Monday November 6, 2006

United States Senator:

[  ] Robert Menendez, Democrat
[  ] Tom Kean, Jr., Republican
[X] Les Flynn, Libertarian
[  ] Six other random people

Menendez is mobbed up in addition to being an incompetent socialist. Kean’s here only because of family name and has no discernible platform. Easy choice.

United States Representative:

[X] Frank Pallone, Jr., Democrat
[  ] Leigh-Ann Bellew, Republican
[  ] Herbert Tarbous, Crazy Guy

Even though Frank is a socialist and probably also mobbed up, he is competent. He’s articulate and has well thought out positions, even though I disagree. Leigh-Ann is a patsy that the GOP got to run against a someone who will have to be carted out of Congress in a casket and also happens to be an inarticulate woman running solely on being a mother and having Bush dictate her political views to her. Um, no thanks. Meanwhile, Herb is running for the so-called “Diversity is Strength” party, which appears to have been completely concocted by him. Um, no thanks.

Middlesex County Freeholder:

CHOOSE TWO

[X] Geoffrey Champion, Republican
[  ] James Polos, Democrat
[  ] John Pulomena, Democrat
[X] Andrew Tidd, Republican

I’m voting for the GOP on a local level, because (a) I like being quixotic and (b) if they got power by some cosmic accident, Republicans would wipe out the existing cronyism among Democrats in NJ … for about two minutes before establishing their own system of cronyism. Still, those would be two good minutes. Incidentally, Polos and Pulomena have a 100-to-1 fundraising edge on Champion and Tidd. In fact, until I got my sample ballot in the mail, I didn’t even know who was running against Polos and Pulomena, who’d had a media blitz going since August.

In the last race, for Highland Park Borough Council, two Democrats are running unopposed. Hooray for Soviet-style democracy!

State Public Question #1:

Do you approve the amendment of Article VIII, Section I of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, to provide for the annual dedication and annual appropriation of an amount equal to the annual revenue derived from a tax rate of 0.5% imposed under the New Jersey Sales and Use Tax, exclusively for the purpose of property tax reform, through a special Property Tax Reform Account established in the constitutionally dedicated Property Tax Relief Fund?

[X] Yes
[  ] No

This was the issue that, if you recall, shut down the state government for a few days. This simply formalizes the compromise that half of the increase in sales taxes (passed in July) would be earmarked for property tax rebates. Well, it’s better that than letting the state spend it on whatever crazy-ass thing they want, right?

State Public Question #2:

Shall the amendment to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, expanding the authorized uses of the constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax Revenue, to allow the use of 15% of the dedicated funds to fund the development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and beginning on January 1, 2016, allow the use of an additional 17% of the dedicated funds to fund the development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, be approved?

[X] Yes
[  ] No

The “Interpretive Statement” for this question is four times longer than the actual question, which is never a good sign. The punchline is that it shuffles money to parks and open space from various environmental programs. Seriously, why is this in the state constitution? Seems like my state has an awfully specific charter. Anyway, sure, I’ll go along with this. It seems to me that the state does less damage by building playgrounds instead of harassing industry.

State Public Question #3:

Do you approve the proposed amendment to the State Constitution, agreed to by the Legislature, which changes the current $0.09 per gallon dedication of the motor fuels tax to $0.105 per gallon to be used only for the funding of the State transportation system, subject to previously enacted laws dedicating any of these revenues for debt service on bonds of the State or for any other uses of these revenues?

[X] Yes
[  ] No

Hey, if you’re going to tax my gasoline, you might as well spend it on the roads I’m driving on rather than throwing it in some general fund.

Alright, everyone. There you have it … gotta love elections! Seriously though, go out and vote, even if your options look as bleak as mine.

P.S.: As stated on Saturday, I predict the Dems will win the House 232-203 and that the Senate will be split 50-50. Feel free to make picks.