My run for Congress (NJ-11)

Written by: Tom Wyka on Nov 14, 2006 11:50 PM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

 

Two hundred and ninety days ago, I decided that I couldn't stand by any longer and watch the America I knew continue to be dismantled before my eyes.   I decided to stop shaking my head at the nightly news and I stepped up to challenge my well-entrenched GOP incumbent Congressman.

 
I was a David taking on a Goliath. I am not the scion of a political dynasty reaching back to the 18th century, whose name is all over the local landscape. Instead, I come from a long line of recent Polish immigrants. I don’t have a personal fortune valued in the millions of dollars as so many in Congress do. In fact, I have had to continue to work at a regular job throughout this campaign, what some might call "uniquely American." Perhaps most important, I would be running in a district that had traditionally been so “safe” for my opponent’s party that my own party had never run a serious challenge. This also meant that I would get exactly zero support from outside the district. So we all knew that we were facing nearly impossible odds. But that’s not what’s important.
 

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Alex Lemski letter

Written by: Tom Wyka on Feb 14, 2006 2:24 PM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

Great letter Alex.

(To the Daily Record)

Protection of self is necessary
To the Editor:

The issue over wiretapping isn't whether foreign enemies shouldn't be spied upon by the National Security Administration -- the president already has the (legal) power to immediately wiretap suspected insurgents -- but how do we protect ourselves from the White House illegally spying on domestic citizens simply because we choose to even severely criticize his actions at home and around the globe.

Yes, President Bush has broken the law by not going to the proper court and he knows it. Even with court approval of domestic spying, why is he afraid of free speech directed at him, unless he knows he's guilty of hiding the truth about a far reaching faux pas?

ALEX LEMSKI

Whippany

Stepping Up

Written by: Tom Wyka on Feb 12, 2006 2:07 AM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

Folks,

For those of you who may not have been to the last meeting, I wanted to fill you in on some big plans I have for this year (to say the least). There was a lot of talk in our group about who would be opposing Rodney Frelinghuysen for NJ-11 (which is Morris County, western Essex, northeast Somerset, plus parts of Sussex, and Bloomingdale.) We were really looking forward to getting behind someone who might make an aggressive campaign despite all odds, and getting a message out to the NJ-11 voters on the things that need to be said about Mr. Frelinghuysen's allegedly “moderate� record.

Fresh back from Camp Wellstone, I told the group that I finally came off the fence and answered that call in the back of my mind “If not you - who? If not now - when?� I finally realized that “we are the leaders we've been waiting for� and announced that I would be stepping up to challenge for this Congressional seat.

This morning I went to HQ (invited by Lew) to introduce myself to the municipal chairs. Jack Hartford, a councilman from Chatham, was also asked to speak as he had also expressed interest in running. Jack is a good man and if there should be a primary - my message will focus only on why I feel I'm the best person for this run.

I'm sending this out because as I'm getting started this late - I have a todo list a mile long and could use any support I can get. I intend to run an aggressive, credible campaign that any Democrat, and especially DFA members would be proud of. I'm expecting to get an organizational meeting together within the next 2 weeks, and I'm looking for a core group that will help me with networking for a base of support, press strategy, fundraising, general messaging, and research (since now that I'm the candidate, and will be occupied with a number of things - I can't do all the geeky googling I once did :-) Please let me know if you can help by visiting Link and click on my email link. I appreciate any support you can give me (from in the district or beyond), and I promise you this will be a hell of a ride!

Thanks,
Tom Wyka

Bring Troops Home Now

Written by: Tom Wyka on Feb 11, 2006 11:49 PM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

Folks,

Members of this group came to our Out of Iraq Event and wanted me to pubilicize this to all progressive groups. They will be setting up a billboard in downtown Newark and holding a press conference on Tuesday 2/14. If you have the opportunity, maybe you could join them in this stand.

Follow Link.... Link

Tom

Avery's Tribute to King

Written by: Tom Wyka on Jan 16, 2006 1:46 PM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

...And a dig at towns who don't celebrate.

Well done Avery!

