Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy
No. of Recommendations: 1
When she first got elected as a congress person from Montclair, NJ I thought Mikie Sherill was pretty good for a Democrat. Military record, prosecutor, had a nice family. Seemed relatively reasonable and normal.
However she has been very disappointing as first a candidate for Governor and now Governor-elect.
During her campaign it came out she was involved in a Naval Academy scandal. She had information about cheating but didn't report it. That's a clear violation of the Naval Academy honor code. She was punished by being allowed to graduate but not allowed to walk with her class at the graduation.
She made her political career largely based on her service record so it's relevant to her ethics and credibility.
When confronted with it during her campaign this year, her response wasn't to own up to it and admit she had used poor judgment in violating the honor code.
Nope. Mikie said "I am not going to rat out my friends." WOW. She actually endorsed Omerta. What happens if she discovers corruption amongst her Dem cronies? Will she do the right thing--report it--or will she practice Omerta again? Her cluelessness about this struck me as astounding, but of course appealed to the Democrat/criminal/criminal enabling base. So she won. You know, the same base who believes that violating immigration laws and actively impeding enforcement of those laws is peachy keen--but simultaneously claims to be concerned about the "Rule of Law." Yes, you hypocrites, I'm talking about you guys. There are plenty of you from NJ, enough to elect a governor.
Her latest brainstorm was to publicly contemplate that New Jersey should not pay federal taxes. Huh? Most federal taxes are paid by individuals and corporations.
So how would NJ not pay federal taxes (to stick to Trump, apparently) and what consequences would there be for violating federal law?
It's a completely idiotic thing to contemplate and even stupider to say out loud, but nowadays as a Democrat you have to say really stupid things to your ProGlib base.
But she's brain dead to have even said it.
Oh yes, previously she had made false allegations that a Republican Congressman giving constituent tours before 1/6/21 was somehow enabling the riot. No follow up on that because it was utter nonsense, and only a true idiot would make such an allegation in the first place with zero to back it up.
An idiot, appealing to other idiots.
Welcome to the modern Democrat party.
No. of Recommendations: 1
She is indeed.
But - i wonder - the opponent was polling within 3 points. Then out came the new ACA prices.
Then the result changed ---- just a bit.
Good.
No. of Recommendations: 2
I'm not claiming that her opponent ran a great campaign. The pundits believe Jack Ciatirelli's campaign was lackluster at best. So I'm not saying she deserved to lose as a political matter; she did what she needed to do to win.
The Democrat base is now so pro-criminal that it probably actually helped Sherill to take a blatantly unethical position on her violation of the Naval Academy honor code. "Snitches get stitches." Don't narc on your friends.
Also extremely stupid on her part (but it worked with her ProGlib base) was to act offended that her Naval Academy record was put into play--except for the fact that her ENTIRE career as a politician relies heavily on her military service record. She has pictures of herself in a flight suit and military helicopters in her campaign literature and on her website. If you're going to run on your military record, fair enough--but then the entire record is in play, not just the parts you want to highlight.
But she seems to be a clueless bonehead. Like Kamala, she was asked questions in interviews about what her policies were and was unable to articulately respond unless the interaction was totally scripted.
Spanberger who won in Virginia had the same sorts of issues. Although she too won her race for governor, she performed terribly in unscripted situations.
Like I said, when she was first elected to her Congressional district, I went to one of her town halls and was reasonably impressed with her performance. She seemed like a reasonable moderate Democrat.
But that was in 2018 which was a lifetime ago. Like the rest of her party, Sherill has had to take a radical left-hand turn to keep up with her radicalized ProGlib constituency.
It's really unfortunate and is just another example of the utter lack of leadership in the Democrat party.
When no one is willing to take a principled position and lead, the radicals take over because they are true believers and the "leaders" are just followers.
No. of Recommendations: 5
It's a completely idiotic thing to contemplate and even stupider to say out loud, but nowadays as a Democrat you have to say really stupid things to your ProGlib base.
This is a very, uh, something analysis of the state of play. Way to reality.
For a minute there I forgot which of the two of you just stomped the Republican and was elected Governor of New Jersey, and which one's teachers have asked repeatedly that you put your phone down and pay attention in class.
