R Maddow is getting into a new theory on the why of CC's retribution against Ft Lee, NJ

[bettyellen]

something about Christie not reappointing Justice John Wallace….
in 2010….. Dems were outraged...

[bettyellen]

1. started a war where Dems would not approve any judicial nominees

[bettyellen]

2. and Christie blew up and wouldn't renominate a Repug judge, Helen E.Hoens, which was unprecedented….

Last edited Fri Jan 10, 2014, 12:14 PM - Edit history (1)

edit to add- and suspicious-

[bettyellen]

4. this was 8/12, and he is livid at senate democrats……. next day Ft Lee gets it… which is represented

Last edited Fri Jan 10, 2014, 12:15 PM - Edit history (1)

the leader of the Senate Dems. (edit to add- she voted against two C Christie nominees early on!!)
I didn't get her name, but she is Rachel's next guest.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

7. Christie presser Aug 12, email Aug 13

[Ilsa]

13. There you go: Weinberg.

Many thanks for starting this thread. I started another thread to direct to yours.

[bettyellen]

16. thanks, I found it hard to get all the names and dates and listen… did you hear Weinberg...

when she pointed out that the emails about "traffic" were so brief and cryptic that they prove there was prior planning. GOOD POINT!!

[calimary]

50. Good point indeed! The fact that wildstein answered "Got it" means he already knew the proceedures

to be applied here. Clearly something had been dreamed up and discussed beforehand. All Bridget Kelly's "time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" email was for, evidently, was to unleash the hounds. Sounds as though the hounds were already lined up and ready to go, and their handlers were just waiting for the word to be given. REALLY good point when you think about it.

[DallasNE]

53. That Is Exactly What I Thought When I Saw The "Got It" Response

Everything was already in place and all that was needed was the command to implement (this email exchange). Also note that these conversations were conducted on private email accounts (gmail.com & Yahoo.com) rather than office email (.gov). That too speaks volumes.

[nilesobek]

74. That's an awesome analysis

of the scenarios involved. Of course they would have organized it earlier but had standing orders of radio/phone silence which were violated by the email. It really makes them look culpable and makes me chuckle.

[sabrina 1]

37. He called Senate Democrats 'Animals'. Hopefully all those who endorsed him have finally learned

the lesson we have desperately tried to warn them about, 'you cannot trust a Right Winger like Cristie whose RECORD on issues SHOULD have been enough to stop any Democrat, let alone over fifty of them, from even THINKING of endorsing them.

He manipulated them to an embarrasssing degree and watching it as it happened was cringe inducing to democrats who tried to stop the love fest of Cristie and were told to stfu.

Bi-partisanship! Compromise! I hope this ends any fantasy that some democrats appeared to have that they could EVER trust a right winger like Cristie. He used them, all those Dems who rushed to endorse him, and then, as anyone with a brain cell functioning knew he would, he stabbed in the back. It is painful to watch OUR party continuing to 'trust' these people. Seriously painful.

[House of Roberts]

41. I don't think they endorsed out of bipartisanship.

Those endorsements were coerced, extorted via the threat of other forms of political payback.

[sabrina 1]

46. Well, ONE Democrat proved that standing up to those threats was the right thing to do. And frankly

if you are correct, how depressing that our party is so vulnerable to threats when the other party doesn't appear to worry about them.

I'm not seeing how 'they were afraid not to' helps the image Democrats. On the contrary. I know there was the claim that Dems were fearful of retaliation. if anything, THAT ALONE should have generated so much ANGER at Cristie that Dems should have united to EXPOSE him. I mean I expected dirty tricks from Cristie too. So what? Are we as a part so weak that rather than STAND UP against this kind of bullying, we cave and endorse the very people even Politicians are afraid of?

Sorry, but that is no excuse for the overwhelming number of heartfelt endorsements Cristie received from Democrats. I was shameful frankly and many of us said so at the time.

But ONE Democrat refused to be intimidates, and because of his refusal to be intimidated, the whole phony bi-partisan BS has been exposed. Demonstrating that standing UP to bullies is the RIGHT thing to do.

[bigdarryl]

3. Oh fuck she's on it

[malaise]

5. Amazing stuff

His blow up the day before when he withdrew the ReTHUG judge (one of his staff's wife) because the Senate Dems were going to make them pay for Wallace.

This is too good.

[Ilsa]

6. OMG!!! Dr. Maddow got to the bottom of this!

They were punishing the district represented by Weinberg, the Senate Dem Leader!

[Tx4obama]

12. Loretta Weinberg BIO link below

Here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretta_Weinberg

[Ilsa]

14. Thanks! And we need to keep this thread by bettyellen kicked to high heaven.

This is the trail to shift out, to follow, not the Mayor's endorsement.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

8. By Jove, I think she's got it!

Christie must have given the go ahead. He was pissed the day before.

