HANDLIN-THOMPSON.ORG

During the 2005 13th District Assembly campaign the print media reported on a phony website called Handlin-Thompson.org. This site, started by Oompa-loompaesque publisher James Devine of Union County, was designed to make one think it was actually the site of Amy Handlin and Sam Thompson. When he was caught, he attempted to pass it off on a "high school student", (Yeah right.) and quickly took it down. The phony site was replaced by an anti-Handlin site which acknowledged it was Devine's work.
Well, the election's over and the site's still up; it is now a "sore loser" site.
He uses some real wingnut "explanations" as to why his candidate, former Assemblyman William Flynn, was defeated in the past election. He neglects the most obvious and logical one, however, that being that Flynn was a lousy legislator when he was in office and the only reason he lasted as long as he did was because he was carried by his superior running-mate, Richard Van Wagner. When Van Wagner was elected to the State Senate in 1983 (Defeating Sen. John Gallagher [R-13]), Flynn had to stand alone with then-Assemblywoman Jacki Walker in 1985. Both were defeated by Joe Azzolina and the late Joann Smith; the district has been Republican ever since.
Devine then whines about the fact that Handlin was endorsed by the Asbury Park Press. This quote is a real winner:

"It is hard to imagine that the best explanation for this is that Handlin got special treatment from Asbury Park Press editor Skip Hidlay because she is Jewish, but that is the most solid theory I have heard."

Ah, yes, when in doubt there's always the good ol' "Worldwide Jewish Conspiracy Theory." I suppose Devine's recommended reading includes The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. (Now available in Arabic.) Mein Kampf is a great book to curl up in front of the fire with, isn't it Mr. Devine? Do you believe that all Jewish employees at the World Trade Center were told in advance by Mossad to take 9/11/01 off? Sicko. This puts you right in company with Iranian dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
That quote is a tough act to follow, he doesn't top it, but his closing is priceless, too:

"Donations will be deposited into the personal bank account of this website's owner/operator and will be used to defray expenses for research and reporting about the corrupt politicians to whom this site is dedicated. If funding reaches the level required for disclosure under New Jersey law, a political committee will be established specifically for that purpose. Until then, anyone who wishes to know the names of any or all contributors needs simply to ask."

His personal bank account? REALLY. If funding reaches the level required for disclosure? How do we know when funding reaches the level required for disclosure, Mr. Devine?
How about you do this: Get the proper forms from ELEC (downloadable) and report what you've got already. Anyone contributing to such a website should be prepared to stand up, take the sheet off their head and be known.

Devine is the publisher of several weekly newspapers in Union and Middlesex Counties, namely The News Record, The Patriot and the Atom Tabloid & Citizen - Gazette. I wonder whether the views he espouses at Handlin-Thompson.org are the same as those on his editorial pages. I wonder if his readers know. I wonder if the towns and Union County, who publish their legal notices know.
If Flynn plays with people like Devine, then it's a good thing the voters of the 13th District rejected him!

