Rascal Flatts, Maroon 5 In AC This Summer!

After last week’s exciting news that Maroon 5 will be hitting the Atlantic City Beach this summer in concert, Rascal Flatts just announced they will also be performing this summer on the AC Beach on Thursday, August 20th. Ashley Monroe will be special guest.

Tickets start at ONLY $20 (+fees) and will go on sale to the general public beginning 10 a.m. on July 3rd at Ticketmaster.com or by-phone at 800-745-3000. There will be a limited amount of preferred GA tickets at $49.50. VIP Packages will be available through Live Nation Premium Seats at Ticketmaster.com.

This Rascal Flatts event – produced by Live Nation – will add to the success of last year’s beach concerts, where more than 120,000 fans came out to see Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum over a beautiful weekend in August.

The concert is presented in partnership with the Alliance for Atlantic City Foundation with funding by Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). The beach concerts are estimated to generate      $23.3 million in spending. Additional partners are the City of Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City and the Playground.

About Rascal Flatts

To date Rascal Flatts (Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney) have scored 15 No. One songs, sold over 22.8 million albums, over 29 million digital downloads, and their current ninth studio album REWIND (Big Machine Records) debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart making them one of only four acts during the SoundScan era to have eight consecutive studio albums debut in the top spot.  As one of the hottest-selling acts on tour in any genre Rascal Flatts are on the road this summer with their RIOT TOUR 2015 with shows across the country throughout the summer. The trio has invited Scotty McCreery and RaeLynn to join them on the road. For the latest updates, visit www.rascalflatts.com<https://t.e2ma.net/click/gjonw/grq6ad/451nnn>.

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Artist Nation Management and Live Nation Media/Sponsorship. For additional information, visit livenation.com/investors<http://www.livenation.com/investors>.

About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA)

The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents, investing nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide since 1984.

About the Atlantic City Alliance Foundation

The Atlantic City Alliance (ACA) is the destination marketing organization for Atlantic City, New Jersey dedicated to diversifying the visitor economy by increasing the number of leisure visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do.

Pope's Schedule For Philly, Cuba Announced

Today the program was published for Pope Francis' apostolic trip to Cuba and the U.S.A. and his visit to the United Nations on the occasion of his participation in the Eighth World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, from 19 to 28 September. The Pope will depart from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 10 a.m. on Saturday 19 September and is expected to arrive at 4.05 p.m. in Havana, Cuba, where the welcome ceremony will take place. On Sunday 20 September he will celebrate Holy Mass in Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana and will pay a courtesy visit to the president of the Council of State and of the Council of Ministers of the Republic in the Palace of the Revolution. Later he will celebrate Vespers in the Cathedral with priests, men and women religious, and seminarians, and will subsequently greet the young in the Fr. Felix Varela Cultural Centre. On Monday 21 September, in the morning, he will transfer to Holguin where he will celebrate Holy Mass in Plaza de la Revolucion and will bless the city from the Loma de la Cruz. He will then depart by air for Santiago, where he will meet with the bishops in St. Basil's Major Seminary. The day will conclude with the prayer to Our Lady of Charity with the bishops and the papal entourage in the minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, Santiago. Tuesday 22 September will begin with the celebration of Holy Mass in the minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, Santiago. The Pope will then meet families in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Asuncion in Santiago and, after blessing the city, will depart by air for Washington D.C., U.S.A., where he will be received at the Andrews Air Force Base. On Wednesday 23 September, there will be a welcome ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, where the Pope will pronounce a discourse and pay a courtesy visit to the president of the United States. At 11 a.m., the Pope will meet with the bishops of the United States in St. Matthew's Cathedral. In the afternoon he will celebrate Mass for the canonisation of Blessed Fr. Junipero Serra. On Thursday 24 September Pope Francis will visit and address the United States Congress. He will subsequently visit the charity centre of the St. Patrick's parish where he will meet a group of homeless people. In the afternoon he will transfer by air to New York, where at 6.45 p.m. he will celebrate Vespers with priests and men and women religious in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Friday 25 September will begin with an address by the Holy Father at the seat of the United Nations in New York and, at 11.30 a.m., he will participate in an interreligious meeting at the Ground Zero Memorial site. He will then visit the “Our Lady, Queen of Angels” school and meet with families of immigrants in Harlem. The day will conclude with Holy Mass in Madison Square Garden. On Saturday 26 September, the Pope will travel by air to Philadelphia, where at 10.30 a.m. he will celebrate Holy Mass with the bishops, clergy and men and women religious in the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. In the afternoon he will participate in a meeting for religious freedom with the Hispanic community and other immigrants in the Independence Mall, Philadelphia. Sunday 27 September will begin with a meeting with the bishops invited to the World Meeting of Families in the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, after which the Pope will visit the detainees in the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, Philadelphia. He will go on to celebrate the concluding Holy Mass of the Eighth World Meeting of Families at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. In the late afternoon, before the farewell ceremony, he will greet the organizing committee, the volunteers and benefactors at the international airport of Philadelphia, from where he will depart on his return flight to Rome. The aircraft carrying the Holy Father is scheduled to land back in Italy on Monday 28 September at 10 a.m.

