Is Christie involved? Emails tie administration to political

[Opti]

bridge traffic lane closing.

firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/08/22229091-emails-tie-christie-administration-to-bridge-controversy#comments

Explosive emails released Wednesday are casting a potential cloud over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential prospects for 2016.

The revealing conversations between state officials suggest for the first time that politics -- from the highest levels of Christie's administration -- may have played a role in last fall's controversial closure of local access lanes to the congested George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, N.J. in the midst of Christie’s re-election campaign. 

Democrats have charged the closures were an attempt at political retribution for Ft. Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who declined to endorse Christie's re-election effort last year and whose city sits in the shadow of the bridge.

"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Christie Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly wrote to Christie Port Authority aide David Wildstein on Aug. 13, weeks before the lane closures that snarled traffic on the first day of school in New Jersey last fall.

Wildstein replied, "Got it."

dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/2014/01/09gwb/port_authority_2014.pdf
Link to emails and texts.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Jan 8, 2014 15:09:13 GMT -5 Opti said:

bridge traffic lane closing.

firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/08/22229091-emails-tie-christie-administration-to-bridge-controversy#comments

Explosive emails released Wednesday are casting a potential cloud over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential prospects for 2016.

The revealing conversations between state officials suggest for the first time that politics -- from the highest levels of Christie's administration -- may have played a role in last fall's controversial closure of local access lanes to the congested George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, N.J. in the midst of Christie’s re-election campaign. 

Democrats have charged the closures were an attempt at political retribution for Ft. Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who declined to endorse Christie's re-election effort last year and whose city sits in the shadow of the bridge.

"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Christie Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly wrote to Christie Port Authority aide David Wildstein on Aug. 13, weeks before the lane closures that snarled traffic on the first day of school in New Jersey last fall.

Wildstein replied, "Got it."

dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/2014/01/09gwb/port_authority_2014.pdf
Link to emails and texts.

There's a pretty big TEA Party shaped cloud looming over the GOP establishment candidates already.  Glad this won't help him, but really- he's politically dead before he enters the race.  He is already radio-active.  We know he's a phony baloney RINO.

[Deleted]

Doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I think all politicians do this stuff, right?

[Tennesseer]

in politics, 2 years is a lifetime away.

Let's see what happens.

[Jaguar]

What I want to know is who the hell controls the freaking weather ?

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Jan 8, 2014 16:44:01 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

What I want to know is who the hell controls the freaking weather ?

I just want to say, before I answer your question: 

[Jaguar]

Oh geez Paul.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Jan 8, 2014 18:00:42 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

Oh geez Paul.

I said 

[zibazinski]

He's yesterday's news. I'd vote for Bullary over him, that's how bad he is.

[mtman]

What I want to know is.....Why are we hiring people stupid enough to leave an e-mail trail?

[Shooby]

He can just claim he didn't know. Just like Obama has claimed to not know a damn thing about anything that has happened in the last 6 years like fast and furious, the irs scandal, ben ghazi, the obamacare roll out , etc.

[zibazinski]

Does Obama get a "pass" because he's black or because he's a democrat, or because he has "something" dirty on everyone who would call him out?

[Tennesseer]

Jan 9, 2014 10:16:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Does Obama get a "pass" because he's black or because he's a democrat, or because he has "something" dirty on everyone who would call him out?

Race baiting?  

[mmhmm]

Jan 9, 2014 10:16:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Does Obama get a "pass" because he's black or because he's a democrat, or because he has "something" dirty on everyone who would call him out?

Why would anyone get a "pass" for being black, zib?  What is it about being black you believe would give someone a "pass"?  I've known a lot of black folks who've done very well with their lives.  You know what got them where they are?  It wasn't a "pass".  It was hard work.  I know.  I worked with them.

[zibazinski]

Because some people think if they call Obama out for being a liar, they'll be accused of being racist but its okay if the shoe is on the other foot, right? If he were a republican or a white man, he'd have been crucified by now.

