The scoop on Christie is that he lobbied for an organization headed by Bernie Madoff ... his brother also had some SEC issues ... there may be other personal stuff as well ... apparently he wasn't forthcoming when the Romney camp asked him questions, although Romney denies that now.

Hey Geo,

Did you see this one?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/nyregion/conservative-republicans-recoil-at-the-notion-that-christie-is-the-partys-savior.html

dag hammarsjkold wrote:Hey Geo,

Did you see this one?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/nyregion/conservative-republicans-recoil-at-the-notion-that-christie-is-the-partys-savior.html

No, I missed it, but it's a good article.

For all the grumbles about Mr. Christie’s positions on issues like same-sex marriage, for example, or even griping about his embrace of President Obama after Hurricane Sandy, the underlying issue with the right wing appears to be trust: Many are skeptical that he is committed to advancing the conservative movement, much as they came to be about President George W. Bush.

They also worry that any campaign by Mr. Christie is destined to be centered entirely on his pugnacious style, rather than a broader Republican agenda.

“Personality campaigns that get the political establishment all hot and bothered tend not to work in the G.O.P. primaries,” said Craig Shirley, a conservative historian who has written about Ronald Reagan’s campaigns. “At least not for very long.”

I think that's exactly right.

He's either trashing his chances for 2016 or making moves that will ensure he's in the running....

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/us/politics/bipartisan-budget-deal-puts-ryan-under-fire-from-fellow-conservatives.html?hp&_r=0

or both I suppose.

More nasty news for Christie: don't support me and I'll screw up traffic in your city beyond all comprehension:

http://www.wnyc.org/story/email-links-top-christie-aide-bridge-fracas/

Even if he is not directly linked to this, it speaks to the "I will crush you" culture of his office. He's just too much of an a**hole to be president.

geojanes wrote:More nasty news for Christie: don't support me and I'll screw up traffic in your city beyond all comprehension:

http://www.wnyc.org/story/email-links-top-christie-aide-bridge-fracas/

Even if he is not directly linked to this, it speaks to the "I will crush you" culture of his office. He's just too much of an a**hole to be president.

I saw this story just now (reported in our press here http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/j ... ne-closing ) and immediately recalled this thread.

Even if Christie had nothing to do with this, seems he's surrounded by pretty vicious people.

danivon wrote:Even if Christie had nothing to do with this, seems he's surrounded by pretty vicious people.

That he grew up with and hand-picked for their positions.

OK Geo I concede. I thought maybe he was someone the GOP could get behind to win over swing voters. I hate politics.

It will be interesting to see who emerges as a frontrunner in the end. I still think Ryan may be the one they go with.

geojanes wrote:

danivon wrote:Even if Christie had nothing to do with this, seems he's surrounded by pretty vicious people.

That he grew up with and hand-picked for their positions.

Well, yes. I'm sure that New Jersey politics is usually clean-cut, though?

I think this is hugely problematic for Christie. Everyone agrees that sitting in traffic stinks. That's something that socialists, fascists, anarchists and everything in between (except maybe Buddhists?) hates. Wasting several hours of your life because a friend of the Governor was exercising power on the Governor's behalf is not something that you can feel good about no matter where you are on the political spectrum. It confirms the worst of our political leaders.

If this was Christie's first offense it wouldn't be a big deal, but along with the timing of the special election, we now see a pattern of a politician caring more about his political interests and future than anything or anyone else. It's the same point raised by Gates in his book, repeatedly. Sigh.

I don't think it's going to hurt him all that much. Those that don't like him think he's a bully. Those that do like him do so because he is a fighter.

Those that don't like him will see this as his bullying in the extreme and those that do like him will view the incident as another incident of him being a fighter.

After all, elections have consequences

What was this 'fighting' for? Was it for some high principle? Was it to ensure a policy gets through? Lookedlike revenge to me.

Who was affected most - as in who got fought? Was it political opponents? Was it blockers to a policy? Looked like commuters and parents to me.

Archduke Russell John wrote:I don't think it's going to hurt him all that much. Those that don't like him think he's a bully. Those that do like him do so because he is a fighter.

Those that don't like him will see this as his bullying in the extreme and those that do like him will view the incident as another incident of him being a fighter.

After all, elections have consequences

It certainly hurts him as it relates to me. It will depend on how quickly he terminates those who are responsible and the extent to which he knew. I realize that I'm just a sample size of one, but this sort of venality and party politics is exactly what is frustrating so many of us. This is the 2nd example of Christie and his team caring more about his own political interests than the welfare of the people who he supposedly serves. The 3rd strike will be particularly damaging.

Ray Jay wrote:

Archduke Russell John wrote:I don't think it's going to hurt him all that much. Those that don't like him think he's a bully. Those that do like him do so because he is a fighter.

Those that don't like him will see this as his bullying in the extreme and those that do like him will view the incident as another incident of him being a fighter.

After all, elections have consequences

It certainly hurts him as it relates to me. It will depend on how quickly he terminates those who are responsible and the extent to which he knew. I realize that I'm just a sample size of one, but this sort of venality and party politics is exactly what is frustrating so many of us. This is the 2nd example of Christie and his team caring more about his own political interests than the welfare of the people who he supposedly serves. The 3rd strike will be particularly damaging.

I think the Duke is wrong and RJ is right here. The Fed's are involved now: this wasn't a legal use of power. He may still pull his career out of the fire, but it all depends on what he does next.