Krugman: The Pope and Chris Christie

[ProSense]

The Pope and Chris Christie

Sometimes, when you read a news report, you remember connections that, while not invalidating the reporting at all, nonethless shed a different light on some aspects of the story. So it was with today’s Times report on the internal recommendations Chris Christie has been getting within the GOP. Quoted at some length was a guy named Ken Langone:

The billionaire Kenneth G. Langone, Mr. Christie’s most devoted fund-raiser and loudest cheerleader, got in touch with him in recent days. Mr. Langone said he told the governor that he must be smarter about those who surround him.

“I conveyed the importance of the decisions he makes about the people around him and their qualification and their competence, including common sense,” said Mr. Langone, who called the politically motivated closure of lanes onto the George Washington Bridge “beyond the pale.”

“It upset the hell out of me,” he said.

Ah, yes — that Ken Langone, who recently tried to bully … the Pope:

Billionaire Home Depot founder Ken Langone has a warning for Pope Francis.

A major Republican donor, Langone told CNBC in a story published online Monday that wealthy people such as himself might stop giving to charity if the Pope continues to make statements criticizing capitalism and income inequality.

Langone said he was worried the Pope’s comments about an “exclusionary” “culture of prosperity” that may make some of the rich “incapable of feeling compassion for the poor.”

Yep. Stop criticizing the rich or we’ll take it out on the poor. Nothing at all like punishing the residents of Fort Lee — and, apparently, in what may be a much worse story, Hoboken — because you’re annoyed at their mayor.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/the-pope-and-chris-christie

[Kber]

1. Both the Pope And the Gov made a similar "mistake"

The risk exposing the money man behind the curtain. Pope Francais is going it on purpose while Christie' exposure is a total goof.

But both are threatening to the existing order and need to be muzzled.

[freshwest]

2. Thanks, I was just reading about this on Salon:

Paul Krugman: Chris Christie’s top fundraiser is a billionaire Pope Francis bully!

http://www.salon.com/2014/01/19/paul_krugman_chris_christies_top_fundraiser_is_a_billionaire_pope_francis_bully/

Birds of prey flocking together. The plot thickens. There was also an article about how Christie began his bullying career back in his college days.

Of course, to the rank and file Republican, bullying = strength of character = a leader. When they come across someone who is an equal, then they turn tail and run like the cowards they are, a trait they like to attack Democrats with.

Classic projection by them. It takes a strong character with firm, well-reasoned beliefs to stay and fight with little chance of victory. And to stay on course requires that belief being stronger than the love of money, because in politics, the best of people may give their lives to the cause.

Not necessarily from an assassin's'bullet, but the wear and tear of the daily grind of mixed success and insults heaped on them by the ignorant. There is no simple, all and always victory, no take the money and run as we've seen Boehner, Cantor, Walker, Bush, Scott and the rest doing all the time. The Christies of the world are not in public service for the long haul, but the quick bag of swag.

[hue]

4. I love this article/perspective! Thanks for posting!

[freshwest]

11. Glad you enjoyed it. These paragraphs shouted out to me:

...A major Republican donor, Langone told CNBC in a story published online Monday that wealthy people such as himself might stop giving to charity if the Pope continues to make statements criticizing capitalism and income inequality.

Langone said he was worried the Pope’s comments about an “exclusionary” “culture of prosperity” that may make some of the rich “incapable of feeling compassion for the poor.”

Pot, kettle, black, etc.

“Yep. Stop criticizing the rich or we’ll take it out on the poor,” writes Krugman. “Nothing at all like punishing the residents of Fort Lee - and, apparently, in what may be a much worse story, Hoboken - because you’re annoyed at their mayor.”

As if Langore is NOT in the business of PUNISHING the poor now?



He's unwilling to give up the privilege he enjoys now. His words mean nothing. The reason he's in politics is to further his own ambitions to enrich himself. His vision is like his heart, very tiny.

Obama made a comment about such thinking, and it's why this guy will be nothing in history, and Obama will be remembered well:



JMHO.

[loudsue]

3. Mr. Langone sure thinks a lot of himself.

In fact, he's so in love with himself, he aught to go fook himself.

[hue]

5. he prob does everytime he looks in the mirror! Ugh!

[hue]

6. A retaliatory threat to the Pope! Ooooo! Scary!! "the rich" don't give a sheit anyway...

Yeah now Langone is blaming their lack of empathy/ “incapable of feeling compassion for the poor” on the Pope's comments!!
OK Ken, who do you blame your stupidity on???

[elzenmahn]

16. Yeah, and he probably feels soooooo much compassion for the poor...

...that he always makes damned sure to write off his donations on his taxes. So you see, we're subsidizing his "generosity".

Nice.

[Demeter]

7. Not Even 6 Degrees of Separation!

[Hulk]

8. Bingo!!

Nice call, Paul. I swear, these repuKKKes are so damned hypocritical, it's GREAT to point it out to the rest of us so we can also connect the dots.
Problem is, it's not JUST the repuKKKes who are so damned hypocritical, and we ALL need to be called out on it when it shows it's foolish head.
I'm becoming very disgusted with several Democratic congressmen who are JUST AS FOOKIN' HYPOCRITCAL AS THE REPUKKKES! Can start with schumer, menendez, and a boat load of others.

[ReRe]

10. Hear Hear!

[Sienna86]

9. And that is why I shop at Lowe's not Home Depot

Langone is a co-founder of Home Depot.

[Cha]

12. Christie was/is punishing the "poor".. relatively

speaking. If you don't help the rich they will take it out on the citizens of Hoboken, Jersey City, Ft Lee, New Jersey, and anyone else who was on the GWB those 4 days in September.

Any other punishments coming forth?

Thanks PS

[spanone]

14. well, we learned that ken absolves the gubnor of all sins and blames those who 'surround him'

ken is quite the asshole.

[SunSeeker]

15. Langone says he is upset that the Christie capos are incompetent, not that they are bullies.

Very telling. Much like Christie's "apology." They only express disapproval of the capos' stupidity (no doubt in reference to their capos' putting their conversations in writing that can be subpoenaed). None of these scumbags express any regret about the CORRUPTION and CRUELTY of the acts or their effects on the citizens of NJ.