AIPAC: Obama Statements 'Of Serious Concern'

An important message from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC):
The Obama Administration's recent statements regarding the U.S. relationship with Israel are a matter of serious concern.
AIPAC calls on the Administration to take immediate steps to defuse the tension with the Jewish State. Israel is America's closest ally in the Middle East.
The foundation of the U.S-Israel relationship is rooted in America's fundamental strategic interest, shared democratic values, and a long-time commitment to peace in the region.
Those strategic interests, which we share with Israel, extend to every facet of American life and our relationship with the Jewish State, which enjoys vast bipartisan support in Congress and among the American people.
The Administration should make a conscious effort to move away from public demands and unilateral deadlines directed at Israel, with whom the United States shares basic, fundamental, and strategic interests.
The escalated rhetoric of recent days only serves as a distraction from the substantive work that needs to be done with regard to the urgent issue of Iran's rapid pursuit of nuclear weapons, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and all her Arab neighbors.
We strongly urge the Administration to work closely and privately with our partner Israel, in a manner befitting strategic allies, to address any issues between the two governments.
As Vice President Biden said last week in Israel, "The cornerstone of the relationship is our absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to Israel's security. Bibi, you heard me say before, progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is simply no space between the United States and Israel. There is no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to Israel's security."

Christie Launches Budget Web Page

In conjunction with his budget address, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has launched a new web page dedicated to keeping the citizens of New Jersey informed about the budget reform process. The Rebuilding New Jersey’s Economy Webpage will have documents and applications available to the public including:

· Video of Governor Christie’s budget address

· Speech transcripts

· Video messages from various department commissioners

· Budget solutions

· Press releases

· Frequently asked questions and answers

The webpage will be continually updated as Governor Christie and the state departments implement their solutions for FY 2011.

Photos: Big Anti-Obamacare Rally At Congressman's Office

I've just returned from a huge anti-Obamacare rally where hundreds of ordinary citizens gathered outside the office of New Jersey Congressman John Adler in Marlton.
Their message to the freshman Congressman was simple: NO Obamacare; start over; go back to the drawing board; we don't want it!
These citizens told me they've had it with backroom deals, secret giveaways, deceitful tactics and government power grabs.
They're disgusted. They're angry. They're resentful. And they demand to be heard.
Many of them wore buttons that said "Listen to me."
And their signs (more than I could ever document here) tell the story.
While the demonstration continued, hundreds of drivers honked their car horns or yelled out support as they drove by.
If you look at the people in the photos, you will see that they do not appear to be "kooks" or "radicals." They're ordinary, hard-working taxpayers.
For the record, Congressman Adler voted against Obamacare last time and he says he will vote against the Senate bill this time According to this mornings Courier-Post newspaper, however, Adler "left open the possibility of supporting the bill that would make fixes to the Senate bill, if it includes more cost-containment measures."
Adler was said to be in Washington today and was not at his Marlton office. Nonetheless, members of his staff were available on site and were courteously soliciting input from the demonstrators.
It's no secret that Adler faces a tough re-election battle in November.
This demonstration should send a clear message to other members of Congress: If you voted "yes" last time, you'd better change your vote. And even if you voted "no" last time, the pressure on you will continue.
BTW: Americans for Prosperity and its New Jersey chapter under the direction of Steve Lonnegan helped to organize this event today.

Poll: Toomey Bests Specter

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey holds six-point lead over Senator Arlen Specter thanks to his strength with Republicans, likely voters and independents, according to a new poll.

The survey, by Susquehanna Polling & Research, found Toomey winning 42 percent of likely voters, compared to 36 percent for Specter and 18 percent who are still undecided.
The results cut against a couple recent polls that showed Specter retaking the lead against Toomey, but they’re in line with many other surveys conducted over the last several months. One key reason for the difference is Susquehanna’s specific selection of respondents; it polled only those who voted in general elections from 2005-2008, emphasizing off-year voters “to reflect likely turnout in a non-presidential general election.”

Susquehanna did not poll the Democratic Senate primary, nor did it survey a general election matchup between Toomey and Democrat Joe Sestak.

In its poll of 700 voters, which has a margin of error of 3.7 percent, Toomey won 75 percent of Republicans and 40 percent of independents (a 10-point lead over Specter in that group). Democrat favor Specter 59 percent to 14 percent, with 20 percent still undecided.

In an encouraging sign for Toomey, he leads Specter 43 percent to 33 percent among “super voters,” those who have voted in at least three of the last four general elections, according to the poll.

Chris Christie on NJ 101 Tuesday At 7 PM

Governor Chris Christie will join NJ 101.5 FM’s Eric Scott in-studio for the next episode of the Ask The Governor program tomorrow, TUESDAY, MARCH 16 AT 7:00 PM.

