The Morning Briefing - July 28, 2016
PHILADELPHIA – On a convention night featuring the likes of President Obama and Vice President Biden, the Democrats once again had no need to dust off a 1970s sitcom star to fill air time. It was an easy layup for the “drama” that's supposed to grip a political convention as must-see TV, leaving no seat unfilled at the Wells Fargo Center for cheering Democrats to pay homage. Perhaps the Democratic Party should have just ended their convention last night, toasting each other with some Hillary-tinis and sending their candidate heartfelt texts of congratulations and best wishes. It will be a tough night for Hillary Clinton beat – even with all the historical significance we keep hearing about over and over again.
PHILADELPHIA – There's a scrappy, last-minute grassroots effort afoot to create more history tonight – by seating an all-female delegation in New Jersey's front rows as Hillary Clinton makes her acceptance speech. And, it's getting some nice traction. Essex County Democratic Chair LeRoy Jones said, sure, he will happily give his floor pass to his wife. And Hunterdon County Chair Arlene Quinones Perez says having an all-women presence would show America “how committed New Jersey is to shattering this final glass ceiling.” But, alas, we’ve learned, there are many rules at this convention and other annoying roadblocks to being on the convention floor, making such a gallant gesture nearly impossible.
PHILADELPHIA – “We are going to win Hudson! We are going to win Essex! We are going to win Morris!” Those were the shouts from legendary shouter Howard Dean, appearing yesterday at a Phil Murphy event, along with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. They were there to talk about 2017, and why Murphy should be elected New Jersey's next governor. Dean said there is “no BS” with Murphy, promising the “most transparent government in the history of New Jersey.” Fun to see the star power so early, especially when all Democrats are supposed to be fawning this week over Hillary.
PHILADELPHIA – Even after his own event was over, Murphy showed up at U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez's post-gavel soirée to get another round of handshakes with Democrats. With his patient wife at his side, Murphy continued to work the crowd well into the wee hours of the morning, holding court with potential and actual supporters as well as members of the press corps, telling stories with an avuncular charm in one conversation then diving deep into a professorial dissertation on German politics in the next breath. One thing he has proven at the DNC, he's definitely blessed with the gift of gab, unlike that the other Goldman Sachs millionaire who became governor.
PHILADELPHIA – Of course, it remains completely unclear who will be the next governor of New Jersey. But, if size really does matter, strictly based on the largeness of banners that adorn the hotel for the New Jersey delegation, we’d have to say that Senate President Steve Sweeney has the victory in the bag.
PHILADELPHIA – Many Americans got their first glimpse of Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine last night, positioned as the friendly, folksy committed dad who just might be able to utter the word “malarkey” with the same conviction as Uncle Joe Biden. We couldn’t help but notice that many New Jersey delegates were looking at their smartphones during his speech; perhaps enjoying some one-liners on Twitter, like:
1. “Tim Kaine is your friend’s dad who bought extra corsages just in case your Homecoming dates forgot.”
2. “Tim Kaine has camping gear you have never heard of.”
3. “Tim Kaine is the kind of dad who has sexual intercourse to produce human offspring.”
4. “Tim Kaine absolutely scoured Consumer Reports to get the best car seat for his kid.”
5. “Tim Kaine mails in the warranty card on his wife’s vibrator.”
DOWN THE SHORE – A young angler has one whopper of a fish tale to tell his friends and classmates when he heads back to school. Gianni Mandile, 13, reeled in a seven-foot, 200-pound sand tiger shark this week while surf fishing on Long Beach Island with his father, Joseph. Dad told WABC-TV that he was skeptical when his son initially said he'd hooked “something big,” thinking it might be a stingray. The Mandiles, who are catch-and-release fishermen, removed the hook from the shark's mouth and took a few photos of their catch before sending it back into the sea, for the next skilled fisherman to score.
SEASIDE PARK – Less fun is fine with folks in this resort town. Residents here don't want a bunch of towering thrill rides, if ever their boardwalk's Funtown Pier gets rebuilt. They told officials they're perfectly happy not being as much fun as their busier, rowdier neighbor, Seaside Heights. And, it seems they've won. William Major – owner of the Funtown Pier that got slammed by Superstorm Sandy and then destroyed by fire – says the pier is not worth rebuilding if he can't have six to 10, 200- to 300-foot thrill rides, the Asbury Park Press says. The planning board adopted measures Tuesday to limit ride heights to just 100 feet. Not much fun.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
DORAL, FL. – We may never know what exactly was running through the mind of Donald Trump yesterday when he blasted VP candidate Tim Kaine as doing a “terrible job as governor of New Jersey.” A head scratcher for a couple of reasons. Perhaps Trump confused him with former Gov. Tom Kean, or maybe he was thinking about his pal, runner-up Gov. Chris Christie. Or maybe he was just reminiscing about his four failed casinos in New Jersey. Really, who knows what he meant when he claimed Kaine’s “first act he did in New Jersey was ask for a $4 billion tax increase, adding he “was not very popular in New Jersey, and he still isn't.”
Whatever the reason, the Trump Twitter-bashing started right after the latest confusion. One post read: “Spent my lunch break watching Trump confuse David Berkowitz w/ John Hinckley; Huma Abedin w/ Uma Thurman, and Tom Kean w/ Tim Kaine.” Another questioned: “Mainstream media too scared to look into whether Tim Kaine and Tom Kean might actually be the same person? #conspiracy.”
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
In an effort to perk up an America tired by war, FDR announces on this day in 1943 the final end of coffee rationing in the U.S.
WORD OF THE DAY
Fossick (FAH-sik) - verb
Definition: To search about, especially for gold and other valuables.
Example: Democrats spent plenty effort last night fossicking for new gems to blast Donald Trump.
WEATHER IN A WORD
T-shirts.