Election Day 2014

 

2014 Midterm Election Results:

 

National

Republicans took control of the Senate on Tuesday night. In the House, Republicans will have close to 246 seats, the largest Republican majority since the Truman administration in the mid 1940s.

State

Democratic Senator Cory Booker won another six years in the Senate, defeating Republican Jeff Bell. Booker took office one year ago after winning a special election to replace the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).

Essex County

According to the Essex County Clerk’s Election Day 2014 results, 28 percent of residents voted yesterday.

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. won a second term in Congress after winning his first re-election bid, beating Republican Yolanda Dentley.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen will serve an 11th term after being re-elected tonight, beating Democrat Mark Dunec.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. won his fourth consecutive term in the county’s top post over Republican challenger Peter Tanella.

Montclair

Montclair voted largely in favor (74.40 percent) to approve the public ballot question asking if the town should require all businesses to offer paid sick leave to its full- and part-time employees. The paid sick mandate was also on the ballot in Trenton, where it passed. The two municipalities join six other cities in New Jersey which have passed paid sick ordinances over the past year.

Glen Ridge

Glen Ridge voted against a referendum to install turf on Glen Ridge’s Hurrell Field for the third time in seven years.

 

Results from the Essex County Clerk’s office:

 

U.S. Senator
 Vote Count    Percent
Dem – Cory BOOKER 104,364 76.95%
Rep – Jeff BELL 29,109 21.46%

 

 

Member of the House of Rep 10th Cong District
 Vote Count    Percent
Dem – Donald M. PAYNE, Jr. 58,642 90.04%
Rep – Yolanda DENTLEY 5,364 8.24%

 

 

Member of the House of Rep 11th Cong District
 Vote Count   Percent
Dem – Mark DUNEC 21,023 48.18%
Rep – Rodney P. FRELINGHUYSEN 22,574 51.73%

 

County Executive
 Vote Count    Percent
Dem – Joseph N. DiVINCENZO, Jr. 93,609 76.67%
Rep – Peter H. TANELLA 28,258 23.14%

 

Board of Chosen Freeholders At Large
 Vote Count    Percent
Dem – Patricia SEBOLD 85,909 19.13%
Dem – Rufus I. JOHNSON 81,474 18.14%
Dem – Lebby C. JONES 81,286 18.10%
Dem – Brendan W. GILL 83,465 18.59%
Rep – Adam KRAEMER 29,319 6.53%
Rep – Ryan FUNSCH 28,724 6.40%
Rep – Ricardo ALONSO 29,346 6.53%
Rep – John ANELLO 29,393 6.55%

 

Board of Chosen Freeholders District 5
 Vote Count    Percent
Dem – Cynthia TORO 17,268 62.82%
Rep – John V. KELLY, III 10,208 37.13%



State Public Question No. 1Constitutional amendment to allow a court to order a pretrial detention of a person in a criminal case
 Vote Count    Percent
Yes 41,861 57.69%
No 30,706 42.31%
Total 72,567 100.00%

 

American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey Executive Director Udi Ofer offered the following statement on the passage of Ballot Question 1:

This is truly a historic day for New Jersey, one in which the people of our state recognized injustice and demanded that it change. A bipartisan effort in the Legislature, the governor’s signature and tonight’s overwhelming support at the polls puts New Jersey on the path toward greater justice. 

Within a few years, we will no longer see thousands of people languishing in New Jersey jails simply because they cannot afford to post bail. Society does not benefit when people are made to await trial behind bars for months or even years simply because they cannot afford a few thousand dollars in bail. These debtors’ prisons must end. We will also see, for the first time, meaningful speedy trial protections in New Jersey.

New Jersey civil rights, public safety, and criminal justice reform organizations, including the Drug Policy Alliance, came together in an unprecedented way to make these critical reforms happen. The ACLU-NJ is grateful to all who worked so hard to make tonight’s victory a reality.

