Dump Mike Ferguson (NJ7)

From the April 26 Cranford Chronicle:

To The Chronicle:

I am concerned about the announcement by Congressman Mike Ferguson that the federal Army Corps of Engineers will be doing a study on the Rahway River and flooding.In particular, as I understand it based on what I have read and my conservations with local officials, Cranford would still have to pay for the improvements.That is an incredible outrage. I am not sure whatwill been gained by putting the federal government in the driver's seat.Cranford has a hard-fought five-phase flood control plan underway. We do not need more advice -- we need federal funding.

Until I was criticized last yearby Congressman Ferguson's staff, I had never said an unkind word about his intentions. I do so now because I am worried that we plan to trust another politician who has appeared because he is concerned about re-election.His new moderate stancesseem more designed to get people to forget his continued role in the surge in Iraq and the billions of wasted hard-earned taxpayer dollars and many American lives on an ill-conceived civil war.

What I still do not understandis where has he been?Why has it taken him six years to find Cranford? Six years he has had to recognize this problem.This is not a new problem. Instead of being engaged, he has resorted to telling residents last weekthat this is the first time the key decision-makers have sat down together to discuss this issue.I still remember Republican Township Committee members Phil Morin and Tom Denny'smission to get the Army Corps of Engineers to do something.Theythen met with key officials, yet the Corps said the project wasn't big enough to be on their radar.That was just a few years ago.Now we plan to trust a congressman whotolerated his staffmisrepresenting my actions asmayor,without the courtesy to apologize and express his concern about this problem.In 2003 and again in 2006, Congressman Ferguson was provided a detailed explanation of the problem, and he was invited to come to Cranford last year several times.

I will shut my mouth and be confined to my quarters if I am wrong and results are recorded.Most importantly,I will apologize for this letter and my agitation.But my agitationgrew last week when I saw the damaged neighborhoods in the northeast quadrant.

I debated whether to send this or not because all of us have to be on the same page to get the most funding because Cranford has already stepped up significantly to resolve this problem.But I want to state without a doubt there will be accountability on this problem -- as much as I can ensure. So the test will be the staying power of the federal financial effort, and not the photo-ops in bucket trucks.

DAN ASCHENBACH
Cranford

The writer, a Democrat, is a former mayor and member of the Township Committee.

How is it that things like this don't become news stories, with political leaders attacking members of Congress for incompetence. This blog was started when I was Council President in North Plainfield, and has had a few other elected officials post here and yet the words "Dump Mike blog" have never appeared in the Courier News or Star Ledger except on the letters pages.

You'd think this kind of stuff would be news. Not in this day and age.

hat tip to jfc521 over at Blue Jersey

Posted by admin at 02:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week we noted that Mike Ferguson admitted he was not free to vote his conscience in the Republican led Congress, choosing his political bosses over his constituents. The following letter on the subject was published in the Home News Tribune on March 3, 2007:

Ferguson represents GOP, not constituents

In representative government, the republic depends upon the representatives actually representing their constituents.

Voting should be in the best interests of the voters. Were this not to be the case, voters must cast out the offending representative.

Rep. Michael Ferguson, R-7th Dist., has now admitted that he votes as he is told to, not as should to honor the best interests of his district. No "Profile in Courage" he. Ferguson does as he is told and has a moderate district firmly in the conservative camp, because he feels more of a responsibility to the GOP than to New Jersey.

I think it is time for careful observation, which should lead to sober decision-making in 2008.

Leonard H. Sigal
BELLE MEAD

Posted by admin at 02:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the October 27, 2006 Courier News.

Ferguson's Stender ads sophomoric

I drove through Bound Brook this morning and saw campaign lawn signs that have sprung up on my neighbor's lawn in the last few days. I found one campaign lawn sign to be particularly disturbing.

Right next to the Mike Ferguson signs on the lawns of the Republican faithful was a sign that read "Stender the Spender." Is there nothing positive that Mr. Ferguson and his supporters can spend his campaign contributions on that speaks about his accomplishments or his vision? Must he and his supporters resort to a childish rhyme about his opponent's name in order to further his candidacy?

Perhaps the Stender camp should retaliate with a sign highlighting Mr. Ferguson's reported indiscretions in a Georgetown bar? What would that sign read? "Ferguson the Philanderer"?

I am disappointed at the level to which Mr. Ferguson and his supporters have stooped. Perhaps Mr. Ferguson should himself be more of a spender as it relates to the Green Brook Flood Control project and spend less time in Georgetown.

MATT ANDERSON
Bound Brook

Posted by admin at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The following letter was published in the October 27, 2006 Courier News.

Stender will help defend seniors

Women have run for public office and when elected they have done an exceptional job, you may or may not agree with them. We do need more women in office to work for Social programs, women's rights, etc.

Vote to send Linda Stender to Washington, D.C., as our New Jersey representative in the 7th Congressional District, by voting for her Nov. 7. Vote for Linda Stender to protect our Social Security and Medicare programs.

WALTER KALMAN

South Plainfield

Posted by admin at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the October 27, 2006 Courier News.

Stender is correct choice for Congress

I'm amazed when I see the ads on TV in which residents of Bound Brook have been scripted in their praise of Congressman Ferguson's actions during Hurricane Floyd.

To set the record straight, Congressman Ferguson was not our congressman when Hurricane Floyd devastated Manville and Bound Brook. Our congressman was Bob Franks, and he, together with Freeholder Coyle and then-Gov. Whitman, visited the flooded areas and did what was necessary to get us the aid needed to help in the recovery. Congressman Ferguson did, however, deliver the check that Sen. Torricelli and Congressmen Franks and Frelinghuysen had secured for us during those terrible times.

To exploit that disaster is unconscionable. We in Manville have applied for many grants through the congressman and his staff -- we did not receive any. It seems we are too far south in the Seventh District to matter. Perhaps if more had been accomplished during Congressman Ferguson's term of office, he would not have to reach into Congressman Franks' record to claim fame for himself.

Congressman Ferguson's campaign against Democratic candidate Linda Stender has been a tough one -- full of accusations. What the congressman has forgotten is that you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

It's time to get some honest representation for all the people of the Seventh Congressional District. For this reason, I am casting my vote for Linda Stender, who is an independent thinker and is not going to rubber-stamp her vote as Congressman Ferguson does for whatever the president wants or what benefits his special-interest companies that pour thousands of dollars into his campaign.

The congressman is on the wrong side of the issues, from stem-cell research to sending our troops overseas without proper gear and with faulty equipment. His ad calls Linda Stender a spender, and yet, with his votes in Congress, he has created the largest deficit in the history of our nation. Who is the real spender?

Assemblywoman Stender is a good and caring person. A person who is on the right side of the issues, whether it is about stem-cell research, the war in Iraq, Social Security, prescription drugs for seniors, and the list goes on. The only special interest Linda will have when she is elected is her constituents in the Seventh District.

It is time for a change in our federal government's thinking, so join me in sending Linda Stender to Congress to be part of that change.

Vote for Linda Stender on Nov. 7. We deserve honest government, and it's about time we get it. Thank you.

ANGELO CORRADINO
Mayor, Manville

Posted by admin at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following letter was published in the Home News Tribune on October 24, 2005.

