CBS Poll: 84% of Democrats Want ObamaCare Changed or Repealed
A fascinating number in Wednesday’s CBS poll is that only 7% of the American public want ObamaCare “kept in place.” A full 93% either believe that changes are needed to the law (48%) or want a full repeal (43%). This pits President Obama and Democrat lawmakers — who thus far have refused to make any meaningful changes — against 93% of the American people and 72% of Democrats.
Moreover, only 12% of Democrats want ObamaCare “kept as is.” Another 12% want it repealed.
If only 12% of Democrats want nothing changed with ObamaCare, there is no question that Democrat lawmakers and the president are defying their own base with this ongoing refusal to make any real changes to the law. Furthermore, they are blocking proposed changes, including changes proposed by fellow Democrats.
The growing narrative from the media and ObamaCare champions is that Democrats need to “stay the course.” Analyzing the Democrats’ political options, ABC’s Rick Klein writes today:
Lost in the Democratic angst over Obamacare is a simple fact of 2014 politics: They don’t really have any choice but to own it. … No quantity of votes on “fixes” now will matter in the broad messaging wars later; no lawmaker, and virtually no Democratic challenger, will be able to seal him or herself off from potential political damage.
Klein is not alone with this advice. But how exactly is that a smart play when 84% of Democrats disagree?
Census ‘faked’ 2012 election jobs report
By John Crudele
November 18, 2013 | 8:06pm
In the home stretch of the 2012 presidential campaign, from August to September, the unemployment rate fell sharply — raising eyebrows from Wall Street to Washington.
The decline — from 8.1 percent in August to 7.8 percent in September — might not have been all it seemed. The numbers, according to a reliable source, were manipulated.
And the Census Bureau, which does the unemployment survey, knew it.
Just two years before the presidential election, the Census Bureau had caught an employee fabricating data that went into the unemployment report, which is one of the most closely watched measures of the economy.
And a knowledgeable source says the deception went beyond that one employee — that it escalated at the time President Obama was seeking reelection in 2012 and continues today.
“He’s not the only one,” said the source, who asked to remain anonymous for now but is willing to talk with the Labor Department and Congress if asked.
BOE Votes to eliminate voter approval of the district budget
November 19,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood BOE voted on Monday night to move school elections from April to November, therefor eliminating annual voter approval of the district budget.
The resolution, passed by a 4-1 vote margin with Board member Christina Krauss, who previously expressed misgivings with the prospect of taking away the public’s vote on the budget, casting the lone dissenting vote.
The Vote followed several months of discussion and solicitations of public opinion from district officials.
“The Board approved a Resolution establishing the election of members of the Ridgewood Board of Education as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Moving the annual school election means the November general election ballot will only include school board candidates running for open seats. The school budget will not be voted on unless it exceeded the budgetary state -mandated cap.
Since the passage of the law (P.L. 2011, c. 202) in January 2012, the majority of the state’s 540 public school districts have made the switch to the November general election date. Statistics on the state’s website show that 39 districts, 15 of them located in Bergen County still hold their annual school elections in April.”
Botched ACA Rollout Hammers Obama; Job Disapproval Reaches a Career High
By Gary Langer
Nov 19, 2013 12:01am
Barack Obama has been hammered by the botched rollout of the Affordable Care Act, with disapproval of his job performance reaching a career high, opposition to the new healthcare law up sharply and evidence of potential fallout in the midterm elections a year off.
The president’s job approval rating has fallen to 42 percent in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll, down 13 percentage points this year and 6 points in the past month to match the lowest of his presidency. Fifty-five percent disapprove, a record. And 70 percent say the country’s headed seriously off on the wrong track – up 13 points since May to the most in two years.
Other ratings of the president’s performance have tumbled as well. He’s at career lows for being a strong leader, understanding the problems of average Americans and being honest and trustworthy – numerically under water on each of these (a first for the latter two). His rating for strong leadership is down by 15 points this year and a vast 31 points below its peak shortly after he took office. In a new gauge, just 41 percent rate him as a good manager; 56 percent think not.
This poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that the president’s personal image has suffered alongside his professional ratings. Fewer than half, 46 percent, see him favorably overall, down 14 points this year to the fewest of his presidency. Fifty-two percent now view him unfavorably, a new high and a majority for the first time since he took office. It may matter: Personal popularity can provide a president with cushioning when the going gets rough. Losing it leaves the president more vulnerable.
ACA – Skepticism about the Affordable Care Act looks to be the driving force in Obama’s troubles. Americans by nearly 2-1, 63-33 percent, disapprove of his handling of implementation of the new health care law. And the public by 57-40 percent now opposes the law overall, its most negative rating to date, with opposition up by 8 points in the past month alone.
Intensity of sentiment is running against the law and the president alike. At 46 percent, “strong” opposition to the ACA – a new high – outpaces strong support by a record 19 points. In terms of Obama’s job performance overall, strong critics outnumber strong approvers by 2-1, 44-22 percent, with strong disapproval at another career high. He’d run evenly on strong sentiment as recently as last May.
C.I.A. Collecting Data on International Money Transfers, Officials Say
By CHARLIE SAVAGE and MARK MAZZETTI
Published: November 14, 2013
WASHINGTON — The Central Intelligence Agency is secretly collecting bulk records of international money transfers handled by companies like Western Union — including transactions into and out of the United States — under the same law that the National Security Agency uses for its huge database of Americans’ phone records, according to current and former government officials.
The C.I.A. financial records program, which the officials said was authorized by provisions in the Patriot Act and overseen by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, offers evidence that the extent of government data collection programs is not fully known and that the national debate over privacy and security may be incomplete.
Some details of the C.I.A. program were not clear. But it was confirmed by several current and former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the matter is classified.
Blame game as insurers dump doctors
By Carl Campanile
November 9, 2013 | 12:46am
Let the blame game begin over ObamaCare’s oversights.
The nation’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, claims the Affordable Care Act is responsible for forcing it to boot doctors from its Medicare Advantage program that serves thousands of elderly patients in the New York metro region.
CEO Jack Larsen, under fire for separating seniors from their MDs, took out full-page ads to explain that cuts in Medicare spending forced the insurer’s hand.
“We are working to collaborate with a more focused network of physicians to help us provide higher quality and more affordable health care coverage to meet the needs of our members, and help them get more from their health plan benefits,” Larsen said.
“This work has become even more urgent in light of the severe funding reductions for Medicare Advantage plans that have come from Washington.”
Christie scheduled to become chairman of the Republican Governors Association
Sunday November 10, 2013, 12:47 AM
BY MELISSA HAYES
STATE HO– USE BUREAU
The Record
The same group that helped Chris Christie defeat a Democratic governor four years ago could now help him secure an even bigger prize: a presidential nomination.
Christie is scheduled to become chairman of the Republican Governors Association this month, a position that will connect him with more donors, voters and GOP campaign operations in key states.
This chairmanship is a hidden jewel in the benefits of Christie’s landslide victory last week. As chairman, Christie gets to set the priorities for a group already credited with swaying elections in several states, and he will be part of the leadership team that decides how the organization spends its money. It raised $23.5 million during the first half of this year and ended that period with $37 million on hand.
As RGA chairman, Christie also will get to choose the states where he personally campaigns, picking up IOUs from governors who could be counted on to return the favor if he runs for president. And that campaigning would allow him to barnstorm selected parts of the country to spread his message that what the GOP needs is more pragmatism and less ideology.
“We are not a debating society,” Christie told key Republican strategists meeting in Boston this past summer, according to an account in Time magazine. “We are a political operation that needs to win.”
Businesses hire up to deal with more regs
By Ben Goad and Julian Hattem
A growing thicket of federal regulations under the Obama administration has contributed to an employment spike in at least one corner of the job market: the increasingly vital compliance industry.
ObamaCare, the Dodd-Frank Act and other large federal undertakings have led to an outpouring of new agency rules derided by business groups and defended by advocates.
