Christie Signs Landmark Atlantic City Measure

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law sweeping legislation to enact his reform plans to revitalize the ailing gaming and tourism industries in Atlantic City, and set the region on a new course for economic growth, job creation and prosperity. Recognizing the significance and importance of Atlantic City's regional economy to the state as a whole, Governor Christie put forward a comprehensive, bold reform plan in July aimed at turning around the deep and unprecedented challenges facing Atlantic City's gaming and tourism industries.

Video footage from a press conference held in Atlantic City on February 1, 2011.

Reagan Was Adept Writer And Superb Editor

Lou Cannon has an excellent piece at Politics Daily that verifies that Ronald Reagan wrote most of his own remarks and was a superb writer and deft editor.
Cannon should know. As a reporter, he covered Reagan for decades.
Here's part of what Cannon says:

I learned early on that he [Reagan] wrote most of his own speeches and one-liners -- and an even better editor. The book "Reagan in His Own Hand," by Annelise and Martin Anderson, with Kiron Skinner, reproduces illustrations of presidential speech drafts and the edits Reagan made in them. My favorite, also reproduced in one of my books, is a passage from a historic speech to British parliamentarians in Westminster on June 8, 1982, in which Reagan took some mush that had been written for him about Soviet actions in Europe, crossed it out, and wrote in his distinctive, looping hand: "What I am describing now is a policy and a hope for the long term -- the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history as it has left other totalitarian ideologies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the expression of citizens."

These are strong words from Joe Sixpack, but Reagan was at once a man of conviction who thought seriously about the great issues of his time and an ordinary American, never braggy, who treated his audiences -- all of us, really -- with consideration and respect.

 Click here to read more at Politics Daily.

NJ Governor's Mansion To Be 'Dressed In Red'

Beginning on National Wear Red Day (Feb.4) and through the month of February, Drumthwacket in Princenton, NJ will be “dressed in red” to observe the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign, New Jersey's First Lady Mary Pat Christie announced today.
The annual awareness event focuses on heart disease, the number one health issue facing women in New Jersey and across the nation.
“Heart disease touches all of us,” said Mrs. Christie. “Whether it’s our grandmothers, mothers, daughters, aunts, friends or co-workers, the fact is heart disease impacts 1 in 3 women every year. That’s why it’s so important to raise awareness and help to save a life of someone you know.”
In New Jersey, women accounted for 53% of deaths due to heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, for women age 20 and over, heart disease claims one woman every minute. Nationally, more women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
“Making a difference can be as simple as demonstrating your support on National Wear Red Day this Friday, telling five of your closest friends about how heart disease affects women or volunteering with your local American Heart Association office,” added Mrs. Christie.
Other buildings, popular sites and monuments throughout the nation will also be participating in the Go Red campaign. Since 2004, landmarks such as Niagara Falls, the Empire State Building, Graceland and even San Francisco’s famed cable cars have turned red for American Heart Month.
For more information on how to take action against heart disease, go to www.goredforwomen.org

President Reagan's Top Ten Defining Moments

Chris Queen at News Real Blog has compiled the top ten defining moments of Ronald Reagan's presidency. You can read all the details at News Real Blog, but here are the moments, listed in chronological order:

10. Inaugural address, 1/20/81: "Government is the problem."
9. Assassination attempt. 3/30/81: Reagan jokes "I forgot to duck." Going into surgery, he tells doctors: "I hope you're all Republicans."
8. Air Traffic Controllers' Strike. 8/3/81. When Reagan says "you'll be fired," he means it.
7. Signs Economic Recovery Act. 8/13/81.
6. CPAC 10th Anniversary remarks. Reagan tells conservatives: "We will not be turned back." 2/18/83.
5. "Evil Empire" speech. Reagan tells National Association of Evangelicals that Soviets constitute an "evil empire." 3/8/83
4. The Lanslide. Reagan is re-elected in electoral sweep and carries 49 of 50 states. 11/6/84.
3. Libyan Air Strike. America retaliates, means business, stands tall. 4/15/86.
2. "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Reagan ushers in the end of the Soviet era. 6/12/87
1. Farewell address to the nation: "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." 1/11/89

Of course, many other moments can be added to these: The remarks on the Challenger disaster. The famous "Go ahead, make my day" comment. Reagan's remarks on the anniversary of  D Day at Normandy.