Stender will fight for all women's health

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women ages 35 and older. It is also among the most treatable types of cancer if caught early enough through a mammogram. However, in minority and lower-class communities, mammograms are not readily accessible or affordable, leaving many women facing a higher risk of not being diagnosed in time for breast-cancer treatment to take effect. Yet, Rep. Michael Ferguson, R-7th Dist., refused to support measures brought before his committee in the House to require clinicians to provide equal access to mammograms regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

Ferguson's opponent, Assemblywoman Linda Stender, D-Union, believes the battle against breast cancer must be fought within all levels of the community. She will fight to pass legislation to provide free mammograms to those unable to afford them — thereby assuring women are not denied the opportunity for early breast-cancer detection.

Join me in sending Stender to Congress this November, a strong women looking out for us all.

Louise Reilly
BELLE MEAD

Posted by admin at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Home News Tribune on October 23, 2006:

Stender is best choice for 7th CD

Democrat Linda Stender is clearly the best choice for our state and our nation in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. She would provide needed checks and balances against the corruption of the Bush administration.

Stender disagreed with Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq, but supports our troops and would pressure Bush for an exit strategy that brings soldiers home safely. Incumbent Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-7th Dist., however, has repeatedly given the Bush administration a free pass on oversight and accountability when it comes to Iraq and even voted to keep the troops there indefinitely.

Stender supports stem-cell research, which provides the best hope of curing many illnesses plaguing our nation. Ferguson, while claiming to be for stem-cell research, voted against it in Congress.

Stender supports a path toward energy independence. She would stand up to the big oil companies and would not allow price-gouging. She favors progress toward better and cleaner energy sources, which would reduce oil demand and reduce prices as well as protect the public.

I encourage voters to elect Stender. She would block the radical Bush agenda and help get our country back on course.

Charles Versfelt
RARITAN

Posted by admin at 07:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the October 23, 2006 Courier News.

Ilicit actions mar Ferguson's past

I wonder whether people know or remember that Mike Ferguson's parents illegally bought him his seat in Congress. Ignoring the $1,000 limit, they donated $525,000 to his 2000 election, resulting in the highest fine ever levied on a sitting congressman by the Federal Election Committee. Ferguson paid the $210,000 fine in 2003. I wonder whether he paid it with his $165,000 salary.

Why didn't Congress investigate and censure him? Because he was protected by Tom DeLay, disgraced former majority leader, who resigned over the Jack Abramoff influence peddling and money laundering scandals.

Ferguson and DeLay were joined at the hip -- Ferguson received more campaign contributions from DeLay than anyone else: $185,000 directly and indirectly from DeLay and his close associates, including DeLay's indicted co-defendant in the money laundering case.

In return, Ferguson's PAC, with the witty name MIKE PAC, donated $27,000 to Texas congressional candidates linked to DeLay. Why is our congressman contributing to Texas candidates? Because that's how one hand washes the other with hard cash. There has never been a more inbred and corrupt culture in Washington than there is right now, and it must end.

Do people also know that Mr. Ferguson first ran for Congress in 1998 in Monmouth County against Frank Pallone, and when soundly defeated, Ferguson went district shopping with his mom and dad? That's how we ended up with him in the Seventh District.

Mr. Ferguson declares that all life is sacred yet has voted to delay smog rules, grant the oil and gas industry exemptions from the Clean Water Act and slash the EPA's enforcement budget. Why is life in the womb sacred but the health of people in the environment up for bid to the highest campaign donor?

Enough with corruption; enough with hypocrisy. I am voting for Linda Stender for Congress.

ERIC ZWERLING
Readington

Posted by admin at 07:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Home News Tribune on October 20, 2006:

Ferguson's ethics make Stender the one

Congressman Mike Ferguson has ethical issues many people may not be aware of. In 2003, the FEC found Ferguson guilty of illegally using $525,000 in 2000 during his first congressional run from the 7th district (after losing to Frank Pallone in the 6th), from a trust fund set up by his parents. The FEC fined Ferguson one of the largest fines ever for an individual, $210,000.

Without this significant unfair boost in a close race rated as toss-up, it is conceivable he may never have won. By the time the ruling was rendered in 2003, Ferguson was ensconced as Congressman for three years. Activities during the Republican primary earlier that same year involving Ferguson's illegal collusion with a 527 group prompted his challenger, Tom Kean Jr., to sue the 527 group, and Kean won, resulting in an FEC fine of $5,500 rendered in 2005.

This activity was something Ferguson was familiar with, having sued Maryann Connelly for the very same thing and losing. Therefore, Ferguson won both the 2000 primary and general election with illegal assistance, or as some may charge, by cheating.

Disgraced former majority leader Tom DeLay gave more campaign contributions to Ferguson than any other sitting member of Congress, $54,000 since 1998. Why would DeLay give so much money to a relatively new congressman with faint legislative achievement? Ferguson in turn gave $27,000 in campaign contributions to Texas congressional candidates in 2004, much more than any other state including New Jersey ($1,000). Why was he so interested in Texas candidates in DeLay's home state?

Ferguson is enmeshed in the network of corrupt and unethical congressmen and lobbyists from Jack Abramoff, Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham, Tom DeLay, Mark Foley, Bob Sherwood and many others not commonly known, having received contributions from all of them and returning only a small amount, even from PACs such as DeLay's which was already cited for illegal activity. In an April 3, 2003, Washington Post article, a young woman named Michelle Mezoe stated that a married and inebriated Ferguson crudely asked her go somewhere for a drink with him and gave her his Congressional pin in an attempt to impress her. She refused to return it until he apologized for his behavior, and his staffers had to call the police to resolve the matter. Soon after, Ferguson's family moved to live with him in a D.C. suburb, Bethesda, MD, the family's primary residence since. In fact, Ferguson has barely lived in our district at all, raised in Ridgewood and residing briefly in both Red Bank and Warren to run for Congress.

There has been no report of scandal surrounding Linda Stender. Linda Stender is far superior on the issue of ethics, and her integrity, dedication and intelligence make her a far superior choice for Congress.

Sherry Truss
CLARK

Posted by admin at 07:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the October 18, 2006 Cranford Chronicle:

Ferguson called an 'obedient lapdog'

To The Chronicle:

On Oct. 4, the National Jewish Democratic Council (njdc.org) announced its "Backwards 18," its list of the 18 worst members of the U.S. House and Senate who are running for re-election this year.

Representative Mike Ferguson was chosen for this exclusive list. According to NJDC, Ferguson "is a voice for the extreme right. Despite representing a moderate district, he has voted against every single issue involving the separation of Church and State on which NJDC has spoken out ... and supports a constitutional amendment to overturn Roe vs. Wade. He opposes stem-cell research and supports permitting religious organizations to employ discriminatory practices when making hiring decisions."

Does Ferguson's philosophy of forcing his conservative Christian philosophy upon all Americans through legislation accurately reflect the desires of his congressional district? Does America want a theocracy led by holier-than-thou Republican ayatollahs? Do you want to re-elect an obedient Bush/Cheney lapdog and "rubber stamp"? Have you seen enough incompetent and corrupt Republican leadership since 2001?

For more information about Ferguson, visit the Web sites dumpmike.com, whymikewhy.com, and bluejersey.com.

JOHN CANTILLI
Cranford

Posted by admin at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the October 19, 2006 Independent Press:

Elect Stender to Congress

To the editor:

George W. Bush won't be on the ballot Nov. 7, but there is a way for us to register our anger over his administration's policies and principles. We can reject one of the individuals who has been a Bush Administration enabler, Republican Congressman Michael Ferguson.

