THE PLOT THICKENS

OZ is returning to normalcy. The first Monday of the month is the normal date for The Council’s Agenda setting session. However because that Monday is the day before the Primary Elections it was scheduled for the upcoming week. But the Monday after the election is traditionally the day the Plainfield Democrat Committee holds its reorganization meeting the scheduled date was Tuesday June 11, 2013.

Of course there is another conflict; that Tuesday is the date of the County Democrat reorganization meeting. Three Councilors are also members of that committee and since it is rumored that our own Jerry Green is seeking the County Committee chairmanship their presence at that meeting is important. Thus, rather than having a minimum quorum deciding the agenda, the Council meeting has been resceduled for  7:30 pm Wednesday  6/12/13 in the City Hall Library not the Court Room.

As suspected; but not as anticipated supporters of  Mayor Robinson-Briggs filed on election day the names of not one but for two Independent candidates  for Mayor at the November elections. Both have been politically active locally.

One, D. Scott Belin has been Chairman of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and was board chairman of the city's first charter high school, Barack Obama Green Charter High School. His  sister is the present superintendent of the Plainfield Public School System. Since membership on the influencial Zoning Board  is by appointment by the Mayor, there is a strong Briggs affiliation. Additionally the BOE  that selected Anna Belin-Pyles. As the Superintendent are all members of  John Campbell picked slates and Campbell’s son is running on the Republican ticket for Green’s Assembly seat there is a possibility of a large number of anti-Mapp Democrats and Anti-Green Republicans combining to make this a close race.

The  other new candidate, Mustapha Muhammad a member of the Nation of Islam who called has himself "student of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan." And who has been at the side of the Mayor  will appeal to those who are dedicated to racism and religious hatred**; just what Plainfield needs.

Do not forget that even though his leader  advocates a separate “black state’ he is entitled by  the constitution he would destroy to the same rights as you and I..

It is these two new Candidates who will set the tone of the election process for the  next 6  months.

** The Southern Poverty Law Center has identified the Plainfield “Nation of Islam” organization as one of its (SPLC) “Hate Groups”.

THE IV AMENDMENT?

Where do we draw the line? Once again under the provisions of the “Patriot Act” there is an apparent disregard of Amendment IV of the Constitution; the provision of unlawful search.

This is a 6:00 am CBS new report: “ Feds getting phone records of all Verizon customers  WASHINGTON The National Security Agency currently is collecting the telephone records of millions of U.S. customers of Verizon under a top secret court order, Britain's Guardian newspaper said Wednesday.”

What is not known but is probably true is if this is applicable to all cell phone networks.

This is the news release CLICK .

The NSA action is “legal” under interpretations of the parameters of the "business records" provision of the USA Patriot Act. The information is classed as 'metadata,' or transactional information, rather than communications, and so does not require individual warrants to access," according to the Guardian.

The recent Marathon bombings have increased reliance on such information. This is a true example of being caught between a rock and a hard place; freedom from unlawful search or national security. We will have to rely on a government that will not use that power to create a ‘dictatorship”.

10:30am -For the NY Times article please (CLICK) here

CHRISTIE'S DILEMMA

Poor Governor Christie; “Fornicated by the fickle finger of fate.”

There was no course of action open to him that was not a lose/lose one. This is applicable to both his choice for filling the vacant seat until an election could be held and the timing of the election.

He had three possible choices as to the election date all subject to legal challenge due to an improperly written NJ law.

(1) The General election this November 2013. The Democrat Candidate would most likely be Booker who has already announced that he was going to seek the seat next year. Booker’s popularity is so great that he would bring many more Democrats to the polls this year and perhaps create a serious threat to Christie’s own race.  

(2)  The General Election next November (2014). In that case who he appoints to temporarily fill the seat for 17 months would be of great political importance since it would have a major impact on critical Senate votes: if he chose a Republican he would destroy any bipartisan perks that he has gained which could help in a potential Presidential race, if he picked a Democrat (Booker) he would destroy any potential support for the nomination from the right wing of the Republican Party.

(3) To call for a Special Election-his present action- with a Primary in August and the Special Election in October he eliminates the pitfalls presented by the first two choices. However he has now opened Pandora’s Box to charges of wasting $24,000,000.00 of State funds to hold an election 30 days earlier than the scheduled one. Don’t you think the Democrats will ignore that in this year’s governor’s race? 


If only our legislators would (or could) read the laws that they write; Christie would have had non controversial direction and would  have been saved from making hurtful decisions..

