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Forum Post: George Washington Bridgegate - is Chris Christie involved or not?

Posted 10 years ago on Jan. 8, 2014, 4:03 p.m. EST by grapes (5232)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Deliberate start-of-school-year lane closures of New Jersey - New York George Washington Bridge for political sniping?

What should be done about partisanship devolving into self-choking the U.S. infrastructure?

Everything is physical including emails being indestructible.

48 Comments

48 Comments


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[-] 5 points by SerfingUSA (451) 10 years ago

Christie knew about this. He is even on record saying he helped close off the bridge lanes by "working the cones".

At least that's what he said when he thought he could joke his way out of this scandal. He's not cracking jokes anymore.

[-] 2 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

I also watched this and it made my jaws drop. He had got to be kidding, right? Then I thought that it had to be his "id" taking over control. There was NO way that he as the Governor would be "working the cones." He just fancied having actually done it himself but NO, maybe he truly KNEW it and was simply gleeful that it was carried out as he had ordered - a Freudian slip?

[-] 2 points by SerfingUSA (451) 10 years ago

Christie is a whale of a liar. He will have to tighten his belt if he wants to eat Hillary's lunch in 2016. Christie is a glutton for power, but I think this time he has bitten off more than he can chew. His supersized ego made him hungry for retribution.

His political tactics need a diet of restraint and he needs to take the time to digest their repercussions. It is difficult to catch Chistie in a lie, because he has a memory like an elephant. He resembles the Republican logo, so in a close election he may tip the scales in their favor. He is also well known for feeding off contributions from fat cat sponsors and will have to push himself away from the table of corruption. It goes without saying that his history of conduct is not a recipe for success.

[-] 2 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

I just looked into shooz's lead about the federal investigation into Christie's misusing Sandy Relief Fund. If it turns out to be true, it may well end up being stinkier than the bridge for him. The elephant seems to have stumbled into angry army ants.

[+] -4 points by globalchill (-24) 10 years ago

Whale of a liar? Christie and Peace Prize are a modern day, politically correct, Laurel n Hardy. Kumbaya

[-] -3 points by globalchill (-24) 10 years ago

Remember when Oblamer joked about sicc'ng the IRS on his enemies? Seriously! Do I need give you the YOUTUBE link?

In the last 6 months, the state run media has spent less than 3 minutes on Obomber's using the power of the Fed to tamper on his re election and have spent nearly a half hour in the last 2 days on Christie's abuse of power.

It is amazing that the media has the power to dictate just WHAT is a scandal in this country. Obumbler has truly OUTDONE tricky dick. Our media, however, have OUTDONE themselves in ignoring it.

[-] 3 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Who is the animal? This might present some light:

Christie: 'They should've thought about that before opening their mouths' by Jen HaydenFollow

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

It seems that Fort Lee and the other GWB commuting public might have been hurt by the spilling over of partisan rancor over previous judicial appointment/reappointment blockages. It is politics getting out of control.

This type of partisan fighting over appointments occurred on the federal level, too. All of these blockages make our governments dysfunctional and yield very real physical and psychological damages for all, rich and poor alike. Our political system is broken.

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Our political system is broken.

Absolutely - State and Federal. But considering some past decisions made by the Supreme Corpse = Citizen United - one can see why it ( appointments ) is a huge issue.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

The electorate with help from the press should whack the animals and keep them under close supervision. Harness them with a big dose of citizenship or failing to reform them, render them "impotent and obsolete" (remove from office, cut their pensions, and lifetime ban from holding any public office).

[-] 2 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 10 years ago

People like to say "Chris Christy"

I've had friends named "Chisty"

I've had friend named "Chris"

I've had christian friends

sheep, sheep, we like sheep

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Actually, we may be masochistic sheep who love sheep-sounding names and wolf-like behaviors in our Coliseum as long as we are not the ones in the arena being torn apart.

[-] 2 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Try to understand when they show us over and over and over and over again, RepubliCons ARE NOT fit to hold public office! They can't decipher Government from Kingdom or Dictatorship. They just can't!

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

For RepubliCons, Dictatorship, Kingdom, or Government all need to pay homage to the ultimate Dictatorship of One - God. If one repeats falsehoods enough, there is a chance that people may accept them as truths. Chris Christie was aptly named to be the Messiah, the prophesied Savior and Son of God, wasn't he? It is good PR that got his foot in the door before kicking it down.

[-] 2 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

For RepubliCons, God is Money.

This isn't "bridge-gate," all Christie things considered, this is (c) Flab-Scam!

[-] 3 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

There is a lot more dirt than the bridge lane closure incident but many people had been cowed into silence before that incident was probed deeper and deeper till it turned into a gusher. The rumblings and grumblings started four months ago. It has been quite a while so the persistence is laudable.

