Aren’t Progressives Against Single-Use Plastics? Obviously Not Self-Proclaimed Progressive Sue Altman.

New Jersey Globe and InsiderNJ both reported this afternoon that progressive activist Sue Altman was removed from a Senate hearing in which South Jersey political boss George Norcross was scheduled to testify. Eventually Norcross did testify.

I haven’t read the testimony yet and therefore can offer no opinion of that testimony.

But I do have questions. Aren’t progressives against single-use plastics? Don’t progressives want these plastics banned?

Sue Altman is a progressive and we can assume based purely on the fact that she was a panelist at the 33rd annual Clean Water Conference that she is not a fan of single-use plastics. In fact, according to a post about the conference on the Clean Water Action website reducing plastic pollution was a part of the conference. From the post:

The Environmental and Social Justice panel focused on how best to unite environmental, social justice and multi-issue organizations to ensure positive results and shared successes on critical campaigns such as clean water for all, environmental justice, climate change & green energy jobs, reducing waste and plastic pollution, and more. The panel featured Jim Johnson of the Brennan Center for Justice; Sue Altman of South Jersey Women for Progressive Change; Rev. Eric Dobson of Fair Share Housing Center; and Andrea McChristian, Esq. of New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

So, if self-proclaimed progressive Sue Altman truly wants to reduce plastic pollution then her fellow progressives should be asking why both InsiderNJ and New Jersey Globe have photos in their stories of Altman with a single-use plastic water bottle in her hand as she is being removed from the Senate hearing by State Police. You can view the photos here and here.

Obviously, this progressive doesn’t practice what she preaches. Is it just another case of progressive left-wing hypocrisy? Will Clean Water Action denounce Altman as a hypocrite since she was a panelist at their last Clean Water Conference?

Thanks Sue Altman for being a hypocrite, you gave me something to write about. And, now I’m going to go grab a bottle of Poland Spring out of my refrigerator.

What Happens If Van Drew Flips? The Ocean City Sentinel Thinks It Should Happen

Jeff Van Drew

Bob and I have been kicking the idea of a blog post about Congressman Jeff Van Drew flipping ever since President Donald Trump tweeted: “….we are going to have an Election very shortly’ Rep. Jeff Van Drew, Democrat of New Jersey @foxandfriends Thank you. Just another Witch Hunt by Nancy Pelosi and the Do Nothing Democrats!”

Since we started kicking the idea around I’ve chatted with at least one DC area lobbyist who said, “It’s a very real possibility.”

It appears that lobbyist isn’t the only one who thinks it could happen. Just yesterday, the Ocean City Sentinel published an opinion piece titled, “OUR VIEW: When is Van Drew switching parties?”

If the Congressman were to switch, given the tweet from President Trump, and the love Fox News Channel has given Van Drew, one has to wonder if such a party flip would be with the blessing of the President.

If Van Drew flipped parties and the President blessed the move what would happen?

The only thing I know for sure is that Bob, my co-host at The Bob & Steve Show, would vomit because we would have to start saying nice things about the fancy suit wearing hoity-toity Congressman. And, let’s face it, Bob’s dislike of Van Drew is at least as great as my dislike of Hirsh Singh.

What would happen with the GOP primary election in CD2?

Would current frontrunner David Richter move to CD3? That’s doubtful because I’ve heard from the same DC area lobbyist and at least one DC area campaign professional with ties to South Jersey that the folks at the NRCC love the idea of a Kate Gibbs candidacy. My guess is Richter would stay in and challenge Van Drew from the right.

How about the other guy with a bankroll in the CD2 primary, Bob Patterson? Would he move back to CD1, where he actually lives? Doubtful! Patterson already tried CD1 once and lost. Plus he’s got some support among activists in CD2.

What about Brian Fitzherbert? What he currently lacks in money he makes up for with his ability to build an organization.

Who knows, maybe one of these guys would move to the US Senate primary.

No one knows what move Van Drew will make, but thanks Ocean City Sentinel for making people think. That was a very mean thing to do.

US Senate: Flanagan Brandishes Her Pro-Life Credentials

Tricia Flanagan

This morning I blogged about some action in next year’s US Senate primary. Mostly it was that Stuart Meissner picked up the first official endorsement from a county chairman in the 2020 GOP Senate primary. And, there was the fact that I had to eat a little humble pie and say something nice about Hirsh Singh. I mean seriously, writing the words, “Singh is a legitimate candidate,” caused me as much chest pain as the night I had my heart attack. They were not easy words to write.

Not to be outdone Tricia Flanagan had a “Guest Contributor” piece published on InsiderNJ this afternoon.

You can read the piece here. If anyone ever doubted Flanagan’s pro-life stance, those doubts will be dashed after reading her piece.

It’s going to be a fun primary season!