Christie Announces 2016 NJ Leadership Team

Today, Chris Christie announced his New Jersey leadership teams made up of more than 200 Republican leaders and elected officials, as well as business leaders from across the state who are supporting his candidacy. 

NEW JERSEY POLITICAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Current and Former Statewide Elected Officials:

Kim Guadagno, Lieutenant Governor, New Jersey

Jeffrey Chiesa, Former U.S. Senator, New Jersey

Donald DiFrancesco, Former Governor, New Jersey

Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee:

Samuel S. Raia, Chairman, New Jersey Republican State Committee

New Jersey Republican National Committee Members:

Bill Palatucci, National Committeeman, New Jersey

Virginia “Ginny” Haines, National Committeewoman, New Jersey

New Jersey Republican Congressmen:

Frank LoBiondo, Congressman, NJ-02

Tom MacArthur, Congressmen, NJ-03

Leonard Lance, Congressman, NJ-07

Rodney Frelinghuysen, Congressman, NJ-11

Republican Leaders of the New Jersey Legislature:

Thomas H. Kean, Jr., State Senate Minority Leader, District 21

Jon M. Bramnick, Assembly Minority Leader, District 21

Member of the New Jersey State Senate:

Diane B. Allen, State Senator, District 7

Dawn Addiego, State Senator, District 8

Christopher J. Connors, State Senator, District 9

James W. Holzapfel, State Senator, District 10

Jennifer Beck, State Senator, District 11

Samuel D. Thompson, State Senator, District 12

Christopher “Kip” Bateman, State Senator, District 16

Steven Oroho, State Senator, District 24

Anthony R. Bucco, State Senator, District 25

Joseph Pennacchio, State Senator, District 26

Robert W. Singer, State Senator, District 30

Gerald Cardinale, State Senator, District 39

Kevin J. O’Toole, State Senator, District 40

Members of the New Jersey General Assembly:

Samuel D. Fiocchi, Assemblyman, District 1

Chris J. Brown, Assemblyman, District 8

Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, Assemblywoman, District 8

DiAnne Gove, Assemblywoman, District 9

Brian Rumpf, Assemblyman, District 9

Greg McGuckin, Assemblyman, District 10

David W. Wolfe, Assemblyman, District 10

Mary Pat Angelini, Assemblywoman, District 11

Caroline Casagrande, Assemblywoman, District 11

Robert Clifton, Assemblyman, District 12

Ronald S. Dancer, Assemblyman, District 12

Declan O’Scanlon, Jr., Assemblyman, District 13

Jack Ciattarelli, Assemblyman, District 16

Donna Simon, Assemblywoman, District 16

Nancy Munoz, Assemblywoman, District 21

John DiMaio, Assemblyman, District 23

Erik Peterson, Assemblyman, District 23

Alison Littell McHose, Assemblywoman, District 24

Parker Space, Assemblyman, District 24

Anthony R. Bucco, Jr., Assemblyman, District 25

Jay Webber, Assemblyman, District 26

Betty Lou DeCroce, Assemblywoman, District 26

Sean T. Kean, Assemblyman, District 30

David Rible, Assemblyman, District 30

Robert Auth, Assemblyman, District 39

Scott Rumana, Assemblyman, District 40

David C. Russo, Assemblyman, District 40

New Jersey Republican County Chairs:

