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.

Nathan Orr dumps on Pro-Life, Christians

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

Not for Nathan Orr.

Nathan Orr posted on Facebook that abortion was not one of those issues that "truly matter".    According to Nathan Orr, 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?

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 doesn't understand that the New Jersey Legislature generally doesn't get involved in "foreign policy"? 

Maybe he hasn't heard that Republicans in the Legislature recently cut taxes by $1.4 billion for retirees, veterans, consumers, working families, small businesses, and family farms?  Maybe he doesn't know about the $400 million in property tax relief they secured?

Or Maybe he just doesn't care.

Assembly candidate Quick takes the low road

Assembly Candidate Mark Quick

There was a reason the members of the Skylands Tea Party threw Mark Quick out of their organization.  Quick talks violently and uses foul and pornographic language to describe anyone who happens to disagree with him.  The Skylands Tea Party got tired of it, so they voted to toss him from their meetings.

Somehow the new leaders of the group neglected to remember this and they've invited him back.  Possibly because Quick is running on a legislative ticket that includes Gail Phoebus and Morris County politician David Scapicchio. 

Quick is fond of posting threats likes these on Facebook:

We don't understand how Phoebus, who often adopts a proto-feminist line when dealing with male Republicans, ended up recruiting Quick to run on a ticket with her.  Quick certainly claims she did.  It will be a curious campaign, with Phoebus blaming all her troubles on "white male privilege" while Quick contents himself with the kind of language featured below:

Yes, he is a candidate for public office.  Sigh.

Stay tuned...

Candidate forgets to show at debate, blames others

Green Party candidate for Assembly Kenneth Collins failed to show up to a debate that has been an annual fixture in Ogdensburg for more than two decades.  The debate, which featured both candidates for Assembly and for Freeholder, was held on Tuesday night, October 13th. 

Instead of just owning up to his mistake (and mistakes happen to everybody), candidate Collins went off on the event's volunteer organizer, a retired school teacher.  Collins claimed he was given the "brush off" by the organizer and blamed others for getting the date wrong, despite the fact that this event was advertised in the Herald (with the correct date) a week ago.

Ogdensburg hosting candidates' forum

Posted: Oct 05, 2015 10:52 PM EDT Updated: Oct 08, 2015 11:34 PM EDT

By ROB JENNINGS

OGDENSBURG -- Sussex County's longest-running candidates' forum returns next week with a twist, in that time will be set aside for attendees to ask questions.

Moderator John Kibildis, organizer of the annual event for more than a quarter-century, said he stopped allowing questions several years ago because supporters of various candidates were manipulating the process.

Upon reflection, Kibildis decided to take a leap of faith and allow questions Oct. 13, when the candidates for New Jersey Assembly, Sussex County freeholder, Ogdensburg council and Ogdensburg school board will appear at the forum.

"I think it's important," said Kibildis, 71, a retired educator who taught for 38 years at the Ogdensburg Elementary School.

Kibildis was the borough's mayor from 1981 to 1985. He launched the candidates' forums not long after leaving office.

A registered Democrat, Kibildis does not endorse candidates.

The event organizer made it very clear that he would include independent and minor party candidates if they took the trouble to contact him.  In fact, two independent candidates for Freeholder did and they were included in the debate.  Collins either didn't or did and then failed to show up.  Either way, he was a no-show Tuesday night and then tried to shift the blame to the organizer.

Oddly, because they should know better, the New Jersey Herald looks like they are taking Collins' side in this dispute by pulling comments from its website that set the record straight and leaving those comments by Collins that impugn the reputation of the event's organizer. 

Bilik continues to fumble on residency

What is it this week?  Is it Virginia or New Jersey?  Marie Bilik can't seem to make up her mind.  

In January, Sussex GOP Chair Ailish Hambel repeated what Bilik told her (Herald, 01/05/15):  "Bilik works in Alexandria, Va., as chief operating officer of the National School Boards Association, but maintains a residence in Green." 

Sometimes Marie Bilik claims to live in New Jersey and to make a 4 1/2 hour commute each way to her job as a Washington, DC based lobbyist.  But then there are these stories:

"Bilik said she will retire from the national association this year and return home full time."

The Easton Express-Times

January 11, 2015 

"She said she stays in Virginia during the work week and returns home to Green Township in Sussex County."

The Hackettstown Warren Reporter

January 16, 2015

"While Bilik works in Alexandria, Va., as chief operating officer of the National School Boards Association -- she maintains a residence in Green -- she said she had arranged to work from home throughout May in order to focus more closely on her campaign."

NJ Herald

March 29, 2015 

“I do work for a firm in Alexandria, Virginia.  I commute. It is 250 miles and I travel extensively, but my family is here and I'm home almost every weekend.”

NJ Herald

May 13, 2015 

We get it.  Marie Bilik considers Sussex County her home.  We undersatnd that.  But it is one thing to consider a place your "home" and to actually live there.