'll refer you to this piece, written three weeks ago, on PoliticsNJ's Inside Edge.



Monday, October 24, 2005

Is Corzine the Next McGreevey?

Enlighten-NewJersey has learned that something big is about to happen, and when it hits; it’ll make Jim McGreevey look like a Cub Scout compared to Jon Corzine.

This damaging revelation is well known by key political insiders in New Jersey, the Corzine camp knows it’s coming and is waiting for the other shoe to drop. The New York Times, the New York Post, the Bergen Record, and the Star Ledger are all running down leads in the story. This story could break wide open any day. It’s not a question of if, but when.

What could make Corzine into the next McGreevey? Our source says, “Stay tuned.”

Update: See our post The Corzine Mystery Builds.



Jon Corzine Shrugs On Money Matters

If Jon Corzine isn’t good at managing his own money, why would anyone believe he’d be good at managing New Jersey’s taxpayer dollars? From today’s Philadelphia Inquirer:
When Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jon S. Corzine's finances come into question on the campaign trail, he says he doesn't know much about them.

"For the life of me, I don't know what's going on," he said in an interview.

Corzine has others handle his investments who, he said, "are better than" him at managing money.
Do you need a better reason to vote for Doug Forrester?



Sunday, October 23, 2005

Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers # 23


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The Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers #23 is up at KateSpot.



Saturday, October 22, 2005

Blogging For Therapy

A new study finds that blogs are more likely to deal with personal matters than politics or current events, and nearly 50% of bloggers see the activity as a form of therapy....



KateSpot To Host Carnival


KateSpot will host the Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers this Sunday. All New Jersey bloggers and blog readers are invited to participate. Please send links to njcarnival@gmail.com for posts you would like featured in this week's Carnival.



Friday, October 21, 2005

The Joy of Soup


Suzette’s The Joy of Soup was named Website of the Day for October 20 on the Steve Wright Show of the BBC. Congrats Suzette!



EZVote - EzFraud

Why doesn’t Jon Corzine save everybody the trouble and just mail in everyone’s vote:

In the past two weeks, thousands of voters across New Jersey received a glossy, four-page brochure announcing "New Jersey's new EZVote by mail program."

The brochure even came with a handy "voter's guide" on New Jersey's gubernatorial election and a pair of pre-printed absentee ballot applications. Each application bears the automated signature of Sandy Castor of Montclair as one who "provided assistance" to voters filling out the form.

Castor, it turns out, is a paid partisan in the employ of Democratic candidate Jon Corzine. The state Attorney General's Office says there is no EZVote program.

And the brochure is a cleverly disguised campaign mailer designed by Corzine adman Steve DeMicco. With a magnifying glass, you might see the words "Corzine for Governor" in tiny type across the bottom of the first page.



Waste,Fraud & Abuse



Tuesday, October 18, 2005

New Jersey Governor’s Debate # 3

The best moment of the night, came in the form of a question to Jon Corzine from the independent candidate Dr. Hector Castillo. Castillo pointed out Corzine’s proposed plan to increase property tax rebates by 10% per year will only amount to $80 and asked Corzine what can people do with only $80?

It was in stark contrast to Forrester’s plan to reduce a homeowner’s total property tax bill by 30% in three years. Forrester gave the example of a 30% reduction on a $6,000 property tax bill providing an $1,800 savings to the taxpayer.

For the contrast on property tax plans alone, debate to Forrester.

If you missed the broadcast, you can view the debate here: Streaming Video



Monday, October 17, 2005

The New York Times Endorsement

The Asbury Park Press warns New Jersey is not for middle class folks:

This middle-class squeeze has raised concerns among experts who warn that the state is heading toward a tipping point: Residents, stretched thin to live here, are putting their future financial health on the line. And wages aren't rising fast enough to help them get ahead.

