Obamabot indoctrination? Or just another feel-good public school activity?

They call it a food drive. I call it another example of liberal indoctrination into the Cult of Obama.

All the public schools in Caldwell are collecting canned goods for the local food pantry, and running a competition to see which class can bring in the most cans.

The name of their project?

Yes We Can.

Gee, isn't that Dear Leader's official campaign slogan?

Subtle. Yet powerful. Every kid, from kindergarten on up, instilled with the phrase "Yes We Can". Or, "si, se puede", which of course is the mantra behind La Raza's racist push to grant amnesty to illegal aliens.

Once the progressives get their hands on our children they never let go. The brainwashing is everywhere. And if you complain, you're some kind of nut. Because who could be opposed to a food drive? Only a grouchy old curmudgeon like me, right?

Posted at 11:15 by Chris Wysocki   [/education]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Is Boehner selling out? Tax hikes now for the promise of spending cuts 10 years from now?

Someone needs to bitch-slap John Boehner. Hard.

Because it looks like he's about to surrender on tax hikes.

According to Politico, Boehner is willing to sign off on as much as $1.2 trillion in tax hikes over the next ten years in exchange for as little as $400 billion in Medicare cuts that do not even begin to take effect until 2023. That's right: Boehner is about to sign off on a deal of $3 dollars in tax hikes now in exchange for $1 dollar in spending cuts 10 years from now.

Sorry, no sale. Let the fiscal cliff hit. The country voted for this shitstorm. Now it's time to pay the piper. Remember, sequestration was Obama's idea. Nancy Pelosi cheered it. Harry Reid heralded its passage. Let them own it!

Besides, this so-called "deal" is laughable in terms of deficit reduction. $1.2 trillion of new revenue, over ten years. Then $400 million in spending cuts over the next ten years (maybe). Meanwhile Obama is adding at least a trillion dollars to the deficit every single year! For those of you who are doing the math at home that works out to $17.2 trillion in new debt, on top of the $16 trillion we've already got.

Yeah, I know, Obama says he's not good at math. He's great at demagoguery though.

Everyone should pay some income tax. It's called "skin in the game". Then folks will discover that "free stuff" isn't actually "free".

Posted at 10:09 by Chris Wysocki   [/gop]   Comments | Perm Link |
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I guess Lance never got a telemarketing call from "Google Dental"

One day last week, deep in his cave, Lance got some snail mail from Google.

He found that ironic.

Covering their tracks? Uh, no. Evil? Maybe. Probably. Don't get me started.

I get telemarketing calls from "Google Dental." All. The. Time.

Thank God for the guy who invented Caller ID. Otherwise I'd have to listen to their spiel.

That's the tooth. The whole tooth. And nothing but the tooth. So help me Obama.

Posted at 22:11 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Why work? You're better off collecting welfare. Yes, really.

John Hinderaker at Powerline lays out the horrid truth.

In the wake of President Obama's re-election victory, there has been a lot of discussion about makers and takers. Mitt Romney said on a conference call with supporters, among many other things, that Obama bought a lot of votes with "gifts" to various constituencies, an evidently true observation for which he mysteriously was maligned by Bobby Jindal and others. The truth is much worse than Romney suggested or than most people imagine: the middle class is right to feel bitter and betrayed. Those who work for a living have been sold out by federal and state governments that have created a welfare system gone mad.

How bad is it? This bad.

[I]t is now more lucrative — in the form of actual disposable income — to sit, do nothing, and collect various welfare entitlements, than to work. This is graphically, and very painfully confirmed, in the below chart from Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (a state best known for its broke capital Harrisburg). As quantitied, and explained by Alexander, the single mom is better off earning gross income of $29,000 with $57,327 in net income & benefits than to earn gross income of $69,000 with net income and benefits of $57,045.

Mr. Alexander's chart is here.

And the inevitable conclusion?

In today's America, it is reasonable to conclude that unless you make a great deal of money, you are a sucker if you work hard.

Clearly the voters have figured this out. Ergo they vote themselves ever larger emoluments, borne on the backs of the rapidly dwindling productive class. Or borrowed from China. Whatever works for the politicians pandering for those votes.

It's the end of America as we knew it. Because the numbers don't lie, and the numbers say you're better off sitting on your ass than you'd be if you worked your ass off.

Keep voting Democrat America, it really is easier — and much more lucrative! — than getting a job!

Posted at 09:48 by Chris Wysocki   [/economy]   Comments | Perm Link |
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In a triumph for socialized medicine Irish boy travels to U.S. for treatment of his rare disease

Here's another one guaranteed to make liberal heads explode. Call it Irish socialized medicine #fail. Because when you've got a rare incurable disease, the U.S. is the only place you'll get treatment. At least until Obamacare fully kicks in.

Ryan McCormack suffers from adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), the genetic disorder profiled in the 1992 movie "Lorenzo's Oil." His prognosis is not good, but there's a chance that a bone marrow transplant coupled with gene therapy could arrest the disease.

Can Ryan get this life-saving treatment from the fully socialist and ostensibly "free" Irish NHS?

It costs €3 million. What do you think?

So he's traveling to Minnesota, and relying on the charity of strangers.

Hmm, what is it that Minnesota doesn't have, at least not yet?

Did you say "socialized medicine"? You win!

Amazingly when you take the bureaucrats out of the loop and put the free market into play you find that treatments for rare diseases are available. No, they're not "free". But then, neither is Obamacare. Oh sure, it's "free" to you. If you're named Sandra Fluke or you've got a disease the bureaucrats have decided is worth treating. But if your ailment isn't on their list? Come to America, while you still can.

Godspeed Ryan. I pray your treatments are successful. And that they're completed before Donald Berwick and his IPAB (please don't call it a "Death Panel"!) finish mucking up the greatest health care system ever designed.

Posted at 12:32 by Chris Wysocki   [/obamacare]   Comments | Perm Link |
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As Egypt's Morsi elevates himself to Pharaoh, Obama looks on with awe and admiration

Meet the new Pharaoh, same as the old Pharaoh.

Hey, dictators just wanna have fun, right?

Ed wonders why Dear Leader is silent.

