We can just list Cory Booker on Amazon at this point

There may be varying degrees of ratings and prices as he's been bought more than once on different platforms.

You'll recall in January we pointed out that while all the Democrats and even a few Republicans were on board with importing drugs to help keep prescription costs down for Americans being ripped off by nonsensical Big Pharma pricing games. Even Donald Fucking Trump brought up the idea while running for President. Not Cory Booker, he stood firm with over $55K in NJ Big Pharma money lining his pockets, no to importing drugs from Canada. Not that Booker had any proof of his claim, that we need to check and make sure these drugs are safe, as Johnny wrote at the time:

Let that sink in. At ANY point in the last few years did you read any articles online or see a teevee news report about a bunch of dead Canadians lying outside pharmacies or along Yonge Street in Toronto or on the prairies of Western Canada? Of course you didn't. These drugs are already safe, it's just an excuse for Sen. Booker. 

If that kind of thing is wrong, this next part is disgraceful and possibly harmful to the security of the country -- yeah, it is. Leading Democrats in Washington D.C. as well as former CIA, FBI and national security experts believe at the very least Jared Kushner's Russian dalliances mean his security clearance should be reviewed and probably revoked at this point. The experts folks, the experts.

Know who thinks he needs to stand up for Jared Kushner AND his security clearance, (something when in doubt for Christ's sake should be double-checked) Cory Booker. Yep, Booker went to bat for Kushner after all we know and the experts have told us.

What's Senator Booker's reasoning for not wanting to chase down US/Russia espionage charges? Maybe the fact Jared and Ivanka Trump held two max out the donations fundraisers for Booker.

There you go. Cory's good friends Jared (Awwww, he went to Jared) and Ivanka lining his pockets full of campaign cash might do it, what do you think New Jersey? Democrats should be beyond mildly worried at this point with Booker's ability to make the wrong choices shortly after getting money from Big Pharma, Big Real Estate, Big Celebrity, et al.

We know from following the Senator on Twitter he likes inspirational quotes for certain situations. Here's one:

"Suppose you could gain everything in the whole world, and lost your soul. Was it worth it?"    
 -- Billy Graham

Sen. Cory Booker just dropped the ball on health care costs

Johnny going with the easy headline for the former Stanford tight end.

In all seriousness, shame on New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. He talks big on lowering health care costs but when presented with a chance to really make a difference on a serious pocketbook issue, well it sure looks like Big Pharma money in Booker's pockets has won the day. 

The issue was whether or not Americans could save on prescription drugs by importing them from Canada. A lot of smart people think this WILL indeed force down prices on prescription drugs here. Know who agrees? Texas Sen.Ted Cruz. That's right, that right wing gas-knob from Texas. He even realizes that this is necessary. Shame Cory Booker doesn't. Booker's excuse (besides the 55K from Merck & Co other pharmaceutical companies) is that he's golly gosh for it you know but his paymasters--er his conscience won't allow him to help you on this one. Too big of a risk for you citizen.

Let that sink in. At ANY point in the last few years did you read any articles online or see a teevee news report about a bunch of dead Canadians lying outside pharmacies or along Yonge Street in Toronto or on the prairies of Western Canada? Of course you didn't. These drugs are already safe, it's just an excuse for Sen. Booker. It smacks a lot of the anti-vaxxer canard that "well, gee whiz you just can't give these kids all their vaccinations at once, they should be spread way out" which of course is code for "So not having my kid vaccinated."

Pick some small inconsequential thing that sounds like you're protecting people when in fact you're merely letting Pharma use you as their mouthpiece Sen. Booker.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda, eh Senator? Shame on you.

Johnny today is naming NJ Senator Cory Booker as his running mate for President

Since apparently now one chooses a running mate long before the convention, or getting anywhere near enough delegates to actually be nominated, Johnny thought now would  be as good a time as any to announce Senator Booker's status AND to actually start a campaign. But again, like Ted Cruz with Carly Fiorina Johnny figured he'd better reach into the name box and get a good one.

