Stop overTaxing Our People

Corzine concedes and promises smooth transition.
AP Calls it for Christie 81% and 5 point lead.
UPDATE: Christie lead 6% and 100K with 68% of the vote in.
Early lead for Christie, Christie still leads in fact he is increasing his lead back to 5% with 44% out. I like the counties still out. Christie is surprisingly strong in Camden County and Somerset. Christie is winning big in Republican areas by double to triple the vote margins of Forester last governor’s race. He is losing Democrat areas in Middlesex and Woodbridge where no Republican tends to win in a dozen years. GOP is winning Democrat House seats and losing none of its own. Still he has Newark and Jersey City to withstand.
Updated: 1 down–McDonnell wins big. VA McDonnell leads early–exit polls confirm Republican trend. President Obama factor in votes of 2 out of every 5 voters.

Traditional Marriage is winning in Maine has a 5% or 25K vote plurality with 84% reporting in a heavy turnout (52%). Medical Pot is winning big. Civil Unions are narrowly winning in WA with a lot of Seattle out where it is strong and a lot of Eastern Washington out where it is weak.

Hoffman may not have the organization to pull the race out. Had to fight absentee vote already cast. It is an incredible showing for a third party candidate ganged up on by both of the other candidates. He may win still but he is behind by almost 3 points. Fox just projected Owens to win.

Definitely a change election, again. PA statewide offices go GOP. Court elections have little money so they are a pure show of party strength. Delaware County was solidly Republican down to town offices and county council. In NYC, the GOP picked up two council seats in Queens, and the Conservative beat the Republican in Stanton Island’s 50th council.

The first Establishment NY Republican to break ranks and support Hoffman was Gov. Pataki last week at a Conservative Party fundraiser. That broke the back of the Commie Lib Republican Dede Scozzafava. Now he is campaigning with Hoffman.

Why is it that high minded campaigning is attacking Republican records, but it is a personal smear to recount a Democrat’s record? I like John Carney personally, but I choke on nonsense like this. I understand that defending his record may be tough, but stooping to silly responses will only make people think about it. Mr. Carney needs to talk about the future or else he will be the past. He either needs to explain that he learned from the past or defend it. He can not run away from it. Just out of curiosity, what has Lt. Governor Carney done in the last 9 years besides help Governor Minner run the state?

Even without a Republican in the field, the National Republican Congressional Committee is going after Carney. An e-mail described his record as “consisting solely of helping Gov. Minner do her best to run Delaware into the ground.”

Carney knew what he had to do after he was slammed. Like any good politician, he figured he could use it to raise money. An e-mail of his own went out.

“The National Republican Party has already started launching personal negative attacks against me,” Carney tut-tutted.

You have to read Howard Rich’s article on the middle class betrayal.

Nancy Wagner is dropping out of the 31st district Rep race.

It looks as if President Obama was the last man standing in a split opinion by the Nobel Jury. It appears the majority of the committee thought he wasn’t ready yet. Sorry DNC, do you have an attack ad on them too?

The movement to fire Kevin Jennings, the school safety czar for only gay students, is gaining steam.

Indian River Power Plant may clean up its act. The state is through dragging its feet and will give them the permits.

Delaware Right to Life will have its annual banquet. Tell them I sent you.

Oct 17 – Fall Festival at Holy Cross in Dover from 10 am to 4 pm Come and join us for a day of fun, games, great food, auction and much more.

Sussex Coastal Weekly is out.

Speaking of middle class betrayal, does anyone believe that this classic post by Jim Hightower was wrong?

Delaware The first state actually garnered the most attention with the entrance of Congressman Castle into the open senate race to replace VP Biden and Senator Carper being on national programs to defend his statement that the health bill is incomprehensible so why bother reading it. We also had mortgage foreclosure aid –Peterson and Military Spouse Appreciation Day–Scott signed into law.

