Chris Christie Takes Center Stage

Ron Fournier recaps the GWB lane closing debacle and charts a path forward.

James Taranto notes the parallels and differences with the IRS scandal as an abuse of power.

The governor will have an 11AM press conference.

Comments

[rich@gmu]

does Nathan's make enough hot dogs for this eating contest?

[rich@gmu]

tell him that a Twinkies truck was stuck in that traffic jam he caused. That would make him cry.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

fat jokes? right off the bat? no warming up in the bullpen?

[rich@gmu]

but if someone mentioned traffic jam he'd want to know does it go better on toast or an English muffin

[narciso]

When he 'sits around the house, he sits around the house,

Meanwhile outside the Cave;

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-benghazi-compound-lease-renewed-without-security/

[rich@gmu]

isn't 11AM his midmorning snack time?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

when do GMU classes start up?

[rich@gmu]

the 21st. I had something to do very early this morning, then something else to do a little later.

[rich@gmu]

when Chris Christie takes center stage he makes kids cry because they remember he stole their lunches.

[rich@gmu]

when Chris Christie takes center stage the earth's rotation changes

[Threadkiller]

The revenge of lard-ass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK0JaEde4VI

[rich@gmu]

wonder if the media left a trail of bread crumbs to the press room for Christie to follow...

[Coolpapa]

What's the hubbub? This is the NY/NJ Metro we're talkin' about. The unions do this crap all the time, and just for fun.

[rich@gmu]

Chris Christie's favorite food?

Whatever he just stole from the baby.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

coolpapa@10:25-- heh

[rich@gmu]

Michael A. Memoli / Los Angeles Times:
Republicans call for a new approach to fight poverty

the new approach is to have Chris Christie eat all the poor people.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

At least Christie didn't set anyone's church on fire.

[narciso]

a modest proposal, rich, of course the local weasel proximate up there, Moran, doesn't get nearly as bad a press.

[jimmyk]

When he takes center stage, he also takes stage left and stage right.

[jimmyk]

DanRiehl ‏@DanRiehl 2h

Christie's big mistake? Closing a bridge instead of driving off one with a girl in the backseat! #Boom

[MarkO]

What if he had shut down the White House because he was pissed off? Or the Mall?

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

Christie should just steal any documents related to this scandal...stuff them in his trousers & socks.
Worked for Berger....

[MarkO]

He should take an Obama line, word for word, about no one being more upset than he is and read it to the press.

[jimmyk]

Christie should just steal any documents related to this scandal...stuff them in his trousers & socks.

He could put most of the Library of Congress in there.

[rich@gmu]

good one jimmy. bgates is going to have a field day with this.

i'm not even a good warm up act.

[rich@gmu]

>>>Christie should just steal any documents related to this scandal...<<<

why steal them when he could drench them in chocolate sauce and eat them. it is close to his midmorning feeding.

[jimmyk]

Yeah, rich, I'm just trying to smoke out bgates with a few lame jokes.

And Happy Birthday to Marlene and Mr. Frau. And to anyone named Sandy whose birthday actually is today.

[rich@gmu]

when Chris Cristie's stomach growls it measures as a 3.5 earthquake.

[MarkO]

Well, yes. Happy Birthday Marlene and Mr. Frau.

Rock on all day.

[henry]

How much crow can Christie eat?

[pagar]

"Dem Sen. Mark Udall Asked Colorado To Cook The Books On Obamacare Numbers…"

http://weaselzippers.us/?p=167138

More leftist lies!

[rich@gmu]

enough to put crows on the endangered species list.

sautéed with butter and garlic, all bets are off.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

He should take an Obama line, word for word, about no one being more upset than he is and read it to the press.

Excellent, MarkO.

Could one, just one lousy reporter show this same level of enthusiasm for any Obama administration scandals?
... Benghazi, the lies of Obamacare, the IRS targeting conservative groups scandal, Fast & Furious, the EPA releasing farmer & rancher private info to lib. groups, the lies of Obama's life narrative, the billion dollar Pigford fraud, taxpayer money given to crony lib. advocacy groups, Sandy Berger stealing & destroying national security documents, ....
I just want a level playing field.

[Old Lurker]

Great MarkO.

Or "What at this point does it matter?"

[Old Lurker]

Or perhaps blame it on a YoutTube video?

[Ignatz]

Man, you guys are brutal.....but kinda funny.
I am however serious that if this takes Christie out of the running in 2016 then it's a definite positive.
He would be a disaster as president much in the vein of GHWB.

The hour requires a person willing to stand athwart the ahistorical left yelling "eff you". Christie is not that person.
He'll yell eff you alright, and even cut their pensions 2% but then pet Leviathan on the nose and feed it a carrot.

[peter]

Excellent MarkO and jimmyk.

How about, "I said close the lanes to portly, not Fort Lee."