Let's make America cool again.

We're one big step closer to another Hudson River tunnel

Amtrak and thew Port Authority have pushed $70 million in chips to the middle of the table in a gamble to get the current momentum to the unstoppable point. Cory Booker is very confident this will now get done:

Federal officials, including U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ, the Port Authority and New York and New Jersey officials, made the announcement Wednesday, which marks the first major progress on the tunnel project since Govs. Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo announced a funding agreement between the states and federal government. 

Transportation agencies are in a race against time to start the $20 billion Gateway Project before one of two 106-year-old tunnels has to be taken out of service to repair flood damage, which would severely disrupt commuter rail service. 

"This is huge. It is a significant step," Booker said. "We're farther down the field than I thought we'd be last summer."

Anyone within 20 miles of the tunnel crossings know how badly another train tunnel is needed. One is going to have to be taken out of service within the next few years to fully clean Superstorm Sandy damage. Without tunnels and bridges New Jersey isn't even New York's parking lot. So there's that.

We've already seen how long the Pulaski ClusterFuck Memorial Skyway is taking and will take another half year (and just wait, that'll get pushed back too) and here we're talking a tunnel below a big river. The Skyway is existing infrastructure over a medium sized river. More important info on timing and funding at this handy link.

The Johnny Action Space Punk Trans Hudson Tunnel or "The Johnny" it has a ring to it.

We've all heard our share of "Bringing Newark Back" type stories in the media

We've heard about Mark Zuckerberg meeting Cory Booker and Chris Christie on Oprah's show vowing to give $$$ to Newark schools, we've heard about new beginnings with every mayor, we've heard about enterprise zones; Let's face it, there have been at least a dozen such ideas spawning stories. Johnny read one yesterday that actually seemed like it had legs.

A venture fund of several big name players in tech and government are looking to turn Newark into a tech hotbed. Hey, tech hipsters love downtown cities they can do what they want with right? Newark is an open book in this regard. Here's the backstory on this intriguing idea:

Newark Venture Partners is aiming to raise $50 million to invest in a select group of start-up tech companies, all of which will be housed in a so-called "accelerator" that will help them develop ideas and grow with the help of various guiding hands. Officials and partners in the initiative said it is all part of a wide-ranging effort to transform Newark from a city struggling to recover from its industrial past to one embracing the tech-based economy of the future.

As many 1,000 fledgling companies are expected to make their pitch to join the accelerator each year, all hoping to join a select group of less than 50 that will land initial investments of between $50,000 and $100,000.

The venture project brings a lot of big hitters to the table, Audible (A division of Amazon), Prudential and several venture capitalists out of NYC. Newark mayor Ras Baraka is all about it meaning city buy-in to this project. There doesn't seem to be the usual turf squabbles breaking out over this idea. it also doesn't ask for one thin dime of public money. They have office space thanks to Audible and Rutgers.

Fund tech startups, move the tech people to Newark (Much like Jersey City has done to great success, pointing out the value of JC) and let it go. IF, and of course this is a big IF Newark can somehow become a tech-startup city located just outside NYC, well then all things are possible.

We'll give the famous Jersey City Desk last word to Donald Katz, Audible's CEO and Newark Venture Fund chairman. Mea culpa, Johnny has met Mr. Katz a couple times and his company is in Newark because he wants to do great things IN Newark:

"I have a feeling that literally, when you put the stake in the ground, that all kinds of things will happen."

Q & A with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop

No, he didn't sit down with Johnny. No city officials will ever sit down with Johnny for a no-holds barred interview we fear. But the Jersey Journal did have a fine Q&A with Fulop and we wanted to post a link here for you so you can hear the mayor discuss the Port Authority lawsuits, city business and the bugaboo question as to whether or not Fulop has his sights set on Trenton.

Good reading on a Monday morning.