Democrat Menendez broke federal law. Star-Ledger asks Republican to quit race.

It's a severe case of payback for daring to ask a question. 

A day after the Senate Ethics Committee's "severe admonishment" of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Steve Lonegan, a conservative Republican congressional candidate in CD05 wrote to the Star-Ledger editorial board and asked when they might comment on the Senate Ethics Committee's action against Menendez. 

"The Senate Ethics Committee said Thursday that Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez, who avoided conviction in a federal corruption trial last year, violated federal law and Senate rules in accepting unreported gifts from a friend and political ally." (Washington Post, April 26, 2018) 

It's now been five days, and the Star-Ledger has yet to comment on Senator Menendez.  Instead of making a statement about the corrupt Democrat , Star-Ledger editor Tom Moran quickly scratched around for a Republican to attack.  It's called deflection. 

Moran claimed that a 12-year-old unfounded allegation from a former Democrat candidate for mayor in Lonegan's hometown, long known as crank, and noted for his serial accusations of officials in Bergen County, amounted to  a "gay slur" even though the man alleging the slur isn't gay.  Despite there being no proof to the allegation, when Lonegan asked about Menendez, Moran replied in writing to Lonegan: 

"We are also writing about the accusation against you making a gay slur, as you know.  We believe that's grounds for you to step down from the race." 

Unfortunately, for the Star-Ledger, while editor Moran was writing these lines, a New Jersey court was confirming that the accuser Moran based his attack on had no veracity at all.  The case was dismissed.  When this was pointed out to Moran, he published anyway. 

It is no surprise to those who have been following Moran that the Star-Ledger editor doesn't believe in fairness or due process.  After all, in another Star-Ledger editorial (from 2013) Moran labeled the Constitution as a “source of our woes” and suggested that President Obama or a future President Clinton be given the power to appoint 10 senators and 50 congressmen to serve “at large”.  

This is the same Star-Ledger editor who accused Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose of being a pro-terrorist crazy in 2013.  Assemblywoman McHose is the daughter of John McCann's campaign co-chair, Virginia Littell, the former State GOP Chair. 

Five days on and still no word from the Star-Ledger demanding that corrupt Democrat Bob Menendez step down from the U.S. Senate.  Maybe they will never comment?  

You can read the Ethics Committee's full statement here:

https://www.ethics.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=49C12C75-7A26-4FE6-B070-19FCEF4D7532

Phoebus has a meltdown, blames staff she fired

If there is one thing you need to know about Assemblyperson Gail Phoebus it is this:  Since she fired her staff just before Thanksgiving, she has not authored a single piece of legislation.  None.  Nothing.  Nada.

In a weird, stream-of-consciousness posting on a Skylands Tea Party website, Phoebus channels that notorious "Queen of Mean", Leona Helmsley, and actually accuses those she fired of disloyalty because they were lucky enough to find employment because Assemblyman Parker Space and Senator Steve Oroho stepped in to help.

This is what comes from having a sense of entitlement.  Phoebus is a country club politician who owns a golf course and a restaurant in New Jersey and a ranch in Colorado.  She was a fixture on the wealthy equestrian circuit -- attending lavish parties where she bought and sold show horses. 

In 2012, Phoebus hired conservative Bill Winkler to do her writing and provide her with some intellectual help.  Phoebus allowed the Sussex County GOP to use her country club and she became the darling of the Sussex County GOP.  Her pathway to the Freeholder Board was cleared for her -- and three years later she was the anointed candidate to take the Assembly seat left by Alison Littell McHose. 

But it all went to her head and so quickly.  She replaced conservative Winkler with a liberal Obama supporter named Perez and started talking about forcing Senator Steve Oroho out of office.  At the same time, Perez let it be known that he wanted to be a Superior Court judge (something a Senator Phoebus could help him get).

PEREZ, DANIEL M MR

WEST CALDWELL

NJ

07006

MARC ECKO ENTERPRISES

SPECIAL COUNSELOR

OBAMA, BARACK / JOSEPH R. BIDEN VIA OBAMA FOR AMERICA

12/06/2007

500.00

In her meltdown-associated rant, Phoebus blanks out at the memory of how she fired her staff, just days before Thanksgiving.  Without warning she sent them a terse, one paragraph email (drafted by Perez?).  Like Leona Helmsley, the Queen of Mean, Gail Phoebus failed to treat her employees like human beings deserve to be treated.  Phoebus refused to meet with her employees before firing them, did not provide a reason for their firing, and did not give them notice.  Phoebus never looked them in the eyes or even spoke with them.  Phoebus never offered her assistance to help them find alternative employment.  Phoebus didn't care what happened to them -- so long as she has her country club, her ranch in Colorado, and her taxpayer-funded title.