The Castle candidacy changes the dynamic of state. Because he did not make a deal of the candidate already in the race, Ms. O’Donnell, he has upset the truce between the party right and center and launched an ideological primary. He opens up a Congressional seat in which there will be a primary on the Democratic side which is favored to be won by former Lt. Governor John Carney. On the Republican side there will likely be one unless the Convention can once again be the arbiter. For this to work people have to stop treating people who accept the convention’s judgment as if they lost a race. They choose not to run for party unity. That should be praised not panned. I am hearing various names. State Auditor Tom Wagner is the favorite among delegates with whom I spoke, but none thought he would run. I think he would be the best candidate. Some think Mike Protack will run, but rumor has it that he is mulling county council. The name that hear is favored by party insiders according to the rumor mill not official sources, is former state Senator Charlie Copeland. Current state senator Colin Bonini is running for state treasurer. If State auditor Tom Wagner stays put, he will be favored. Rumor has it that Ferris Wharton is mauling another run for Attorney General if AG Biden runs for Senate. If so, this would be a powerful team. There would be the potential of 5 for 5 (with either senate candidate) though I think running Wagner for House and Copeland for auditor would be more likely to reap those results. The GOP currently has only 2 of 9 statewide offices.

New Jersey The Governor’s race tightens but the underlying numbers are strongly in Christie’s favor. Governor Corzine does not poll over 44% and has a 61% does not deserve reelection number. Christie has a solid 47%. The undecideds have already decided against Corzine and will either not vote or come home for Christie. A few percentage may go for Daggett. No matter the scenario I do not see the smear campaign succeeding. The negatives for the party are being driven so high that Democrats may see themselves lose the state assembly. Though they lead in fundraising for the assembly, they do not have the advantage of 4 years ago.

New York The New York Times took on Nancy Pelosi and Charlie Rangel calling them hypocritical for campaigning against a culture of corruption and not dealing with their own when they have problems. They just noticed?

Democrat State Senator Hiram Monserrate is now facing the jury in his trial for cutting the face of his girl friend in a jealous rage. Republicans may end up with the senate back if all of the Democrats under investigation or indictment lose it by next year. They need only one seat.

Governor Patterson is fighting for budget cuts. Legislative Leaders are too busy in China to worry about his deadlines though.

Pennsylvania Table games are closer to reality. The state senate is forging a compromise between the gaming industry and the Democrats in the state house. The state has gone 100 days without a budget. One paper had a comprehensive take on it with 100 reasons we have been without a budget for 100 days.

Republicans have another top tier candidate for 2010 challenging for Congress.

Senator Specter fights for the release of 3 Americans held in Iran.

Republican Tom Corbett is leading all challengers right now in the race for Governor.

Maryland Maryland has finally exploded in unemployment despite stimulus cash. Some people are literally moving to get ready for 2010. Republicans are lining up to see who is running for Governor. Delegate O’Donnell tires of waiting and is in.

Virginia McDonnell increases his lead to 9 points in all polls. He even leads in Northern Virginia. The race won’t be the only issue getting voters in Fairfax County out. The Petition signatures to create a special rail/metro tax district have been confirmed.

Virginia McDonnell surges to a new lead in the polls going over 50% with a solid lead among independents. DNC chairman and part time governor Kaine is still on the road.

New Jersey Jersey City and other towns have passed pay to play bans in a great statement against corruption even those currently under indictment favored the bill. And Democrats wonder why they are losing.

New York Both Republicans and Democrats held their annual conventions this past week. The Republicans have a new leader, Mr. Cox, which was a minor defeat for the Giuliani hardliners. The two parties are geering up for next year’s election. People are starting to position themselves for an anticipated Democrat primary between Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Governor David Patterson.

The Club for Growth is the war path against big spending Democrats and Republicans.

Maryland The State is knocking around drivers for more money. Speed Cameras and and a Texting while driving ban are the news along with new restrictions on teens.

Maryland insists on impoverishing some of its citizens with a mandatory 25% cut in “Greenhouse emissions” by 2020. The bill at least makes more sense than the overall energy cut demanded by Markell. At least other ways of finding energy will be entertained whether or not the goal is realistic. Where is the Maryland GOP when you need a loyal opposition? Speed cameras and energy rationing seem like winning issues even for such a moribund organization.

Pennsylvania is no longer Obama friendly territory. Not only is Gov. Rendell in trouble but the President’s numbers have sunk to a new low. Senator Specter may have picked the wrong couple to help him.

