Chris Christie has no future in politics

Chris Christie has no future in politics

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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.
Tuesday Open Thread [7.9.13]

Tuesday Open Thread [7.9.13]

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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.
Do It. Do It Today. Call Everyone Home.

Do It. Do It Today. Call Everyone Home.

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What am I talking about? The New York Times: "Increasingly frustrated by his dealings with President Hamid Karzai, President Obama is giving serious consideration to speeding up the withdrawal of United States forces from Afghanistan and to a 'zero option' that would leave no American troops there after next year." Make it a spectacle. A massive airlift that takes every single American out within 48 hours. Karzai has been an ungrateful and corrupt son of a bitch for 10 years now. Let him fend for himself. Let him try to run his country without the US there.
Roll Call item on Beau Biden throws a curve ball

Roll Call item on Beau Biden throws a curve ball

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This Abby Livingston Roll Call item on Beau Biden unfolds pretty much as expected. The "local operatives" were probably a couple of people at Dem HQ. Maybe Ed Freel, touting the 'new' Tom Carper (still a 'pup' after close to 40 years on the public dole). Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce lackey Rich Heffron or Celia Cohen touting the timeless beauty of the status quo. You know, the usual. Then suddenly the needle scratches a new groove. Why is Senator Hall Long pictured? Find out inside...
Sunday Open Thread [7.7.13]

Sunday Open Thread [7.7.13]

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National Journal:
"With an anxious eye toward the coming debt-ceiling negotiations, House Republicans are drafting what members call a 'menu' of mandatory spending cuts to offer the White House in exchange for raising the country's borrowing limit." "This menu is more a matrix of politically fraught options for the Obama administration to consider: Go small on cuts and get a short extension of the debt ceiling. Go big - by agreeing to privatize Social Security, for example - and get a deal that will raise the ceiling for the rest of Obama's term." "It's a strategy meant to show the GOP is ready to deal. But even conservatives admit that this gambit might do little to help them avoid blame should the negotiations reach a crisis stage."
The country's improved economy, which brings in more revenue, and the raising of the taxes on the rich, has delayed the moment of reaching the debt limit for most of this year. But eventually, this fall, it will have to be raised again. Hopefully the President sticks to his guns as he has since the 2011 debt ceiling sequester deal, in that he says he will not negotiate on the debt limit. Either Congress raises the limit or it gets the blame for the untold disaster that occurs if it is not raised. I will tell you one thing, the second that Democrats regain control of the House, the first order of business is to do away with this arbitrary debt ceiling one and for all by passing legislation that says the Fed must always pay the nation's debts. Otherwise, the internets are pretty quiet with political news this holiday weekend. I hope you all are enjoying yours.

Saturday Open Thread [7.6.13]

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President Obama, in his weekly message, focuses on the meaning and importance of our Independence Day. Governor Markell's weekly message, in which he lauds the just concluded legislative session and the bills he sought to get passed.
Friday Open Thread [7.5.13]

Friday Open Thread [7.5.13]

Jobs report: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that, seasonally adjusted, the private sector added 202,000 new jobs in June while government shed 7,000. The official unemployment rate remained steady at 7.6 percent. The private sector has now added more jobs than it has lost for 39 consecutive months. The monthly tally makes no distinction between full-time and part-time jobs, nor does it consider how much those jobs pay or provide in non-wage benefits compared with the ones that have been lost. June is also tough for the BLS to measure accurately because of the large number of youth who enter the job market that month. The 175,000 jobs gain the BLS reported for May was revised to 195,000. Gains in April were revised from 149,000 to 199,000.