Mock debate - Northern Valley Suburbanite 1/13/09 5:01 PM

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Seniors Pretend to be presidential candidates John McCain, Harrington Park began 2009
with a re-organization meeting
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Religion Hoelscher welcomed new
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ceremonies.
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Baseball ENGLEWOOD — In an uncanny impression of presidential candidates Barack Obama
Closter Archives and John McCain, a New Jersey senator and council candidate for Englewood Cliffs Closter crash Jan. 6
Cresskill Archives squared off during a political debate. (Closter) Amodio, Paul
Demarest Archives 01/08/2009 CRESSKILL, NJ
Englewood Archives Democratic Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37) and Republican Council candidate Rob Agresta
Englewood Cliffs Archives pretended to be the presidential hopefuls as they debated the war in Iraq, the economy, A collision at the intersection of
Harrington Park Archives health care and social security Oct. 24 at Elisabeth Morrow School. Closter Dock and Piermont
Haworth Archives roads during the early morning
Northvale Archives hours of Jan. 6 led to the
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hospitalization of two people,
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said Lt. Kevin Doerr of the
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Softball Nine get scholarships
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WEST PATERSON, NJ
Instead of the usual four powered by CoolerAds
recipients, the Englewood
Women’s Club was able to Sign Up For Our Latest
offer nine scholarships due to Updates & Notices
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Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Republican Council candidate Rob Nine get scholarships
Agresta of Englewood Cliffs go head to head during a debate at 01/08/2009
Elisabeth Morrow School.
Instead of the usual four
recipients, the Englewood
"This is America, we don!t run and hide," Agresta said about the war in Iraq. "Until Gen. Women’s Club was able to
Petraeus says we!re ready to go, we!re there." offer nine scholarships due to
the generous support of co-
"I don’t know what it means to have determined that we’ve won the war," said Weinberg sponsors from the community.
in response.
Englewood re-org
Weinberg and Agresta, both running for re-election and election in November, had three 01/08/2009
minutes to respond to a question posed by moderator Michele Bower. A timekeeper
flashed the pair one minute and 30-second reminders. During its Jan. 6 re-
organization meeting,
Often slipping into her own character, Weinberg detailed Obama’s plan for social security. Englewood City Council swore
The Teaneck senator said that while she was unsure how long people could afford to in Ken Rosenzweig for his
retire, social security should not be privatized as a solution to a faulty social security second term as president and
system. Scott Reddin for his third term
sitting on council. Members
"Privatizing social security means the individual can take the money and invest in the
addressed the tough economic
private stock market," Weinberg explained to the young audience.
climate 2008 left Englewood in,
Personal savings accounts, proposed by Agresta, are temporary solutions while "we fix but the
the system."
Community center debate

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Mock debate - Northern Valley Suburbanite 1/13/09 5:01 PM

Community center debate

The debate permitted students to ask their own questions at the debate’s end. Although 01/08/2009
too young to vote, the students readily report on national and local current events they
witness on television and in the media, according to Loraine Kulik of Elisabeth Morrow 2008 was a long and
School. interesting year. Englewood has
seen schools close, property
What the students observed were two distinct candidates – an experienced "maverick" donated and much more. Yet,
and a "generational change" with fresh ideas who both share bipartisan views in areas there is one issue that hasn’t
such as immigration and border control. been settled. Does Englewood
need a community center?
"America should not be isolationist," Agresta said, before Weinberg asked how many
students’ grandparents were once immigrants to the country.

But with issues like international affairs and income tax, the candidates differed like night
and day.

According to Agresta, tax cuts spurred economic growth during the Cold War. "I hope you
know the difference between a war and a cold war," Weinberg retorted back.

Agresta encouraged America’s humanitarian efforts in Darfur, but warned that the U.S.
should not "shy away from conflict" because the United Nations demands it. "We [must]
walk quietly, carry a big stick," said the Republican candidate.

Representing Obama, Weinberg told students that respect from the international
community would not come until we stop "acting unitarily and we bring the troops home."

As for their priorities, both candidates listed the economy as their no. 1 priority if elected.
"A little bipartisan effort would be helpful," reasoned Agresta with his opponent.

E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711

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