By Matt Rooney | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

Mother’s Day is an opportunity to shower the women who gave us birth with candies, flowers, presents and affection. They deserve it!

God knows mine does for putting up with ME, Save Jerseyans…

But in a larger sense, where would our society, or an society for that matter, be without strong matriarchal figures to hold families together? After all, strong families are the central building block of any healthy civilization.

Amazingly, not everyone agrees with this seemingly-obvious observation. Mostly on the Left.

The wife of presumptive GOP nominee, Ann Romney, came under attack last month for the least likely of all offenses: her role at a stay-at-home mother of five boys. Democratic political strategist Hilary Rosen said Romney was unqualified to informally advise her husband on anything because she had “never worked a day in her life.”

And yes, Democrats subsequently walked away from Rosen’s comments. Rosen did, too. We still knew what they meant, Save Jerseyans. Liberal feminists don’t see anything good/important/magnificent about the Romney family photograph which I’ve posted in the upper right-hand corner. Feminist ideology posits that motherhood is just another form of involuntary servitude; hence, a modern woman cannot achieve her full value/purpose if she’s “chained” to a highchair or play pen 24/7.

Naturally, the inherent selfishness of gimme gimme liberalism leads its adherents down the wrong road. They’re asking the wrong question. Properly phrased: how can a woman, family, community or culture achieve its full potential or purpose without intelligent, strong and beautiful women devoted to the next generation?

They say “behind every great man is a great woman.” In the same breath, people often lament the lack of “great men” or women in the political sphere. Well, imagine for a moment how much greater our already great country could be if, on this gorgeous Mother’s Day, the Left ceased trashing great mothers and started honoring them for the almost unfathomably important work they do!

A lovely thought, right?

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Save Jersey parents! May God bless you, keep you, and strengthen you always!

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Matt Rooney is a New Jersey attorney, conservative commentator, and the founder & Blogger-in-Chief of New Jersey’s #1 conservative blog, Save Jersey. You can learn more about Matt and the Christie Revolution by visiting today!

By Matt Rooney | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

Great news!

This morning, Governor Chris Christie issued what he described as a “prudent” veto of New Jersey’s pending health care “exchange” legislation.

You can read the legislation’s Assembly text, A2171 (titled “S1319″ in the Senate) right here. Governor Christie’s veto message can be found here.

As I said back on April 19th, Save Jerseyans, “It’s always a bad sign when a particular piece of legislation that’s only several pages in length produces 100+ hits upon typing “shall” into a control-find document search.” You can check out my original critique of the bill for more background; suffice it to say, this legislation would’ve been a punishing and expensive burden for our already-overburned state. We already know how to fix healthcare, Save Jerseyans… get the government out of it! This bill would’ve had the opposite effect.

Apparently the Big Guy came to the same conclusion. “I am concerned that a hastily created exchange in New Jersey will impose unnecessary obligations upon the State’s taxpayers,” Governor Christie said in his accompanying statement. “The very constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act is cloaked in uncertainty, as both the individual mandate to procure health insurance as well as the jurisdictional mandate to establish an exchange may not survive scrutiny by the Supreme Court.”

The Governor also pointed out how the legislation would’ve committed New Jersey to establish its own Medicaid-like program for individuals earning between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level without any guarantee of federal funding! It’s a health care version of the ARC tunnel! Clearly, the Guv thinks this bill was an equally bad deal for New Jerseyans.

We absolutely agree, and we’re glad the Governor listened to Save Jersey, AFP-NJ, and all of the other pro-taxpayer voices across our Garden State who argued for a veto.

Thank you, Mr. Governor!

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Matt Rooney is a New Jersey attorney, conservative commentator, and the founder & Blogger-in-Chief of New Jersey’s #1 conservative blog, Save Jersey. You can learn more about Matt and the Christie Revolution by visiting today!

By Matt Rooney | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

Pre-Christie New Jersey, to be specific.

How do I mean?

France is just the latest spot on the map where “rich” folks are responding to socialist economic policies with their feet.

Even before it became official that French socialist Francois Hollande would win the final stage of yesterday’s French presidential election, defeating centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, the specter of a new tax rate of 75% on income above €1m sparked an uptick in French inquires into trans-channel relocations.

