Capitol Quickies: Is Sunday's Storm Christie's Katrina?
Hyperbole aside (there are no walls of water wiping out entire blocks of homes here), the imagery is politically unsettling. President George W. Bush's second term unraveled in the wake of the 2005 hurricane that devastated New Orleans and what some considered an out-of-touch response to the disaster. What will happen to the riding-high Christie during the next three years if visions of the governor cavorting with Mickey while New Jerseyans dug their way out of their homes remain in people's heads?
Salon - War Room: Bloomberg's, Christie's reputations for effectiveness buried under snow
So New Jersey's tough-talking, take-no-prisoners governor is literally at Disney orld while dozens of vehicles remain strapped on highways and some post offices are unable to deliver the mail. The worst part is that Christie left on Sunday, when the storm was on its way up the coast and his Lt. Gov. was already in Mexico. Christie's already less popular in Jersey than his non-Jersey-residing admirers would have you believe, and this embarrassment certainly won't help. Unfortunately for Chris Christie, snow doesn't go away when you post a video of you yelling at it to YouTube. Nor can you fire it.
Slate: Chris Christie Is Too Important to Care About Snow, or Cancer, or His Job
That's the problem Christie cares about: where he stands on the scoreboard of the eternal campaign. Not getting the state un-paralyzed again. Calling the vacation a political misjudgment misses the point. It wasn't a mistake; it was a genuine reflection of Christie's attitude. The governor doesn't see why he has to be responsible for coordinating police, transportation, and public works in an emergency. And he certainly doesn't see why he should have to suffer alongside the people who elected him. New Jersey's problem isn't his problem.
Slate: Who Can Christie yell at to get out of this one?
This is arguably a worse mistake for Christie than it would have been for any other northeast governor. Christie's year one governing strategy has been, basically, tough love for state employees. Remember the confrontation between Christie and the teacher, who complained about how hard her job was getting and got the governor to respond, "Than you don't have to do it?" Austerity works, tough love works, if it's being practiced by the guy asking for it. [snip] If I'm a political strategist for one of the New Jersey unions that has been roundly beaten by Christie this year, I have my opening salvo for 2011. All of this is just incomprehensible from an administration that seemed to have mastered YouTube era political optics.
Vanity Fair: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Braves Blizzard From Confines of Enchanted Floridian Castle
Critically acclaimed New Jersey governor Chris Christie is in quite a bit of trouble with people paying attention: the Republican's trip to Disney World (Experience the Magic™) coincided with Sunday's blizzard and his lieutenant governor Kim Guadagno's vacation to Mexico.
Washington Monthly: Maybe Christie can send a postcard
But when it comes to keeping up appearances, this doesn't look great for the New Jersey governor. The vacation scheduling was clearly a mistake; Christie bolted even after being told about the impending blizzard; he's making no effort to cut short his trip; and Democratic officials are doing all the heavy lifting (sometimes literally) while the governor enjoys some fun in the sun.
Star-Ledger, Paul Mulshine: Guadagno may have an excuse, but what about Christie?
The Asbury Park Press reports that Kim Guadagno may be visiting with her cancer-stricken father in Mexico. So that would give the lieutenant governor an excuse for being out of the state during the blizzard of the century.
However, the Star-Ledger editorial page staff queried Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak on the question of whether Guadagno is in Mexico for personal reasons or vacation.
"Vacation" was Drewniak's response.
So Guadagno still has some 'splainin' to do, it seems.
If she in fact has a good excuse for being out of state, then what's the governor's excuse for flying south at the very time New Jersey was about to be hit by the blizzard?
Tucson Citizen: When the going gets tough...
some folks would rather step off than step up...
Chris Christie, the Republican Governor of New Jersey frequently touted as a contender for the R presidential nod in 2012, likes to talk tough about about things, especially public employees, but when the going gets tough, he can be found ...vacationing at Disney World.
Star Ledger Editorial: Absent-minded: Gov and his lieutenant both on vacation
Maybe next year, the state's two top executives will plan their vacations better so someone from the team is in charge. That's how this was supposed to work.
Atlantic City Press Editorial: The Poetry of Snow/ Guess who is MIA?
Snowstorms like this are rough on governors who build their careers on bashing public employees. Because in snowstorms like this one, thank goodness for the people plowing the roads, the police officers coming to the aid of stranded motorists and all the other emergency crews trying to help us get through this.
Sunday and Monday, they earned every penny. Nearly two feet of snow has a way of changing your perspective - especially when you are here digging out. And not on vacation.
Associated Press: NJ leaders criticized for being away during storm
Christie left the state Sunday, ahead of the blizzard.
ABC News Blog: The Politics of Snow
In New Jersey, where a post-Christmas blizzard dumped as much as 30 inches of snow in some parts of the state, the website PolitickerNJ reports that "some lawmakers Monday were grumbling" that Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, as well as Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno, also a Republican, "were on vacation at the same time," leaving state Senate President Steve Sweeney - a Democrat - as the state's Acting Governor.