Our criminal justice system today is plagued with grave inequities, especially for poor people and people of color. The passage of this amendment is an important step toward creating a criminal justice system that treats people equitably regardless of their wealth. More reforms are needed and we have work ahead of us to achieve them, but, today, we celebrate the remarkable milestone of true bail reform in the state of New Jersey.

State Public Question No. 2

Constitutional amendment dedicating state funds for open space, farmland, and historic preservation, and changing existing dedication for water programs, underground storage tanks, and hazardous site cleanups

 Vote Count    Percent
Yes 54,114 74.37%
No 18,647 25.63%
Total 72,761 100.00%

 

Glen Ridge Public Question No. 1

Should the Borough of Glen Ridge install at Hurrell Field an artificial turf field with an all-organic infill at an estimated cost of between $1.2 million and $1.3 million, with the possibility that actual costs may be more or less?

 Vote Count    Percent
Yes 912 45.33%
No 1,100 54.67%
Total 2,012 100.00%

 

Monclair Public Question No. 1

Shall the voters of the Township of Montclair adopt an ordinance which would require Montclair private-sector employers to allow their employees who work in the Township of Montclair to accrue paid sick leave at a rate of one hour of paid sick time for each 30 hours worked; employees who provide food services, child care, or home health care, or who work for employers with ten or more employees would be entitled up to 40 hours of paid sick leave each year, and other private-sector employees would be entitled up to 24 hours of paid sick leave each year?

 Vote Count    Percent
Yes 6,055 74.40%
No 2,083 25.60%
Total 8,138 100.00%


When asked for comment on the results, Mayor Robert Jackson said, “Congratulations to the proponents on a resounding victory!  The Township Council will be working hard on implementation with Judge Strait, Manager Stafford, the Legal Department, and stakeholders.”

Deputy Mayor Robert Russo, who has been one of the town’s most vocal proponents of the paid sick time ordinance, said “You’ve got a suburban community and an urban center both passing this. That shows that both ends of the state are supporting this.” Russo appeared on NJTV last night discussing the paid sick leave referendum. 

“It won’t take effect for four months, 120 days for implementation, so we’ll educate the businesses and try to work with them and the town of Montclair will be fair and try to do a balanced job of enforcing it, but the voters have spoken,” said Russo.

96 replies on “Election Day 2014 Results Round Up (UPDATED)”

  2. I’m extremely pleased about the open space vote. Good going NJ !
    Nice contrast to the TeaParty’s latest brainstorm – selling off bits and pieces of the National Parks to their campaign donors, while wearing Ebola-proof costumes.

  4. Not surprised in the least.

    Now let’s see if the Republicans are capable of governing ?

    The Democratic Party still seems to in search of a pair. Same old story.

  8. I can’t believe the party that refused to vote on legislation, gave the corporations both personhood and welfare yet want’s to cut social services to the actual humans, has a built in cost of living increase in their salaries but won’t raise the minimum wage, filibustered and actually shut down the government instead of doing their jobs, basically crossed their arms and pouted just to make President Obama ineffective ….now have control of the Senate.
    I see nothing to rejoice about here, only another step in the fall of the Empire.

  9. A stunning amount of Democrats I know (including myself) strongly dislike both Booker and Cuomo. Neither one should kid themselves. Cuomo is thoroughly annoying and shallow. Wrote a book that sold about 575 copies — nationwide — last week. Booker is nothing but cameras and endless self promotion. If this is the best we can do you better settle in for a bumpy ride Mr. and Mrs. Blue Wave.

  10. Wouldn’t say Obama has been ineffective….my health insurance just increased 1500 bucks a year, my bag of groceries seems to have doubled in price, my kids college tuition increases 5-10% every year, I don’t see many great jobs out there (outside of the public sector)…yet we are told unemployment is way down and there is no inflation. (LIES) To top it off, all I see is a president that hobnobs and fund raises with the billionaires whose net worth has increased nearly 300% since 2009. People voted with their eyes and pocketbooks this time and not their ears. Unfortunately, I expect more of the same so nothing to worry about……

  11. sillyphus. Its about voter perception. I agree with all of your points but on the flipside, consider the disastrous rollout of ACA, domestic policy, problems in the VA …

    Think about how fast wealth inequality is increasing while middle class wages have flat lined. This is perhaps the biggest driver, under these conditions power will always flip to the other side. It doesn’t matter who supported what or who filibustered, those in power get fired.