In other words, France’s wealthy see the writing on the wall. They’re moving to England! Where have we seen this before?

New Jersey suffered similarly in the decade preceding the Christie Administration. Our own version of the millionaire’s tax, and a wave of regulations, mandates and out-of-control goverment spending sprees, sent wealth-creators running for the hills… of Pennsylvania and North Carolina!

I’ve frequently cited this Princeton survey which highlighted the dire consequences of “soaking and losing the rich” for the Garden State (h/t WSJ.com):

This result was all the more remarkable given that these were years when the stock market boomed and Wall Street gains were in the trillions of dollars. Examining data from a 2008 Princeton study on the New Jersey tax hike on the wealthy, we found that there were 4,000 missing half-millionaires in New Jersey after that tax took effect. New Jersey now has one of the largest budget deficits in the nation.”

Moreover, in February 2010, I relayed the results of Boston College study that revealed the clear correlation between “progressive” economics and the outward migration of rich people:

More than $70 billion in wealth left New Jersey between 2004 and 2008 as affluent residents moved elsewhere, according to a report released Wednesday that marks a swift reversal of fortune for a state once considered the nation’s wealthiest.

Conducted by the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, the report found wealthy households in New Jersey were leaving for other states — mainly Florida, Pennsylvania and New York — at a faster rate than they were being replaced.

“The wealth is not being replaced,” said John Havens, who directed the study. “It’s above and beyond the general trend that is affecting the rest of the northeast.”

This was not always the case. The study – the first on interstate wealth migration in the country — noted the state actually saw an influx of $98 billion in the five years preceding 2004. The exodus of wealth, then, local experts and economists concluded, was a reaction to a series of changes in the state’s tax structure — including increases in the income, sales, property and “millionaire” taxes.”

Of course some pols never learn.

New Jersey’s legislative “leaders” like Asm. Lou Greenwald are all-too-keen to repeat the same mistakes. Politicians are no less dense across the Pond, where voters in Greece are also running away from “austerity” reforms instead of tackling hard choices. You’d think the Hollandes of the world would look to the Germany for guidance; unfortunately, though unsurprisingly, the one healthy economy left in Europe has become a target of anti-austerity demagogues.

It’s always easier to create boogeymen than get busy solving problems.

Well, France just took the easy way out. And I do mean “out.” They’re not going to last long on their present course. Look at Greece! Voters in France and New Jersey may consider themselves more sophisticated than the birthplace of democracy, but we’re all always only one bad electoral decision away from disaster.

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Matt Rooney is a New Jersey attorney, conservative commentator, and the founder & Blogger-in-Chief of New Jersey’s #1 conservative blog, Save Jersey. You can learn more about Matt and the Christie Revolution by visiting today!

By Matt Rooney | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

The late great Chuck Colson passed away last month at the age of 80. He was best known for two inextricable acts: (1) having been indicted and convicted for conspiring to cover up the Watergate break-in, and (2) helping pioneer the contemporary evangelical movement in America.

Governor, Pastor, and now “spiritual advisor” Jim McGreevey is attempting to turn over a new leaf of his own, Save Jerseyans. Or at the very least wants everyone to believe that he’s turning a corner of sorts. And what a steep, sloping turn it would need to be!

On Friday, McGreevey addressed the assembled graduates of a Middlesex County Drug Court offender rehabilitation program. The program’s stated goal is to turn drug abusers into productive members of society. A noble goal, to be sure, and one that is near and dear to our current Governor’s heart. McGreevey is also apparently “mentoring” female prisoners.

But I’ve been consistent on this since 2004, Save Jerseyans, and said it again (most recently) after the Episcopal Church said “no thanks,” Jim, you’re not joining our clergy: Jim McGreevey resigned from public office because  he was a corrupt, incompetent pervert… NOT because he was a “Gay American.” 

Read More →

By Matt Rooney | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

Here’s what you need to know about today’s new jobs report, Save Jerseyans:

The U.S. economy added only 115,000 jobs in April. That’s down from 154,000+ in March 2012.

Both statistics objectively stink.

