Day 2: Weinberg leads Codey; Merkt and Giblin tied
By EditorThe PolitickerNJ.com Smartest Legislator Tournament is intended to be a contest of sheer intelligence - an online, interactive contest among readers to determine New Jersey's most intellectually talented. This is not about political parties, vote-getting abilities, fundraising prowess, legislative achievements, or personal popularity - it's a contest to look at the minds of the legislators. Think about their ability to reason, to solve problems, to comprehend complicated ideas, to think abstractly, to articulate their views, and to learn. Consider their personal wisdom, their knowledge, and their ability to deal with cognitive complexity.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a watchdog group that promotes ethics and accountability, has filed a complaint with the ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's nothing more difficult to see than the history before your eyes. It sometimes takes generations to understand the significance of ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
OK, he didn't say precisely that, but when the Chairman of the Budget Committee informs us that governmental spending is the key to prosperity, ... >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
The media, which loves headlines and knows little history, is trying to sell President Elect Obama as another Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that ... >
Joey Novick
When I was eleven, way back in 1965, my family was invited for Thanksgiving to my cousins’ cousins, a Jewish-Italian family who lived in the ... >
Juan Melli
After the entire Star-Ledger editorial board opted to accept the paper's buyout offer, John Farmer, a 26-year veteran of the paper, was tasked ... >
Carla Katz
A couple of weeks ago, my mother, Angelina Katz, did her second debate on behalf of Barack Obama. A debate? My mother? If you knew her, you’d be ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
A rained out MusicFest this past September has provided Union County with $275,000 in insurance monies. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders ... >
Murray Sabrin
Today the Asinine Watch begins. With so many illiterate statements made about the economy by elected officials in recent days and weeks, it was ... >
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Quote of the Day
"Because he had to dress for his speech immediately, he had to purchase an entirely new set of clothes. The campaign credit card used to pay for the clothing was reimbursed in total by the airline, which wrote a check for $952.04 to the congressman on July 20, 2007. The congressman then endorsed the check over to the campaign account on July 20, 2007. Thus, the campaign incurred no expense for the clothing." -- Francis Tagmire, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, on why Andrews used campaign funds to pay for clothing. A Washington, D.C. watchdog group has filed a complaint against him.
Recent Press Releases
- Dec 3 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
James R. Lambert: Convicted Felon, Head of Authority― ONLY IN NEW JERSEY...AND PENNSYLVANIA
Why can't we find a role for Christie in Washington? ― MIKE KELLY
Christie Gives Notice, and G.O.P. Gains Hope ― DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI
Christie's legcy― THE BERGEN RECORD
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Syndicate
Smartest how?
Are we to consider their ability to milk the system? Under that criteria the decision is too difficult, but if we consider the legislator who is intelligent enough to understand the Constitutional constraints that limit legislative activities the field narrows.
I think intelligence is over rated. What legislator is the "most ethical" is a higher valued prize.
However in either most intelligent or most ethical I go with Michael Patrick Carroll. Hands down!!
"A Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one. Alexander Hamilton
How come Jersey Joe is not being touted as the Smartest?
He is the only well known author in this group of esteemed intellectuals (and if you listed to his supporters, his fascist manifesto was brilliant, ahead of his times).
VOTE FOR JERSEY JOE for New Jersey's Smartest Legislator!
(actually, he is kind of smart to want to get out of the State Senate just as he got there)
While I won't be supporting Jersey Joe for US Senate (Dr. Murray Sabrin has my vote, and some of my money), I would be happy to vote for him in this online poll.
Where is she?
WHERE IS Sen. Dana Redd - (D) ???
Access Denied
Whenever I try to vote it says access denied? Anyone else encountering this problem?
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
- Edmund Burke
Can't Vote...
Ditto, southjerseyguy. It won't let me vote.
This is silly
This is one of the stupidest things ever.
I thought kind of stuff was supposed to stop once the Observer took over?
Access Denied..
Same here..
Jersey Joe???
Yea that manifesto was real brilliant...I mean putting the homeless into defunct military camps is an outstanding policy we can all be proud of as Americans.
The fact he wrote such a manifesto, which anyone with any political acumen or intelligence would have known would come back to haunt him at some time, means a strong case can be made he shouldn't have been included in the poll to begin with.
Access Denied
I don't know who the smartest legislator is, but I know who the smartest webmaster isn't...
Breath of Fresh Air
How about Vince Polistina!!! A new Generation trying to Change the Old Broken Down System!!!!
Access Granted?
QWERTY, great comment. I think we all know the answer to that question. I was able to finally get access.
I know I sound like a homer, but love him or hate him, you have to put Van Drew on this list.
He's an incredibly strong Democrat in a district with the most Republican county in the state. That has to count for something.
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
- Edmund Burke
Ashcroft.
Ashcroft is the smartest. $52 million of smartness...... With no political clout.
Smartest who ... a NJ legislator?
You got to be kidding me. This contest is about: "It's a contest to look at the minds of the legislators. Think about their ability to reason, to solve problems, to comprehend complicated ideas, to think abstractly, to articulate their views, and to learn. Consider their personal wisdom, their knowledge, and their ability to deal with cognitive complexity." I am sorry, but by looking at this description I just want to throw up. Who is the smartest so far: Weinberg and Cody (more throwing up), Merkt and Goblin (I am running out of vomit). Please have mercy on me, stop this stupidity now!