The fringe cracks-up

They must have deluded themselves into thinking they were winning.  This is a phenomenon we see more and more and it is due to social media and to the ability to screen out all but the news and information that pleases you and supports your view of the world.  Many people have produced safe spaces for themselves where they are free to revel in a kind of solipsism that alters their perception more thoroughly than a strong narcotic.

And so we have Harvey Roseff, a local activist of some merit, posting on the New Jersey Herald about "mind control" as the reason for his candidates' crushing 75% to 25% loss.  He simply cannot understand the fact that people do not have the same priorities that he does, that they do not perceive the world as he does, and that they therefore do not act accordingly. 

The very things that make Harvey so unique, separate him from the Everyman.  So he plays his role -- something of a Cassandra -- but he plays it largely alone. 

The candidates Mr. Roseff supported are not his equals.  Career DOT bureaucrat Bill Hayden is an example of the waste and burdensome regulation that is a by-product of any government bureaucracy.  That Hayden attacked his opponent for funding him as a by-product of funding the state's transportation infrastructure was rather weird.  It reminded us of a German Expressionist novel. 

Nathan Orr needs to get away from home, out from under the shadow of past failures not his own.  Perhaps when he stops channeling the blind pride and arrogance that appears to be this candidate's inheritance, he will open his eyes to the people around him.  David Atwood lacks focus and seems obsessed with silly things -- like his ancestry.  Hopefully, this is just down to being new.  Young and new and as green as one can be.  He might get better with time.

All of these candidates spent the last months in a bubble fashioned by their earnest friends, supportive family members, and especially by loud-mouths like Mark Quick and Bill Hayden.  Many of their supporters fell into the same bubble -- and never questioned their perception and assumptions.

They still don't.  Now some are laughably making threats -- with Hayden threatening to lead them to a Democrat Party nirvana this November.  It has all the makings of a Jim Jones inspired soap opera:  The cult's bubble keeps bumping into reality so they defiantly isolate themselves further (for the sake of the "purity" of the cult), so when reality still invades they commit the ultimate pointless gesture of... Democrat Party nirvana.  Go ahead, drink the kool-aid. 

While the Democrats will have more money than the GOP this November, they will not have so much that they can stupidly waste it.  What little hope the Democrat high command had for Legislative District 24 has been dashed by the Republican incumbents' 50-point victory.  Such victories are generally reserved for inner-city districts with machine "lines" -- to secure one without a line is remarkable and it has been and will be remarked upon by Democrat strategists.

The county is a different matter.  Republican freeholder nominee Herb Yardley's victory was an impressive 20-plus points, but the county GOP is not in the habit of raising the resources necessary to confront the kind of determined campaign that we expect from Democrat Dan Perez.  He is a formidable opponent with friends in the GOP establishment who have already shepherded his career to a seat on the Sussex County Community College's Board of Trustees and as a SCMUA Commissioner.

The Tea Party could play a role in the election of Herb Yardley, and in the defense of Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen.  It is up to them how seriously they want people to take them.

In his own words: Nathan Orr is no conservative

When Nathan Orr first ran for the Legislature, two years ago, he tried to portray himself as a younger version of Parker Space -- which is a good thing.

But soon after the 2015 primary, Nathan began to go soft.  Maybe it's all those classes he's been taking on political science and feminism in college (Nathan Orr is a full-time student) that have mixed up his core values, but he has been posting a lot of weird crap on Facebook.

First, Nathan criticized Assemblywoman Gail Phoebus for standing up to Planned Parenthood:

For most conservatives, the right-to-life is a basic issue and a core value.

Not for Nathan Orr.

He recently posted on Facebook that abortion was not one of those issues that "truly matter".    According to Nathan, the issues that "truly matter" are "foreign policy, taxes, crime, and private business." 

At a time when the liberal media, liberal celebrities, and liberal activists of every stripe are engaged in the most brutal assault on a Republican President in memory, Nathan Orr went on Facebook to accuse Christians of "hate-fueled speech". 

What is up with Nathan Orr?

