Not to speak heresies, but...

[WilliamPitt]

Not to speak heresies, but given the size of the shitburger he's being forced to eat on national television, Christie appears to be holding his own. I don't believe a word he says, the federal building is about to fall on him because the DoJ sees messing with that bridge as a matter of homeland security, and he's all done if there's a lick of evidence connecting him directly to this debacle. But it's not the worst press conference I've ever seen.

The fact of the length of this presser even works in his favor. He's taking every punch. Whether or not he's lying will come out in the wash down the road, but reporters - even enemy reporters - tend to have a grudging admiration for politicians who stay at the podium and take the hits. This wasn't a statement and then flight; he pretty much dealt with every warm body in the room.

My assessment: the sun will come up in Christieville tomorrow. Those who say his '16 hopes are dashed have forgotten the short-term memory phenomenon we endure in politics and media these days. The news assbags love a "comeback" story, if only to get an opportunity to knock the come-backer back down again later on.

I could be wrong.

[warrior1]

1. It's too soon to let him off the hook

he's toast IMO

[yeoman6987]

27. He'll survive

I think he will finish his term as Governor. However, if he wins the Republican Presidential Nomination, he will not win the General. He is what McCain and Romney are...a Centrist Republican who will not be voted for by Conservatives who will stay home on election day like they did in 2008 and 2012.

[randome]

2. Possibly. But there is much more than just the fact of the bridge closure.

Why did he joke -not on one occasion, but repeatedly- about it when asked by reporters? Why did he not return the Mayor's phone calls?

None of that is a smoking gun, of course, and I doubt there will be one, but together it has enough weight to put a stain on his prospects for some time to come.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[Ninga]

3. As long as "what he knew and when he knew it" is the standard used, he will skate. However, if by

his own words, it can be demonstrated he didn't care....well that's the bigger story.

Balderdash...traffic study...the "sandy storm" Christie would have gotten on the phone screaming "what kind of traffic study causes school buses to be late"...

Not buying it. He didn't care, especially when reassured his staff wasn't involved. If he believed the fuck up on the bridge didn't come from his office it left him free to not care about the constituents who got stuck on the bridge.

[blm]

4. When Bernie Madoff's group needed to hire a ruthless lie machine he tapped Christie

to be his lobbyist, who then convinced the state of NJ to exempt securities fraud from its consumer fraud laws.

Christie CAN be a convincing liar, but, only if you WANT to believe his lies.

[beachbum bob]

5. I disagree...Christie is painting a not so

Pretty picture of his competence. ..As well as making falsehoods left and right. It will be up to media and authorities to get to the bottom. A deputy chief of staff does not go rogue no matter how much Christie wants to deny. A climate of retribution was pervasive. ..otherwise how do explain their actions

[kelliekat44]

17. Yes they do...and can. I've worked for such people...but not for long.

But the tone is set at the top. If the top is ruthless. it is easy for underlings to believe that ruthless acts would be condoned at the top and they won't ask questions. If, however, you work for someone whom you know or at least believe is a decent, fair, and honest individual as determined by past actions, then an order engaging in a ruthless act would likely be questioned by an underling. "This doesn't sound like something X would do. Are you sure?" "let me see it in writing."

[A Simple Game]

32. But if she did go rogue it was to please her boss.

If she did it on her own she then told him, otherwise how do you get the brownie points?

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. I am also struck by the length of time he's given the press.

And his willingness to answer any and all questions.

I have no idea whether or not he's being truthful, and only time will tell in that regard I guess.

The speed of today's news cycle certainly plays in his favor though.

[djean111]

28. McCain's advice to him was to hold a very long presser and stay and answer every question.

So - he took the advice, and looks like good advice - people here are saying it makes him look good.
Left to his own devices, he may have blown it and lost his temper, but he was well=prepared.
He is not a dumb person, he is just a mean bully who manages to get his way, usually by bullying, but - whatever it takes.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. I basically said the same thing yesterday

(obviously before the presser) and was told I was dead wrong. I don't think so. As I said earlier, if they can shove G.W. down our throats, TWICE, they can push Christie through. They really have no choice as I don't think they had a Plan B. They sure as hell aren't going to let any of the batshit crazy clown car crew in as the nominee.

[Inkfreak]

9. It'd be great if Herman Cain ran again tho, right?

For the Daily Show segments alone!

[Le Taz Hot]

18. Oh, we'll get plenty of entertainment

with Carnival Cruz, Santorum and whoever else will be coming out from under their rocks.

[Inkfreak]

8. I have little faith in this doing long term damage.

It sure as hell should. Blatant abuse of power. But as long as he has an underling to take the hit, he'll squeak thru. These republicans seem to a lot of times. Add in voter short term memory and it'll just be a footnote come primary time. And frankly, I don't see the republican voters caring.

I actually wonder if a lot of voters even understand how shitty this was. NY/NJ traffic is a thing of wonder & not a lot of places compare outside of major cities. I bet a lot of folks don't realize how much he fucked up a major route.

