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You are here: Home / Open Threads / No One Feels Sorry For Chris Christie

No One Feels Sorry For Chris Christie

by Elon James White|  January 9, 20145:41 pm| 82 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, This Week In Blackness

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Governor Chris Christie is embarrassed and humiliated about this whole Fort Lee/George Washington Bridge scandal. It’s nice that he finally admitted it.

But it’s hard to give someone the benefit of the doubt when, well…you’re a dick. A huge arrogant, bullying dick. Like we’re talking the ruling Dicktator of Dickistan kind of dick.

On today’s show #TeamBlackness discusses how Christie’s handling of this scandal will hurt and possibly help him. Also on today’s #TWiBRadio: the aging powers of racism (27:09) whether it’s legal to take away a two year old for cursing on camera (55:06), atomic wedgies, and we read reviews for Feedback Thursdays.

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The Morning Crew discusses Chris Christie’s dicey situation (17:40), the tale of the Iron Casket (26:20), Obama’s very close to freeing Mumia (31:09), and why Washington DC isn’t a state yet (39:43).

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Reader Interactions

82Comments

  1. 1.

    Cacti

    January 9, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    Disagree.

    Cole probably has a big old sad for his Republican Daddy mancrush.

  2. 2.

    lamh36

    January 9, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    Fort Lee Mayor Accepts Christie’s Apology: ‘I’m Glad He Came’

    Even though Sokolich said that he did not want Christie to come to Fort Lee for an apology, Christie insisted and Sokolich said he was glad the governor stopped by.

    “I’m glad he came,” Sokolich said after meeting with the governor. “I indicated maybe it wouldn’t be productive to come up now. It wasn’t to be disrespectful. It was just, would it make more sense to do it when the investigation is completed? The governor insisted, and we would certainly welcome our governor with open arms, as we did.”..

    Sokolich said that he believes Christie’s claims that he did not know about his aides’ plans to shut down lanes on the bridge.

    “I take him for his word, which is, he didn’t have anything to do with it,” Sokolich said.

  3. 3.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 9, 2014 at 5:51 pm

    @Cacti: Try reading the blog.

  4. 4.

    JPL

    January 9, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    I am not a bully, Christie, didn’t shed a tear for the misery caused to residents of Ft. Lee. I was surprised. The speech went as expected but a tear would have helped.

  5. 5.

    EconWatcher

    January 9, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    @lamh36:

    This costs Sokolich nothing. If evidence later emerges that Christie was involved, he can sink the knife in even deeper: “That man looked me in the eye and lied to me…..”

  6. 6.

    Amir Khalid

    January 9, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    Most of us might not feel sorry for Chris Christie, but Chris Christie certainly does. And that’s undeniably a lot of someone.

  7. 7.

    Cassidy

    January 9, 2014 at 5:56 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:And you know that anyone can go a couple threads back and find two different threads where Cole talks about how much he likes the guy.

  8. 8.

    raven

    January 9, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    Amiri Baraka has died.

  9. 9.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 9, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    The law enforcement contingency on my FB feed went nuts this morning about Obama nominating Debo P. Adegbile, who has worked tirelessly to free Mumia, to head DOJ Civil rights division.

  10. 10.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 6:01 pm

    @lamh36: Does “I take him at his word” really mean “I believe him”?

  11. 11.

    Cacti

    January 9, 2014 at 6:03 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Try reading the blog.

    Thank you, humorless schoolmarm. I’d already seen it.

  12. 12.

    cathyx

    January 9, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    David Widstein, who was the director of the NJ NY Port Authority and quit before being fired, said he would testify if given immunity by NY, NJ, and the Federal Justice Departments.

  13. 13.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    Mayor Sokolich on CNN. Said he made it clear it wasn’t going to be a photo op. Said Christie was gracious and sincere but they believe there are more issues.

    Wolf asks, “Do you believe him?”
    Moment’s hesitation.
    Sokolich: “I take him at his word.”

    Hope’s it the beginning of a trusting relationship without the fear of retribution in the future. I bet that was on the table for discussion.

