Time For Some Traffic Problems in Fort Lee

~ Laura

What to say about Chris Christie’s traffic meltdown?

I know Fort Lee very well. I grew up about three minutes from Fort Lee. I know the backroads in Fort Lee that lead to the ramps to the George Washington Bridge. I know where to stand to pick up the dollar vans that take you across the  bridge for cheap. I know where to get a haircut and where to go for the awesome ramen noodles. Fucking with the traffic patterns in Fort Lee and over the bridge is serious, serious business over here.

I also know Jersey politics. Scummy vendettas and backroom dealings are normal here. New Jersey is always ranked with Rhode Island and Louisiana as the most corrupt states in the union. An insurance executive, George Norcross, is one of the most powerful figures in the Democratic party in the state, and he doesn’t even hold political office. A traffic jam is the least of our problems.

Does Traffic-Gate surprise me? Absolutely not. Does the bi-partisan swooning over Traffic-Gate surprise me? Absolutely not. Christie has made no friends in either party, and this scandal is catnip to pundits of all political persuasions.

As we get closer to the 2016 election, there will be plenty more stories like this one. Will Christie make it to Iowa? That’s the big question.

Published by Laura

16 thoughts on “Time For Some Traffic Problems in Fort Lee”

  1. I was discussing the Fort Lee thing this morning with my daughter. First, it looks to me as if they have him dead to rights. There is no way the top aides arranged this sort of thing without explicit orders–unless this sort of thing is established policy. Also, “I was misled” is laughably pathetic as a line of argument.

    As far as I’m concerned, Christie is a narcissistic, evil man. No matter the political party, you should not elect such people to high office, because eventually you reap the whirlwind.

    Romney passed on Christie as running mate; I’m sure other such incidents showed up in their vetting.

    So, no, Christie should not make it to Iowa.

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  2. First, it looks to me as if they have him dead to rights. There is no way the top aides arranged this sort of thing without explicit orders

    I don’t know. I don’t think much of Christie, but think he might be smart enough to say something like, “That mayor should know not to mess with me!” or “we shouldn’t let him think he can get away w/o endorsing me!” loudly, in the presence of people who will then go and act on their own in ways they think (probably rightly) Christie would like, but without Christie himself having to actually tell people to do specific things, or even to telling them to cause problems- a sort of “will no one rid me of the meddlesome priest?” thing, but even less direct. Maybe we’ll find out otherwise, but I’ll be surprised if there were explicit orders, and especially if Christie were dumb enough to put them in writing.

    (On the other hand, Nixon did tape record enough of his own thoughts for us to all know that he was vile in every possible way, so maybe Christie will prove as foolish, too.)

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    1. “will no one rid me of the meddlesome priest”

      Ironically, a collection of political aides managed to be not that much better at keeping a secret than a bunch of guys with swords stabbing a guy in a church.

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    2. “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?”

      A pattern of retribution for perceived slights is as bad as, if not worse, than ordering such actions in detail. I gather from the news reports that the traffic problems made the nightly news at the time.

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      1. A pattern of retribution for perceived slights is as bad as, if not worse, than ordering such actions in detail.

        I certainly don’t mean what I said as any defense of Christie. I think he’s a petty bully for the most part, and has a long history of actions that suggest he doesn’t think rules apply to him. (His expense accounts while working at the US Attorney are a good example.) (This is to say nothing about his political views, which I also think are pretty bad.) Merely, I’d not be surprised if he was smart enough to not have put anything in writing or said anything that would get him in trouble in so many words, though of course it’s possible.

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  3. In practical terms, how is this kind of directive carried out? An aide decrees, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” and then, someone (who, exactly?) goes and sets up some cones?

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  4. Like Henry II, Christie will ride this out, after firing a few people (the political equivalent of an act of penance). Whether it hhas an effect on his prospects a few years from now, it’s too soon to tell.

    Further to what Laura said, New Jersey has famously corrupt politics, but it’s combined with the same smashmouth approach that you find in other, cleaner northeastern states. In Louisiana, I think they figure there’s enough money for everyone, no need to fight too hard, laissez les bons temps rouler.

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  5. :..dealings are normal here. New Jersey is always ranked with Rhode Island and Louisiana as the most corrupt..”
    Hey! four of the last five governors went to jail. One of them for trying to sell a Senate seat. State controller found dead with $800000 in cash in his hotel room. Politico kids with scant qualifications ascend into the state medical and law schools. May I ask how Illinois can get some RESPECT around here??!

    I’m with Y81 – the nomination is a long time from now. This business is not large, compared to things LBJ and Robert Moses and Eliot Spitzer have had plausibly tied to them. It’s a setback, for the Christie Steamroller, but I don’t think it’s gone off the asphalt yet.

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  6. “May I ask how Illinois can get some RESPECT around here??!”

    Governor gunned down in the proverbial hail of bullets inside the Stalinist State Capitol built during his tenure. Local pirates helping in the defense against foreign invasion. “The only way I can lose this election is getting caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy.” The Crook vs the Klansman.

    Really, all the others are just playing for second place.

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  7. I think he is saying and doing the right things now and that he can wether it as long as there is nothing tying him directly to the decision making (ie tapes, videos, emails, . . . ).

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  8. Doug, you remind me of the spectacular bumper sticker from the Edwards/Duke election:
    “Vote for the Crook, It’s Important”

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  9. Scummy vendettas and backroom dealings may be normal in NJ, but people in Iowa want to vote for the NICE person.

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  10. Yes, I think nice actually plays in a big swathe of the country, and I think that’s part of what he’s going to loose from this press. Not sure if being sufficiently contrite makes up for it.

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