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Almost exactly four years ago, I wrote a column based on Phil Murphys first inaugural address. In it, I compared Murphys inaugural speech to Chris Christies. I pointed out how Christie used I and Murphy used we. I showed how Murphy spent a lot more time saying thank you than Christie did. I showed how Murphy hinted an expansive government, while Christie argued for a retraction in government. I also wondered whether a Governor who spoke so much about collaboration and collective action could succeed in a state where the Governor has a tremendous amount of individual power.

The fact that Murphy was given the opportunity to make a second inaugural address shows that the answer to that last question is a yes. But I thought it would be interesting to compare the Governors first inaugural address to his second. This might show how Murphy has grown as Governor or perhaps at least how key allies have grown as speechwriters. It also might give some clues as to what is ahead in Murphys second term.

Setting the Stage

Before diving into my quasi-literary parsing of both speeches, it is important to note that in 2018 the speech was given in front of thousands of people. In 2022, it might as well have been done on Zoom. That makes a difference. My guess is a face-to-face speech might go for more obvious applause lines because you actually have a real audience to applause.

But the events of the day also make a difference. The 2022 speech starts with a subdued reference and a moment of silence to the New Jerseyans who have died of Covid. In 2018, Murphys began his speech with, Today, full of optimism and hope for a better future, we begin that journey together before going on to recognize the passing of Brendan Byrne. But that recognition was not with subdued silence but with an optimistic request to look up, to that flag and to the sky beyond, in remembrance of Governor Brendan Byrne.

More Deeply Felt Thanks

In 2018, Murphy thanked everyone in New Jersey and tried his best to thank them all by name. He thanked his opponent, he gave shout outs to cabinet members, members of the opposition and all manner of legislative leaders and often accompanied the thanks with complete sentence follow ups.

In 2022, Murphy still thanked people, but he only went really deep on Sheila Oliver and Tammy Murphy and his kids. In 2018, Murphy thanked Oliver in 84 words. In 2022, he used 191. In 2018, he thanked his wife and kids in 83 words. In 2022, he took 259 words.

In contrast, in 2018 Murphy spent 102 words thanking and naming the legislative leadership. In 2022, He did it in about 32 words. In 2018, his vanquished opponent rated 67 words of recognition. In 2022 his opponent got none.

On one hand, the number of words spent on thank you notes is probably not that important. But on the other hand, maybe it is a recognition by the Governor that his closest friend going in are likely to be his closest friends going out. The 2018 speech has the cheerleader optimism that by being nice he could bring everyone to his side. The 2022 speech maybe recognizes that even with boundless optimism he cant win everyone over.

Still Stronger and Fairer

Both inaugural addresses are filled with references to building a New Jersey that is Stronger and Fairer. But even so there is a I think notable shift in who Murphy sees as being in need of a stronger and fairer New Jersey and how he can help.

In Murphys 2018 speech he singled out people and groups that need special attention and care. Among others Murphy calls out Millennials, Seniors, Differently Abled, LGBTQm women, veterans and minority owned businesses, and immigrants as all needing help. He talked about job creation but focused on the need for higher wages and new training programs that were all geared to the less fortunate and the poor. He talks about criminal justice reform, the need for affordable housing and frames both in language of giving, providing and helping those who have been oppressed. The 2018 speech is about using the power of government to provide goods to specific people in need.

In 2022, he talks about families. He talks about passing on a better life to our children, all our children. He argues that the 9.3 million people in New Jersey are an extended family. In 2022, the stronger fairer New Jersey makes sure everyone gets a fair shot but also that everyone live up to their responsibility to do their fair share. The 2022 speech is less specific both in terms of the exact groups that he wants to help and exactly how he wants to help them. The 2022 speech seeks to connect all of New Jersey together as a family that can and will work together to make it a better place.

Phil Murphy Patriot

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two speeches is in Murphys use of patriotism as a theme. In 2018, the closest he got to talking about patriotism was the Byrne flag reference and when begged people not to leave the state arguing that for those who stay planting your flag in New Jersey will have been one of the smartest decisions you ever made.

In 2022, the concluding section, the defacto crescendo of the speech, is all about taking the concept of Patriotism back from being solely owned by right-wing Republicans. Murphy passionately argues that voting, fighting for good government and standing up for fairness are patriotic acts. He frames this concept of patriotism against a backdrop of a dangerous, dysfunctional do-nothing federal government, that should look to New Jersey as a model for how to do things the American way. At one point Murphy even says, to be an American is a privilege, to be a New Jerseyan is an honor.

The idea that it is possible to be progressive and patriotic has been a debate in many academic and progressive circles. Some scholars and activists argue that modern day progressives spend too much time placing race at the center of political debates and policy choices. These folks argue that more attention needs to be given to class and economic differences. Other scholars and activists argue that race is such a central determining factor in outcomes that until systemic racism is dealt with, other issues are less pressing. To be clear, race and class both matter, it is just a question of which deserves priority when seeking significant social change.