In place of a constituent-service specialist and a legislative aide, Phoebus hired a personal friend to serve as her "body person" and follow her around to make her look important.  Phoebus failed to hire anyone to work on constituent problems or legislation. 

Phoebus lied when, in her meltdown-induced rant, she claimed that she told the LD24 legislators that she wanted to break up their constituent-service operation, before they endorsed her for Assembly in 2015.  If she had told them that, why would they have endorsed her?

When Alison Littell McHose announced that she would not be seeking re-election in 2015, Phoebus personally solicited the support of all the legislative staff members and assured them that she would continue the constituent service operation that had helped thousands of citizens in Sussex, Warren, and Morris counties.  There are literally dozens of people who heard Phoebus say those words, and the first mailing to voters from the Phoebus campaign referenced them:

 Before making her decision to step down, Alison wanted to make sure that the 24th District continued to get the strong constituent services that it has received from the joint legislative office with Senator Steve Oroho. 

Apparently, Gail Phoebus' promise to the voters wasn't worth very much, because it took her less than a year to break it.

Phoebus lied again when, in the midst of her meltdown, she let loose with the accusation that one of her staff members was too political.  Phoebus knows how she demanded that her staffer help the Freeholder campaign of George Graham and Sylvia Petillo.  It was Phoebus who involved her staffer in after-hours politics, something perfectly acceptable, but something that Phoebus now uses as an excuse to rudely fire someone. 

Further, as Freeholder Petillo and her husband can well confirm, the "consultant" that Phoebus' staffer assisted was not Mr. Winkler, it was Mr. Russell.  The campaign finance reports filed by the campaign of Freeholders Graham and Petillo and attested to for accuracy by their treasurer, will confirm this.  And again, it is perfectly acceptable to hire a consultant and Mr. Russell is a fine one.

For years and years, Gail Phoebus has dealt in lies.  She is an unashamed spreader of rumors.  She has whispered some incredible things into the ears of people over the years -- and especially over this last year.  This meltdown by Phoebus has provided the first glimpse -- in writing -- of what she's been about.  It will be our pleasure to unpeel this onion. 

Staff Phoebus fired includes employee planning a wedding

It was the letter from the boss that everyone dreads:

"Your services are no longer required.  Your position is hereby terminated, effective immediately."  (Gail Phoebus to her employees)

And coming just days before the holidays, it was exceptionally painful.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Merry Christmas!

Assemblyperson Gail Phoebus sent terse, one paragraph letters to the career civil servants at her legislative office staff and fired them all.  In their place, she is hiring personal friends with no legislative qualifications and questionable backgrounds in the skills needed to handle constituent services.

Before spending her holidays at her 2 million square foot ranch in Colorado, Phoebus ruined the holidays of an employee who is about to get married.  We haven't seen this kind of indifference to the humanity of employees since Leona Helmsley -- the Queen of Mean! 

The actions of Gail Phoebus give the GOP a bad name.  When people talk about "Country Club Republicans" they think Phoebus -- a millionaire who actually owns a country club and a golf course with it! 

This is yet another flip-flop or lie by Phoebus.  When Alison Littell McHose announced that she would not be seeking re-election in 2015, Phoebus personally solicited the support of legislative staff members with the promise that their jobs were safe with Phoebus as their new boss.  Apparently that promise wasn't worth very much, as it has now been broken.

Phoebus refused to meet with her employees before firing them, did not provide a reason for their firing, and did not give them notice face-to-face.  The firings did not provide for the customary two-week notice.  When asked about it, Phoebus claimed that she didn't know her employee's last name.

One source described Phoebus' actions as a "cruel and undiplomatic way of thanking loyal employees."  Another noted that Phoebus' friends need and want the money and the taxpayer-funded benefits (health care and pension), so she's put them before the needs of her constituents. 

Either way, Assemblyperson Gail Phoebus has made for a miserable holiday season for her employees' families.  That's not the face we want for the Sussex County GOP.

Fired Phoebus staff includes woman with disabled husband

It was the letter from the boss that everyone dreads:

"Your services are no longer required.  Your position is hereby terminated, effective immediately."  (Gail Phoebus to her employees)

And coming just days before the holidays, it was exceptionally painful.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Merry Christmas!

