Ex-N.J. Guv: Christie Knew Ally's Bridge Excuse Was 'Bullsh*t'

[highplainsdem]

Source: Talking Points Memo

A former New Jersey governor thinks current Gov. Chris Christie (R) may have known more about the George Washington Bridge scandal plaguing his administration than he let on in a nearly two-hour press conference Thursday.

State Sen. Richard Codey (D), who served as governor after former Gov. Jim McGreevey's (D) resignation, told Salon in an interview published Friday that he thinks there has "been a coverup" of the September lane closures on the bridge that gridlocked the borough of Fort Lee, N.J.

Christie said at the press conference that he didn't know his administration was involved in the lane closures until Wednesday, when emails between his deputy chief of staff and one of his appointees to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey discussing the lane closures became public.

"I think when he has had previous press conferences, it’s hard to believe he didn’t have some knowledge … in some way," Codey told Salon. "After the stuff started coming out about some phony traffic study? Come on, you knew this was bullshit. You should’ve been saying this back then."

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ricard_codey_christie_bridge_scandal

[Laelth]

1. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[Beacool]

2. Well said, governor Codey.

"I think when he has had previous press conferences, it’s hard to believe he didn’t have some knowledge … in some way," Codey told Salon. "After the stuff started coming out about some phony traffic study? Come on, you knew this was bullshit. You should’ve been saying this back then."

[karynnj]

5. Don't you wish that Cirzine would not have been allowed to buy the nomination in 2005?

I could not believe the number of people who volunteered the information that they really, really wanted to vote for Codey - and did not really like Corzine as Governor. They were very very comfortable with the excellent job that the Codeys did in a difficult time as the interim Governor and his wife. Codey was a very very decent good guy.

Had he won in 2005, I assume there would have been no Governor Christie in 2009. (I have phonebanked and canvassed in many elections - none were as painful and hard as calling for Corzine in 2009. Many Democrats told me they just could not vote for the guy.)

[Beacool]

8. I never liked Corzine.

I didn't like him ever since he ran for the Senate. He was just a fat cat who bought a Senate seat. I did vote for him because he was the party's nominee and I wasn't about to vote for the Republican candidate, but I never liked the weasel. I was upset when he chose to run for governor, but again, ended voting for him when he was the nominee.

Yes, many Democrats refused to vote for Corzine and actually voted for Christie. THAT's how bad Corzine was as governor. So, in some respects, we can thank him for Christie.

Corzine is a crook, if all things were fair, he should be in jail. At least, as far as I know, he no longer lives in my town (Menendez still lives here, though).

[jsr]

3. Christie didn't know it was his idea.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. With any luck, his fired aide will blow the whistle.

Either he fired her with a wink and nudge and she has a compensatory job promised to her
or
he dumped her unceremoniously and she will get pissed enough to point the finger ( with evidence) at him.

Of course, being in New Jersey, she may have an unfortunate small plane ride.

After the 2000 election was stolen, I have ZERO illusions about how politics is played out.

[olddad56]

7. I would guess she was paid off to take the fall.

if not, she will be singing eventually.

[karynnj]

9. I bet that she will talk if any criminal charges seem likely to be brought against her

She is a divorced (2011) mother of 4 relatively young kids. (I know this is sexist as there are divorced dads of young kids who go to jail - but not knowing her - not even having heard her name till this exploded, I would think this would be something that no amount of money would be worth.)