Spoiler alert: when they get to Watergate, sonny, it's going to break your little heart.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Belcher,
Why don't you enlighten us all as to why you (and most of the other ProGlibs here) never seem to be able to address any of the points made in the post you claim to be responding to?
Specifically, why don't you explain how you think the Governor of NJ can somehow block New Jersey citizens, corporations, the State itself, or any other entity from paying federal tax obligations that they are legally obligated to pay?
It's a stupid thing to say.
Interfering with ICE enforcement, sanctuary cities, violating the Rule of Law and encouraging others to do so because you believe illegal aliens will vote for your party, are all pretty stupid and anarchical things to do.
Effing with the IRS is another level entirely.
Ask Willie Nelson. Ask Wesley Snipes.
Dum dums.
No. of Recommendations: 19
The Democrat base is now so pro-criminal ……
I know.
It sickens me that the Democrats elected a convicted 34-count felon, an adjudicated rapist who pardoned convicted insurrectionists and violent criminals who attacked the police, someone that moved a convicted sex trafficker to a country club prison, violates the Constitution every single day, and had a pedophile consider him to be his best friend.
Hard to argue that anyone who voted for that guy isn’t pro-criminal.
No. of Recommendations: 2
BetaPuppy,
Sounds like you need to get your car washed by a bunch illegal aliens who are getting paid off the books.
No. of Recommendations: 17
That's a clear violation of the Naval Academy honor code.
Honor codes mean nothing to you, the rest of MAGA, Jedi, etc.
o·mer·tà (as practiced by the Mafia) a code of silence about criminal activity and a refusal to give evidence to authorities.
It is not Omerta. Are you saying the Naval Academy is a criminal enterprise? Mikie: "The culture at the time emphasized personal integrity over a "nor tolerate" clause, which meant she was not obligated to "snitch" on others. She has also cited a general military culture of loyalty and unit cohesion as a factor in her decision.
Now you are completely submerged in a culture that demands one way loyalty to fearless leader, who sics the DOJ on anyone who crosses him and you bring up a cheating scandal? School stuff? We are struggling to maintain a democracy while you condone the breakdown of all norms? You really do not understand what is going on around you, nor understand your own double think, hypocrisy, and betrayal of your countrymen.
Back to the ploink.
No. of Recommendations: 1
No, Mikie Sherill violated the Naval Academy honor code.
She covered up for other midshipmen who cheated.
Re-writing history doesn't change that.
No. of Recommendations: 8
No, Mikie Sherill violated the Naval Academy honor code.
True. She did.
But listening to a Trumper lecturing about “honor” while simultaneously sane washing trump’s dishonorable administration is a distasteful blend of horseshit and farting rainbows.
No. of Recommendations: 5
No, Mikie Sherill violated the Naval Academy honor code.
True. She did.
My understanding is that, yes, technically, she violated the honor code by not turning it classmates who cheated on the final exam by studying an advance copy of it, but she kept kept her own honor by not being a snitch. What's more important? Hard to say. Some "honor codes" deserve to be violated in certain circumstances. See the movie "Scent of a Woman" - great Thanksgiving time move, BTW!
No. of Recommendations: 1
W,
It has nothing to do with Trump at all.
The problem isn't that Sherill violated the Academy honor code way back when, and in the moment, made a bad decision.
It's that even now, with 30 years + of hindsight and experience, and specifically because she based her entire political identity and career on her sterling military service record, she can't/won't admit she made an error of judgment.
And the specific error of judgment she made, is exactly what you do NOT want in a politician--protecting one's friends/cronies from accountability for cheating/ethical violations.
That's what Democrats claim is important to them. Ethics. Rule of Law.
And then she complained that it was unfair to call out her Academy record when she herself asked to be judged on her military record. So that's entirely hypocritical on her part.
I can't blame anything I do that turns out to be wrong or a mistake on Trump or anyone else, especially if I want people to judge me on my history and decision-making ability in the area that I made the mistake.
