Burlington County Embarassment - Education Indoctrination

By now everyone has seen and heard the Burlington County, New Jersey school children being indoctrinated to worship Barack Obama. My biggest issue is that I live in Burlington county and my tax dollars helped pay for this teacher to "teach" these children in this way. In addition, the school district allowed an outsider to film the students and then post the video on Youtube.

The controversy continues as more facts come to light but most disturbing is that the leaders of the school initially acted like nothing was wrong. In addition, the letter home from school district officials doesn't exactly suggest that they get it (from Foxnews):

The performance and the videotaping at the B. Bernice Young Elementary School in Burlington, N.J., have sparked a review by school officials, according to a letter to parents from Christopher Manno, Burlington Township's superintendent of schools.

"We are carefully evaluating what occurred and will implement any additional needed procedures to prevent children's images in school from being publicly posted without permission," Manno wrote on Friday. "We will also provide reasonable direction and guidelines so that classroom activities will not give the appearance of promoting a particular political perspective."

A lot of people are expressing the opinion "what's the big deal?" or "it's completely innocent!" and that may be true. But given that this song is originally an religious song about Jesus, what would those same people's reaction be if the teacher had the children sing these original lyrics in the assembly:

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Would THAT be indoctrination?

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What is DeAngelo's connection to New Frontier PAC and Royal Printing?

In an election season where the Governor and his challenger continue to issue somewhat questionable attacks on the character of each other regarding multiple layers of alleged questionable ethical practices, a very real scandal has been developing in Burlington county. In August of this year, the Burlington County Democratic chairman stepped down over questions around campaign funds. From allbusiness.com:

Burlington County Democratic Chairman Rick Perr, who aggressively targeted local Republicans with corruption complaints while promoting government reforms, will step down amid a controversy over the distribution of campaign funds.

The Medford lawyer notified the party late Monday of his intent to resign effective Sept. 1, following a daylong stream of calls for him to leave.

Perr's departure follows published reports that he and former Democratic County Treasurer Jeff Meyer -- who resigned three weeks ago -- used a political-action committee that typically contributes to Democrats in and around Burlington County to further the political career of a Hoboken official caught in a federal corruption sting.

The Medford-based New Frontier Committee contributed more than $15,000 to election funds for candidates that included Peter Cammarano III -- who resigned last month as mayor of Hoboken following bribery charges -- and more than $26,000 total to Hudson County candidates in recent months.

The questions then progressed to New Frontier's support of Mercer County Democrats and specifically Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo who received money from New Frontier PAC. In addition, there have been several questions in the past related to a company paid by New Frontier PAC named Royal Printing. There are questions about not small amounts of money paid to Royal Printing like this authorization from the Mercer County Freeholders Meeting May 8, 2008:

MERCER COUNTY BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS
AUTHORIZES PAYMENT TO ROYAL PRINTING SERVICES
FOR PRINTING OF OFFICIAL, SAMPLE, ABSENTEE, AND
PROVISIONAL BALLOTS FOR THE MERCER COUNTY
CLERK PERTAINING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
ELECTION AS WELL AS PRINTING COST FOR SPECIAL
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS THAT WERE HELD IN
DECEMBER 2007 AND APRIL 2008. COST NOT TO
EXCEED: $200,000.00. PERIOD: DECEMBER 1, 2007 TO
MAY 1, 2008

The minutes from this meeting can be accessed here.

DeAngelo received a donation of $500 dollars which he says he gave to charity(Sunshine Foundation). What is interesting is that he said he did it before word became public about the scandal. That to me suggests an amount of inside knowledge of the organization not "just another campaign contribution". There are serious questions here and DeAngelo and others need to step up and answer them.

And DeAngelo's Republican challengers are not standing still waiting. They released these questions which are still valid today (from PolitickerNJ.com):

•1. How did Wayne DeAngelo become aware of the New Frontier PAC?
•2. Who did Wayne DeAngelo speak to about receiving a contribution from the PAC?
•3. Who delivered the PAC contribution to Wayne DeAngelo?
•4. Did Wayne DeAngelo ever speak to Rick Perr or Jeff Meyer?
•5. If so, when did he speak to them and what were the nature of the conversations?
•6. Will he volunteer to speak with NJ ELEC to aid them in their investigation?

