Join Jim Dean for Weinberg Campaign Kickoff

Congressman Rothman was selected as a respected member of the House.  He performed his role judiciously.  I don't believe either side can fault him for that.

Don't tell me that simply because you were caught red-handed cheating that we should trust you next time.

What kind of stupid do you take us for?

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

It was amazing to me to have the HEAD of Democracy For America, here to support our commitment to re-electing the most progressive State Legislators we have ever had. 
We needed to get the support of the real Bergen Democrats -the rank and file, the ground troops - so to speak - to really get this campaign off to a great start.  And that is exactly what I witnessed tonite.

I was so excited to see friends Rosi and Jeff and Lewis again come out to support this race.  We have lots of friends throughout the state.  This thing is way bigger than the 37th now.  It is about the whole meaning of Howard Dean's call to take our country back - voter by voter, town by town, district by district, county by county, and state by state.  Right now we are in a struggle to take back our towns and our county Democratic Organizations.  I will not back down, and cede the governing of my town, my county, my district, my state, my country to those who know only self-enrichment at the expense of families and hard working people.

There are those who shrug their shoulders and say "But what can you do?"  There was a term I remember well from my college psychology classes.  It was called "learned helplessness"  They used the term to describe what happens to a dog put into a cage with no escape when it is then painfully shocked.  At first it reacts and tries to get away from the cause of the pain, but after a while when it realizes there is nothing it can do, it just gives up.  I think a lot of voters have given up and have a learned helplessness from having seen too much corruption - they think - Why fight the power?. 

I'll tell you why you should fight the power.  Because you can win.  Not always, but you can win.  Winning in itself - small victories at first - getting five votes counted here, demanding a reason for being challenged at the booth - gives you the tiny bit of hope you need to stand outside in the 20 degree whether wearing a sticker that says NO, waving a sign and pleading with every passerby to vote their conscience.  Those early victories give you the courage to overcome your fear of public speaking and demand they let you feel inside the boxes before the vote to prevent a stuffed ballot box and the confidence to demand they let you in the room for the final count. 
When that next victory is won, that gives you the guts to go it alone - off the line - on purpose.  To make a Choice, a Decision not to play a game but to stand for something bigger than your self.  More important than monetary gain or power for power's sake.  Important in the lives of all the people that have been helped and will be helped by Loretta, Gordon and Valerie in the present and in the future. 

I remember standing in the 15 degree bitter cold in New Hampshire the day of the Primary - holding a sign for Howard Dean.  On one side of me was a woman who reminded me of Erin Brokavich - she told me of fighting polluters back in her hometown and how they just didn't get it.  Politics and government were a game - or worse - a joke - to these polluters.  They didn't get it - that people's LIVES are at stake here.  I was reminded of that conversation tonite when Steven explained that to the Ferriero-crats - elections are games to them.  But Loretta, Valerie, and Gordon take their responsibility seriously because they care about us.  I agree with Steven completely.

When I was up in New Hampshire that cold day, on my other side was a college-age student from West Virginia where they were removing whole mountaintops to mine and were destroying the beautiful mountain streams and killing the fish by dumping the debris from the mountaintops into the valleys and poisoning the waterways.  She came to New Hampshire to stand in the cold not because someone paid her to, she was a volunteer as were many there, but because she was compelled to by conscience, by the hope that Howard Dean inspired that it was not just wishful thinking but that it was actually POSSIBLE to take back our government and return it to the people and maybe save her beautiful home from total desolation and destruction. 

Do I care who Ferriero promised government positions and jobs to and that he needs to keep his promises to save face?  No.  Not really. 

I am worrying about the elderly NJ residents in the senior care facilities, I worry about the parents of the autistic child, I care about the food that is being fed our babies - our parents and even our pets.  I care about you, and the neighbor down the street, and if my Dad has enough food at the pantry in Bergenfield to feed the families that come in that week.  I wonder about our kids over in Iraq and how they are treated here when they come home.  I am worrying about the state of our STATE.  I couldn't care less about Michael Wildes or Ken Zisa's FEELINGS for Pete's sake.  That is the problem with narcissim on the scale of Michael Wildes.  You are so busy looking in the mirror you forget about all the people you are responsible to.  All you can think of is your own sorry skin.

In the years I have known Loretta, Valerie and Gordon, they have never let me forget that they are HONORED to represent the people of the 37th District.  While Michael Wildes was making pictures to hang on his ego wall, Loretta, Valerie and Gordon were making policy that helps everyone who lives in the state - regardless of political affiliation.

I feel very well represented by my 37th District Team already in office.  They listen to those of us at the municipal level.  The system works.  So as Brenda the engineer would say - "If it ain't broke - don't fix it!"

Now the BCDO - that is another story.  I refuse to switch parties.  I will stay and fight and make sure that the words NJ and Democrat stop meaning "corrupt politician".  It starts here.  This is the shot across the bow of Joe Ferriero's ship.  It is going to get ugly.  It is going to get bitter. 

This year, the 37th, next year, Bergen County, the year after NJ.  Ferriero comes across like a man who thinks women are only good for cooking and cleaning.  Well, get ready Joe - we're cleaning house.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.