THE FORRESTER DEFEAT

I wasn't going to go here.
So, why, over a month after the fact, am I writing on this topic? Because I've followed it in the papers, on other blogs, and just by talking to my fellow Republicans throughout Monmouth County.
Right after his loss to the Bozo-coiffed Jon Corzine, Doug Forrester blamed his defeat in the gubernatorial race to the unpopularity of President George W. Bush. I guess it was Bush's unpopularity that drove New York City's Republican Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg from office in a pounding defeat by the Groucho Marxesque Democrat Fernando Ferrer.
Oh. What's that? Bloomberg won? A landslide? Really? Guess that shoots that theory full of holes.
Bush was a minimal factor here, if at all. But there were many factors here that all New Jersey Republicans should pay close attention to, unless they want to see New Jersey become a total one-party state.
One factor was Forrester and his campaign. This is described very well in the Nov. 16 Asbury Park Press by Carl Golden, the former press secretary to two governors. Although Forrester tried to remain on message with his "30 in Three" property tax reform plan, towards the end he was seen as casting about, on stem cell research, abortion and the public statements of the former Mrs. Corzine, not to mention Forrester's going into defense mode over Corzine's attacks upon his business. Forrester should have had Corzine on the ropes on a multitude of issues, not the least of which is Corzine's ties to the Democrat bosses. But Doug blinked.
Other reasons go beyond Forrester or any one candidate.
What reasons? Hmmm. Well, how about party organization. In the major democrat counties (Hudson, Essex, Middlesex, Camden) there was a concerted get out the vote operation. The Democrats know their voters, and they know how to get them out, with paid "volunteers", buses and other methods which they find to be tried and true. These counties work towards a goal of putting the Democrat over the top statewide, whether it be for President, Governor or U. S. Senate. Republican counties are often happy simply to have the candidate carry their county, as if that county exists in a vacuum. So the Republican nominee may post a plurality in say, Monmouth or Sussex Counties, but it won't be nearly enough to offset the numbers in the Democrat counties. Still other counties, like Burlington, are very happy to elect Republicans to county positions, but regularly go Democrat for statewide office.
Party building. This is very related to party organization. The Democrats have been working hard to expand their party into formerly Republican areas, using every means at their disposal. "Wheeling" occurs when a party boss in one county writes a contribution to the party in a different county. While both parties do it, the Democrats have it honed to a science. So you have money from the Camden Democrats going to the Bergen Democrats, and from the Union Democrats to the Monmouth Democrats. (This happens on the town level too, folks.) The result of this is that the once Republican Bergen County is now strongly Democrat. Other areas where they have made inroads include Passaic, Union, Atlantic and Mercer. Not long ago places like Gloucester were Republican, and there are people alive today who can tell you about the Republican stronghold that was Camden County.
In contrast, Republican gains in Democrat counties have been more fleeting, as the few Republican Hudson County Freeholders elected in the 1980s; Republicans in Middlesex were able to gain a short-lived majority under the leadership of County Chairman Sam Thompson. And Mercer County just lost its last county-wide elected Republican, County Clerk Cathy DiCostanzo. Mercer Republicans actually had a pretty long run with County Executives Wilbur Mathesius and Robert Prunetti, but were never able to hold on to freeholder seats.
No organized popular statewide opposition. What I mean is like in the 90s with Hands Across New Jersey. While property taxes and corruption continue to bedevil the New Jersey taxpayer, along with high auto insurance which just never seemed to go away, there is no organized forum, populist if you will, for people to vent their frustrations. Certainly nothing big enough for the politicians to take notice. "Hands" began as a result of peoples' frustration with tax increases levied by former Democrat Governor James Florio; it mushroomed into a non-partisan movement which ultimately led to Florio's 1993 election loss to former Somerset County Freeholder Director Christine Todd Whitman. Although there are certainly major issues today in New Jersey, it seems that the Hands (that were) Across New Jersey have folded (If I'm wrong, please correct me!) , and nobody has felt strongly enough to start something new. A shame. Hands could have kept both parties in line.
I could keep going on. But the bottom line is, if Republicans want to ever see the inside of the Governor's Mansion again, or to be a U. S. Senator from New Jersey again, our party must actually stand for something, become much more dynamic and be more organized on a grass-roots level. Including turning blue counties red.

MONMOUTH GOES REPUBLICAN AGAIN!

Fending off a stiff challenge from Democrats, Freeholder William C. Barham and Colts Neck Township Committeewoman Lillian Burry were elected to three year terms on the Board of Chosen Freeholders Tuesday.
Republicans were also victorious in the 11th District, where Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean were reelected; in the 12th District Jennifer Beck and Declan O'Scanlon bested Democrats Michael Panter and Dr. Robert Morgan. (UPDATE! PANTER HAS WON, DEFEATING O'SCANLON BY 65 VOTES. O'SCANLON CARRIED THE MONMOUTH COUNTY PART OF THE DISTRICT, WHILE PANTER CARRIED THE MERCER COUNTY PART. PANTER'S PLURALITY IN MERCER ERASED O'SCANLON'S IN MONMOUTH. O'SCANLON WILL FILE FOR A RECOUNT ONCE THE TOTALS ARE CERTIFIED.) In the 13th District, Assemblyman Sam Thompson was reelected, and Freeholder Amy Handlin will go to Trenton in place of veteran Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina.
On the town level was a mixed bag, with Democrats winning in Matawan, Manalapan and Hazlet, an independent winning Howell, and Republicans winning Holmdel, Red Bank, Marlboro and Millstone. Wall split between an R and a D, and Aberdeen saw Democrats reelected by less than 100 votes.
The 13th District race saw opposition to Handlin's candidacy by supporters of Azzolina, who Handlin defeated in the June primary. To make matters even more exciting, we saw examples of the "partisan print media", including such Democratic journalists as Union Beach Democratic Chairman Jim Purcell and Union County Democrat James Devine. Purcell is associated with Azzolina but appears to have his own agenda apart from Azzolina's. The diminutive, oompa-loompa-esque Devine is a longtime associate of the defeated William E. Flynn, serving as an aide to Flynn in the 80s. Devine was also associated with former Democratic 4th District congressional candidate James C. Hedden. Hedden, a former Mercer County freeholder, saw his campaign crumble when prank phone calls to Rep. Christopher H. Smith's (R-4th) campaign headquarters were traced to Hedden's headquarters.

RELEASE FROM M. C. R. C.

Aaronson and McMorrow Smoke Screen Not Working
Their track records are very clear, even as they blow smoke about how much they can do for Monmouth County.