[-] 4 points by spinoza34 (400) 10 years ago

Here's some earlier "dirt" on Christie, where as US Attorney he gives John Ashcroft his former boss's new company a no bid contract. This despite Ashcroft's company not meeting the requirements of the contract.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2008/01/15/18855/aschroft-katzenbach/

[-] 4 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

This is certainly more "dirt" on Chrystie. Now we can see why former Department of Justice officials can get so wealthy. Awarding tens of millions of dollars for monitoring through a no-bid contract to John Ashcroft, Chrystie's former boss, erred on the humongous sum of public money converted to private ($58,000,000) but not in the tradition or spirit of the patronage system involved. Read to the end of the article - there are also other cases mentioned.

Why do we get Charmander, Geoduck, pokemons, and dumppockets in charge in our government to enrich its "uniquely qualified" cronies?

[-] 4 points by spinoza34 (400) 10 years ago

Here's the latest "dirt" on Christie whose adminstration has been holding up Sandy relief funds for Hoboken until their mayor approves a big private development project that he is pushing for.

Ms Zimmer (the mayor) said, "I'd be more than willing to testify under oath and - and answer any questions and provide any documents [and/or] take a lie detector test." Edit: She also challenged Christie to do the same.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/mayor-christie-camp-held-sandy-money-hostage

[-] 3 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Christie's administration's practice was a recipe for the Second Civil War. It lacked any sympathy for Hoboken's Sandy victims by holding up Sandy relief funds to punish Hoboken for not bending to the will of the Rockefeller Group (which sought to develop real estate in Hoboken to make more profits). It acted as the strong political arm for New Jersey's plutocracy.

Christie's being U.S. Attorney during Charmander years taught him how to serve private crony's/plutocrat's interests with state power and how to be arrogant and callous. Imagine what we may have if IRS/NSA/FBI/CIA etc. all work for ferreting out, suppressing, and punishing political enemies to serve the plutocracy. Yikes!

[-] 3 points by spinoza34 (400) 10 years ago

What do you do when the US Justice Department propagates injustice? Just think of the hypocrisy; Christie was prosecuting people as US Attorney for similar stuff that he has done as Governor. The question I have is; How many of those people with better values were singled out for far less crimes just because they did not want to be part of the good ol' boys club, and hence did not go along with the more criminal, corrupt practices that NJ is so infamous for?

Unquestionably from my pov, Hoboken's Mayor Zimmer would have been either a State or Federal prosecutorial target if she had kept her mouth shut and continued to resist the development plan that Christie was pushing.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

There is much hypocrisy and corruption in politics. That area is where the U.S. achieves trans-congressional-aisle partnership and camaraderie. New Jersey has two very ignoble Governors recently. It is a bipartisan sport. Is it a real change if New Jersey swapped a crocodile for a caiman?

[-] 4 points by spinoza34 (400) 10 years ago

Corruption at the state level is pervasive in the US with unelected power brokers often calling the shots. And then to think, this is the breeding ground for the elected officials who end up representing not us , but the plutocracy in DC.

[-] -1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

And here's what they're doing: If Christie survives Flab-Scam, he could be the next Ronnie Raygun!

Get Wise and out the Vote, People!

[-] 2 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Whoever abused their power to cause the traffic tie up should be arrested and punished more than others not in the positions of power because those in power should know better (if not, they need to be re-educated). They cannot enjoy the benefits of the doubt.

The despicable tie up of traffic probably hurt the citizens of New Jersey the most because of their proximity to the bridge and its connection to Manhattan. The New Jersey Governor's Office has the duty of serving its state's citizenry. Using such blunt instrument as traffic tie up for petty political vendetta amounts to both the betrayal of duty and the profound lack of judgment.

[-] 3 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Interesting information about Chris Christie's tendency of bullying and being arrogant. In themselves, his past deeds do not prove his involvement in Bridgegate but the general tone of them is consistent of him having been involved.

Before the revelations, he did not seem to get the potential seriousness of this case by joking about the "traffic study." Even his ardent affluent political supporters who work in Manhattan and were jammed would have a fit. He really should have known that (Manhattan culture is most intolerant of traffic jams, not to mention deliberate ones). If he was involved, what was he thinking?

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 10 years ago

He knew.

He still ordered it done.

It was criminal.

[-] 3 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

If he knew and still ordered it done, it would be criminal because public authority was usurped for vendetta. It would be a very long stretch for him to exercise his First Amendment rights through the "artistic" expression (rearranging the traffic cones) of his "religion"(domination, vendetta, and bullying).

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 10 years ago

His loss of "political capital" could be a boon.

http://insideclimatenews.org/content/christie-fails-muscle-gas-pipeline-through-njs-protected-forests

Now, if only we could get them to stop trying to move that crap through the Great Lakes basin.

[-] 0 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Yes, indeed. This should please odin/frovikleka that where he used to party stays pristine. If Bridgegate has caused the Pinelands Commission to stand up to the strong-armed silencing tactics of Chris Christie, hurray to the exposers of Bridgegate, including the press. "The world is watching!"

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 10 years ago

He would NEVER admit it was done by a (R)epelican't in the employ of the Koch's.

That's not within his kith and ken.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Who is "He" and "it" and "That"?

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 10 years ago

You will find the answer in your second sentence.

[-] 2 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Is "He" "Edward Lloyd?" Is "it" Lloyd recusing himself leading to the Pinelands Commission's voting result?" Is Edward Lloyd the (R)epelican't in the employ of the Koch's?