See, the thing is, it's complicated.

Oh, I understand alright. Or did we already forget what Dear Leader said last week in Burma?

That sound you don't hear from the White House isn't condemnation. It's admiration. It's awe. It's Dear Leader's minions busily scurrying to and fro trying to find a way for him to mimic Morsi's power grab right here at home.

Like every dictator-envying leftist (paging Thomas Friedman…) Dear Leader has got it into his head that he's smarter than us. He's better than us too. If only the knuckle-dragging mouth-breathing Rethuglicans would get out of the way, then he can create Paradise on Earth! A nation of Jamie Foxx clones, that's his goal.

What's the difference between Obama and Jesus?

Jesus doesn't think He's Obama.

Posted at 09:55 by Chris Wysocki   [/democrats]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Chris Christie announces he's running for re-election. As a Republican?

To almost no one's surprise NJ Governor Chris Christie (D-Sandy) has decided he's running for re-election next year.

My first reaction? Is he running as a Democrat? Because he sure as hell hasn't governed as a Republican. Especially seeing as how he's Barry's Fat Friend (BFF) and all. Hot off The Hug That Cost Romney The Election I figure it's only a matter of time before he acknowledges what every True Conservative already knows — Chris Christie is a RINO.

True Conservatives don't put Hamas sympathizers on the Superior Court.

True Conservatives don't jump on the Globull Warming bandwagon.

True Conservatives don't talk about raising taxes, even if there was a natural disaster.

True Conservatives aren't ambivalent on social issues like unnatural marriage and abortion.

And when you get right down to it, what better way is there to neutralize Cory Booker's potential candidacy than for Christie to switch parties and run as the Democrat we all know he wishes he could be?

Steve Lonegan, please call your office. ASAP.

UPDATE 27 Nov 2012 08:56:
Picked up by Larwyn's Linx. Thanks!

Posted at 20:12 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Behold the impotence of Obama's promise of "immediate" help to this Sandy victim

Trust Obama? Yeah, that was dumb.

Helped to re-elect Dear Leader, it did. Which of course was the entire point. Helping Mrs. Vanzant recover from the storm? Fuggedaboudit!

And you believed him? Bwahahahaha!

"Looking back on it, it wasted a lot of people's time," she said of the visit.

Welcome to Obama Reality. It never resembles Obama Hype.

Dear Leader doesn't care about you. Dear Leader never cared about you. As his tax hikes hit and Obamacare's full effects become inextricably integrated into every nook and cranny of your life the full extent of his "caring" will become painfully apparent.

Merely wasting your time will be the best possible outcome. Ruining your life, that's much more likely. It's the Chicago Way.

Posted at 09:49 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   Comments | Perm Link |
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A post on light bulbs that's guaranteed to make 2 of my RPI friends' heads explode

Via Instapundit, here's another #GreenFail, direct from the one guy who knows more about light bulbs than Thomas Edison himself. Howard Brandston founded the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He's probably the world's foremost authority on the science of electric light.

And what does Professor Brandston's science tell us? Incandescent bulbs are superior to compact fluorescents in every way.

Here comes the science.

It's what I've been saying all along, yet my two boys Nadz and CFL keep trying to convince me I'm wrong. Well guys, now you have it straight from the horse's mouth. Are you gonna keep denying science?. Or will you finally see the light?

Posted at 12:24 by Chris Wysocki   [/tech]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Don't let the turkeys get you down

Once upon a time, when America was a great nation, we paused annualy to give thanks for God's bounty. And as we re-enact today the glories of celebrations long since passed, we again pause to reflect on what made America great.

Let us pray that she will be great again. Soon.

From a friend on Facebook:

Now excuse me as I go join Group W on the bench.

Posted at 11:25 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Remember Freedom? On this date in 1789 NJ became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights

What a difference 223 years makes. Our Founding Fathers valued freedom. So much so they enshrined individual rights in our Constitution. At least they thought they did. Turns out the Anti-Federalists were right. Our government has completely eviscerated any of the rights we once held dear.

Amendment I.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Well, let's see. We have a State Religion now. Tolerance. Led of course by the High Priests of Homosexuality, where the agenda is compulsory approval. What they label "equality" is in fact totalitarianism. Reject the Rainbow Flag and you're guilty of "discrimination", then ostracized and marginalized. Sooner or later homosexuality will be compulsory, with penalties for non-compliance. If you don't believe me, check out the brouhaha in Trans Francisco over the heretofore unpublished "right" to parade around in the altogether while out in public.

Rights which are enumerated are jettisoned in favor of invented "rights". Because the new stuff is cool, and what did a bunch of dead white guys really know anyway?

Then there's the free exercise of religion, a shadow of its original intent. Obamacare is the final nail in its coffin. When the atheists start going after Charlie Brown you know you've lost the war.

But we still have Free Speech, right? Ask Mark Basseley Youssef about that one. He's currently doing a year of hard time for making Dear Leader look bad in front of his Arab friends.

Wanna peaceably assemble? You need a permit for that. And don't you dare conduct bible study in your own home, that's a zoning violation.

Petition your government? Write the EPA and find yourself on the terrorist watch list. Protest anywhere near Dear Leader or one of his henchmen, that's now a felony. Your government doesn't want to hear from you. Not unless you've got a friend on K Street and a blank check made out to "Re-election Fund". Then they'll pretend to care.

Amendment II.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Sigh. We're now in a race to see which politician can top Mike Bloomberg and ban the most guns. And the U.N. is ready to pounce too, as Dear Leader assures them he'll ratify their execrable Small Arms Treaty. That's the one which makes every gun ever made illegal to own. Except for the authorities, who can always be trusted to use guns with care and treat citizens with the utmost respect. Really.

Amendment III.
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Here at least we're still on solid ground. I think.

Amendment IV.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

James Madison could never have imagined the TSA. Not in his wildest dreams. Their mission statement is unreasonable search and seizure. And we line up like sheep to subject ourselves to pointless degradation. Nevermind lesser atrocities like sobriety checkpoints, photo id to buy Sudafed, aerial surveillance for zoning violations, and my personal favorite, the recycling police.

