There is something strange and mystifying about this Christie scandal.

[kentuck]

It's almost like watching an episode of the Sopranos. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?

We are led to believe that this is the way politics is done in New Jersey? They take pride in the pay-offs and the bribes. It is all part of their "mob" heritage. The Governor's favorable ratings remain high during all these negative stories.

In a way, it reminds me of the "hillbilly" label that is put on people from my part of the country. They are not embarrassed by it. If people want to think of them as barefooted, squirrel-shooting, moonshine-drinking, crazy in-breds, then let them think that. That is part of their heritage that they are content to live with. They are proud of it.

But Jersey is supposed to be more "sophisticated".

However, this is the Governor that shook the hand of Barack Obama after Hurricane Sandy. He got almost 70% of the vote in the last election. He had a lot of Democrats vote for him. Evidently, the people of New Jersey liked what he was doing? They had little problem with his bullying or the way he governed.

Somehow, it seems like we are missing a big part of this story somewhere??

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Interesting and thought-provoking.

BTW, my user name is a play off "Jackpine Savage," the term for the pulpwood-cutting, beer-guzzling inhabitants of the backwoods of northern Wisconsin, the U.P., & northern Minnesota, so I get your point about the hillbillies.

[kentuck]

5. I've heard stories of the YOOPERs...

from the upper peninsula of Michigan. They are a hardy bunch. I'm sure they are all over Minnesota and Wisconsin, also.

But it is all part of the diversity of this country, in my opinion. We tend to think of our country as one big nation sometimes, instead of all these different, diverse parts, like New Jersey and Kentucky, with all their cultural differences from the rest of the country. Depending on where we are from, we might have a difficult time understanding what is happening in their area?

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Dat's YOOPers, please.

Same culture.

Da Yoopers is also a music group. If you have a liberal notion of the term "music."

[kentuck]

7. Yep!

Fixed

[MisterP]

17. also the Jersey Barrens and the Rhode Island Rednecks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_Yankee (they pop up in some Lovecraft shorts since he walked his hatched face around inland MA and the New England tripoint)

[elfin]

2. I think it is the trap of thinking that regional political culture

Translates into a national viewpoint.

While I find local political and cultural activities suitable or understandable in the local milieu, I hope for something much more ethical and tolerant at a national level. I may not get it, but I do hope for it, and do not relish the local accepted practices dominating the highest offices.

Always the optimist, often disappointed.

[monmouth3]

3. Google John V. Kenney, Hudson County, NJ. New Jersey politics in a nutshell..n/t

[enough]

4. I would like to recommend a post by Duer Laxman who has a clear view of NJ politics.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024364984

Doesn't look that different from politics any where else that I know of.

[H2O Man]

8. Right.

I just posted an essay on this very topic. I view it in a systems context.

[ProSense]

9. This is what

"He got almost 70% of the vote in the last election. He had a lot of Democrats vote for him."

...happens when Republicans and the media (and sellout Dem politicians) successfully depress turnout.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023988674#post61

He got 60 percent of the vote (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_gubernatorial_election,_2013)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

16. 60%... about the same as Nixon in '72...

[KoKo]

10. Hey...good points, Kentuck.

's

[Demo_Chris]

11. The part you are missing is that he is HATED by the social conservative ultra-right...

They hate him more than anyone here has ever dreamed of. Let me count some of his crimes...

* He OPENLY disrespects the Teaparty social cons and has done so many many times
* He has OPENLY disrespected Fox News and the entire talk radio circus of nutcases -- to their faces.
* He sided with Muslims on the so-called ground zero Mosque
* He is willing to work with anyone, including Democrats
* He was a major factor in Obama's reelection. He even shook Obama's hand and thanked him

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, if he is in it none of the social conservative candidates have a prayer. They're done before it starts. And more, unless they torpedo him now he stands an excellent chance of winning the Presidency. And that right there will spell the end of the entire Social Conservative movement. This is their LAST chance.

[Egnever]

18. Exactly right

This is a preemptive strike.

[Coyotl]

12. You are making asssumptions about what the people liked in Christie.

I think you are doing people an injustice when you accuse them of liking the bullying. I think people just bought into the ad campaign and revile the bad stuff.

[RobertEarl]

13. buush got away with it

Why can't the gov of NJ? And he may yet, because he is friends with the 1%.

The politics of this country what with the wars, stolen elections, and denial of a climate catastrophe, is open to the biggest, baddest rulers.

It could be said we deserve what we get since we are all down in the mud wrestling each other in this modern day coliseum.

Good job, brownie.

[fujiyama]

14. Interesting points you bring about

and in this case, it may come down to civility, and how sometimes it masks actual corruption.

For example, a politician (or anyone for that matter) in the South may say "bless your heart", while at the same time really implying you're an idiot, while in Jersey they might simply say "you're a fucking idiot". The same likely goes for bribes and bullying as well. I think in the South it's a lot more subtle.

New Jersey is a socially moderate to left of center state but the people are also fairly direct in the way they speak to you. I think that attitude is even reflected in its driving (same with Massachusetts). A raging social conservative in unlikely to get elected there. Christie's "willingness" (at least on the face of it) to work with Democrats was simply smart politics but like a few other (mostly democratic leaning) states, there was a perception that public sector unions had too much power (hence, why Christie's taking on teacher's unions may have helped, not hurt him). He's still more socially conservative than the average New Jersean, which is why he has vetoed marriage equality and marijuana decriminalization.

He may still survive this. He's a smart politician with some very loyal people under him. I hope there's some dirt though in what these aides have to say. The good thing is it's exposing him to be the arrogant, corrupt and hypocritical bully that he is. The potential down side is if there isn't a smoking gun directly tying Christie to all of what's going on, it may look like a "witch hunt". People don't want to feel like they've been duped, so many will hold on to the hope he wasn't involved.

Either way, this is great political theater...out of a television script.

[Samantha]

15. Perhaps the majority of voters had formed the wrong impression of Christie

as did the mayor of Hoboken. Remember that diary entry she made regarding her sudden epiphany about Christie's corrupt demeanor? After she was solicited to support the Governor's preferential treatment for the Rockefeller windfall, she was shocked to realize Christie was as flawed as those she had fought in the past. I think the fact that many Dems supported Christie was a boon to his popularity; now some are realizing that that support might have come out of fear of retribution for failure to cooperate with Christie as opposed to a genuine support for his goals and his method for achieving them....

Sam