The concept of Patriotism is a central part of this debate. Poor and working-class voters are often extremely patriotic in part because the poor and working class make up the majority of our military and always have. Many of these voters (especially the white ones) run away from progressive candidates who seem to them unpatriotic and focused primarily on identity politics. This is true even if the economic redistributive policies championed by progressives might make more sense to their pocketbooks. The central academic and perhaps practical question is whether or not progressives should fight to redefine patriotism as a progressive value or is that battle (and voters who prioritize patriotism) lost forever?

No one fights harder for patriotism as a progressive value than New Jerseys own Bruce Springsteen. He has an uncanny ability to be deeply patriotic towards America while at the same time recognizing when it often doesnt live up to its high ideals.

I have no idea of Murphy was thinking about this academic debate, and he is certainly no Springsteen but Ill be damned if he wasnt fighting to redefine patriotism as a progressive value in his second inaugural speech. One speech is not enough to know if Governor Murphy will continue channeling his inner Bruce in his second term. But it certainly was different and new and worth watching.

Matthew Hale, PhD

Associate Professor Department of Political Science and Public Affairs

Seton Hall University

(Visited 247 times, 250 visits today)

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Channeling the Boss: Phil Murphy the Progressive Patriot - InsiderNJ

Kudlow predicts Martin Luther King Jr.s vision will triumph over theories that try to divide Americans.

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Day and the man who delivered one of the most important and famous speeches in American History.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

This is a thought that I would assume all Americans regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, political party could agree with. And indeed should agree with.

But it is dismaying to me that a growing number of far-left, woke progressives in the name of so-called 'equity' have attempted to subvert MLK's brilliant statement, by moving us toward a society where solving the remnants of racism leads to ever more racism.

ON MLK DAY, YELLEN SAYS US ECONOMY HAS NEVER WORKED FAIRLY FOR BLACK AMERICANS

I'm speaking particularly of critical race theory which seeks racial divisions and routinely denounces color blindness as 'White supremacy' or 'White privilege,' or for that matter, Black victimization.

These ideas of reverse racism and Black victimization and attacks on people with White skin not only run completely against what Reverend King envisioned, it's something that provides the greatest harm to children in school where unfortunately critical race theory is being taught by too many left-wing teachers across the country.

One of the brightest spots in this story was newly elected Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin, who Saturday banned CRT in Virginia schools, and all during his campaign insisted that parents run the schools, not boards of education or teacher's unions. Or for that matter, left-wing federal bureaucrats in the D.C. swamp. Good for him.

And if you step back a moment, as the NY Post editorialized today, the civil rights movement has had many, many successes since Reverend King's tragic assassination in the late sixties. Two years ago, when I was in government, and rioting broke out across the country, and the woke CRT cry of systemic racism reached its zenith I would try to argue, "wait a minute, we just elected an African American president for two terms who garnered 80 million White votes just a few years ago." Critics never had an answer for that, but it's such a remarkable fact.

And African Americans routinely serve in the cabinet, the Supreme Court, the Senate, the House, state governors, legislatures. Our election system undoubtedly could stand with some improvements, but in the last six or seven decades, minority progress has been enormous; that is, African American progress.

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Civil rights laws were passed in my lifetime that did enormous good, and more good can undoubtedly come to our imperfect institutions as long as we invoke some civility in the discussions and some common sense in the solutions.

As a young man, I came to believe that civil rights and equality on the basis of merit and character was really a matter of common sense and fairness. American common sense and American fairness. It was the right thing to do. And our great American democracy has been doing it. And will do more of it.

There are still rotten apples left, no question about it. There are still pockets of prejudice. But look where we've come since Reverend King's speech is remarkable.

You might want to acknowledge, look where we've come since Abraham Lincoln. And you might want to also acknowledge, look where we've come since the Declaration of Independence.

Some editorialists are saying that today's left would actually oppose Dr. King. Unfortunately, that may be true. But I think woke CRT, racial hatred by a relatively small minority will fade away. Parents are winning in schools, police are winning in public safety and security, and I think key points made by Sen. Tim Scott about Black economic and financial progress are very important.

Following the Trump tax cuts, unemployment fell across the board for all Americans. Importantly, minority unemployment for Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and women fell to record lows or near record lows. Poverty, especially child poverty fell to record lows.

Underserved minority areas are the biggest beneficiaries of this kind of economic progress. Opportunity zones were successfully set up to use tax incentives in low-income areas. According to the GAO, in 2019 alone $29 billion of new capital went into these underserved areas. Generational wealth creation is another key point from Sen. Scott.