[avebury]

9. I thinkg that she is on to something. nt

[Spazito]

10. Wow, I think she has nailed the reason for the retaliatory closure!

It makes much more sense than the retaliation toward the Mayor, that one had me puzzled, such a major action against someone who wasn't even asked to endorse Christie.

[stg81]

25. plus there were many Dem pols who also did not endorse...

[Spazito]

29. Exactly, others who didn't endorse were not targets...

that was part of what puzzled me about the reason being put forth re retaliation toward this particular Mayor. I figured there had to be something more, something more substantive than a lack of endorsement being the cause of the major action taken by Christie/his inner circle.

[Ilsa]

11. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO ALERT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Or whomever about this theory. She nailed it.

[bettyellen]

70. isn't it the attorney general for NJ being confirmed next week? Brigit's boss is supposed to

be appointed next week. That will be interesting!!

[bettyellen]

15. Senator Weinberg pointed out that the emails about "traffic" were so brief and cryptic that they

prove there was prior planning/ discussion on the specific actions that were to be taken. Very good point!!

and says she did vote against two of Christie's judicial nominees early on…..

[ProSense]

32. Early today, she commented on Christie's claims

NJ Dems Not Satisfied With Christie's Answers

A couple of Democratic members of the New Jersey state legislature were not entirely satisfied with Gov. Chris Christie's claims Thursday at a press conference that he did not know that members of his staff ordered lane closures on the George Washington Bridge last year.

"This is beyond the pale," Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D) told the Newark Star-Ledger. "He has not asked a question in four months? He suddenly found out this was a big deal? Where was he four months ago?"

Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D), who led the assembly's investigation into the lane closures, was skeptical that members of Christie's staff came up with the plan to cause traffic issues in Fort Lee all by themselves.

&quot T)his in an administration that keeps a tight rein," he told the Star-Ledger. "It strains credibility that Bridget Kelly would concoct this plan all by herself."

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/new-jersey-democrats-not-satisfied-christie-answers

[Cha]

42. NJ Dems are smart. Who would be satisfied with his 2 hour bully-pity party?

Except morning joe?

Love this.. Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D)

thanks ProSense

[Tx4obama]

17. New Jersey's 37th Legislative District and State Senator Loretta Weinberg

New Jersey's 37th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Bogota, Cresskill, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Leonia, Northvale, Palisades Park, Rockleigh, Teaneck and Tenafly.[1] As of the 2010 United States Census, the district had a population of 221,026.[2] In the 2011 apportionment following the 2010 Census, Bergenfield (moved to District 38), Maywood (to District 38), Ridgefield Park (to District 36) and Rochelle Park (to District 38) were removed and Alpine, Cresskill, Fort Lee, Northvale and Rockleigh were added.[3]
-snip-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Legislative_District_%28New_Jersey%29

Loretta Weinberg (/ˈwaɪnbərɡ/; born February 6, 1935) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served as a member of the New Jersey Senate since 2005, where she represents the 37th Legislative District. She currently serves as Senate Majority Leader. Weinberg served in the General Assembly before being selected to replace retiring Senator Byron Baer. ....
-snip-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretta_Weinberg

[bettyellen]

18. Tks Tx!

[bettyellen]

19. Now: Ft Lee Mayor Soccolich…. "Glad that he came…"

"had sincere productive and candid conversation"
Hmmm.

[bettyellen]

20. did he have any guess the traffic situation was hinky? "provided no notice…. rumor mill started and

saying we hear, it's about you?" No one at PA is responding for days… then suspected it could be about me"

[bettyellen]

24. says Ft Lee is in the middle of a multi million dollar redevelopment right at the bridges foot,

and that Ft Lee is too liberal and too successful that Repugs liked slapping them down..

[WinkyDink]

48. Well, what does that mean Biggs, 'hinky'?

Marshal Biggs: This is hinky, this guy's a college graduate, he went to medical school, he's not gonna come through all the security, go to the county lockup, to find someone his one people say does not exist. Hinky.

Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard: Well, what does that mean Biggs, 'hinky'?

Marshal Biggs: I don't know. Strange.

Marshal Henry: Weird.

Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard: Well, why don't you say strange or weird? I mean hinky, that has no meaning.

Marshal Biggs: Well, we say hinky.

Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard: I don't want you guys using words around me that have no meaning. I'm taking the stairs and walking.

[bench scientist]

21. K & R

[ChangeUp106]

22. The e-mails mention the Mayor

So was it about both? I'll have to watch the replay of her show later. What time is it? 11 or midnight?

[bettyellen]

28. It looks like that area is an annoyingly blue holdout so maybe it was cumulative ...

when they ran through a list of other communities w/ Dem Mayoral endorsements, they did get a lot of northern towns in surrounding areas. I was kind of surprised to see that.

