Devious Democrats in Jersey

It’s official. Toricelli is out. This is starting to look increasingly like a brilliant tactical move by the NJ dems. Here’s how it works:

1) Toricelli announces he will serve out his term, but kill his reelection effort.

2) The Democratic Party names a succesor, then requests a ballot change. Even though the law required such a change by September 16, the Democratic State Attorney General grants a waiver.

3) The state GOP can’t win on Forrester’s strength alone. His entire election strategy was based on “I’m not Toricelli”. So, the state GOP files suit to prevent the ballot change.

4) If the GOP loses, then the election proceeds with the Democrats’ chances greatly improved.

5) If the GOP wins, then Toricelli resigns his Senate seat, now within the 30-day window, and by law, there’s no election. Toricelli’s replacement (a Democrat!) serves two years before a special election in 2004.

Well that’s all admirably Machiavellian and deeply cynical, but I got just one question.  Do the VOTERS get to choose their Senator, or are they just some kind of irrelevant afterthought after the power thugs manipulate the system? 

Let’s see, we got a crooked Senator forced to drop out, so now his pals will pull barely (if that) legal tricks to make sure another Democrat follows him into office.  Screw the voters!  What an inspiring message for the youth of America.

I tell ya, the ethics of these folks would make a crack whore blush with embarassment.  Whoops, there I go, wheezing about quaint old concepts like “ethics”, I don’t know what got into me…

No Comments »

Rio shuts down for a day, by order of drug gang

You read the headline correctly…

No Comments »

No Comments »

N.J. Democratic Sen Torricelli drops reelection bid

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Torricelli quit his bid for re-election on Monday amid an onslaught of corruption allegations and a drastic drop in his poll numbers.

Yet only a week ago, AP was reporting the race as a statistical dead heat. Today he resigns because he’s down 13 points. Talk about a hemmoraging campaign. But why quit so close to the end when you know it will torpedo your partys chance to hold an crucial seat?  I’m guessing “smoking gun” evidence was about to be released linking him to more corruption.

This could cost the Democrats the Senate. My own opinion?  Good riddance to a corrupt Senator.

No Comments »

Striking on the dock of the bay

West Coast cargo ports were shut down indefinitely Sunday night after a chaotic day on the waterfront that dashed hopes for a truce between dockworkers and shipping lines, now in their fifth month of troubled contract talks.

Hundreds of cargo-laden ships from San Diego to Seattle were stranded when the Pacific Maritime Assn., which represents international shipping lines and U.S.-based terminal operators, locked out union workers at the start of the 6 p.m. shift.

This strike isn’t solely about money, it’s more about who controls the docks.

Negotiations have bogged down over the association’s desire to introduce new technology such as scanners, sensors and remote cameras, which will cost union jobs. In exchange, the union wants to expand its jurisdiction, set minimum staffing levels, and control the flow of all information through the terminals.

No Comments »

Something’s happening here…

When the Afghanistan bombing was about to start, a friend and I argued so vehemently about it that our friendship nearly ended.  She was adamant in her defense of Bush.  And yes, I can be a teensy bit partisan myself.

Just called her up, and during the conversation gingerly mentioned I was helping organize the anti-war demonstration on this coming Sunday in L.A., and that her politics might well be different than mine.  She startled me by launching into a rant against Bush, saying how scary things are now.  I was dumbfounded.  And she will be going to her first demonstration ever this Sunday!

My father too.  Same thing.  Supported the Afghanistan bombing, but is uncertain, at best, about Iraq.  When I mentioned the anti-war demonstrations he said “well, just don’t get arrested by Ashcroft”, meaning, of course, by the federal apparatus.

Two people, once Bush supporters, now fearful of what’s happening in the country.  Other people I’ve talked to have said they are afraid of speaking out.  What is it with this climate of fear?  Even Congress seems cowed, although -finally- some Democrats are starting to speak out.

Well, I think the emperor has no clothes. The Bushies have lots of bluster and bully-boy tactics, but their blunders outnumber their wins.  They’re just not particularly competent are they?  Poppy Bush would have made sure he had the UN lined up before he charged ahead.  These bozos charge ahead with little apparent thought or planning.  Now most the world thinks we’re nuts.  Sharp thinking guys…

They do not have the country behind them on Iraq.  Most people oppose an Iraq War.  Something in the country is shifting.  Certainly a huge protest movement is being born.  And even mainstream political people are getting leery of Bush.

No Comments »