2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumIF YOU'RE UP NOW TURN ON MSNBC with Steve Kornaki.
Last edited Sat Jan 18, 2014, 10:02 AM - Edit history (2)
This stuff about Mayor Dawn Zimmer of Hoboken, NJ is combustible.
She's provided them with a diary that she recorded last year when David Sampson and others were pressuring her to push through a redevelopment plan for property owned by the Rockefellers. She was told that if she pushed it through, she'd get Hurricane Sandy money. Otherwise, she wouldn't. (The city planning board had already had a vote against giving the Rockefeller group a better property designation than the adjoining owners. Christie wanted to help the Rockefeller group, for reasons the Mayor doesn't understand.)
From the Hurricane Sandy funds, she ended up getting about enough to pay for one generator and one study -- out of billions that the Federal government made available for NJ. The rest was contingent on her pushing through the Rockefeller project -- which she won't do. She says she can't give a windfall to one property owner and not to the others in the area, and that she'd be completely "exposed" if she did.
Kornaki explained in the beginning of the hour that the previous Mayor of Hoboken lost his job when he was convicted of "expediting" property approvals for in exchange for campaign money. So now she's being asked to do essentially the same thing in exchange for Hurricane Sandy money.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/mayor-christie-camp-held-sandy-money-hostage
In this account supported by email, public records and Zimmers own diary entries Christies inner circle was willing to cut off devastated constituents, muscle a friendly mayor and arrange public funds to finance a study for a project the governor supported.In a news conference last week, Christie rejected the notion that his administration engages in retribution or seeks political payback. Zimmers account paints a different portrait.
Zimmer claims they leaned on her twice to get their way. By the second encounter, Zimmer said this time with Constable the 45-year-old mayor and mother of two young children was despondent, according to her own notes.
I was emotional about governor Christie, she wrote in a diary entry she provided that is dated May 17, 2013. I thought he was honest. I thought he was moral. I thought he was something very different. This week I found out hes cut from the same corrupt cloth that I have been fighting for the last four years.
deminks
(11,006 posts)Yum
Cha
(295,926 posts)DURHAM D
(32,596 posts)Steve is doing an excellent job telling the story.
ETA: Samson = Redevelopment
Triana
(22,666 posts)Kornaki has done some REAL journalism, it seems. That's a rare thing these days.
I just hope he goes to some other states and investigates too because this ain't only happening in NJ.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)And her allegations are shocking. Except this is NJ, so not really.
She's willing to hand over her personal diary, with entries about her father's death and about her husband -- as well as her entries about when Christie's people told her she had to push the development through -- and to take a lie detector test.
"I have no choice but to come forward and share what's happening."
NJCher
(35,428 posts)what state would you like to see up next?
That would be great--Kornacki going from state to state to expose corruption. Can you imagine the shudders when he would roll into town?
It would be like 60 Minutes used to be--when they would run and hide in the closet to avoid the reporter.
We could invent a new verb: The State of NJ has been Kornackied."
Thank you thank you thank you to the OP and everyone who posted additional info.
Cher
but upon thinking about this just a second, one reason Kornacki has done so well is that he worked on a political website in NJ. He has contacts that run deep. Might be a lot more time-consuming in another state.
Triana
(22,666 posts)..any red state for sure.
"Kornackied" <- that has a nice sound!
cui bono
(19,926 posts)I forget who's who, but it was the guy who refused to testify and was held in contempt.
So Kornaki knows all the players already and their histories.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)Ya gotta love the names.
wilsonbooks
(972 posts)SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)Gothmog
(144,005 posts)This is a great show
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)watoos
(7,142 posts)I was on borough council of a town of 2000 people and I bucked one of the Mafioso-type business people of our town who wanted to strip mine coal on our watershed. It was intimidating. They brought their goons to the council meeting and sat in the front row.
What mayor Zimmer did, coming forward, had to be one hell of an act of courage. I felt a little bit of what she went through. I had many sleepless nights worried about retribution.
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)She must have been terrified.
This story is moving so quickly now...but having missed the show, I must ask a question.
Did Hoboken never get any of the federal funds? I remember very clearly during the coverage of the storm that Hoboken had major problems in the aftermath of the storm. There were pictures of severe flooding in Hoboken, with blocks and blocks of city underwater, and I remember feeling so badly for those citizens.
How dare these cretins refuse to give aid to their fellow citizens, unless they got their way on pet projects. It will be very hard for Cristie to wiggle out of this tiny hole he has created.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)the hardest hit places in NJ, with more than 80% of the city underwater.