Taken together, the high taxes, soaring home prices and comparatively stagnant wages paint a gloomy picture. College graduates might not make enough money to buy their first home in their home state. Residents who bought a home using unconventional financing could struggle to keep up with their mortgage payments five or 10 years from now. And baby boomers who want a smaller home that is easier to maintain might consider moving out of state - even if it means being farther away from their children and grandchildren.
These problems are caused by the high cost of government in New Jersey and yet The New York Times endorses Jon Corzine for Governor:

Given the mounting problems in New Jersey, one can only marvel that anyone of intelligence wants to be governor. Property taxes are among the highest in the country. The state budget faces huge deficits and growing pension woes. The school system is in perpetual trouble. And there is more political sludge and scandal than there are toxic sites.

The Times seems to understand the issues facing the state, but fails to mention it is the Democrats currently controlling the Governor's seat and both houses of New Jersey's legislature that have proven incapable of solving these problems and have made matters worse through their profligate spending. So why endorse Corzine:

In Washington, Mr. Corzine has shown the strength of his core progressive beliefs in the face of political challenge. Voters will demand the same courage at home. New Jersey deserves nothing less. We endorse Senator Corzine for governor.

It is those core "progressive" beliefs that have led to higher taxes and the squeezing of the middle class in New Jersey. So why does the Times endorse Corzine over Forrester:

Mr. Corzine has shown himself to be a force for America's better instincts in Washington over the last five years. He had the foresight to oppose the war in Iraq. He has worked to fend off Republican attacks on Social Security and voted against President Bush's reckless tax cuts.

The only point mentioned germane to the governing of New Jersey is Corzine's record on tax issues and as the Times reminds us, Corzine voted against tax cuts. The very tax cuts that have helped the state's taxpayers and have kept New Jersey's economy growing according to New Jersey's Council of Economic Advisors (appointed by the Governor, a Democrat.)

Why not Forrester according to the Times:

Mr. Forrester is a very successful businessman whose main company manages employee health benefit plans. He advertises himself as a moderate Republican in the manner of former Govs. Thomas Kean and Christie Whitman, but those credentials are thin on many telling issues. As one example, the cleanup of polluted sites could easily cost the polluter less and the taxpayer more under Mr. Forrester. And his reasons for opposing the state's embryonic stem cell research seem intentionally ambiguous. Mr. Forrester will only offer the argument that adult cells are more promising than embyronic cells.

How the Times arrives at the notion Forrester would stick taxpayers with the tab for cleaning up polluted sites is a mystery, they offer no examples. And because Forrester doesn’t believe New Jersey should spend taxpayer dollars on state owned businesses in stem cell research or other ventures, he’s a risk to taxpayers? Talk about "thin" reasons, for opposing a candidate.

As to the high property taxes, huge state budget deficits, growing pension woes, school spending out of control and political scandals, well the Times doesn’t explain why Corzine would be best in dealing with these issues. They don’t because they can’t. Jon Corzine has offered a $80 increase in property tax rebates for the average family and has a laundry list of new spending programs including a $5 billion tab for adding 750,000 people to the state’s healthcare rolls.

In terms of bucking the special interests that will be essential in getting the state's finances under control, well, even the Times recognizes Corzine is not the man for that:

Mr. Corzine, who has outspent his opponent to date, has insisted that his riches offer independence from special interests. So far, the money seems to have been more useful in buying the support of local power brokers than in empowering him to stand up to them.

So if you're looking for higher taxes and a Governor beholden to the special interests, the Times assures you that Corzine's your man. If you are looking for a Governor who is not beholden to special interests and has plans to cut state spending and meaningful property tax reductions, then the obvious choice to Doug Forrester.

Curiously, the New York Times did not endorse Corzine for the Senate in 2000. They were right the first time.



Sunday, October 16, 2005

Paticipate In the Genographic Project

National Geo Kit 2 The National Geographic Society has launched the Genographic Project, a five-year effort to understand the human journey—where we came from and how we got to where we live today. This unprecedented effort will map humanity's genetic journey through the ages.

How did we, each of us, end up where we are? Why do we appear in such a wide array of different colors and features? Such questions are even more amazing in light of genetic evidence that we are all related—descended from a common African ancestor who lived only 60,000 years ago.