That Sherill either does not realize this herself, or if she does, believes that nevertheless, she should pander to a base that doesn't care about it, means she is not what she has sold herself as, nor what I myself thought she was when she originally took office. (She is my congressperson by the way I live in NJ-11).
This has nothing at all to do with Trump.
The world doesn't revolve around Trump.
No. of Recommendations: 2
O.K.
So if Sherill learns that one of her Democrat political cronies is being unethical or cheating then you're cool with her not "snitching."
She has her "own" honor code.
Whatever.
No. of Recommendations: 15
No, Mikie Sherill violated the Naval Academy honor code.
Which is not Omerta, correct? Capiche?
She covered up for other midshipmen who cheated.
No, she did not "cover up". She did not participate in a scheme to keep it quiet. She didn't rat out her classmates, but she didn't lie when questioned. Trump's crew caused release of virtually unredacted records showing her social security number, etc. - a dishonorable tactic.
Re-writing history doesn't change that.
It seems you exaggerate, misrepresent, and mischaracterize the episode, necessitating correction to properly arrive at a better approximation of the truth.
No. of Recommendations: 1
I love Mikey's stock scandal.
I think *all* politicians who swindle Americans and get ahead - should see----- there's nothing wrong with it. Only good things can happen.
Don't care which party.
No. of Recommendations: 13
My understanding is that, yes, technically, she violated the honor code by not turning it classmates who cheated on the final exam by studying an advance copy of it, but she kept kept her own honor by not being a snitch. I understand her argument, and in some ways, agree with it. In part, her superiors agreed with it as well, by allowing her to graduate, but not walk with her class.
Annapolis differs from West Point in that it does not have an “honor code”. It has an “honor concept”. Critics may joke about “concept” rather than “code” but the object is to strive for a higher standard of behavior than a simple “code” enforces.
Absent in this “concept” is the absolute requirement to report those who cheat.
At the center of it all is the academy’s “honor concept,” which holds that midshipmen “are persons of integrity.”
“They stand for that which is right,” it reads. “They tell the truth and ensure that the truth is known.” And in bold: “They do not lie.”
But unlike the honor code at West Point, there is no “non-toleration” clause holding students directly responsible if they tolerate others who cheat.
A former U.S. Naval Academy classmate of Sherrill’s, who asked not to be identified, said investigators and the Navy didn’t like midshipmen who wouldn’t “rat out” their classmates.
“We were taught to be loyal and stand up for our shipmates all day every day, and this scandal really pitted loyalty against institution,” the former classmate said. “I respect Mikie for not turning people in.”
The individual recalled that the Navy “conducted a massive, drawn-out investigation, uncovering everything and everyone involved. A distinguished board then reviewed every detail for each person and assigned punishments as they saw fit, outside of normal procedures or precedent.”
The classmate said it wasn’t a legal or a Uniform Code of Military Justice issue: “It was a custom court that looked at each person individually ... The Navy completely mishandled the crisis and could have easily avoided it.”
Another former classmate who responded to questions about what happened said only that “I did not know Mikie well and during that incident we never talked about it.”
Sherrill, meanwhile, released a campaign ad on Saturday featuring a fellow former Navy veteran praising her service.
“I would know because I served alongside her,” Lt. Cmdr. Karsten says in the clip. “She was distinguished multiple times and was honorably discharged. Attacking her service record isn’t just wrong, it’s a blatant lie.”
Ultimately, 24 students were directly implicated and expelled from the academy as a result of the cheating scandal. None were identified. There were no public announcements about the others who were punishedhttps://www.nj.com/politics/2025/09/did-sherrill-v...A fine line. And Sherrill was punished for not snitching- though not nearly as severely as those who cheated and were expelled.
She went on to have an honorable career in the Navy.
Nobody likes a cheater. But also, nobody likes a snitch.
This was the moral dilemna that Sherrill was asked to negotiate. The board that sanctioned her felt she negotiated that dilemna incorrectly, but not nearly as incorrectly as those who actively cheated.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Just like a ProGlib--if she's in your party, you'll justify any sort of misconduct.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Yup and she's still making excuses 30+ years later.
She hasn't admitted she did anything wrong.
