The Morning Briefing - September 28, 2015
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – There really hasn’t been much to report from the “Christie for President” camp over the summer, as his poll numbers have been flat and unimpressive. But the Des Moines Register says our governor is about to get a coup of sorts – the support of a planeload of rich Iowa Republicans who infamously begged him to run in 2012 during a well-publicized meeting at Drumthwacket. Six of the seven fans will be announcing tomorrow that Christie is still their guy. No idea if this means anything, but it gives us something to write.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – Economists are licking their chops this morning, eager to attack Donald Trump’s voter-friendly tax plan and explain, in detail, how it is sheer lunacy. Trump will unveil today his plan to slash taxes for lower and middle-income families as well as corporations, while increasing rates for some, like those rich hedge fund managers who have added millions to their personal portfolios. Moreover, in a Trump presidency, many Americans would somehow pay no federal taxes. "I think it's going to be a plan that's going to make people happy, other than maybe the hedge fund guys who make hundreds of millions of dollars and pay very little tax, adding, "I think they're all going to be my enemies."
PATERSON – If you are a typical Morning Briefing reader, you have no clue who “Fetty Wap” is. But he is a big deal, a city-bred rapper whose first three singles somehow landed on Billboard's Hot 11 chart, a mark only matched by the Beatles. And that is why his motorcycle accident on Park Avenue Saturday is such a big deal. Fetty Wap – with his self-titled album out Friday, was treated at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in the city. Morning Briefing readers can show their support at #PrayersForFetty. Feel free to add #SaveFerris.
NEWARK – There’s an odd report from the Education Law Center that “reveals” charter schools across New Jersey have built up savings, unlike typical public school districts. Uh, yeah. That’s because public schools are set up different from charter schools. Public schools can’t have more than 2 percent in savings, by law. Charter schools can save money, but that is because they need to rent or buy all their buildings. If they have no assets, how can they borrow money for facilities? Meanwhile, the Education Law Center says the charter schools should return all this wild “excess” money – thereby destroying charter schools in the process. Again, an odd report.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
CARLSBAD, N.M. – One McDonald's customer wasn’t loving it, furious that some poor minimum wage worker dared to put pickles on his burger. The customer started yelling his head off and then threw stuff off the counter. Police descended, but only issued him a warning. The guy wasn’t charged with anything. But with such a temper, we expect he’ll be back in this space very soon.
PHILADELPHIA – There is a big pope hangover in the city this morning, waking up to a massive cleanup after hundreds of thousands descended on the Ben Franklin Parkway yesterday for mass. There are all those security barriers that need to be removed, as well as the dismantling of stages and those large screens that broadcasted every pope blessing. Plus, someone has to remove all those T-shirt vendors, now offering 10 souvenir shirts for a dollar, with a bonus 11th shirt for those who “act now.” Philly schools and some state offices are also closed today, as the city quickly returns to business as usual.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1904 that a woman was arrested for daring to light a cigarette while sitting in an open car on Fifth Avenue. A cop on horseback galloped over, gasped and exclaimed, “Ma’am, you can’t do that on Fifth Avenue!”
WORD OF THE DAY
Deliciate – verb
Definition: No, this is not delicate. (We figure you know what that means.) Deliciate is to take pleasure, to revel, to luxuriate.
Example: “Heading into work on a Monday morning, I deliciated in nothing.”