  14. 14.

    Cacti

    January 9, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    @cathyx:

    David Widstein, who was the director of the NJ NY Port Authority and quit before being fired, said he would testify if given immunity by NY, NJ, and the Federal Justice Departments.

    He is a funny one.

    And that won’t help him re: the NJ legislature. They can offer immunity for any NJ prosecution, nothing more.

  15. 15.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 9, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    @Cacti: That was meant as a joke? You really have jumped the shark.

  16. 16.

    mai naem

    January 9, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Okay, inquiring minds want to know. Are Megyn Kelly and Bridget Kelly related? Is that the real reason why Fox is working so hard to ignore the Chris Christie story? They could pass for sisters(Megyn and Bridget, not Christie and Megyn.)

  17. 17.

    Cacti

    January 9, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    That was meant as a joke? You really have jumped the shark.

    I’m deeply hurt. Your opinion means so very much to me.

  18. 18.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    @mai naem: Kelly is Bridget’s married name. They may be related but it would be through Bridget’s husband.

  19. 19.

    dmsilev

    January 9, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Christie pens an op-ed:

    Part of me gets, I suppose, why this whole debacle is so intriguing to people. After all, just imagine me secretly being some overcompensating, bitter, antagonistic personality with a my-way-or-the-highway demeanor and a ruthless desire for ever greater degrees of political power. I mean, sure, I see how that’s a pretty amusing and unexpected reversal: Chris Christie as a bully. I get it. But, look, let’s get serious here. People don’t just turn into completely different people overnight. I’m still the same warm, civil, reasonable, level-headed, pussycat-like guy who’s made people say for years, “Wow, that Chris Christie sure seems like a sweet, soft-spoken, not at all temperamental or vindictive person.” Nothing’s changed, folks! I’m still the same old me!

    Heck, the mere facts alone that I’ve been the Governor of New Jersey for four years now and have since become a leading member of the Republican Party should really let anyone know by now that I’m obviously a compassionate and forgiving person who treats everyone—regardless of their views —with decency and respect. So could you ever imagine me quickly losing my temper over even the smallest perceived slight and then blowing it way out of proportion? Get outta here!

  20. 20.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    I totally love this Mayor Sokolich from Fort Lee. He’s no nonsense but completely in it for his community. Just love him.

  21. 21.

    mai naem

    January 9, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    @Violet: More like Christie said, “okay, dude, if you don’t go out and be genuinely accepting of my apology, there’ll be something happening to your wife in a couple of years. And then your kids in five years. Got it?”

  22. 22.

    dmsilev

    January 9, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    The Onion weighs in.

    (had a block quote from the story, but it was moderated for some reason)

  23. 23.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 6:15 pm

    @mai naem: I don’t think Christie has that leverage anymore. If anything does happen to Sokolich’s family, Christie will be under suspicion.

    Sokolich still on CNN. Has reiterated that he wants to make sure there’s no retaliation or retribution for this incident. That Fort Lee is adding jobs, redeveloping, etc.

  24. 24.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 9, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    OT but can’t stop laughing at this:

    Jesus Christ ‏@Jesusontwittorr 3h

    Dad’s plan:
    1) Make humans
    2) Drown most
    3) Kill myself (as my son)
    4) Hide

  25. 25.

    some guy

    January 9, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    @Cacti:

    defender of proto-Republican Debbie Wasserman-Schulz, attacker of John Cole. who are you going to jump on next to earn the coveted Dick of the Day Award?

  26. 26.

    Cacti

    January 9, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    From the NY Daily News:

    In the best possible light, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie built a top staff of lying thugs who threatened lives and safety to serve his political ends.

  27. 27.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 9, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    @Cacti:

    Spot on.

    He’s responsible for SOMETHING, that’s for sure.

  28. 28.

    Cacti

    January 9, 2014 at 6:24 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    If they didn’t think the boss was okay with that sort of thing, how would they have ever thought they’d get away with it?