Depending on whom you ask, and as I’ve communicated to you before, the U.S. economy requires anywhere between 90,000 and 150,000 new jobs per month just to keep up with population growth (the most commonly-cited threshold for replacement-level job growth is 125,000)! So adding 115,000 new jobs in April accomplishes, at best, the requisite jobs required to offset birth rates and net immigration. 115k sounds like a nice big number, but the fact remains that millions of folks who have been perpetually unemployed throughout President Obama’s tenure aren’t really seeing an enlarged pool of opportunities.

Yes, unemployment dropped from 8.2% to 8.1% last month. But as you can clearly see, folks, it had nothing to do with real, substantive job creation…

Read More →

By Matt Rooney | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

Ever on the move, New Jersey’s favorite conservative governor will travel to Washington, D.C. tonight to address America’s leading libertarian think tank.

Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) is slated to deliver the keynote address for the Cato Institute’s Milton “Friedman Prize Ceremony” at the Washington Hilton beginning at 7:00 p.m. The award’s 2012 recipient, dissident Chinese economist Mao Yushi, is a vocal critic of China’s communist, anti-human rights government; in fact, there was some doubt as to whether he would even be allowed to leave China to attend the event. Cato frankly couldn’t have come up with a more topical selection given the ongoing Chen Guangcheng drama.

Just thank God every night that you’re an American, Save Jerseyans!

The Institute has been particularly complimentary to Governor Christie who, while not a citizen of a communist state per se, has certainly fought his fair share of central planners and corrupt pols. In April, Cato’s Michael Tanner penned a piece for NRO.com titled “Christie the Prophet” following Christie’s viral ”couch potato” comment. Last fall, Gene Healy pondered whether the “Corpulent Christie May Be the Guy to Slim Down America.” Yeah, I’d say it’s more than a crush!

We’ll have details of the speech when they become available…

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Matt Rooney is a New Jersey attorney, conservative commentator, and the founder & Blogger-in-Chief of New Jersey’s #1 conservative blog, Save Jersey. You can learn more about Matt and the Christie Revolution by visiting today!

By Brian McGovern | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

Everyone knows that to become President of the United States a candidate needs to collect 270 electoral votes, this is the lowest majority you can have to take the White House. So what happens if no one gets there. Or worse, what happens if both candidates get exactly 269 electoral votes? And what is the likelihood of that even happening?

Well, taking a look at the map, its not as unlikely as you might think. Check out this map I put together:

This map is perfectly possible and would be an absolute nightmare for the process. So I am sure you are now wondering, what happens in this case? Look no further than the Constitution.

The 12th Amendment in part reads:

The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote . . .

So basically what it means is that when no one has 270, the election goes to the House of Representatives. Each state’s delegation will vote amongst themselves and their state gets one vote. The majority of the states will then elect the President. Clearly since 33 states currently enjoy a Republican majority delegation, Mitt Romney would be the winner, right? Not so fast.

The vote would take place on January 6, 2013, when the House and Senate normally meet to count the electoral votes every four years. The House that would be voting on the President will be the newly elected House in 2013. How do we know this if its never happened before? Well, for starters, the 2012 electoral college is based on the newly redistricted maps of the 50 states, so some of the members of Congress (see either Steve Rothman or Bill Pascrell) will not even be in the House anymore when this vote takes place.

This political doomsday scenario shows the importance of not only electing Romney, but also maintaining a strong Republican majority in the House. But wait, theres more.

The Vice President will not just glide in on Romney’s coat tails. The Senate will select the Vice President in the same way that the House selects the President. This means that under the 269 – 269 map, unless the GOP takes over the Senate, we would have President Romney and Vice President Biden until 2016. What a weird White House that would be.

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Brian McGovern is a New Jersey law student, conservative commentator, and managing editor of New Jersey’s #1 conservative blog, Save Jersey. You can learn more about Brian and the Christie Revolution by visiting today!

By Brian McGovern | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

As you probably are aware, John Edwards, former Democrat Senator, Vice Presidential candidate, and Presidential candidate, is currently facing trial for the misuse of campaign funds to cover up his affair with a member of his staff who he happened to get pregnant while still married to his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, who was dying of cancer. John Edwards is, in every sense of the word, a corrupt scum bag. How can I make such a claim? Well, now polling backs it up!

According to the latest CBS poll, John Edwards enjoys a 3 percent favorability rating among Americans. My favorite part of the poll? The margin of error is +/- 3 percent as well! This means that it is actually possible that a statistical zero percent of Americans hold a positive view of the politician turned adulterous criminal.

