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Christie Commandeers a Big NJ Helicopter

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue May 31, 2011 at 08:20:36 PM EDT

This afternoon, Gov. Chris Christie and his wife Mary Pat commandeered a $12.5 million dollar state of New Jersey helicopter to fly to a kids' baseball game in Bergen County.

Ridgewood Patch got this scoop.

I do not care that this is a kid important to Gov. Christie and his wife; it's his own kid Andrew, starting catcher for Delbarton HS, playing St. Joseph Regional High School at their field in Montvale, Bergen County. He should take time to see his kids, but if the "fiscally responsible" and "conservative" Governor wants to go to a ball game, he should get there the way the rest of us schlubs do.

The helicopter Christie commandeered is a 55-foot chopper that cost the taxpayers $12.5 million dollars. And it wasn't bought to ferry Governors and their wives to ball games, or let them rehearse what Marine One must feel like for wannabe presidents to fly around in. We got this helicopter for New Jersey's homeland security and transporting critically injured patients. Which of those two things was Christie today? How about Mary Pat?

The optics of this just suck for the Governor. The game came to a halt with the thwock-thwock-thwock! of the chopper, and Christie got in a tinted-window black car to be carried 100 yards from the chopper to the game - really? - and the game to the chopper. What a man of the people.

It gets worse, and as many situations with this governor show, the optics aren't bad just because they look bad, they really are troubling. Know where Christie went when he left in the 5th inning - limo to helicopter? He went meet the Iowa Republicans who came to tell Christie they want him to run for president. And where were they meeting? Right: in the governor's mansion - which is the people's house, not a place for this governor to talk self-serving GOP strategy with out-of-staters. Gov. Christie had nothing on his public schedule today, meaning there is no excuse that Michael Drewniak in his infinite ability to defend this governor can cook up.

What do you suppose might have happened if there was a critical accident or terrorism against New Jersey and that helicopter was urgently needed? Would Christie have waited till the 6th inning?

Christie commandeers helicopter to go to kids' baseball game

Hyperlocal Ridgewood Patch got the helicopter scoop and this pic

Rosi Efthim :: Christie Commandeers a Big NJ Helicopter

Tags: Chris Christie, Mary Pat Christie, helicopter, coptergate, commandeer, featured, Iowa, Baseball, Really, (All Tags)

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Christie Commandeers a Big NJ Helicopter | 7 comments

Elitist (4.00 / 3)

This is the guy who called public employees and others elitists. His ego is becoming the stuff of infamy; the limo part just ices it. Possibly the first truly clueless moment we have seen from this governor.

"We do not consider patriotism desirable if it contradicts civilized behavior." - Friedrich Durrenmatt

by: KendalJames @ Wed Jun 01, 2011 at 00:30:55 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

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media lining up to ask him about it (4.00 / 1)

they already had the Presidential angle and now this. Megarian says the press is lining up:

http://yfrog.com/h4ojtwcj

The lack of judgment should overshadow any other news. If missing half the game didn't matter -- and he left early -- then he could have driven to the game and met the Iowa Republicans later. They're from a later time-zone anyway!

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Wed Jun 01, 2011 at 00:37:51 AM UTC

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who does Gov. Cartman think he is? (4.00 / 1)

Greg Schiano?

I hope this story goes national.

especially the limo from the chopper to the ballfield...

Priceless, just priceless.

by: sayitaintso @ Wed Jun 01, 2011 at 01:08:53 AM UTC

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#coptergate (4.00 / 1)

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 Jun 01, 2011 at 02:38:33 AM UTC

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Christie as victim (0.00 / 0)

Is this charade all a big set up "I just wanted to see my son play, why does the media hate my family?"

by: johnleesandiego @ Wed Jun 01, 2011 at 12:48:09 PM UTC

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Definitely a set up (0.00 / 0)

CC certainly had to know this act was so in-your-face that it would ignite an avalanche of media attention. If the intent was to deflect attention from the Iowa lovefest at Drumthacket last night, Mission Accomplished.

Blog: Pick's Place

by: jeffpickens @ Wed Jun 01, 2011 at 12:57:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why the meet at Drumthwacket?? (0.00 / 0)

It's not like CC actually lives there. I guess it was all a political charade to make the hick Iowans think that he was ready for the presidency, after all, he has all the experience necessary for a presidential run: he has an executive mansion and rides in a helicopter at the taxpayer's expense, just like President Obama.

by: FormerBureaucrat @ Wed Jun 01, 2011 at 19:07:31 PM UTC

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Christie Commandeers a Big NJ Helicopter | 7 comments