My own opinion is that this is the best solution. New Jersey will have a Senator in situ that will not be subject to the present negative political pressures that constrict positive action in this Congress. There is no Republican on the horizon that could beat Booker.

MAPP WINS

UNOFFICIAL REPORT
Almost  25%  registered Democrats in Plainfield decided that this City should have a fiscally responsible administration for the next 4 years. By a 3:2 margin Adrian Mapp defeated Robinson-Briggs. The machine vote count was 2747 Mapp:1729 Robinson-Briggs

Unfortunately, we will still have 6 more months of government that believes that fiduciary accountability does not belong at the municipal level. Perhaps the Council will accept its responsibility and not protect the Administration .

What still waits to be seen is if there was a Plan B filing of an Independent Candidate today in Elizabeth for the November election.

ELECTION TOMORROW

Today is they day before the all important in Plainfield Primary election which in effect selects the next Mayor. Since there are so few Republicans registered in Plainfield; winning the Democrat primary is tantamount to being elected Mayor.

Blogs by Dan Damon, Corry Storch, and Rebecca Williams all supporters of Adrian Mapp and one by that candidate himself all impressively illustrate why the present Mayor should not be re-elected. 

This blogger has previously expressed his position in favor of Mapp and to comment more today would be redundant.

Bernice has posted several blogs regarding the election and other city relating subjects while maintaining her political neutrality.

Please go and vote Tuesday. In America we have a right others do not have. Do not waste it.

SEN. FRANK LAUTNERBERG REVISED.

Sadly long time Sen. Lautenberg unexpectedly passed away this am.

Only in New Jersey  would  a legal problem exist  in the filling of a Senate vacancy.. This is from the New York Times

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) died this morning, giving Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) the opportunity to appoint a temporary replacement. Thanks to a drafting error in an elections bill passed in 2011, however, the length of that temporary senator’s time in office is entirely uncertain. Two different provisions of New Jersey law, enacted at the same time in the same bill, say two different things about how a U.S. Senate vacancy shall be filled in New Jersey: The first of these two provisions governs “vacancies in the United States senate.” It provides that

If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this State in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless such vacancy shall happen within 70 days next preceding such election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding general election, unless the governor of this State shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do.
The governor of this State may make a temporary appointment of a senator of the United States from this State whenever a vacancy shall occur by reason of any cause other than the expiration of the term; and such appointee shall serve as such senator until a special election or general election shall have been held pursuant to law and the Board of State Canvassers can deliver to his successor a certificate of election.

The next general election in New Jersey will take place on November 5, 2013, when Christie himself will stand for reelection. Because today is more than 70 days from November 5, this means that Christie’s appointee to the United States Senate shall serve until he is replaced in an election to be held the same time as Christie’s own election.
But, wait! There’s another, entirely separate provision of New Jersey law that says something different. That provision governs “Congressional vacancies” and it provides that

If the vacancy happens in the representation of this State in the United States Senate the election shall take place at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless the vacancy shall happen within 70 days next preceding the primary election prior to the general election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding election, unless the Governor shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do.

Rather than count from 70 days before the next general election to determine when the senate election shall be held, this provision counts from 70 days before the next primary election. But the next primary election in New Jersey will take place tomorrow. If this second provision of law controls, that means Christie’s appointee will serve an extra year until they can be replaced by an election taking place in November 2014.

One possible way out from this conundrum is that both provisions empower Christie to call a special election in order to fill the senate vacancy. Unless he does so, however, the question of how long Christie’s  appointment shall serve is entirely unclear under New Jersey law.

This creates another conundrum personal for Christie; if he selects a Republican he may lose the support of those Democrat leaders who are favoring in the Governor's race. If he did  pick a Democrat he can say good by to any hope for the Republican  Presidential nomination next year.(2:15 PM)

Sunday Update

Noon Sunday: Mick says; “thank goodness that obnoxious animal has gone (away). Perhaps I can eat in peace and not find that my dish has been picked up. Has anyone told that 3 month old youngster that it is not proper to chase a senior citizen?”

At 8:25 am today the car with three adults and one Australian Shepherd puppy pulled out of the driveway en route to DC and the Roanoke. It had been a very nice visit.

There has been little new about Plainfield’s election races in the papers. I consider the mayor’s race will most likely go to Mapp who will restore the format of effective fiscally responsibility in Plainfield. 

However Robinson-Briggs has some powerful backers who can influence voter participation.  Regarding the Gods of the underworld; I do not believe that neither Q'uq'umatz or Pluto would involve themselves in Plainfield politics or permit any of their residents to vote.