W Marks the Spot: Bramnick in Maine with Former President Bush
Senator Jon Bramnick (R-21), 2025 Republican candidate for governor, is spending time this weekend with an old friend and ally: former President George W. Bush.
Bramnick and wife Patricia – herself an artist – accompanied the Bushs at the former president’s studio on Walker’s Point in Kennebunkport.
Bush has won praise since his presidency for his original paintings, including a series of portraits dedicated to the veterans of the Iraq War.
A veteran lawmaker and moderate Republican with deep alliances in both parties, Bramnick launched his candidacy for governor earlier this year, pledging to end the one-party rule in Trenton and make New Jersey safer, more affordable, and prosperous.
“It’s clear to me that we must bring balanced public policy back to Trenton,” said Bramnick. “Policies that reflect the views of the majority of our citizens. In order to bring balance policy we need two political parties in Trenton and electing a Republican Governor will require the Democrats to compromise, ending the constant drumbeat of ballooning budgets, tax and fee hikes, and soft-on-crime policies rubber stamped by the Democrats.”
An opponent within the GOP of Donald Trump – who opposes Bramnick’s ally Bush – the gubernatorial candidate wants voters to remember his record of standing up to power as a matter of character.
“Every time somebody came to me with a problem, whether it was with a powerful company or government, I took it on, and insisted those powerful entities deal with me respectfully,” he said. “You tell me who controls Bramnick votes? I don’t care if I stand up to a healthcare company, a pharmaceutical company, or the State of New Jersey. As governor, I’ll be able to say ‘no’ to Democrats who want to put money in the budget for pet projects. It’s different for a Democratic governor to stand up and say ‘no.’ I can do that. There are a lot of Democrats who want me to do that. A lot of Democrats are happy I’m running. There is overwhelming support from the other side of the aisle because they know I’ll bring balance without being a nut.”
If Bramnick is not a fan of Trump, and a maverick within his GOP, ( perhaps along the lines of John McCain?) then perhaps he can probe deeper, into why GWB paints portraits dedicated to Iraq War Veterans. Trump MAGA supporters should actually listen up here too: like a broken clock which is right twice a day, Trump was actually very right during one of the early GOP debates ahead of the 2016 Presidential Campaign when he chastised Jeb Bush, whom he was running against, for having an older brother who lied about Iraq’s Involvement in the 9/11 Attack on America. If Mr. Bramnick is his own man, perhaps he can find the real reason GWB was hell bent on regime change in Iraq. The WMD claim by Bush was a false flag. Nor was GWB acting out of pity for the Iraq victims killed by Saddam. No, it was a much more personal, visceral reason GWB very cowardly and corruptly put our Servicemen and Servicewoman in harms way, a War that killed 4,000 of our Sons and Daughters: It was Revenge. Saddam did indeed try to assassinate GHWB when he visited Kuwait in the 1990’s. His son might have spoke the truth to the world about this, but that Coward chose to lie, instead. Though Trump is a compulsive liar, he did speak the truth about Saddam having nothing to do with 9/11.
If Bramnick is his own man and a maverick within the GOP then perhaps he can probe deeper, into why New Jersey is the sixth most segregated school system in the nation. “New Jersey is ranked as “weak” and “significantly below” the national average in implementing policies that ensure effective reading instruction.” NJ profile is unacceptable in reading standards for teacher preparation, adopting strong licensure ensuring teachers know how to teach reading, requiring district to select high-quality reading curriculum according to the National Council on Teacher Quality. The NJ reading plan should have been done years ago and we are at least two to three years behind according to the NJ Senate Majority Leader.
Frequently stated by educators, you learn to read so you can read to learn.
The truth is the United States isn’t investing as much in human capital as other developed countries -particularly with respect to education and therefore the US ranking in math, science and reading has fallen significantly.
Reading is fundamental to “protecting our democracy.”
Therefore, will Bramnick be a maverick and work with the NJEA to implement change?
Moderate Republican, LOL! He’s a liberal RINO!