For those who are appalled by the invasion and occupation of Iraq, abuses of human rights and civil liberties and countless other actions of this imperial president, we must take the only opportunity we have in the 2006 election and return Mike Ferguson to private life.

Linda Stender, the Democrat candidate in the Seventh Congressional District is an excellent choice to replace Ferguson. She believes in an orderly ending of our tragic adventure in Iraq, supports stem cell research, overturning tax breaks for the wealthy and the end of warrantless wiretapping of American citizens.

It's time to elect Linda Stender and a Democratic Congress.

Paul C. O'Shea
Summit

Posted by admin at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following letter was published in the Home News Tribune, October 16 2006.

Mike Ferguson's votes show anti-senior bias

Agroup called the Retired Seniors Coalition recently checked the voting record of congressmen and U.S. senators. They picked out 10 ills that directly affect seniors. They classified them as "pro-retiree," "anti-retiree" and "did not vote." The bills were voted on during the period that former N.J. Sen. Jon Corzine became Gov. Corzine, so that his record only covered four of the bills. The results of the votes cast by Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-7th District, and U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., show: Ferguson — zero votes pro-retiree, 10 anti-retiree; Lautenberg — 10 votes pro-retiree, zero anti-retiree; Corzine — four votes pro-retiree, zero anti-retiree.

It seems to me the old cliche "vote the person, not the party" holds no water in this case. The Republican Party takes care of the corporations. The Democratic Party looks out for the working person and retirees.

I believe all retired seniors should be aware of these facts when they enter the voting booth next month.

Philip Peck
WOODBRIDGE

Posted by admin at 07:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Courier News, October 10, 2006:

Stender deserves endorsement

When the Sierra Club endorsed the election of Assemblywoman Linda Stender to represent the 7th Congressional District, the Sierra Club noted that she has supported environmental and quality-of-life issues throughout her career in public service.

In comparison, her opponent in the election has attempted to create the illusion of an environmental legacy based upon a single instance in which he became involved in the government's movement of sealed containers of stored chemicals.

In the real world, Mike Ferguson worked to protect manufacturers of polluting chemicals. He gave tax breaks to Big Oil so that oil companies could post record-breaking profits as our gasoline and heating bills skyrocketed. Is anyone foolish enough to think that a pre-election price drop will last?

Based upon my own personal experience and the experience of her many friends and neighbors over these many years, Linda Stender has established a record of responding favorably when it comes to preserving open space, maintaining tree cover, protecting historic resources and supporting quality of life.

Simply put, Linda Stender understands how we live our lives. She is our best bet in the 7th Congressional District.

WILLIAM T. FIDURSKI
Clark

Posted by admin at 09:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the October 14, 2006 Home News Tribune.

Congressman says he's for life; what about mine?

I am 14 years old and, like most kids my age, I have dreams. Most kids dream of being an astronaut, actor or sports star. I dream of a cure for juvenile diabetes, a disease I have had since I was 6 years old. For the last eight years of my life, I have spoken out about juvenile diabetes, how it has robbed me of my carefree childhood. I have raised both awareness and funds. I have petitioned politicians to support medical research for a cure. One of the best avenues for a cure is embryonic stem-cell research. I personally have met with Rep. Michael Ferguson, R-7th Dist., three times over the past four years, and his aides told our family that we cannot even discuss this issue with him because it is against "pro life."

Am I not a life?

These embryos that scientists want to use get thrown away if they are not used for research. How is that pro life, Congressman Ferguson? When I recently met with Linda Stender, his Democratic Party opponent in this fall's election, she told me that she would help me achieve my dream, that my dream could actually become a reality. Stender has the ability to change my dreams, and the dreams of everyone who has a disease; you just have to give her a chance.

Vote for Stender. Vote for life.

Lindsey Rosenthal
BELLE MEAD

Posted by admin at 08:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This letter was published in the October 14, 2006 Home News Tribune:

Stem-cell research must be election issue

It is astonishing to learn that New Jersey congressmen Ferguson, Garrett, Lo Biondo, Saxton, and Smith recently voted to kill a measure to provide federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. Study of these stem cells has great potential for discovering the basics of cellular function and holds out significant promise for control of chronic diseases.

The proposal was carefully constructed to address moral and ethical concerns by specifically limiting research to excess embryos that are scheduled to be discarded, and only with the written confirmation and informed consent of the donors. These embryos are left over from in vitro fertilization — a process that fertilizes a number of eggs to produce embryos for implantation and then destroys the extras. Therefore, not one embryo used for stem-cell research would otherwise have become a child.

It is most difficult to justify a logic that assigns a higher moral priority to precluding utilization of about to be discarded 5-day-old, frozen blastulas over the ethical and moral imperative to humanely attempt to relieve significant medical suffering among our living population.

There is hardly a single New Jersey family that has not experienced the suffering from diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, cancer and diabetes by a member or dear friend. These chronic, degenerative and often fatal diseases could someday be treated or prevented as a result of embryonic stem-cell research.

When voters go to the polls on Nov. 7, they should carefully consider the merit of returning these congressmen to Washington.

Arthur L. Yeager
EDISON

Posted by admin at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following letter was published in the Friday the 14th, October 2006 Home News Tribune.

Vote Stender, not Ferguson, this election

Every year at election time, I've noticed an ever growing, dangerous trend. People on all sides of the political ferris wheel arguing about abortion, gun control, saving the environment, saving and stopping everything and anything that the current owners of this great country of ours want us all to fight with each other about. I kind of noticed that one important battle was missing.

This secret battle that has slipped off the radar is the one for the American working families in this country. Now I'm going to guarantee you that there will be some Republican supporters who will almost definitely write a counter-letter to mine, but I promise that everything I'm about to write is fact.

Let's start with Rep. Mike Ferguson, D—7th Dist. During his recent term, there have been serious key votes directly affecting working families, 39 to be exact. Our beloved congressman, on these important issues, has voted exactly eight times in favor of working-family issues. One of my favorites is when he voted against an extension of unemployment benefits. You see, once your unemployment benefits run out, you're not counted as out of work anymore, so, in a nice underhanded move, the current administration can say such untruthful things like "we are creating more quality jobs and there are less people out of work.'

The numbers definitely don't lie though. You know the jobs I'm talking about, minimum wage like Wal-Mart and Burger King. Does anybody in New Jersey believe you can live and support your family on minimum wage? Mike Ferguson does because he also voted against raising the minimum wage.

The rest of the list is interesting too, from making sweetheart trade deals with other countries around the world, sending free aid to other countries around the world and fast-tracking trade clauses with other countries. How about the one where he gave big tax breaks to a company to stay in the U.S.? If you didn't see that one, it's because it never happened.

With all this in mind, and after careful thought, I'm throwing my hat into Linda Stender's campaign. And I ask every hard-working American citizen to do the same. I'm sure you have all heard the brilliant commercial by Congressman Ferguson that states, "Stender the spender." OK, will somebody tell me which politician doesn't spend money? Does Mike Ferguson really think the average Joe in this state is that stupid?

Joe Lukac
MANVILLE

Posted by admin at 09:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published on Friday the 13th in October, 2006:

Where's Ferguson stand on Foley?

Rep. Mike Ferguson sends a glossy colored mailer to my home nearly daily. The current theme is "Mike Ferguson works hard every day for our children." And it continues, "That's why we need him in Congress."

Lately, I have read on the front pages of several newspapers the story of Rep. Mark Foley's sexually explicit e-mails to congressional teenage pages. Much comment has been attributed to Republican congressional leaders. Interviews indicate that the parents of these young men are very concerned.

