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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI want to say this about New Jersey and Chris Christie
I'm not a fan of Chris Christie and wouldn't vote for him if he was ever running for office.
But right now NJ needs someone to help recover from this storm. I just looked at a series of photos of the Jersey Shore from philly.com and it's a supermess there and these aren't just people's summer homes but for many their only home and they are hurting.
I have to say this and I know it'll piss a few folks off but right now Christie is doing what it takes to get the job done for NJ. And even Christie is smart enough to realize that partisan politics isn't going to clean up his state.
Here's some photos if you want to see what's happening in New Jersey
http://www.philly.com/philly/gallery/Helicopter_Views_of_Shore_Devastation.html
PRETZEL
(3,245 posts)watched all the local news since Monday and yes, Christie has been very much out front with the people of NJ on the severity of this storm.
You could tell that it wasn't about politics or about himself. It was about the state and the people who live there.
btw, hope you made out ok with the storm.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)about 2-3 days before the storm they predicted the landfall was going to be down on the Delaware beaches, which btw would have been a first for Delaware. If it had landed there I think we would have been in bad shape so fortunately for us we did not get it as bad. But we still had alot of flooding in the state. BTW, Beau Biden's National Guard unit was called up so he's out there working with the damaged areas in DE.
PRETZEL
(3,245 posts)at least in my part of Pa. We got mostly wind in this. I think if this would have went further up the NJ coast before it hit land it would have been alot worse for me.
MgtPA
(1,022 posts)a disaster than, say, Corbett.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)than someone like pedophile enabler Tom Corbett.
Jennicut
(25,415 posts)And NJ is even worse. Just makes me really sad. NYC and Long Island too. I have been in CT all my life and have never seen this much damage in the tri-state area. Long Island Sound had 13 foot (!) storm surges. Scary, scary stuff. It is usually known for being calmer waters then the open ocean because we have the buffer of Long Island. We don't get huge waves. But we did with Sandy.
I hope Christie does all he can for his state. This is all pretty devastating. I wish Gov Malloy and Gov Cuomo well too. They have a lot of work ahead of them.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)we can be on opposing political sides but still come together when we need too.
I respect Christie a bit more for that - whatever his motivations are and I think they are sincere about his worry for his territory.
I still don't like him and am sure I will call him a braying jackass sometimes in the near future but I will remember this and hold back on the more colourful spews at him. For a while, anyway.
I hope his friends from his side of the aisle take note and learn something.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)And remember just because you're the hero of the big disaster that doesn't mean you'll get elected as president. Else we'd be dealing with President Guiliani's re-election right now.
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)This is the way things are supposed to work. Well said.
rustydog
(9,186 posts)and doing what is expected of him in a disaster, direct relief action.
Can't fault that one bit.
I don't think he bought 5-thousand bucks of props from walmart to try to score points off of dying and displaced people for political gain.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)since it's all local.
But yeah you are right
CherokeeDem
(3,709 posts)but I too, think he has done an excellent job in the last few days. He does seem to have his state's best interest at heart and no one can fault him for that. What the people who are impacted by this horrendous storm need is someone willing to do what it takes to help them. I know that they have that leader in the President and I think if nothing else, Christie is showing leadership now.
ProfessionalLeftist
(4,982 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)all the time as kids. Like the ferris wheel looks ok. Almost thought this was a before
Agree with all you said 100% LynneSin
vi5
(13,305 posts)Hate the man and his policies but last year with Irene he handled it well and this year with Sandy and it being much worse he's handling it well. He'll never have my vote but for now he has my grudging respect as a person and my appreciation as a NJ resident.
TheZug
(966 posts)davsand
(13,421 posts)It is a sad commentary that it is notable when an elected official actually does what they get elected to do. It makes me frustrated to see DUers loving on Obama for doing what he needs to--but then they turn around and minimize Christie for what he's doing. It ain't right.
I'd hope we are all gonna be able to remember that it is the United States dealing with this--not individual parties. When you forget that--when you make it about your political agenda--you get crap like what happened in NOLA after Katrina. Under Obama we are better than that.
Yes, I have no doubt that Christie has ambitions for a higher office. Yes, his politics leave me cold most of the time, and I can't envision a time when I'd vote for him over a sane Dem. Having SAID that, I also feel it needs to be said that if doing the job you are elected to do is a "Campaign Strategy" then I'm all for seeing government campaign in positive ways like this.
Laura
Maeve
(42,281 posts)I'm not sure he doesn't have a long eye-view of 2016 (and enough savvy to realize Mitt's toast), but he's doing his job and that's not easy right now.
Arkansas Granny
(31,515 posts)a little bit of bad in the best of us. Right now Gov. Christie is showing his good side and doing what takes.