2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumChris Christie Took His Sweet Time to Find the Truth About of Bridgegate
Evidence was mounting for months that it was no mere traffic study that snarled things on the George Washington bridge. Christies two-hour Thursdays press conference didnt answer why he looked away.
At a press conference that blended political stagecraft with a psychiatrists couch, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie addressed the growing scandal around what has become known as Bridgegate. I come here today to apologize to the people of New Jersey, Gov. Christie began. I had no knowledge or involvement in this issue, in its planning or execution and I am stunned by the abject stupidity that was shown here.
Christie announced that he had fired Bridget Anne Kelly, his deputy chief of staff who sent the email saying Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee that led to bridge closures. And Christie asked his former campaign manager Bill Stepien to withdraw his nomination to run the Republican Party in New Jersey as well as cease his consulting projects with the National Governors Association, which Christie now runs.
Beyond that, though, Christie spent the bulk of the press conferenceincluding the Q&A with reporterspondering how anyone on his team could lie to him about the incident. Im sick over this, Christie said. What did I do wrong to make these people think it was OK to lie to me? What Christie did not ponder, however, was what he might have done to make members of his senior staff think it was okay to engage in this sort of politically motivated retributive action. Christie said he hadnt thought about that at all.
more (It's a good article-DV)
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/09/chris-christie-took-his-sweet-time-to-find-the-truth-about-of-bridgegate.html
yellowcanine
(35,704 posts)The emails suggest that at least one other mayor was being punished. Hopefully any federal investigation will address that issue also.
DURHAM D
(32,617 posts)he orchestrated both the bridge closing and the cover up. Firing Kelly and others is just more of the cover up.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)I'm the victim here...feel sorry for me...sniff, sniff.
jaysunb
(11,856 posts)I am who I am, but Im not a bully, Christie said in his press conference. If you have to say it, though, its not a good sign.
because, there's a large portion of our population that actually admires bullies and blowhards.