Jersey Political and Fire

Good morning Stroock's Books midweekers. 

Those New Jersey wildfires are about 50 miles from here. So far we don't see any smoke. 

State reservoir levels are at or near normal. Locally we're just half an inch behind normal rainfall levels. 

Staying in the Garden State, this NJ.com article argues that GOP Jack Ciattarelli* is going to be the Next governor of New Jersey. We'd say he has a good chance. In our lifetime no party has won the governor's mansion three times in a row. The New Jersey gubernatorial election rarely has national implications, and the race is run on local issues. In the 90s, car insurance rates were a big issue. In 2009, Governor John Corzine ran on Chris Christie being fat. No we're not joking. 

Related in a way...so we've been describing the American political situation in World War 1990: Thatcher's War. Back in the real 1990, George Bush broke his 1988 no new taxes pledge and made a budget sequester deal with the Dems that raised taxes. Younger reader(s) should look up, 'Read my lips'. We swore that happened in the spring, but nope. It happened in October during the Desert Storm buildup. Younger reader(s), this was a huge deal at the time and led to Bush's demise. In 1992 we knew committed College Republicans who refused to vote for Bush and voted for Perot instead. 

The 'read my lips' blunder is one of our first political memories. We've always remembered Bush being asked about raising taxes despite his 'read my lips' pledge while on a jog and replying, 'read my hips'. Son-of-a-gun we found this article on the budget deal, tax increases, and indeed Bush's mocking, 'read my hips' reply. 'Asked to clarify his position as he jogged in a St. Petersburg baseball park, Bush pointed to his backside and gibed, "Read my hips." Then, literally and metaphorically, he abandoned the playing field.'

Last night, War Night was ranked #8 in its Amazon category. This morning its #10 in alternate history and #24 in alternate history science fiction. Eight ratings, 4.8 stars. War Night is rolling. 

We've come up with a few ideas for a 5th book in The Great Nuclear War of 1975 series. We've made no final decision yet as to what we're doing this summer. But one must needs make a decision soon. 

DOGE report: More of the same. Reading the Thatcher's War interlude chapter and editing. We press on. Soon we'll put the NYC interlude chapter in the sit phase. 

*We saw Ciattarelli speak at a local open the schools rally in 2021. The man was crisp and on point.