3.20.10 Putz of the Week and Mensch of The Week a tale of two Johns

By Joey Novick | March 20th, 2010 - 12:13pm

3.20.10     Putz of the Week and Mensch of The Week
 
It is not too often that I have designated a Democrat as the Putz of the Week and a Republican as the Mench of The Week, but here goes. Since it is a weekend and the first day of spring, I will be quick. 

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March 18, 2010 Stop screaming. You’ll wake up the neighbors.

By Joey Novick | March 18th, 2010 - 7:03am

 

March 18, 2010   Stop screaming. You’ll wake up the neighbors.

If you're a local town mayor in New Jersey and you think that screaming about the impact Christie’s budget cuts will have on your town is an issue, it seems that “…screaming too loud during sex can get you or your partner arrested in New Jersey."

 

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March 17th, 2010 The Day New Jersey Stood Still

By Joey Novick | March 17th, 2010 - 7:32am

March 17th, 2010   The Day New Jersey Stood Still

It was like the plot from the 1950s science fiction movie: An alien (first Republican elected state-wide in very Blue New Jersey in 12 years) with his mighty robot (Big Budget Ax) land their spacecraft in State Capital Trenton. We need to say, "Klaatu barada nikto!" before it's too late. 

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March 14, 2010 Governor Christie Cuts The Day to Just 23 Hours

By Joey Novick | March 14th, 2010 - 11:18am

March 14, 2010  Governor Christie Cuts The Day to Just 23 Hours
 
In yet another Executive Order sure to rile clock and calendar makers, Governor Chris Christie issued Executive Order 247, cutting back an hour a day from the days in New Jersey.
 
“This will save New Jersey residents 365 hours every year, and at least $7.25 per hour per resident ----roughly a total of $23,067,361,250.00 for our state coffers. That’s a lot, I think,” said the spokesman for the governor.

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3.11.10 That Dog Won’t Hunt, Son

By Joey Novick | March 11th, 2010 - 1:03am

3.11.10   That Dog Won’t Hunt, Son

I had a recent email exchange with one of my favorite Rightwing-Conservatives-Libertarians ---Steve Lonegan. The subject matter was, of course, national healthcare. Steve and others in Conservatoid-World decree national healthcare (“Obamacare” they call it) to be the work of the devil, and a harbinger of the End of Days. I, on the other hand, am a supporter of the public option. We agree on nothing.

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3.9.10 ....2am in the White House and all the Presidents laughed.

By Joey Novick | March 9th, 2010 - 10:17am

3.9.10   With the First Lady away for a few days, the President is asleep by himself in the White House. He is restless, as he struggles with the issues keeping him awake at night. He mumbles to himself,  half asleep, “Up or down vote. Up or down vote. Close Gitmo, keep Gitmo open…keep public option. Drop public option.” He tosses and turns.

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3.7.10 I Incorporate, Therefore I Am: A Boon to the Gay and Lesbian Community.

By Joey Novick | March 7th, 2010 - 7:48am

3.7.10 In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the United Sates Supreme Court ruled that for the purposes of political speech, a corporation is considered a “person”. A living, breathing person. A “person” who thinks, feels, believes, creates, re-creates, cries, laughs, and emotes.

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3.5.10 Re-Run Fridays: In New Jersey, We Rule

By Joey Novick | March 5th, 2010 - 7:01am

We Rule3.5.10 In New Jersey, we ‘rule’: Along with making lots of tomatoes and cranberries, we make lots of rules. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, and rules on the books right now in New Jersey. (Here is a column I was asked about recently, so I am re-running it. Enjoy.)

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3.4.10 Kenneth, What is the Frequency? Zero.

By Joey Novick | March 4th, 2010 - 7:06am

3.4.10   As Un-Governor Christie continues to govern with his big budget hatchet, finally revealing where he wishes to make Big Cuts, he needs to be reminded that Cost-shifting is not “cost-cutting”. If he cost-cuts by cutting unemployment benefits, the cost will shift to the working families of NJ who can ill afford costs now.

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3.3.10 Putz of the Week/Mensch of the Week

By Joey Novick | March 2nd, 2010 - 11:41pm

 3.3.10 Putz of the Week/Mensch of the Week  In the language of My People, a putz generally is someone who has no real power, except to make your life miserable or at least unpleasant, often in a passive-aggressive way. Not too far from being a Yutz, ---a hapless, clueless, annoying socially clumsy guy. However, a mensch is literally, "man," but usually referring to a decent human being, a good, honest person who always takes the high road. Being called a mensch is the ultimate compliment.