Then there's the travesty of no-knock raids as the War on Drugs makes a mockery of any semblance of probable cause and the other supposed protections we used to enjoy. Add in the guilty-until-proven-innocent aspects of recent copyright law and the only place you'll find the Fourth Amendment today is on the side of a milk carton.

Amendment V.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without just compensation.

The Fifth Amendment is no match for Dear Leader's NDAA. Indefinite detention, if Janet Incompetano decides you're a terrorist. And clever prosecutors found the perfect way to circumvent the prohibition against Double Jeopardy — civil rights violations. You aren't being accused of committing a crime, you're being accused of violating a designated victim group's civil rights while (perhaps not) committing that crime. Because, you know, you're a racist.

Then, let's ask the IRS about that you can't be a witness against yourself thing. I'm pretty sure they're still laughing about it. As for taking property without "just compensation", merely reading Kelo v. New Haven makes my brain hurt. Throw in byzantine zoning laws, New Jersey's Highlands Act, or those new civil forfeiture laws (drive drunk? lose your car!) and it's obvious our citizens don't care very much about private property or personal liberty anymore.

Amendment VI.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Spend a night in traffic court. You don't have the right to a jury of your peers. You have the right to pay up. Or the right to get lectured by the judge and then pay up. And the nature and cause of your accusation is quite fungible, plea bargains being the norm, it's the dollar amount of the fine which drives the entire process. Yup, legalized extortion by agents of the State. I'm pretty sure Mr. Madison wasn't in favor of that, but he's not here to see how the nanny state has perverted his life's work.

Amendment VII.
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Suits, smoots. We've got regulations. And regulators. What they say goes! You were in violation before you were born. They're here to exact punishment, and any hope you might have for judicial review stops at the Administrative Law Judge whose salary depends on him finding you guilty.

Oh, and that binding arbitration clause in every credit card agreement and shrink-wrapped software licensing fine print. Yeah it's definitely what the Seventh Amendment is all about. And DMCA takedowns? Sadly our Constitution is no match for the lobbyists of the RIAA and MPAA.

Amendment VIII.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Never have so few words been so misconstrued. In 1789 they hanged horse thieves. Today you can't get the death penalty for shooting a cop at point blank range or for luring a 12 year old girl to her death so you can steal her bicycle. But if Dear Leader wants to drop a drone on your ass? Yeah your rights just went up in smoke.

Amendment IX.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Yes, it will. Just ask the EPA. Or the DEA, FDA, CIA, or FAA. You have no rights. Unless you're a member of a Designated Minority Group. Then your rights trump everyone else's.

Amendment X.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Good luck finding any shred of the Tenth Amendment left. I think Chief Justice Roberts uses it for toilet paper. He certainly has never read it.

I wonder what they were thinking, 233 years ago on that late November day, when the New Jersey State Legislature ratified these ten amendments. I suspect they felt good for themselves, congratulating one another on striking a balance between oppressive government and individual liberty.

Yet here we are, living in a shadow world, where liberty is almost a dirty word. Our public schools enforce conformity, elevating the imagined needs of our collective citizenry above the sanctified right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness enshrined in this once hallowed document. Nameless, faceless bureaucrats compel adherence to voluminous reams of arbitrary regulations — make one false move and your life is ruined.

You can't grow your own food or milk your own cow or eat your own pigs. You can't build the house of your dreams on the land your great-grandfather cleared with his bare hands. And you'd better not tinker with the engine in your car or the wiring in your walls or move the stones in your garden. You'll use the light bulbs the government tells you to use. You'll send your children to the school the government tells you to send them to. You'll feed them a government-approved lunch and if you give your child an unusual name the government will decide you're unfit for parenthood. It takes a village. Or so they say.

The Bill of Rights. It was fun while it lasted. Alas our Founding Fathers are no match for the modern police / nanny / regulatory state. America surrendered her Liberty for the promise of security. The government will take care of you — cradle to grave! — just don't worry your pretty little head about personal responsibility. Here, watch American Idol or Real Housewives, and leave the governing to your enlightened betters.

Vote Democrat! It's easier than having to think (or fend) for yourself.

Posted at 16:49 by Chris Wysocki   [/rants]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Hobby Lobby loses against Obamacare, Atheists win in Santa Monica as the War on Religion escalates

Our Founding Fathers established the Constitution to protect religious freedom. Today's liberals have flipped that notion on its ear, using government to destroy every last vestige of religious freedom left in America.

Yes, I'm talking about Obamacare and the unconscionable abortion, sterilization, and contraceptive mandate. We are not free to choose our health care. We are not free to exercise our religion as we see fit. The unholy alliance of big government and radical feminism have left us with Hobson's choice.

Burn in Hell, or die.

There it is in black and white. In 0bama's America you cannot freely exercise your religion. There is a price to be paid, a poll tax for the privilege of living in this once great nation. Buy health insurance and guarantee the destruction of your immortal soul by committing a grievous sin, or forego coverage altogether, and then still pay into this abominable system via John Roberts' Tax That Dare Not Speak Its Name.

Where is government to protect the rights of a small minority? Busy making sure Christmas goes down the memory hole, that's where.

They worship Mother Gaia, not the Son of Man.

And they force us to bow to their holy sacrament of abortion whilst defiling every tenet of our faith.

Because we aren't the right kind of small minority. Our beliefs aren't hip, they're not in tune with all the cool kidz. We don't fit in, and we haven't yet moved on to the blow-shit-up-so-they'll-respect-us stage.

But if this isn't the culmination of a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object — to reduce us under absolute Despotism, then I don't know what is.

I want my country back. Give me Liberty, or give me Death!

Posted at 10:09 by Chris Wysocki   [/religion]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Federal judge cancels liquidation, forces Hostess into mediation with bakers union

The bakers union has a friend on the federal bench. A judge who is apparently way smarter than the guys actually running the company has decided that Hostess Brands can't go out of business. Nope. They're forced to "mediate" with the bakers union.

The union was all over that like white on rice. Forced mediation! Hostess has to stay in business, come hell or high water. How is unclear though. They don't actually have any money. And they don't have any bakers in the factories making Twinkies and Wonder Bread which they then might sell to get some money.

