Tag: New Jersey

Stand Down, Christie

Jon Ponder

Which of these governors’ reactions to scandal is not like the others: Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York, former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevy and current New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie?

It could have been worse. Had there been a man-made or natural disaster, the aides’ actions in deliberately gridlocking traffic in Fort Lee could have endangered the lives of thousands of New Jersey residents.

Both Govs. Spitzer and McGreevey resigned, of course. In both cases, they were embroiled in sex scandals — and both were Democrats. Spitzer resigned in 2008 after an investigation uncovered the fact that he had numerous encounters with high-priced prostitutes. McGreevey resigned in 2004 after it was revealed he was engaged in an improper relationship with an appointee and after he revealed that, as he put it, he was a “gay American.”

Gov. Christie is involved in a much more serious scandal, of course. At least one life may have been lost and tens of thousands of others were put in jeopardy because of a petty and capricious act ordered by members of his senior aides, if not by Christie himself. So far, he has avoided taking responsibility for these shameless acts by shifting blame to people he hired to fill the most senior positions on his staff.

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GOP 2016 Frontrunner Chris Christie Bullies a Constituent at a Rally — Again

Jon Ponder

Pundits all seem to agree that when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wins reelection today, he will automatically become the Republican frontrunner for the presidency in 2016. That may be so, but most of these pundits live in the Northeast where a sarcastic, bullying style, of which Christie is the examplar, is part of everyday life.

To live in the Tristate Region is to deal with bombastic, aggressive smart asses at every turn — at the DMV, the supermarket checkout, at work and behind the wheel. This is the world in which the political opinionistas live. The fact that their lives are filled with blowhards like Christie blinds them to the fact that the bully-boy persona that is so common in the Northeast is considered ridiculous and repulsive outside the region.

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California Gov. Jerry Brown, 74, Challenges New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, 49, to an Athletic Contest

Jon Ponder

What came through from the Republican Convention was its angry tone, and no one does angry tone better than New Jersey’s Republican Gov. Chris Christie, age 49, who made sneering remarks from the convention podium about the age of California’s Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, who is 74.

But now Gov. Brown, who is tall, lean and fit, has returned fire against Gov. Christie — who is, um, not — by challenging him to a triathalon of sorts:

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GOP Newspaper: George W. Bush Backs Chris Christie for President

Jon Ponder

photos-christie-bushFrom the Murdoch/News Corp (R-Hacking) owned New York Post:

After months of hedging, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is giving serious thought to jumping into the ring for a GOP presidential run — and could make his decision next week, The Post has learned.

The announcement may come as soon as Monday, said sources familiar with Christie’s thinking.

The renewed consideration about a White House run came after prodding this week from some Republicans he idolizes, including former First Lady Nancy Reagan, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and former President George W. Bush, sources said.

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