GOP reaction hints Christie weathering storm

[LiberalElite]

Source: The Record

If Governor Christie lied, he's toast, according to Mitt Romney's top political adviser, Eric Fehrnstrom.

But voters will forgive him if he told the truth and did not know his aides and appointees had intentionally inflicted a traffic nightmare on Fort Lee, according to Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch.

He might even get a political boost if people see his handling of the scandal as a sign of leadership under crisis, according to former President George H.W. Bush's political director, Dave Carney.

- See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/news/239721331_GOP_reaction_hints_Christie_weathering_storm.html#sthash.uAvYhuyC.dpuf

Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/news/239721331_GOP_reaction_hints_Christie_weathering_storm.html

[JoePhilly]

1. Unless there is video of him setting out the cones, he'll

probably be fine.

He'll have fired some one for taking the fall, and gotten away with retribution. The GOP loves that.

[lostincalifornia]

11. Not at all. People are going to jail because of this, and civil suits are already starting. Some

of those folks are not going to want to take the fall, and will make a deal

[postulater]

17. That's not how it has played out for Walker.

He has had two grand juries around him. Multiple people have been convicted. And he is still smelling rosy.

There's lots of money behind these guys. And for some of the underlings the trade-off of a couple years in prison for a nice retirement later is good enough for them.

[lostincalifornia]

34. We will see. Both State and Federal laws have been broken

[JoePhilly]

24. We aren't talk about "some folks" ...

We're talking about Christie.

If they don't uncover something that ties him very tightly to this, he'll probably survive. And if he does, he'll have time to perform behaviors that will allow the media to claim that he handled this effectively.

The media will probably then claim this situation helped him become more effective.

[JustAnotherGen]

28. If Kevin O'Dowd

Shows up this week to be confirmed for AG - it's going to be hot in Trenton. He's Bridget Kelly's old boss. Sing or perjure yourself. They aren't going to tolerate a bunch of, "I plead the 5th" b.s. if he wants to be confirmed.

And Speaker Elect - Prieto - might not be as willing to go along to get along with Christie as we thought he would.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-11/christie-bridge-crisis-diverts-from-presidential-moment.html

[JoePhilly]

31. Gotta hope that some one SNAPS in this multi-level

game of Prisoner's Delimma.

The thing is, I have to bet that GOP backers have been trying to make behind the scenes deals for some of these folks. Promise them something big later, to shut up, and take some lesser punishment now, for a payoff later.

If one of them has a conscience, and a government provided path out, we might get him.

Cheney was great at this. The minions all knew they were going to be protected. Scooter never got his pardon, but he got enough to ensure the Plame outing scandal never progressed further.

I have to bet a number of folks are now angling for safe passage through this.

I just hope something goes POP ... and they all freak out.

[geek tragedy]

32. This story is going to play out over several months if not years.

We're talking hearings, document releases, more hearings, more document releases, grand juries, subpoenas, more firings will be necessary, indictments, plea deals.

State and federal.

Christie will have to testify.

[AnalystInParadise]

39. I want to see Christie Frogmarched

BUT if you think he will ever testify, I have a oceanfront property in Kansas to sell you.

[wandy]

16. I could not agree with you more..........

If he pulls this off it it might make up for how badly he handled Hurricane Sandy.
You know that reckless action of actually trying to do something useful, not to mention the cardinal sin of failing to 'dis President Obama.

He will show true GOP values by A) screwing somebody and B) getting away with it.
The rank and file Teapublicans will love it.

[Fumesucker]

36. Damn, we agree on something

[Dawson Leery]

2. IOKIYAR

[Siwsan]

3. There is NOTHING they won't forgive, when it comes to 'their own'

David Vitter, Larry Craig, John Ensign, Newt Gingrich, Junior Bush, just to start the list.

[blkmusclmachine]

22. +1,000:

IOKIYAR

The Republicans' hypocrisy knows NO limits!!

[Lint Head]

4. Ben Gazzara!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Bengazi !!

[louis-t]

25. Gezundeheit.

[Fumesucker]

37. Bengay

[DonViejo]

5. Folks in NJ apparently agree with Romney's lap dog Fehrnstrom...

56% in NJ Think Christie Should Resign If He Knew About Fort Lee Retaliation

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014694291

[LibDemAlways]

6. They are all crooks. They enjoy the

idea of getting away with shit unscathed.

