Resident's Night

Just got back from Residents Night, and I wish more Veronians would come out for this event. It's a good way to learn more about the town, town government, and services. And for me, its a chance for a face-to-face with people that I correspond with thorough email because of my web sites but rarely or never talk to or get to see.

There's bound to be at least one person who I've traded a dozen or more emails with but never met, like Gloria from the EC. Then there are people that I've worked with for perhaps 7 years, since I started Verona Living and doing the other sites. Chief Huber, Connie from Health, Jeff the Emergency Manager, Jim Thomas from the Library/VTV who has aired more than 100 of my videos on VTV, Sue who sends me the election results like clock work, and many more.

I originally started doing the web sites because I wanted to know what was going on in town, to feel connected, and I think it has accomplished that. I do believe that Verona works better than some of the neighboring towns. Perhaps keeping our elected officials non-partisan helps. And the turf wars that take place in some other towns would seem childish in our town.

Election Musings

I guess the best thing you can say about the 2009 elections is that they are over and we can look forward to 4 months off before the next cycle begins in earnest. I still believe that the two party system is flawed and that it would not be business as usual if there was a 3rd party.

The old addage in NJ goes that the Democrats are corrupt and the Republicans are incompetant. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, I wish Mr. Christie good luck. Anyone taking office at this time will need it.

Christie seems to be a decent fellow, but my dislike of the current system is mainly about the parties themselves. The party bosses control the primary process, so a newbie or outsider has no chance. Eventually it becomes a closed system and each candidate is cut from the same mold.

At the national level, the electoral college guarantees 2 party dominance. Even a superb independant candidate will get no more than 25% of the popular vote and 0% of the electoral vote.

In the past, third parties came from the extremes (think "Green," "Libertarian," or "Right to Life") but we need a third party in the middle that can call out the other 2 parties when they get out of control. If you hear of any middle-of-the-road third party, let me know.

How Verona Voted

For Governor
Corzine 1912
Christie 2426
Daggett 456
All others below 1%
For General Assembly (vote for 2)
Bombace 1548
Agnostelli 1548
Russo 2110
Rumana 2049
Essex County Sheriff
Fontoura 2033
Mendez 1824
Register of Deeds and Mortgages
Thigpen 1521
Moore-Abrams 1932
State Public Question
Yes 1810
No 1415

I endorse Daggett for Governor

I think that we have seen from Obama's experience that there is no such thing as bipartisanship, maybe there never was. Yes, some times in the past, such as on the Iraq War vote, the minority could be cowed into going along in large numbers with the party in power. But that is not bipartisanship, its just wimpyness.

Until there are viable 3rd parties in this country the Democrats and Republicans will treat it as a zero-sum game. I attack you and in doing so I drive my approval ratings down, but I drive your approval ratings down more... so I win. If 98% of the people disapprove of me, but I can make 99% of the people disapprove of you, then I am the clear winner. All of that changes immediately if there are viable 3rd parties.

Daggett is a straight-shooter and a smart guy with a long history of service. And he's squeaky clean. The Star-Ledger endorsed him, which is unheard-of with a 3rd party candidate.

Please get out and vote on November 3rd. The polls are open from 6am to 8pm. Daggett will appear on the ballot down and buried among a bunch of names you've never heard of. As always, you can see how Verona voted by checking VeronaLiving.com around 9:45pm.

The listing appears as:

Christopher J.

DAGGETT

Frank J. Esposito

Independent for NJ

Star Ledger Endorsement

Daggett Web Site

Love Your Country

I've been trying to make sense of some events. When Chicago lost it's bid for the Olympics some Conservatives cheered, even though the loss would hurt US prestige. Likewise, when Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize (which I personally thought was silly) some Conservatives booed, even through it would increase US prestige.

My conclusion is this: for some Conservatives, "our country" is not the physical space that the US makes up, but select pieces of it. Chicago, being liberal, is not part of "our country." Let Chicago lose it's Olympic bid, and it's no problem. They deserve it. Washington is not part of "our county," but it is more like a threatening neighbor looking to take over. You can discard both coasts and it would not be a big loss.

I suppose it is the epitome of partisanship. Two countries, competitors and antagonists, sharing the same border formerly occupied by the United States. Anything good for Obama, or the more liberal states is bad for our country. We don't share common goals anymore. I think even the dislike of the Olympics being held in the US is partially a dislike of international cooperation and fear that "American Exceptionalism" will be disproved by the final medal count.

Can't we agree on anything? If the unemployment rate goes down, will it be a bad thing because it will boost Obama's poll numbers?

During the Bush years, those people who were against the war were careful to say that they hoped they were wrong. "We think the war will be a disaster, but hope we win quickly and decisively. I don't see the same kind of thing from today's right.

For us, against us

This morning in Church there was a reading from Mark in which Jesus says, "Whoever is not against us is for us." I found it strange, because through most of this decade it was expressed more as "You're either for us or against us." I think Jesus was working from a position of strength: he figured that those who did not know him or have an opinion of him could be won over. They were not enemies.

In the build up to and aftermath of the Iraq war, President Bush tried to bully (or perhaps motivate) unwilling potential allies, while squelching debate, using his famous variation of the catch phrase. He was working from a position of weakness: he had all the allies he was likely to get and it was time for damage control.

Of course, in Matthew, Jesus expresses the rather Bush-like sentiment, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."

It also reminded me of another catch phrase, "Shock and Awe." If you can remember before that catch phrase was popularized right at the beginning of the war, the only time you heard "and Awe" was in the Christmas Carol "O Come All Ye Faithful," only the expression was "Love and Awe."

Cedar Grove at Verona, Saturday, September 26

Looking forward to a good game on Saturday. Look for the game online at VeronaStreaming.net starting Saturday night (unedited). Enjoy.