[ChangeUp106]

34. Fort Lee was red

from what I hear.

[Tx4obama]

39. See Comment #17. State Senator representing Fort Lee is a Democrat. n/t

[bettyellen]

47. nope, more Dem voters. they went for Corzine, but Christie did much better their his 2nd try

as he did across the state. he was trying to "run up the clock" and admitted it.

[Spazito]

40. I believe the Mayor is mentioned in relation to his request for info AFTER the traffic jam...

and not in the context of him specifically being the reason for the retaliation. When one puts Rachel's theory in play, the mention of the Mayor gives me a different take on why he is mentioned.

[Tx4obama]

23. See the 'two links' in the thread link below

Comment #6 here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024307911#post6

[Gothmog]

26. Rachel is doing a great job

This theory makes sense

[ffr]

62. The domino effect starting

[louslobbs]

27. Kicked. n/t

Lou

[Tx4obama]

30. Chris Christie urges reporters to 'take the bat' to 76-year-old widow (Weinberg)

April 14, 2011

Chris Christie urges reporters to 'take the bat' to 76-year-old widow (Weinberg)

Here: http://crooksandliars.com/david/chris-christie-urges-reporters-take-bat-76-y

[bettyellen]

31. WHOA. There it is!

[Segami]

38. +1

Thanks!

[renate]

56. Oh My God

How has he gotten away with talking like that for so long? It's HORRIFYING. He doesn't just sound like a bully, he sounds dangerous. It'd be one thing to be offended (although wasn't she entitled to her pension as well as to her paycheck as a legislator? I mean, why shouldn't she be?) but to have violent thoughts...

[freshwest]

33. K&R. I don't understand NJ politics, but CC is a jerk. I haven't forgotten Tampa when he talked

about Obama like he was a dog and then was not treated the same way in return. CC runs the gamut of biting and bulllying everyone he can, then goes with his tail between his legs.

This is who he truly is. He recieved help for his people from a man with a real belief in public service. But CC serves no one but his masters and self. The difference in the character of the two men is clear as glass.

The Republicans should be ashamed to have offered him a place in their party, but they are as bad as he is.

[valerief]

45. Calling him a jerk is too kind. He's a stew of scum vomit and slime snot. He's a low bastard. nt

[freshwest]

59. He's just like Walker, LePage, Perry and the rest. A bunch of il duci. CC is a Koch kingdom duke.

If this fails to take him down, we're in even bigger trouble.

[Tx4obama]

35. Rachel Maddow: An alternate theory of the Christie scandal - VIDEO link

VIDEO here: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/watch/an-alternate-theory-of-the-bridgegate-scandal-111611971764

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show

[Cha]

43. Thank you, Tx.. not worthy!

Here I go again..

[Voice for Peace]

51. thanks for link.. hard to follow the thread without it :)

Chris Hayes is adorable. In his adoration.

[R B Garr]

36. Thanks for the heads up about this, bettyellen!

I recorded it for later to listen closer.

[Cha]

44. Thank you, bettyellen, for the thread!

[spanone]

49. k&r...

[defacto7]

52. K & R

[Rilgin]

54. Much better theory

This theory makes a lot more sense than retaliation against the mayor of Ft. Lee. Her new theory ands some other facts put out by the mayor of FT. Lee also somewhat explains why the GW Bridge was used. Ft. Lee just redeveloped including 2 new towers. Loss of bridge lanes would seriously impact Ft. Lee and this redevelopment. That was the threat and causing traffic problems was just making the threat clear.

What the Christie administration might have planned was shutting the lanes down for a few days, postulating they could design a traffic study to recommend permanent removal. After causing the traffic, they the pressure the democrats with a threat that you could make it permanent. In other words after the fact you go to the representative from Bergen County (Loretta Weinberg) who leads the Senate Democrats to say how do you like the first taste of what we can do.

The actual problem with understanding any of the political motivation theories in connection with the mayor is that the mayor does not say he was he was threatened or coerced for his endorsement and does not know any other reason he could be targeted. The mayor even didn't remember being approached for the endorsement.

However, politics with the bridge could make sense if directed at he Senate Democratic leader because you could damage her district a little first, then make it clear that it will continue or that you might try to yank lanes from her district in the future if she doesn't cooperate with what you want. This threat of traffic works great in connection with the major development work in those New Jersey districts.

The actual approach to the Senate Democratic leader was never made because the local traffic reporters started to investigate and the scandal began. At that point it would have been clear that the last thing you would want to do is threaten the democratic leader and connect the dots for everyone as to the motive for the shutdown of the lanes.

[Tx4obama]

55. The FULL Maddow show regarding Christie is now uploaded on the MSNBC website - link below

SIX segments here: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show

All six segments are a must see

Enjoy!