[meadowlark5]

8. Yep. Then it just emboldens them to go even further

If he gets away with this and actually gets a boost, he'll probably think he can "whack" the next person who crosses him.

[DallasNE]

9. Way Too Early To Assert That

Others inside the Governor's inner circle have been discovered to have their names mentioned in emails regarding the GWB lane closing scandal and that just opens up more questions regarding who knew what and when. This opens up the opportunity for more subpoena's against these other individuals with their name in print.

[lostincalifornia]

10. bloomberg was carrying the water for him last week, and having one repuke after another say how

"great" he did, and how it shows his "leadership" qualities.

It was such BS

The truth is this story is far from over, and an advisor emailing "time to close a bridge down", strongly implies planning.

We will see what happens when prison sentences and civil suits are thrown at those who appear to fall on their swords, when they realize is happening. When that sinks in, it will be interesting to see if they cave if deals are thrown at them.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Dave Carney says Wendy Davis is too stupid to be governor, anyone agree with that?

I didn't think so. Got any reason to think he's right about this? Again, I did not think so.

[RBInMaine]

13. He probably didn't know about it, BUT it was his RESPONSE and MANAGEMENT that were so awful here.

He created an atmosphere that allowed it to happen. He FAILED to investigate it properly. He FAILED to take it seriously. He FAILED to surround himself with honest people and instead did so with corrupt political hacks. He has practiced THUG "leadership". Has shown himself to NOT be a "reformer" but someone who has played the worst kind of dirty old politics in other issues besides this one, and to have immersed himself with political hacks who play dirty old politics. He has no business running for higher office. He has blown it.

[Kelvin Mace]

20. I have a difficult time believing he didn't know

If he didn't he is a moron, and unfit for public office on that alone.

[RBInMaine]

35. You may be right. Either way, he is INCOMPETENT as a MANAGER.

[AlbertCat]

15. He's just a poor put upon victim! He didn't KNOW what was going on in his own state!

Give the big lug a break!


Meanwhile.... Obama should be impeached because he personally didn't get the ACA web site working at 110% for a month or so!



What-EVER

I mean, y'can't even listen to these guys....

[rocktivity]

18. They're just being polite. Even if they did want him as a 2016 presidential candidate

-- which they don't because he's proven that they'd never be able to control him -- they know that's no longer possible. They're just holding the exit doors open for him (a metaphor, not a fat joke).


rocktivity

[grasswire]

19. freepers despise him

So I doubt the theme of this article.

[Still Sensible]

21. I suspect their conventional wisdom is right

or would have been in the political world that existed before PBO... but you are right, I think, in that the teabaggers will latch onto this like a dog with a bone to make sure any Christie aspirations are dashed.

[blkmusclmachine]

23. With the GOP, you either whack them when they're down, OR they become emboldened to go even further

next time. "Bi-partisanship" does not work with people who don't care if they blow everything and everybody to smithereens.

[ThoughtCriminal]

26. "Mitt Romney's top political adviser"

"Sign of leadership" - President George H.W. Bush's political director, Dave Carney

[grantcart]

27. Nope its crystalized.

Its like Quayle and the Potato spelling incident.

Not only will the primary competitors bring it up but the late night comedians will feast on it.

Not only that there will be criminal proceedings that will linger for months.

Finally somebody facing jail will break and tell the truth, that Christie ordered it.

[QuestForSense]

29. More wishful thinking from the right.

If nothing else, the press has lobbed enough bully references to define him for the rest of his career, if not life.

[Cha]

30. That means Shit all coming from repubs.

[madrchsod]

33. did`t romney lose the election?

wasn't it by the largest margin ever?

sometimes it wise not to comment.

[tofuandbeer]

40. +1

[Rosa Luxemburg]

38. That's a stretch!

[truthisfreedom]

42. People have terrible memories. If you look at the timeline, it doesn't look like leadership at all.

His first reaction should not have been to joke about it (cones). It should have been a measured approach announcing that he was looking into it. He's a buffoon. I'd love to see him run against Hillary.