What an absurd & childish thing to do

[6000eliot]

12. But then he comes across as clueless and not in control of his administration.

[Orsino]

20. Christie kept himself virginal through the shutdown debacle.

The GOP doesn't want to have to run Perry/McCain, so I think that at certain levels above all the infighting, every possible bit of influence is being wielded to make this story go away. It's Christie or Clinton in '16.

[ProSense]

10. Christie is

toast.

TPM headlines expose Christie's lame BS and lies
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024304443

‘What could they have been thinking?’ (and a LOL WTF?)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024304851

This isn't the same as recovering from a debate.

[6000eliot]

11. A "successful" press conference would put the issue to bed.

I think that will NOT be happening in this case, nor should. Poise isn't the same thing as providing coherent answers.

[Demo_Chris]

13. I believe that this is one of those "please proceed" moments...

Only we are the ones stumbling along oblivious.

There is WAY too much investigating and press conferencing and who knew what nonsense for such a ludicrous issue. I know some people REALLY care about this, or pretend they do anyway, and I am not trying to be offensive to them, but WTF people. This makes the birthers look freaking grounded. National Security? If you cannot even explain the issue to someone without them starting to yawn or look at you like you're a loon, it's not an issue. Even John Steward could do no better than to suggest that he was disappointed Christie's Mafioso style thuggery didn't rise to typical New Jersey standards.

[athena]

16. I don't think the American people want a president

who takes political revenge on his opponents for not supporting him, in a way that puts innocent people's lives at risk. The idea is simply too scary.

That's why this is a really important issue.

[yeoman6987]

30. Oh goodness

I would agree, but the Republicans thought the IRS was targeting them too. When does all this crazy talk stop. I don't know if Christie is lying or not, but politics sure does have it's liars all over the place.

[Demo_Chris]

35. I don't think they care...

Outside places like this at any rate. And we don't care either, other than for the purpose of scoring points. Perspective: We had no problem voting for a man who has decided on his OWN that as President he has the power to KILL, without trial or even congressional or judicial review, in secret, any American citizen he wants, wherever he likes, whenever he likes, for any reason he sees fit, in secret, and if you don't like it too damn bad. He'll even target and execute their underage children.

And we voted for him. Twice.

So with all respect, spare me the hand wringing self-righteous hysteria over "aggressive traffic studies." It sounds contrived and ridiculous because it is.

[magical thyme]

14. federal charges are en route

If he knew (and it seems likely he did) and his staffers are facing serious jail time, how loyal will they be?

And there are thousands of pages of documents that were subpoenaed that have *not* been made public. He can stand up to all the public beatings he wants. One piece of evidence in those thousands of pages, or one staffer who rats him out in exchange for immunity, and he's toast with traffic jam.

Time will tell. But, as I wrote elsewhere this morning, let this be a lesson about getting too big for your bridges.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. I spent 12 years in the car business and that guy reminds me of our best lying salesmen.

[NewJeffCT]

19. I think you're right on the money

He has the advantage of having an (R) after his name after all. The media, in general, also likes him. Plus, his political revenge on a Democrat will play well with the Republican base who doesn't like that he cozied up to Obama.

If Christie were a Democrat, the media would be calling for him to resign and be carted off to jail, and declaring his political future to be deader than Robb Stark's chances for the Iron Throne.

[ChiciB1]

21. Have To Agree With You... THE Length

does work in his favor, but intelligent "ordinary" people who follow politics just HAVE to know exactly what he's doing! It's called CYA and he probably mastered that a very LOOOOOONG time ago!

When a person can get as many Democrats to follow him like a pied piper, he knows how to work the system in his favor. Talking about being "betrayed" is NO excuse for not eye-balling this mess from the get-go and should be the very BOTTOM line of this whole thing. But what did he do? He made JOKES!! Classic!

The ONE thing that I can agree with is this... our American political system today ain't what it was when I was protesting back in the late sixties! We can scream & holler til the cows come home (sorry my southern bent) but his skates were been sharpened and waxed a long time ago. AND, I'm sure they're sent to shop every week to keep them honed!

I'm so stupid & naive that when I was given the wrong change last week I actually didn't think twice about calling the store back when I got home to tell them. They gave me a $100.00 bill when I should have been given a $20.00! My kharma got to me and said... well you know what it said!

[jeff47]

22. The reason he's toast is who is going to vote for him in a primary now?

Teabaggers hate him because he didn't punch Obama after Sandy, he hugged Obama instead. That picture will keep going around teabagville.

The religious right hate him because he's not sufficiently theocratic - they've got far more theocratic options that Christie can not out-religion.

What he had was the centrists and the northerners....the folks who drive in traffic every day. This scandal destroys their support.

So who, exactly, is going to vote for Christie? The bullies? They're teabaggers. The religious right? They're voting Santorum. Southerners? Teabaggers and religious right. Northerners? Centrists stuck in traffic.

He's got no one left to vote for him.

[Cyrano]

23. I've got to agree. The length of

the conference works in his favor.