From the article linked in the OP:
"Christies people came back with less than 1% of what Hoboken had sought. With $250 million to disburse statewide, just $142,000 went to Hoboken enough to help defray the cost of one backup generator to power a flood pump. Out of another pool of money for recovery grants $1.8 billion in all Hoboken received $200,000.Hoboken is perched above the mouth of the Hudson River, directly across from lower Manhattan. Following Christies visit, city officials submitted seven letters of intent for around $100 million in funds from programs the state was now running. Among the requests were money for storm surge coastal protection, money to buy properties to be used as open space and money for backup generators."
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Christie is not credible
trusty elf
(7,349 posts)[IMG][/IMG]
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)running out of my eyes. That's a hilarious graphic!
Cher
eppur_se_muova
(36,227 posts)For those of us old enough to remember ...
ctsnowman
(1,903 posts)Ilsa
(61,675 posts)Reveal searches for non-extradictable countries with "white rich people speaking English".
HurricaneWarning
(220 posts)That must be why they are running commercials for Belize. English spoken and assets protected.
calimary
(80,699 posts)Glad you're here! Very little would surprise me at this point. But what would surprise me would be - if we don't hear any more stories like this. I would expect that this kind of thing, where those being leaned on now coming forward, is not unlike the opening of a Pandora's Box. Or maybe the proverbial traffic cones have just been cleared off the proverbial roadway?
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)I've seen any politician, much less someone in the midst of the Hudson County machine, come out and explain how it works so clearly.
Dawn Zimmer is either Jersey's greatest heroine or working on script as the lead on a huge Democratic coup.
Could Christie's biggest contribution be the downfall of the Lesniaks and Norcrosses over there? Or, are the Democratic machines taking advantage of all of it?
loudsue
(14,087 posts)that has covered up this kind of criminality for so long.
I personally am outraged how our tax dollars are spent....billions for aid to flood victims being used for political/mafia bribes.
George II
(67,782 posts)....delivery is sorely lacking. What's with the distracting excessive hand motion and his repetition of words, like "...here is the, the, the story", etc.? Its not stuttering, it's done for "effect", which doesn't work for me.
Sorry, I'll read the recaps online.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)Madam Mossfern
(2,340 posts)She was clearly nervous....
I was an elected official (in New Jersey) and when I watched our meetings on television, I has some of the very same motions. Obviously she is not a practiced public speaker, no matter what her position; but that in no way detracts from the information she's delivering. I find your remarks about her "delivery" uncalled for in the context of the issue at hand.
And yes... I had to deal with the Governor's heavy handed people as well. It was understood that you don't cross Governor Christie if you care about your town. I won't go into detail because even though I am no longer in office, I don't want there to be any repercussions. You never know. Anyway, our dealings were not on such a grand scale as Hoboken's.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)and I wanted to know if he was talking about her or someone else.
I thought, in her delivery, she came across as very genuine and caring.
Madam Mossfern
(2,340 posts)I was responding to the same post that you were...
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)avebury
(10,946 posts)John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award.
classykaren
(769 posts)1monster
(11,012 posts)plain old toast. I think he's soon to be BURNT toast...
Paladin
(28,204 posts)It all fits together like a Swiss watch, there is no way that the Hoboken mayor isn't telling the truth. Adios, Christie. And Samson ought to resign, first thing this coming Monday morning.
Jacoby365
(450 posts)in Hoboken and at the same time tried to kill the financing deal on the billion dollar development in Fort Lee by shutting down the George Washington Bridge. It all makes sense now. He had all his cronies in the right places, but couldn't quite pull it off.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)Large scale PAC donations, maybe?
Jacoby365
(450 posts)loudsue
(14,087 posts)His whole group is most extreme in their rightwing-ed-ness. (new word? ), and David Rockefeller & Henry Kissinger were the best of friends. David Rockefeller funded ( and his organization still funds ) much of the rightward shift in politics since before Reagan. The Rockefellers move under the guise of "moderation", all the while being as extreme as the Kissinger/Dulles/Council on Foreign Relations philosophy will allow.
The Rockefellers are king-makers, and Christie wants to be king, in case he hasn't made that perfectly clear.
Rozlee
(2,529 posts)Rightwingfuckedness. There. I fixed it for you.
loudsue
(14,087 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Please proceed
(59 posts)Republican. In the end it's the one percent vs everyone else. They worked too hard to get their puppett in place. Unless there are serious federal charges Christy walks. Sorry but I really feel this way.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)Which is where he's been heading till lately.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)cui bono
(19,926 posts)As does everyone else who participates in this kind of bs.
It absolutely is the haves vs the have nots. Those a-holes thing they can do whatever they want and unfortunately, most of the Dems are enablers at best. Look at how Obama handles our financial crisis. The banks are still making out like bandits. The people, not so much.
spooky3
(34,303 posts)Given the surprising poll #s showing so far a large # of voters still think he's just great.
I like your user name, too!
NJCher
(35,428 posts)It always takes time for these things to sink into the public consciousness.