[mtman]

Jan 9, 2014 10:16:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Does Obama get a "pass" because he's black or because he's a democrat, or because he has "something" dirty on everyone who would call him out?

He is certainly given a pass because he is black....democrats are in control, so he's given a pass on that.....And it's not inconceivable that he has had dirt dug up on his political enemies, sounds like something a person like him would do.

[mmhmm]

Jan 9, 2014 10:34:17 GMT -5 mtman said:

Jan 9, 2014 10:16:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Does Obama get a "pass" because he's black or because he's a democrat, or because he has "something" dirty on everyone who would call him out?

He is certainly given a pass because he is black....democrats are in control, so he's given a pass on that.....And it's not inconceivable that he has had dirt dug up on his political enemies, sounds like something a person like him would do.

Afraid not.  Republicans are in control of the House.  Democrats are in control of the Senate.  The president is a Democrat.  Control is split.

I ask again:  How is the president given a "pass" because he's black?  How do you know this?  I don't give him a "pass" because he's black.  I wouldn't give him a "pass" because he was white, or brown, or magenta.  Everybody isn't you, and everybody doesn't think as you think.

Anybody could have dirt on anybody else, if they actually know that person and know there really IS dirt.  You don't know this man.  You only know him as you've read about him, or seen him on TV.  You've never met him.  You didn't grow up with him, or go to school with him.  You don't like him so you come up with a phrase like "person like him"?  You make me laugh, mtman.  That kind of ignorance is ludicrous.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 8, 2014 16:04:53 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

Jan 8, 2014 15:09:13 GMT -5 Opti said:

bridge traffic lane closing.

firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/08/22229091-emails-tie-christie-administration-to-bridge-controversy#comments

Explosive emails released Wednesday are casting a potential cloud over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential prospects for 2016.

The revealing conversations between state officials suggest for the first time that politics -- from the highest levels of Christie's administration -- may have played a role in last fall's controversial closure of local access lanes to the congested George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, N.J. in the midst of Christie’s re-election campaign. 

Democrats have charged the closures were an attempt at political retribution for Ft. Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who declined to endorse Christie's re-election effort last year and whose city sits in the shadow of the bridge.

"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Christie Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly wrote to Christie Port Authority aide David Wildstein on Aug. 13, weeks before the lane closures that snarled traffic on the first day of school in New Jersey last fall.

Wildstein replied, "Got it."

dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/2014/01/09gwb/port_authority_2014.pdf
Link to emails and texts.

There's a pretty big TEA Party shaped cloud looming over the GOP establishment candidates already.  Glad this won't help him, but really- he's politically dead before he enters the race.  He is already radio-active.  We know he's a phony baloney RINO.

he also gives every indication of being a childish prick.  lots of people love him for it.  but not a few loathe him for it.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 8, 2014 16:41:30 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

in politics, 2 years is a lifetime away.

Let's see what happens.

it will take at least a year for this to play itself out, imo.  that would put this issue front and center about the time he is announcing his candidacy.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 9, 2014 1:16:55 GMT -5 Shooby said:

He can just claim he didn't know. Just like Obama has claimed to not know a damn thing about anything that has happened in the last 6 years like fast and furious, the irs scandal, ben ghazi, the obamacare roll out , etc.

i have a reply for you:

does the fact that Obama "didn't know" about some of these things excuse them (or him) in any way?

[djAdvocate]

Jan 9, 2014 10:16:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Does Obama get a "pass" because he's black or because he's a democrat, or because he has "something" dirty on everyone who would call him out?

Obama is a big .  he is nothing like Christy in that sense.  he is way too lawyerly to play dirty.

[Deleted]

Does anyone know why they said the lanes were closed? Was it for road maintenance or something? Because I can see myself saying "Time for some traffic problems there" meaning that is the headache that comes with doing the work. It's instructions to do the work in that area.

So why did they say they closed the lanes?

[djAdvocate]

Jan 8, 2014 15:09:13 GMT -5 Opti said:

bridge traffic lane closing.

firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/08/22229091-emails-tie-christie-administration-to-bridge-controversy#comments

Explosive emails released Wednesday are casting a potential cloud over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential prospects for 2016.