    Voters may have also considered the fact that Dems had majorities in the house and senate for a couple years and did not do much of anything.

    Also this was a very tough map for democrats. That changes in 2016 where Dems should regain a ton of seats.

  12. So Obama is responsible for tuition hikes, too? Wow! He’s been busy!

    Public sector employment has actually shrunk over the past 6 years, with fewer in those jobs than at any time over the last decade. But why bother checking that out?

    Inflation? All lies that it is virtually non-existent. Obama’s minions in the media and government are conspiring to cover up the truth.

    Now hobnobbing well, that’s right on. And I’m glad to see that “the people” voted with their eyes and pocketbooks for the friends of the working man in the GOP!

  13. I know a great whine to go with those sour grapes.

    The people voted (not just Republicans but Democrats and Independents, too) because what they tried before wasn’t working. They defied the definition of insanity, to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results.

  14. Just as one example brought up, the VA is President Obama’s fault? The current Republicans obviously had nothing to do with something that goes back toBush’s tenure. Look up McConnell’s voting record while you’re deciding who’s insane by doing the same thing over and over again expecting things to change with a Republican majority and McConnell majority leader.

  15. Sour grapes, huh ? If it’s one thing the Repubs are good at, it’s sowing the seeds of bitter fruit.

    As for the definition of insanity, the American people just voted for a repeat of 2001 – 2008. Talk about doing the same stuff all over again.

  16. No sour grapes. Even a cursory look at American political history will indicate that the party in power when things aren’t going as well as people would like them to pays the price. It happens to Dems, it happens to Reps. Nothing new here at all except, of course, the level of crazy vitriol that has increased a thousandfold over the past 6 years.

    And what exactly did “they” do differently? They didn’t elect more establishment fat cats beholden to corporate interests and powerful cronies? Are you serious? They’re just red this time instead of blue. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

    But you’ve championed some real saviours in the past — Herman Cain, Michael Savage (!). Now that would be different!!!

  19. The Democrats had an excellent message with the falling behind of the middle class, growing wealth inequality, failing public institutions, etc. The problem was not enough people believed they were the right team to fix the issues. Not that the Republicans are likely to do much better…

    The next battleground will be the Elizabeth Warren / Al Sharpton / Andy Stern / Bill DiBlasio far left wing of the party doing battle with Hillary Clinton / Andrew Cuomo / Jerry Brown etc left-centrists. That will be bloody, reminiscent of the 1930s.

  20. What is that expression you see on Facebook? Something like…Obama promised us hope and change and now we have no hope and nothing but change in our pockets.

    Kudos to the American public for Tuesday’s election results!

  22. I don’t think anyone was fooled. Dems are long on message and short on ideas.

    Repubs are worse, they are pretty honest about the fact that they are going to cut everything and don’t have much in the way of a plan to tackle any of the issues.

    I think people know what they are voting for when they vote for the latter and actually want that.

    Everyone is shortchanged and things will flip in ’16 and we’ll go round and round until a viable third party emerges.

  23. The National politics bore me to death. Grassroots is where its at. If you want to see what the national issues are 4 years from now, get a California newspaper.

    Talking about one definition of insanity….

    “Glen Ridge voted against a referendum to install turf on Glen Ridge’s Hurrell Field for the THIRD time in seven years.”

    A little suggestion gridiron Ridgers… pony up some $ for lights first and then revisit the turf issue.

  24. No to turf, it’s a toxic waste of money. If the lights get passed, give me your address Frank and I’ll rent some to place in front of your house every time they’re on in Hurrell.

  25. Thanks, but I’m covered between Mountainside Park & Montclair State.
    Turf toxic? That’s actually funny considering the end-use.