Then there is this crazy quote that he made to the New Jersey Herald last week (May 30, 2017):

"I am not a lockstep member of the Republican Party. I will not go to Trenton and simply vote the party line... People should not go into government to promote a political party or single ideology."

Nathan Orr is running for the New Jersey Legislature.  He is a full-time student at a local community college. He claims that his involvement in student government has prepared him for the rigors of Trenton, where Republicans must battle an entrenched Democrat majority, where negotiations are tough and victories hard won.

Maybe Nathan Orr should finish his schooling, get married, settle down, start paying taxes, get involved in his community, run for local office, and get some practical experience under his belt.  Then, maybe at the ripe old age of 30, he should put himself forward for higher office.  Nothing beats real-life experience for understanding the needs of your community and for anchoring your core values.  Heck, the lessons of life might even make Nathan Orr a conservative again.

DOT showing favoritism in removing campaign signs

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has gone off the deep end.  It's illegally involved itself in the political process in Northwest New Jersey.  Once again, DOT personnel have been caught, by witnesses, pulling down political signs while leaving alone those of DOT supervisor and fellow CWA union member William Hayden. 

When public employees remove or destroy the campaign signs of candidates who they oppose, while leaving up and intact the campaign signs of candidates they support , that is an illegal act and amounts to campaigning on public time.  The state's taxpayers shouldn't be paying for this. 

Besides which, the destruction, vandalism, and removal of political campaign signs is a criminal act .  Violations carry a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail sentence of up to six months for each act if convicted.

In Warren County, the prosecutor has said that he would bring charges against anyone who is seen "engaging in such behavior, regardless of political affiliation," adding, "I am instructing all law enforcement personnel with this County to be alert to this unlawful activity and to see that violators are charged... I respectfully request all campaign managers and candidates for office to remind their supported and workers that candidates for office spend money and time to print and post campaign signs. This is a part of the election process that should not be and will not be disturbed by vandals without penalty.”

Witnesses to these acts by New Jersey DOT employees now include a Roman Catholic priest and the pastor of a Church in Sussex County.  Here is what others have sent in:

"I witnessed NJ State DOT employees removing signage along Route 94 in McAfee and Hamburg.  I stopped and told them I believed their actions were illegal. They told me the signs were on State right of way and they were doing what their boss told them to do.  I do have a picture.  Call to discuss if you like."

"Attached picture taken on Route 94 across from entrance to Crystal Springs at 9:30 this morning.  Also removed signage on 638 in Highland Lakes, but miraculously Bills signs remain.  Check intersection of 515 & 638.  Orohos' signs removed, but Bill Haydens' remain."

"He pulled signs out of the DOT dumpster, not a Hayden one in there."

"FYI XXX XXXXXXX this morning watched the DPW take everyone's signs from 206 and left Hayden's. I think XXX was trying to get a video."

William J. Hayden (AKA Bill Hayden, Dell Hayden, Skylands Patriot ) is an 18 year public employee of the New Jersey Department of Transportation.  He works as a supervisor, based in Trenton, where he pockets a salary and extras more each year than any legislator earns -- plus full benefits and a pension.  Hayden is a member of the CWA -- one of the most liberal unions in America.  Hayden's union has endorsed leftwing Democrat Phil Murphy for Governor.

Hayden doesn't vote much.  He made it last November, but the last time before that was 2010.  Now he thinks we should give him a second public job -- as our legislator.

Hayden is being aided and abetted by two cronies -- Nathan Orr and David Atwood -- who have chosen to endorse Hayden's behavior and tactics, and who are running a joint campaign with him.  Perhaps Orr and Atwood should be asked if they approve of using government money, personnel, and equipment to thwart free speech and to obstruct the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America.

What is happening here is not so different from the violence visited up the campaign of Donald Trump last year, when his signs were destroyed and stolen.  Then, Trump supporters came up with some rather creative ways  of protecting their property.

In any event, this matter is coming before one or more county prosecutors and an internal investigation by DOT has been promised.  So the miscreants should have their fun now.  In a few weeks' time this will become a real shit sandwich. 