Maybe it's the magic unicorn factor. Or pixie dust. Or both.

Because the union is living in Fantasy Land.

The Wall Street Journal reports that while Hostess has said the shutdown would result in the loss of more than 18,000 jobs and place the fate of more than 30 American brands in jeopardy, union President Frank Hurt said he believed there was "more than a good chance" that a buyer quickly would swoop in to buy the profitable parts of the company and give his union's members their jobs back.

Frank Hurt also "believes" in the Tooth Fairy.

"Nobody wants to have anything to do with these old plants or these unions or these contracts," [Hostess CEO Gregory] Rayburn said in an interview. The company had hunted for buyers for the last several years as it tried to avoid a second trip into bankruptcy, but no buyer came forward.

But now? Now there's a militant union hoping Santa puts a paycheck instead of coal into their Christmas stockings. So of course a white knight is gonna swoop in at the last minute and save their featherbedded asses. Because every savvy investor wants to hire unionized hooligans during a recession while the most pro-union, anti-business president in history sits in the White House.

And if no such investor comes forward? Racism. For sure.

Posted at 19:22 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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The illusion of a recovery: Obamanomics in one graph

Here's a graph I'll bet you wish your state-run media had shown you before you voted for four more years of Obamunism.

Don't blame me, I voted for the guy who understands how business works.

In other words, you're not imagining it: This economic recovery has been a big disappointment relative to what the United States has usually experienced after a recession. Growth has been 9 percent below what was seen in past recoveries on average in its first three years.

This lesson in economic Marxism is brought to you by the Congressional Budget Office, via The Washington Post. So you can't simply call it Right Wing Hysteria and pretend the magic unicorns are hours away from making everything perfect again.

Of course, The Post sat on this news until now, because hey, if people knew what a fuck-up Obama really is they probably wouldn't have voted to re-elect him.

Oh. Right. Three years of lackluster "growth" under Obamunism is George Bush's fault. Got it. Thanks.

Meanwhile, here in the Real World, real people are hurting. That lost GDP is gone. Forever. We're on track to a permanently lower standard of living. Trickle Up Poverty. Gimme my EBT!

Here's more bad news the media conveniently neglected to mention prior to the election.

Still feeling good about voting for President Downgrade? Yes? Hope you don't rely on a small, community bank. They're about to be victims of Dodd-Frank.

Fortune reported three days after the election that the "overwhelming conclusion" of industry analysts and consultants was that Dodd-Frank would cause thousands of small banks to disappear. As a side note, one month before the election a Fortune "fact check" (by the same reporter, no less) blasted Romney for saying during one of the presidential debates that Dodd-Frank was "killing regional and small banks."

You say "reporter". I say "bylined Democratic Party operative". There really is no difference.

The stock market is down more than 5% since Election Day. That's some serious faith in Obama, eh? And inflation is creeping up. It's at 2.2% for October, the third consecutive monthly increase. His union buddies just killed Twinkies, and the only answer coming from the White House is "tax the rich". We already pay 50% of our income to government, how much is "enough"?

Did you know that all the money Obama could collect from his "millionaire's tax" will fund the federal government for a whopping six days? The other 359 days are still going on our account with China. Because for every $7 the IRS takes in, Obama spends $11.

That's his "plan". Spend more than we collect. But pretend he's collecting a teensy-weensy bit more.

Sooner or later he's gonna run out of other people's money. And then what?

Your EBT card won't work. That's what.

I bet that'll be George Bush's fault too.

Posted at 12:05 by Chris Wysocki   [/economy]   Comments | Perm Link |
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The Pony Express lost another $15.9 billion dollars this year

In Wednesday's mail I received a letter that was sent on October 3rd. From South Jersey. Yeah, 45 days to go less than a hundred miles sounds about right.

Maybe that explains this:

They think they're a private business. But Congress thinks they're still a government agency. And Congress won't let go.

Must be that Franking Privilege. Politicians love free stuff, especially when it's free stuff for them.

Why not break up the Post Office like we did with AT&T? Delivering mail in New York City poses completely different challenges from delivering mail in rural Montana. And there's no reason it should cost the same to send a letter cross-town or cross-country. Unless somebody smarter than Congress can figure out a way to make that business model profitable…

Oh, who am I kidding. The Post Office isn't in the mail delivery business. They're in the pension and health insurance for old mailmen business. And there ain't nobody who can make that profitable. It's only gonna get more expensive with every passing year. You can't privatize government pensions. Not yet, anyway. Not until the bottom really falls out.

Want some more interesting news? Four of the five top execs at USPS got hefty raises this year. But of course. Rewarding failure is what government does.

Man, I can't wait for the government to start running health care. We'll wish they'd only lose $16 billion a year!

Posted at 13:58 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Real Lesbians of the WNBA: Smashing stereotypes, and car windows

This is too funny not to repost. Stacy McCain describes the foibles of one Chamique Holdsclaw, recently of the WNBA.

Chamique Holdsclaw is 6-foot-2, 172 pounds. She was a three-time NCAA champion at the University of Tennessee and, during her 11 seasons of pro basketball, averaged nearly 17 points per game. And she is now wanted on an aggravated assault charge.

See, she got pissed at her ex-girfriend, and…

So, why is this funny? Well, first there's this:

Holdsclaw's Twitter profile describes her as "a mental health advocate."

Wait for it…

I suppose bashing in your ex-girlfriend's car windows — with a few pistol shots thrown in for good measure — might be considered therapeutic in some sense. NTTAWWT.

And then, it gets better!

Oh, my — this probably isn't great publicity for the lesbian reality TV show Chamique Holdsclaw was co-producing.

Gee, ya think?

Yeah, "busting myths", busting car windows, whatever it takes.

Me? I'd retitle that reality show "Scared Straight".

Posted at 09:29 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Remember the MF Global debacle? Yeah, it was totally Jon Corzine's fault

Like you couldn't see this coming, right?

Tough talk, followed up by … nothing?

But lawmakers will stop short of recommending any legal sanction against Corzine, or any other current and former MF Global officials, according to a summary of its findings released today.