Keith Davis, Chairman, Atlantic County

Bob Yudin, Chairman, Bergen County

Bill Layton, Chairman, Burlington County

Thomas Booth, Chairman, Camden County

Michael Donohue, Chairman, Cape May County

Michael Testa, Jr., Chairman, Cumberland County

Al Barlas, Chairman, Essex County

Kevin Murphy, Chairman, Gloucester County

Jose Arango, Chairman, Hudson County

Patrick Torpey, Chairman, Hunterdon County

Lisa Richford, Chairwoman, Mercer County

Sam Thompson, Chairman, Middlesex County

Shaun Golden, Chairman, Monmouth County

John Sette, Chairman, Morris County

George Gilmore, Chairman, Ocean County

John Traier, Chairman, Passaic County

Fran Grenier, Chairman, Salem County

Al Gaburo, Chairman, Somerset County

Ailish Hambel, Immediate Past Chairwoman, Sussex County

Glenn Mortimer, Chairman, Union County

Douglas Steinhardt, Chairman, Warren County

Members of the New Jersey Republican State Committee:

Joe Cafero, Committeeman, Atlantic County

Sonya Harris, Committeewoman, Atlantic County

Ben Focarino, Committeeman, Bergen County

Darlene Shotmeyer, Committeewoman, Bergen County

Larry Chatzidakis, Committeeman, Burlington County

Mary Ellen Lister, Committeewoman, Burlington County

Jeff Kasko, Committeeman, Camden County

Marie Knott, Committeewoman, Camden County

Tom Rotondi, Committeeman, Cape May County

Lynda Pagliughi, Committeewoman, Cape May County

Mike Barruzza, Committeeman, Cumberland County

Gloria Noto, Committeewoman, Cumberland County

Tom McDermott, Committeeman, Essex County

Marie Vicchiariello, Committeewoman, Essex County

Bill Fey, Committeeman, Gloucester County

Barbara Cappelli, Committeewoman, Gloucester County

Russell Maffei, Committeeman, Hudson County

Irene Kim Asbury, Committeewoman, Hudson County

Stephanie Pierce, Committeewoman, Hunterdon County

Jack Rafferty, Committeeman, Mercer County

Christine Bator, Committeewoman, Mercer County

Don Katz, Committeeman, Middlesex County

April Bengivenga, Committeewoman, Middlesex County

John Costigan, Committeeman, Monmouth County

Larry Casha, Committeeman, Morris County

Christina Ramirez, Committeewoman, Morris County

Tom Kelaher, Committeeman, Ocean County

Ginny Haines, Committeewoman, Ocean County

Marie Sieber, Committeewoman, Passaic County

Mike Mulligan, Committeeman, Salem County

Joan Melino, Committeewoman, Salem County

Victor Sordillo, Committeeman, Somerset County

Janice Fields, Committeewoman, Somerset County

Parker Space, Committeeman, Sussex County

Jill Space, Committeewoman, Sussex County

James Foerst, Committeeman, Union County

Dorothy Burger, Committeewoman, Union County

Jason Sarnoski, Committeeman, Warren County

Mary van Lieu, Committeewoman, Warren County

New Jersey Republican Countywide Elected Officials:

