Day: July 9, 2013

Chris Christie is an idiot. His hallmark economic development achievement, the $2.4 billion "Revel Casino-Hotel Resort" has already gone bankrupt once and is on the fast track to a second bankruptcy. Christie's boondongle hopes to lose a mere $43 million this year. Believe it or not, that's a win. The annual operating losses had been running around $180 million, but a big cash infusion of $261 million from the GOP's business brainiac, courtesy of the Garden State's tax payers, has papered over some of those outsized losses. If he started a space program, or just handed out $100 bills, instead of sinking tax money into this, he (and the state) would be better off. He may win a second term in office, but there is no way he makes it any closer to DC than a box seat at a Blue Hens game.

Sorry about yesterday's lack of Open Thread. I guess everyone was on vacation or at work. In New Jersey, a new Quinnipiac poll has Cory Booker (D) with 52% in the Democratic Primary, followed by Rep. Frank Pallone (D) at 10%, Rep. Rush Holt (D) at 8% and Sheila Oliver (D) at 3%. The late Sen. Lautenberg's family has endorsed Pallone, but I am not sure Mr. Lautenberg had that much sway anymore. In the a possible general election matchup, Booker beats Steve Lonegan (R) 53% to 30%. Texas Dictator Rick Perry (who has been in power since 2000, a record 13 straight years and 3 full terms), has decided to retire. The Dems may have a primary between two rising stars, Sen. Wendy Davis and San Antonio's Democratic Mayor Julian Castro. On the GOP side, the extremely well-financed Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott seems to have the GOP field all to himself.