Huh? Oh, right, Corzine is a big-time bundler for Barry. And Eric Holder used to be his lawyer. He's got friends in high places. So of course he goes scot free.

And we still don't know where the money went. I guess because nobody could figure out how to lay the blame on George Bush.

UPDATE 16 Nov 2012 09:01:
Linked by Larwyn's Linx. Thanks!

Posted at 09:32 by Chris Wysocki   [/democrats]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Price gouging? Chris Christie is already talking about raising taxes to pay for Hurricane Sandy

Raise gas or ice prices more than 10% during a hurricane? Chris Christie will go after you with the full power of the law at his back.

But afterwards? Afterwards he'll talk about raising taxes, because there's no such thing as price gouging when government needs money.

C'mon Christie! Your new bestest buddy Barry would beg to differ. He promised his peeps a magic money tree. They voted for a magic money tree. You can't be dissing Prez BO! That's like racist or something.

Yeah, one hug from Dear Leader is all it took to turn Governor Awesome into Robby RINO, tax hiker extraordinaire. Remember that tax cut Christie promised us earlier this year? Kiss it goodbye.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said he isn't sure whether he'll still pursue a tax cut that was the centerprice of his economic strategy because Hurricane Sandy may have hurt state revenue in October and November.

Government's first reaction to any crisis is universally predictable — raise taxes. A private business can't pass their extraordinary costs onto consumers, that's price gouging. That's illegal. But there's no law against government passing along its costs. Nosirree! Government can rape the taxpayer with impunity. Because they have no decency, and no accountability, and there's nothing we can do about it anyway.

Maybe I shoulda voted for Corzine. At least he was been upfront about his intention to screw me over.

UPDATE 15 Nov 2012 14:35:
Linked by Larwyn. Thanks!

And Gator Doug wonders if Christie is on a path to metamorphosis into a full-blown Democrat. Well maybe, that'd be one way to freeze Cory Booker out of challenging him next year.

Posted at 21:06 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   Comments | Perm Link |
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No thanks for this turkey

Last night, while using the PC for a school project, Sophie suddenly burst out laughing. She'd Googled "turkey pictures", because she was writing a poem about Obama pardoning a turkey for Thanksgiving.

This popped up.

"Dad! Check your email!" So I did. And it said, "Put this on your blog!"

I love that kid.

Posted at 13:54 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Defining deviancy as normal, three examples

So Tickle Me Elmo isn't a pedophile, he's just a middle aged guy who likes his teenage boy toys a day older than 18. Perfectly legal. Or to quote Seinfeld, "not that there's anything wrong with that". Except, you know, it's all wrong. At least it used to be.

How many times does 18 go into 52 anyway? Ewwww.

But we can't judge the homosexuals. They're different. They get a pass on the "yuck" factor. Even when it's clear the situation involves predator and prey. Since the Gay Community has such lofty moral standards we're not supposed to snicker.

Well then, what can we judge? Hmmm, let's take a visit to San Francisco. Home of Nancy Pelosi. Gay sex capital of the universe. The place where being homosexual is no longer weird enough, you have to rearrange your genitalia to really get attention. And just to make sure that anyone can play, the gender bending is free!

That's right boys who'll be girls and girls who'll be boys, in this mixed up muddled up shook up world, the few surviving taxpayers left in Trans Francisco will gladly fund your sex change operation! Libraries, not so much. Priorities you know.

Because sometimes, serendipity strikes. Girl who was boy meets boy who was girl. It's love at first hormone shot. Or as Stacy McCain calls it, The Rocky Horror Picture Show as reality television.

We're definitely not in Kansas anymore. And deviancy is The New Normal. It says so on my TV.

Posted at 08:34 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Two teachers who criticized Dear Leader on Facebook could lose their jobs

You can say anything you want, so long as it doesn't offend an Obamabot.

You have the right to freedom of speech, unless you say something critical of Dear Leader.

Welcome to the new America. Now with more censorship.

Tolerance, it doesn't mean what you think it means. And the First Amendment? The only place you'll see it now is on a milk carton. I guess these two teachers can consider themselves lucky they only lost their jobs. Give Dear Leader another year or 2 and he'll be executing dissidents instead of just imprisoning them.

Heil Obama! Or else.

Posted at 16:38 by Chris Wysocki   [/media]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Government-run LIPA can't get the lights back on, but I'm sure government health care will be different

Remember the phrase "good enough for government work"? Yeah, that's LIPA.

LIPA is different from "most utilities", they're a government agency.

But don't worry America. The "intergovernmental political organization" that'll run Obamacare? I'm sure it'll be different. Totally focused on you. Dedicated public servants, working tirelessly to deliver quality services at a fair price. Your health care is in the very best of hands. Those hands are busy playing golf at the moment, but they are the very best. Trust me.

Oh, did I mention that LIPA has some of the highest rates in the nation? And the lowest JD Power ranking for customer satisfaction?

Purely coincidentally, our health insurance premiums continue to skyrocket. And nobody loves Obamacare.

Think of it this way. Instead of "First, do no harm", your doctor has a new motto — I'm from the government and I'm here to help. What could go wrong?

Posted at 10:24 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Thought for Remembrance Day: The Greatest Generation begat the Lamest Generation

At mass yesterday Monsignor Desmond asked the veterans in the congregation to stand up. Five men rose to their feet. None under the age of 70.

When they are gone, who will remember? Who will stand for freedom?

The Greatest Generation is gone. Now we have the Lamest Generation. America sacrificed freedom for free stuff.

Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can give you for free.

Posted at 10:24 by Chris Wysocki   [/rants]   Comments | Perm Link |
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While Obama parties with celebrities, New Jerseyans huddle in frozen refugee camps

After Katrina, George Bush sent FEMA trailers to Louisiana. One to a family.

After Sandy, Barack Obama is herding displaced New Jerseyans into frozen refugee camps. With no heat. No power. And no hope.

Media is not allowed inside "Camp Freedom". A harbinger of the dark days ahead in America? Yes. This is what Barack Obama thinks of you now. He couldn't care less.