We at DU are exceptionally informed. I go to meetings around the state (NJ) where I have to interact with people who are peripherally involved in this thing. They are not even as well-informed as many of us here!
Read Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point to understand how this has to work itself across the public consciousness.
When I hear polls saying people think Christie is just great, it doesn't bother me in the least because as a mass communicator, I know what and how long it takes for this type of change to occur.
Cher
spooky3
(34,303 posts)At the hair salon yesterday (in DC) the stylist was aware he was in the news but thought it was more politics as usual, he didn't know what his staffers did, etc. When I mentioned that the traffic went on 4 days she was stunned.
Samantha
(9,314 posts)featuring him and his family (serving the purpose of announcing that NJ was once again open but run during his campaign for re-election), for which he payed two million dollars more than the lower bid, cannot that be investigated as a fraud? Remember the lower bidding firm did not plan to feature Christie and his family in the ads.
Those Sandy funds were intended to rebuild the devastated NJ, not assist Christie with getting reelected. I am sure this must be a fine line because the ads did serve a two-fold purpose, but perhaps the right Federal investigator could define precisely whether Christie violated any laws by doing this. I am not sure, but I am hopeful, only because he screwed over those families who most needed those funds to rebuild their homes and their lives for the purpose of advancing his own political future.
Sam
Skittles
(152,965 posts)and by the way, if you're gonna capitalize Republican then do the same for Democrat
Please proceed
(59 posts)Fucknuts, the site automatically does it. So shove it up your ass.
Skittles
(152,965 posts)not at ALL
and by the way, PUPPET is spelled with one 't'
Larry Ogg
(1,474 posts)And my guess is that both of Americas - corrupt to the core - political parties will work to sweep this scandal under the bridge in order to protect their own asses, as well as the asses of their very own puppet masters.
But that doesn't mean Christy won't be the fall guy, and get a slap on the wrist, after all, that's why our non-elected owners rely on their fat with greed little puppets. If there is someone to be blamed, it certainly won't be those who pull the strings.
marew
(1,588 posts)Christie is all about "I, I, I, me, me, me..."
Zimmer is about Hoboken, Hoboken, Hoboken... I admire her guts very, very much.
spooky3
(34,303 posts)I hope this is a watershed to transform corrupt offices everywhere. It won't be, but at least the internet is helping the media and state legislatures realize that it is going to be harder for corrupt politicians to escape scrutiny.
marew
(1,588 posts)Cha
(295,926 posts)at me. She is responsible for Hoboken.. not his Crispiness and his Redevelopment goons. Lookin' at you Lt Gov Guadagno and Richard Constable.
northoftheborder
(7,566 posts)I may watch it again to take it all in. Fascinating political intrigue. Great political research and reporting. Karnake needs a journalism award for this.
benld74
(9,889 posts)They can take that quid pro quo and put it where the sun wont go!
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)This is good stuff, Christie may well be toast and corruption abounds. I like that. I DVR this show both days and quickly watch.
But....for Kornacki it's like nothing else is going on...I wonder if he would focus for the most part only on this for 3-4 straight shows, including tomorrow apparently, if he was not from there.
There are other pressing issue out there like the terrible TPP, the fact of the foul water in West Virginia, and the cutting of food stamps for those on the bottom rung.
There is a lot of corruption there and it will come out, that's delicious. But I don't need every little detail deep in the weeds of this on TV. So I fast forwarded past a great deal of today's show.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)Until very recently Christie was running neck and neck with Clinton in the polls. This may be the end of his candidacy. I think it is perfectly appropriate for Kornaki to focus on this, since he is connected to the state.
Other people can deal with other issues.
NJCher
(35,428 posts)this journalist is uniquely qualified to cover this scandal.
You no doubt know his background, so I'll say no more.
I say let him run with it and do what you did if you're from another area--fast forward through the parts that don't interest you.
See my post above--wouldn't you like him to come expose corruption in your state, too?
Cher
Cleita
(75,480 posts)NJCher
(35,428 posts)This late-riser is watching.
Praise be to the internets.
Cher
cilla4progress
(24,589 posts)(even before Christie) that NJ politics is rotten to the BONE!
Must be very gratifying for him to see the house of cards falling in such dramatic fashion!
NJCher
(35,428 posts)Just the "fatty" part and I'm not making a joke about Christie's corpulence.
As a matter of fact, I took a break from watching the Kornacki segments to work on a household project and while working, I thought about how everyone must think our whole state is a cesspool of corruption.
In fact, it is not. Dawn Zimmer herself is an example of that.
Our Lt. Gov., despite the fact that she told Zimmer she had to go ahead with the Rockefeller project, at least stated she knew it was wrong. That is no excuse, but there is a little sign there that people get caught up in the system and do not necessarily do the right thing.
