How do you know when a politician is lying?

Both mouths are moving.

The Asbury Park Press article on Fort Monmouth, and the public/private partnership purportedly created to retain high tech jobs in New Jersey, reveals that leaders of both parties who have been vocal in opposition to the fort closing, have been planning to facilitate the closure all along.

Follow the money. A few people are going to get very wealthy on this scam.

Wasteland

Nearly 30% of all purchases made in Abbott districts were excessive or lacked proper documentation, according to a report in the Star Ledger. $83 million flushed down the black hole, and that doesn't included the bloated payrolls.

Attention Trenton Democrats: This is the place to cut.

InTheLobby has analysis that will make your blood boil.

Poll closes today

The poll on the right, "Do you support Adam Puharic for a second term as Monmouth GOP Chairman?" closes today at noon.

Puharic has been gaining ground over the last couple of days, moving up to support from 39% of the voters to 42%.

The results of online polls are unscientific. Adam Puharic believes in the veracity of online polls.

Monetization coming to Middletown?

The Asbury Park Press reports that the Middletown Township Committee is considering Trenton style gimmickry to plug a budget gap caused by Trenton.

According to the APP, Middletown is considering selling off 50% of future cell tower revenue for a upfront payment of $890,000. This one shot deal would partially offset state mandated expenditures; a $1.1 million increase in pension contributions, a mandated $315K increase to public library funding and $750K in severance for six police officers who retired in 2007. Additionally, Middletown would lose $635K in state aid under Corzine's proposed budget.

With political control at stake in Middletown in this year's election for the first time in decades, it is understandable that the Republican dominated committee would want to lessen the blow of property tax increases. But, this one shot deal is bad fiscal policy and bad politics. There will be an increase even with the gimmick.

Middletown, and every other towns facing increases should politically place the blame for property tax increases due to state mandates and aid cuts exactly where it belongs....on Trenton Democrats. Don't give the Trenton Democrats cover by using one shot gimmicks. They have been doing that themselves for years.

I don't vote in Middletown, but I do pay property taxes there. I'd rather have the cell phone revenues available to lessen the pain over time than to overdose on them this year and have worse pain in future years.

John McCain coming to Sandy Hook

Politickernj is reporting that John McCain is coming to Sandy Hook on Friday to talk about environmental issues. Former Governor Tom Kean, Sr will be accompanying McCain.

Puharic still whining

Adam doing his Tom Cruise imitation on the couch.

Monmouth GOP Chairman Adam Puharic is still whining about Honest Abe and I writing about his house being for sale. He should be thanking us. I hear Weichert had to dedicate more servers to their website for all the traffic they are getting. The calls and letters keep coming, begging me to let up on him. Who knew Adam had so many friends?!

Hey, if anyone is shopping for a home and wants to improve Monmouth County by getting rid of Adam, by all means buy his house! It is priced reasonably compared to like houses in the area, and it's a very short walk to the supermarket.

Puharic is whining that "this is a security issue." Hogwash. His address is not on the listing or in any of the posts. Guess where his address is published. On the website of Puharic's charity. I'm not going to link it out of concern for his security, but it is there. It takes a little surfing on the site to find it. So, if you'd like to add Adam to your Christmas card list, you can find his address there. Mark the envelope, "please forward," just in case the house sells.

If Adam spent as much effort trying influence his Rasta friends not to post so much false trash about other Republicans when he had the chance, he might actually have a chance to get re-elected chairman.

Obamanation

Puharic furious

Word is that Monmouth GOP chairman Adam Puharic is furious that news of his impending move has hit the blogs.

I made a retarded move last week when I pulled my post about Puharic's house being for sale. I did so at the request of a friend who said he/she had received calls from Puharic allies that were concerned for his family's safety. There is no address published on any of the links associated with the real estate listing, thus I saw no threat. Pulling the post has been gnawing on me since.

Puharic said, "I have no problem with the blogs" when the notorious MonmouthRastaMan was posting false information about Anna Little while Puharic was attempting to derail her political career.

Puharic has said he running for re-election as county chair. His residency is a legitimate issue.

Pallone not concerned about Hogan

Well, he's concerned enough to have done some checking into him.

Over the weekend a political activist told me that the congressman was amused by Hogan's characterization of Pallone as "a millionaire." Pallone reportedly said he wouldn't be in congress if he was a millionaire. This would explain why Pallone has repeatedly declined to risk his "safe" seat for a shot at the U.S. Senate. He needs the job.

Pallone as a file of "dirt" to use against Hogan, should he win the nomination, according to the source.

Getting to know John McCain

From the Wall Street Journal:

Karl Rove's 4/30/08 OpEd piece.

Recollections of McCain in Hanoi from Ernest Brace, a fellow POW.

Get well soon

Freeholder Director Lillian Burry suffered a broken elbow, a broken nose, cracked ribs and facial lacerations as the result of a fall in Freehold last week.

The Asbury Park Press reports that Burry is working from home and that here campaign plans will not be affected by the accident.

Get well soon Lillian.

Farewell "Teddy Roosevelt"

Blogger "Teddy Roosevelt", the Monmouth BullMoose, retires from blogging today. As TR ends one mysterious adventure, I wish him well on his next.

TR has consistently added insight and sanity to ongoing conversation dedicated to improving Monmouth County and reforming the Monmouth County Republican Party.

In his final post, TR sums up what this blog and others are about:

For 5 years now there have been dedicated Republicans who have been fighting for a Monmouth County Republican party that is democratic, that is interested in public service not personal gain, that is interested in solutions not ego gratification and that wants to find a new way to do political business not just find loopholes to new rules. There have been victories and there have been bitter defeats but progress has been made. Some may say we are naive dreamers or even crazies who will destroy the party but I think not. In fact I think we are on the verge of victory. I smell change in the air. I feel the masses rising up and saying enough. I regret I will not be here to see the final victory but I shall certainly be watching from afar.

In addition to his insight and leadership, I admire TR for his maintaining his anonymity. As a former anonymous blogger I have heard all the arguments pro and con about anonymous writing. This I know...whoever TR is, he is no coward. His writings have never been about advancing his self interest. His writings have been with made with the purpose of advancing good government in Monmouth County and with the purpose of reforming the Monmouth County Republican Party. Like TR, I believe those purposes go hand in hand.

I don't know who TR is. The truth is I never cared that much until he announced that he was leaving. My friendship was with his ideas. Despite his protests to the contrary, I believe he will be very much a part of the coming battle.

He says he can smell change in the air and he believes victory is at hand. There is reason for optimism, but greed is a cunning enemy who has grabbed power and money from victorious reformers before and will never stop trying. Progress has been made, and our purpose is about to advance greatly. However, the struggle doesn't end until they throw dirt on your face. The face of the enemy changes from time to time. Sometimes it appears in the mirror.

Godspeed my friend.