Chris Christie hugged Dear Leader and all we got was this crappy refugee camp.

I have to wonder, is that the Hope, or the Change? Because it sure looks like revenge to me.

When it became clear the residents were less than enamored with their new accommodations Wednesday night and were letting the outside world know about it, officials tried to stop them from taking pictures, turned off the Wi-Fi and said they couldn't charge their cellphones because the complex didn't have enough power.

We are all Kulaks now.

Ingsoc would be so proud. "Camp Freedom" indeed.

War is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.
Obama is our Savior.

This message has not been approved by the Ministry Of Truth.

Posted at 14:09 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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House GOP must go nuclear and let all the Bush tax cuts expire

There's no reason to give Obama anything. Fight Harry Reid's nuclear strike on Senate filibuster rules and Valerie Jarrett's plans for "revenge" with a counterstrike of our own.

Mutually Assured Destruction.

Democrats want to raise taxes? Fine, raise taxes. Everyone's taxes.

John Boehner says he is open to "new revenue"? Well OK then, let's get him some new revenue! Oodles and oodles of it, if one believes Herr Doktor Professor Krugman.

Let the Bush Tax Cuts expire. For everybody.

I'm sure my tax-happy liberal friends will be pleased as punch when they have to pay Clinton-era tax rates again. I mean, they were positively giddy about me having to pay more, so why not spread the joy?

What's that? They won't like it when it's their car going off the fiscal cliff? Well, yeah. But maybe they shoulda thought of that before voting for Obama. You broke it, you bought it chumps.

Posted at 11:46 by Chris Wysocki   [/economy]   Comments | Perm Link |
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America, R.I.P.

The takers won. It's all over except for the pain. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Why should I work? To give a bunch of ungrateful jerks more free stuff? Feh. I want free stuff too.

I don't recognize America anymore. It used to be a great country. The greatness is gone. Lost. Aspire to mediocrity! Responsibility is for someone else!

There's no point in trying to fight for Liberty. Because nobody wants it anymore.

I give up.

UPDATE 07 Nov 2012 10:14:
Pat Austin is going Galt too.

Glenn Reynolds posted this last night. Sounds right to me.

"Good hardworking people should give up and go Galt. The tipping point is the 2012 election. Will the makers finally succumb to the takers? It's pointless to think that if America reelects the most unqualified disastrous president in recent memory, we should stand our ground and continue fighting. It's a signal that marxist free-lunchism and free birth control for everyone trump economic well-being and prosperity in the minds of the masses. Give up. Go Galt. Protect what few assets you have left, and start to hunker down for the coming storm. America is beyond screwed, well past the fiscal insanity of a number of EU countries. Think of it this way — we sit and watch California destroy itself and wonder who could be so foolish as to remain there and dedicate himself to indentured servitude in a state headed for disaster. Why don't those fools just leave!! Same for Venezuela. As they descend into chaos and totalitarianism, do they reject Chavez more? The answer is plainly no. The spiral down the drain is irreversible and obvious. The more the government creates misery, the more they create programs to help people cope with the misery they've created, and we achieve a perpetual negative feedback loop. My advice is simple, get a lawyer and a financial advisor, cash out as much of your assets as you can, and prepare yourself for a nosedive off a cliff. Anything else would be imprudent and irresponsible to yourself and your dependents. Who wants to be a Dagny Taggart dedicating themselves to a life of indentured servitude trying to correct the wrongs of a heavy handed government? I will not be volunteering. I didn't give up on America, America gave up on me."

Also last night, with the first Black president re-elected, "Fuck white people" was trending on Twitter. But since I didn't vote for him, I'm the racist.

Gator Doug:

Finally, one apology is in order here. To the Founders, we let you down, we failed. Too many of us fell for the lies of Leftism. Too many of us have been seduced by the false promises of Marxism. Yes, Mr. Franklin, you gave us a Constitutional Republic, no, we could not keep it.

Obama lied, America died.

UPDATE 07 Nov 2012 10:33:
Found on Facebook — it takes all this red to pay for the blue.

Red people! Starve the beast. Go Galt. Let the moochers find out what happens when there's nobody left to mooch off of.

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Your handy WyBlog guide to the 2012 election

Here they are, the coveted WyBlog endorsements!

For President: Mitt Romney. Like you had to ask, right?

For Senator: Joe Kyrillos. Yeah, I'd never heard of him either. But anybody's gotta be better than Bob Menendez (D-La Raza).

For Congress: Rodney Frelinghuysen. Because he's a good guy and he's done a good job. Plus, his opponent is a Greek Socialist. Have you seen Greece lately?

For Sheriff: Meh. Orlando Mendez? Couldn't pick him out of a lineup. But the current doofus, Armando Fontoura is our county's chief law enforcement dude, and he utterly failed to root out a convicted felon who was illegally working on his administrative team. Methinks Armando isn't paying too much attention to actual law enforcement.

For Caldwell Council: Pete Murray and Rich Hauser! Pete and Rich have been on the frontlines for the past three years, working to make Caldwell a much better town. There's no reason to rock the boat, let 'em keep doing what they do best.

Public Question #1: No.

Public Question #2: Yes. Judges aren't imperial. They're not better than us. They don't deserve free health care just because they think they're special. Every other state employee (including the governor) is paying for his health care. Judges should too.

School Board: No opinion. Really. Because it doesn't matter, we aren't allowed to vote on the budgets anymore. And whoever gets elected spends our tax dollars like drunken sailors anyway. So pick whatever automaton you want to rubber stamp everything the teachers union demands. Whoever gets elected we're still screwed.

Posted at 09:57 by Chris Wysocki   [/election]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Hurricane Sandy aftermath day 8: And Then There Was Light

Last night I finally McGyver-ed the generator into the furnace. We had heat! And Monday Night Football. So we were the happening spot. Around 11:30 I was out in the garage with my buddy Russ refilling the gas tank on the generator. Mere minutes after we finished he exclaimed "Look!" pointing toward his house.

And There Was Light. Everywhere.

On Facebook Nadz wagged, "that's why they call it electron day." Heh.

I'm told it was a crew from Texas who got us hooked up, rewired, and reconnected. Man, I love Texas!