[Extraneus]

Could one, just one lousy reporter show this same level of enthusiasm for any Obama administration scandals?

It's up to Christie to make that point.

[Old Lurker]

Seriously, if he were to do a perfect verbatim repetition of Obama or Hilary then simply walk away, he would make a lot of friends on our side. If he really wanted to go after his perceived opponent in 2016, he should go wearing a green dress and a blond wig, and shreek his lines.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Ignatz-- what is Christie's fiscal record in NJ, with a Dem legislature?

'Level playing field' is not going to happen because the Legacy Media are teammates of the Dems. What can happen is for Christie do the right thing, mea culpa for incompetent or worse management, destroy the miscreant admin members who betrayed public trust, then DARE all other Govs and POTUS to do the same thing with their scandals and DARE the media to cover Dem pols the same way. That is a pitch that would work well with his Jersey voters and Repubs. We'll see if he does anything like that.

[MarkO]

Apparently, Christie just fired some people. I thought that was impossible or illegal or something.

[Ignatz]

The Dem 2014 income inequality prong seems particularly bizarre as a campaign tactic.
Income inequality? Really?

From the administration which enthusiastically pulled a TARP over their Wall Street cronies and prosecuted essentially none of them, even the quite obviously criminal Corzine?

From the WH that has presided over a net decline in median incomes and has seen the largest expansion of income inequality in decades?

From the guys who cut a deal with the insurance companies to not only shovel millions of unwilling new premium payers into the health insurer ovens but that promised them a massive taxpayer bailout if not enough of those payers paid premiums but didn't get sick.

[peter]

from the little snippet I was able to get from the NY Post, he is throwing an aide under the bus. Bridget Kelly. thrown off the Bridge.

[Ignatz]

Where does Christie go to get his reputation back if, as is likely, the three minute delay to reach the 91 year old woman who died in the hospital did nothing to contribute to her death?

[Account Deleted]

"but then pet Leviathan on the nose and feed it a carrot farm, including farmer and family."

Ignatz,

Ya gotta think big with Christie. He won't waste any time on that "compassion" nonsense either.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Dems 2014?-- It all comes from the Alinsky OFA IMO. Obummer has convinced himself that as the Progs run the show in Calif, Illinois and NYC-- It's an ALINSKY WAVE!! So he is pushing the Dem Party to the Prog Left, he'll will kill off the Clintons or capture their acolytes as Prog converts. And the USA becomes a Commie paradise like Castros' Cuba, Maduro's Venezuela and the BNC's RSA. That's Obummer's dream world. IMO it's a nightmare for Dems on several levels, including the hypocrisies you list. November '14 tells the tale.

[Dave (in MA)]

Ig, he could switch parties.

#Benghaziquiddick

[Miss Marple]

He also has ordered his political aide (name escapes me) to withdraw his name from consideration from the NJ GOP head and from his consultancy position to the Republican Governors Association.

[Dave (in MA)]

He could appoint a loyal operative to conduct an "investigation" à la the regime's reaction to IRSGate.

[jimmyk]

[reposted to the correct thread]

I guess those Christie staffers should have followed the "Richard Windsor" model and e-mailed using a fake account.

Kind of like this guy did, who did it so well that DeBlasio just hired him:

A controversial former aide to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom who resigned after he was caught attacking journalists online under a phony name online has been appointed senior adviser to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/de-blasio-hires-lying-troll-as-senior-adviser/

[Ignatz]

--Ignatz-- what is Christie's fiscal record in NJ, with a Dem legislature?--

He raised net property taxes 18.6%.

He also slashed spending early on bringing the state's budget from $33.6 billion in 2008 under Corzine down to a low of $28.4 in 2011. Since then however it has grown every year until it is now back up to $32.9 proposed for 2014.
Not impressed.

[James D.]

Where does Christie go to get his reputation back if, as is likely, the three minute delay to reach the 91 year old woman who died in the hospital did nothing to contribute to her death?

He can go to the same place that anybody who was innocent, but got steamrolled by him when he was a prosecutor anyway went, wherever that is.

[Beasts of England]

I agree with many of the other posters above - he could take giant strides towards being the nominee and perhaps the presidency, if he just went up to the dais and enquired about all the current scandals in this administration and asked about the lack of media interest in those.

I'd also be delighted if he told them all to pound sand and then inform them that they will not set the narrative. Expose the bastards.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

NJ Property taxes are of course imposed by local Cities/towns in NJ, not the State. Christie is hated by City/town politicians because his fiscally conservative approach is to force mergers and consolidations of overlapping county/town services (for instance Camden was forced to dissolve its police force, and now rents cops from the county and surrounding towns) and use those consolidations to reduce local spending and use that as the basis of property tax relief. NET Property taxes increased because Christie forced reductions in 'rebates' for local property taxes. Those rebates were a form of Dem redistribution because they used State Income taxpayers to subsidize local property taxes for Dem run cities and towns. No rebates, towns are forced to raise local taxes OR cut services. Repub Towns are obviously doing a better job than the more corrupt Dem cities and towns. Christie has been very successful getting a better deal for Jersey income tax payers.