NewsBusters: ABC Scolds 'Rising Star of the Republican Party' Chris Christie for Missing Blizzard
Of the three morning shows, only ABC's Good Morning America on Wednesday singled out New Jersey governor Chris Christie, chiding the "rising star of the Republican Party" for being out of the state when a blizzard hit. At the same time, reporter Sharyn Alfonsi praised Newark's Democratic Mayor Cory Booker for helping with the clean-up. She enthused, "Wow! A mayor with a shovel."
Politico: Christie at Disney World
So it is, at least, notable that Chris Christie didn't fly back from his Disney World vacation for this week's blizzard. He's thrived on the image of a take-charge executive; natural disasters are the sort of moment when an executive is supposed to take charge.
NPR: Some N.J. Politicians Feeling Heat Over Blizzard
Angry, frustrated citizens could easily convert to angry, frustrated voters later on. New Jersey politicians are getting mixed grades so far from the public on their response to two-and-a-half-feet of snow.
Daily Record Editorial: Governor and Lt. Governor both out of state
Everyone has a right to take a vacation. However, voters created the lieutenant governor's position through referendum so that the governor would have a stand-in other than the Senate President. From now on, it would behoove Christie and Guadagno to coordinate schedules so they're not out of state at the same time. If not, there's no reason to have a lieutenant governor.
Daily Finance: New Jersey Copes With Blizzard Without the Governor -- or His Backup
New Jersey residents voted in 2005 to give their state a lieutenant governor after a period when the state had five governors in five years. So even though New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is on vacation in Florida while his state is getting pounded by a blizzard, there should be no executive vacuum in Trenton.
Washington Post: Christie Criticized for blizzard vacations
As New Jersey crawls out from under piles of snow, it's being helped not by Gov. Chris Christie or Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno but by Senate President and acting governor Stephen M. Sweeney, a Democrat. Why? Because the state's two top executives skipped town before the storm hit.
National Journal: Christie, Bloomberg visited by the ghost of John Lindsay
In Christie's case, it's simply a matter of showing up. Christie and his family left Sunday for a vacation at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., as the storm that brought nearly 32 inches of snow to densely-populated Elizabeth, N.J., was bearing down on the state.
National Journal: Is Christie the Latest Pol to Be Buried by a Snowstorm?
While New Jersey got slammed by two feet of snow, Republican Gov. Chris Christie was riding the roller-coasters at Disney World with his family.
Huffington Post: Christie Slammed For Staying In Disney World During Devastating Snow Storm
Critics are taking aim at New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for his decision to embark ---- and now remain -- on his Disney World vacation even while his state digs out of a massive snow storm. Compounding the criticism is the fact that Christie's second-in-command, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, is simultaneously on leave in Mexico.
With both Christie and Guadagno missing in action, Democratic Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who assumed his role on Sunday, is serving as acting governor. As a result, he's been left with Christie's momentous blizzard-busting responsibilities.
One columnist placed the blame squarely on Christie for supposedly shirking his obligations in a "dereliction of duty and an abrogation of responsibility" that he claims may prompt skepticism about Christie's profile as a strong leader, perhaps one -- although not according to Christie -- with national aspirations.
Washington Post: Blizzards and Political Fortunes
In New Jersey, the interesting story is that Gov. Chris Christie and his lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, were both out of state. Worse, Christie's actual vacation location allowed Ben Smith of Politico to run his item under the headline: "Christie at Disney World." As Smith wrote: "Political lore holds that snow storms are iconic tests for executives, and one famously helped turn John Lindsay's mayoralty sour. So it is, at least, notable that Chris Christie didn't fly back from his Disney World vacation for this week's blizzard. He's thrived on the image of a take-charge executive; natural disasters are the sort of moment when an executive is supposed to take charge." Christie is now a big deal in national Republican politics, and the fact that Smith took notice of Christie's absence for his national audience of political junkies is significant.
CBS News: Christie under fire for Disney World Vacation during blizzard
Christie has drawn the admiration and attention of Republicans nationally for his straight-talking, tough style, and his Christmas holiday in the Magic Kingdom has been fodder for political media across the country. Hanging out with Mickey Mouse while backs all over New Jersey ache under the strain of shoveling two feet of snow will probably not help his poll numbers at home either. The Hill also reports that Christie's popularity in New Jersey slipped five points in a Quinnipiac poll released this month.
Commentary Magazine: Failure of Leadership
While it's true that 'snow happens,' people expect their elected leaders to be on the scene and stay there during emergencies, whether it's a snowstorm or a terror attack," he writes. "It's not enough to be on the phone coordinating things. The symbolism of sharing the experiences of other citizens and being on hand to show concern is an important aspect of leadership. ... That comes with the territory when you choose to be governor of a state. |
.gif)