Posted at 09:31 by Chris Wysocki   [/caldwell]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Why New Jersey must vote NO on Public Question 1, the Building Our Future Bond Act

It sounds like something only Scrooge would oppose — the Building Our Future Bond Act.

Do you approve the Building Our Future Bond Act? This bond act authorizes the state to issue bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $750 million to provide matching grants to New Jersey colleges and universities. Money from the grants will be used to build, equip and expand higher education facilities for the purpose of increasing academic capacity.

What kind of evil rethuglican hates college? Uh, maybe one who reads the fine print?

It's a new property tax!

Let me repeat that. It. Is. A. New. Property. Tax.

Piled on top of the highest property taxes in the nation.

Can you afford a new property tax? Because I can't afford a new property tax.

But Chris! But Chris! Our colleges need laboratories! And classrooms! They don't have that kind of money!

Actually, they do. Take Rutgers. (Please!) Two years ago Rutgers spent $100 million on a football stadium. I don't know about you, but I think that $100 million buys a lot of labs and classrooms. Instead it bought some fatcats a whole new level of fancy luxury suites and the team a trip to the Nobody-Ever-Heard-Of-It-Before Bowl. Then it helped Greg Schiano land a big fat NFL coaching contract. He got everything he wanted, and we got the bill.

OK, what about the smaller schools like Stockton State College? Glad you asked!

What about the $65 million Stockton just spent on its "wow" student center? Or the $50 million for the science building? The $49 million for new dorms to house 380 students? Or the $36 million paid for the Seaview Country Club Resort, with $1.5 million just to spruce up the golf course?

They bought a country club. A college bought a country club.

Yeah, I definitely need to pay higher property taxes for that!

Our colleges don't need more money. They need to start spending the money they already have a lot more wisely.

Vote "NO" on Public Question 1. Your pocketbook will thank you.

Posted at 14:58 by Chris Wysocki   [/election]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Good news fraudsters: New Jersey is accepting email ballots on "The Honor System"

What could go wrong? New Jersey will allow people to vote via email tomorrow.

Here's my prediction. Fifteen minutes before the polls close tomorrow there will be a sudden surge in email ballots arriving at Durkin's office. Every single one of those ballots will be marked with straight-line Democrat votes. And the average age of the "honor system" voters will be 82 years old.

And then there's this:

Since officials couldn't figure out a way to confirm a voters name and print the completed ballot without an election worker looking the voters' choices while handling the ballots, voters will have to check off a waiver of privacy.

Goodbye secret ballot!

It's Bill Maher's wet dream.

"If you're thinking about voting for Mitt Romney, I would like to make this one plea: black people know who you are and they will come after you."

Vote by email and the state's gonna give 'em a map to your house.

Posted at 11:44 by Chris Wysocki   [/election]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Hurricane Sandy aftermath day 7: Some folks have power, but alas we do not

Apparently my "complaining" about our lack of power and heat is getting on at least one Facebook friend's nerves. She wrote a rather impassioned diatribe on my page last night after I noted that PSE&G has 90% of West Caldwell and 50% of North Caldwell restored but there is no info on what's going on in Caldwell. See, in case I didn't know, there are people worse off than me.

No shit Sherlock.

But sorry New York City, no National Guard for you!

Maybe he thinks all the criminals' guns got washed away with the storm surge.

Meanwhile in Hoboken the National Guard seems to be doing the Lord's work. There are lots of photos at that link, just keep scrolling.

Locally, like I said earlier, some towns are getting their power back. And a few folks around Caldwell also report power being restored. My neighborhood is still stuck in the dark ages though.

Here, I'll let these guys complain for me.

Don't worry Barry. I'm definitely gonna vote tomorrow.

Posted at 10:48 by Chris Wysocki   [/caldwell]   Comments | Perm Link |
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IBEW thugs strike again, turn away transformers delivered by non-union truckers

Is your power still off? Blame the IBEW! For the second time since Huricane Sandy their unionista thugs put solidarity above customer service.

They spent $1,400 of their own money to try and help New York City.

And the IBEW thanked them as only a union could.

"They called them scabs and sent them home. They said those people were taking food out of their families. mouths."

Look for the union label. And run away.

At least now I know who to blame for freezing in the dark.

Posted at 19:18 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Hurricane Sandy aftermath day 5: still no power, no info, losing hope

Five days and counting. The post-Sandy frustration levels are building. We need information. But PSE&G is like the Sphinx. Their response is always the same — 7 to 10 days, maybe. I'm not holding my breath.

When I wake up in the morning I can see my breath.

In their latest "official" update they're still sticking to the flooded switching station story.

I call bullshit. There's a switching station around the corner from me. It's deserted. And there's power along Bloomfield Avenue. That power doesn't come from magic unicorns. So if they've got power and we don't? It can't be because the switching station is flooded. Face it, PSE&G just doesn't care about us.

Major roads in Caldwell remain impassable, blocked by fallen trees and downed power lines, right where they fell during the storm. Exiting our neighborhood is like navigating a maze. The cops put up yellow tape and orange cones, and told us to wait for Godot PSE&G.

There have been PSE&G truck sightings. At Dunkin' Donuts. They load up on coffee and then vanish, destined for parts unknown. There are rumors of some streets getting power back. But as night falls the darkness envelopes us, and we're transported to something closer to North Korea than what we've come to expect from 21st century America.

Have you seen the devastation in Staten Island? They got slammed. And FEMA, Obama, Bloomberg, Red Cross? AWOL. When you rely on government to save you, government gets to decide if you're worth saving. After the Indonesian tsunami the U.S. Navy was able to air drop in supplies within 24 hours. It's been 5 days. Nobody is air-dropping supplies to Staten Island. Maybe the Navy doesn't know where it is. Or, more likely, Barry told them to "stand down."

Staten Island is filled with white, working-class Catholics. Not exactly an Obama (or Bloomberg) demographic.

More good news for today — gasoline rationing. Yup, it's the 1970's again for sure. Welcome Back Carter! Odd - Even gas lines. Today's an "odd" day. We tried to buy gas. The line was 200 cars long at the one open station we could find.

