steveox
Well-Known Member
New Jersey governor and Republican rising star Chris Christie has expressed his outrage after private emails show his staff shut down traffic on the George Washington Bridge as an act of political revenge.
The bridge, leading from the northern New Jersey city of Fort Lee into New York City, was effectively shut down for nearly a week last September.
Lanes were closed and peak hour traffic was choked through a single toll booth, creating traffic chaos and deeply angering commuters.
An initial explanation for the mayhem was a traffic study gone wrong.
However, there were also allegations that it was an act of political retribution against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, who had refused to endorse Mr Christie's re-election campaign.
Mr Christie denied it at the time, saying it was "not that big a deal".
"Just because press runs around and writes about it both here and nationally, I know why that is and so do you," Mr Christie said then.
Emails show bridge closure was a political act
However, emails and text messages now released under freedom of information appear to show that it was indeed a political act, with its origins in Mr Christie's inner circle and implemented by his allies at the bridge authority.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-09/christies-staff-linked-to--bridge-closure-via-emails/5192824
Back in 1991 former Maryland governor William Donald Shaffer did the same thing to Marylanders. When eastern shore voters voted for republican Steve Sachs,, Shaffer closed the draw bridge for local eastern shore residents. NOT ONE LOCAL NEWSPAPER REPORTED THIS! And Fox News didn't exist back then. The only source reported this was WJZ TV. Theres no link cause it happened over 20 years ago. So in other words when a Democrat does it that's ok right? But when a republican does it that's a no no.
The bridge, leading from the northern New Jersey city of Fort Lee into New York City, was effectively shut down for nearly a week last September.
Lanes were closed and peak hour traffic was choked through a single toll booth, creating traffic chaos and deeply angering commuters.
An initial explanation for the mayhem was a traffic study gone wrong.
However, there were also allegations that it was an act of political retribution against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, who had refused to endorse Mr Christie's re-election campaign.
Mr Christie denied it at the time, saying it was "not that big a deal".
"Just because press runs around and writes about it both here and nationally, I know why that is and so do you," Mr Christie said then.
Emails show bridge closure was a political act
However, emails and text messages now released under freedom of information appear to show that it was indeed a political act, with its origins in Mr Christie's inner circle and implemented by his allies at the bridge authority.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-09/christies-staff-linked-to--bridge-closure-via-emails/5192824
Back in 1991 former Maryland governor William Donald Shaffer did the same thing to Marylanders. When eastern shore voters voted for republican Steve Sachs,, Shaffer closed the draw bridge for local eastern shore residents. NOT ONE LOCAL NEWSPAPER REPORTED THIS! And Fox News didn't exist back then. The only source reported this was WJZ TV. Theres no link cause it happened over 20 years ago. So in other words when a Democrat does it that's ok right? But when a republican does it that's a no no.