In this case, silence is not golden.

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Greenstein and DeAngelo get hammered in Hamilton

The Trentonian reported yesterday on a breakfast held by Greenstein and DeAngelo opponents for state Assembly.

Two local Republican businessmen running for state legislative office stopped by the Golden Dawn Diner yesterday morning to launch their eight-point “Common Sense Plan to Fix New Jersey.”

Hamilton residents Rob Calabro and Bill Harvey, the GOP Assembly candidates for the 14th Legislative District, positioned themselves as fiscally responsible working people as they greeted patrons at the diner off Whitehorse-Mercerville Road.

The duo is running against Democratic Assembly incumbents Wayne DeAngelo of Hamilton and Linda Greenstein of Plainsboro.

The platform that the GOP candidates unveiled is largely focused on improving the state’s fiscal health and transforming New Jersey into a business-friendly state. The platform also calls for expanding the state’s democratic process by permitting voters to set and decide policies through initiatives and referendums.

It is no secret that this blog has not had much good to say about Greenstein and DeAngelo. They believe that NJ Politics means they get elected and then go on a spending spree with our money. But that's not what they say:

DeAngelo and Greenstein fired back, saying they’ve cut spending in the budget by $4 billion and that they are responding to the concerns of their constituents — residents of Cranbury, Hamilton, Jamesburg, Monroe Township, Plainsboro, South Brunswick and West Windsor.

“I don’t agree with them. I think we are doing a good job,” Greenstein said. “I’ve been in there for 10 years. I’m proud of what I accomplished.”

I don't recall seeing real evidence of their alleged cutbacks. Nor do I remember them going on the record for any real reductions in spending since they have been in office. However, I rember VERY WELL their ill concieved (business backbreaking) family leave act which doesn't help families. They were so proud to spend our money.

Greenstein thinks she has done a great job. And that is further evidence why she just doesn't get it. And DeAngelo is now embroiled in a probe of illegal campaign contributions from a corruption with an organization called New Frontier...but that is for another post.

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Corzine's Stature Problem - He's a Figment!

Jon Corzine has a problem. He is an incumbent Governor on a state that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat party and he is losing badly. He can spin it any way he wants but it won't change facts. As a conservative who still lives here, I can sympathize with his problem. He now wants to focus on turnout. But given his polling, there is no guarantee that turnout will go his way. People do not like the man. And you have to wonder why.

Jon Corzine's big problem is that he is a figment. From thefreedictionary.com:

fig·ment (fgmnt)
n.
Something invented, made up, or fabricated: just a figment of the imagination.

Everything he has done in politics has been image and nothing more. The problem with image construction (IE figments) is that when you poke them, there is nothing there. Corzine's history with Goldman Sachs and his spreading his personal wealth around got him the Democratic nomination for Senator. Because he was the last man standing when McGreevey became a gay American and our former Governor, he got the nod. And then he had to do something.

The result has been horrific. Governor "I didn't take this job to be scrooge" shepherded us to a complete mess BEFORE the economic downturn. And now he has to campaign on his record. And he doesn't have one. A figment.

I recently spoke to an acquaintance who regularly debates me on political issues and is frankly a typical reflexive NJ Democrat whether or not he admits it (he claims to be independent) . A scan of his voting patterns would tell the truth. But this person owns a very successful local business. He also is very active in supporting various charitable activities as his kids grow into more day to day responsibility of the family business. And he is looking at property in South Carolina. I was shocked. His answer: "We are all tired. I have written too many checks to the State of NJ in the past month. And at some point, it isn't worth it".

And so goes a state on autopilot with a figment in charge. We need a leader. Any while I have no idea whether Chris Christie will be that leader as his people don't respond to blogs like us. But I DO KNOW that Jon Corzine isn't a leader. He is a figment.

