Register, NJ! (Check votepoke.org to see if you need to)

Written by: Shelley on Jan 14, 2008 8:31 AM EST

Linked to groups: DFA New Jersey

With our earlier primary date (Feb. 5th instead of the usual June date), registration deadlines also move up.

 Check MoveOn's VotePoke to see if you're registered:  http://www.votepoke.org

If you need to register, you can get the forms you need here:  http://www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/voter-registration-application.html

 New registrations must be postmarked TOMORROW (Tues, Jan. 15), so don't delay.

Linda Stender! What can you do to help?

Written by: Shelley on May 4, 2006 4:46 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America

Linda Stender (NJ-7 contender) received two boosts recently as she was endorsed by both Emily's List and DFA National in her campaign to unseat the Rubberstamp Republican currently "representing" the NJ-7 district.

She's still got an uphill battle, but you could actually make a difference on this one...

1) See DFA's endorsement announcement here: www.blogforamerica.com/archives/...

2) Contribute here: contribute.democracyforamerica.c...

3) Sign up to get campaign news (including volunteer opportunities) here: www.lindastenderforcongress.com/...

4) Think about hosting a house party on June 8th (maybe we should do this instead of a June meeting... what do you think?)

5) Read up on her opponent here: http://www.dumpmike.com

6) Talk her up and write a letter to the editor while you're at it!

Written by: Shelley on Feb 11, 2006 2:34 AM EST

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America

It's 2006 and we'll be BUSY!

Written by: Shelley on Feb 4, 2006 10:36 PM EST

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America

Santorum, Ferguson, and Smith. We have to do better. We've got point people for all three of those races, so if you're ready to take your activism to the next level, let us hear from you.

We're also talking with folks with whom we might partner in the coming months, on the theory that no one group has a monopoly on good ideas.

And MCDFA member Alan G., who brought you the fabulously cathartic "help George think of a few mistakes" Post-It-a-thon at last year's Communiversity has promised that he'll help us again at this year's event.

If you missed our February meeting, you missed a good one, but watch your in-box for an post-meeting report, and keep watching this space.

Written by: Shelley on Jan 27, 2006 1:47 PM EST

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America

Ocean County Freeholders see the light!

Written by: Shelley on Jan 22, 2006 10:21 PM EST

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America

In a stunning reversal of their previous position, the Ocean County Freeholders indicated yesterday that they will vote to give Lt. Laurel Hester the right to confer her pension benefits on her domestic partner.

This is a victory for justice and compassion; Lt. Hester no longer needs to waste energy on a fight for what should have been hers as a matter of course.

This will bring the total number of NJ counties extending benefits to domestic partners of their employees to eight. (Bergen, Camden, Hudson, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, and Union). Still some work ahead of us, but still... a good day.

Ocean County Freeholders: Impotent

Written by: Shelley on Jan 19, 2006 9:56 AM EST

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America

The Ocean County Freeholders continue to refuse to support officer Laurel Hester's right to grant her pension benefits to her life partner. Not really news, if you've been following the case at all... the OC Freeholders have seemed pretty "dug in" on this issue throughout. Even in the face of a heartrending video (you can see it here: Link).

What appalled me, sitting there in the County Administration Building yesterday, was seeing how completely unable and unwilling these guys were to "own" their action. (Or, in this case, inaction.)

What the attendees at yesterday afternoon's meeting and the citizens of Ocean County deserve, at the very least, is some kind of explanation. Instead, the OC Freeholders have offered fancy footwork and a de facto filibuster.

For all their protestations of support and compassion, the Freeholders spent most of their time during the public comment session dancing around the one thing they could do at this point to clearly demonstrate their alleged support and compassion.

They won't come out and say that it's about the money. They won't say that they "can't"... because now there are six other NJ counties that can put the lie to that particular bit of political cover. They won't come out and say that it's about protecting the "ideal" of marriage. They won't come out and say that they believe they are representing the wishes of their constituents. They won't come out and say that they're afraid of the consequences of their actions.

They really won't say much of anything.

Which isn't to say they won't talk. They'll talk until they've sucked all the oxygen out of the room. They'll read you the text of the state's domestic partnership law (which of course many of the GLBTIQ people in the room know by heart). They'll refer you to websites. They'll clarify a point that no one asked them to clarify. They'll talk about how flawed NJ's current domestic partnership law is. They'll maddeningly confirm that Laurel Hester could go out and marry some random guy off the street and confer her benefits on him tomorrow. They'll insist on a charade of civility. But at the end of the day, what they'll mostly do is sit on their hands.

At one point, the assembled group of attendees, probably about 200 people although I forgot to count, started chanting, "You have the power, you have the power!" at these guys, because it honestly seems as though they've have completely abdicated their responsibility.

Under my breath, I muttered, "You have the power because we gave it to you. And now, we will take it away."

Shelley

(crossposted at BlueJersey.net and Daily Kos)

Written by: Shelley on Jan 8, 2006 10:58 PM EST

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America

Written by: Shelley on Jan 5, 2006 10:37 PM EST

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America

Written by: Shelley on Dec 28, 2005 4:06 PM EST

Linked to groups: Mercer County Democracy for America