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Of course the worst crime is in minority areas. And it is Blacks and other minorities who are now in full revolt against crazy ideas like defunding the police.

The sad state of our urban public education systems can be repaired with more and more school choice. Whether public school choice, or private school choice, or religious school choice.

These policy changeswill fulfill the Martin Luther King vision of living in a nation where people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. As an American optimist, I always want to emphasize positive achievements, positive policies and positive attitudes.

I think these crazy, woke, critical race theory leftists are the real racists in our society today. And I truly believe their vision will be soundly defeated while Martin Luther King's will triumph.

This article is adapted from Larry Kudlow's opening commentary on the January 17, 2022, edition of "Kudlow."

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Kudlow: It is dismaying that a growing number of woke progressives have attempted to subvert MLK's mission - Fox Business

Eighteen months after Sen. Bernie Sanders first introduced legislation to ensure everyone in the U.S. would receive face masks to protect against Covid-19, the White House on Wednesday followed public health guidance by announcing it will make N95s available for free nationwide.

"It's starting to work. Demand more. Demand better."

Drawing from the Strategic National Stockpile, which now has 737 million domestically-manufactured N95 masks after shortages at the beginning of the pandemic, the Biden administration will supply 400 million of the nonsurgical respirators to pharmacies and community health centers across the country later this week. The White House is calling the plan the "largest deployment of personal protective equipment in U.S. history."

The N95s, which can filter out 95% of airborne particles when used correctly, will be available by the end of next week, according to the New York Times.

Sanders praised the White House for heeding warnings that cloth masks may not provide sufficient protection against the Omicron variant, calling the move "a good first step."

According to NBC News, there has been division in the administration regarding how far officials should go in urging Americans to use the respirators.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky only recently updated the agency's guidance regarding the superior effectiveness of N95s versus cloth masks, and warned in recent days that people who don't like the fit of the respirators may stop masking altogether.

Sanders, who reintroduced his Masks for All Act last week, vehemently disagreed with Walensky on CNN, sending what Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease doctor at Stanford University, called "a clear, concise message" about upgrading masks.

The Biden administration's deployment of N95s comes as Covid-19 cases have been rising for several weeks, driven by the Omicron variant. The seven-day average for daily new cases reached 1,700 on Monday and modelers say between 50,000 and 300,000 Americans could die of Covid-19 before the wave is expected to end in mid-March.

But Karan rejected the notion that the N95s are reaching Americans too late to make a difference in public health outcomes, especially considering warnings from experts that continued vaccine apartheid is likely to result in new variants cropping up around the world and causing new surges in the United States.

"If you think we'll never need masks again, I'd say that prediction hasn't worked out too well," said Karan.

As the administration announced the distribution of N95s, officials also launched a website where Americans can order four free rapid Covid-19 tests per household. That program follows an overhaul of the White House's strategy regarding testing after Press Secretary Jen Psaki was widely denounced for openly mocking a reporter's suggestion that the U.S. government could and should provide tests to all Americans.

Two weeks after Psaki suggested the proposal was unrealistic, the White House responded to pressure from public health experts and political observers by announcing it would make 500 million tests free to the public.

Dr. Rick Bright, an immunologist who issued early warnings about the Covid-19 pandemic to the Trump administration in January 2020, said the White House's recent policy shifts regarding masks and tests are a sign that Americans and public health experts should "demand more" and "demand better" from the federal government.

After the recent successes, Bright asked, "can we upgrade ventilation and air filtration in schools, businesses, and transportation?"

Continued here:
Catching Up With Progressives, Biden to Provide N95s Nationwide - Common Dreams

A Nobleboro state senator whose win over the Maine Senates top Republican in 2020 was held up as an example for rural progressives is not seeking a second term this fall, setting up another battleground race in Lincoln County.

Sen. Chloe Maxmin, a 29-year-old Democrat, announced last Wednesdaythat she decided not to run again in order to attend the University of Maine School of Law. She cited the demands of legislative life in a statement, saying she planned to start a nonprofit with her campaign manager about grassroots organizing, a topic the two are also releasing a bookabout.

Maxmins win over then-SenateMinority Leader Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro, was one of the more notable upsetsof 2020. It came after Democrats spent heavily on the race in the district encompassing all of Lincoln County, plus Washington and Windsor. She was a freshman state representative at that time after winning a district previously held by a Republican.

It led to her gaining a national profile as an example of a progressive that could win in more conservative and rural districts. Lincoln County only partially fits that bill as a swing county easily won by President Joe Biden by 10 percentage points in 2020, while Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins took it by 8 points the same year.

Everything is really divisive right now, and the need for community-based organizing is more important than ever, Maxmin said, adding that Democrats will need to listen to voters of all affiliations and backgrounds in the rural district if they wish to hold the seat.

