Christie’s “mistakes were made” line and the fact that his office is whining about “every wild-eyed conspiracy theory that’s originating on left-wing blogs” makes me pretty sure that he was in on the closures.
Creating a big traffic jam for four days is no joke, by the way:
Now, records obtained by TPM give a clearer look at just what the police in the town had to respond to during the traffic jam, which has since been blamed on a political vendetta by Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) administration.
During the hours of heaviest morning traffic on the days in question, police responded to at least nine traffic collisions, two of which were serious enough that victims had to be taken to a local hospital.
[…]
Fort Lee Police Chief Keith Bendul told the Bergen Record on Sept. 13 that the four days of snarled traffic had been cause for alarm.
catclub
Creating a big traffic jam for four days is no joke, by the way
A nine mile walk is no joke, especially in the rain.
ruemara
I believe, according to Rach, it is also a federal crime, since this is an interstate.
schrodinger's cat
Are you calling Christie a double decker bus?
Baud
Show us your long-form birth certificate, Governor!
DougJ
@schrodinger’s cat:
It’s a classic Smiths lyrics!
MikeJ
@DougJ:
And if a ten ton truck
Kills the both of us
To die by your side
Well the pleasure, the privilege is mine
beltane
@schrodinger’s cat: Anything beyond comparing Christie to a Prius and it’s automatically a fat joke.
schrodinger's cat
@DougJ: Thanks, I didn’t know.
@beltane: How many Tunches is one Christie?
Comrade Jake
Sounds like a good slogan for the state:
WELCOME TO NEW JERSEY!!!
(mistakes were made)
beltane
@schrodinger’s cat: I’m guessing somewhere between 15 and 20 depending on how the fluff factor is counted.
the Conster
I’ll bet Bridget Kelly is wondering if she’s gonna get whacked.
Baud
That fact that it’s Chris Christie makes me pretty sure that he was in on the closures.
Feebog
Rachel Maddow is tearing it up tonight. Emails prove top staffers knew about the lane closures while they were happening, directly contradicting what Christie asserted during his press conference. Good times.
max
@beltane: Anything beyond comparing Christie to a Prius and it’s automatically a fat joke.
Prii (ha!) are pretty hefty compared to regular cars on account of the batteries.
max
[‘You’d actually think the man would just float away one afternoon.’]
dmsilev
What about conspiracy theories originating from the NJ legislature or from “reputable” journalists? Are they OK?
beltane
There’s always a future for Christie on Dancing with the Stars.
dmsilev
@beltane: But will he outlast Tucker Carlson?
Edit: Also, too, I see a “Chris Christie’s New Jersey” reality show.
trollhattan
@schrodinger’s cat:
All of them, Katie.
trollhattan
@max:
We should compare him to the pirates’ car–the Yarrrrris.
beltane
@max: OK, how about a Smart car?
ruemara
OT, are any LA BJers up for mini-meetup on Feb 8th, in the P of M?
My training seminar is scheduled for then. Theoretically, this means I will be in LA.
DougJ
@ruemara:
If you’re serious about it, I’ll frontpage it to help organize.
Baud
@dmsilev:
Or the Real Douchebags of New Jersey.
aangus
Let the lawsuits begin!!!
Hired drivers’ lawsuit accuses Christie administration of ‘reckless conduct’ in lane closures – See more at: crooksandliars.com/2014/01/hired-drivers-lawsuit-accuses-christie#sthash.xjwEeB1e.dpuf
RaflW
@beltane:
He’s already won Biggest Loser
? Martin
@ruemara:
Had this happened under a Democratic governor, the wingnuts would be demanding that the state’s federal highway dollars be cut off.
ruemara
@DougJ: Serious as this here coffee I’m drinking. Go ahead.
Suffern ACE
Well I’ve still been waiting for Dems to avenge Gray Davis, so even making the big bug dance a few days has been nice.
Speaking of conspiracies, have you heard that Chris Christie had knockwurst strung on the state Christmas tree?
DougJ
@ruemara:
What is P of M?
Ken
@ruemara:
Good news for Christie. An investigation by the Obama Justice Department is just what he needs to polish up his credibility with the 27-percenters.