What were the defining Reagan moments for you?

Washington's New Prima Donna Has Her Way

Item: At exclusive Washington dinner party, senior Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett orders a military general to bring her more wine.

I'm a prima donna
I can rule the world
Don't care who's around me
I can fool the world
So hand's up
Catch this feeling
There's no stopping this
Right now in this moment
I can rule the world.*

*With apologies to Christina Aguilera.

White House Biggie Mistakes General For Waiter

According to a tipster who fed the story to The Daily Caller, White House prima donna Valerie Jarrett was seated at the head table Monday at a VERY exclusive dinner along with several other big-name politicians and a handful of high-ranking military types when she committed an inexcusable faux pas..
As an officer sporting several stars walked past, Jarrett signaled for his attention and said, “I’d like another glass of wine.”
Garçon!
We ask once again: When will the White House wake up and get rid of this sad collection of tasteless, clueless Chicago cronies? When?

Punxsutawney Phil Misses Shadow... And the Obvious

Well, it's official, Punxsutawney Phil has not seen his shadow, heralding an early start for Spring. Rumor has it that someone shouted, "You lie!" after the announcement (bad joke quota has been met for the day...).

Personally, I think this rodent is trying to be optimistic in his prognostication. With the record snow totals the region has received - Philadelphia has already set a two-year record with 116.5 inches - and more snow anticipated later this week, I don't think we're going to see an end to the white stuff until after St. Patrick's Day.

Punxsutawney Phil has given us a reason to hope for warmer weather. Still, keep your shovels and rock salt handy...

Will Turmoil in Egypt Lead Us to Pay More at the Pump?

The protests in Egypt is changing the political landscape in the Land of the Pharaohs, but it can also change how much we pay for gas at the pump. The unrest is affecting transport of oil through Egypt's Suez Canal, and the world markets are already seeing rising prices for crude oil.

An excerpt from National Geographic Daily News:

The price of oil reached more than $100 a barrel this week for the first time since 2008, based on the benchmark Brent contract, which is widely used in Europe and Asia. In the United States, the benchmark price stayed lower, about $92 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and was falling off slightly from last week.

Each dollar increase in the price of oil translates to roughly a 2.4-cent-per-gallon (0.6-cent-per-liter) hike in the price of fuel, although many other market conditions affect the actual price that consumers pay at the pump. Bloggers and some analysts have focused on the risk of oil shock posed by a potential closure of Egypt's Suez Canal, the 142-year-old man-made waterway linking the Mediterranean and the Red seas. But energy experts say the oil market is concerned about Egypt not as a commodity route, but as a gateway to further political instability.

Find the rest of the article here.

Christie Vetoes Authorty Budget; Quashes Raises

Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie once again exercised his veto authority to check inappropriate practices by state authorities by vetoing minutes of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority.
At their meeting on January 19th, 2011, the NJRA approved a 2011 administrative budget which contained three percent discretionary raises for staff and funds for employees to select gifts from a catalog pursuant to an “Employee Service Awards Program.” The Governor’s veto, the eighteenth such action since taking office, again demonstrates the impact and effectiveness of executive branch oversight when the legislature provides the necessary veto power over the actions of the many authorities, boards and commissions across state government.
The Governor has not been granted such veto authority over the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners or the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, making it more difficult to effectively police the activities of those bodies.
In vetoing the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority meeting minutes, dated January 19th, 2011, Governor Christie cited the “inappropriate” nature of the budget allocations for discretionary raises and employee gift program, which contradict with the Governor’s stated goal of maintaining fiscal prudence in the board, commission and authority spending practices.
Governor Christie also noted that, “the approved Administrative Budget did not reflect line items for these inappropriate expenditures; rather, information concerning these expenditures was provided only after repeated requests for additional details. Such expenditures contradict my stated goal of fiscal prudence. For these reasons, I am compelled to veto the resolution which approved the FY2011 Administrative Budget.”
This becomes Governor Christie's eighteenth veto taken against various state authorities and commissions since taking office. Meeting minutes are scrutinized by the Governor's Office Authorities Unit to flag potentially troublesome issues.

Video: Romney On The Crisis In Egypt