QPORIT

 

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey has, over the last 24 and more hours, delivered the longest speech in the history of the US Senate, elegantly and passionately calling attention to the great promise and reality of the US in history, and the dangers the US faces in the actions of the current Trump administration.

Attention drawing events are the most important tools of Democratic resistance to the GOP's attempts to concentrate power in the Executive Branch of government, and with that power to cut vital services, to eliminate equality and diversity in both the government and private sectors, to alter the priorities of the Department of Justice, and to dramatically alter the system of taxation from an income tax (which can and should be progressive) to a tariff based "external" tax, which is basically regressive. (Tariffs are paid by importers, who pass along the cost to consumers, resulting in inflation, with the greatest burden falling on the poorest consumers.)

SENATOR CORY BOOKER'S OFFICE

https://www.booker.senate.gov/

Labels: Cory Booker, Democrats, Senate, Senator, speech

Mayor Cory Booker was the big winner of the NJ Senatorial Democratic debate.

He was intelligent, well spoken, dynamic, and did a great job of describing his effectiveness in bringing jobs and cultural support to Newark through his outreach to the public sector.

Congressman Rush Holt, a former teacher and scientist, was exceptionally knowledgeable about the problems that the Federal government needs to address. Unfortunately he is a poor speaker and debater. A former teacher, he should have availed himself of extensive coaching and training in public speaking and debating to present his own positions effectively and attractively.

The role of a Senator includes...
• Direct support, through his office, of the needs of the people of New Jersey
• Support for legislation and policy changes important to NJ and the nation
• The ability to convert those positions into laws
• And the ability to be an active and successful spokesperson for those issues

Cory Booker showed clearly he was the leader in each of those areas. Congressman Rush Holt did not demonstrate experience in supporting his Congressional District, (except, of course, by voting along with other Democrats in a conventional way). He supports many important positions, with sophisticated understanding, but he absolutely did not demonstrate the ability to be a charismatic advocate, much less an effective leader on the national stage.

Congressman Frank Pallone and NJ House Speaker Shiela Oliver were out of their depth, They were ineffective and did not demonstrate the stature and qualities required of a Senator.

Congressman Pallone spent a considerable portion of his time criticizing Mayor Booker for some of Booker’s actions (and non-actions), including his role in a new entrepreneurial venture**. While Booker did vigorously defend his role in travelling outside of Newark to engage and obtain support for Newark, he was silent on some of the other criticisms.

Booker, in turn, was very critical of the support by the Congressmen of the Patriot Act (and the resultant current level of surveillance), and of their support for deregulation of the banks.

Booker is a forceful and attractive candidate. It is easy to see why Governor Christie decided to hold the special election (to fill the remaining term of Senator Frank Lautenberg) for the Senate separate from the election for his own job.

The NJ Primary election is on Tuesday August 13. 



FRANK LAUTENBERG - WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lautenberg



MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES... FROM WIKIPEDIA:

CORY BOOKER
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Booker


(Note: Cory Booker has been promoting a rally in Hackensack:
 
Twitter: "Rally with @CoryBooker this Saturday, August 10th Courthouse steps in Hackensack. Starts at 7pm. 201-487-0001 for info"

But, oddly, there is no website to promote this event, just the phone number.  Booker's official site is: http://www.corybooker.com/)


RUSH HOLT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_D._Holt,_Jr.

FRANK PALLONE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Pallone

SHEILA OLIVER
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Oliver


** Booker's venture was described in the NYT on Wednesday ("Tech Magnates Bet on Booker And his Future" NYT Aug 7, 2013 p1, col 5).  He described it himself in a video on USA Today.  The idea behind it (a site called WAYWIRE) is a very good one: it wants to be a way for people to find the videos they are interested in.  It wants to be a new way for you to search and find the videos you want among the zillions that have been uploaded. And it wants to connect that to socially valuable objectives. (It should be duly noted that if the founders of the company -- that includes Booker himself --gave Booker a valuable stake for his roles as co-founder, as thinker and advocate, as funds raiser, and for the promotional value of the large presence he has on the public stage, they guessed right on every count.)



WAYWIRE HOME PAGE
www.waywire.com

BOOKER TALKING ABOUT WAYWIRE ON USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/talkingtech/2012/11/22/mayor-booker-and-waywire/1715461/

NYT ON BOOKER AND WAYWIRE
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/nyregion/tech-magnates-bet-on-booker-in-web-venture.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Labels: Cory Booker, Debate, Frank Lautenberg, Frank Pallone, Rush Holt, Senate, Senatorial Primary, Sheila Oliver, WAYWIRE