But the regulations have also been a boon for professional compliance officers paid to help companies understand and adapt to the new requirements.
“Staff to track compliance issues is on the rise, and it has been for the last several years,” said Richard Riese, senior vice president for regulatory compliance at the American Bankers Association. “And, at the moment, there’s no prospect it will decrease anytime soon.”
Data kept by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows an 18-percent increase in the number of compliance officers in the United States between 2009 and 2012, according to an analysis conducted by the conservative American Action Forum (AAF).
At last count, there were an estimated 227,500 compliance officers employed in the United States, according to the BLS. The bureau defines a compliance officer as an employee responsible for evaluating conformity with laws and regulations.
Cancellation: Planning Board Public Work Session November 19
PLANNING BOARD
AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE
CANCELLED: Work Session & Public Meeting: Tuesday, November 19, 2013
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board public meeting and work session for TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013, in the VILLAGE HALL COURT ROOM, 4th Floor, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning at 7:30 p.m. has been cancelled.
All meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.
Celebrating Veteran’s – November 9th Program at Ridgewood Library
A reminder, Saturday, November 9th at the Ridgewood Public Library at 2 pm. Their is a joint presentation Called “Escape from Behind Enemy Lines”. The Shelburn Line was a WW11 escape network operating in occupied France which returned 136 allied servicemen to England. Rick Feingold recounts the story of how his father Lt, Louis Feingold escaped Nazi capture.. The presentation begins at 2 pm.
Monday, November 11th the American Legion Post 53 will conduct the Veterans Day service starting at 11 am. at Ridgewoods Veterans Field located at Linwood and Maple Aves by the flagpole. Please join us.
Saturday, November 16th at 9 am. the American Legion will recover the American flags placed at veterans gravesites in May. The community is invited to help us. The more hands the easier the task. Bring your children and grandchildren. The event will take place rain or shine at Valleau cemetery.
Chris Christie to President Obama on ACA: Don’t be cute, don’t ‘lawyer it’
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has some friendly advice for President Barack Obama on his Affordable Care Act woes: Don’t be cute and don’t be a lawyer.
“Here’s what my suggestion would be to him. Don’t be so cute,” Christie told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “[W]hen you make a mistake, admit it. And, listen, if it was a mistake in 2009, if he was mistaken in 2009, 2010 on his understanding of how the law would operate, then just admit it to people.”
Christie was responding to news of the approximately 3.5 million consumers have received notices from their insurance companies in recent weeks cancelling their current plans, which has called into question the president’s promise that people can keep health care plans that they like.
“I think people would give any leader in that circumstance a lot of credit for just, you know, owning up to it instead of now trying to — like, don’t lawyer it,” Christie said. “People don’t like lawyers. I’m a lawyer.” (DelReal/Politico)
Christie vs Buono Election Pits School Choice against the NJEA
November 4, 2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, One issue playing an very significant role just blow the surface to this gubernatorial election between Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic candidate rival for governor Barbara Buono is education reform .
So far the only people that seem keenly aware of this is the NJEA with its over the top support for Democratic candidate Barbara Buono . While the press has simply ignored the issue Bruono and the teachers union have campaigned vigoriously .
A comparison on educational positions between Republican Governor Christie and Democratic candidate for governor state Sen. Barbara Buono show a stark difference on educational policy.
According to the Bergen record Christie and Buono have nearly opposite views when it comes to education – especially on school funding, vouchers and preschool. Indeed, the governor has long sparred with the state’s largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, while Buono has been warmly supported by it.
Christie: The governor wants to give companies tax credits for helping low-income families pay for private tuitions. He argues children trapped in failing schools deserve better choices and competition will improve traditional district options.
He bolstered total state aid for education to a record $12.4 billion this year. But direct aid to districts, known as formula aid, is $7.85 billion – and some district leaders say they have barely climbed back to prerecession levels of state aid in the wake of cuts Christie imposed in 2010 during the fiscal crisis.