    Christie, at best, created the atmosphere for thug behavior to flourish.

  29. 29.

    Amir Khalid

    January 9, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    @Violet:
    I for one don’t think the two phrases carry quite the same shade of meaning. Sokolich saying the latter would suggest that he had a wholehearted trust in Christie’s sincerity (not likely, given the circumstances). The former seems to imply a warning, from him to Christie, that lies have consequences.

  30. 30.

    raven

    January 9, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    @some guy: Dicks have heads.

  31. 31.

    Cacti

    January 9, 2014 at 6:29 pm

    @some guy:

    defender of proto-Republican Debbie Wasserman-Schulz, attacker of John Cole

    Or, elected Dem for 20 years at three levels of government, vs. 2-time Dubya Bush voter.

    Hmmm…whose bona fides to trust.

  32. 32.

    some guy

    January 9, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    @raven:

    good point.

  33. 33.

    Baud

    January 9, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    Now Newsmax is just fucking with us.

    The One Thing Your Prostate Needs Every Morning

  34. 34.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 9, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    @Cacti:

    [W]e hold the constitutional rule to be that a state witness may not be compelled to give testimony which may be incriminating under federal law unless the compelled testimony and its fruits cannot be used in any manner by federal officials in connection with a criminal prosecution against him.

    Murphy v. Waterfront Comm’n, 378 U.S. 52, 78 (1964)

  35. 35.

    some guy

    January 9, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    way too many big words for Cacti

  36. 36.

    Baud

    January 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    All this in-fighting after what has been a wonderful 48 hours. FSM forbid we face some actual adversity.

  37. 37.

    raven

    January 9, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    @some guy: That bracket around the W in We will really fuck him or her up.

  38. 38.

    mai naem

    January 9, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    I read an interview with Sokolich when Rachel Maddow was first pushing this story. He seems like a genuinely decent hometown boy made good. I believe his dad died when he was a kid and he went to college on scholarship etc. He’s a lawyer in either a solo practice or a small practice. The mayoring thing is just a side gig that takes up a good chunk of time.

  39. 39.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 9, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    More from Noismax:

    Sen. Coburn’s Cancer Could End Career

    A pity it’s not contagious, and would end the career of every last GOP senator.

  40. 40.

    Baud

    January 9, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    @mai naem:

    I saw him on Chris Hayes last night. I really liked him too. He says he has no higher political ambitions, but he may have made himself a star.

  41. 41.

    kc

    January 9, 2014 at 6:46 pm

    @ranchandsyrup:

    Well, that ought to make Cassidy and Cacti’s heads explode.

  42. 42.

    danielx

    January 9, 2014 at 6:51 pm

    From list of best tweets about Christie press conference on Rawstory.com…

    Steve Martin ✔ @SteveMartinToGo
    Follow

    However, bus stalled in traffic. RT @JoyceCarolOates: Governor Throws Aide Under Bus

    Yep, Martin has still got it.

  43. 43.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 6:51 pm

    @Baud: He seems completely genuine, unlike Christie who seems like he’s all about how high he can climb up the ladder.

  44. 44.

    raven

    January 9, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    @Baud: I liked him when he talked about kickin some ass.

  45. 45.

    danielx

    January 9, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    @kc:

    Do we get to watch?

  46. 46.

    Cassidy

    January 9, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    @kc: I really don’t have much of an opinion on it.

  47. 47.

    rikyrah

    January 9, 2014 at 6:54 pm

    Spinoff ‘Unsung Hollywood’ Lineup Includes Pam Grier, Robin Harris, Flip Wilson, ‘Cooley High,’ ‘Bill Duke’
    by Tambay A. Obenson January 9, 2014 3:50 PM

    …Unsung Hollywood episodes include:

    · WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 10 PM/ET – Pam Grier

    · WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 10PM/ET – Robin Harris

    · WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 10PM/ET – What’s Happening!!

    · WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 10PM/ET – Dick Gregory

    · WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 10PM/ET – Flip Wilson

    · WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 10PM/ET – Cooley High

    · WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 10PM/ET – Bill Duke

    · WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 10PM/ET – The Harlem Globetrotters

    http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/spinoff-unsung-hollywood-lineup-includes-pam-grier-robin-harris-flip-wilson-cooley-high-bill-duke

  48. 48.

    rikyrah

    January 9, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    Amiri Baraka, former N.J. poet laureate and prolific author, dead at 79
    By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger on January 09, 2014 at 3:14 PM, updated January 09, 2014 at 3:19 PM

    NEWARK — Amiri Baraka, the longtime activist and former poet laureate of New Jersey died today, a family member confirmed. He was 79 years old.

    Baraka was placed in intensive care at Beth Israel Medical Center last
    month for an unknown reason, but a spokesman for his son’s mayoral
    campaign said his condition was improving late in December.

    Baraka had long struggled with diabetes, but it was not immediately clear what the cause of death was.

    http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2014/01/hold_hold_hold_amiri_baraka_former_nj_poet_laureate_and_prolific_author_dead_at_79.html#incart_river_default

  49. 49.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    @danielx: Ha. I like this one:

    Ben Jacobs ✔ @Bencjacobs
    Follow

    If it’s a legitimate traffic study, the female body finds a way to shut the whole thing down

  50. 50.

    Rick Taylor

    January 9, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    It’s unbelievable that Christie’s telling the truth by now. The scandal had been going on for months, and all this time no one in his administration told him what was going on, and somehow he really believed there had been a traffic study, even there was none? He’s perfectly happy to play the martyr and to throw his underlings under the bus. What a contemptible human being. ““David and I were not friends in high school. We were not even acquaintances in high school.”

  51. 51.

    Baud

    January 9, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    @raven: @Violet:

    I kind of wish he had run for governor instead of Buono.

  52. 52.

    lamh36

    January 9, 2014 at 7:01 pm

    @politico 6m
    Class action suit filed over bridge scandal http://politi.co/1eaS5qX via @jdelreal

  53. 53.

    cathyx

    January 9, 2014 at 7:01 pm

    @Rick Taylor: If he doesn’t throw them under the bus then his career is over. He’s just hoping they still back him up on this and take the blame.

  54. 54.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    @Rick Taylor: After seeing just how badly Christie treats his aides, who would want to work for him?

  55. 55.

    Steeplejack

    January 9, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    @danielx:

    Jon Stewart already used that joke in his takedown of Chris Christie last night. Two parts: introduction and the rest of it.

    This is classic, old-school Jon Stewart—well worth watching.

  56. 56.

    Hal

    January 9, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    I’ll go with Josh Barro’s questions:

    Here are the four big uncomfortable questions that arise from the story Chris Christie is telling today:

    How did Christie not know? There were 117 days between when the Bridgegate story broke and when the governor learned that one of his Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Bridget Kelly, had called for the lane closures. One of his close confidants whom he just selected to run the New Jersey Republican Party, Bill Stepien, is also implicated. Despite the fact that increasing national attention was being paid to this story through the fall, Christie — who has a background as an aggressive prosecutor! — had no idea some of his closest allies were involved. Why was he so oblivious? Christie has been reduced to insisting that his staff has been out to control and lying to him about what they’re doing. That’s not an ideal talking point to have to lean on.

    Why would Christie’s appointees have thought this was a good idea? Politicians survive scandals of staff misbehavior all the time. But in this instance, the misbehavior was conducted on Christie’s behalf, in order to execute a political strategy to benefit the governor. How did Christie create a culture in which his appointees in his administration and at the Port Authority would get together and assume this was something the governor would want them to do?

    Why didn’t anybody narc on Bridget Kelly? The governor says Kelly lied to him and said she had no involvement in the bridge lane closures. But Kelly wasn’t the only person who knew Kelly was involved. In August, she emailed David Wildstein, Port Authority Director of Interstate Capital Projects: “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” Wouldn’t Wildstein have told the governor, in the process of tendering his resignation, that Kelly had told him to do it? Bill Baroni, Christie’s top appointee at the Port Authority, was also checking in with Wildstein about whether “Trenton” was happy with the handling of the closures. Why didn’t Baroni tell the governor his staff had known?

