2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumChristie Bridge disaster within days of 9/11
This is the angle of the Christie Bridge story that no one is discussing, I have to ask myself why?
For me, the fact that this bridge closing was orchestrated to take place on the George Washington Bridge, the biggest terror target in NYC, arguably in the nation, on 9/09 and 9/10; in the run up to the commemoration of the 9/11 terror attacks adds an entirely different layer of OMG to this scandal.
Question: Did The Department of Homeland Security know about this "Traffic Study"?
Who informed them? How was that information received and how was it acted upon? Does the DHS not add increased security to the GWB in the event of terror attack around 9/11 each year when we are supposedly enjoying increased security? Would it not make sense that smooth traffic conditions should be maintained especially around 9/11?
What level of chaos is acceptable without the direct sign-off of higher authorities- Christie- DHS? ANYONE?
Forget getting ambulances around in Fort Lee on an average day. Suppose there had been a bomb on the bridge on this particular day?
After years of screaming about the need for the DHS and TERROR! TERROR! TERROR!,
can anyone believe that DHS was not alerted to this situation? How did DHS allow this to happen? What are we paying for? Or is this the proof of what we suspected all along... that DHS is nothing but a slush fund, and that cries of terrorism are political theater? WHICH IS IT?
There are a million questions here that go to the heart of the efficacy of the Department of Homeland Security and the war on terror, not just political payback from the thuggish Governor of New Jersey.
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)they would have had to been informed. FOIL thier logs.
JustAnotherGen
(31,683 posts)Of getting that asshole booted from Trenton with this . . . I'm not placing an iota of blame on DHS.
He and his people did it - why? We'll never know.
But I won't allow anything that deflects this to the Federal Government and by virtue of that President Obama.
Obama/DHS did not do it and that's the not hot button.
The hot button is everyone in American helping us liberal/progressive New Jerseyans GET RID OF HIM.
This is our shot - please help us.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)If I'm correct New Jersey has the ability to recall a governor - something that should have been done ages ago.
Personally the fact that Christie wasted $24 million in NJ Tax Dollars just to not have Cory Booker's senate race on the same ballot was a criminal waste of money. Christie knew that Booker would bring out a high voter turnout that would not favor Christie in his election.
In the end, if New Jersey held their Governor elections on an even year I highly doubt Christie would have ever won the governor seat in New Jersey.
JustAnotherGen
(31,683 posts)Only language that speaks to it - is Federal level reps and after they have served a year.
BUT - with enough pressure - maybe he can step down.
He won in 2009 because of disenchanted Democratic voters staying home and not just holding their nose and voting for Corzine. If you look at the numbers of voters and those who went Obama in 2008 - the sheer volume of IndieTeaPublicans vs. Liberals/Progressives is how he got into office.
And bang on in terms of the Special Election. In 1924 the NJ Legislature made a law that would have allowed Christie to legally hold the election for Lautenbergs seat at the same time as the Governors race. But he was very afraid of Booker's star power. Had Bouno and Booker been able to run on the same day - I'm convinced she would have won. She was a near perfect Democratic Liberal/Progressive candidate. Just flawless.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)And I agree - Bouno may have been very competitive against Christie had Booker been on the ticket.
Zoonart
(11,750 posts)Don't you want to know if DHS knew about this and who contacted them? IF they did not know within a day of 9/11,why not? You seriously do not want to know the answer to this question?
I understand that The Obama admin. did not do this and DHS did not do this. My angle is this- Someone had to sign off on this with the DHS and if not... why not?
THIS IS how we get Christie. Would not someone in high authority, say the Governor, have to sign off on something like this within days of 9/11?
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,683 posts)It was made up. That's what Republicans do - make stuff up.
JustAnotherGen
(31,683 posts)I think the fact that they NY Port Authority folks didn't know anything and it was as much a surprise to them as the folks trying to get over to Manhattan that day and to/from work/school is the answer to the question. And Governor Cuomo can really whack the Christie Administration on this.
A few cocky arrogant jerks in Trenton - from a place of sheer spite - at a time when Christie was leading in the polls by close to 30% - they did this. They thought they would get away with it - and damn near did . . .
Javaman
(62,442 posts)3) stop stirring the pot.
Zoonart
(11,750 posts)66 dmhlt
(1,941 posts)Zoonart
(11,750 posts)My point is that DHS should have known and if they DID know... who told them and who signed off on it, meaning Christie. This is where Christie may not be able to disguise his fingerprints.
If DHS did not know within a day of 9/11... the country needs to know why not. Period.
rocktivity
(44,555 posts)Because follow the money, that's why.
rocktivity
randr
(12,408 posts)However, it is important to keep the thumbs on Christie's involvment and follow the buck to the top.
I hope someone somewhere brings up your question to the DHS. They should have known there was a situation.
Aldo Leopold
(685 posts)Thanks for posting this and the kos link. Hadn't thought of it this way until reading your post. I agree, this raises some interesting new wrinkles.
Zoonart
(11,750 posts)Bet on it.
certainot
(9,090 posts)of awareness of the implications of the timing or the thinking that the timing has political positives for whoever instigated this.
if the gov suggested this or accepted this to a staff member as a payback but didn't specify when and told them he didn't want to know anymore, just make it so, the staffmember could have just fucked it up or somewhere someone thought it was a good way to play politics according to whoever signs off/allows it at the necessary DHS level. the GOP is always trying to get dems.
but as far as the DHS, at the local level aren't those are long term appointments/jobs? the buck doesn't stop at the pres but maybe the NJ DHS head was the target.
or maybe some in the christie staff are working for GOP rivals.
and maybe there was a fake terror thing going on.
So many questions and so few answers.