    Better Prop 65-proof your home before you worry about turf. Household PVC tops synthetic turf all day long. Boy, do I feel old.

  28. And Frank, for the record…I’ve worked construction most of my life. I’m aware of PVCs among other things like asbestos and various off gassing materials. I’ve always spoken out on the stupidity of most of it, and schooled a few smarter than you. In a perfect world hemp would solve a lot of the chemical problems we have. But, hey, it’s a political world of whom makes the money with what connections, and the last hope is the vote; using it in a common sense way is the subjective argument…

  29. “I’ve always spoken out on the stupidity of most of it” That is from all the angles of what to actually be concerned about, not that everything is bad.

  30. If anyone is curious as to how otherwise intelligent citizens of good will could support or vote for the GOP, Thomas Frank’s What’s the Matter With Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America is a must-read.

    Apart from the reasons the author offers, which are compelling, there is the sad fact that Democrats have absolutely no idea whatever of how to fight.

    Ah, well. See y’all in 2016!

  31. “What do you think McConnell will do with this?”
    Hopefully, the right thing. But, like Obama, I don’t know the man.

  32. The Hurrell Field question was about money for most voters…because I didn’t hear a peep about GR putting in synthetic turf at Washington Field.

    As to the turf, I was aware of that “fact” sheet. I am always open to being schooled, but you need to get better material. Read it again for what is filler…and what is not there. The primary purpose of Prop 65 was to provide a consumer-friendly version of MSDS at point of sale.

    I vote in every election. National issues don’t bore me…just the political manipulations.

  33. Bill Courson wrote:

    Apart from the reasons the author offers, which are compelling, there is the sad fact that Democrats have absolutely no idea whatever of how to fight.

    ——————–

    Not true. The Party ran a superb ground game in 2008, 2010, 2012. Mobilized voters, spoke intelligently on real issues, and brought voters to the polls by the bus load. And won lots of seats. Those people have left (and many have written critical books about what has transpired since).

    The problem right now is the Party has sold its soul to $25,000 a plate hedge fund investors, public employee unions who don’t want any changes, and folks who are still mouthing memes from the 1970s.

    That’s one reason why people find candidates like Elizabeth Warren so interesting. Like Ronald Reagan, she actually stands for specific principles, and is seen as having enormous integrity. Unlike the current fellow, who changes his position each time the polls change.

  34. Re Elizabeth Warren: I don’t think that someone who so baldly (and unnecessarily, I’d bet) played the “Amerind ancestry” card can quite be classified as someone with “enormous integrity.”

    She is a dedicated class warrior, that’s for sure. Which is why I find apparent adherents for her on Baristanet so curious and amusing. Were her core beliefs about economic policy to be implemented, after all, there’d likely be a lot less of the “good life” as currently constituted in Montclair and its environs.

  35. Like Reagan? Huh? What has Ms. Warren ever governed?

    Like him or not Reagan was a successful Gov. of a large state, and former President of a large Union.

    Ms. Warren may give a good speech, but as we now know, there’s more to governing than that.

    I much prefer Presidents who have shown real leadership- in running a State or in the military. Not sure I’ll even go with someone who has only been a Senator. (And especially one who lies about her ethnic heritage.)

  37. “I much prefer Presidents who have shown real leadership- in running a State or in the military. ”

    —like George W Bush!!

  38. 1 in 3 eligible voters voted on Tuesday. This means that the GOP ‘sweep’ was the result of perhaps 1 in 5 eligible voters casting their vote for the GOP candidates. This leaves the 80% of eligible voters who didn’t.

  41. Yes. Like GWB. He managed to get both Dems and Repubs to support No Child Left Behind (co-sponsored by Ted Kennedy), and I know liberals like to forget, but the Iraq War too. I think even NY’s Jr. Senator vote yes…… I forget her name…..

    So I know it’s cool to rewrite history, but you cannot rewrite the facts of legislative support.

