One possible outcome, short of marriage equality in all 50 states, is that the federal courts could affirm that where CUs/DPs are available, these should be marriage because otherwise they are discriminatory.
GSE believes they can get their appeal of the CU law decided the NJ Supremes before the federal case gets through the Ninth Circuit and on to the US Sups, and considering how slow the Ninth is reputed to be, GSE may achieve that. But the impact of the federal case, even if it isn't a grand slam for marriage equality nationwide, still could be good for NJ.
Voters disapprove 61 - 21 percent of the job Gov. Paterson is doing. This is the lowest approval rating ever recorded for an elected official in 18 years of Quinnipiac University polling except for former President George W. Bush and former Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey, who had approval ratings of 18 and 19 percent just before they left office...
"Voters surveyed Monday and Tuesday were in favor of keeping Paterson by a net 30 points. On Wednesday and Thursday, voter support was a net four points. That's a 26-point drop in two days."
"President George W. Bush and Sen. Robert Torricelli may have lower grades than Paterson, but both of them were on their way out the door," Carroll added.
Newsosaur tells us that publishing companires will start crawling the web looking for copies of their articles. So please don't quote 80% of an article, it is not legal and will make trouble for everyone.
This year, Evesham switches from non-partisan May elections to partisan November elections. And its mayor, Randy Brown, is marking the occasion by leaving the Democratic Party to run as a Republican. Won't be the first time, he's switched teams.
Herbert, an attorney, Army vet, and member of the Chatham Borough Zoning Board of Adjustment, ran for Assembly last year in NJ's 26th District. Website.
The New York Post reports that the former Tennessee congressman and rumored contender for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's seat has decided not to run.
The sources the news to assemblyman and Kings County Democratic chairman Vito Lopez.
"I heard from Harold Ford and he has decided not to run,'' said Assemblyman Vito Lopez, the Kings County Democratic chairman who had strongly indicated a willingness to back Ford.
"After giving it considerable thought and talking it over with his wife, he reached the conclusion that he would not be running, although he said he would like to remain active in the Democratic Party here,'' Lopez continued.
GOP Ocean County favorite son out of the race in NJ-3
(Rosi Efthim)
Toms River councilman Maurice "Mo" Hill won't be a candidate for the NJ-3 GOP nomination says Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore. So, former Philadelphia Eagle Jon Runyan of Mount Laurel is the frontrunner, and the power struggle between the Burlington & OC GOP organizations that cracked an opening for John Adler to win in 2008 won't be a factor this year.
Christie's Division of Pensions and Benefits says it is investigating two pensions in Jersey City. The people in question retired, collect a pension and got six-figure pay-outs for unused vacation and sick leave, yet promptly got hired as consultants. The one reached by phone said he "played by the rules."
New Jersey vigils to mark today's death of 1000th US soldier in Afghanistan
(Hopeful)
Rev. Bob Moore sends out this information:
The Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) will hold a Vigil concluding with Candlelighting on Wednesday, February 24 from 5:00-6:00 PM at Palmer Square in Princeton, NJ. The names of New Jersey soldiers killed will be read, with bell tolling in between, and post cards described above will be sent. The public is invited to attend, and is encouraged to wear black armbands or clothing to symbolize our mourning. Multiple posters with the message "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar" will be displayed. For further information on either event, contact CFPA at (609) 924-5022 or visit their web site, www.peacecoalition.org.
The Coalition for Peace and Justice, the South Jersey affiliate of CFPA, will hold a Vigil on Wednesday, February 24 from 6:00-7:00 PM at the little park in Absecon, NJ intersection of routes 9 and 30, across from Burger King. Please bring signs and candles/flashlights. Contact Norm Cohen at 609-601-8583 or 601-8537 or visit www.coalitionforpeaceandjustice.org.
Holt wants Anthrax investigation to continue
(Hopeful)
I heard on the radio that the FBI considers the Anthrax investigation closed, but Rush Holt isn't buying it:
"This has been a closed-minded, closed process from the beginning. Arbitrarily closing the case on a Friday afternoon should not mean the end of this investigation," Holt said. "The evidence the FBI produced would not, I think, stand up in court. But because their prime suspect is dead and they're not going to court, they seem satisfied with barely a circumstantial case. The National Academies of Science review of the FBI's scientific methods in this case won't be released until summer, but the FBI doesn't seem to care."
Holt added: "The people of Central New Jersey, who were terrorized by this attack, are not well served by this decision and still deserve answers about what happened. The families of the victims need to know whether the Bureau's conclusions can be trusted. All Americans need to know whether their government has learned how prevent bioterrorism attacks, and how to properly investigate bioterrorism attacks should they occur."