Nathan Orr lies again, attacks NRA and NJ2AS

In yet another Facebook post, Nathan Orr attacked Pro-Second Amendment groups -- including the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the New Jersey Second Amendment Society (NJ2AS) -- for supporting and endorsing Pro-Gun/Pro-Hunting/Pro-Freedom  candidates Parker Space and Hal Wirths.  Orr went so far as to claim that Wirths supports a certain gubernatorial candidate, which is totally false.

To understand why defenders of the Second Amendment support Parker Space and Hal Wirths, read this endorsement letter from NJ2AS:

http://www.nj2as.org/nj2as_endorses_oroho_space_and_wirths_in_district_24?utm_campaign=d24_endorsement&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nj2as

Orr and his running mate, David Atwood (AKA David Wygonski, Dave Wygo, et al), have been featuring an ad in which they make another outrageous lie -- that Assemblyman Parker Space and Assembly candidate Hal Wirths voted for Bail Reform legislation.  They certainly did not.

Assembly candidate Hal Wirths was not a member of the Legislature and could not vote on S-946.

Hal Wirths' running mate, Assemblyman Parker Space, voted NO.

Hal Wirths has made his position very clear:

Harold Wirths, R

The intent of the bail reform constitutional amendment was to give courts discretion in either allowing the release or the detention of persons arrested based on concerns on whether or not they are a threat to public safety. The Legislature was also authorized to pass laws concerning pretrial release and detention.

If elected, I will work with Senator Oroho, Assemblyman Space and law enforcement to rein in judges that are allowing those who are a threat to society back out on the streets.

In addition, as a freeholder who spent nearly a decade as liaison to the sheriff and the jail, I understand how much the county-operated justice system costs taxpayers. The goal of bail reform was to cut the costs of incarceration, and that would be the trade-off for a speedier system. As conservatives, we will work to minimize the impact these changes have on taxpayers.

http://www.njherald.com/20170418/assembly-candidates-address-bail-reform

And Assemblyman Parker Space voted NO.

That makes Nathan Orr and David Atwood... liars, again.

On top of this, Atwood and running mate Bill Hayden couldn't be bothered to vote on the public question of bail reform when it was placed on the ballot in November 2014.  Both Atwood and Hayden failed to vote in that election or in most other elections, for that matter.  Atwood missed every election in 2013, 2014, 2015, and the primary of 2016. Hayden missed every election in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and the primary of 2016.

And now they lie about Parker Space and Hal Wirths on top of it.

Orr and Atwood caught in another lie

Candidates Nathan Orr and David Atwood (AKA David Wygonski, Dave Wygo, et al) have been running an ad in which they make the outrageous lie that Assemblyman Parker Space and Assembly candidate Hal Wirths voted for Bail Reform legislation.  They certainly did not.

Assembly candidate Hal Wirths was not a member of the Legislature and could not vote on S-946.

Hal Wirths' running mate, Assemblyman Parker Space, voted NO.

Hal Wirths has made his position very clear:

Harold Wirths, R

The intent of the bail reform constitutional amendment was to give courts discretion in either allowing the release or the detention of persons arrested based on concerns on whether or not they are a threat to public safety. The Legislature was also authorized to pass laws concerning pretrial release and detention.

If elected, I will work with Senator Oroho, Assemblyman Space and law enforcement to rein in judges that are allowing those who are a threat to society back out on the streets.

In addition, as a freeholder who spent nearly a decade as liaison to the sheriff and the jail, I understand how much the county-operated justice system costs taxpayers. The goal of bail reform was to cut the costs of incarceration, and that would be the trade-off for a speedier system. As conservatives, we will work to minimize the impact these changes have on taxpayers.

http://www.njherald.com/20170418/assembly-candidates-address-bail-reform

And Assemblyman Parker Space voted NO.

That makes Nathan Orr and David Atwood... liars, again.

On top of this, Atwood and running mate Bill Hayden couldn't be bothered to vote on the public question of bail reform when it was placed on the ballot in November 2014.  Both Atwood and Hayden failed to vote in that election or in most other elections, for that matter.  Atwood missed every election in 2013, 2014, 2015, and the primary of 2016. Hayden missed every election in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and the primary of 2016.

And now they lie about Parker Space and Hal Wirths on top of it.