    As for the Dem sore losers with their fake worry about how many folks voted– c’mob losers. You lost!! What about all those Blue State Gov and State House losses? Hell, NY went Red.

    Demi were rejected. No biggie. It happens in cycles, admit your lost.

    But to go on with the “Repubs didn’t win, we lost” stuff is just sad.

    Perhaps you can take a paid sick day.

  42. OK, prof, so you don’t teach math, no problem. It’s like this: 2/3 of the eligible voters didn’t bother to show up. Think of a tree that’s 2/3 hollowed out – you’d probably cut it down over at your Upper Montclair estate and use it for mulch.

  43. Slice and dice, dice and slice. You can play around with the numbers all you want. The bottom line is the GOP “won” this one. The election was not a secret. If Americans were truly repulsed by a GOP majority in the Senate, the votes would have reflected that. People have shown that they want change.

  45. So, MM, I would imagine “slice and dice” suggests an attempt at spin, but in reality, most voters simply stayed home. To me, it couldn’t be more obvious that the selections available, GOP, Dem or otherwise, simply didn’t cut the mustard with the American public, who have graciously bestowed the honor of an 11% approval rating (according to Foxnooz) to the hallowed chambers of the House and Senate.

  46. The Republicans had a lot of favorable breaks this time around.
    –Good candidates (no witches, few Tea party folks to draw the headlines)
    –Good funding
    –Disciplined message
    –Several Democrats defending seats in purple states (MT, AR, CO)
    –A profoundly unpopular President. Even Ms Grimes in Kentucky refused to say if she would vote for the guy at the top of her ticket. YIKES!
    –A sense that the country is leaderless

    But 2016 will have the Republicans defending several Senate seats in purple states, and a presidential contest. And, lots of money and union support will be flowing.

  47. “To me, it couldn’t be more obvious that the selections available, GOP, Dem or otherwise, simply didn’t cut the mustard with the American public”

    Exactly right.

  48. STQ,

    I know where you wanted to go…I just confused by your explanation of the numbers.

    Do you know Montclair has more registered voters than eligible voting age residents?

  49. “To me, it couldn’t be more obvious that the selections available, GOP, Dem or otherwise, simply didn’t cut the mustard with the American public.”

    This is usually the case in midterms. Still, not an excuse not to vote.

  51. All this crying about how many folks voted—- WHO CARES???

    What does it matter that folks exercised their right to ignore the election?

    The Dems lost. They were rejected by the only people that mattered– those who voted. Period. Obama is a loser and no Dem wanted him around, same thing happen to Bush, Clinton and others. Not a big deal.

    But the Dems- and too many here- crying is too much. Too funny. And too sad.

  52. Prof, did you just praise George Bush’s “legislative skills” by citing his lying to the entire world about going to war in Iraq?

    And in the next breath railed about folks “rewriting history”?

    Hmmm…

    I’m starting to think you’re not the Andy Kaufman-esque performer I’d come to love, but a really sniffy ultramaroon. Too funny. And pathetic.

  53. The Party of No is now in the co-pilots seat.

    Not only is the legacy clock ticking for President Obama, but for McConnell and Boehner as well.

    It will be interesting to watch the next 24 months unfold — Will Mitch be able to control Rand and Ted ?

    Will John actually be able to rein in the House tea party wing nuts who according to numerous reports, he privately despises ?

    Can the Republican Party actually govern ?

    This is going to be more entertaining to watch than “House of Cards”.

  54. johnqp. No to all of the above, but Dems are a larger train wreck.

    That said, Im looking for a high 2s print on NFPs at 8:30 and new index highs on the follow.

    Rally on.

  55. jcunningham,

    Not to reargue the past, but you act as if Bush- by himself- decided to go to war. Whether the intelligence was faulty or not, Congressional leaders saw the same intelligence and came to the same conclusion.

    That’s a fact. I recognize we can argue over and over about the dumb “Bush Lied” stuff, but implicit in that is that all those Dems Lied too.

