The Morning Briefing - November 16, 2016
ATLANTIC CITY – Gubernatorial hopeful John Wisniewski dropped a well-timed e-blast at the beginning of the League of Municipalities conference yesterday, announcing he is running for the Democratic nomination for governor. He then hit the party circuit, and tried to be everywhere at once, shaking hands with well-wishers and moving, moving, moving. One place he wasn’t last night was the Borgata pool, where contender Phil Murphy threw yet another big party, with his team handing out pins to supporters and anyone just eyeing a free drink. Great to see some grip-and-grab politicking beyond Trump/Clinton.
ATLANTIC CITY – For those sticking around after the League of Municipalities conference, sign up for the “Donald Trump Gambling Heritage Tour.” Temple University professor Levi Fox is exploiting our President-Elect's bungling businesses to make some cash and perhaps make a point. The $16 walking tour that starts at the Taj Mahal and ends at the old Trump Plaza highlights Trump's achievements and failures, including multiple bankruptcies. Fox tells the Press of Atlantic City: “Trump himself made his career in Atlantic City a political issue.” So, why the heck shouldn't Fox capitalize on it? Fox will run the guided tours every Saturday afternoon through Inauguration Day.
TRENTON – Payback appears to be a real bitch for Gov. Chris Christie, who now finds himself in the crosshairs of Presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner. You may recall the old story of Christie, as a federal prosecutor, sending Kushner’s father, Charles, to prison for a year in 2005 on 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations. At the sentencing, Christie said, “This sends a strong message that when you commit the vile and heinous acts that he has committed you will be caught and punished.” Today, revenge is particularly sweet, as it appears Kushner is systematically purging Christie loyalists from the President-elect’s circle.
NEW BRUNSWICK – Rutgers University is another entity that is standing up against the President-elect’s perceived immigration policy, saying it will not divulge information on undocumented immigrants enrolled in the school. President Robert Barchi said the school will do everything it can to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of students, adding the university cops don’t know immigration status of students unless a serious crime is committed. But, Barchi did note, the school would be forced to hand over information if required by law or a court order. Read more in TapInto New Brunswick.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. – Kiddies attending an upstate school district are getting a lesson in life in the new Trump era. One bus driver decided to allow students who support Donald Trump to exit the bus before children who think Hillary Clinton seems to be a nice lady. Canandaigua (kan-un-DAY'-gwuh) school officials say the bus driver held a mock election on the bus two days after the election. Trump kids left first, Clinton kids sat and waited. Just another example of spoils going to the winning team. Meanwhile, school officials are now telling the bus driver to apologize and keep Presidential politics off the bus.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
“Dig, Baby Dig!” was the phrase on this day in 1973, when President Richard Nixon calls for construction of the Trans Alaska oil pipeline.
WORD OF THE DAY
Hoke – [HOHK] – verb
Definition: To give a contrived, false impression.
Example: Don’t expect the “Donald Trump Gambling Heritage Tour” to hoke up any stories of widespread success.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Beauty