Assemblyperson Gail Phoebus sent terse, one paragraph letters to the career civil servants at her legislative office staff and fired them all.  In their place, she is hiring personal friends with no legislative qualifications and questionable backgrounds in the skills needed to handle constituent services.

Before spending her holidays at her 2 million square foot ranch in Colorado, Phoebus ruined the holidays of an employee who is about to get married and another who is the primary breadwinner and whose husband is disabled.  We haven't seen this kind of indifference to the humanity of employees since Leona Helmsley -- the Queen of Mean! 

The actions of Gail Phoebus give the GOP a bad name.  When people talk about "Country Club Republicans" they think Phoebus -- a millionaire who actually owns a country club and a golf course with it! 

This is yet another flip-flop or lie by Phoebus.  When Alison Littell McHose announced that she would not be seeking re-election in 2015, Phoebus personally solicited the support of legislative staff members with the promise that their jobs were safe with Phoebus as their new boss.  Apparently that promise wasn't worth very much, as it has now been broken.

Phoebus refused to meet with her employees before firing them, did not provide a reason for their firing, and did not give them notice face-to-face.  The firings did not provide for the customary two-week notice.  When asked about it, Phoebus claimed that she didn't know her employee's last name.

One source described Phoebus' actions as a "cruel and undiplomatic way of thanking loyal employees."  Another noted that Phoebus' friends need and want the money and the taxpayer-funded benefits (health care and pension), so she's put them before the needs of her constituents. 

Either way, Assemblyperson Gail Phoebus has made for a miserable holiday season for her employees' families.  That's not the face we want for the Sussex County GOP.

Tea Party candidate threatens GOP Assembly Leader

Mark Quick, who in 2011 ran with Sussex County Tea Party president Roseann Salanitri against conservative legislators Alison Littell McHose and Gary Chiusano, used social media to post what appeared to be a threat against GOP Assembly Leader Jon Bramnick and others.  Quick's post was in response to a plea for civility made by Assemblyman Bramnick:

"I am deeply concerned how partisanship has evolved into hatred and intolerance.  We must be very careful that our country does not continue down a path that can only be destructive for our nation."

Quick, who opposes the tax restructuring plan supported by Assemblyman Bramnick and others, responded derisively:

"As soon as the Traitors are in jail or swinging from a rope."

"Traitors... swinging from a rope?"  Was that violent image (lynching) really necessary?

But this is just what we have come to expect from Sussex County's tea partiers -- coarse, pornographic rants laced with threats of violence.  Posting mainly through social media, those responsible sound more like 15 year-olds than the 70 pluses they tend to be.

Here is one Sussex County tea party member musing on what should be done with the United States Congress:

"All 545 sitting in DC right now are guilty of treason. And all those living who have sat over the past 2 decades, since the signing of NAFTA are, too. That is our reality, they should all be indicted, dragged out in chains, the evidence a matter of congressional record and unimpeachable. And all should be subject to all the consequences the law provides up to the firing squad."

But not every Tea Party group is like this.  On the website of a Tea Party organization in a neighboring county, we found this admonishment to members:

Remember the quote attributed to Ronald Reagan “The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally – not a 20 percent traitor.” 

Sussex County has New Jersey's most reliable conservative legislators -- year in, year out.  And yet, since the beginnings of the Tea Party movement in 2010, tea party members in Sussex County have consistently attacked them as "20 percent traitors" (actually, we'd be surprised if there was five percent disagreement on the issues between them).

The Tea Party has attacked Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, Assemblyman Gary Chiusano, Assemblyman Parker Space, Senator Steve Oroho, and others.  It lay aside developing a door-to-door commitment for Congressman Scott Garrett, in order to focus its attentions on the apparently far more thrilling game of screw the conservative Republican.  Why go after Pro-abortion, anti-Second Amendment liberal Democrat Josh Gottheimer when you can screw Pro-Life, Pro-gun, Pro-hunting conservative Republican Steve Oroho?  It's priorities. 

It has never been about policy for the Tea Party in Sussex County, but rather about individual envy, jealousy, covetousness, and the hatred these sins produce.  Now, unfortunately, the ooze is making its way around the state, courtesy of Bill Spadea and others.

Update!  While writing this column we've heard from another Sussex County Tea Party member (Skylands Tea Party) and candidate for the state legislature.  He made this charming comment:

Now there's the kind of guy you want in the State Legislature, providing leadership, a role model for children.  Go Tea Party!