Dennis Levinson, County Executive, Atlantic County

Frank X. Balles, Sheriff, Atlantic County

Alex Marino, Freeholder, Atlantic County

Frank Formica, Freeholder, Atlantic County

John Carman, Freeholder, Atlantic County

Rich Dase, Freeholder, Atlantic County

James Bertino, Freeholder, Atlantic County

Michael Saudino, Sheriff, Bergen County

Maura DeNicola, Freeholder, Bergen County

John Felice, Freeholder, Bergen County

Jean Stanfield, Sheriff, Burlington County

Tim Tyler, Clerk, Burlington County

Bruce Garganio, Freeholder, Burlington County

Mary Ann O’Brien, Freeholder, Burlington County

Joe Donnelly, Freeholder, Burlington County

Gary Schaffer, Sheriff, Cape May County

Rita Fulginiti, Clerk, Cape May County

Kristine Gabor, Freeholder, Cape May County

Will Morey, Freeholder, Cape May County

E. Marie Hayes, Freeholder, Cape May County

Gerald Thornton, Freeholder, Cape May County

Leonard Desiderio, Freeholder, Cape May County

Thomas Sheppard, Freeholder, Cumberland County

James Sauro, Freeholder, Cumberland County

Carman Daddario, Freeholder, Cumberland County

Mary Melfi, Clerk, Hunterdon County

John Lanza, Freeholder, Hunterdon County

Suzanne Lagay, Freeholder, Hunterdon County

Matthew Holt, Freeholder, Hunterdon County

John King, Freeholder, Hunterdon County

Shaun Golden, Sheriff, Monmouth County

Christine Hanlon, Clerk, Monmouth County

Gary Rich, Freeholder, Monmouth County

Serena DiMaso, Freeholder, Monmouth County

Edward Rochford, Sheriff, Morris County

Ann Grossi, Clerk, Morris County

William Hank Lyon, Freeholder, Morris County

Doug Cabana, Freeholder, Morris County

Kathy DeFillippo, Freeholder, Morris County

Tom Mastrangelo, Freeholder, Morris County

John Cesaro, Freeholder, Morris County

John Krickus, Freeholder, Morris County

David Scapicchio, Freeholder, Morris County

Michael Mastronardy, Sheriff, Ocean County

Scott Colabella, Clerk, Ocean County

John “Jack” Kelly, Freeholder, Ocean County

Jim Lacey, Freeholder, Ocean County

John Batlett, Jr., Freeholder, Ocean County

Gerry Little, Freeholder, Ocean County

Charles Miller, Sheriff, Salem County

Gilda Gill, Clerk, Salem County

Dale Cross, Freeholder, Salem County

Robert Vanderslice, Freeholder, Salem County

Douglass Painter, Freeholder, Salem County

Julie Acton, Freeholder, Salem County

Benjamin Laury, Freeholder, Salem County

Frank Provenzano, Sheriff, Somerset County

Brett A. Radi, Clerk, Somerset County

Brian Levine, Freeholder, Somerset County

Peter Palmer, Freeholder, Somerset County

Patricia Walsh, Freeholder, Somerset County

Patrick Scaglione, Freeholder, Somerset County

Mark Caliguire, Freeholder, Somerset County

Jeffrey Parrott, Clerk, Sussex County

Phillip Crabb, Freeholder, Sussex County

Richard Vohden, Freeholder, Sussex County

George Graham, Freeholder, Sussex County

Dennis Mudrick, Freeholder, Sussex County

Gail Phoebus, Freeholder, Sussex County

Edward Smith, Freeholder, Warren County

Richard Gardner, Freeholder, Warren County

Jason Sarnoski, Freeholder, Warren County

NEW JERSEY FINANCE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Co-Chair – Jon Hanson, Hampshire Real Estate Companies, Far Hills, NJ

Co-Chair – Finn Wentworth, Normandy Realty, Morristown, NJ

Fred Alworth, Gibbons P.C., Randolph, NJ

George Gilmore, Gilmore and Monahan, Toms River, NJ

Jim Appleton, Ewing, NJ

Rich Bagger, Celgene Corporation, Summit, NJ

Jon Bramnick, Bramnick Rodriguez Mitterhoff Grabas Woodruff, LLC, Westfield, NJ

Senator Jeff Chiesa, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, Branchburg, NJ

