QoTD: What a Mickey Mouse Answer Edition

In a sense, the snowstorm is irrelevant (0.00 / 0)

In a sense, the snowstorm is irrelevant. Christie is the chief executive of a state with over 8 million people, and his failure to coordinate his exploits with the LG are inexcusable. Mouthpiece Drewniak excuses the governor by stating that Christie is in touch with the state by cell phone or other electronic means. Yet, one of the aspects of disasters is that they usually come unexpectedly. After all, if we expected them, we would be prepared. Notwithstanding the layoffs of hundreds of state and municipal workers, in general we are prepared for snowstorms. But imagine, if you will, the impact on the state of New Jersey of a nationwide cyberattack. Emergency services would be in a state of havoc, and no amount of technology could connect the state's command and control centers with an absentee governor. Even assuming the best of planning, some amount of intelligent improvisation would be needed, and the problems would be exacerbated by an absentee executive. I posited this scenario on a conservative blog and was accused of being a hater and grasping at straws. Whether or not this scenario is likely, the point is that we elect our leaders to perform in the best of times and in the worst of times. Christie's actions are not just bad optics, they're bad governing.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

---

by: deciminyan @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 02:31:08 AM UTC

Yes. Consider Rudy Giuliani. (4.00 / 1)

His time as mayor was a mess - until September 11, 2001. And now, that is all most Americans, even most New Yorkers, will remember about him. And for good reason: He was present. He got there quickly. He spoke to people. He directed them what to do.

A snowstorm isn't a terrorist attack. But we don't get to pick our disasters, we only get to prepare for them. Christie's behavior, and Drewniak's attempts to minimize it, suggest he thinks he's only judged on his own terms, when he's camera-ready to be filmed in whatever brawl he directs his staff to stage for him. That's not the way it works. And that's not what governing a state requires. It's not the worst crime in the world, but it was stupid and showed governmental immaturity.

He should have done better, and Drewniak's snotty comments didn't help his case.


It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

---

by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 02:56:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Voters seem to have short memories (0.00 / 0)

about most things, but long memories about snow removal (or lack thereof).

Blog: Pick's Place

---

by: jeffpickens @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 11:08:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

camera ready Christie (4.00 / 1)

I heard he had a shout down with 6 of the seven dwarfs while at Disney World. Waiting to see Drewniak post the YouTube clip so I can confirm this really happened. :D  

---

by: johnleesandiego @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 13:05:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If I remember correctly (0.00 / 0)

The 2005 Lt Gov referendum was opposed by Republicans? Maybe the concurrent Gov & Lt Gov vacations were a deliberate F-you to call into question the need for a Lt Governor? (Yes, I am a paranoid conspiracy theorist, especially when it come to Republicans). Please correct me if I am wrong.

Blog: Pick's Place

---

by: jeffpickens @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 12:00:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Arrogant Bas**rds (3.00 / 1)

His administration just does not get it.

At times it almost seems like they believe we should be honored to have them in office.

This Drewniak seems to have a sarcastic answer for everything.

---

by: firstamend07 @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 02:46:17 AM UTC

Wait til the Governor finds out (3.00 / 1)

that Sweeney has asked Christie's staff to request FEMA funds to help "get through" the blizzard aftermath. Perhaps Bret Schundler can draft the application; I think he is still looking for a job.

Blog: Pick's Place

---

by: jeffpickens @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 11:06:45 AM UTC

Christie is useless (4.00 / 1)

What a contrast between Christie and Cory Booker.   While Christie vacations and couldn't be bothered about the crisis, the Newark mayor Booker is out there digging people out himself!

You might say as Cory Booker dug people out of the snow, Christie dug himself a hole to pile some bullcrap in.

---

by: rjsnj @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 11:54:11 AM UTC

This will not bode well for the Christie Team (0.00 / 0)

The state has requested the Monmouth County DPW's help in clearing Route 18.

Ocean and Monmouth are still a mess Wednesday morning, and 71, 35 and 18 were all closed early today.  Reports say it's still tough to get to 195 (ramps from both 18 and 35 to 195 were shut down this morning) leaving the Parkway as the only main route in and out of coastal Ocean and Monmouth.

Both these counties gave huge totals to Christie in 2009 and LG Guadagno served as Monmouth County Sheriff before being elected AG.

It will be very interesting to see how they try to spin this one.  For whatever reason the state was in way over its head in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

The national guard should have been brought in by late Tuesday morning to start clearing cars and digging out.    

---

by: JackHarris @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 14:50:05 PM UTC

Wow (0.00 / 0)

Hopefully this will be a lesson for the voters in Monmouth and Ocean Counties here.

I live on a county road in Monmouth and it was not until this morning when the road was actually black.  Having been trapped for the last few days inside I am dying to go somewhere but first I must face the 4 foot snowbank between my car and the road.

The Democrats really need to hammer this home in 2011 and 2013 to show that Christie is just another Bush (vacations while natural disasters strike).

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

---

by: tabbycat31 @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 15:52:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just wait til he arrives at Newark (0.00 / 0)

Get the cameras ready!  What's going to be most galling is when Christie comes back from Disneyworld tanned, rseted, and and joking about "getting out of NJ just in time." haha! Big yucks there - how can he resist?

What's super galling is that it's the attitude Christie's's got about NJ in general, demonstrated by slashing-and-burning the state's educational system, chopping the tunnel project, and concentrating primarily on anything that can be done to make him a famous Wingnut hero. Christie is obviously going to "get out of NJ just in time" before he has to suffer the backlashes. (He'll leave that privilege to Cory Booker.)

Christie's ignored the state while he's been away signing autographs and posing with the Big Mouse.  I wouldn't be surprised if there were other high-flying GOP financiers vacationing down there this week, as well. Where's Rove this week? How many "business meetings" with money guys plotting Christie's assault on higher office would it take for Christie to be legally able to write off the trip?

Christie is a manipulative, arrogant, self-important bully, who feels entitles to everything he's been given. Now Rove is going to pay Christie back for being a stand-up GOP hack during the Bush administration. He's plotting to put this mixture of Tony Soprano and Sarah Palin onto a national ticket, perhaps with Marco Rubio or Rick Perry.

Who is investigating the continuing connections between Christie and Rove?

---

by: Louise @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 17:28:44 PM UTC

Good question, Louise (0.00 / 0)

Christie was one of the US Attorneys who was not fired by Rove. This means that he most likely did participate in the dirty tricks that other more ethical US Attorneys got fired for refusing to do. I wonder what those dirty tricks were.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

---

by: deciminyan @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 18:09:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Menendez leak for starters (0.00 / 0)

Timed exquisitely to torpedo the Senator's reelection. That never really led to anything, did it?

It was a phony charge from the get-go.

---

by: Louise @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 20:50:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]