    It was not some go it alone, cowboy move. There was a Congressional authorization. Some have said agreeing to it was a mistake, which only makes the point more: it was BIPARTISAN.

    So please, take a step back, wind back your Bush hatred, and look at the facts of how he- that dumb idiot from Texas, was about to work with the other side.

    But the greatest orator and smartest President ever, has never been able to do it. Reagan, Clinton, Bush– all were able to work with their opposition.

    Obama? He can’t even play nice with his own party.

  57. “it was BIPARTISAN.”

    —that’s a fascinating and dopey rewrite of history, but even if it were so, it’s probably not the best argument for bipartisanism, is it?

  58. Dopey saw: “Voting “yes” were 29 Democrats and 48 Republicans. Voting “no” were 1 Republican, 21 Democrats, and 1 Independent”

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/senaterollcall_iraq101002.htm

    Likewise, in the House, the vote was 296-133. “Voting yes were 81 Democrats and 215 Republicans. Voting no were 126 Democrats, six Republicans and one independent.” https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/10/international/10AP-IROL.html

    Did you check the vote for Obamacare?

    Again, you can hate Bush, hate the Iraq War, say he lied, and should be jailed. BUT you cannot change the fact that more than half of the Dems in the Senate voted YES for the Iraq resolution, and a little fewer than half in the House.

    Overwhelming support from both sides? Dopey Bipartisanship!!

    Something Obama has not enjoyed.

    This cannot be news to you, can it? Or were you just screaming and never reading?

    You probably think Gore really won too.

    We didn’t land on the Moon.

    OJ didn’t do it.

  59. i love how you equate The Vote with Amassing The Evidence, Analyzing The Evidence And Presenting The Evidence. but you’ve proven time and again here that your grasp of reality is tenuous at best, as you strive to maintain the balance between who you are and your online persona. some might point to this as being symptomatic of a disassociative identity disorder, but not me…

  60. Again, you can hate Bush, hate the Iraq War, say he lied, and should be jailed. BUT you cannot change the fact that more than half of the Dems in the Senate voted YES for the Iraq resolution, and a little fewer than half in the House.

    Except that what you are glossing over is that the Democrats voted based on the lies the Bush administration told them.

    Just off the top of my head: Saddam never sought to buy nuclear material from Niger. A lie. Saddam’s chemical weapons program had been dormant for years. Everything in Colin Powell’s speech? Lies.

    You can fault the Democrats for believing the lies, but I’m not sure how they would go about verifying for themselves when the Bush administration was pulling the strings at the CIA.

    So keep it up with the bi-partisan war thing. It only makes you look foolish, because most people know what happened.

    Oh, and there was that Senator for Illinois who voted against it. What was his name again?

    Overwhelming support from both sides? Dopey Bipartisanship!!

    Please. Bush’s “overwhelming support” came from us being recently attacked, not anything Bush did. Actually, I take that back. He did ignore the warnings of Clarke and others in the intelligence community in the months leading up the attack. So he did have something to do with it, but it was only his own fecklessness.

  61. It’s amazing to me how Booker’s supporters – especially his obsequious fans who support our BOE and Superintendent – are unaware of, ignoring, or may possibly endorse the way he sought to destroy public education in Newark with the backing of Wall Street money and a partnership with Christie.

    Here are the details:

    https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/05/19/schooled

    He’s slick and eloquent, and that makes him very dangerous. Hopefully the truth will be understood as he continues his ambitious climb.

  62. Full disclosure: I’m bored and nitpicking.

    “Oh, and there was that Senator for Illinois who voted against it. What was his name again?”

    If you rightly laud the Senator from Illinois for his vote, then it suggest a factual basis existed for other Senators to also have voted No.

  63. If you rightly laud the Senator from Illinois for his vote, then it suggest a factual basis existed for other Senators to also have voted No.

    Or, you could accept the facts and still believe Saddam was not a threat. Or you could accept the facts and say that you opposed a war with “undetermined length… undetermined cost, [and] undetermined consequences,” as Obama did.

