The Morning Briefing - November 14, 2016
TRENTON – Let’s say Donald Trump is a modern-day Willy Wonka, and he’s already handed out two golden tickets – in the form of such goodies as Chief of Staff and Chief Strategist. The big question for New Jersey: Will Gov. Chris Christie find a golden ticket in his Wonka Bar? Will be finally get into the chocolate factory on Pennsylvania Avenue? Hard to say, as America’s favorite Oompa-Loompa last week demoted Christie as transition chair. But some golden tickets still remain, like Attorney General and Homeland Security Secretary. Christie, and all the other Charlie Buckets, are now unwrapping chocolate bars by the case, as Inauguration Day looms.
STATEWIDE – As we are all officially sick of the Presidential election, pundits already want us talking about 2020. After all there are only 1,460 days or so until the election, so let’s get focused, people. The news, for the moment, is Sen. Cory Booker, appearing on “Meet the Press” slamming the President-elect for spewing “so much Twitter troll like vile and hate and bigotry, that I literally have people erupting in tears. Even the flight I have to come here, an African American single mom slipped me a note and hugged me with tears in her eyes. And so, this is a time where I have deep concern about the future of our country.” So, what are we waiting for? Time to debate Booker 2020.
PRINCETON – A data scientist at Princeton University was so convinced that Hillary Clinton was going to breeze to the Presidency that he was up for friendly wager. And, so, on Saturday we all got to watch Sam Wang on CNN pay up, diving into a can of crickets drizzled with a touch of honey. He apologized for "underestimating the possibility" of Trump winning. Keep eating, boy. Keep eating. See it here.
STATEWIDE – The standard advice of accountants has been to flee from New Jersey if you have any expectation of dying anytime soon. That’s because the estate tax has been a much-debated and much-despised issue, socking any estate worth more than $675,000. But, as NJ 101.5 reports, that threshold is getting bumped to $2 million beginning next year, meaning that many more people can enjoy their golden years in New Jersey. By 2018, the tax will be gone. Great news for any diner with an early bird special or the local Hyundai dealership.
IN THE MEDIA
ATLANTIC CITY – If you happen to be a municipal beat reporter in New Jersey, expect no source to respond to an email this week. It is the 101st-annual League of Municipalities conference kick-starting tomorrow in Atlantic City, an around-the-clock schmooze-fest sprinkled with “educational opportunities.” So, perhaps the media will spend the rest of the week writing about last night’s Super Moon, as they press “refresh” on their email every three minutes and pray for some actual news.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
HOOKSETT, N.H. — Election Day was memorable for New Hampshire state Rep. Dick Marple, who was re-elected to his fifth term. But as he was sitting outside a polling place with his campaign signs, a cop recognized him and quickly recalled that, hey, that’s that politician charged with driving without a valid license in December 2014. And, darn it, he never showed up for court! And, wow, there is an outstanding warrant for his arrest!! So, the Republican could be the first politician in history to win re-election and get arrested the same day, New Hampshire Public Radio reports. Marple claims the arrest is a mass conspiracy in retaliation for his strict interpretations of the state constitution.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Apparently, allegations of the news networks bias against Republicans are nothing new, as Vice President Spiro Agnew complained on this day in 1969 of “bias and distortion.”
WORD OF THE DAY
Sabot [sa-BOH] – noun
Definition: A wooden shoe worn in several European countries.
Example: Hey, did you just throw a sabot at Rep. Dick Marple?
WEATHER IN A WORD
60s