If Governor Chris Christie thought that Thursday's news conference, that turned into a two-hour fiasco of alternately blaming others and apologizing without remorse, was going to be the end of the story about the GWBridge lane closures, then he was clearly mistaken. As usual with a scandal, the more we know, the more we want to know.
For example, who actually texted David Wildstein that they were smiling at the traffic jam? This is going to be interesting because presumably it wasn't Bridget Anne Kelly, the Christie aide who went from loyal and brilliant early in the week to "stupid" and "deceitful" at the press conference. And speaking of Kelly, why didn't Christie speak to her before firing her? What kind of prosecutor assumes guilt first and worries about whether they're being just later? Answer: A prosecutor like Christie who obviously doesn't care about the truth.
Questions about Christie's political future are also a main topic, as this scandal shows that he either doesn't have control over his own aides, or that he sent a message to them that this was politically acceptable behavior. In any case, this has severely damaged his national reputation. Conservatives were always wary of him; now moderates might be scared off by a man who has been resolute in the past, but just might have spilled over into vindictive in the national mind.
But the worst aspect at this point is that mayors from across New Jersey are now reviewing events of the past year and wondering if the negative attention they've received from Trenton is a result of them not endorsing Christie or running afoul of him because they disagreed with his decisions. This is the atmosphere that the governor has created for himself. Yes, his YouTube videos were entertaining for his supporters, but they are now a liability because, together with this scandal, they show a man who has no tolerance for opposition. That's dangerous for a man who wants to be president.
It will be interesting to see what new information comes out about this and whether the narrative as we imagine it today has more moving parts to it.
For more please go to:
www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and Twitter @rigrundfest
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Heavy Traffic: Christie Takes It From the Bridge
A big, messy, tragic, stupid, vengeful scandal had to come to New Jersey during the Chris Christie era, and thus, it has reached us now. Yes, it turns out that the governor's staff knew about and directed the Port Authority of NY/NJ top gum up traffic to the George Washington Bridge on the first day of school in September in order to create massive traffic tie-ups in Fort Lee, NJ because the Democratic Mayor of Forth Lee would not endorse Christie for reelection (here's a handy timeline). A women might have died because emergency workers couldn't get to he for while. Schoolchildren were late for school. The town was paralyzed.
Christie is denying that he ever knew that his staff did this, feigning outrage at the mere thought of any kind of political retribution, tactics that the governor has perfected during his term in office. The episode shows an atmosphere of thuggery that's ugly even by New Jersey standards, and its pettiness is surpassed only by how truly unnecessary it was. Christie was going to win the election by a large margin whether the mayor endorsed him or not, but I guess that didn't matter. Even if we buy the governor's denials, the atmosphere he's created in Trenton is more noxious than any SuperFund site. And the Star-Ledger has it exactly right: this is Nixonian and the governor will pay a steep price for it with no EZPass rebate.
We are still at the beginning stage of this investigation and there will probably be more damaging revelations, but my sense is that this by itself will not end any chances Christie has for a national run in 2016. if he was not directly involved, that should either come out or his loyal staff will take the fall for him. Stay tuned.
For more please go to:
www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and Twitter @rigrundfest
Christie is denying that he ever knew that his staff did this, feigning outrage at the mere thought of any kind of political retribution, tactics that the governor has perfected during his term in office. The episode shows an atmosphere of thuggery that's ugly even by New Jersey standards, and its pettiness is surpassed only by how truly unnecessary it was. Christie was going to win the election by a large margin whether the mayor endorsed him or not, but I guess that didn't matter. Even if we buy the governor's denials, the atmosphere he's created in Trenton is more noxious than any SuperFund site. And the Star-Ledger has it exactly right: this is Nixonian and the governor will pay a steep price for it with no EZPass rebate.
We are still at the beginning stage of this investigation and there will probably be more damaging revelations, but my sense is that this by itself will not end any chances Christie has for a national run in 2016. if he was not directly involved, that should either come out or his loyal staff will take the fall for him. Stay tuned.
For more please go to:
www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and Twitter @rigrundfest
Sunday, January 5, 2014
The Final Push
Far be it from me to argue with one of the greatest historical minds of the 20th century, but we essentially have an executive that serves a six year term, even if we get two extra bonus lame duck years for our efforts. So it has been with most other presidents, and so it probably shall be with Barack Obama. This is his sixth year; if it doesn't happen this year, chances are that none of his high priority agenda items will become law in 2015 or 2016.
That's why 2014 represents the final push for immigration, tax reform, a higher minimum wage, climate policy and every other item on the left-wing wish list. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. History has taught us that the first push rarely results in success when it comes to big change. Look how long it took to get healthcare reform. Sometimes the push is necessary if for no other reason than to get an idea in the public's mind and to prepare them, or to follow their lead, when it comes to legislation.
Like marriage equality, which coalesced into a major civil rights issue in a short amount of time, the push for rights for all people goes as far back as Stonewall in 1969 and the Supreme Court's ruling for and then reversal on, anti-sodomy laws in 1986 and 2003. Progressives have been highlighting income inequality and the rising gap between wealthy and not for decades. Now that cry is becoming a major force in calling for a higher, livable minimum wage that just could pass this year. After all, most people, even Republicans, support it.
The same will most likely be true of climate legislation, immigration, privacy and energy. More and more younger people realize that their world is changing and that the United States either has to catch up to other countries who are already addressing the problems or fall behind to our economic and social detriment. The far right is beginning lose its grip on the Republican Party, and while I don't see a more moderate wing surging anytime soon, I do see a less strident GOP in our future. That's good news.
This year will see one or two major pieces of legislation, with the rest of Obama's agenda left to the next Democratic president and a more willing population. I think we are moving in the right direction, but like anything done well, this will take time.
For more please go to:
www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and Twitter @rigrundfest
That's why 2014 represents the final push for immigration, tax reform, a higher minimum wage, climate policy and every other item on the left-wing wish list. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. History has taught us that the first push rarely results in success when it comes to big change. Look how long it took to get healthcare reform. Sometimes the push is necessary if for no other reason than to get an idea in the public's mind and to prepare them, or to follow their lead, when it comes to legislation.
Like marriage equality, which coalesced into a major civil rights issue in a short amount of time, the push for rights for all people goes as far back as Stonewall in 1969 and the Supreme Court's ruling for and then reversal on, anti-sodomy laws in 1986 and 2003. Progressives have been highlighting income inequality and the rising gap between wealthy and not for decades. Now that cry is becoming a major force in calling for a higher, livable minimum wage that just could pass this year. After all, most people, even Republicans, support it.
The same will most likely be true of climate legislation, immigration, privacy and energy. More and more younger people realize that their world is changing and that the United States either has to catch up to other countries who are already addressing the problems or fall behind to our economic and social detriment. The far right is beginning lose its grip on the Republican Party, and while I don't see a more moderate wing surging anytime soon, I do see a less strident GOP in our future. That's good news.
This year will see one or two major pieces of legislation, with the rest of Obama's agenda left to the next Democratic president and a more willing population. I think we are moving in the right direction, but like anything done well, this will take time.
For more please go to:
www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and Twitter @rigrundfest
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