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Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: March 19, 2010

Christie vetoes 5 service contracts approved by Turnpike Authority  Governor Christie on Thursday vetoed five professional services contracts that were approved by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority a month ago. The governor’s office said Christie exercised his eighth veto because the contract fees ranged from...

Wally Edge

Wisniewski's second cheap shot of the week
Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) put out a statement today accusing GOP congressional candidate Jon Runyan of “hiding from the press while trying to privately impress party bosses, and taking advantage of thousands of dollars...
Byrne is earliest nominated living statewide candidate, Lautenberg is oldest
The passing of Warren Wilentz means that David Norcross becomes the earliest nominated U.S. Senate candidate currently living.  Wilentz was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1966 against Clifford Case, and Norcross was the Republican U....
The nomination nobody wanted
The national political environment favored the GOP in 1966.  It was the mid-term election of Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the war in Vietnam had just begun to divide the nation.   In New Jersey, Republican Clifford Case was...
DiVincenzo backs pension reforms his aide is blocking
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo issued a press release today urging the State Assembly to pass pension and health insurance reform bills, but did not mention in his 574-word that the person blocking the legislation, Assembly Speaker Sheila...
Runyan, Gooch to announce today
Two Republicans will formally announce campaigns for Congress this evening against Democratic incumbents: John Runyan, a retired NFL star who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, is challenging freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), and Diane...
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Contributors

Chris
Christie
This is going to be a budget that is going to be unlike any other you’ve probably seen in NJ in at least the last 20 years and maybe... more »
Robert
Torricelli
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
Kim
Guadagno
On Tuesday, Governor Christie outlined a strategy to rescue New Jersey from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Like other states, we were not immune... more »
Jeff
Michaels
Governor Christie seems to have played the rotten fiscal cards he inherited fairly well. As reported by the Star-Ledger, he is proposing to cut school aid by more... more »
Raymond
Lesniak
It's impossible to support consolidation of government services and also support COAH.S1 paints with a broad brush and thus will miss some fine points.  COAH paints with... more »
Joseph
Vitale
As part of his solution to New Jersey’s current budget deficit, Gov. Chris Christie announced that, effective yesterday, he will not allow any additional parents to enroll in FamilyCare,... more »
Steve
Adubato, Jr.
Do I love Governor Chris Christie’s budget proposal?  Of course not.  Who would?  I’m sure he doesn’t like it, but that’s not the point, is it?  How could you... more »
Charles
Wowkanech
The budget speech given on Tuesday by Governor Christie clearly illustrates his priorities – including disproportionately shifting the tax burden away from businesses and the wealthy, and... more »
Alan
Steinberg
On Rebate Issue, Christie Will Win.  The leading New Jersey Sunday newspapers yesterday confirmed that Governor Chris Christie will propose in his FY2011 budget the... more »
Carla
Katz
You’ve got to hand it to Christie; he calls it as he sees it.  I don’t mean the newly crowned Governor, Chris Christie, but his nine-year-old son, Patrick.  ... more »
Joseph
N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
Anyone involved in governing and administrating a town or county in New Jersey understands the economic problems outlined in The Star-Ledger editorials of February 28 and March 1.  The... more »
Gina
Genovese
It is widely anticipated that Gov. Chris Christie’s first budget message, to be delivered on March 16, will show the harsh reality of New Jersey’s bleak financial outlook. No... more »
Donald
Norcross
In keeping with the commitment I made to you in the November election, I am looking at every possible way to cut wasteful government spending and relieve your tax... more »
Michael
W. Kempner
Wanted:  Courage to Pass Healthcare Reform In 1935, they spoke out against Social Security.  In 1965, they spoke out against Medicare.  And now in 2010, they are taking a politics-first... more »
Michael
Patrick Carroll
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
Richard
J. LaRossa
I have to genuinely wonder if this legislature will go down as the most taxing legislature in the history of the state of New Jersey surpassing the legislative actions... more »
Dr.
Joseph R. Marbach
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
Joey
Novick
3.20.10     Putz of the Week and Mensch of The Week It is not too often that I have designated a Democrat as the Putz of the Week and a Republican... more »
Murray
Sabrin
Limited government principles and fiscal conservatism are philosophically sound, because they preserve the people’s natural rights and they prevent government from overspending, over borrowing and overtaxing.   For more than... more »
Anthony
M. Bucco
New Jersey is in severe financial crisis because for years elected officials have been able to make irresponsible and short-sighted decisions without any restraint.  Future governors may... more »
Julio
Tavarez
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
Rafael
Román Martel
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »
Brian
Valentino
On the day of his inauguration, Governor Christopher Christie inherited a gaping $2 billion hole in the state’s budget and swiftly set about the people’s business in meeting our... more »