October 6, 2005 - The Random House Dictionary defines a smoke screen as “something intended to disguise, conceal, or deceive; camouflage” and that is just what Rebecca Aaronson and Barbara McMorrow are doing, hoping to conceal their track records with inaccurate attacks on how Monmouth County is being run. Let’s take a look at their track records as we peer behind their wall of smoke and mirrors!
We only seem to hear from Ms. McMorrow in press releases, and that might be because she probably doesn’t want everyone to find out about her existing government pension and how her work as a Freeholder would add to that. She’s come out against padding income from government jobs, but that only seems to apply to others, not her. Double standards are never good.
On the topic of double standards, let’s look at Rebecca Aaronson’s track record as an elected official. We do hear from Rebecca an awful lot, but it’s never to address her own ethics issues. She called for a review of government agencies, but hasn’t answered as to why she won’t join the chorus calling for an investigation into the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority, even as they hit taxpayers for a 33% fee increase. Why so silent, Ms. Aaronson?
We’re also waiting for Rebecca to step up and tell us about the $150,000 campaign donation she took from indicted developer Anthony Spalliero whose projects she’s backed in Manalapan. Yes, Rebecca, we know about that, too. How could you think nobody would find out? Bad girl!
So, if Aaronson and McMorrow say they’re against corruption and pension padding and claim they want ethics reform, all election time buzzwords, why are their track records so contrary and so bad? Actions speak louder than words and nobody’s being fooled!

RELEASE FROM STATE COMMITTEE

NJGOP PRESENTS EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD IN NEW JERSEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Wilson
September 14, 2005
(609) 989-7300


TRENTON - At a Statehouse press conference today, NJGOP Chairman Tom Wilson and NJGOP Counsel Mark Sheridan presented potential evidence of massive voter fraud in New Jersey.“New Jersey is in grave danger of becoming the next Florida or Ohio and Peter Harvey has done nothing to stop it. Four months ago, we raised serious concerns about the enforcement of election law in New Jersey to the Attorney General’s staff. To date we have received no response. In an effort to determine if our concerns were well founded, we conducted our own investigation into whether New Jersey’s elections laws are being enforced. The results are disturbing and they highlight Peter Harvey’s total failure to perform his duties as the state’s top elections official.Our investigation has uncovered evidence of people voting twice in the same election, dead people registered to vote, tens of thousands registered more than once in New Jersey and hundreds of thousands registered in New Jersey and other states. The information we have compiled proves that New Jersey’s elections are susceptible to widespread voter fraud. There are less than eight weeks until the next election; it is incumbent upon the Attorney General to immediately take steps to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.”


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

54,601 people registered to vote in more than one county in New Jersey.

4,397 appear to have voted twice in 2004 Election. 170,558 people registered to vote in New Jersey and either Florida, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania or South Carolina.
Of those, 90,025 voted in New Jersey in the last general election.

6,572 appear to have voted in both states in 2004 Election. 16,775 Individuals “officially” listed as deceased were registered to vote in the last general election.

4,755 are listed as having voted in November 2004.

13,440 are still registered to vote as of May 1, 2005.

Earlier today, Republican State Committee delivered a letter to New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey that details the findings of an investigation conducted in New Jersey’s election and voter registration and calls on him to take immediate steps to remedy the myriad of problems with New Jersey’s voter registration system. Republican State Committee also provided the Attorney General with all of the evidence found through its research. This includes the names, addresses and dates of birth of individuals who: are registered in more than one county in New Jersey; are registered in New Jersey and either Florida, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, or South Carolina; are listed as deceased on official records; voted twice in the same election; are incarcerated and still registered to vote. A copy of the letter is attached to this release. Click Here.

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LONEGAN CITED AS "PEROT-TYPE" SPOILER

Supporters of former Jersey City Mayor Bret D. Schundler's unsuccessful bid for the G.O.P. gubernatorial nomination did not miss the fact that Bogotá mayor Steve Lonegan's candidacy echoed that of former independent presidential candidate H. Ross Perot. Perot ran as an independent for President in 1992 and was seen as siphoning votes away from President George H. W. Bush's reelection campaign, enabling the election of William Jefferson Davis Clinton.
Lonegan, a supporter of Schundler in 2001, is said to have had a falling out with the former Jersey City mayor, a conservative reformer. Lonegan's votes exceeded Forrester's margin of victory over Schundler. Lonegan has stated that his main intent was to deprive Schundler of the nomination. There are theories as to why Lonegan would go to all that trouble. One was that Lonegan was approached by Democrats eager to stop Schundler, whom they feared in a general election. Lonegan, mayor of an otherwise Democrat town, may have feared the fact that millions of Democrat dollars have been wheeled into Bergen County and that some of that funding would become available to a future mayoral opponent of his. He would have been agreeable to use his falling out with Schundler to remain in office locally.

THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR

Well, it was a long and sometimes bitter Primary, but we now have a standardbearer for the fall election against multimillionaire Democrat Jonathan Stevens Corzine. Although Douglas R. Forrester was not my choice (Your scribe supported Bret Schundler), he did receive a plurality of votes and won. Forrester has his work cut out for him; a millionaire like the Bozo-coiffed Corzine, his wealth still pales in comparison to his opponent's. Defeating Corzine will involve party unity as well as more specifics from Forrester.