As far as I can see, his biggest mistakes were using the phrases "I'm shocked," and "Mistakes were made." These two cliches have been used too often by political cretins starting with Nixon and evidently, continuing to today.

[Raffi Ella]

24. I think you're wrong.

I think his being able to shmooze his way through that presser for two hours is further evidence that he has no conscious. I don't think anyone on the planet believed a word out of his mouth. It just doesn't make sense.All that presser did was perfectly demonstrate how easily he lies.

On top of being an adroit liar, what he said it makes him look bad. THAT'S how he runs an administration as Governor?? how incompetent can someone be? He looks like a fool if what he's saying is true. Not to mention the fact that it was life and death during the time that he "didn't know".

It's in the same league as Bush in the aftermath of katrina as far as I'm concerned. worse!even, cuz he orchestrated it.

He's a liar. I don't think the people he's paid off WILL keep quiet, the truth will surface...

[Shampoobra]

25. I read your OP, then found the video

I tried to be as objective as possible, and here's my conclusion:

If I were an enthusiastic Christie supporter, I would have been ashamed of what I saw. He struck me as a liar who is internally quivering in fear with each line he delivers.

(Under that hypothetical scenario, I would have felt the way I did for real when I learned John Edwards was a complete fraud.)

Now, if you're saying he'll probably avoid incarceration, I agree. But I'll be surprised if he finishes his term as governor.

[unblock]

26. spot on. people forget that republicans can get away with alllll kinds of crap.

a democrat couldn't survive this, but republicans have a different standard.

[justiceischeap]

29. This will be fodder in the primaries

and if he somehow escapes being beaten up by his own party and wins the nomination, he can then be beat up about it by the Democratic contenders. Then we have his "buddy" who isn't his buddy asking for immunity for information. That could either hurt Christie or Kelly.

As it goes, this bridge debacle is going to haunt him. Will it hurt him? That remains to be seen but it will haunt him.

[djean111]

31. Look how many votes Mittens got - and I don't even think his WIFE really likes him.

Christie is a lot more personable than Mitt, and his bullying actually appeals to a segment of the GOP.
And, of course, the rich guys don't care how Christie acts, they are going to do their own thing, uninterrupted, as usual.

[gwheezie]

33. He's got the gop primary to worry about more than the GE

Remember how the gop tends to destroy each other in the primaries? Most of the leaks during the gop 12 primary came from fellow gop who wanted the nomination, not dems. Rand Paul hates the guy and he wants to be president, this is the beginning of the teabag attempt to take Christie down before the primary even gets started. If he makes it through that he'll be as damaged as Mitt was.

[Savannahmann]

34. I never write a politican off the way many here are.

First, look at all the times that Politicians have been in the corner, ruined, destroyed, going to have to resign. Reagan got caught with the whole Iran Contra deal, and Oliver North sat before Congress and said. "I did my job and I believed I was doing the right thing and if you don't like it tough shit." America loved him, and nobody could prove that Reagan ordered it, so he skated.

George W. Bush III jr. got outed by Wilson, was involved in the trashing of Plame, and then Pardoned Scooter who kept his mouth shut.

This isn't a Nixon deal, where we have him on tape. At this point, we're starting to swerve hard onto the shoulder of Conspiracy Theory. This proves he knew, and that proves he was complicit, and if someone talks, he's toast. If we can get some proof, he's toast.

We need to check the proof very carefully. Remember the debacle of the Killian memos. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathergate

The information contained within may have been absolutely accurate, and I think it was. But the memos were forged, and done so sloppily, by a fool. In the end, Bush came off looking like an abused victim, Killian like a liar, Rather like a moron, and CBS looked like a bunch of bumbling idiots.

By comparison, the exposure of the Watergate scandal was checked, double checked, and then where possible triple checked. The same was true of the breaking of the story on Project Azorean (Jennifer) which was the CIA debacle of the Glomar Explorer.

Because there will be one shot at this. If someone rushes out with faked documents, and emails, and it's proven to be faked, Christie will be untouchable from then on.

[Warren DeMontague]

36. Chris Christie eating a "shitburger"

Thank you for that mental image.

No, really.

[msanthrope]

37. Hasty, weren't you???? nt

[WilliamPitt]

38. Note the last line.

[msanthrope]

39. So..were you wrong? nt

[WilliamPitt]

41. Does that give you joy?

I'm glad for you.

He's still in office. And there are all the "If's" I listed.

He's not out of the woods yet. But he's still in the mansion. So.

You need better hobbies, imho.

[msanthrope]

42. It gives me amusement. In particular, I was struck how you

didn't see Christie's presser for what it was.....a narcissistic exposition fail. He thought he talk his way out of it. Why did that seem credible to you???

[WilliamPitt]

43. Meh.

On the grand scale of things, not a very big deal. I felt like the sheer length of the thing, and the fact that he answered every question to the point that the present reporters' tanks were empty, outweighed the brazen douchebaggery that has always been his calling card.

The republic will endure my misread of the media's read, methinks.

Carry on.

[warrprayer]

40. He was a professional liar

for Bernie Madoff. What do you expect? This is his finest hour.