Todd Christie, Ernst & Young, Mendham, NJ

John Clancy, Education & Health Centers of America, Inc., West Caldwell, NJ

Kurt Conti, Conti Group, New Providence, NJ

Arthur Corwin, Arthur Corwin Civil Engineering, Morristown, NJ

Fletch Creamer, Fletch Creamer & Sons Contractors, Hackensack, NJ

Keith Davis, Nehmad Perillo & Davis, Linwood, NJ

Ed Deutsch, Mcelroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter, Morristown, NJ

Peter de Neufville, de Neufille & Co, Branchburg, NJ

Craig Domalewski, Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski, PC, Randolph, NJ

Larry Downes, New Jersey Resources, Princeton Junction, NJ

Mike DuHaime, Mercury, Westfield, NJ

Patrick Dunican, Gibbons P.C., Newark, NJ

The Hon. Mike Ferguson, Ferguson Strategies LLC, New Providence, NJ

Nelson Ferreira, Ferreira Construction Co., Inc., Branchburg, NJ

Dale Florio, Princeton Public Affairs Group, Trenton, NJ

Daniel Geltrude, Geltrude & Company LLC., Nutley, NJ

Michael Gilfillan, BCS Capital, Madison, NJ

Christine Gilfillan, Madison, NJ

Larry Hesse, Hesse Construction, Bay Head, NJ

Russ Hewit, Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski, P.C., New Vernon, NJ

Bob Hugin, Celgene Corporation, Summit, NJ

John Inglesino, Inglesino, Pearlman, Wyciskala & Taylor, Rockaway, NJ

Larry Inserra, Inserra Supermarkets, Ramsey, NJ

Ralph Izzo, Public Service Enterprise Group,  NJ

Dr. Seema Jain, Gynae Galaxy, Sparta, NJ

Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, Medicor Cardiology, Bridgewater, NJ

Jerry Langer, Langer Transport Company, Montville, NJ

John Lutz, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, Franklin Lakes, NJ

Tom Maoli, Lexus of Route 10, Far Hills, NJ

Alex Markowits, Spring Hill Communities, Lakewood NJ

W. Nevins McCann, Connell Foley, Jersey City, NJ

Ketan Mehta, Tris Pharma, Princeton, NJ

Bruce Meisel, First Westwood Realty and Jefferson Realty, Saddle River, NJ

Nick Menas, Fox Rothschild LLP, Medford, NJ

Jeff Michaels, Optimus Partners, Hillsborough NJ

Senator Kevin O'Toole, O`Toole Fernandez Weiner Van Lieu LLC, Cedar Grove, NJ

David Pecker, American Media, Inc, NJ

Chris Polimeni, NJ

Sam Raia, Raia Properties, Saddle River, NJ

Laura Saker, Saker ShopRites, Red Bank, NJ

Richard Saker, Saker ShopRites, Red Bank, NJ

John Saraceno, Onyx Equities, Ridgewood, NJ

David Satz, Caesar’s Entertainment, NJ

Brent Saunders, Actavis, Far Hills, NJ

John Sette, Lohman & Associates Inc, Morristown, NJ

Chuck Shotmeyer, Shotmeyer Bros, Franklin Lakes, NJ

Michele Siekerka, Robbinsville, NJ

Candy Straight, Movie Producer, Bloomfield, NJ

Vincent Tufariello, Atrium Health Group, Wayne, NJ

Ed Walsh, Avison Young, Basking Ridge, NJ

Jim Weinstein, NJ

Jerry Zaro, Sills Cummis, Ocean, NJ

Note: Individuals are serving in a personal capacity.  Company names are provided for convenience only.

Christie: Time For Truth Over Pandering!

Here is a very special message from Governor Chris Christie:

Today, I announced that I am running for President of the United States.