The revealing conversations between state officials suggest for the first time that politics -- from the highest levels of Christie's administration -- may have played a role in last fall's controversial closure of local access lanes to the congested George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, N.J. in the midst of Christie’s re-election campaign. 

Democrats have charged the closures were an attempt at political retribution for Ft. Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who declined to endorse Christie's re-election effort last year and whose city sits in the shadow of the bridge.

"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Christie Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly wrote to Christie Port Authority aide David Wildstein on Aug. 13, weeks before the lane closures that snarled traffic on the first day of school in New Jersey last fall.

Wildstein replied, "Got it."

dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/2014/01/09gwb/port_authority_2014.pdf
Link to emails and texts.

if Christy didn't know, he should have.  he is in what i call "the Reagan Dilemma":

stupid if he didn't know, dishonest if he did.

Christy is either stupid, a liar, or possibly both.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 9, 2014 12:42:49 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Does anyone know why they said the lanes were closed? Was it for road maintenance or something?

they claimed they were doing a traffic study.  that claim was denied by the port authority, who is in charge of the bridge.  the fact that that excuse never passed muster was the whole reason Christy's office got found out.

Because I can see myself saying "Time for some traffic problems there" meaning that is the headache that comes with doing the work. It's instructions to do the work in that area.

you are looking at the quote out of context.  if you look @ it IN context, it is pretty easy to see that traffic problems were the goal, not the consequence of anything.

So why did they say they closed the lanes?

they said they were doing a traffic study, but no paperwork was ever filed, and nobody was notified.  in fact, the director at the Port authority was specifically instructed not to notify anyone.

[Deleted]

Thanks dj. Last night was the first I heard of this. I had no idea of the background. Traffic study? They weren't even trying to be subtle.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 9, 2014 12:52:21 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Thanks dj. Last night was the first I heard of this. I had no idea of the background. Traffic study? They weren't even trying to be subtle.

here is the thing about it, and why it smelled bad from the beginning.

a traffic study could easily be done on weekends or holidays.  instead, they chose THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL- a notoriously bad traffic day, for this study.

since you don't know the background, you probably don't know WHY this happened either.  truthfully, neither do i.  but the fact that Ft. Lee's Democratic mayor did NOT endorse Christy for governor seems to have something to do with it.

[workpublic]

imho every citizen who was inconvenienced by it should be able to strike one lash across the backs of those involved.  tie them to the bridge and give out whips or 1/4 inch dowels.   that would be a nice "study".

[Tennesseer]

Jan 9, 2014 15:31:07 GMT -5 workpublic said:

imho every citizen who was inconvenienced by it should be able to strike one lash across the backs of those involved.  tie them to the bridge and give out whips or 1/4 inch dowels.   that would be a nice "study".

Or 'push' them from the bridge via bungee cord with but one inch to spare.

[djAdvocate]

can you imagine what would have happened, if, say, a 10 year old boy that was having a medical emergency got stuck in that traffic, folks?

just think about it for a minute, before you answer.

[jkapp]

Jan 9, 2014 12:55:03 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Jan 9, 2014 12:52:21 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Thanks dj. Last night was the first I heard of this. I had no idea of the background. Traffic study? They weren't even trying to be subtle.

here is the thing about it, and why it smelled bad from the beginning.

a traffic study could easily be done on weekends or holidays.  instead, they chose THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL- a notoriously bad traffic day, for this study.

since you don't know the background, you probably don't know WHY this happened either.  truthfully, neither do i.  but the fact that Ft. Lee's Democratic mayor did NOT endorse Christy for governor seems to have something to do with it.

Our city also had three months of summer to paint the lines on a heavily trafficked road leading to three schools, but instead waited until the first week of school to start the job (creating traffic havoc for two weeks - yes, that is two weeks to paint lines!)  The timing may very well have nothing to do with the NJ issue since municipalities don't seem to give a shit about good timing.