Chris Christy will resign?

[MattusMaximus]

It's a RICO case. Conspirators beware -- Save your skin; finger the boss.

 

[Unabogie]

It's a RICO case. Conspirators beware -- Save your skin; finger the boss.

I agree. I think this actually worse than the bridge scandal, since it involves screwing hurricane victims out of needed help just to make sure some cronies got rich.

The Fox News crowd was in a tizzy, if you recall, over SOLYNDRA!!ELEVENTY!! And the accusation there was that Obama gave a loan to a company that was failing because they were cronies. If Obama had withheld stimulus money to a dying town because they wouldn't help prop up Solyndra, you'd have an analogy.

This is the apex of political corruption. That Sandy money was a gift to the people of New Jersey because they were in dire need. It wasn't a slush fund for the governor to use as a cudgel to get his friends sweet deals on unrelated financial schemes.

 

[jj]

One Republican and one Democrat; here in Illinois, our corruption is bipartisan

Sounds like New Jersey.

 

[jj]

You're right. Just because it happens in other places, we should ignore it in NJ

Oh, I don't think it will be ignored. New Jersey is an interesting place, and many of the NJ voters are very, very middle of the road.

 

[Robrob]

Even if in the end it can't be pinned on Christie, he's still the Governor and he still has to explain why his staff felt they could/should do something like this. What kind of an organization does he run?

 

[Ladewig]

Hate to say it, but this is the way the game is played in New Jersey,by both parties.

And I suspect the rules are similair in Illinois.

You're right. Just because it happens in other places, we should ignore it in NJ

I read Dudalb's post and saw it more as an assertion of fact than a recommendation to ignore it. Am I missing something that should lead me to believe that Dudalb was trying to handwave it away.

 

[MattusMaximus]

I read Dudalb's post and saw it more as an assertion of fact than a recommendation to ignore it. Am I missing something that should lead me to believe that Dudalb was trying to handwave it away.

I just read it that way. Perhaps I should give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[DavidJames]

I just read it that way. Perhaps I should give him the benefit of the doubt.

It's not just you, I read it the same way. I read it that way because that technique is used consistently by people as a way of hand waving something away.

He can correct our reading of his words if necessary.

 

[Ladewig]

It's not just you, I read it the same way. I read it that way because that technique is used consistently by people as a way of hand waving something away.

I have seen that done.

But I have also seen that phrasing used when a discussion is becoming too partisan. The speakers in those cases were trying put things in perspective rather than to dismiss or legitimatize criminal behavior.

And I have also seen it used to lament the sad state of American politics rather than hand wave something away.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I will agree that the current state of affairs calls for more investigation and less handwaving.

 

[Manopolus]

I'm sure he really meant to type Rethuglican.

Repugni-con!

Get it right, dude!

 

[Jrrarglblarg]

If I was forced to choose a Republican for president, Christy would actually be on my short list. I wouldn't vote for him myself in any non-Planet X election, but I think he would actually do the job in a useful way.

 

[theprestige]

It's not just you, I read it the same way. I read it that way because that technique is used consistently by people as a way of hand waving something away.

It also points out selection bias, special pleading, etc.

It happens all the time, so why pay attention to this case?

A month ago you couldn't care less how politics played out in New Jersey, now we should hand-wave away all the other instances because... ?

 

[Monketi Ghost]

This so reminds me of a political cartoon from back in the day.
Ronald Reagan is holding a leash, at the end of which is Oliver North. Reagan's saying, "Gosh, I sure don't like those Sandinistas".

Next panel, Oliver dog is off out of view, wrecking **** up while Ron holds the leash whistling innocently, looking the other way, and in the final panel Ron turns around and feigns shock, "Ollie, what have you done? Bad Ollie!"

 

[Unabogie]

Missed this quote.

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-dr...ed-me-sandy-relief-funds-unless-i-played-ball

Apparently Zimmer kept very detailed notes when she realized that she was being shaken down about the Rockefeller project. Check out what she wrote:

“At the end of a big tour of ShopRite and meeting, she pulls me aside with no one else around and says that I need to move forward with the Rockefeller project. It is very important to the governor. The word is that you are against it and you need to move forward or we are not going to be able to help you. I know it’s not right — these things should not be connected — but they are, she says, and if you tell anyone, I will deny it.”

This isn't her speaking now, this is her writing this down the day it happened. Ruh-roh.

 

[theprestige]

This so reminds me of a political cartoon from back in the day.
Ronald Reagan is holding a leash, at the end of which is Oliver North. Reagan's saying, "Gosh, I sure don't like those Sandinistas".

Next panel, Oliver dog is off out of view, wrecking **** up while Ron holds the leash whistling innocently, looking the other way, and in the final panel Ron turns around and feigns shock, "Ollie, what have you done? Bad Ollie!"

Ironically this is, in caricature form, exactly how a well-run government black op is supposed to go.

I've always respected North's willingness and commitment to taking the fall for Iran-Contra.

It will be interesting to see if Christie inspires similar loyalty.

 

[DavidJames]

It happens all the time, so why pay attention to this case?

A month ago you couldn't care less how politics played out in New Jersey...

I assume by "you" you don't mean "me" because you have no clue what I care about.

Why pay attention?

Chris Christy, you may not have hear of him, but he is the most talked about next possible Republican presidential candidate. For some people, understanding how.....

Never mind, I'm wasting my time

 

[jj]

Well, a tu quoque would be "but the democrats do it too". It is, however, possible to note that both parties do it and it's a bad thing, and now we have just arrived at New Jersey (and probably Chicago).

New Jersey politics is always interesting, partially because New Jersey republicans are very often unusual Republicans.

 

[ponderingturtle]

I agree. I think this actually worse than the bridge scandal, since it involves screwing hurricane victims out of needed help just to make sure some cronies got rich.

The Fox News crowd was in a tizzy, if you recall, over SOLYNDRA!!ELEVENTY!! And the accusation there was that Obama gave a loan to a company that was failing because they were cronies. If Obama had withheld stimulus money to a dying town because they wouldn't help prop up Solyndra, you'd have an analogy.

This is the apex of political corruption. That Sandy money was a gift to the people of New Jersey because they were in dire need. It wasn't a slush fund for the governor to use as a cudgel to get his friends sweet deals on unrelated financial schemes.

But the federal money is as they say in Illinois *********** gold. They wouldn't be good capitalists if they gave that away for nothing. So what people view as corruption is just sticking to the fundamental beliefs of the republican party. What are you some kind of socialist who thinks aid money should just be given away?

 

[ponderingturtle]

Ironically this is, in caricature form, exactly how a well-run government black op is supposed to go.

I've always respected North's willingness and commitment to taking the fall for Iran-Contra.

It will be interesting to see if Christie inspires similar loyalty.

Too bad no one has that kind of integrity anymore they just get the attorney general to reinterpret the laws so that their actions are legal.

 

[barehl]

What?!

I'm gone from the thread for a few days and look what happens. Wow.

Got any links on that?

Which part? The nomination is a matter of record. And, I doubt he hired Guliani's entire staff and lawyer to do nothing. My guess would be a jurisdictional motion. But, again, if the NJ Bar isn't sitting on its hands, Christie could face disbarment for interfering with a court case involving a friend of his.