Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Chris Christie-Accounts of Petty Retribution Reinforce Christie’s Bullying Image [View all]Gothmog
(145,126 posts)15. According to TPM, Christie is playing into our hands
Christie's reaction to this story is actually helping to build the narrative that Christie is a bully http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/christie-playing-into-enemies-hands
I don't know whether Chris Christie was personally involved in the boffo Bridge Closure payback earlier this year. And I find it very hard to believe he got his fingerprints on it. But he's managing so far to play into the hands of his political opponents and all national Democrats in the way he's handling the story. In fact, he's doing so so completely that I suspect he's in a situation in which he's simply not characterologically capable of behaving otherwise.
First, there's dismissing the story as no big deal. Whether that's true or not is a subjective judgment. But if your cronies really did massively inconvenience a whole city as part of a political payback that actually is a pretty big deal - and one that raises specific vulnerabilities for Christie and he tries to move on to the national stage.
Second, don't make false statements that are actually secondary to the story itself. If he ordered his friends to do this (something for which there's no direct evidence and I can't imagine it went down that way) then, okay, maybe he just has to deny that. But saying that Fort Lee officials didn't say anything about the traffic jams at the time seems easily refutable. Why burn through credibility on something like that, especially since it's not clear that complaints like this would make their way up to the governor's office.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
42 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Chris Christie-Accounts of Petty Retribution Reinforce Christie’s Bullying Image [View all]
Gothmog
Dec 2013
OP
I hope NJ Dems & left leaning Independents are coming back to reality with this guy. nt
Tarheel_Dem
Dec 2013
#3
The Tea Party hates Christie but i see signs of the GOP leaders clearing a way for Christie
Gothmog
Dec 2013
#5
I have a relatively sane GOP congresscritter who is pushing for Holder's impeachment
Gothmog
Dec 2013
#34
I WANT more "nutso" republican presidential candidates, makes the job easier for us!
George II
Dec 2013
#18
I think the acid test will be how well it plays in primaries in such places as Iowa.
CTyankee
Dec 2013
#22
Now, bullying people is a different story. Particularly when it is a large man with a really mean
CTyankee
Dec 2013
#26
Govenor Ballast has a bullying problem. . .who woulda thunk? he's been bullying teachers
Nanjing to Seoul
Dec 2013
#20