Turns out the problem was with the JFCore.js file. Somehow that file on the client's server was corrupted (137KB vs 140KB). Once I re-downloaded JC Framework and re-installed JFCore.js on the site, everything (including buttons and slider), worked fine.
Took a few agonizing days of effort to isolate that problem, and no idea how the file was damaged (perhaps a download error), but thankfully this problem was easily resolved.
Took a few agonizing days of effort to isolate that problem, and no idea how the file was damaged (perhaps a download error), but thankfully this problem was easily resolved.