Where does Congressman Ferguson stand?

TERRY ROE
Martinsville

Posted by admin at 07:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Courier News on Friday the 13th in October, 2006:

Lawmakers blind to stem cells

It is astonishing to learn that New Jersey Congressmen LoBiondo, Saxton, Smith, Ferguson and Garrett recently voted to kill a measure to provide federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. Study of these stem cells has great potential for discovering the basics of cellular function and holds significant promise for control of chronic diseases.

The proposal was carefully constructed to address moral and ethical concerns by specifically limiting research to excess embryos that are scheduled to be discarded, and only with the written confirmation and informed consent of the donors. These embryos are left over from in vitro fertilization -- a process that fertilizes a number of eggs to produce embryos for implantation and then destroys the extras. Therefore, not one embryo used for stem-cell research would otherwise have become a child.

It is most difficult to justify a logic that assigns a higher moral priority to precluding utilization of about-to-be-discarded, five-day-old frozen blastulas over the ethical and moral imperative to humanely attempt to relieve significant medical suffering among our living population.

There is hardly a single New Jersey family that has not experienced the suffering from diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, cancer and diabetes by a member or dear friend. These chronic, degenerative and often fatal diseases could someday be treated or prevented as a result of embryonic stem-cell research.

When voters go to the polls Nov. 7, they should carefully consider the merit of returning these congressmen to Washington.

ARTHUR L. YEAGER
Edison

Posted by admin at 07:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the October 12 Cranford Chronicle:

Mayor: Town sought federal flood funding

To The Chronicle:

I am disappointed and have begun developing an outrage at the comments made recently by both Congressman Ferguson's assistant and then thelocal Republican candidate for Township Committee regarding Cranford not applying for funding from the federal government forthe township'sflood control project. Both of these people were untruthful.

When I was mayor in 2003, I filled out an application form that Congressman Ferguson provides to communities for federal funding of projects. I never got a response to the request. I have a copyof the letter if anyone would like to review it. We did not get even a denial letter. In March 2006, as mayor, I again wrote a letter with a six-page needs assessment and got the package to the congressman for submission to the House Appropriations Committee. I did get a form letter response but have heard nothing since. I have a copy of my letter to the congressman on behalf of Cranford.

I do not understand why there has been no response. I have not been a critic of the congressman. Cranford needs all the friends it can get. That is how I have approached local government.

Cranford sends an enormous amount of personal income tax dollars to Washington, D.C. and the flood control programis one of our community's highest priorities. That is what I wrote to the congressman. I got no response.

I have recently listened to Assemblywoman Linda Stender's comments about how Congressman Ferguson supports spending $1 billion a week in Iraq in a war that has little to do with fighting terrorism. I have listened to Congressman Ferguson suggesting we need to cut back spending and lower taxes. God,the cost of about five minutes of what we spend in Iraq would keep the Rahway in its banks for every storm that is possible! We need to rebuild the dikes, and the congressmanhas not responded in three years to Cranford's request.

The lack of response may be, I think, because I am a Democratic mayor. Matt Rinaldo would not have served Cranford that way. We have stated our need many times.I wrote a letter to Assemblywoman Linda Stender, and she stated she would make our request a priority. That is encouraging.

Maybe we should send a message.

That message is we need to provide public safety in Cranford. Cranford wants responsiveness.

I appreciate the attendance of Congressman Ferguson'sassistant at the recent planning meeting on how Cranford can get our state, county and federal levels of government to get on the same page on this project. Maybe it is a newfound vigor to help. The problem is the slow response has been draining local officials' efforts at getting this critical project done.The untruthfulness is bothersome.

DAN ASCHENBACH
Cranford

Posted by admin at 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Independent Press on October 11, 2006:

Leaders should avoid conflicts

To the editor:

If it looks and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Yet all too frequently it seems some politicians can't see a conflict of interest unless it hits them over the head.
Take Congressman Mike Ferguson. Last month he participated in a hearing in Congress where Hewlett Packard's lawyers defended it against alleged criminal violations. That law firm's political action committee contributed $6,500 to Mr. Ferguson's campaign committee. Even when the NY Post pointed this out to Mr. Ferguson, he went ahead and sat in judgment. You would think that Mr. Ferguson (who received the largest fine ever levied by the FEC for $500,000 of illegal contributions to his first campaign for Congress), would know better.

Closer to home and just this past June, we have Andy Lark, a voting member of Summit's Youth Services Task Force, pressing that committee to award an important contract to Boys and Girls Club of Union County, an affiliate of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Guess what? Andy Lark is a National Trustee of BGCA. I'm sure BGCA is a wonderful group, but Andy Lark should have done what Mike Ferguson should have done -- sit out the meeting so there would be no conflict or appearance of conflict of interest.

When questioned before his vote, Andy said he didn't see any conflict because the national body is a different legal entity than the local body. He then voted against a competing bid from another non-profit.

Don't we deserve leaders who recuse themselves from situations that involve such glaring conflicts of interest?

Alan Dickey
Summit

Posted by admin at 06:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Independent Press on October 11, 2006:

Ferguson is the real spender

To the editor:

Recently, I saw an ad, put out by Republican Congressman Mike Ferguson that accused Linda Stender, the Democratic challenger, of being a spender.
However, it is the current Republican administration that has spent more money than all previous administrations put together and it is the Republican majority in Congress which has approved those expenditures. As a Republican Congressman who strongly supports his President, Mike Ferguson is the spender.

Barbara Babcock
New Providence

Posted by admin at 06:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Home News Tribune on October 11, 2006:

Stender a protector of N.J.'s environment

When the Sierra Club endorsed the election of state Assemblywoman Linda Stender, D-Union, to represent the 7th Congressional District, the Sierra Club noted that she has supported environmental and quality-of-life issues throughout her career in public service.

By comparison, her opponent in the election has attempted to create the illusion of an environmental legacy based upon a single instance in which he became involved in the government's movement of sealed containers of stored chemicals. In the real world, Mike Ferguson worked to protect manufacturers of polluting chemicals. He gave tax breaks to Big Oil so that oil companies could post record-breaking profits as our gasoline and heating bills skyrocketed. Is anyone foolish enough to think that a pre-election price drop will last?

Based upon my own personal experience and the experience of her many friends and neighbors over these many years, Stender has established a record of responding favorably when it comes to preserving open space, maintaining tree cover, protecting historic resources and supporting quality of life.

Simply put, Stender understands how we live our lives. She is our best bet in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.

William T. Fidurski
CLARK

Posted by admin at 06:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Thursday, October 05, 2006 Cranford Chronicle:

Ferguson's 'independence' is a pose

To The Chronicle:

Linda Stender has a continuing "campaign of relentless attacks on Congressman Mike Ferguson"? Where did you get this impression, Mr. Fred Blum? Have you been covertly stalking the challenger every time she speaks? I follow the local media no less than the average voter, and I haven't heard a peep of negative campaigning by Ms. Stender. I guess the campaign has been too clean and quiet for the Republican taste. You must make a pre-emptive strike with a phony, straw man complaint of distortion and lies.

You say Mr. Ferguson is being attacked as a radical conservative? Mr. Blum, what have you been smoking to dream up such fanciful notions? No, our incumbent is a strategic centrist Republican artfully striking a pose of "independence," as you say, on issues of little local controversy. But Ferguson continues to toe the neo-conservative line on the big controversial issues of Iraq and the erosion of our civil liberties.