    When did Christie really learn about his staff’s involvement? Christie described discovering the story in the Bergen Record yesterday morning after his workout. But he also said he hasn’t slept well “the last two nights” because of his soul searching. If Christie didn’t know about this story until Wednesday morning, why did it cause him to lose sleep on Tuesday night?

    http://www.businessinsider.com/four-uncomfortable-questions-from-christies-press-conference-2014-1#ixzz2pwtzpP24

  57. 57.

    lamh36

    January 9, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    @jidts07
    CNN reporting that FBI is investigating #Bridgedgate

  58. 58.

    raven

    January 9, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    @rikyrah: Pretty hard to figure out this is on TV one

  59. 59.

    danielx

    January 9, 2014 at 7:09 pm

    @Violet:

    I did enjoy that one. But then this whole deal is comedy gold; material for days to come.

  60. 60.

    Mandalay

    January 9, 2014 at 7:15 pm

    @Violet:

    Does “I take him at his word” really mean “I believe him”?

    No. Only politicians who are trying to slip the knife in ever use the phrase.

  61. 61.

    Baud

    January 9, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    John Cole ‏@Johngcole 22s

    I may need an intervention. I’m cruising petfinder for Maine Coons.

  62. 62.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    @danielx: Yeah, the whole thing is great.

    @Mandalay: So true. That’s why people were upset when Republicans, when asked if they believed President Obama was really born in Hawaii, said, “He said he was and I take him at his word” instead of “Yes, I believe him.”

  63. 63.

    JPL

    January 9, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    @Mandalay: Christie today admitted that he is telling the truth as he knows it.
    haha

  64. 64.

    LanceThruster

    January 9, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    @ranchandsyrup:

    Very Funny.

    God sent God to die for God so that God could forgive God’s creations according to God’s unbending rules. ~ LanceThruster

  65. 65.

    feebog

    January 9, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    @Hal:

    Why didn’t anybody narc on Bridget Kelly?

    Dingdingdingding!

    If this didn’t extend right up to Christie, Wildstein and Baroni both had get out of jail free cards in the memo from Kelly to Wildstein. The fact that neither of these mooks ratted out Kelly, but instead resigned, makes it pretty clear that this came from someone higher up than Kelly and that Wildstein and Baroni knew it.

  66. 66.

    JPL

    January 9, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    Well I’m not shocked by this development
    http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/bridgegate_six_nj_residents_file_lawsuit_against_christie_port_of_authority.html#incart_river

  67. 67.

    Botsplainer

    January 9, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    More on the Deadspin/Hall of Fame vote debacle. Those guys at Deadspin are absolutely pummeling The Village of professional baseball pundits.

    http://deadspin.com/baseball-writers-to-baseball-fans-fuck-you-1498157564

    Leave it to the guys who snarked on Tebow enough for everybody to notice how much he was propped up by ESPN, and who blew the lid off Teo’s smarmy bullshit human interest story to get things done.

  68. 68.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 9, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    @LanceThruster: I’m stealing that one too. Will attribute just so I can cite LanceThruster.

  69. 69.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 9, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    @Hal:

    Good questions.

    Christie’s fingerprints are all over this thing, and his protestations that his staff was out of control are ludicrous. Wildstein who suddenly became a total stranger to Christie after a lifelong friendship, and who invoked the Fifth all afternoon in Trenton before a legislative committee, had to know that Kelly was sending him an order from the big guy when he implemented the “traffic study” plan. If Christie would not have approved of this, Wildstein is the guy who would know. This was business as usual in the Governor’s office.

  70. 70.

    catclub

    January 9, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    @feebog: I want to ask: So, this person who has been on your staff for five years, being a faithful member of your team, just lied to you, for the first time, ever. How do you know?

  71. 71.

    catclub

    January 9, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    @lamh36: Bridgehazi.