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 10 years ago

Here are the sentences in question.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/george-washington-bridgegate-is-chris-christie-inv/#comment-1018246

If that's what you say you wrote there, then I guess it is, but that's not what I see.

[-] 3 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Is "He" odin/frovikleka? Is "it" the Pinelands Commission's voting result? Are you saying that I am the (R)epelican't in the employ of the Koch's?

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[-] 0 points by GirlFriday (17435) 10 years ago

He knows perfectly well. He is just being a jack off.

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[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 10 years ago

thank god someone will take to fall for blocking traffic

beside protesters

he's moved the cause to more banal issues

[-] 2 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Banality was apparently just a bleed from what the New Jersey electorate found refreshing - the direct confrontational, in-your-face approach. If no one reigned in the bully and instead gave rewards, everyone gets more bullying because it pays.

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 10 years ago

He may now be held responsible for the misuse of find Sandy relief funds.

[-] 5 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

He cannot be laughing this whole thing off anymore, can he? The joke is on him now, isn't it?

Feds investigate Christie's use of Sandy relief funds)

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

George Washington Bridge carries Interstate-95, impediment of which falls within federal jurisdiction so Eric Holder's DOJ investigation has legal basis, especially after an alleged death due to the lane closures, not to mention the enormous waste of people's time and the two-states' disagreement in the joint Port Authority. It should be a federal case.

Kudos to the press, technologists, and politicians/legislators who had persisted and brought this to light. Let any abuse of power be answered (by the people) in our sweet Land of Liberty.

[-] 0 points by globalchill (-24) 10 years ago

Oh come on, everyone knows it was Bush's fault!

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Yes, of course. I came to the conclusion that this had to be the work of the al-Qaeda-linked El Norte terrorist group sprung into action by Charmander-in-Chief.

[-] -2 points by dblstnd (10) 10 years ago

Dunno, but this blog from WSJ says it as well as I could...

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304347904579310832305028924#printMode

Jan. 9, 2014 7:08 p.m. ET

Now that we have your attention, allow us to explain. Governor Chris Christie apologized to New Jersey on Thursday for aides who closed traffic lanes in order to punish a Democratic mayor, and he fired a deputy chief of staff. We mention the IRS because Mr. Christie's contrition contrasts so sharply with President Obama's handling of the tax agency's abuse of political opponents and his reluctance to fire anyone other than a military general for anything.

In his long press conference in Trenton, Mr. Christie was properly contrite, saying he had been "lied to" by the senior aide he proceeded to fire. He also said he is withdrawing his support for his former campaign manager to run the state Republican Party because the man had shown "callous and indifferent" behavior toward the people inconvenienced by the traffic-lane closures. If Mr. Christie really didn't know about this cheap exercise in political payback, and nothing new emerges, the incident shouldn't interfere with the Governor's expected presidential run.

That doesn't mean Mr. Christie shouldn't learn from the experience. One lesson is that he's going to have to upgrade the quality of his advisers as he moves onto the national scene. The traffic-lane-as-vendetta ploy is so dumb and petty that anyone who would attempt it isn't ready for prime time. Never mind putting it in email.

Mitt Romney was supposed to be a crack manager, but he surrounded himself with campaign lightweights and he suffered for it. One of Mr. Christie's selling points for the White House will be that he is an executive who has run a sizable state, so the media will descend on Trenton even more than it did on Wasilla, Alaska, for Sarah Palin. Better to clean out the hack loyalists now.

Which brings us to the Obama Administration, which quickly leaked to the media that the U.S. Attorney is investigating the lane closures as a criminal matter. Well, that sure was fast, and nice of Eric Holder's Justice Department to show its typical discretion when investigating political opponents.

This is the same Administration that won't tell Congress what resources it is devoting to the IRS probe, and appears to be slow-rolling it. It has also doubled down by expanding the political vetting of 501(c)(4) groups seeking tax-exempt status. Lois Lerner, who ran the IRS tax-exempt shop and took the Fifth before Congress, was allowed to "retire," presumably with a pension. Acting IRS commissioner Steven Miller resigned under pressure but no other heads have rolled. Yet compared to using the IRS against political opponents during an election campaign, closing traffic lanes for four days is jaywalking.

We raise this mostly because our media friends have been complicit in dismissing the IRS abuses, and for that matter every other legal abuse during the Obama years. The exception is the Edward Snowden theft of National Security Agency documents, which so far have exposed not a single example of law-breaking.

Not that this should make Mr. Christie or any other potential GOP candidate complacent. Republicans operate under a double media standard that holds them to a much lower scandal threshold. In that sense the pathetic New Jersey traffic-lane scandal may be, as Mr. Obama likes to say, a teachable moment.

[-] -1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

Before the ongoing investigations have been completed, we do not need to drag in the other issues to help lighten up the dark deed through contrast (I know that we are the Big Dog with fleas, ticks, and mites galore but let us remove this grape-size tick first). Evidence about every case should be circumscribed to maintain fairness and judicial restraint until the sentencing phase when the punishment if any shall be put into proper context.

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