Her decision not to run will ensure the 2022 election will again be one to watch. Competition is already ramping up for the seat. Former Republican state Rep. Abden Simmons of Waldoboro registered for the seat in December. He won a single term representing House District 91 in 2016 before losing to Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos, I-Friendship, in 2018.

Two Democrats have registered for the seat. Maxmin has endorsed Round Pond school counselor and educator Cameron Reny, while Damariscotta lawyer David Levesque also filed to run for the seat last week.

Reny, whose husband co-owns the Renys store chain, already appears to have the backing of the Maine Senate Democrats. Her announcementwas made alongside Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, as well as Maxmin.

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Maine lawmaker hailed as example for rural progressives won't seek reelection in 2022 - Bangor Daily News

Vincent Fort, an outspoken Atlanta progressive and former Georgia state Senate whip, announced plans Thursday to challenge Rep. David Scott, a 10-term centrist Democrat, in Georgias June primary elections.

Given Forts close relationship with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and deep ties to the Atlanta-area left, his entry into the race raises the prospect of a primary challenge that attracts national attention and resources.

Its time for a change. We need somebody in place who is prepared and able to fight for a progressive agenda, Fort told HuffPost. We need someone who puts people in this district first.

Scott, a member of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, has taken some votes that have elicited criticism from progressives. A recipient of copious corporate PAC contributions, Scott voted for the 2005 law making it harder for households to declare bankruptcy, and for a 2018 bill rolling back some of the Wall Street regulations that former President Barack Obama signed into law.

Scotts colleagues on the House Committee on Agriculture have also raised concerns about whether Scott, 76, is in good enough physical and mental shape to adequately discharge his duties as chairman, according to a Politico report. Scott has rejected doubts about his capacities, attributing temporary mobility challenges to a recent leg surgery.

Fort, 65, represented southwest Atlanta in the Georgia state Senate for two decades, reaching the No. 2 position of Democratic whip. During the last period of Democratic control in the state legislature, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Fort shepherded the passage of pioneering laws restricting predatory lending and enhancing punishments for the commission of hate crimes.

We need someone who is going to stand up for hardworking people as opposed to predatory lending companies, Fort told HuffPost.

Fort does not currently live in Georgias solidly Democratic 13th Congressional District, which includes part of the city of Atlanta and suburbs with a large Black population. He plans to move there as soon as possible and said that his tenure as a state senator for some of the district has given him insight into the needs of his would-be constituents. He suggested that he would be more available to constituents than Scott, who also does not live in the district.

Not only am I right on the issues, but I also am present and have always been present, he said. I have a reputation of being in the district, amongst the voters and constituents. I wont be missing in action.

An inside player in the state Capitol, Fort is also known as an independent-minded populist with one foot in the activist world. He was an early supporter of both the Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter movements who frequently intervened personally on behalf of constituents facing eviction or foreclosure.

During the 2016 presidential primary, Fort, who initially backed Hillary Clinton, ended up embracing Sanders candidacy, declaring that Sanders was speaking to the issues that are the most critical to Forts constituents. Fort went on to become a co-chair of Sanders campaign in the state.

Sanders returned the favor in 2017 when Fort launched an ill-fated bid for mayor of Atlanta; he came in fifth place. Fort currently earns a living lobbying for, and advising, labor unions at the state Capitol.

If elected, Fort would mark a dramatic leftward shift in representation for Georgias 13th Congressional District, which includes part of the city of Atlanta and suburbs with a large Black population. He is a supporter of Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, tuition-free public college, student debt cancellation, and federal rules to reduce police misconduct. He stops short of endorsing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel, and demurs when asked about calls to reduce police funding, noting that he has stood both with families who have lost loved ones to police violence and those who have lost loved ones to civilian gun violence.

When I am in the community, I hear two things from the Miss Marys: One, we need to be safe. And two, we need to give the kids something to do, he said. More resources need to be put into making sure that there are alternative approaches to putting people in jail.

Fort, who is refusing to accept corporate PAC contributions, begins his campaign with the endorsement of Atlanta City Councilman Antonio Lewis, a progressive who unseated a more moderate incumbent in the citys 2021 municipal elections.

Fort faces obstacles on the road to defeating Scott in Georgias June 21 primary, however. He does not yet have the support of any progressive groups that normally help primary challengers fundraise, and his frosty relationship with Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia state House Democratic leader-turned-gubernatorial candidate and voting rights icon, could prove a hindrance.

And Fort has competition for the progressive mantle in the race. South Fulton, Georgia, City Councilman Mark Baker is also running to unseat Scott on a left-leaning platform. He has the endorsement of South Fulton Mayor khalid kamau, a democratic socialist and Black Lives Matter activist with his own following in Atlanta-area activist circles.

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Progressive Stalwart Vincent Fort To Take On Georgia Rep. David Scott - HuffPost