I want to lead a national conversation that rewards truth over pandering, that rewards innovation over the timidity of the status quo, and that honors the power of our history over the fear of failure.

Real leadership means real talk. I want to be your President, because in order to take on the challenges facing our country, it's going to take someone who isn't afraid to speak honestly and tell it like it is.

Mary Pat and I are very excited to hit the campaign trail and meet all of our supporters as we travel across the country. We hope you will be there to support us.

Will you stand with me and our vision for strong leadership by donating $100, $50, or $25 today?

Our journey to the White House begins today, and I hope you'll be part of it.

Chris Christie

Video: Governor Christie Announces 2016 Bid

THIS Video Says It All . . . Watch it!

A very special message from CatholicVote.org:

If you are anything like me, I know what kind of weekend you just had.  "Jesus I Trust in You" never meant so much.  A well-known Catholic priest reported being spat upon after encountering the “pride parade” while walking home in New York. Even big corporations joined in the charade, though I suspect their favorite color in the rainbow is green -- as in profits.  The widespread euphoric celebration of the Supreme Court’s lawless decision has likewise spawned predictable calls for new attacks on people of faith, religious institutions, and the family.  So what now?  I can’t predict the future. Right now we are strategizing with allies. We need to be smart and inventive. I will promise you this: we are not giving up. No way.  But today I am reminded of the often-quoted words of Blessed Mother Teresa, who said: “God does not require that we be successful, only that we be faithful.”  What does that mean?  It means, in part, we should stop fretting about what we cannot control, and devote ourselves with renewed vigor to what we can. No Supreme Court decision can force you to deny your faith, to abandon your family, or to doubt the hope we have in Christ.  I understand politics, and I’ve looked at the opinion polls. Same sex marriage has surged in popularity, yet recent polls show continued widespread opposition to same-sex ‘marriage.’ A strong majority is opposed to attacks on religious freedom. This fight is far from over.  Even so, among the young, support for same-sex ‘marriage’ continues to grow. That’s why we produced our video highlighting six young people with the courage to stand up and defend the truth about marriage.  Since we launched the video, over 25,000 people have watched it every day!  We’re now running hundreds of thousands of ads on social media targeting millennials. And predictably, the vitriol has been brutal. LGBT activists are insulting and ridiculing the courageous young people that appear in our ad. Meanwhile these same hate-filled activists are shamefully rallying around the hashtag #LoveWins.  That’s why today I need your help to spread the word among the young. College kids and recent graduates find themselves caught between what they know to be right, and a culture that demands they worship the new god of sexual liberation.  >>>Chip in $7 to help us reach 56 young people  >>>Chip in $24 to help reach 192 young people  >>>Chip in $46 to help reach 368 young people  >>>Chip in $72 to help reach 576 young people  The future of the Church is with our young people. The Church knows they matter.  Remember: World Youth Day was started by a Polish boy who lost his mother, who studied for the priesthood in secret, and who saw his land besieged first by Nazis then by Communists.  His message to the world?  "Be Not Afraid."  Brian  P.S. If you want to mail a gift, you can do so to the following address: CatholicVote.org Education Fund, P.O. Box 2709 Chicago, IL 60690 P.P.S. Many of you have also asked if we would pass on a note of encouragement to those who appear in our ad. You can do so via email at info@CatholicVote.org or by sending a note to the address above.