Your statement that Ferguson is an independent leader is a sad joke. I predict he will desert the burning Bush ship when he finds his own seat getting too hot. We need a fresh approach in Iraq and in the fight against terrorism. Let the candidates speak out on their own over the next month before the election. We don't need sneaky negative campaigning by surrogates.

TOM HARTMAN
Cranford

Posted by admin at 07:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the October 4, 2006 Independent Press:

Ferguson a 'craven Bushman'

To the editor:

Sooner or later the country will wake up, even in the red states, and realize that a gang of Texas billionaires hijacked the true Republican GOP - the true Grand Old Party -and turned it into the Gas and Oil Party. Then there will be a major backlash, which will not be good for the country either.

The time has come for Republicans in our district to put country ahead of party, and replace Mike Ferguson with a Democrat, if only until the red states come to their senses. Then our district can elect a true Republican we can all be proud of - not a craven Bushman.

J.C. Phillips
Summit

Posted by admin at 07:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What good is it when a Congressman can get a little money for a needed project, but not enough to actually get the project done? Well, it does no good for the people who need the project done, but the Congressman gets to cynically claim to be helping when all he's doing is half-measures.

This letter to the editor printed in the Courier News on 10/1/06 covers just one such example, Mike Ferguson and the Green Brook Flood Control Project.

Stender should spend on flood plan

So, I hear Linda Stender is a spender. Well, I for one hope Linda gets elected, goes to Washington and does spend money on the Green Brook Flood Control Project.

Our current congressman, while good at rhyming, has been ineffective in obtaining money for this critical flood control project. The last two years, the Army Corps of Engineers has stated it needs $15 million to $18 million to keep the project on schedule; both years, we have had to settle for only $5 million.

Why does the record-spending Republican Congress have $120 billion to fix the preventable mess in New Orleans but can't spend the money required to protect the people in Congressman Ferguson's district? The Army Corps of Engineers has a workable plan; people are unnecessarily paying for flood insurance and living in fear of the next big storm when this project should have been finished. Did we forget Floyd already? Maybe the inept Mr. Ferguson doesn't remember the misery our people went through then because he wasn't here. I certainly remember.

I hope Linda Stender is a spender And that she'll work hard to get the federal funds for us to do what we need right here in the 7th Congressional District, especially flood control.

This project is the key to Bound Brook's revitalization and, more importantly, in ensuring that we don't have to go through the heartbreak and misery we went through with Hurricane Floyd again. Our current representative has not come through for us at all.

BRAD HIGGINBOTTOM
Bound Brook

Posted by admin at 08:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following letter was published in the Courier News on Friday, September 29 2006.

Republicans sink in unethical mire

Yes, I am a Republican of long standing, and it is not easy to write this letter. I have had enough of the rape of this country by Washington and Big Business.

However, with unethical liberal Democrats and ethical conservative Republicans I am truly concerned. In my mind, ethics has to do with power, control, lying, cheating and stealing by individuals, government and business. The greatness of our country was the strong, honest, hard-working middle class. Yes, the economy is booming for the haves and the upper middle class. The rest of the country is faced with lower incomes, unreasonable prices, debt, usury, identity theft, taxation and health costs.

If we sit down and tally the money those unethical Democrats have gobbled up, we will find it is peanuts compared with that involving ethical Republicans. The Republicans, including Mike Ferguson and Tom Kean Jr., support business, the bigger the better, and favors for the haves. They will be asked to support President Bush's ill-conceived plan to return control of world oil to Houston as it was until the '70s. Yes, they may get us a piece of pork such as removing the mercury, which may never happen, or finish the Green Brook flood control, like New Orleans.

We had a famous middle-of-the-road Republican, Mrs. Whitman. We are assured that Tom Kean Jr. and Mike Ferguson will be of the same ilk. Mrs. Whitman reduced the income tax, a tax dedicated to education. The responsibility for education was transferred to the homeowners with questionable assessments. Education spending for status and parity has grown leaps and bounds to the point of taking small homes to increase tax receipts.

Utilities are billed in such a way as to make the poor, the elderly and those trying to conserve pay more per gallon of water, water that may not be fit to drink, than the haves pay. The interest on a small debt can be more than 60 percent APR, while large favored debts are about 20 percent or even less. There are discounts and rebates for some, but not all.

Now there is a big problem. For some time, all people were encouraged to register and vote, and register they did. How does the minority party solve the problem? Rig the ballot boxes, of course. Mind you, not by a lot, just enough to claim victory. It could easily happen here.

If I were you, I would keep my eye on the ethical Conservatives this go-round. Most likely, I will return to the party when it gives up carrying the Bible in one hand and death-dealing cluster bombs in the other while making large profits for big business on others' suffering.

CHARLES B. MOBUS
Warren

Posted by admin at 07:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Courier News on September 26, 2006.

Scandal surrounds Mike Ferguson

I usually just laugh at the misrepresentations that Congressman Mike Ferguson's supporters write to the Courier News. But, Mr. Hugh Brennan's letter of Sept. 17 was just too outrageous to take. Among his many distortions was this deluded comment -- "There is not a hint of scandal to be laid at Ferguson's door."

Not a hint of scandal? What on earth would Mr. Brennan call Ferguson's close relationship with disgraced former Republican leader Tom DeLay? Ferguson has accepted $42,403 from DeLay's various PACs in the past five years. That's more money than any other congressman has received from Delay. In return, Ferguson has voted for every one of the DeLay/Bush abhorrent policies.

DeLay resigned as Republican leader after being indicted in Texas for money laundering. He also is being investigated for accepting illegal trips from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramhof. Republican Congressman Bob Ney has pleaded guilty for accepting an illegal golf trip to Scotland from Abramhof and faces 27 months in prison. DeLay, Ferguson's No. 1 money donor, was on that same trip. The investigation continues.

As another writer noted, "I have yet to read a letter supporting Ferguson that has any facts or intelligent thinking." Sadly, that record is still intact.

A vote for Linda Stender is a vote for honesty.

DELORES MONTANARD
Bridgewater

Posted by admin at 07:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Thursday, September 21, 2006 Cranford Chronicle.

Stender is the right choice for Congress

To The Chronicle:

One should agree with John Cantilli and Andrew Bucko about their negative views of our present Congressman. A common-sense change for the better is surely Linda Stender.

Linda Stender is running for Congress in this upcoming election. Linda is the former mayor of Fanwood, and she is currently serving her third term in the State Assembly.

She believes in bringing the troops home from Iraq safely within a year and focusing the government's policy on real homeland security. Linda wants to enact a bold energy policy to make us energy-independent and wants to put an end to the billions of dollars in tax breaks given to the big oil companies. She strongly supports stem cell research, a woman's right to choose, and allowing the federal government to negotiate with drug companies for low cost prescription drugs for senior citizens.

Linda Stender deserves our vote if we want a person who is not out of step and is not a rubber stamp for the Bush Administration's failed policies. She is the one who we should support on Tuesday, Nov. 7 for a seat in Congress.

MADELINE SPITZ
Cranford

Posted by admin at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following letter was published in the September 9, 2006 Courier News:

Stender attacks not based on facts

During the past few weeks, my mailbox has been inundated with condescending ads from Mike Ferguson's campaign with the childish slogan: "Stender is a spender." This distortion of Assemblywoman Linda Stender's record insults the intelligence of 7th District voters.