    But, in any case, should the Democrats have listened to someone like Scott Ritter instead of the Bush Administration? Easy to say now.

  64. I think we need to shut it down here. Very few constructive comments. Why do folks insist on having the wrong debate? We can have these debates after we reverse citizens united and get rid of term limits.

    The G7 and related central banks run the world, this is what we should be discussing.

  67. or G6 or whatever, I think the extras are Canada and Russia maybe. Wasn’t Russia kicked out of the last meeting? Who knows. The point is that these are the folks that have all of the control.

    Wealthy or poor our fate is in the hands of the BOJ, PBC, Draghi and Yellen to an exponentially greater extent than any of our elected leaders.

  68. stayhyphy is right about central banks. Fed policy created the historically large wealth gap among other incentives for businesses to act the way they have done over the last few years. (decades really but really opened the taps the last 6 years). All the things the libs on this site howl about. Good old Ted Cruz wants to audit the Fed….now wouldn’t that be something!! The Tea Party goes after the banking system and the wealth creator for the ultra-rich!! But..but…but…he’s a nut job tea bagger…it can’t be true…or can it?

  69. The Fed is already audited by a independent auditor that reports to Congress. What Ted Cruz wants is an explanation why savings accounts aren’t returning 20% interest, not that he would understand it. If he wants the GAO to get involved in monetary policy, let them try it. Nothing would change.

    And none of this changes the fact that he’s a “nut job tea bagger.” Hell “auditing the fed” isn’t even his idea, it’s Ron “Let’s Go Back to Gold Cause I’m Crazy” Paul’s.

    And the tea party’s support of him for president is extra, extra hilarious given where he was born and all the birther crap they unleashed on Obama. Watching them walk that back is going to be too funny.

  70. True Ron and Rand Paul want the Fed audited …truly audited and so does Elizabeth Warren.
    So Mike91, why are interest rate at zero? What would happen if they went up 100bps?

  71. Watching people argue politics in a comment thread is like trying to drill a corkscrew through your skull.

  74. Hey Mike91,

    If you can qualify the on the record support for the Iraq Resolution (you do realize those Legislators saw the same info as Bush, so the idea that he “lied” to them makes little sense IF you know how gov works- but that’s nitpick), how do you qualify the NO support that Obama has?

    Oh, wait. That’s right. Dems sadly have fallen back to “RACISM!!!”

    Funny how your own words, thoughts and theories, when turned around, prove my point.

  76. Prof, you are turning yourself into a pretzel, and you probably should treat yourself to a visit to Family Chiropractors at this point. They are very nice over there, and your back will feel better, too. Simple fact: when a black man or woman is duly elected to public office as a Democrat, it’s unremarkable, as it’s been for some time now, perhaps a half a century or so. Some people even yawn when they hear the news. When a black man or woman is duly elected to public office as a Republican, the RNC and their spin crew pull out their trumpets and confetti and pose in front of the cameras in party mode, relieved that they have the illusion of some ‘diversity’ in their ranks. This kind of shenanigan is about as transparent as your Upper Montclair windows after you’ve sqeeegeed them with Windex and last week’s WSJ.

  77. Absolutely hilarious!!!
    Of course, the exception is when Montclair hires a new Acting Manager. Then the democrats tie themselves in knots trying not to look a certain way.

  78. Spiro, your “simple” fact is only a few decades old you realize.

    Or, are you like so many who don’t realize it was those diversity loving Democrats who were running the segregated South? (And still run the segregated North.)

    No biggie, but yes. From my UPPER Montclair window- filtered through all those degrees on the wall, and a vast knowledge of Civil Rights cultural and legal history- I find it offensive when Dems/liberals like you say dumb things when a Black person CHOOSES to belong to the party of Lincoln, rather than the party of Wallace and Byrd.

    To that, know why Condi Rice is a Republican? Black girl growing up in segregated Alabama? Because those lovely Dems wouldn’t let him register. The Repubs did. And there are many others like her.