2015 NJ Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced!

Arts & Letters

James Fenimore Cooper

Anna Quindlen

Enterprise

William Fox

Lewis Katz

Bernard Marcus

Performing Arts

Kool & the Gang

Jon Stewart

Public Service

Jack H. Jacobs

Frank Lautenberg

Sports

Derek Jeter

Christie Rampone

Dick Vitale

Unsung Hero

Carla Harris

This Is NOT A Defense Of Chris Christie

Let's get this clear right from the start: this is not a defense of Chris Christie.
On the eve of his presidential campaign launch the Governor of New Jersey needs no defense. In fact, if Chris Christie were here right now and I told him I planned to pen a defense of him, he would probably say "Look, Dan -- I appreciate it but I'm not sure I need it."
The last thing Christie wants is for you or I to feel that we have to defend him or come to his aid or prop him up in some way. He understands the nature of politics. He knows how unpredictable things are. He gets it that it's a tumultuous business. And above all, he certainly knows better than to rely on polls or (horrors!) the media to signal that he's doing the right thing. For polls are a mere snapshot at an instant in time and the media delight in building you up only to tear you down. Oh, how they love to see the mighty tumble -- especially if you're a Republican.
That's all okay with Chris Christie. And the last thing he'd want (especially now) is for you to feel sorry for him.
Chris Christie knows he's the underdog in this GOP presidential race. He's knows he's got a long, tough road to travel. He's knows it won't be easy.
But Christie has overcome the odds before; he's defied the experts before and he's befuddled the pundits before -- more than once.
What Chris Christie asks for is nothing more than a fair hearing.
Listen to him. Hear him out. Give him a chance to tell his story and detail his vision for the future.
Chris Christie isn't perfect. He'll be the first one to tell you that. Chris Christie has made mistakes. He'll readily admit that. And Bridgegate was ugly and stupid and wrong. And Chris Christie took that hit -- took responsibility for it and quickly moved to clean things up. Tellingly, after multiple investigations not one scintilla of evidence has emerged linking the Governor to the events surrounding that imbroglio.
Put that alongside Benghazi or the VA scandal or the IRS debacle or Fast and Furious or the Clinton Foundation funding mess or Whitewater or the mess that is Obamacare. To say it pales by comparison would be an understatement -- a gross understatement.
Chris Christie will run hard and he will run on his record. He can work across the aisle and he can bring people together to get things done -- things like pension reform; tax cuts and tax stability; urban redevelopment; spending cuts and balanced budgets; charter schools; public employee benefits reform; less state regulation and more home rule; enlightened drug offender policies; higher education advances; better health care facilities and so much more.
These are the things that Chris Christie will talk about.
This is the way he will run.
He will not offer you the strict Republican solution or the strict Democrat solution. He doesn't toe any line. Rather he will offer you what he considers to be the best, most practical solution.
You may not agree with everything he has to say. You may not even like the way he says it. But he will challenge you. He will hear you out. He will engage you. He will make you think about many of these things in a new way.
This is a different kind -- a new kind -- of presidential candidate.
Pay attention!

Houdini: Five Things You Never Knew

Newman Society Will Uphold Church Teachings

Cardinal Newman Society President Patrick Reilly issued the following statement, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to extend the legal recognition of marriage beyond one man and one woman:

We want our members to rest assured: The Cardinal Newman Society is committed to Truth and to faithful Catholic education, and therefore we accept one true definition of marriage. No Supreme Court decision can change that.
Furthermore, we call on Catholic educators to stand firm in the truth, with the conviction of faith. No matter how difficult it gets to maintain Catholic schools and colleges in a hostile culture, Catholic education can never waiver on the definition of marriage. Our young people need to hear the truth from their teachers, now more than ever. We will continue to promote and defend those faithful institutions that teach the truth, and we will expose any Catholic institution that denies it.

Catholic Education Daily is an online publication of The Cardinal Newman Society. Click here for email updates and free online membership with The Cardinal Newman Society.

- See more at: http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CatholicEducationDaily/DetailsPage/tabid/102/ArticleID/4264/Newman-Society-Statement-on-Supreme-Courts-Marriage-Ruling.aspx#sthash.ezt40aMW.dpuf

Voltaire - With A Word Of Warning For Today!

Yet Another World-Class Liar/Hypocrite

Barack Obama in 2008 - just five years ago.

Christie Video: 'Why I Am This Way'

And Speaking Of Flags . . . .