The trick Mr. Ferguson uses in his ads is a common one during political season: Municipal officials get blamed for rising property taxes when the culprit is usually the school board (in a state with a flawed system for funding public education). So, unless Mr. Ferguson gives me the facts, I'm not buying what he's selling.

Mr. Ferguson should have no credibility with voters in fiscal matters, anyway. Since he was elected in 2000, he has voted for budgets in Washington that turned the federal government's surplus into record budget deficits. The deficit for the budget year ending Sept. 30 is projected to be about $300 billion. In the midst of all this spending, Mr. Ferguson has voted for billions in tax breaks for gas and oil companies during a period of record-breaking profits and sky-high prices at the pump.

I think about Mr. Ferguson's votes every time I pull out my wallet to buy gas. And he thinks I should be worried about tax-and-spend politicians? The ones who scare me right now are those, like Mike Ferguson, who spend ... and spend and spend and spend, leaving a fiscal mess for my kids to mop up. It's time for voters in the 7th District to clean house and elect Linda Stender for Congress on Nov. 7.

SUE REPKO
Skillman

Posted by admin at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published on September 10, 2006 in the Courier News\:

Ferguson willfully distorts record

John Gurley writes that Mike Ferguson should be re-elected to Congress because of the fact of "Ferguson's success in persuading the Defense Logistics Agency to move tons of mercury out of Hillsborough."

Okay. There's only one problem with this fraudulent claim. Not one drum of mercury has been moved from Hillsborough, nor is there any indication that the mercury will ever be moved.

Gurley dishonestly infers that the mercury removal is a finished accomplishment. Also, Ferguson continues to run many campaign ads claiming this as a major accomplishment, misleading voters again.

Dishonest political tactics like this are why I will vote for Linda Stender in November. Linda knows the meaning of the words integrity and honesty. Also, Linda Stender won't be a rubber stamp for Bush and his disastrous policies, like Ferguson has been.

GAIL RODGERS
Hillsborough

Posted by admin at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was printed in the September 1, 2006 Courier News:

Ferguson sinks along with the Republican ship

Congressman Ferguson, these are the actions of your party and you.

The Republican president, George W. Bush, has issued more "signing statements" than all previous Presidents combined -- more than 750. Conservative and liberal scholars of the Constitution say this arrogant practice is wrong and not supported by any mainstream interpretations of the Constitution. No president has the right to pick and choose what parts of the law he will enforce.

What say you, Congressman Ferguson? He is the president and your Republican Party leader. Is Congress not an equal branch of the government? Did not the Republican president take an oath to uphold all the laws of the nation, not just those he favors? Has your Republican president made your job as a congressman irrelevant? Did I miss something? Did the Constitution get changed while the American people were being weaned away from Afghanistan to the war in Iraq?

Your Republican Party-appointed administrators in the Environmental Protection Agency have announced plans to roll back reporting requirements for facilities that release toxic chemicals. What say you, Congressman Ferguson? Agree?

Republican Congressman Ferguson, you extolled the help to Hillsborough to remove the mercury in the government storehouse. Well, the mercury is not going anywhere. It appears, Congressman, you failed to persuade anyone in your Republican administration to remove the mercury.

How about the September oil and gas lease sale for the Teshekpuk Lake region of the Western Arctic Reserve?

Do you, Congressman Ferguson, stand with your Republican Party leadership, which will allow these leases? Will drilling off the shores of New Jersey or Florida be next, as is being proposed?

The Republican-dominated government passed and signed the Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act -- a bill that benefits the 1 percent of the wealthiest of the country and placed a further strain on the large federal deficit. Congressman Ferguson, was not your vote in favor of this bill, which gave this special benefit to the wealthiest 1 percent of the country?

Congressman Ferguson, Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act: Did you not vote against this act?

Where do you stand, Congressman Ferguson, on abortion for women who have been raped or are in danger of dying if the pregnancy is carried to term?

It is being repeated in Washington that Iran was the big winner in Lebanon and that if we are not careful, Iran will also score in Iraq, and then with nuclear weapons, you know the story, we'd face mushroom clouds over American cities if we didn't attack Iraq. The Republican neo-cons are priming the pump for Iran as the next imminent threat. Do you, Congressman Ferguson, believe bombing or invading Iran (part of the evil empire as defined by the Republican president) will be the next push of the Republican Party chicken hawks? Would you support a new war?

Sen. McCain, speaking of the war in Iraq, said, "I think one of the biggest mistakes we made was underestimating the size of the task and the sacrifices that would be required." Will the same mistake be made for Iran if the neo-cons win the day? Do you agree with Sen. McCain, Congressman Ferguson?

Congressman Ferguson, you have been sending out fliers to the voters in the 7th District extolling the pork you have gotten for the district. That pork is more like a very lean pork chop when compared with dollars sent to other Republican districts.

I find it rather interesting that during the crisis in the Muslim-dominated Middle East, that Congressman Ferguson's focus is on domestic pork.

Congressman Ferguson, you must be held equally responsible with your party for the failures in international policy as well as domestic.

Bruno Ripp
Warren

Posted by admin at 07:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Home News Tribune on August 28, 2006.

Ferguson's claim rings hollow

My wife received a letter from our congressman, Rep. Michael Ferguson, R-7th Dist., in which he cites a "troubling development in the current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon."

In substance, he concludes that the United States should blindly support Israel's position. While I have no particular position regarding the matter cited, though I would be interested in his position on the U.S. war in Iraq. Mr. Ferguson, after making a number of pronouncements for which he offers no support, concludes by stating, "I have written to Secretary Rice raising my strong objection (emphasis added) to the United States advocating that Israel withdraw from the area or negotiate with Lebanon over its future."

He goes on to say, "America's role in the current conflict should be to stand with Israel as it defends itself against terrorists. I will keep you posted when I receive a response from Secretary Rice . . ."

Given Ferguson's record, how can such a transparent attempt to distance himself from the Bush administration be seen as anything else? A strong objection? Come on. I for one not only would like to see his "strong objection," which was pointedly omitted from his campaign letter, but am certainly awaiting his "keeping his constituents posted" on Secretary Rice's response. Holding my breath.

Robert Ross
CRANFORD

Posted by admin at 07:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Courier News on Saturday, August 26 2006:

Attack on Linda Stender ignores political record

We are in the dog days of summer.

The weather is hot and the Republicans have wheeled out their misinformation campaign.

Mike Ferguson attacked his opponent Linda Stender for being a big spender.

That's very cute, Mr. Ferguson, but the reality is that you rubber-stamped the biggest federal deficit in American history.

Mr. Ferguson even voted to reward oil and gas companies making record profits with tax subsidies.

Meanwhile, Linda Stender has balanced budgets while mayor of Fanwood and as Union County Freeholder.

Linda Stender will restore fiscal responsibility in Congress; a virtue that Mr. Ferguson does not comprehend.

ROBERT SCARDAPANE
Somerset

Posted by admin at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the August 21, 2006 Courier News.

The line about Lebanon is great.

Ferguson myopic on residents' views

When election season rolls around, pundits of all stripes inevitably rehash tired cliches such as this one: "All politics is local." For Campaign 2006, I'd like to offer an update: All politics is local -- when you're hopelessly out of touch with your constituents.