[Ignatz]

Good point JamesD, however whatever his record as a prosecutor I'd still like to see him have to answer to what actually happened not the usual left wing myths, one of which I expect this one to turn out to be.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Here's a link to Christie's Press Conference Statement. He was the anti-JEF, Anti-Hillary, Anti-Holder. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-chris-christies-news-conference-on-george-washington-bridge-scandal/2014/01/09/d0f4711c-7944-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_story.html

[Jim Miller]

This morning, the Seattle Times is giving big play to the Chris Christie bridge story. According to their index, they still have not published a story on the Robert Gates book -- in spite of the local connection. I can not recall them ever criticizing the traffic tie-ups President Obama has caused here during his fund-raising raids.

Different people have different ideas about which scandals are important, I suppose.

[James D.]

Ignatz, I agree.

Dems do far worse than Christie is accused of doing, all the time, and are never called on it, while the MSM calls down the wrath of God on anything any R does whether it's even true or not.

That said, I both dislike and fear Christie, even though he is an R who won in a deep blue state and he has done at least some good things (and probably has done as much as any politician can do considering the deep corruption there).

My problem is, he enjoys both being in power, and using that power, too much. It's there in his record as a prosecutor, and as governor, and it shows through in pretty much everything he says and does. He has no respect at all for the power he has been given in trust by the citizens, and he has no regard for the rights or the dignity of anyone who crosses his path.

We've already got a President like that. We don't need another one. Really, we don't need ANYONE in public office, or law enforcement for that matter, like that.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

JamesD -- have no idea what you're talking about; here's one NJ rightwinger's take on the Christie's 7 years as US Atty: http://www.thenextright.com/kempite/after-7-years-of-delivering-justice-to-jersey-christie-moves-on

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

How do you square the 11:53 with the last 24 hours? (or more importantly a public record dating back to 2001)?

[dublindave]

Christie wrestling with the conundrum of why he would pursue a vendetta against someone who didn't deserve it is hilarious. Compounding the very image that you're trying to change.....oh wait....this is JOM...uhm I mean it's just like Benghazi,isn't it? Remember Benghazi? Yes Christie is a scumbag but what about Benghazi? Remember Benghazi? Benghazi. Benghazi. Benghazi.

Stick a fork in this tub of lard!

[Miss Marple]

Obama wouldn't have a press conference like this.
1. He won't accept responsibility for anything.
2. He can't function without a teleprompter for more than a few minutes.
3. He doesn't know what to do with a non-sycophantic press.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

I see DD went to school on other comments here this morning. Try something original.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Obummer wouldn't have a presser like this... has Obummer ever really had a presser?

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

from Dennis Miller -
"Wow, Christie wasted no time in throwing Kelly under the himself."

[dublindave]

So now tub of lard is out of 2016 who's left? Scot Walker? Paul Ryan? Snicker.

Buba needs to start packing his bags for a return to the White house and I swear to God there better be a cabal of hot 19 year old interns ready for the big dog. And they better be tight lipped....when it counts.

[Dave (in MA)]

Apparently dudu has a pantsuit fetish.

[peter]

Bottom line, the scandal isn't fatal to Christie's ambitions, but has hurt him a little as presumed (by the MSM) frontrunner.

[Ignatz]

--NET Property taxes increased because Christie forced reductions in 'rebates' for local property taxes. Those rebates were a form of Dem redistribution because they used State Income taxpayers to subsidize local property taxes for Dem run cities and towns.--

So what America needs is a higher tax burden so long as it is shifted to the right people?
That is EXACTLY why Christie would be a disaster.

[dublindave]

Damn the press bringing the death of the old lady at the hands of his cronies....National campaign done and dusted. You'd have to be a complete moron(or a karl rove donor) to give money to this guy.

[Ignatz]

Chris Christie will be wearing pants with a 32 inch waist before Hillary is pres.

[dublindave]

It's kinda like watching a big Elephant being taken down by a pride of hungry Lions...he's just getting weaker and weaker.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

My opinion remains that Christie would get about as many primary votes as Rudy G. The polling to date has been about name recognition, and Christie was given it by Legacy Media types using him to attack Congressional Repubs.

[glasater]

A photo buddy of mine had the same stomach procedure as Christie had done and this guy has lost over two hundred pounds.
Sure can't say the same about the governor...

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

"So what ***NJ*** needs is a higher tax burden so long as it is shifted to the right people."