Belafon
@DougJ: I think PM, as in not AM.
mdblanche
Everybody familiar with the “Sports Illustrated Curse?” I’m beginning to think Time has a similar curse for erstwhile Republican rising stars.
ruemara
@DougJ: p. m.
mai naem
@Suffern ACE: I totally forgot about Gray Davis. That was f’d up and Gray Davis was a perfectly decent human being. Hell, he wasn’t even a DFH.
Anyhow, it’ll probably end up being some NJ paper which will win the Pulitzer for the Christie stuff, but it would be sweeeet if the Murdoch owned WSJ wins the Pulitzer for the story.
DougJ
@ruemara:
Where? LA is a big place.
jl
‘ his office is whining about “every wild-eyed conspiracy theory that’s originating on left-wing blogs” ‘
What the hell? Christie’s office WAS a conspiracy, they admitted it themselves in texts and emails. The only question is how much did Christie know and when?
They fessed up to the act and the intent, we only don’t know the purpose. And if Christie was not in on it from the get go, the only purpose I can think of is that Christie’s staff were planning on using their muscle in the gubernerators office to make some bucks blackmailing the Ft. Lee development deal for some contracts and other bidness.
Christie’s new office needs to think things through before they complain, maybe?
cthulhu
@ruemara:Yes! Culture comes to LA!
ruemara
@DougJ: I dunno. I’m not from LA. Suggestions welcome. All I know is my seminar is somewhere in Hollywood. This means nothing to me.
monkeyfister
Did I miss the Media discussion of the millions of dollars of Trade and Revenue that were lost, let alone the perishable products that rotted on the bridge? I suppose that should get some attention.
srv
terəˌrizəm: the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.
Objectively, is Christie a terrorist or just a terrorist sympathizer?
Discuss.
srv
@ruemara: I fly into LAX tomorrow, so let me know where y’alls will meet up will be and I’ll shit on it.
Suffern ACE
@mai naem: I don’t think democrats should forget gray Davis. Or look at the state of the democratic parties in Florida and Texas for that matter when dealing with republican governors willing to “work” with democrats. All this bullying and deal making to shaft your own candidate may make temporarily ennoble your family until the party rots away and you’re gerrymandered out for good.
Scamp Dog
@catclub: I remember that story!
J.D. Rhoades
Benghazi.
Also, anything that can’t sbe blamed on Benghazi is the fault of the implementation of the Affordale Care Act.
’nuff said.
Omnes Omnibus
@schrodinger’s cat: Here.
cthulhu
@ruemara: What kind of vibe/space were you thinking. I’m local…
Ruckus
@schrodinger’s cat:
None.
Tunch was more humane than cristie and therefore there is no possible equality.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@ruemara:
Yes! And I have an idea for a place — the Story Tavern in Burbank. You’ll have to get yourself up and over the hill into the Valley, though.
Did they at least give you an address to go to? “Hollywood” can mean a couple of different places sometimes.
Jebediah, RBG
@cthulhu:
Maybe quiet and well-lit?
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@Jebediah, RBG:
Story Tavern, my friend (though IIRC it might be a schlep for you from the westside).
On non-playoff game nights, they have TCM on the TV, if that gives you an idea of the kind of place it is.
Ruckus
@ruemara: @DougJ:
I’m in.
Jebediah, RBG
@Mnemosyne (iPhone):
Looks nice! Burbank isn’t so far… I go up Highland to go over the pass, and since I’m on a motorcycle the traffic through Hollywood doesn’t slow me down as much.
cthulhu
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): I am cool with Burbank though someone may need to transport Ruemara (I can likely). Easy swing for me in the Valley either way.
ruemara
I think I will be training at SmashBox West Ho or Culver. I’m still waiting to find a couchsurf and I’m pulling out my transit maps over the weekend to refresh on the public transport options. Ooo Burbank. The exotic locale of Johnny Carson?
Ruckus
@ruemara:
It ain’t all that.
Exotic that is.
Burbank is good for me, one town over. A hop, skip and jump away.
Paul in KY
@the Conster: You could mess with her by just asking her if she wants to go for a drive, putting her in front seat & then seating behind her. Then start playing that music they play when Fredo gets whacked. Would be hilarious!
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@ruemara:
Public transportation options suck, but if Juicers can get a Labrador puppy from LA to Pennsylvania, we can figure out how to get you from Culver City to Burbank. ?