                       H/T; RedNationRising

WHOA! Media Presses Christie On Town Halls

Can you believe this?
Can you honestly believe it?
The statehouse reporters in Trenton are pressing Governor Chris Christie on why he doesn't hold weekly open forums, taking questions from all comers.
They cannot be serious. Really? Honestly?
Nobody has been more accessible that Governor Christie. Nobody!
Governor Christie has held (and continues to hold) more Town Halls than any other Governor ever. In fact, he's held 137 Town Halls all over the state, answering thousands of questions. And he answers even more on his monthly statewide radio call-in program.
Well, leave it to Chris Christie to give the media a rock 'em, sock 'em answer on this one. And that's exactly what he did. You go, Governor!

About That Rainbow-Colored White House . . .

After the 5-4 Supreme Court decision was handed down in the Obergefell case on Friday the White House greeting the evening lit in the rainbow colors of the gay movement.
Make no mistake about it: Well before the Supreme Court decision was made public someone decided that this would happen if things turned out as the administration hoped they would. And, who knows -- the White House may have even known about the decision in advance. It may have been tipped off.
In any event, this took planning. You don't simply change the lighting on the White House that easily.
Indeed, it was all well-planned. The White House account changed its logo to an image of the White House seal covered in rainbow colors, bearing a resemblance to the actual building’s appearance Friday evening. And White House aides gathered on the North Lawn on Friday evening to view the lights
Now, it's time for a few questions: Do you ever remember the White House being lit in green for Irish -Americans? What it ever lit in red and white for Polish-Americans, even when Poland was finally liberated from communist rule? Was it? Was it ever lit in red, white and green for Italian-Americans? Ever? Even on Columbus Day?
The answer is no, no and no.
But here's an even better question: Was the White House ever lit in red, white and blue for the Fourth of July? Not that we know of.
The White House is "the people's house." It belongs to no one group or segment of America. It belongs to everyone -- to all of us and it should always be our house. It should be a symbol of unity and undivided national pride for all, no matter our views, our color, our ethnicity, our religion or sex or our sexual orientation.
The front of the White House is recognized the world over. Its image should never be used to celebrate any one cause, segment, viewpoint or group. It represents and celebrates America. Period.
If the White House is ever lit in any colors -- and this is a big "if" -- those colors should be red, white and blue.
End of story.

Key Prelates Reaffirm 'Unassailable Truths'

"This decision redefining marriage will also bring bad consequences. Losing the understanding of marriage in our culture as a conjugal union of a man and a woman in a permanent and exclusive commitment conducive to welcoming and raising the children born from such a union weakens the family as the basic cell of society; and it imperils the human flourishing of future generations. Allowing “an act of the will” to be substituted for “legal judgment” is a recipe for tyranny."

--Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski

"Marriage as the union of one man and one woman is a truth that predates courts and constitutions. This understanding transcends cultures, religions and all time – it is the foundation of civilization. More than just a bond between people who love and are committed to each other, marriage is also about creating and nurturing the next generation – something that requires both a man and a woman with their distinctive and complementary gifts. This is the reason that civil governments have given marriage special recognition throughout all of human history. Men and women are not interchangeable. Marriage is not ours to define. History, nature and revelation all profess these truths."

--Washington, DC Cardinal Donald Wuerl

"The Supreme Court’s narrow majority decision today is gravely unjust as it attempts to change the nature of marriage. Mandating marriage redefinition across the country is a tragic error harming the common good and the most vulnerable among us. The ruling does not and cannot change what marriage really is. No one and no court can make what is false true.
"Marriage is a perennial institution, with deep roots in who we are and in our nation’s culture and laws. Marriage is and always will be the union between one man and one woman. This truth is inseparable from the duty to honor the God-given dignity of every human person, to protect the beautiful truth of marriage, which concerns the essential well-being of the nation, especially children. "Children have a basic right, wherever possible, to know and be loved by their mother and father together. The law has a duty to support every child in this most basic right.
"With renewed purpose, we call upon all people of good will to promote and defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman for life. The redefinition of legal marriage to include any other type of relationship has serious consequences, especially for religious freedom."

Galveston-Houston Cardinal Daniel DiNardo

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