In NJ, exactly. Local Dem cities and towns (like Fort Lee) who are public union dominated and vote in Dems who keep hiring public workers with fat salaraies and pensions, should pay for their own corruption with their own property taxes, not look for subsidies from State Income Taxpayers. In NJ, it was the exactly right thing to do fiscally. If the local taxpayers don't like the loss of subsidies, cut town expenses.

[henry]

As scandals go, this isn't "man bites dog". More of a "dog pees on tree" level thing.

[peter]

Well, this is important news at the LUN

[Beasts of England]

Reading the transcript that NK linked is so revealing. Where the heck are these tough questions for the idiot the White House? Where is the accusatory tone for JEF? Screw the press. Again, I wish he'd have told them to pound sand...

[wish in one hand]

WTF a SPLIT headline? Clearly you are very very concerned with the quality and efficacy of gubmint.

The Tub of Guts speaks with forked tongue, which you clearly condemn with all the mini-gubmint passion you can muster.

Let's all applaud the sincerity of conservative zeal for righteous indignation.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Why can't the Legacy Media go after Obummer like that. That would be like jackals going after a jackass-- easy prey.

[narciso]

Who didn't see this coming a mile away

http://news.yahoo.com/diplomat-syria-says-rebels-target-chemical-depots-134001436.html

My fishwrap prints 'Abbott' Kirkpatrick's acknowledgement that Abu Khattalah was not the only bad actor who watched the video, they still haven't reported word one about Gates however.

[peter]

Beasts, a man with a bigger vision than just his own ambition might have done so, but those folks are rare. Reagans don't grow on trees.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Glasater-- fat Rex Ryan, his fat twin Rob and Christie all had the same procedure. Rex has done the best with it, by far: he's down about 125lbs-- to 245.

[narciso]

Ron Fournier doesn't even have to be trained;

http://www.nationaljournal.com/white-house/in-defense-of-obama-on-the-gates-memoir-20140108

[wish in one hand]

This is an example of just why self-examination is such an integral part of the conservative mind.

[Beasts of England]

I think I'll start sending $100 to the Republican National Committee every time dublindave makes a puerile remark about non-liberals.

[Danube on iPad]

Comparing him now to those pics of him strolling with Obama, it looks to me as though he's lost a hell of a lot of weight.

If it turns out he was aware of and condoned this traffic thing, he's toast. If there is no credible claim to that effect, this will have no lasting effect on him. That's my take, anyway.

[dublindave]

Political retribution on this scale comes from the top. You don't give the order to close three lanes of traffic to the busiest bridge in the world for days on end, causing absolute mayhem without your bosses knowledge. Especially if your main job is protecting him politically.

The reason this has Christies finger prints all over it isn't because it's a 12 pack of Krispy kremes,it's because an act like this is a direct reflection of who Chris Christie is;a bully and a petty thug.

[wish in one hand]

That's at least one Benny you owe meerkat.

Davey boy; You could cut into that disposable income if you double-up each day.

[Beasts of England]

Agreed, Peter. Where are the fearless leaders? Don't remember the exact quote, but loved when Reagan got fired up and said something like 'I'm paying for this microphone!' That got him a lot of positive traction. First person to smack down the press would fire up the base.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

12:25-- calling Dr Freud, Dr. Freud, .....Dr. Sigmund Freud. Leftwing projection at 12:25..STAT.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

What did Reagan say during Iran Contra?

[peter]

always telling when the trolls show up, isn't it? Soros still thinks Hillary has a chance--maybe he'll bankroll her next liver transplant and facelift.

Oh and LUN is the best news I have heard in a week and a half.

[wish in one hand]

"If it turns out he was aware of and condoned this traffic thing, "

could you at least condemn the fall-girl who was solely responsible for the heinous act?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Just looked at some Photos--- Christie has lost a lot of lbs.

That reminds me, my 36" 'good' trousers are a bit snug and I am tempted to go with the 38" 'bad' trousers.... gotta do something about that.

[Beasts of England]

Who said to hit your enemies back twice as hard? Which bully and petty thug was that? The first golfer, I think.

[JoJo]

If he couldn't keep tabs on what his close staff was up to, he's not alert or competent enough for the job of a Republican president. And if he did know what his staff was up to, and is lying, that's worse.

[Beasts of England]

I love the smell of desperation from the left. A hundred bucks at a time!

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

"Fund the next liver transplant"... too funny.

[narciso]

Now I forget was Dennis Burke, Napolitano's retainer at the US atty's office, fired for
Fast and Furious, for letting 300 weapons walk across the border. this was this low level state dept official, Maxwell, who was dismissed in the aftermath of Benghazi, but three other officials were reinstated, Wendy 'fool me once' Sherman, who took Kim Jong Il seriously went into business with Albright and Sandy Burglar, then negotiated the mullah deal, 'shame on me'