"The greatest history book ever written is the one hidden in our DNA." Though eons have passed, the full story remains clearly written in our genes—if only we can read it. With your help, the Genographic Project can.

Our genes allow us to chart the ancient human migrations from Africa across the continents. Through one path, we can see living evidence of an ancient African trek, through India, to populate even isolated Australia.

But time is short. In a shrinking world, mixing populations are scrambling genetic signals. The key to this puzzle is acquiring genetic samples from the world's remaining indigenous peoples whose ethnic and genetic identities are isolated.

That's why the Genographic Project has established ten research laboratories around the globe. Scientists are visiting Earth's remote regions in a comprehensive effort to complete the planet's genetic atlas.

But the project doesn't just need genetic information from Inuit and San Bushmen— yours is needed as well. To fully complete the picture the pool of genetic samples must be greatly expanded from around the world. If you choose to participate and add your data to the global research database, you'll help to delineate our common genetic tree, giving detailed shape to its many twigs and branches.

Together we can tell the ancient story of our shared human journey.

Public participation, including yours, is critical to the Genographic Project's success. Here's how you can get involved:

Purchasing a Public Participation Kit will fund important research around the world—and open the door to the ancient past of your own genetic background.

With a simple and painless cheek swab you can sample your own DNA. You'll submit the sample through our secure, private, and completely anonymous system, then log on to the project Web site to track your personal results online.

This is not a genealogy test and you won't learn about your great grandparents. You will learn, however, of your deep ancestry, the ancient genetic journeys and physical travels of your distant relatives.

To insure total anonymity you will be identified at all times only by your kit number, not by your name. There is no record, no database that links test results with the names of their contributors. If you lose the kit number there will be no way to access your genetic results.

As your own genetic ancestry is revealed you'll also see worldwide samples map humankind's shared genetic background around the world and through the ages.

If you'd like to contribute your own results to the project's global database you'll be asked to answer a dozen "phenotyping" questions that will help place your DNA in cultural context.

This process is optional and completely anonymous, but it's also important. Each of us has a part in the ancient story of humankind's genetic journey. Together we can tell the whole story before it's too late. Order a Kit.

The Participation Kit costs U.S. $99.95 (plus shipping and handling and tax if applicable). The kit includes:

1. DVD with a Genographic Project overview hosted by Dr. Spencer Wells, visual instructions on how to collect a DNA sample using a cheek scraper, and a bonus feature program: the National Geographic Channel/PBS production The Journey of Man.

2. Exclusive National Geographic map illustrating human migratory history and created especially for the launch of the Genographic Project.

3. Buccal swab kit, instructions, and a self-addressed envelope in which to return your cheek swab sample.

4. Detailed brochure about the Genographic Project, featuring stunning National Geographic photography

5. Confidential Genographic Project ID # (GPID) to anonymously access your results at this Web site

The purchase price also includes the cost of the testing and analysis—an expensive process—that will take place once your sample is sent in.



Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers # 22


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The Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers #22 is up at the Duc Pond.



Saturday, October 15, 2005

Political Spectrum Test

Where do you fit in on the political spectrum? Take the Harvard Institute of Politics’ Political Personality Test and find out. We came out as Secular Centrists.




The Duc Pond To Host Carnival


The Duc Pond will host the Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers this Sunday. All New Jersey bloggers and blog readers are invited to participate. Please send links to njcarnival@gmail.com for posts you would like featured in this week's Carnival.



Friday, October 14, 2005

Zogby: NJ Gov Race Political Shocker Of The Year

Zogby weighs in on New Jersey's governor race:

Republican business executive Doug Forrester has gained significant ground on Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine, whose once double-digit lead has dwindled to a 44 percent to 43 percent statistical dead heat, according to a WNBC/Marist poll of 600 registered voters.

"What was supposed to be a coronation is actually turning into a bloody duel. Two weeks ago, I had Corzine ahead of Forrester by seven or eight points, so there isn't a doubt in my mind that this latest poll is accurate," said independent pollster John Zogby.