Ask The Governor is a monthly program that allows New Jerseyans an opportunity to have their questions answered directly by the Governor.

Be sure to tune in your radio dials to 101.5 FM or listen online at NJ1015.com this Tuesday.

You can also check out Governor Christie’s three previous visits to the Ask The Governor program. For March 3 click HERE, for January 27 click HERE and for December 8 click HERE.

Watch Governor Christie; Comment Live

On Tuesday, March 16, 2010, the official website of Governor Chris Christie, www.nj.gov/governor/, will stream the Governor’s budget address live through NJN Public Television & Radio.

During the event, you are invited to participate in a live discussion where you can voice your comments, opinions and respond to poll questions throughout the speech.

The live discussion is open to all Facebook and Twitter account holders. Upon arrival to the website, participants will be prompted to sign in through their Facebook or Twitter accounts in order to gain access to the discussion.

The live blog event will begin at 1:00 pm ET. To participate please visit http://www.nj.gov/governor/home/live.shtml.

Carly: The Future Of Political Advertising

Watch the video above.
Watch all of it.
Watch it closely.
Watch it several times.
Watch it because you are looking at the future of political advertising.
Yes, it's a bit longer than we are accustomed to. But you can be sure that it will spawn 30 and 60 second spots.
There's so much in this video -- so many facts; so many compelling angles; so many evocative moments; so much to wake us up and yes, even alarm us.
But that's what advertising is all about -- not just logic, but emotion as well.
It's hard to look at this and not admire Carly Fiorina and her team.
Clearly Carly's in this race to win. She won't be pushed around. She won't be bullied. She won't be intimidated.
And isn't it time someone took on the entrenched ruling class in Washington and really shook things up?!? Isn't it time?
Isn't 18 years long enough?
If you agree and you want to help Carly, click here now.

NJ: Christie Declares State Of Emergency

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tonight declared a State of Emergency in New Jersey due to the severe weather conditions of the last two days which have resulted in river and stream flooding in some areas, hundreds of thousands of power outages, damage to property and at least two deaths.
The State of Emergency, similar to one declared on February 9 for some southern counties of the state due to heavy snow fall, broadens powers of the New Jersey State Police to activate elements of the State Emergency Operations Plan, including traffic control, limiting access and egress from impacted areas and issuing evacuation orders if needed, among other powers.
The declaration, which was made in an Executive Order signed by Gov. Christie, confers those powers on the state Director of Emergency Management, who is the Superintendent of the State Police, Col. Rick Fuentes. The Executive Order would also allow National Guard troops to be called up if needed.
The Executive Order specifically notes that major flooding is occurring on the Raritan and Passaic Rivers. The State Police report that some media have erroneously reported tonight that dams in northern New Jersey had been breached. As of 9 p.m. no such events had been confirmed.
“My first order of business as Governor is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens,” Governor Christie said. “I want to ensure that local and county resources are supplemented if needed to get everyone through this as quickly and safely as possible.”

Ending Our Semi- Annual ClockCapade

Congress has been playing around with daylight savings time (DST) recently.
So, once again we are "springing ahead" earlier this year.
That's why you pushed your clock ahead one hour before you turned in on Saturday night.
And this is why you will turn it back again in the fall.
This also means you have to reset all of those pesky digital clocks on various devices all over your house. And, you lose an hour of sleep.
Hey, I love DST and wish we could have it all year round - which makes this ritual even more of a nuisance.
This is what happens when you let the federal government mess around with the time.
I have a solution for this twice-a-year time madness: Let's set the clocks ahead (or behind) one-half-hour and leave them there.
It's a permanent compromise. In the fall, leave the clocks where they are.
Next spring, no change.
That oughta do it, right?

ADL: 'Shocked, Stunned' By Obama Actions

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said it was shocked and stunned by the [Obama] Administration's public dressing down of Israel by saying it had "undermined trust and confidence in the peace process, and in America's interests," as related by Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley in his daily briefing. Crowley was referring to the announcement about future building in Jerusalem made during Vice President Joe Biden's Israel visit.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We are shocked and stunned at the Administration's tone and public dressing down of Israel on the issue of future building in Jerusalem.

We cannot remember an instance when such harsh language was directed at a friend and ally of the United States.

One can only wonder how far the U.S. is prepared to go in distancing itself from Israel in order to placate the Palestinians in the hope they see it is in their interest to return to the negotiating table.

It is especially troubling that this harsh statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly and privately explained to Vice President Biden the bureaucratic nature in making the announcement of proposed new building in Jerusalem, and Biden accepted the prime minister's apology for it.

Therefore, to raise the issue again in this way is a gross overreaction to a point of policy difference among friends.

The Administration should have confidence and trust in Israel whose tireless pursuit for peace is repeatedly rebuffed by the Palestinians and whose interests remain in line with the United States.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.