Does Christie know or care how to govern?

by: Adam L

Mon Jan 10, 2011 at 03:34:05 PM EST

I say this with all seriousness, as it has become more and more evident over the past year that Chris Christie is more interested in "being the Governor" and picking fights with anyone who crosses him (or in some instances, just crosses his path). But when it comes to the hard part like actually dealing with the structural issues in the state - whether it be the property tax costs, the pension system, the amount of debt, the ARC tunnel, funding of particular programs, the transportation fund.....you name it, and the general theme is as follows:

React with short term fix that doesn't address long term solution;
Scapegoat anyone who questions;
Demonize anyone who is in the "targeted groups" (public workers, unemployed, individuals buried in snow, other elected officials, etc.);
Verbally attack anyone who points out inconsistency between prior statements and current actions;
Ignore underlying issue;
Distract and create diversion by creating another manufactured controversy or pat self on back for something minor or expected from someone who should be doing their job.

Lather, rinse, repeat.
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Adam L :: Does Christie know or care how to govern?

On a number of occasions, Christie has had a golden opportunity to step up on some pretty big issues and each time, he has not only failed to rise to the occasion, he has not only shown a lack of vision or a handle on how to deal with a crisis, he has consistently turned it into a political issue. He had a chance to do some great things with reforming property tax - talking about the potential for consolidation of services, for example. But the 2% cap and "toolkit" of some good, some bad, some irrelevant ideas is a short sighted idea, at best.

On the ARC tunnel, he failed to show the vision which would strengthen jobs for years, clear congestion on the roads and also help the infrastructure by putting less strain on already stressed and crumbling roads. On Race To the Top, he showed a stunning amount of arrogance by singlehandedly costing New Jersey students $400 million. With his borrowing money for the state transportation fund, he has shown to do the very thing he vilified mere months earlier.

It's not like he didn't know going in what the big issues were, it isn't like there aren't a wealth of major issues that could be addressed. Yet, as noted a number of times, his own website had a blank section on job creation for months. Taking any of the major issues or opportunities facing New Jersey, and what is Christie's plan to deal with them - short, medium or long term?

Is there even a plan? Does he even want one?

Tags: race to the top, Education, ARC Tunnel, governing, Economy, jobs, priorities, hypocrisy, Chris Christie, (All Tags)

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Does Christie know or care how to govern? | 3 comments

Christie's Long Term Plan (4.00 / 1)

Like the rest of the Bush crime family, Christie's long term plan is to write a book. It will be titled "Profiles in Cowardice."

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

by: deciminyan @ Mon Jan 10, 2011 at 20:41:17 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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actually, I got an advanced copy of (0.00 / 0)

Christie's actual plan for the upcoming year:

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

by: Adam L @ Mon Jan 10, 2011 at 21:14:20 PM UTC

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