The Forrester campaign yesterday said the poll shows that Democratic corruption and scandal was a major factor in the race, as well as property taxes, issues that Mr. Forrester has been hitting hard in his campaign ads.

"These polls are tracking our internal polls. It's corruption, it's property taxes, it's Jon Corzine's connection to our former disgraced Governor Jim McGreevey and former disgraced Senator Bob Torricelli," said Sherry Sylvester, the Forrester campaign's communications director.

This is not good news for the Democrats that voters don't trust them as much. This could be the political shocker of the year," Mr. Zogby said.
You have to get a kick out of the Corzine campaign spin on the candidate’s freefall in the polls:

There's strong evidence that Jon Corzine's popularity is improving as the campaign continues." The campaign attacked Mr. Forrester for displaying a "negative and pessimistic attitude" about New Jersey.

The latest evidence that the race was dead even followed a recent Quinnipiac poll showing Mr. Corzine's once seemingly insurmountable lead had evaporated, putting him just four points ahead of his Republican rival.



New Jersey's Governor's Race

Michael Barone’s take on the New Jersey Governor’s race:

This one is getting closer. Jon Corzine spent $65 million getting elected to the Senate in 2000 and seems to be spending similar magnitudes now. In between, Corzine has contributed millions to New Jersey's county Democratic machines and has gotten in return support from the crucial party bosses (George Norcross in Camden County and John Lynch in Middlesex County). These were the men who helped to engineer the withdrawal of Robert Torricelli from the 2002 Senate race and the substitution of former and future Sen. Frank Lautenberg and the resignation of Gov. Jim McGreevey. They also helped to sweep aside Acting Gov. Richard Codey in favor of Corzine. New Jersey Democratic politics is not gentle.

Republican nominee Doug Forrester, who lost to Lautenberg in 2002, seems to be an unimpressive candidate. Corzine led him by wide margins in polls from the June primary until mid-September. In the four most recent polls, Corzine's lead has been between 4 percent and 7 percent, and he has run below 50 percent in all of them. New Jersey is a low-information state, so running below 50 percent is not necessarily a danger sign, and Corzine's money will be employed to produce turnout in the state's heavily Democratic central cities. But sometimes you can have too much money. In 2000, Corzine got bad publicity when his campaign bused in residents of Philadelphia homeless shelters and halfway houses to work on turnout efforts. He won, but by only 50 percent to 47 percent. And New Jersey is not quite as Democratic as it was then: George W. Bush was beaten 56 percent to 40 percent in 2000 but only 53 percent to 46 percent in 2004. Corzine surely remains the favorite. But an upset looks possible.

Update: From the Cook Political Report

"NJ Governor’s Race Becomes a Toss Up: There has been no shortage of polling in the New Jersey gubernatorial contest between Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine and Republican businessman Doug Forrester. Throughout the summer, Corzine enjoyed a lead of between 10 and 18 points, depending on the poll. But, as voters have become more engaged in the race, Corzine’s lead has narrowed.



Thursday, October 13, 2005

New Jersey: The Blue State

So this is why New Jersey is considered a “blue” state. Anything to generate more revenue for the state’s coffers.



Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Forrester - Corzine Debate # 2

Roberto at DynamoBuzz has a good synopsis of last night’s debate between Doug Forrester and Jon Corzine. After the debate on 101.5 FM callers were asked if anyone had decided who to vote for based upon what the candidates said during the debate. One caller, identifying himself as a Democrat, said he had decided to vote for Forrester because Corzine admitted he lies. He referred to Corzine admitting during the debate that he didn’t really think Jim McGreevey was a good Governor, but said he thought he had to lie because he was at a political event.



Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Corzine's Connections

Click here to see Corzine’s Connections website.



Bring Him Home



Sunday, October 09, 2005

Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers # 21


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The Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers #21 is up at the Opinion Mill.



Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Selected Not Elected?

Will we now hear the mantra that Loretta Weinberg was selected not elected to the state senate? Just wondering.



Sunday, October 02, 2005

Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers # 20


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Center of NJ Life is hosting the Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers #20 today. Don't miss out on the latest and greatest from Jersey bloggers.




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