While I was working on my project, I thought about a friend of mine in government who controls a budget of several hundred million dollars, and that's conservative (the budget, not my friend). I was thinking of writing a post about his person because they have been around for a long time and have not been corrupted. In fact, this person is actively working to eliminate corruption.
So there are good people who work for our state. They, however, do not get the headlines.
Cher
adieu
(1,009 posts)buy a small microphone that you can attach to your collar or somewhere. It should be innocuous and unassuming.
Or better yet, buy a button-sized camera with audio pick up. Attach it to your iPhone or what have you (iPod Touch would be a good one, as it has no internet connection, especially when the airplane mode is turned on, so it will work just as a portable A/V data storage).
Every time you go out, whether it's for fun or for business, have it attached and activated. Every night when you get home, upload the results to a separate computer with a huge drive. I'm guessing it's about 27MB per minute (on the iPhone), so you're looking at 600 minutes (10 hour days) or about 1.5GB per day.
That might sound large, but 1000 days or around 3 years, every day, is 1.5TB, which most people can obtain. A 16TB storage array can then store about 30 years' worth of daily video capture.
If one prefers to use just sound, that fine. Just make sure that you clearly state the name of the person who you're speaking to. Just say, "Hi, your name again please?... Thanks, I'm so bad with names."
I think it would be great if such a device is required by law for all politicians, much like how some jurisdictions are requiring police to have their shoulder cams on at all times.
nikto
(3,284 posts)Sounds like NAKED GOVERNMENT to me.
I wish this concept (if not the phrase) would spread.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)catbyte
(34,174 posts)WOW. Forget 2016. Christie will be lucky if he ends up avoiding wearing an orange jumpsuit. It sounds like many of his inner circle should. Again, wow, just wow. What a nest of slimeballs.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)has done a helluva job here laying out all the facts and history. I especially appreciate that he doesn't get all screechy, excitable and talking at a speed where you can no longer follow. He reminds me a bit of Greg Palast - both for all the digging he's obviously done and in presentation. He's calm, straight forward and has all his ducks in a row. As hard as it must have been for Dawn Zimmer to deal with all this, I believe Kornacki showed great skill in interviewing her. He asked good questions and then let her answer them.
K&R
shadowmayor
(1,325 posts)Mr. Kornaki,
After the usual suspects have been rounded up and frog-walked to the hoosegow and the Bully and his puppets are toast, you will no doubt be in need of a well deserved rest.
I cordially invite you to Texas, where a state is seriously missing some hard-punching journalists. Jim Hightower and others carry the burden bravely, but we are still at a loss with the passing of Ms. Molly.
Great weather, good food, nice folks, and corruption as far as you care to look. What more could a journo ask for?
We have a woman who might become (the odds aren't as long as the MSM would have you believe) governor and the state is trending purple by the day.
Come on down, have some tea, dance a two-step, and sit a spell. You might have more fun than you could imagine.
Keep up the good work sir, and thanks for coming to work today!
the shadow mayor
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Federal Rico charges apply
cui bono
(19,926 posts)Those are meant towards Holder and his pathetic job performance, not you. I think I agree with all of your sentiments from what I remember of your posts.
pacalo
(24,721 posts)Thinking back to Christie's buddying up to President Obama during the aftermath of Sandy, I can see now that Christie's motivation was not to get as much federal aid as he could for the citizens of NJ, but for his own behind-the-scenes political bribery & kickback scheming.
Zimmer's diary should be devastating to Christie.
cer7711
(502 posts)Christie's going down.
I live in Chicago, Illinois. I can tell you from personal experience: When the feds start sniffing around, at the very same time stories like this come out in the media, it's just a matter of time before a sitting state governor becomes a disgraced, tried-and-convicted, jailed ex-governor.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)nikto
(3,284 posts)I'm not a fan of Kommandant Rahm.
cer7711
(502 posts)Lil' banker-boy Rahm? Who fiddles while Chicago figuratively burns?
His actions since he took office are entirely in line with someone who would exclaim, "These liberals; what the hell do they want? Are they f--king retarded?!"
Clearly a 1%-er.
nikto
(3,284 posts)He gives slime a bad name.
merrily
(45,251 posts)General comment: Both Fox and MSNBC are cheerleaders, but:
Compare the kind of factual, intelligent analysis of issues and events given by Maddow, Kornaki, Hayes, et al. with Fox trolls yelling War on Christmas and whining because "real" men have become afraid of being accused of being sexist.
cer7711
(502 posts)Compare-&-contrast, as my public school English teachers used to say.
Fake News is to MSNBC as Dr. Goebbels was to Upton Sinclair.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)nt
chillfactor
(7,566 posts)I am in Mountain Time so we get the program two hours later than you folks on the east coast...
great reading here though however......
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)No wonder Canoli Christie is going after MSNBC.
*I hope Mr Kornacki has protection when he leaves*