Will He or Won't He?

Although repeatedly denying he will run for President in 2008, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg reportedly has a bevy of campaign strategists, including ballot experts, advising him on a potential Presidential run. Sources close to the Mayor have said that he will run only if he thinks he can win and that he would not enter the race to be a spoiler or for the purpose of getting the major political parties to address issues of concern to him. So will he or won't he?

If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee and Mitt Romney is the Republican nominee, look for Bloomberg to enter. Both are divisive figures who practice scorched-earth politics and have little ability to attract either Independents or voters of the opposing party. A Clinton/Romney race would open the door to a third-party candidate who could appeal to all shades of Democrats, moderate Republicans, and Independents.

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Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Editor of The Alternative Press Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com

Hillary Clinton’s Campaign – A Foreshadow of her Presidency?

First it was Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire Co-Chair Billy Shaheen, then Clinton pollster and top strategist Mark Penn, and finally BET Television Founder and prominent Clinton supporter Bob Johnson, who raised the question of drug use by Barack Obama WHILE HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. Clinton surrogates have continued to fan the flames. Could this be an attempt by that campaign to scare voters into changing their support from Obama to Clinton? The “drug use” attack against Obama has worked: his momentum has slowed and Mrs. Clinton is now ahead in key states. Interestingly, the Clinton supporters raising the issue of Obama’s drug use did not question Bill Clinton’s use of drugs post-high school or his excuse that he did not inhale. If it were just the “drug use” attack, perhaps it could be forgiven. However, other tactics employed by Clinton allies and Mrs. Clinton herself raise troubling questions as to whether her possible presidency would employ similar strategies.

The recent Martin Luther King/Lyndon Johnson controversy in which the Clintons themselves injected racial politics into the Democratic race by downplaying Barack Obama’s achievements; the mysterious robocalls to primary voters falsely claiming that Barack Obama is a Muslim who was educated in a radical madrassa; or the lawsuit filed by the Nevada Teacher’s Union, a key Clinton ally, to try to overturn decisions made regarding polling locations that had been supported by the Clinton campaign when they were 25% ahead in Nevada -- these kinds of political tactics are emblematic of what is wrong with politics and why so many Americans are apathetic.

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Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Editor of The Alternative Press Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com

The Party Democracy Act -- a Step in the Right Direction

The Party Democracy Act, sponsored by New Jersey State Senators Diane Allen (R) and Loretta Weinberg (D), is a step in the right direction. How the major County political parties operate in New Jersey is largely unknown. Yet, they have a great deal of power, including the ability to fill legislative vacancies as they arise. Reform is needed to create more openness and accountability of our County political parties.

The Party Democracy Act requires all County political parties to have by-laws and a constitution that are available to all Committeepeople within 48 hours of being requested. Currently, a number of County parties do not have by-laws or a constitution; therefore, the rules can be established (and potentially manipulated) by the County Chairperson so that his/her preferred candidate or position can rule the day. Having written by-laws and a constitution will afford all Committeepeople a level playing field in which to exercise their rights and obligations.

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Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Editor of The Alternative Press Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com

The Answer is Not to Raise Taxes on Already High Prices at the Pump

By: Representative Scott Garrett

Yesterday, the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released a report calling for a massive gas tax increase. This proposed tax hike would raise gas prices up to 40 cents per gallon within five years and as much as 91 cents in 20 years.

Once again American taxpayers are expected to foot the bill for Washington’s addictive tax and spend habits. Increasing gas taxes is not the answer to our transportation woes. Legislators need to work to spend current funds smarter on needed repairs and improvements. Too much is wasted now on pet transportation projects, photo opportunities and pork barrel spending.

I commend Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters and the two other dissenting commissioners who took a strong stance against this absurd proposal. It is my hope that Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle will also fight this tax hike at the pump and work instead to spend transportation funds in a responsible manner which actually benefits the commuters on the road.

Since coming to Washington, I have called for creative solutions to our nation’s transportation troubles. During consideration of SAFETEA-LU, I fought for report language to encourage this Commission to consider alternatives to taxes for funding infrastructure improvements. I’ve also authored legislation, the STATE (Surface Transportation and Taxation Equity) Act, which returns primary responsibility for transportation and infrastructure projects back to the states without increasing taxes. My bill would give states the ability to prioritize projects based on safety, traffic needs, and improved commerce instead of being subject to federal mandates and earmarks. The STATE Act has received praise from the CATO Institute, Heritage Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, and National Taxpayers Union, as well as Secretary Peters.

Codey and Roberts Reform Plan -- Last Chance Before Voters Look Elsewhere

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) have announced that they will unite in an attempt to pass meaningful reform legislation in 2008. We’ve heard similar rhetoric before from both sides of the political aisle in Trenton. It may be suggested that this is the final opportunity for the Democratic Party in New Jersey before voters look elsewhere. The newly-elected Republicans have established a united front for similar reform; therefore, if the Democrats in the Legislature sabotage this reform effort, the Republicans will either pass such reform during this legislative term or be stymied and, because of voter outrage, secure enough seats in 2009 to enable such reform to be enacted. The Democrats would be wise to enact the Codey/Roberts ethics-related reforms now, before it is too late.

Codey and Roberts have proposed creating “Pay to Play” reform that is “loophole free.” Currently, “Pay to Play” reforms that have been enacted are circumvented throughout New Jersey by special interests, contract seekers, and operatives in both political parties. All loopholes need to be closed to ensure that contracts are awarded based on merit and not payback for political contributions.

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Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Editor of The Alternative Press Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com

New Jersey’s Abolition of the Death Penalty

With recent polls showing more than half of the residents of New Jersey support the death penalty, it was a bit surprising to see the Legislature abolish it and the Governor concur. In support of its abolition, there are the moral and religious issues that one should never kill another human being. Also, studies show that the financial cost of maintaining the death penalty surpasses the cost of life imprisonment and that such punishment does not serve much of a deterrent purpose. Since New Jersey had not executed anyone in over thirty years, the death penalty had basically already been abolished in this State. However, putting that aside, is justice being done? Arguably for horrific violent crimes, it may be suggested that justice is being denied.

Granted, we do not live in an eye-for-an-eye society, but when it comes to particularly violent crimes, should the criminal be allowed to live his life when he has denied another theirs? A good case in point is that of Megan Kanka. Jesse Timmendequas, a repeat violent sex offender, kidnapped, raped and murdered 7-year-old Megan Kanka. The national outcry that this case caused resulted in the passage of Megan’s Law, an attempt to protect communities from sexual predators. With the abolishment of the death penalty, Mr. Timmendequas will now serve life in prison without any fear of execution.

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Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Editor of The Alternative Press Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com