To put this poll into perspective and have a little fun, I have compiled a list of things that Americans hate less than they hate John Edwards. This list is based on polling I found while Googling (* indicates the lowest favorability poll ever for the person/thing):

1. Super PACs – 12% favorable
2. George W. Bush* – 28%
3. Richard Nixon* – 24%
4. Jimmy Carter* – 29%
5. Congress* – 9%
6. Bees – 27%
7. Water-boarding Terrorists – 50%
8. Socialism – 36%
9. California – 27%
10. New Jersey – 25%
11. Detriot, MI – 22%
12. Gold Dollar Coins – 27%
13. Iran – 10%
14. Gay Marriage – 53%
15. Voter ID Laws – 73%
16. Federal Bailouts for States – 26%
17. Reinstitution of the Draft – 18%
18. Cloning Humans – 12%
19. God’s Handling of Natural Disasters – 50%
20. The United Nations – 31%
21. Lawyers – 29%
22. Bankers – 23%
23. The Federal Government – 17%
24. The Rut-Row Merger – 19%
25. Communism – 11%
26. Fidel Castro – 5%
27. Facebook’s Timeline feature – 20%
28. Occupy Wall Street – 16%
29. Taxes on Junk Food – 38%
30. Jersey Shore (television show) – 12%

Unfortuantely there is no serious polling done on more strange topics, but come on, people prefer bees, Jersey Shore, Communism, lawyers, and God’s handling of natural disasters to John Edwards. I would imagine that, if such polling were done, toxic waste, root canals, traffic jams, allergies, hangnails, feet, Stalin, and the NBA would outpoll Edwards. If you have anything to add to the list, don’t hesitate to throw it in the comments!

If found guilty, Edwards faces up to 30 years in prison. 97 percent of Americans cannot wait to hear that verdict.

By Matt Rooney | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

Marco Rubio says he doesn’t want it, Save Jerseyans. His actions tell another story; for example, he was barnstorming with Mitt Romney yesterday in battleground Southeastern Pennsylvania ahead of tomorrow’s Keystone State primary.

And what would a historic Romney-Rubio ticket mean for Election 2012? Most pundits wouldn’t say “nothing” exactly, but perhaps something only marginally more generous. Conventional wisdom assumes that vice presidential picks don’t affect the final vote very much one way or the other.

Back when the political parties held true “brokered” conventions, second slot selections usually reflected regional compromises, i.e. Kennedy and Johnson. Contemporary presidential candidates have erred on the side of “safe” choices, guys like Al Gore and Dick Cheney, who projected experience and stability for the ticket’s seemingly less experienced headliners.

It’s hard to put “Joe Biden” and “safe” in the same sentence without smirking but sure, I guess he fits the profile as well. Sarah Palin was a notable (and ultimately catastrophic) departure from the formula.

I think Marco Rubio could represent a rare positive departure, and New Jersey’s GOP U.S. Senate candidate could be the biggest beneficiary…

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By Matt Rooney | Cross-posted at SaveJersey.com

Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama Administration may claim voter fraud is “extremely rare,” Save Jerseyans, but then why does the President’s campaign website include a form to “report voter fraud and other polling problems” (see right)?

Click here to check it out for yourselves.

So what exactly are/were they expecting to find? Given the Admin’s history, it sure seems like an exercise in futility to me.

We know Eric Holder isn’t interested in investigating video-documented voter intimidation by “new” black panthers.

State-based preventative measures for in-person fraud, like common sense voter ID legislation, are met with lawsuits by the Justice Department; the anti-fraud advocates themselves are met with boycotts and attacks by Obama surrogates and allies.

And as for straight-up phony voters? We know they sure don’t bother or concern the President. He was, after all, an old Chicago community organizer and ACORN lawyer.

So I’ll ask again: what the hell am I supposed to report on this form that anyone in the Obama Administration is willing to do anything about? Votes cast for Mitt Romney?

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Matt Rooney is a New Jersey attorney, conservative commentator, and the founder & Blogger-in-Chief of New Jersey’s #1 conservative blog, Save Jersey. You can learn more about Matt and the Christie Revolution by visiting today!