Christie increased funding for free preschool slots for poor urban children slightly this year but did not expand the program to more districts despite previous state plans to do so.
He championed a new law that made it harder for teachers to earn and keep tenure and required more rigorous teacher evaluations.
In higher education, Christie had opposed the so-called Dream Act, which would allow in-state tuition rates at public colleges for students who were brought here illegally as children. He recently said in a debate that he would revisit the issue.
Buono: The state senator is against vouchers (educational choice for the poor) , saying they drain precious resources from traditional public schools (failed Abbott schools) . She has endorsed having some quality charters as labs for innovation but says they have been overemphasized by Christie; she wants local voters to approve any new charters.
As an author of the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (Abbott Schools) , Buono says she wants to fully fund the formula; the state has not allocated as much as the formula requires for aid to districts. She said accomplishing that goal would need to be phased in. Christie has tried to revise the formula to slightly trim extra aid for at-risk children.
Buono also wants to expand public preschool, full-day kindergarten and after-school enrichment programs.
Buono supports the Dream Act. She has also pledged to reform the system that makes higher-education funding subject to the vagaries of the state budgeting process.
By anyone’s standard out side public education the Abbott School districts has been a very expensive colossal failure , and a prime reason property taxes are out of control making it absolutely essential for those looking to enhance educational opportunities to the poor to defeat the NJEA and Barbra Buono .
Maura DeNicola for Bergen County Freeholder with Governor Chris Christie
Christie’s cottails are wild card in whether Democrats retain control of legislature
TRENTON — Outwardly, most Democrats are confident about retaining control of the Legislature tomorrow, when all 120 seats in the state Senate and Assembly are up for grabs
But they can’t ignore the looming threat at the top of the ticket, with polls showing Republican Gov. Chris Christie leading Democrat Barbara Buono from anywhere between 18 and 33 percentage points.
No matter how rosy Democratic legislative candidates’ internal polls look, if their candidate for governor gets blown out by 20 points or more, all bets are off. (Friedman/Star-Ledger)
Bob Pressner : Brogan’s performance on Tuesday night was sadly predictable
Brogan’s performance on Tuesday night was sadly predictable. She took the vanilla position on the Valley expansion. I knew she would walk the tightrope of non committal; she can’t be counted to cross swords with the mighty Valley. From the start of her comments she spoke of school construction that has taken place while she’s been on the Board, the fix was clearly in. Sorry, what Valley has presented as their vision in no way resembles what our schools have accomplished in construction over the past 10 – 12 years. To compare students’ experiences during the school construction and Valley’s proposed renovations is a reach too far. What Valley proposes for their 15 acre parcel is ridiculous, and the impact will be dramatic.
The expectation of 10 years as the time frame for construction, is also short sided. The effects of this expansion, but more importantly the changing of the Master Plan will have far reaching effects on all of our children’s learning experiences. The area around Valley will be changed forever. In my opinion, not for the better. Changing the Master Plan will also allow for developers to challenge our future concerns regarding growth based on the precedent that will have been established. We are at a cross roads in the future of Ridgewood, and it is time for all of our fellow residents to step up, speak up, and be heard.
Airlines rank lower in customer satisfaction than the post office
By Hugo Martin
June 23, 2013, 8:00 a.m.
Fliers are slightly more satisfied with the service offered by U.S.-based airlines since last year.
But with the airline industry ranked below the U.S. Postal Service for customer satisfaction, it still has a way to go.
The findings come from an annual survey of about 70,000 Americans and show that the airline industry ranks higher than only subscription TV and Internet service companies.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index, an independent benchmarking business developed at the University of Michigan, concluded that the industry improved 3% in 2013 to a rating of 69 on a 100-point scale. Not surprisingly, airline travelers were most turned off by crowded seating, extra passenger fees and poor customer service, according to the report.
Low-cost carriers JetBlue and Southwest airlines led the industry with scores of 83 and 81, respectively, while network airlines Delta, American, US Airways and United scored no better than 68, the survey found.
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