  72. 72.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    @feebog: I cannot imagine how much it’s going to cost to buy Kelly’s silence. She’s married to, but separated from, a golf pro and has four kids. I doubt she wants to move the entire family to the Caymans or go into witness protection. Plus she’s got NJ roots:

    Kelly is the sister of a longtime Garden State emergency responder. Brother Eamon Daul is a firefighter and the EMS supervisor at New Jersey’s St. Clare’s Health Systems, records show.

    Another brother, Liam, recently landed a $70,000-a-year job as a trader in the investment division for New Jersey’s Treasury Dept.

    Kelly joined the Christie administration in 2010 as director of legislative relations, and was named in April 2013 to her $140,000-a-year gig as the governor’s deputy chief of staff.

    A mom of four, she and her golf-pro husband, Patrick, are separated, according to public records, which show the couple recently transferred their Ramsey house to Bridget’s name, with Patrick moving to another nearby address.

  73. 73.

    feebog

    January 9, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    @Violet:

    I know there has been a lot of speculation about payoffs, but I don’t think that is a viable option at this point. Christie is a former AG. It has already been announced that the Feds are going to investigate. That means Kelly is going to be under a lot of scrutiny. There are a lot of records that could be subject to subpoena at some point, including financial records.

    Going from a job that pays 140K to nothing with four kids and a separation from her husband might just put a tad of pressure on Mrs. Kelly. She may be the weak link. Not to mention that Christie was absolutely brutal in his comments towards her this morning.

  74. 74.

    Keith G

    January 9, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    Cole probably has a big old sad for his Republican Daddy man crush.

    I am sure he has no such affliction. He is not a Christy admirer.

    Even if he were…Christy is not going anywhere and still has in inside track to the nomination.

  75. 75.

    maya

    January 9, 2014 at 7:55 pm

    @catclub:

    Bridgehazi.

    No, no. Gatesgate!

  76. 76.

    Violet

    January 9, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    @feebog: I agree. I think she’s going to have to make a deal. She’s got young kids to support and although her husband probably contributes financially, that’s still expensive.

  77. 77.

    Keith G

    January 9, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: Ah…no.

  78. 78.

    LanceThruster

    January 9, 2014 at 8:48 pm

    @ranchandsyrup:

    Accept no imitations!

    xD

  79. 79.

    Origuy

    January 9, 2014 at 8:49 pm

    @ranchandsyrup: Oh no! Anti-Christian mocking!

  80. 80.

    SiubhanDuinne

    January 9, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    @mai naem:

    Are Megyn Kelly and Bridget Kelly related?

    Several years ago I wondered the same about Kelly O’Donnell and Norah O’Donnell (especially when they both worked for NBC). I guess they’re not — nor is either AFAICT related to Lawrence O’Donnell — but I was always mildly curious.

    Also too, I seem to recall that at one point there was a rumor that Tom Brokaw was having an affair with Kelly O’D. I may be misremembering, and it was a long time ago, but curious if anyone else heard about this. Superficial Googling doesn’t turn up anything, so it may be all in my lascivious head.

  81. 81.

    TriassicSands

    January 10, 2014 at 2:06 am

    But it’s hard to give someone the benefit of the doubt when, well…you’re a dick.

    Elon, you need to write more carefully — keep your subjects and objects straight. Of course, if you are a dick, you won’t cut others slack, but you mean that

    you

    can’t cut someone else slack because

    he’s

    a dick.

    Based on what you wrote, I would have to assume that you are a dick. Maybe even a “huge, arrogant, bullying dick.” Please tell me that’s not what you mean.

  82. 82.

    melissa

    January 10, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    I just couldn’t get over the complete lack of loyalty by Christie. I am pretty sure Kelly took a bullet for him and he was too distracted trying to become the next President to know much about anything going on in his state, unless he could get face time over it. I cannot imagine EVER talking about a staff person the way he did. He looked like a petty, petulant brat with NO CLASS. He is no gentleman and that still counts. I hope this will be the end of the road for him!

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