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Gothmog

(145,126 posts)
15. According to TPM, Christie is playing into our hands
Thu Dec 26, 2013, 04:48 PM
Dec 2013

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.
K&R! Omaha Steve Dec 2013 #1
Guys a dick flamingdem Dec 2013 #2
I hope NJ Dems & left leaning Independents are coming back to reality with this guy. nt Tarheel_Dem Dec 2013 #3
This article is spot on... Laxman Dec 2013 #4
The Tea Party hates Christie but i see signs of the GOP leaders clearing a way for Christie Gothmog Dec 2013 #5
Poor impulse control.. abakan Dec 2013 #19
Welcome to DU, abakan! calimary Dec 2013 #39
Thanks for the welcome abakan Jan 2014 #41
"Carnival Cruz". HA! First time hearing that one. But seriously, 7962 Dec 2013 #21
In Texas, the term "Carnival Cruz" has been in use for a while Gothmog Dec 2013 #25
Good cartoon Gothmog Dec 2013 #37
Please, no more nutso pres candidates. Kurovski Dec 2013 #6
Christie is not Nuts Gothmog Dec 2013 #7
I think he has a personality disorder. I didn't mean mentally ill. Kurovski Dec 2013 #8
If want to see some true nuts, come to Texas Gothmog Dec 2013 #9
In addition, Gohmert seems like someone who got dropped on his head. Kurovski Dec 2013 #10
CORRECT Skittles Dec 2013 #11
and that could clinch the nomination for Christie mountain grammy Dec 2013 #17
Here in Texas, TxVietVet Dec 2013 #32
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
In this respect, he seems very much akin BlueMTexpat Dec 2013 #12
Chris Crispy has the NJ Bully pulpit. blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #13
And he takes the "bully" part seriously jmowreader Dec 2013 #14
According to TPM, Christie is playing into our hands Gothmog Dec 2013 #15
I think the acid test will be how well it plays in primaries in such places as Iowa. CTyankee Dec 2013 #22
What works in New Jersey will not work in the rest of the country Gothmog Dec 2013 #23
Now, bullying people is a different story. Particularly when it is a large man with a really mean CTyankee Dec 2013 #26
True. I've always thought he was very Tony Soprano.....n/t whathehell Dec 2013 #27
This is the Year gussmith Dec 2013 #16
Govenor Ballast has a bullying problem. . .who woulda thunk? he's been bullying teachers Nanjing to Seoul Dec 2013 #20
Christie's aides have lawyered up Gothmog Dec 2013 #24
NYT has good editorial on Politicians who Bully Gothmog Dec 2013 #28
We need this kind of thing to get out there as widely as possible. calimary Jan 2014 #40
Not a "bullying image" - a bullying reality hatrack Dec 2013 #29
How much of this is getting traction in New Jersey The empressof all Dec 2013 #30
From North Jersey...Not a lot ramapo Dec 2013 #33
KnR Hekate Dec 2013 #31
kick Dawson Leery Dec 2013 #35
The New Yorker has a great cartoon on this issue Gothmog Dec 2013 #36
Christie Ally Ordered To Testify In Bridge Scandal Gothmog Dec 2013 #38
It appears that the order to close the lanes came from "higher authority" Gothmog Jan 2014 #42
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