Christie Scandal has GOP "On the Brink of Panic"

[babylonsister]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/17/1270519/-Christie-Scandal-has-GOP-On-the-Brink-of-Panic?detail=facebook

Fri Jan 17, 2014 at 02:06 PM PST
Christie Scandal has GOP "On the Brink of Panic"

by ericlewis0Follow



From McKay Coppins at BuzzFeed:

But after a brutal year of setbacks, scandals, and political floundering capped this month by a controversy that threatens to sink New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s political career, the Republican establishment is warily scanning its bruised and bloodied field of potential 2016 standard-bearers — and many of the party poobahs are on the brink of panic.

In interviews with more than a dozen party officials, fundraisers, and strategists in New York and Washington over the past 10 days, Republicans described a palpable sense of anxiety gripping the GOP establishment in the wake of Christie’s meltdown, and an emerging consensus that the once promising cast of candidates they were counting on to save the GOP from the tea party — and the nation from Hillary Clinton — is looking less formidable by the week.

...

In fact, it’s gotten so bad, the operative said, that some donors have started looking back fondly on the good old days of 2012: “You know what a lot of them say to me? I think we need Mitt back.”

http://www.buzzfeed.com/...

It makes sense that Christie's downfall would spell trouble for the Republican Party establishment types. Christie, is, after all, Karl Rove's chosen one. From an article this past Sunday in the National Review:

Karl Rove said this morning on Fox News Sunday that Chris Christie’s handling of the Port Authority traffic scandal has been so honest and forthright that it ”probably gives him some street cred with tea-party Republicans.”

http://www.nationalreview.com/...

HAHAHAHAHA

[onehandle]

1. The Great White Hope is now The Great White Anchor.

They are in a canoe and the anchor is from the Titanic.

Do the math.

[monmouth3]

2. I think they have that "sinking" feeling.....sorry..n/t

[snagglepuss]

20. "Great White Anchor" LOLOLOL

Man I needed that

[LiberalEsto]

3. Chill out, repukes

This is business as usual in NJ.
The only difference is that Christie is so baldly arrogant and stupid as to get himself caught.

[Egnever]

4. This is silly

The majority of the GOP turned on Christie long ago. The idea that he was the great hope in the GOP is a great narrative but doesnt have much resemblance to reality.

Would be awesome if it was true.

[underpants]

14. I agree. Fox News took several days trying to figure how to sell this...

To their own audience.

There were several reports about how Fox was ignoring the story, they were testing messages on focus groups and getting ideas from their pros.

They sold him out even blaming him for the 2012 election.

They weren't going to nominate him anyway.

[immoderate]

5. Romney looks good right now. Who else do they have?

--imm

[MH1]

7. Aqua Buddha? nt.

[Divernan]

18. I have always predicted that Jeb Bush will run in 2016.

[eggplant]

19. Even his mom refuses to endorse him, tho.

[libodem]

27. Yep

He's their star.

[elzenmahn]

22. I wouldn't completely count out Christie just yet...

He has the backing and open admiration of the monied class (ask the Koch Brothers and many of the banker/hedge fund people who have contributed to him and his campaigns), and he was once one of them as a lobbyist prior to running for elected office. Also, the presidential elections are 2 1/2 years away - plenty of time to bury this scandal (assuming he survives it).

As for the MittWit - look what happened to him in 2012, especially in the second and third debates. Imagine if Hillary were debating the MittWit - not a pretty sight at all, and I think the Repubs, deep down, know that.

[global1]

6. All One Needs To Know About Crisp Crispy And Whether He Is Culpable Is To Know That......

he is KKKarl Rove's chosen one.

Birds of a feather. It takes one to know one.

[Kahuna]

8. Payback is a you know what. nt

[loudsue]

9. Nope. The GOP is gonna pull Jeb Bush out of their ass

and all those billions that are being spent on 24/7 ads in North Carolina and other red states will bring in their dividends.

[elzenmahn]

26. The problem with Jeb, however...

...is that damned last name. W turned it into a nice, big tar brush.

[Voice for Peace]

10. there he goes again, trying to create a new reality

Karl Rove said this morning on Fox News Sunday that Chris Christie’s handling of the Port Authority traffic scandal has been so honest and forthright that it ”probably gives him some street cred with tea-party Republicans.”

[ThoughtCriminal]

11. Is "Bag of Hammers" available?

No, but one thing I've learned from the GOP is that they can actually brew a perfect storm of corrupt AND stupid, then actually pretend that the product is a viable candidate for President of the United States.

[WatermelonRat]

12. I try not to get too confident about distant elections...

But given the current state of the GOP, I'm not too worried either.

[Gothmog]

13. Christie will not be the GOP nominee

This could be fun to watch

[factsarenotfair]

15. I think they want Congress and the Presidency is secondary.

Actually, having a Democratic President gives them a scapegoat and a punching bag and allows for "bi-partisan" corporate-friendly actions.

[Stuart G]

16. Christie has defined himself, "Bully" end of definition.

and people do not like "bullies" Now about Bushhhhhhhh...

His brother defined himself too...liar..killer..
this Jeb Bush...may not sell too well...cause he will remind the world of the "liar"


"We do not torture"

[elzenmahn]

23. Actually, to an authoritarian mindset...

...a bully is often confused with strength and leadership. They're two separate things, of course - but I recommend a reading of some of John Dean's later work on the subject. He lays it out pretty well - especially in "Conservatives Without Conscience".

[arely staircase]

17. "we need mitt back"

they fucking have hit rock bottom.

[elzenmahn]

24. But they still have the big money backing them...

...and we have no idea who they have hiding in the wings. You best believe they aren't going to drag him/her out now.

It's the ol' rope-a-dope. Look out for it.

[arely staircase]

25. hopefully they will give all that money to karl rove to flush down the toilet again nt

[Rex]

21. And now you see why so many GOP operatives are trying to shift us away from the CC scandal.

They got their marching orders.

[Coyotl]

28. And, oh the timing. And, oh how the Bush DoJ days come back to haunt anew!

The Christie corruption is a leftover of Bush and Company, Chris was their go to guy as a USA. The Bush stain on history lingers.

[Historic NY]

29. KKKARL, apparently he didn't hear the news....

[Renew Deal]

30. It's too early to panic

Seriously. 2016 is light years away in political terms. I know that campaign announcements begin around a year from now, and a lot will change.

The one reason for republicans to panic is that most of their premier candidates are RW cranks and may be certain losers in the GE. Can they nominate someone ideologically electable?

[Barack_America]

31. What? They've got the Cruz/Paul ticket.

Political gold!