Journalism

Clips from my work.

Posted 18 years 10 months ago and tagged as Political Diary, The Wall Street Journal, New Jersey, Bret Schundler

Former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler has played a successful David to New Jersey's political machine Goliath for years. But there's one foe that always got the best of him: the teacher's union. Maybe that's why in his second run for the governorship, he's no longer talking up school choice, his signature issue for years. Instead, his current campaign for the GOP nomination is focused on ethics and property taxes, making him sound a lot like his Republican rival, Doug Forrester. Even the likely Democratic nominee, Jon Corzine, is promoting similar stances.

Posted 18 years 11 months ago and tagged as Political Diary, The Wall Street Journal, New Jersey, Doug Forrester

With New Jersey's gubernatorial primary about a month away, the leading Republican candidates are coming into view. Good thing for the front-runner that it's tough to quote the crickets in print.

Posted 18 years 11 months ago and tagged as The Wall Street Journal, Political Diary, New Jersey, Jon Corzine

Sen. Jon Corzine wants to party like it's ... 2007. That's the year his Senate term ends. Problem is, he's running for New Jersey governor now and needs to donate loads of money to state political causes to win friends and influence party bosses. He told the Federal Election Commission that because his future interest is state, not federal, office, he should be subject to the higher state fund-raising caps. No way, the FEC ruled. As a current federal office holder, Mr. Corzine is bound by federal political contribution limits. Hey, John McCain, you finally caught a "special interest."

Posted 18 years 11 months ago and tagged as Political Diary, The Wall Street Journal, Environmentalism

The Energy Bill passed the House last week and now heads to the Senate. President Bush says he wants to sign it, but Democrats plan to bury it alongside past versions. Among the critics is Sen. Chuck Schumer, who says he'll filibuster the bill because it shields fuel manufacturers from MTBE spill liability. "This bill lets the big oil companies who are responsible off the hook," he says.

Posted 18 years 11 months ago and tagged as Political Diary, The Wall Street Journal, New Jersey, Politicians Behaving Badly

U.S. Senator Jon Corzine has just discovered an unexpected opponent in his campaign for the New Jersey governor's office: Potty-mouthed Democratic political boss George Norcross III.

Posted 18 years 12 months ago and tagged as Political Diary, The Wall Street Journal, Pennsylvania, Politicians Behaving Badly

Republican Pat Browne won a special election in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley to fill a vacant State Senate seat. He earned 53% of the vote. His competitor, Democrat Jennifer Mann, will remain in the State House.

Posted 18 years 12 months ago and tagged as Political Diary, The Wall Street Journal, Pennsylvania, Politicians Behaving Badly

How much mud has to fly in a political campaign to inspire an elected Democrat to publicly defend the Republican candidate? Look no further than Pennsylvania's 16th senate district, which holds a special election tomorrow to fill the vacancy left by freshman U.S. representative Charlie Dent. The district covers eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, which includes Allentown.

Posted 19 years 2 weeks ago and tagged as Political Diary, The Wall Street Journal, Pennsylvania, Lynn Swann

Fate didn't allow the Steelers and Eagles to meet in this year's Super Bowl, but Pennsylvanians can hope for a Pittsburgh-Philly matchup in next year's election for governor.

Posted 19 years 2 weeks ago and tagged as Political Diary, The Wall Street Journal, New Jersey, Political Sideshows

The queue of entertainers turned politicians may soon grow by one. Doug Friedline, former campaign manager to one-time Minnesota governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura, has launched a campaign to draft "I'm from Joisey" Joe Piscopo for the New Jersey governor's race. Mr. Piscopo was an 80s-era Saturday Night Live cast member who claims to have written more Jersey jokes than anyone else. Democratic candidate Jon Corzine may be wondering if Mr. Piscopo's next joke will be on him.

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