Dem Mayor: I Got 'Enhanced' Access To NJ Officials After Endorsing Christie

[RandySF]

Long Branch, N.J. Mayor Adam Schneider (D) on Saturday said he got "enhanced" access to state officials after he endorsed Gov. Chris Christie (R) during his re-election campaign.

Schneider told the Washington Post that a few months after he endorsed the governor, he contacted his office about an issue he couldn't get resolved by the state utility board.

"I'm not talking to any more underlings, and I'm not being delegated to," Schneider told Christie's aides, a strategy that proved successful. "I got what I needed."

The Long Branch mayor believes the help from Christie's office can be attributed to the endorsement, even though the governor never promised him anything.

The Washington Post reported that Democratic mayors who supported Christie said that the benefits they reaped from doing so outweighed frustration from fellow liberals who did not endorse the governor.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/long-branch-mayor-enhanced-access-christie-endorsement

[lostincalifornia]

1. Screw mayor Adams. You endorsed that scum bag makes you one

[NJCher]

2. agreed, but

He's speaking up now and we need to hear that side of the story from the mayors who did endorse Christie. The public needs to see there was a connection between the two.


Cher

[lostincalifornia]

4. That is true, but I do not trust any of those Democrats who endorsedhim

[Cha]

24. Exactly, Cher.. it's a big deal that he is

speaking up now! He could just keep quiet.

The public does need to know the Contrast.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. you really do not get how politics in the real world works, do you

The smaller the state, this is a truism of life, the more a governor matters. Being on the right side matters, and this is independent of party.

People should get out more, like to local city council or County Boards at the very least at least once a year.

[lostincalifornia]

5. Sorry but bullshit. Christie is anti-choice, anti-women, anti-healthcare. Which Democratic

Principles does he stand for?

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. What does a pol get elected to do?

Wait, bring home the bacon. What, you think A MAYOR has anything to do with federal policies? Really?

So what do you think a Mayor needs to do to get that bacon home? Oh yeah, work with the administration, in this case Trenton NJ.

I will concede that Christie is not the nicest person around, (nor would I vote for this guy under any circumstances) but if you are a local pol elected to bring, oh I do not know, school funds, and those come from the state capital, guess what? You work with that administration. It has nothing do with with whether you agree with women's rights. That is, surprise, surprise a state level, or worst federal issue.

That is how local politics work.

I do attend those local boards and city councils, often. Yes, there are differences between those dominated by democratic and republican majorities, and at times really obvious ones. But they still have to work with the county and the state capital. I live in a state where the capital is far less important to hyper local issues, such as school funding, the state is large, but it still matters and cities and the county still have a delegation that works with the capital to get moneys for those oh schools (as well as DC for larger cities). What is funny is that most of those people are salaried employees, not partisan appointments.

But hey, I highly recommend you go and find out how local politics work where you live.

FYI, NJ has a reputation for particular sharp elbows by the way and why local mayors, regardless of party, have to consider, do I endorse this bastard? Or do I get put at the back of the train best case.

No, real world politics do not work the way most people here think it should.

[RandySF]

11. It doesn't contradict anything.

The article simply illustrates how Christie operataes through quid pro quo.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Absolutely

in California it works the same way, just far less sharp elbows

Due to the size of the county, the really big sharks in the pond are the County Board of Supers, and believe it or not the Governor is less of an issue. Even when a certain Terminator was the governor, it never got that bad. NJ is a small state. so the governor is a really big shark in a small pond, and that is regardless of party. NJ has a well earned reputation for corruption, there is a reason for that.

[lostincalifornia]

27. I know you wouldn't, nor would most folk on DU, and I understand your point, however, in Northern

California where I live, local politics are mostly run by Democrats, however, when Pete Wilson, or even Arnold was governor, there was not any Democratic mayor in California that were endorsing them that I recall

Maybe New Jersey is unique

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. New Jersey is a small state

California is a very large state. The equivalent of those reindeer games happens at the county level for the most part.

I cover local politics in San Diego. Sacramento could at times be on the other side of the country. Now your local county seat, on the other hand...

And local politics are almost always about real estate, like in Jersey, or anywhere else in the country. Why when the pay to play came out I was laughing hard.

