Chris Christie aides' emails suggest intentionally created traffic nightmare

[KRonn]

At first thought my feeling is that Christie knew about this going to happen, had his minions get this going. Why would his minions take it upon themselves for some political payback? A chance that he wasn't involved but if so, with a major roadway being tied up for hours he would have to know about it the first day and have someone check into it. Just as any Governor is in the know about an important state issue or problem. I feel that if he goes the denial route then he's just pulling an Obama on the various scandals afflicting his admin, many of them much worse than NJ's highway gate. IRS, AP/Fox spygate, and others. Difference will be if the Repubs circle the wagons around Christie and I tend to doubt, and hope not, that he'll get very much cover and excuses from Repub pols and conservative news for this kind of crap, especially as they've been slamming Pres Obama and the Dems on similar type things.

[Kleves]

As political scandals go, this one is pretty weak.

I think it's pretty serious that someone would order something that would directly harm thousands of their constituents (and their children - a new school year was starting) in order to get revenge against a local elected official over a trivial political slight.

[DGuller]

I *think* the issue was backups on the bridge ramps creating traffic jams in Ft. Lee.  But that's just speculation.

That's correct.  The traffic jammed up Fort Lee streets themselves.  Children on the school bus weren't commuting to a school in New York either.

I'm a little surprised Ft. Lee has a white mayor.

I'm not.  Ft. Lee has the biggest Russian community in New Jersey, for one.

[garbon]

Is the only person that 91 year old woman? Is cardiac arrest uncommon in someone that age?

No, but nobody's blaming the situation for her heart attack.  Just the delay in treatment.  If it comes out that the delay was the major contributing factor in her death, that's good enough for criminal charges.

Of course, being good enough and something being done about it are two completely different beasts, since a 91 year old doesn't make a perfectly sympathetic victim.  Shame it wasn't a 21-year-old mugging victim.

Actually, you know what?  I'm out.  Your selective apathy is pissing me off.

Selective apathy? My point was that it doesn't make for a particularly strong or damning case as it'll be pretty hard to prove that the delay cause said death.

It is also quite different from again what you portrayed of definitive proof that the delays caused at least one death.

[garbon]

Also to your point about the 21-year-old mugging victim - no, I'd prefer if no one died.

[Alcibiades]

Difference will be if the Repubs circle the wagons around Christie and I tend to doubt, and hope not, that he'll get very much cover and excuses from Repub pols and conservative news for this kind of crap, especially as they've been slamming Pres Obama and the Dems on similar type things.

[Admiral Yi]

Fat Boy just gave a 2 hour press conference.

Wildstein just invoked the 5th at state legislative hearings.

The committee chair said this could expose him to contempt charges, which I found interesting.

The Wolfman said all this conniving was done via the flunkies' personal email accounts, for whatever that's worth.

[Gups]

If he can be directly linked to the order, would that be the end of him politically?

If not, how damaged is he in terms of poor judgement in picking staff?

How's the GOP field shaping up for the primaries (or is it to early)? Any chance Daniels will run this time?

[Admiral Yi]

If he can be directly linked to the order, would that be the end of him politically?

If not, how damaged is he in terms of poor judgement in picking staff?

How's the GOP field shaping up for the primaries (or is it to early)? Any chance Daniels will run this time?

1. After a 2 hour press conference in which he vehemently denied any knowledge, yes.

2.  I think the answer to that question depends on whether you supported or opposed the guy to begin with.

3.  Have not heard any other names tossed in the ring yet.

[Barrister]

Is the only person that 91 year old woman? Is cardiac arrest uncommon in someone that age?

No, but nobody's blaming the situation for her heart attack.  Just the delay in treatment.  If it comes out that the delay was the major contributing factor in her death, that's good enough for criminal charges.

Please don't give legal opinions.

[derspiess]

If he can be directly linked to the order, would that be the end of him politically?

He's a Republican, so yes.

How's the GOP field shaping up for the primaries (or is it to early)? Any chance Daniels will run this time?

Lord, I wish.  But I get the impression Mitch is too smart to want to do it.

[Jacob]

Is the only person that 91 year old woman? Is cardiac arrest uncommon in someone that age?

No, but nobody's blaming the situation for her heart attack.  Just the delay in treatment.  If it comes out that the delay was the major contributing factor in her death, that's good enough for criminal charges.

Please don't give legal opinions.

Why not?

[alfred russel]

If he can be directly linked to the order, would that be the end of him politically?

He's a Republican, so yes.

How's the GOP field shaping up for the primaries (or is it to early)? Any chance Daniels will run this time?

Lord, I wish.  But I get the impression Mitch is too smart to want to do it.

Isn't there a story about how he took a break with his wife, and she went to live with some other dude, and then they ended their break and are a couple again? Supposedly that would get him beat up a bit.

[Barrister]

Is the only person that 91 year old woman? Is cardiac arrest uncommon in someone that age?

No, but nobody's blaming the situation for her heart attack.  Just the delay in treatment.  If it comes out that the delay was the major contributing factor in her death, that's good enough for criminal charges.

Please don't give legal opinions.

Why not?

Because I'm a lawyer who routinely does give opinions on whether or not charges are warranted, and we have nowhere near enough information to make that kind of assessment here. 

[Barrister]

If he can be directly linked to the order, would that be the end of him politically?

He's a Republican, so yes.

How's the GOP field shaping up for the primaries (or is it to early)? Any chance Daniels will run this time?

Lord, I wish.  But I get the impression Mitch is too smart to want to do it.

Isn't there a story about how he took a break with his wife, and she went to live with some other dude, and then they ended their break and are a couple again? Supposedly that would get him beat up a bit.

UNless she left him because he was beating on her or picking up hookers two at a time, I can't see how marital problems are a political problem...