The budget deal that was struck still hasn’t passed due to rebellious Democrats who hate oil drilling and want the people to suffer with higher taxes and energy prices.

Delaware H1N1 is running through the state, including my home just like Maryland, but most cases are never tested for and therefore are unreported. You have to ask for testing like we did. What is the agenda? I am finding a lot of cases of something like it but most were never tested even though they went to the doctor. Is there a wink not to report the disease? What is the public health effect? Why does it take a week or longer to get results? No significant upgrades in testing have occurred since last year. Is the state failing the public?

U. S. Senate Candidate Christine O’Donnell is up there with the big boys pulling 40% in the latest poll. Is it time for HuckPac and Sarah Pac to pay attention?

This time the whole world is paying attention to us with Pittsburgh and the G-20 and NY having its annual United Nations gabfest. I love New York or New Jersey or anywhere that will let me pitch my tent said Col. Qaddafi (dozen spelling variations). It is funny how hugging a terrorist in a hero’s welcome makes you unwelcomed in the Mid-Atlantic.

New York–This was actually a very good week substantively for NY Governor David Patterson so it figures he spent most of in a tiff with President Obama and overshadowed by leaders around the world. Poor guy even Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he felt for him. He had a major victory where the New York Court of Appeals (their highest court) overturned lower court decisions and validated his Lt. Governor. He called for eliminating the entire 2 billion dollar short fall with spending cuts and no tax or fee increases. We didn’t even have new women pop up, yet what will be remembered about the week for him was the Thursday night version of Saturday night live (use the whole program option). When you are Liberal and SNL treats you like trash, you are in trouble.

Pennsylvania The G20 deserves its own report Sunday evening or Monday. They finally got a budget deal. Governor Ed Rendell finally forced higher taxes on businesses and expanded the state sales tax to concerts and sports but could not get any income or sales tax hikes. He had to accept (gasp) a 1% spending cut. The bad news for Delaware and New Jersey is that he forced preliminary acceptance of table games. If the enabling legislation passes it may be back to the drawing board for next year’s revenue projections for both states and it may kill already shaky financing for some Maryland racinos. PA is a larger state with an older population.

Delaware Secretly reeling from two surprise blows to its gaming strategy. DEFAC won’t like this one. Speaking of the devil, DEFAC projected Delaware revenue to be 45 million dollars softer than July. Interestingly after the personal income tax rates were raised, the take fell over 20 million. In a bad economy, can you raise taxes faster than you kill activity? Hey, I am not the guy who wrote the book purportedly solving all of the state’s problems. They should elect him governor, oh we did.

New Jersey Chris Christie still leads. Now that he is on air he is holding his own. The Dems may actually lose the Assembly, but they think they will win it all. They actually hope to get enough anti-Corzine voters to vote for former Kean EPA administrator Chris Daggett to win. When that is the only hope that is desperation. It won’t sink in until November. The only hope for traditional marriage in New Jersey is to vote yellow dog Republican this one election. A word to the wise.

Virginia Most polls I findare before the big debate. The only one afterward shows the same result. McDonnell with a 4 point lead. Deeds is using radio ads featuring President Obama in areas with high minority populations and on targeted stations. He is using Senator Mark Warner on TV and statewide. With all that is said and done the base support of both candidates has hardened and it now appears McDonnell is ahead, narrowly, but the race is too close to call.

Maryland When VP Joe Biden has to campaign for health care reform in liberal Montgomery County (which has a tax revolt brewing under the surface), it is not a good sign for the administration.

2429 to 2105– just say Representative Elect Ruth Briggs King. Congratulations to all of the people who made it happen. I also congratulate Mr. Robinson on a strong race. Most of all I congratulate the voters for a strong turnout for a special election (close to 1/3 of the voters). They saw through the Acorn, Sierra Club, AFL-CIO nonsense and voted based upon the issues. Thanks to the 37th, we are still a two party state.