[Cha]

60. Thank you, Tx.. I still haven't watched yet.. and

now I can go right to this link.

Deja Vu

[concreteblue]

57. CAN'T WAtch vid

I have been trying to watch the Maddow show for an hour...It says "loading video" and the peacock tail spins, but no vid....I have refreshed the page several times.....D.O.S. by CC fans?

[Tx4obama]

58. There is a shorter 8 minute excerpt on MEDIAite on the link below

Eight minute excerpt here: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/maddow-nj-bridge-scandal-was-political-revenge-but-maybe-not-for-the-reason-you-think%E2%80%A6/

Sorry to hear that the MSNBC isn't working for you (the videos at MSNBC.com are still working for me).

[bettyellen]

71. Thanks for your additions here Tx! I was just typing as she was telling the tale, and

trying to get the bare bones of it. I appreciate you fleshing it out for us!

[bananas]

79. The show is podcast and can be downloaded for one day only

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024310528

[jsr]

61. Makes sense.

[dansolo]

63. I want to know more about the supreme court justice whose husband works in Christie's office

After watching Rachel's show last night, I believe she is really on to something. But I don't think she went far enough. Cristie's explanation for pulling her renomination was allegedly to protect her good name. But I wonder if his real concern was that their questioning of her could involve dealings with her husband, and ultimately Christie's office. Who is her husband, and what is his role in the Christie administration?

[ananda]

65. Good point.

I'm sure Christie has a lot more to hide.

[Delphinus]

84. Anybody in politics

has a lot more to hide - and in some ways I'm grateful one dear friend of mine didn't win because I wonder how much of her soul she would have had to sell.

[bettyellen]

69. Good question! He may have really tipped his hand with that! Let's see the cards.

[bettyellen]

76. this was all I could find on the husband, he stays out of the press…..

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/13/08/13/christie-s-judicial-shuffle-escalates-supreme-court-battle/?p=all

[unc70]

81. That was my exact thought while watching Rachel

I think they feared the Dems would start digging with subpeonas into issues involving the judge's husband, and thus into the Governor's office.

[Dorian Gray]

64. It's crazy

I have been a little ignorant about Chris Christie, especially since I grew up in NJ. Since I live in NYC now, I don't pay close attention to NJ politics anymore. Of course, I've been aware of him, but I've been a little ignorant of the ins and outs. But this story is horrible. The corruption in NJ politics is so frustrating, and I feel for all my family and friends who still live there. Frustrating to say the least.

[hatrack]

66. "Is there no one who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?"

nt

[Puglover]

67. That bit of

reportage took my breath away. She is an absolute treasure.

[stevenleser]

68. K&R & Bookmarked nt

[myrna minx]

72. This makes much more sense than some petty vendetta. This makes MUCH more sense.

Excellent work from Team Maddow.

[Please proceed]

73. Is there any chance Federal "Sandy" money could have been used

to punish and/or reward those that either supported or not supported Christy. Both theories, the pay back to the Mayor of Fort Lee and The payback for the Supreme Court slight, both indicate the Christy administrations zeal to teach lessons to those within his State. Couldn't it be possible that Federal assets other than the GWB, such as Federal monies, could have been misused by this administration for political purposes?

[bettyellen]

75. this has been the subject of gossip for a while… the Ft Lee mayor also mentioned

(on Maddow) a huge redevelopment deal going on there (a generally blue area) that their might be some - I think he used the word "jealously" over. I immediately thought, they didn't get the cut they wanted out of that gold mine.

[Aerows]

77. Here's the thing, too

You KNOW Christie is screwed because on every news site, you don't see them rebutting the accusations against him. It's all "but...but...but...Obama!! Benghazi!!"

They know he's done, but they don't want him to take the GOP down with him, so that's all they have to rally the troops. It's rather hilarious.

[truebluegreen]

78. Saw the story last night...makes a lot more sense to me. nt

[bettyellen]

80. added link to podcast, since the OP was rather sparse w/ info:

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024310528

[rhett o rick]

82. So now there are two Conspiracy Theories regarding the why there was

retribution against Ft. Lee. And I am glad the CT posse decided to let this go. It's a good example that not all CT needs to be trashed.

Bravo for Ms. Maddow and thanks for posting.

[bettyellen]

83. I think it really can be a combo of who they wanted to hurt that put them over the edge

They apparently hated Weinberg, but had no love for the mayor either. (if it was a more bipartisan area they might have held back?) And trying to make it look like this was local politicians (all Dems) fault, I think it was just an attempt to ruin Dems in general there. Other fairly prosperous areas to the west of Ft Lee have gotten redder, and I think they were hoping they could make a dent there too. Christie did do much better there than his first time. I have to wonder how many voters believed this was the fault of local government in November and got disgusted. God know the Replicans get over by trashing services and blaming "big gov" all the time.