Two events last week prove my case for the change. First, in Connecticut, we saw Sen. Joe Lieberman (a statesman and a class act) lose the Democratic primary because of his frustratingly stubborn support of the Iraq quagmire. His loss did not signal a win for left-wing bloggers, nor did it symbolize the end of civility in politics (Republicans ended that years ago). As Lieberman campaigned on the 18 years of pork he brought back to Connecticut, the results showed that incumbents who refuse to value their constituents' opinions are vulnerable.

Second was yet another glossy, taxpayer-funded advertisement mailed home that proudly advertised the pork Rep. Mike Ferguson recently secured for the district. In the midst of the diplomatic crisis in Lebanon, the best our congressman can do is to talk about walkie-talkies for Lebanon Township. The juxtaposition was priceless.

Mike Ferguson is busy talking about repaving Route 22 instead of addressing the many serious issues of the day, because his views on the issues that matter are out of synch with those of his constituents. From blindly supporting the Iraq war and advocating for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, to voting against stem-cell research and promoting irresponsible energy policies as gas hovers at $3 per gallon, Mike Ferguson's positions better represent Georgia's 7th District, not New Jersey's 7th.

It is time to change direction, and fortunately this November, we have a chance to do so by electing Democrat Linda Stender to Congress, a proven leader who will actually represent our views in Washington.

KEVIN CUTRO
Westfield

Posted by admin at 07:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The following letterwas published is the Hillsborogh Beacon on August 10, 2006.

Ferguson's vote disappointing

To the editor:

I want to thank you for your editorial "Veto could help state take a bold step" in the July 27 issue of the Beacon.

As you state, "the effort to find cures for cancer, Alzheimer's Parkinson's disease, diabetes and other debilitating and fatal diseases through embryonic stem-cell research is widely supported — even in the two houses of Congress controlled by the president's own party. But not in the White House."

This is because President George W. Bush used his first veto to block federal support for stem-cell research even though the bill, HR810, was sponsored by Republican Congressman Michael Castle of Delaware.
Unfortunately, neither the House nor Senate could override the president's veto even though 51 Republicans joined 183 Democrats in the attempt to override.

The failure to pass the legislation made me very upset. Maybe it's because I have close relatives who are suffering from the effects of Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, a terrible fatal disease that currently has no cure.
Maybe it's because we have friends with family members suffering from juvenile diabetes and Lou Gehrig's disease.
Maybe it's because the research and the potential cures will bring hope to those suffering and to their families.
What made me even more upset is that my own congressman, Mike Ferguson, voted to upheld the president's veto. You can see how each and every congressman and senator voted by checking online at Thomas, the Library Congress' legislative Web site using the Roll Call link, thomas.loc.gov/home/rollcallvotes.

President Bush will be in office until January 2009. But, we can send a message to the administration and Congress by voting against Mr. Ferguson in the upcoming Congressional elections in November and voting for his opponent Linda Stender.

As Ms. Stender writes in her Web site, "Sadly, states are being forced to take the lead on stem cell research because Bush and Ferguson's opposition. In the Assembly, I supported legislation to explicitly legalize and encourage medical research on embryonic stem cells in New Jersey and I plan on taking the same commitment to Congress."

For another viewpoint read Jonathan Alter's editorial in the July 31 issue of Newsweek or read more about the potential of stem-cell research and related research into adult-stem-cells.
Much is happening at private labs in the U.S. and abroad.

As you close your editorial, "Making a bold investment now, even in tough budgetary times, should be a smart move — for humanitarian as well as economic reasons."

Tom Merolla
Dunedain Street

Posted by admin at 08:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the August 9, 2006 Courier News:

Stender reflects Jersey attitude

Mike Ferguson has consistently voted with President Bush's extremist social agenda. This puts him at odds with most New Jersey residents, who want their legislators to be fiscal conservatives but social moderates.

It's time to bring balance back to the federal government. We need to elect Democrats to the House and Senate to reverse this scary drift to the far right.

Linda Stender is the kind of legislator who more closely reflects the attitudes held by most New Jersey residents.

DOMINICK DEPINTO
Califon

Posted by admin at 07:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following letter was published in the August 3, 2006 in the Courier News.

Make Bush pay by ousting Ferguson

Our nation put two oilmen in the White House, and six years later the price of gasoline has tripled and the oil companies are reaping outlandish profits. Is anyone surprised?

Our nation was attacked by Osama bin Laden, and President Bush responded by pursuing his personal grudge against Saddam Hussein, triggering a civil war in Iraq from which there appears to be no honorable way out.

Bush's war and his other profligate spending have put our nation deeply in debt to China and other foreign powers. His unilateralism and intransigence in the pursuit of unwise policies have cost America a large measure of respect worldwide. Remember when America was admired abroad? It was not that long ago.

Bush would not have been able to pursue his wrongheaded agenda without followers such as Mike Ferguson in Congress. Ferguson has consistently supported the war in Iraq and the ruinous fiscal policies of the Bush administration. In lockstep with his party leaders, he voted last year to provide $10 billion in new subsidies to the oil industry, and he recently voted against legislation to punish oil companies that engage in price gouging.

In fact, Ferguson votes the Bush line more than 90 percent of the time.

We can't vote Bush and Cheney out of office this year, but we can change the Congress to slow the advancement of their policies. This is how our system of checks and balances is supposed to work.

Those who have had enough of George Bush have a duty to unseat his minions in Congress, and the undistinguished Mike Ferguson should be at the top of the list.

CLIFFORD C. WILSON JR.
Skillman

Posted by admin at 08:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The following letter was published in the July 31, 2006 Star Ledger:

End the occupation

Your July 20 editorial "The ugly reality of Iraq" decries the growing death toll there, the inability of Iraqi security forces to protect the populace, the incredibly rosy prognostications by the Bush administration even though the Iraq is in a virtual civil war and the fact that Iraq is likely doomed to years of chaos. This just does square with your June 20 editorial "Wisdom on the war" extolling the judgment of Congress for passing House Resolution 861, which rejected an "arbitrary" date for the withdrawal of troops.

You can't have it both ways. You may claim that rejecting a deadline for withdrawal is not an endorsement of President Bush's "stay the course" failures, but how is it not an endorsement when you offer no other remedy? You are free to continue wringing your hands, but it is to be hoped that voters are more focused in their thinking on the war this November and oppose those New Jersey Republicans who supported the resolution to continue the occupation of Iraq as long as their boss Bush sees fit. Their names are Frank LoBiondo, James Saxton Chris Smith, Scott Garrett, Michael Ferguson and Rodney Frelinghuysen.

-- W. Rosenthal
Maplewood

Posted by admin at 08:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Sunday, July 30 2006 Courier News:

Ferguson misusing taxpayers' money

I am looking at a mailing titled "Update from Congressman Mike Ferguson." It is printed with color photographs on both sides of heavy cardboard stock. This is one expensive piece of advertising. There is no stamp on it because it states, "This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense."

This is clearly campaign literature. With important issues facing our nation such as the Iraq war, which is causing the United States to fall deeper and deeper into debt, a war that Ferguson consistently supports, perhaps taxpayers wouldn't mind paying for a newsletter that provided real information. But the only "news" in the expensive advertising material I received proclaimed "Ferguson announces the winner of Art Contest, and Military Academy Nominees and Congressional Service awards."

If Congressman Ferguson put these announcements, which are of interest to such a limited number of his constituents, on his Web site, it certainly would have cost the taxpayers much less.

Voters in the 7th District have a very important choice to make in November. I encourage them to learn about Linda Stender (at www.lin dastenderforcongress.com) who will spend taxpayer's money more prudently and on issues the voters care about such as improved education and the preserving the environment.