State of Delaware – Election System

Unofficial Election Results

Statewide Results By Election District

09/12/09 Special

Last Updated: 09/12/09 08:43 PM

8 Districts Reported Out of 8

New Castle Abs Reported = N Kent Abs Reported = N Sussex Abs Reported = Y
(more…)

VirginiaIn an act of political desperation aided by the Washington Post Crowd, Senator Craig Deeds is trying to inflate a 20 year old master’s thesis from McDonnell into the central issue of the campaign. The paper was not some radical revolutionary dogma, but one which tackled the cultural revolution from an academic perspective. Attempts to lift some phrases out of it to make McDonnell appear to oppose wives working outside of the home will be interesting fodder, but the 15 year public record of McDonnell and his own daughters’ work and service to our country in the war zone will make it seem more like desperation on Deeds’ part. People want solutions to transportation, education, taxes, guns, protecting VA parental notification rights, and jobs.

What is more intriguing is an argument over abortion exceptions between former Senator Allen supporters and Ag McDonnell’s supporters. In practical public policy it is silly to have such an argument in public. There is no policy difference but the division is being used to attempt to say McDonnell is too far to the right for even George Allen. That is not what is being said, but I think that has more potential down side for McDonnell. A sabotage of McDonnell by the exceptions crowd could open a national wound in the pro-life movement.

New York We get to take a break from the usual dysfunctional government report. New York’s legislature passed a bill which would allow email notifications for sex offenders who move into any of three zip codes the user chooses. It “brings Megan’s law into the digital age”. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.

Speaking of broken government, most New Yorkers believe their government is among the worst in the nation. 2% believe it is among the best. In other news (sarcasm alert) 3% believe the tooth fairy would make a fine state senator. As if on cue, a new analysis of the New York Senate shows that Democrats have only passed 1/3 of the legislation that Republicans did when they had control last year.

Governor Patterson is vetoing a series of spending bills that are special home district favors.
Considering the state has a 2.1 billion dollar short fall, one has to wonder about the legislature.

State Republicans will get a new leader. Joe Mondello is not seeking another term as state Chairman. Ed Cox and Henry Wojtaszek are the top competitors for the chairmanship.

New Jersey The Debate schedule has been established for the Governor’s race. The slime trust running the Corzine campaign rejoices in the fact that they have increased doubts about Chris Christie with their barrage of negative attacks during NJN’s On the Record this past Sunday. The problem is that they ignore that the public is having fewer doubts about their guy. Over 60% have now decided they don’t want him back. Corzine has even lost support among Democrats in what is beginning to become a backlash.

Democrats nervous about the looming Christie victory have decided upon a new strategy. They called in the House Judiciary Subcommittee (sarcasm moment) for political smears. The Cohen D-TN subcommittee has given Christie until September 4th to answer additional questions regarding deferred prosecution agreements.

Delaware The 37th district special election had its final debate. Both sides declared victory. Robinson supporters particularly praised the style of their candidate. Milton Police Chief William Phillips is back and he wants to arrest the political careers of his opponents including the mayor. Instead of a graceful victory lap, he called for their resignations.

Maryland Even House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is not exempt from public pressure on the healthcare front. He finally held a town hall, which he called the best attended in his career. Pro and con house health care reform participants were both heard. The Congressman was flanked by security (after seeing DNC ads he must have been concerned) but the constituents wanted to be heard not initiate an overthrow of the government which is forbidden under Title 18.2385 of the U. S. Code.

Pennsylvania The legislature is lazy said Governor Rendell. That is why PA is the last state without a budget. The fact the governor vetoed it because he wanted 300 million in more spending and higher taxes to make up for a couple billion dollar shortfall had nothing to with it. The governor has not met with legislative leaders for 52 days and counting, but they are the ones stuck with “ideology, partisanship and laziness”. It is small wonder that Pennsylvanians are not much more optimistic than New Yorkers.

Teachers in the Keystone state seem to need more education about economics and budgets. They are striking all over the state to demand more money. It makes one wonder if the students are missing much.
Other state’s teachers seem content with protecting what they already gained.

Sestack and Toomey had their own healthcare debate without Specter. It gained national attention in what may very well be the preview of the senate race. Toomey had a chance to get in the forefront of the issue by becoming the statewide voice against a government takeover of health care, while Sestack became the leading voice in the state for a public option. It showed Specter on both sides of the issue. It was a brilliant move by both men.