    So when Black folks come back to the GOP it’s news to dumb Dems/libs. To a Repub, it makes sense. To this Independent, I understand. It’s unremarkable.

    To dumb folks? It’s remarkable, strange, even odd.

    But if your prism only goes back to the 1980’s, I don’t expect you to even understand my post.

    Not sure if a Chiropractor can fix shortsightedness.

  79. You raise a good point, prof, bringing up the dedicated and talented Condi Rice as an example. It appears that, to date, within the GOP, it’s far easier for a GOP-affiliated black American to be appointed to public office some time after an election, via an elected GOP official, rather than to be elected directly by the base. And that’s now, in 2014, not 1980. But you knew that too. Let’s hope that all changes, for the better.

  80. News flash to the prof: Today’s Republican Party sure as hell ain’t the party of Lincoln. Sixty years ago, yes – but not today.

  81. hey perfesser,

    “I find it offensive when Dems/liberals like you say dumb things when a Black person CHOOSES to belong to the party of Lincoln”

    —do you find it “offensive” when the “Party Of Lincoln” engages in lies about voter fraud to create laws that suppress minority voting?

  82. I did find it offensive that most of the racist comments directed towards Sen. Tim Scott, the first southern Black senator elected since the Reconstruction, came from fellow Blacks, particularly those in the NAACP.

  87. i wish Senator Scott a successful career, and I hope he works hard for the citizens of South Carolina. It would be worthwhile to contemplate, however, why it took South Carolina 50 years between the abolition of segregated drinking fountains and the present moment to elect a black senator. That’s half a century.

  88. Judging by many of the comments I am beginning to think some people would think it would be a better thing if African-American Republicans didn’t run for office and certainly not get elected if they do run. Love and Scott are following what they value and representing voters who agree with them. Isn’t that a good thing? Maybe it’s a change you should believe in…..

  90. johnqp: whether you agree or not or like it or not there are Americans that agree with Mr. Scott. They work hard and are willing to pick up a gun and defend your right to disagree with them. They deserve a voice no matter how much their opinions and values differ from yours.

  91. “They work hard and are willing to pick up a gun and defend your right to disagree with them….”

    Actually, Such individuals are more likely use it as a means of intimidating persuasion : “What ? You gotta problem with me bringing my open carry assault weapon into Starbucks ???”

  92. Or, are you like so many who don’t realize it was those diversity loving Democrats who were running the segregated South? (And still run the segregated North.)

    Prof, look up Nixon’s southern strategy. Sorry, but I don’t believe you have “a vast knowledge of Civil Rights cultural and legal history” and can still think that the Democratic party (or the Republican party, even) is the same party as 60 years ago. The “party of Lincoln” stuff takes the cake, especially given Republicans current drive to suppress voting.

  93. Mike, you mean even from prof’s “UPPER Montclair window- filtered through all those degrees on the wall” ???

    Suggest he break out the political Windex.

  94. Wow, regardless of race, Scott is a wingnut. The impeachment stuff is grandstanding, fantasies for the wild eyed. Conviction requires 2/3 of the Senate, which will never happen, especially since there aren’t any charges anyone can come up with. You’ll recall the House Republicans’ suit against Obama that has been a waste of taxpayer money.

    The cutting off of welfare funds for anyone participating in a strike is a nice bit of political theater. I would imagine it would have first amendment issues at least. It might also expose how thoroughly the government props up supposedly “free market” companies like Wal-Mart, who because they don’t pay their employees a livable wage, a great percentage of them are on public assistance.

  95. It might also be useful to contemplate, poor Spiro T., why in all the years of Democratic hegemony in SC its usually-in-charge Democrats never themselves found it appropriate to nominate a black candidate for either Congress or the Senate.

  96. “The cutting off of welfare funds for anyone participating in a strike is a nice bit of political theater. I would imagine it would have first amendment issues at least. It might also expose how thoroughly the government props up supposedly “free market” companies like Wal-Mart, who because they don’t pay their employees a livable wage, a great percentage of them are on public assistance.”

    Huh?

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