Other Democratic politicians in New Jersey feared retribution who gave their endorsement to Christie

[beachbum bob]

The other avenue in this drama are the numbers of NJ Democratic mayors and other Democratic officials that gave endorsement to Christie feared political retribution that the Ft Lee mayor endurred?

this abuse of power runs much deeper than just some lane blockages to pay back that mayor.

[SummerSnow]

1. Wow, the nerve. Bullying to get votes and support. What a cad

[madashelltoo]

2. This all makes me feel a little better.

I thought surely the democrats in N.J. Government who had endorsed Christi had lost their minds. He is destroying their educational system, taxes are going through the roof, creating no new jobs and has his buddies running the prison system into the ground. This bullying thing clears some of the fog for me.

[atreides1]

4. Why would you feel better?

Instead of standing up to this jerk, they raised the flag of surrender because of fear!!! That doesn't make them leaders, it shows that they were gutless.

Losing their minds is more acceptable then cowardice....

[madashelltoo]

5. The explanation makes me feel better.

The fact that they were spineless in the face of a bully lets me know it wasn't because they were legitimately swayed by his bullshit. Fear, not everyone's cup of tea, is a great motivator.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Spineless is far too kind a word, what they are is corrupt, they took part in a

corruption of the electoral process. A craven deal making. Who knows what some expected in return.

[madashelltoo]

14. In no way am I minimizing

What they've done. This merely clears any fog left in the room. I would be in trouble if I used the words running through my mind to describe them.

[smokey nj]

7. Apparently NOT standing up to bullies is a positive trait in elected officials.

Politicians who cower in the face of a bully are awesome!

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Totally. And I'd like to see them step-up to the plate and talk about it publicly.

In view of the recent developments.... I think they ( DEM pols who backed Christie) need to explain their actions.

These are political *leaders*. We are ... perhaps only *technically* now, I'll grant..... a free republic.


Leadership in a free republic entails taking responsibility.

Well.... where are they?

[Larkspur]

6. The Fort Lee Mayor told Chris Hayes that he did not endorse Christie

because he, the mayor, BELIEVES in the principals of the Democratic Party.

The Dems who endorsed Christie deserve all the flack they will get. Obviously, they chose cowardice and payback over standing up for Democratic principals.

[Beacool]

8. The gumption of the guy!!!

I think that some of the 50 Democratic officials who endorsed Christie did it because he was popular with their constituents, but some others did it out of fear of retaliation.

I'm still furious that the DNC left Buono swinging in the air. No one at the national level came to her aid. It was disgraceful.

[BlueCaliDem]

10. ^^^This!^^^ Excellent analysis, Beacool!

And I totally agree with you. Yours is, thusfar, the best explanation.

[Beacool]

11. Thank you.

I live in NJ, I know how these folks think.

[riversedge]

13. Buono was on a discussion show

just before the election that I listened to and she was articulate, savoy and smart. I did not know the Dnc let her swing. crap. That is sad.

[Beacool]

15. Yep, that's exactly what they did.

They felt that She had no chance of winning and they didn't help her at all. I'm still angry about it.

[Laxman]

9. There were plenty of Democrats...

who didn't endorse Christie. The mayor of Fort Lee being one of them, but there were many more who didn't than did. As for those who did, I've explained elsewhere that there is a complex web of influence of the business and development community that includes both democrats and republicans. Additionally, there were some particularly vulnerable small town mayors after Sandy who were held hostage. There are no simple answers.

You are correct that the abuse of power runs much deeper than the lane blockages.