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Corzine runs from NJ 101.5 Debate

Jon Corzine announced that he was not going to participate in a governatorial debate being held by NJ 101.5. NJ.Com reports:

The campaign for Gov. Jon Corzine said he will not participate in a gubernatorial debate on the radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM during the final legs of the campaign, according to the station's website.

"Jon Corzine has now become the first candidate for statewide office in almost 20 years to turn his back on our one million listeners by refusing to appear on New Jersey 101.5 to talk directly to New Jersey voters about the issues that are important to them," said Eric Scott, news director for 101.5 FM.

The Governor decided instead to agree to debate on public broadcasting radio. Jon Corzine reminds me of Sir Robin from Monty Python's Holy Grail. He pretends to be a tough competent governor and then "bravely runs away" every chance he gets from making tough decisions, fixing the state and now even talking about his record.

While Senator Entitlement Frank Lautenberg was able to hide from the voters and not bother to show up for anything, I suspect Corzine will have a much harder time. Apparently his strategy is to hide until late in the camapaign and then send his vote stealers out to give out cigatettes to buy votes in Trenton, Camden and Newark. OR better yet, offer another $2,000,000 to hire "homeless and drug addicts" as part of his senatorial get out the vote efforts. Remmeber Governor? We do.

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Calling the President a Liar

The Democrat outrage at Joe Wilson correctly (admittedly an inappropriate time and place) identifying President Obama's comments last week as lies has been loud and almost comical. But what about their outrage over these comments from the floor of the House and Senate (from Gateway Pundit):



and this:



or this inappropriate comment by a Speaker of the House:

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Meltdown: Democratic Congressman David Scott of Georgia Goes Berserk at Town Hall

This isn't New Jersey, but it's a really good three-minute news report to watch.

Rep. Scott of Georgia treats a questioner like dirt when he asks him about health care, because the Rep's job is to listen to his constituents. (The questioner is one of his constituents.) Scott tells him to make an appointment. (He has tried, and has been told that no meetings are going to happen.) He treats him like he's stupid and deserves to be shouted down. (This constituent is a doctor.)



Remind me again why we keep electing these morons?

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Irresistible Gorrell Cartoon

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It's official: NJ citizens Income Plummeting

In case you are wondering why Jon Corzine keep running away from his record as Governor of NJ...


From PolitickerNJ:

CONTRARY TO GOVERNOR CORZINE'S CLAIMS, NEW JERSEY IS NOT BETTER POSITIONED THAN OTHER STATES TO WEATHER TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
New Jersey's median household income declined by $7,214 from 2005-2006 to 2007-2008, the nation's largest dollar decrease, according to statistics released today by the United States Census Bureau.

"These Census statistics clearly refute the claim that New Jersey was better stationed to weather this economic storm that Governor Corzine and his allies in the Legislature kept telling residents this summer while embracing a budget that slashed property tax relief, raised taxes and simply ignored the state's dire financial situation," Assemblyman John DiMaio, R-Warren and Hunterdon, said.

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Corzine's silence on why he should be re-elected

We are back after some much needed rest, relaxation and contemplation over politics and the state of our state and the country. I tried successfully to avoid news of New Jersey politics as I was out of state. It was much harder to avoid the next saga of Obamamania as the national news was pre-occupied wiith Czars and children's educational propaganda. I also had a couple of long drives under my belt where I was not allowed to listen to news so I got some real thought time in.

One reflection I had was about our Governor. This has been an extremely strange election season. Why? Because Jon Corzine has not really given anyone a reason to vote for his re-election. It is almost as if he knows that his record is so poor that it wouldn't be worth trying to convince anyone otherwise. And his media people seem to agree with him.

So he is left trying to trash Christie. And maybe in a normal year here in NJ, that would suffice. The same state that allowed Frank Lautenberg to hide out for the entire last camapaign does not seem to be in the same mood this time. Two thousand people attended the tea party we recently passed on the word for those in North Jersey. This is a different year.

Sometimes silence is golden. Sometimes it is chrystal clear.

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