Wildstein - not so "unknown" by Christie - read this article from back in March 2012...

[George II]

...almost TWO years ago:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/ny_metro/030312_Ex-blogger_is_Governor_Christies_man_inside_the_Port_Authority.html

Ex-blogger is Governor Christie's eyes, ears inside the Port Authority

Saturday, March 3, 2012 Last updated: Sunday March 4, 2012, 1:53 PM

BY SHAWN BOBURG

STAFF WRITER The Record

For a decade, he was a faceless force in New Jersey politics, an Internet blogger who delivered scoops while keeping his identity a closely guarded secret.

Now, David Wildstein, formerly known by the pen name Wally Edge, is playing a key behind-the-scenes role in Governor Christie’s effort to get more control over the Port Authority, the bi-state transportation agency that has come under increased scrutiny since raising bridge and tunnel tolls in September.

The Port Authority, criticized as wasteful and dysfunctional, is the largest and most complex agency yet to be singled out by Christie as being in need of reform. And in Wildstein, an experienced political strategist who went to high school with the governor, the Christie administration may have found the perfect instrument to help shake things up, some say.

Longtime employees, however, privately describe a man intent on carrying out a political agenda rather than one built on reform or improving the region’s transportation system. They believe the appointment of Wildstein and dozens of others recommended by the governor — for jobs ranging from toll collector to deputy executive director — are evidence that political loyalty trumps merit.

To Christie, though, they are needed to bring about change. And Wildstein figures prominently in that effort.

“He is there in that job because he is well suited to the task of playing a role in reforming the Port Authority in accordance with the governor’s goals,” said Christie’s spokes­man, Michael Drewniak.

Once an ambitious and brash young local politician, Wildstein now stays in the shadows, seldom attending the agency’s public events or appearing in the news.

He did the same while building an Internet site, PolitickerNJ.com, which grabbed the attention of Trenton insiders and the traditional media. Wildstein launched the site while holding a day job — running his family’s floor mat manufacturing business. The Christie administration exposed Wally Edge’s true identity when it tapped Wildstein for the newly created position of interstate capital projects director in May 2010.

MUCH more at the link!!!!

This shows how close Wildstein really was to Christie, and this isn't a "new" assessment, it's from two years ago. Hopefully more of this comes out during the investigations and Christie's denial that he really didn't "know much" about Wildstein.

[global1]

1. Reading This Now Makes Me Think The Following.....

Take this passage from the OP:

"Now, David Wildstein, formerly known by the pen name Wally Edge, is playing a key behind-the-scenes role in Governor Christie’s effort to get more control over the Port Authority......"

Crispy effort to get more control - I'm interpreting this as their was too much money on the table in the Port Authority and Crispy wanted to get his hands on it.

Or this passage:

"The Port Authority, criticized as wasteful and dysfunctional, is the largest and most complex agency yet to be singled out by Christie as being in need of reform."

Was Crispy thinking reform or hmmmm... there's a lot of money sitting there - that I'd like to get my hands on.

Or this passage:

Longtime employees, however, privately describe a man intent on carrying out a political agenda rather than one built on reform or improving the region’s transportation system. They believe the appointment of Wildstein and dozens of others recommended by the governor — for jobs ranging from toll collector to deputy executive director — are evidence that political loyalty trumps merit.


Was Crispy thinking - if I put in all my loyal employees I got it made - they can carry out my political agenda under the cover of being reform. I'll come off looking real good if I can pull this off.

Or this passage:

"“He is there in that job because he is well suited to the task of playing a role in reforming the Port Authority in accordance with the governor’s goals”

Now two years after this article was written - we have found out what Crispy's goals were.


OH - the webs we weave.......

[George II]

2. When I came across that article I was STUNNED! It pretty much "predicted"....

...much of what we're now finding out. But unfortunately before Christie's behavior approached illegal actions, as we've seen with the GWB scandal, Hoboken revelations, New Brunswick development story, etc., there was nothing to do about what was pointed out two years ago except keep them in the back of our minds.

As bush and Cheney liked to say about Iraq, now we're starting to "connect the dots", and the picture developing is an UGLY one!

This just gets deeper and more entwined, and I really don't see Christie coming out of these various disclosures as the Governor of New Jersey. And his Lieutenant Governor is involved too (i.e., Hoboken, and possibly more?) so if he has to resign, she'll hopefully go with him. And then who becomes Governor? None other than Loretta Weinberg!

[global1]

3. Well Given When This Article Was Written....

Crispy was the fair haired boy talking reform. Little did we know at that time what was meant by the 'governor's control'.