Why bother? Many are simply tired of the widely accepted notion that incumbents never lose.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, the GOP challenger to Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell in New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District, calls it “the obscenity of incumbency.”
“If they can’t lose, what do they care about your interests?” said Boteach, a TV personality who wrote the book “Kosher Sex” and served as pop star Michael Jackson’s spiritual adviser.
In every cycle since 1964, at least 85 percent of incumbents have won re-election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
“These guys need to be held accountable. And what better way than to mount a very serious challenge and fight like hell?” Boteach said.
The rabbi doesn’t see himself as a David to Pascrell’s Goliath. In fact, Boteach says his victory is a “mathematical certainty,” even though his opponent has raised significantly more money and registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 2-to-1 in the district.
Nothing against Rabbi Shmuley, but is it possible that his campaign might be in trouble because he’s “a TV personality who wrote the book ‘Kosher Sex’ and served as pop star Michael Jackson’s spiritual adviser”? That’s kind of a weird resume for an elected official. He also, in a stunt, donated $250 to Pascrell in an attempt to get dinner with him — and apparently campaigned with former reality star Jon Gosselin, based on the photo attached to that article.
A news website for the new generation: “Traditional news sources aren’t in any way talking to millennials,” Newark Mayor Cory Booker said. It’s a start-up company that aims to connect on the news and issues with the younger generations by using a ton of video content; “If more people could find their voice and be part of the national dialogue,” Booker said, “we could solve these problems.” Sound cool or not? source
The rest of the family members miraculously were virtually unscathed — a couple of scratches, but nothing to them. What they have is the horror of what happened to the two boys.New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson Larry Ragonese • On the death of two young cousins, aged 2 and 7, at that state’s Parvin State Park very early Saturday morning. A tree fell on top of the family, which was huddled together in a single tent amidst the storm. It’s just one of the tragedies of the extreme weather seen along the East Coast this weekend, a mixture of incredibly strong storms and record heat. In Atlanta, for example, it hit 106 degrees yesterday, an all-time record for the city. Power grids remained severely damaged throughout the region, and many were suffering from heat exhaustion, which led to the deaths of two young boys in Tennessee. Just a tip to everyone: Find AC and stay inside, but don’t be jerks to each other.
I think it’s the best vacation ever. This is what the real world is about. There’s a lot of people that need help.New Jersey resident Mark Stein • Discussing the outcome of his family’s planned vacation in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The Steins arrived in Manitou Springs just after midnight on Saturday for a week of hiking, whitewater rafting, and more. Unfortunately, 15 minutes after falling asleep, they were forced to evacuate along with many residents of the city. Now they’re helping people who aren’t nearly as fortunate as they are — people who lost their homes and lives. It’s nice to know that some people still see the bigger picture, isn’t it? source (via • follow)
» The AP also reports that federal authorities no longer plan to attempt to deport Ravi to Pakistan, where he is currently a citizen. LGBT groups have decried the move, including Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein who called the release “practically a Monopoly game’s ‘get out of jail free’ card — a travesty of justice.”
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Video of the Day: Chris Christie and Cory Booker Team Up
Two of America’s most charismatic and easily caricatured politicians have teamed up to poke fun at themselves: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. The Seinfeld-themed video makes sport of the frequent speculation that Christie is a potential Republican vice-presidential nominee as well as Booker’s extramayoral heroics, from rushing into burning buildings to shoveling residents’ sidewalks.
We won’t ruin the surprise, but it’s worth sticking with it until the end.
In which two of Jersey’s brightest look in the mirror.
» Blackberry addicts, don’t go to Fort Lee, N.J.: In what’s perhaps the first ordinance of its kind in the country, the city is aggressively taking on people who attempt to multitask while walking down the street, citing three fatal pedestrian-related accidents in 2012 so far. ”It’s a big distraction. Pedestrians aren’t watching where they are going and they are not aware,” said police chief Thomas Ripoli, whose department has handed out 117 citations since the department first started going after texters. Many residents are upset about the rule, with some saying that the ticket’s cost is too expensive and that they’re not causing a danger to others while walking down the street. What do you guys think?
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Whether it’s shoveling an elderly person’s driveway when it snows or running into a house on fire to save someone, Booker loves helping people.
Note: Future president, if he wants it.
New Jersey Representative Donald M. Payne has passed away. A congressional source, close to Payne, confirmed his death to CNN this morning. Payne, a lifelong Democrat, served as New Jersey’s first ever African American representative in Congress. There is no information on a cause of a death at this time. (photo by House Committee on Education and the Workforce Dem) source
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
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Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
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Watch: PCB gets a visual shout out on GMA’s Yahoo/Tumblr...
If you can’t help your candidate win your own home state as a VP candidate, you’re not a VP candidate. Can we get some Rand Paul action on this?
Ravi faces charges of invasion of privacy, bias intimidation and hindering apprehension. Prosecutors say he watched his roommate, Tyler Clementi, during an intimate moment with another man and wanted to expose Clementi as gay and intimidate him.
Several other people were in the room on Rutgers’ Busch campus when an incident of alleged spying occurred, including Cassandra Cicco, who lived across the hall from Ravi and Clementi. She shared a room with Molly Wei, who was also arrested in September 2010 but was admitted into a pre-trial probationary program in return for testifying against Ravi.
Cicco was in the room when Ravi, Wei and others allegedly activated a webcam in Ravi’s room from Wei’s computer across the hall, which showed them what was going on in Ravi’s room, where Clementi had a guest over.
“it came up for a split second, it was a quick video, we saw two males leaning against the bed making out,” Cicco said.
“We were all just like, ‘Oh okay, that happened,’ and that was the end of it,” Cicco said.
Clementi’s 2010 death helped spark a nationwide anti-bullying movement (the “It Gets Better” movement), whose impact is felt to this day.
My friends, whether they be homosexual or not, know me, and they know that I’m not bigoted.Chris Christie • Regarding his recent veto of a bill that would have legalized gay marriage in New Jersey. Politicians who oppose marriage equality use this defense a lot, because hey, it’s easy to speak on behalf of your unnamed gay friends and say that they’re cool with your anti-gay marriage views. Any of Christie’s gay friends care to come forward and confirm this? source (via • follow)
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