Corzine, Like Clinton, Only With More Time to Turn It Around

With fewer than two weeks before the Texas and Ohio primaries, Hillary Clinton does not have much time to turn around her sagging campaign. With polls showing that her unfavorable ratings are continuing to climb and her approval ratings are in a slow but steady decline, the Senator from New York has to mastermind a miracle, and quickly. Across the Hudson, Governor Corzine faces similar polling numbers, but time is on his side. Unfortunately, the Governor must also transform himself but has not shown adeptness at doing so.

This past week, the Quinnipiac poll showed the Governor with a 37% job approval rating and a whopping 52% disapproval. In addition, 51% of the voters polled said he did not deserve re-election and his approval among members of his own party is only at 53%. With continued wrangling over an unpopular toll hike still ahead, the Governor will see his support continue to dwindle in the weeks ahead. However, all is not lost and the Governor does have time to regroup.

Continue reading ShapTalk.com: Corzine, Like Clinton, Only With More Time to Turn It Around.

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

Is Obama Inevitable?

Approximately a month ago, the pundits were entranced by the inevitability argument promulgated by the Clinton Campaign, believing the spoon-fed line that Hillary Clinton was the heir to the White House “throne” and unbeatable. Something has happened since then, actually a lot: The Clinton juggernaut has revealed itself to be a house of cards. Her prodigious fundraising has been unmasked as a traditional operation that basked in the glow of large donors whose contributions have now largely maxed out, leaving the once behemoth campaign struggling for dollars. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton’s high-powered (and expensive) political team has shown itself to be adept at shooting the candidate in the foot by promoting her as a candidate of experience when the American electorate is looking for an end to the status quo in Washington. At the same time, her charge that Senator Obama was the weaker of the two general election candidates and that he could not appeal to whites and particularly women has been undercut by recent polls. These polls show the Senator from Illinois with a lead over the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, while Mrs. Clinton is behind, tied with, or one point ahead of the Senator from Arizona depending on the particular poll. Senator Obama also won over Clinton in North Dakota, Utah, Kansas and other states not known for their diversity, and was significantly victorious over Clinton in the Potomac primaries, receiving a majority of the women’s vote over the Senator from New York.

With super-delegates pledged to Clinton now changing course, unions who were remaining neutral now siding with Obama, newspaper endorsements in favor of the Senator from Illinois continuing unabated, and near endless press coverage regarding the possible collapse of the vaunted Clinton machine, the New York Senator has now become the underdog. The Clinton Campaign shakeup this past week did not help matters, instilling fear in donors and other supporters that the campaign is in deep trouble. At the same time, it provided a sense of near panic to a public that wants reassurance from the former First Lady that she is calm and cool under pressure.


Continue reading ShapTalk.com: Is Obama Inevitable?

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

Governor’s Toll Road Plan Under Heavy Fire

Governor Corzine’s plan to use toll hikes to pay down the State debt has come under heavy fire in recent days. A few weeks ago, it looked more likely to pass than not, with many Democrats in the Legislature expressing support and the endorsement of the pro-business Chambers of Commerce. However, this past week, all 17 Republican State Senators and all 32 Republican Assemblymen signaled that they would oppose the plan. Since the Democrats have a majority in both Legislative houses, the Republican opposition was not a deal-breaker. However, State Senator John Adler, a prominent Democrat who is running for Congress, announced his opposition, as well. In addition, a group of environmental and transportation groups declared their rejection of the Governor’s plan as long as it continues to include widening some major roadways. Suddenly, the asset monetization plan looks dead on arrival.

The toll hike plan calls for increasing tolls substantially over the next decade and using the money to pay down the State’s debt, establish a transportation trust fund, and widen several major roadways through the use of bonds. Paying down the debt is critical to the long-term future of our State. Interest on the State’s debt could cripple New Jersey’s economy in the coming years should it not be dealt with promptly. However, whether significantly increasing tolls to accomplish the task is the best way to go is questionable. Furthermore, if the State is in such massive debt, why does the Governor’s plan call for spending $4 billion (yes, with a “b”) to widen roadways? In addition, why does all of the pain for paying down New Jersey’s debt have to fall on drivers?

Continue reading ShapTalk.com: Governor's Toll Road Plan Under Heavy Fire

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

What About al Qaeda?

As we approach another Presidential election, the terrorist menace facing our nation and the world has fallen in prominence in polls and in the news. Meanwhile, its network, which was in place on 9/11, has grown considerably in the past seven years and, thanks to the misguided and badly bungled war in Iraq, has many new recruits. With our economy teetering on the brink of recession, the war in Iraq devolving into a debate about the surge, and a Presidential election taking all of the oxygen out of the public debate, it is understandable that terrorism has faded from the nation's consciousness. This, however, is a very dangerous trend that must be reversed by our elected leaders on both sides of the aisle. The terrorist threat is real, not imagined, and should be fought with vigilance.

Anyone who thinks this menace is passé need only look at last week's bombing in a Baghdad market that killed at least 99 people and wounded over 200. Two mentally retarded women had explosives strapped to them, which were detonated remotely by al Qaeda. The women likely had no idea what they were doing and that they were about to be sent to their deaths. The sheer depravity of this act is shocking.

Continue reading ShapTalk.com: What About al Qaeda?

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