What is the U.N. sending us? Election monitors. Thanks! We'll be sure to return the favor the next time one of your pissant little menber countries gets wiped out by Mother Nature. I hope Con Ed turns your power back on last.

Oh well, time to go back outside and work on cleaning up the yard. Stay warm folks. There's a Nor'easter headed our way, the forecast says snow for Tuesday night. Yippee Kai Ay.

Posted at 15:32 by Chris Wysocki   [/caldwell]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Unbelievable! NJ union thugs turn away help from non-union Alabama utility crews

Want to help restore power here in New Jersey? You gotta show a union card. No card? Go home.

How desperate is hurricane-ravaged New Jersey? Not desperate enough to suspend a union monopoly that keeps the state in the bottom ten states for economic competitiveness (and #48 for business friendliness). Relief crews from Alabama who were specifically called to New Jersey found themselves diverted to Long Island, NY after they arrived because they use non-union labor. Alabama is a right-to-work state.

WAFF TV reports from Huntsville, Alabama:

I have a friend who saw some Alabama utility trucks caravaning up the Turnpike. He was excited — "Wow, guys are coming here from Alabama? Cool!"

Now those same guys are headed home.

And the unionistas are unapologetic too. Here's a comment thread from NJ.com:

Apparently the unionista wasn't "trained" in spelling though. "Have you ever wored with non-union linemen?" Who's the whore Mr. Union Man? Maybe it's this guy.

And another:

If your power is still out (like mine), thank a union member.

UPDATE 02 Nov 2012 13:15:
IBEW thugs, to be precise.

Officials from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers presented Alabama-based Decatur Utilities with documents that "required our folks to affiliate with the union," Ray Hardin, general manager of Decatur, told FOX Business on Friday. "That was something that we could not agree to. It was our understanding and still is that it was a requirement for us to work in that area."

Hey fellas, come to Caldwell, get my lights on. I'll buy dinner. And beer. 'Cause your new friends in the IBEW are all down in Newark, making sure Obama's core constituency is squared away before election day. Out here in the suburbs PSE&G doesn't care about us.

Posted at 09:52 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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No word on whether or not he has a wide stance: Bob Menendez stiffed some hookers!

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-La Raza) may have voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Act, but when it comes to paying his (potentially underage) hookers, let's just say he's waging his very own War On Women.

Yes, this is the same Bob Menendez who said Secret Service agents who hired hookers while on the job in Columbia ought to be fired.

"If the facts are true, they should all be fired. The reality is is that the secret service not only protects the president of the United States, they represent the United States of America. They were on duty. If the facts are true as we are reading in the press, they shouldn't have a job."

Now to be fair, Bob Menendez doesn't represent the United States of America. Heck, he barely represents New Jersey. Unless you mean the illegal alien portion of New Jersey. He definitely "represents" them.

Curiously the Star-Ledger hasn't found this story newsworthy. And don't say that's because they're busy covering Hurricane Sandy (they are). But they've still found time to report on the Giants, Rutgers football, the usual spate of murders and shootings in Trenton, Camden, Newark, and beyond, and Nia Gill's complaints that Chris Christie is dragging his feet on implementing Obamacare exchanges.

Nope. Like Benghazi, and the missing $1.6 billion from Jon Corzine's MF Global, the media spends all their time protecting Democrats. This kind of stuff is only "news" when Republicans do it. Just ask Larry Craig.

UPDATE 02 Nov 2012 10:06:
Wombat-socho links from Live at Five Six. Thanks!

Posted at 15:30 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Hurricane Sandy aftermath day 3, still no power, no info, no school

Sometime overnight AT&T got their cell service back up, my phone is working again! And that's all the good news I've got today.

When we woke up this morning the temperature was 40 degrees outside, and 50 inside. Even the cat was shivering.

I contacted PSE&G for an update on our power and they told me there were no reports of outages in my area. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? That's the same song-and-dance they gave my neighbors when they called too. Must be their standard response. Obviously their call center dudes don't have any info either. Heckuva way to run a railroad there Ralph.

Via an official Press Release from the Borough of Caldwell:

At the direction of Governor Chris Christie, Halloween will be celebrated on Monday, November 5, 2012.

Because Halloween is what's on everyone's mind, right? Must be, since this is like the 17th time the town has made an announcement about it. At least all the politicians have finally agreed on a date. Has anyone told PSE&G? I'm thinking Ralph ain't in the loop on this one.

For the latest information regarding power restoration in your area, please call PSE&G at 1-800-436-7734.

Gee, thanks for the tip. Oh wait, you guys are serious?

There is currently power on Bloomfield Avenue from Forest Avenue to Prospect Street. Many of the merchants in this area are open for business.

Which is exactly how things stood immediately after the storm passed. Progress? None. Thanks PSE&G!

The NJEA cancelled their annual teachers convention union meeting, which was scheduled for next week in Atlantic City. Sadly most of AC is still under water, and the devastation there is catastrophic. Fact is, there's no place there for the NJEA to have a convention. So, good call.

And if you made plans for that artificial four-day-weekend, well sucks to be you I guess.

The schools are closed again, for the fourth day in a row. No word on Friday yet, but since PSE&G is harder to find than Waldo and only 2 schools have power, I doubt school will be open.

Still can't find ice. Or gasoline.

NJ Transit's #29 bus seems to be running again. And I saw a Decamp #33 go by yesterday so presumably at least some folks are able to get into New York City.

And finally, for the laugh of the day, while Barry and Chris Christie were helicoptering over the remains of the Jersey Shore, someone wrote "ROMNEY" in large letters in the sand at the north end of Point Pleasant Beach.

Ouch!

UPDATE 01 Nov 2012 12:50:
Just got the word that Caldwell public schools are closed tomorrow (Friday November 2nd) too.

UPDATE 01 Nov 2012 17:22:
Stop the presses! We might have power by Monday!

Mayor Dassing told The Caldwells Patch that she spoke with PSE&G.

Here's hoping she's right!

Posted at 12:21 by Chris Wysocki   [/caldwell]   Comments | Perm Link |
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