She expressly traded on her military career for her political career, then whined "No Fair!" when her misconduct at the Naval Academy was exposed.
A total Dem HypoCrit.
No. of Recommendations: 13
Just like a ProGlib--if she's in your party, you'll justify any sort of misconduct
Horseshit.
Fart some more rainbows in our direction. Tell us about how you will not tolerate lying, cheating or stealing in your own party.
No. of Recommendations: 2
W,
try to stay on topic.
No. of Recommendations: 2
-if she's in your party, you'll justify any sort of misconduct.
Another exaggeration, misrepresentation,and mischaracterization. You're gonna have to try for an omission and a half truth if you are going to be compete with your fellow MAGA. I think you've already done commission and paltering.
No. of Recommendations: 10
Wilton
I love Mikey's stock scandal.ME:Doesn't look like there is a stock scandal. Bu
SNIP Sherrill releases exact values of her finances, showing no unusual stock gains
Democratic gubernatorial nominee worth $9.4 million, almost entirely based on her husband’s earnings; Sherrill owns no individual stocks, only ETFs
By David Wildstein, August 14 2025 5:59 pm
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill has filed an annual financial disclosure report that lists specific values of her assets,
going beyond the disclosures required by federal and state laws and debunking the theory that she’s personally profited off her service as a congresswoman.According to her disclosure, which includes the exact values of her stock funds, Sherrill and her husband, Jason Hedberg, who runs equity derivative sales at a New York investment bank, have an estimated net worth of roughly $9.4 million.
Most of that was accumulated through Hedberg’s salary and bonus; he made $2,913,882 in 2024, $2,748,591 in 2023, $2,704,916 in 2022, and $2,581,419 in 2021. (Sherrill’s own congressional salary is $174,000.)
There’s nothing in the disclosure to indicate that Sherrill has unfairly used the stock market to grow her family’s wealth. In December 2019, Sherrill began the process of selling all of her individual stocks and convert her holdings to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) – essentially a basket of investments that can be purchased as stock – that prevent any appearance of conflict. Sherrill and Hedberg do not buy and sell individual stocks, with one exception: they sell shares of UBS Securities stock earned by Hedberg as part of his employee compensation package.
That runs contrary to attacks from her Republican gubernatorial opponent, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli
https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/sherrill-relea...
No. of Recommendations: 10
I think you've already done commission and paltering.
Great word- "paltering". I had to look it up. Never seen it before, or perhaps it simply never grabbed my attention before.
Paltering is the active use of selective truthful statements to mislead.
It is a common tactic in areas like politics and negotiations, and while palterers may feel it is more ethical, their targets often perceive it as unethical and it can damage their reputation, especially when it's a response to a direct question.
Well, of course! We all know of folks who engage in "paltering". Sometimes, it's even us.
That got me to thinking about other words that when spoken.... almost define themselves just by the way they sound
Poltroon Poltroon is an old-fashioned word for a type of person that exists in every time period: a coward. If you behave in a way that shows no courage or confidence, you're acting like a poltroon. In movies, the villains are often poltroons who are sneaky and devious instead of brave and straightforward.
Great word- poltroon. Poltroons are not brave and straightforward? Wouldn't that also mean they palter?See "Republicn congress", though in the last week or so, they finally may be showing a smidgeon of "gumption".
Snollygoster: A snollygoster is a shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician, who is guided by personal gain rather than ethical principles. The term originated in the United States in the 1840s and may be a variation of the mythical creature snallygaster, which was said to prey on children and poultry.
It may have orignated in the 1840's, but its usage died out until William Safire resurrected it from obscurity, though obscurity seems to have overtaken it once more. Cribbing from Safire, Bill O'Reilly used the word a few times. Come to think of it- Bill O'Reilly fits the profile of a snollygoster. So does Ted Cruz. So does Donald Trump.
Whatever, it's a great word.
No. of Recommendations: 3
Zamboni:
A machine for smoothing out ice rink surfaces, usually operated by a drunk.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Zamboni:
A machine for smoothing out ice rink surfaces, usually operated by a drunk.
Well, at least you didn’t call me a pedophile again.
It’s all about progress, not perfection.
Good for you!