Link

Morris County

Written by: Tom Wyka on Jan 9, 2006 2:47 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA New Jersey

Over the weekend - we co-sponsored an event with various other progressive minded groups in our area on the Iraq War. It was a great success and we managed to get significant attention from our local paper (front page of the Sunday "Local" section of the Daily Record). Stop over at the Morris County group to see the article.....Link

Chip-Shot (Daily Record Letter)

Written by: Tom Wyka on Jan 3, 2006 12:30 AM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

(... and chalk one up for Chip. In case you missed it.. )

Daily Record 1/1/06

Is he really a moderate at all?

To the Editor:

For many years, Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, has been known as one of the leading moderates in the House. I'm beginning to wonder whether he really is that moderate at all.

Several recent votes indicate that when push comes to shove, he will side with President Bush and the Republican leadership rather than the more moderate House members.

First, rather than standing strong against the use of torture, Frelinghuysen voted against the McCain legislation that would have barred cruel and inhumane treatment of prisoners. The United States should be standing strong against torture, not allowing for its use.

Secondly, Frelinghuysen voted to make the Patriot Act permanent. The Patriot Act has many dangerous provisions that violate our most basic civil liberties. The Patriot Act has provisions that allow spying on people's library records and e-mails, and allow for spying upon domestic political opposition groups.

Third, Frelinghuysen voted for the Republican budget bill, which makes massive cuts in food stamps and home heating for the poor, and also makes massive cuts in college loans.

Finally, and perhaps most distressing, Frelinghuysen went back on his own word and voted to allow for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge when it was attached to another bill.

chip robinson

Convent Stateion

Rosary's Letter in Daily Record

Written by: Tom Wyka on Dec 20, 2005 12:54 AM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

(In case you missed it. Very well put, Rosary!)

If the right wing was really concerned about celebrating the true spirit of Christmas, it would put its support behind raising the minimum wage. Instead, it puts its efforts into ensuring that consumers are greeted in stores by "Merry Christmas" and not "Happy Holidays."

As a new report released by the Center for Economic and Policy Research details: "In the nine years since Congress last acted to increase the minimum wage, inflation has eroded about 18 percent of its purchasing power."

Here's another fact that puts it in a holiday perspective: The average American consumer will spend a total of $738.11 this holiday season. It would take a minimum wage earner in the United States almost an entire month of work to pay for the total average cost of the holidays.

Providing a livable wage to hardworking American families is not a Democratic or Republican issue.

It is an issue of doing what is right and good.

ROSARY LESCOHIER

Morristown

Robin Hood in Reverse (Merry Christmas)

Written by: Tom Wyka on Dec 12, 2005 3:55 PM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

(I was waiting for this and missed it when it happened last week. The other shoe has dropped in the GOP's grand plan on the budget. Robin Hood in reverse....)

Read-up and write an editor. I'd also love to dissect Rodney's latest newsletter with regard to this vote.

Do the deficit math.... $51 spending cuts + $95 tax breaks

Link St. Petersburg Times

Link New York Times

Link New London Day (Ct)

Frelinghuysen's latest newletter (and my response)

Written by: Tom Wyka on Nov 19, 2005 9:33 PM EST

Linked to groups: Morris County DFA

The following is my latest submission to the Daily Record and the link to Frelinghuysen's newletter....

Link

I received my latest email newsletter from Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen in which he comments on the ironically titled Deficit Reduction Act. Mr. Frelinghuysen states “If American families are making sacrifices and 'tightening their belts,' the federal government can too!� Make sure you understand that right…. Since the Act negatively impacts Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, student loans, and other programs - he means “if American families are tightening their belts - we'll help them do that even more!�

Frelinghuysen further states that “The hardworking American taxpayers are watching. They want us to put this federal government on a 'crash diet.' “ “Crash� is an appropriate term. He minimizes the Act's cuts saying it's just one half of one percent of entitlement programs. And yet the GOP majority and Bush Administration will cling so tightly to the tax breaks for the wealthy, all under the guise of “trickle-down� economics, “what's good for the rich is good for the economy�, all as the gap between rich and poor grows wider.

In my Catholic church this weekend - the Gospel talked about how we treat “the least of us�.
In my opinion, not one dollar of entitlement programs should be touched without a significant or complete adjustment in the revenue side of the equation. It's a moral imperative. If Mr. Frelinghuysen is oblivious to this idea - family name or not, we should look elsewhere for representation and leadership in '06.