MAUREEN GREENBAUM
Watchung

Posted by admin at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following letter was published in the July 23, 2006 Home News Tribune:

Change the vote on stem-cell research

With a stockpile of hundreds of thousands of stored, surplus, frozen, few-days-old human embryos that are no longer needed for in vitro fertilization and are heading to be discarded as medical waste, one must sincerely question the values of President George W. Bush and all those who are opposing the use of some of these rudimentary cells to conduct stem-cell investigation instead of their disposal.

Because cells from early embryos have the capacity to become every human structure, understanding how they work promises to yield the greatest information about how tissues form, develop and function when diseased.

What sort of twisted morality assigns a higher ethical value to soon-to-be-destroyed embryos that will never become a person over the most promising research pathways to both understanding and relieving the vast human suffering from diseases?

Since 2001, by presidential edict and now with Bush's veto, federal funding for this important research has been severely restricted. Five years of vital time already has been lost. To prevent further delay, Congress must now muster a two-thirds vote to override. About 50 representatives and four senators must change their no votes to yes to reject the veto.

New Jersey families who have experienced Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease, MS and paralysis from spinal-cord injury should immediately call Reps. Ferguson, Garrett, LoBiondo, Saxton and Smith to urge them to change their minds and vote to override President Bush's ill-advised veto.

Arthur L. Yeager
EDISON

Posted by admin at 07:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following letter was published in the July 27, 2006 Home News Tribune:

Ferguson should return $42,403

Now that Tom DeLay's ARMPAC has been found guilty of massive violation of federal-campaign violations, resulting in a fine of $115,000, isn't it time that Congressman Mike Ferguson return the $42,403 he received from DeLay and ARMPAC?

So far he has refused, thus tainting New Jersey's 7th District with the influence of Tom DeLay. I don't think this kind of politics is what New Jersey moderates are about, Democrat or Republican.

Michael Pratt
SKILLMAN

Posted by admin at 07:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Suburban News on Thursday, July 20, 2006

A Vote For Linda Stender Is Vote For Environment

To the Editor:

The showdown this fall between Linda Stender, the Democratic challenger and Mike Ferguson the Republican incumbent gives Seventh District voters a chance to make a major statement in favor of responsible government.

One of the major tasks in this day and age facing any government is the challenge of coping with the environmental crisis. President Bush has chosen not to deal with this issue, and Ferguson's voting record indicates that his views and values are similar to those of this administration. This bodes ill for the world, our country, and New Jersey.

Voters who care about the environment that their grandchildren will live in will vote for Linda Stender.

Eric Hausker
Rahway

Posted by admin at 05:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Cranford Chronicle on July 13, 2006:

Defense of Ferguson didn't address policy

To The Chronicle:

Jonathan Sassi's arm-waving rant about the Drum Major Institute (DMI) and my June 30 Chronicle letter was hilarious.

First, Dr. Sassi devoted considerable ink to an erudite parsing of the term "progressive." Well, the funny thing is that the editors of the Chronicle added that term to my letter. The letter that I submitted did not contain the word "progressive." According to DMI's web site, "The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to challenging the tired orthodoxies of both the right and the left."

As for the DMI report regarding the middle class, Dr. Sassi does plenty of name-calling, labeling, and categorization, but he made no effort to dispute the policy discussions about Rep. Mike Ferguson and other members of Congress. He failed to address the eight 2005 House votes upon which House members were rated. It is understandable that Republicans would rather not talk about specific policy issues, given the horrible record of the Republican-controlled Congress and White House.

Interestingly, Dr. Sassi had essentially nothing positive to say about Mike Ferguson. He simply recited platitudes and mentioned tax cuts. How about providing some data regarding the real beneficiaries of the Bush Administration's tax cuts? Here's a hint: They are not the families with annual incomes within 20 percent of the national median income.

JOHN CANTILLI
Cranford

Posted by admin at 05:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter was published in the Cranford Chronicle on July 13, 2006.

Ferguson can't move U.S. ahead

Just as the first robin signals the start of spring, so the first political attack letter signals the start of asummer of local campaign-wrangling among the partisan readers of the Chronicle. I join the fray in progress between Messrs.Cantilli and Sassi.

Sassi defends the incumbent Republican Congressman, Mike Ferguson. You are right,Mr. Sassi, Ferguson is a proven loyalist to the Bush line.More billions into the bottomless pit of Iraq? Fine.Give generous tax cuts to the rich to boost the burdened economy?Wonderful. Promote Constitutional amendments to limit freedoms distasteful to the Bible Belt?Go George!

But Ferguson is a relative newcomer to the Washington scene. He is a little dog in the pack who must cater to the leaders in order to get the scraps of federal benefits that may fall to New Jersey.If Ferguson survives to grow stronger, maybe he will develop some guts to be a principled Republican like Specter or Snowe.Or maybe he will become another Santorum.

I prefer to vote for someone who is a proven, principled local leader and hasworked long and hard to promote the interests of all citizens of our county. Linda Stender seems to meet these standards better than Ferguson to represent New Jersey's 7th Congressional district.

However, it is Mr. Sassi's snide comments about "progressive" and "liberals" that really incited me to join this campaign of letters.He parrots the neo-conservatives' exploitation of President Reagan's put-down of the term "liberal" in politics.But the old showman would be embarrassed by the depths of distortion created by Karl Rove and his Rat Pack.

The neo-cons want people to forget that it was leaders of the "liberal" bent that fought to bring us the 40-hour work week, child labor laws, Social Security and civil rights for all citizens of any color, sexor creed.The neo-cons are fighting to make old Republican Trent Lott's dream a reality. Trent yearned for the nation to be under leaders like the young Strom Thurmond, who could "roll back the clock" to the "good old days".

I have no faithin Mike Ferguson having the guts to keep the nation moving forward on the high road.

TOM HARTMAN
Cranford

Posted by admin at 04:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letter to the editor was published in the July 17, 2006 Courier News:

Paper trail bill for e-votes needs help

My representative, Mike Ferguson, needs to step up and co-sponsor H.R.550. For more than a year, this bill has languished in committee. Simply put, this legislation will require a paper backup for each electronic vote made. Should a malfunction occur or a recount be required, there will be a paper trail for each vote.

Lou Dobbs devoted 10 nights of coverage on CNN to the vulnerabilities of paperless voting. Both parties will benefit from this legislation. Inaction will cause only greater problems for our country in November 2007 and succeeding elections.

Democracy is threatened. Congressman Ferguson, take action now.

WILLIAM R. HULL
Martinsville

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The following letter was published in the Courier News on July 6, 2006:

Contact Ferguson on Internet bill

There currently is a battle going on that most people don't know about that could change how we use the Internet. Right now, cable and telecom companies cannot (legally) control what sites you visit and how quickly different sites come in. That could change very soon. Legislation being debated in the Senate and House (co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Ferguson) will let these companies control bandwidth or block sites they do not agree with.

This means that if you want information about competitors, you could be blocked. If you want a Web site advertising your small business to be seen, you might have to pay the companies an extra fee or your page might load extra slowly. If you want certain pages to load for you, you might have to pay a service fee to the company to get the service you already get right now. This is nothing short of censorship and extortion.

If you think this is a bad idea, please give your representatives a call, and since he is a sponsor and will not change his position, let Mike Ferguson know what you think by voting for Linda Stender in November, who is strongly against this legislation.

MATTHEW DAWSON
Hillsborough

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