Yay Jersey!

You know, I occasionally like to good-naturedly tease my friends from New Jersey, what with the big poofy hair and the long fingernails and the, er, interesting clothing choices – but it actually is quite a decent place.

I once again spent some great summer '07 days at the Jersey Shore, the state recently abolished the death penalty in a very civilized move – and now it looks like it's on the forefront of calling bullshit on the anachronistic Electoral College, which has always been one of my pet political peeves:

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey is close to entering a compact that would eliminate the power of the Electoral College to choose a president if enough states endorse the idea.

The state Senate voted Thursday to approve delivering the state's 15 electoral votes for president to the winner of the national popular vote. The Assembly approved the measure in December and needs Gov. Jon S. Corzine's signature to become law.

''The bill is subject to a thorough review, but Gov. Corzine has long been a supporter of this concept,'' Corzine spokesman Jim Gardner said.

It's actually astounding that the Electoral College still has any influence at all today. As you know, Al Gore, who won the popular vote by some 700,000 ballots in the 2000 election, was denied the presidency because of the Electoral College, with help, of course, from the shenanigans in Florida and the corruption of skeevy Supreme Court members appointed by Bush's daddy.

If Jon Corzine and N.J. can get this issue on the national radar – good for them.

I may have to return to Bradley Beach next summer, if only to show my support for the Garden State and its politics. (I might even go back to Bar A in Belmar, or whatever the hell they're calling it these days.)