That said, there are varying levels of corruption in the US, jersey has a reputation (with large swaths of the South,) with good reason. Cali has it too, just not as bad.

Why I highly recommend people get very familiar with local politics. I promise a shock or two, it really does not fit textbooks or expectations.

[lostincalifornia]

29. Thanks for the insight, I will look into it /nt

[JI7]

9. mayors and others are trying to get basic services to their people, it's about making sure

all politics is not viewed in the same as as national politics .

local politics often has little to do with party and more about whether one can make sure the roads are in good condition and similar matters.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. In Florida they do it here too.

Go along to get along. They don't care who they screw over in the outside circles.

[herding cats]

7. Does the fact that he's speaking out about this now imply he's banking on Christie going down?

Obviously he won't be enjoying any more favors from Christie's administration after this, but I'm assuming he's not concerned with retaliation either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Thread winner

as they realize Christie is toast, they will do this more and more.

Watch the bouncy ball as to what happens when the next governor takes over.

[herding cats]

16. I'm not breathing the sigh of relief over Christie's departure just yet

But, I am at least letting some of the tension in my shoulders relax. We may have dodged a bullet of potential presidential proportions with all of this being exposed to the light. I also admit to being curious what else may surface now that these politicians seem to be feeling less vulnerable and free to talk.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. I do not think he will dodge the bullet at this point

I think he is on the way out, not necessarily tomorrow. But I think he is on his way out.

The problem is who comes next? If the Lt. Gov is clean, I expect his policies to continue.

As to the Presidency, his dreams are pretty much over.

But, now the feds are looking at Pay to Play at the federal level, so orange might be in his future (I think it is if they decide to play hardball and he does not want to play. They might let him slide from prison in exchange for a gracious resignation. Yup, that is how politics is played)

[herding cats]

19. If Zimmer is able to prove her case, Guadagno won't be moving up the ladder

At least I don't think she will be, even if she's able to show she was only a messenger. I don't recall who the third person was to become governor, but I did see a thread about it here today by NJCher. They were a Democrat, but I know nothing else about them or if they were decent or not.

Edit: NJCher's thread on the topic. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024354705

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. At times there are kind of quid pro quo

we get this real bad guy out, but will not touch the Lt Governor. I can see that playing out, but that will also be the end of the line for the Lt. Gov.

Politics and crime are so much fun

[herding cats]

21. Everyone's talking about how the cover up with Christie's administration is reminiscent of Watergate.

Just imagine the fun of adding an extra layer of similarity by having it take out both the corrupt governor and their second in command.

I agree about politics and crime. This particular situation is rife with so much corruption and abuses of power, I imagine there are some in Hollywood simply drooling in anticipation of the movie they're going to make.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. And as far as hollywood,

I could not sell this script as fiction.

[geek tragedy]

14. Being the big shark in the tank is little

comfort when it's your blood in the water.

[herding cats]

17. That's a perfect analogy!

I'm committing it to memory for future use.

[Cha]

25. Kinda implies that, huh, herding cats?

I know it's not wrong that I'm .

[herding cats]

26. If it's wrong, then I don't want to be right.

I have that deep down feeling we've dodged a bullet on this one and can't help the .

[geek tragedy]

12. It's tough. The mayor's job is to help

his/her community rebuild their homes and businesses. People are still hurting from Sandy.

[jsr]

13. New Jersey is run by organized crime: The Christie Family.

[Cha]

23. Oh, the opposite of Mayor Steven Fulop of Jersey City, who got this retort when he complained

about No Access after Bridgegate Broke.. From his Crispiness' flunky, Colin Reid..

This is what Colin Reid(Crispy spokesman) had to say to Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop about the "yanking of access".. I saw it on Rachel's show, paused it, and copied it down. It's disgusting..

"Mayor Fulop's words and actions must be viewed through the lens of partisan politics and his attempt to advance his own political agenda."

Can you imagine Mayor Fulop's reaction to that? Shit like this is precisely why Revenge for the Culture of Bully's ACTIONS is going to be so SWEET.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=edit&forum=1002&thread=4355066&pid=4355324

[bettyellen]

30. Thanks for adding this, Cha! And hopefully more to come!