Christie, a stellar performer, a mediocre governor

[Human101948]

Star-Ledger Editorial Board By Tom Moran | Star-Ledger Editorial Board
on February 04, 2016 at 6:00 AM, updated February 04, 2016 at 11:04 AM

MILFORD, N.H. — It is almost tragic, really, to watch Gov. Chris Christie perform in the final days of his long-shot quest for the presidency.

He chose drug treatment as his topic to get this town hall rolling Wednesday evening. And he was so compelling, so sensible, so moving, that you wanted to stand up and cheer. When it comes to the art of persuasion, the raw political skill, there is simply no one in the field who comes close.

So where is the tragedy? The tragedy is that it's a performance, one that crumbles into pieces when you examine his actual record in New Jersey. The mismatch between word and deed is beyond grating.

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http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/02/christie_a_stellar_performer_a_mediocre_governor_m.html#incart_river_home

[oberliner]

1. Mediocre is an overstatement

One of the worst governors in the history of the state - and that is saying something.

[Human101948]

2. As a New Jerseyan, I absolutely agree...

Last edited Thu Feb 4, 2016, 02:05 PM - Edit history (2)

What really kills me is him touting himself as a "Federal prosecutor," a job he was not qualified for, which was awarded to him by Karl Rove for raising money for Dubya. He then used the position to selectively prosecute and exonerate N.J. pols according to how useful they would be in his campaign for governor of the state.

[Laxman]

3. You Get It.......

that is an insightful and spot on comment. He, his brother and his former law partner Bill Pallatucci hatched a scheme to get him appointed U.S. Attorney based upon his fund raising prowess. He never tried a case in his life and his only contact with criminal prosecutions probably came from watching Law and Order on T.V. Yet there he was, appointed U.S. Attorney. He used his position to order the resources of the office be directed at creating crimes (without the requisite approval from the Justice Department), knowing the potential of such an effort to catapult him politically. He did nothing, other than to order his subordinates to use a sociopathic criminal named Solomon Dweck to entrap as many low level politicians as possible. (By the way, I saw Chuck Todd repeat the canard that Christie "never lost a case" last night on MSNBC-ask Lou Manzo about the veracity of that claim). Calling himself a "prosecutor" is an insult to people who really are prosecutors-he's a phony tough guy who is highly skilled at talking a good game.

Christie makes the false claim that Hillary Clinton will shake at the sight of a "real prosecutor" on the debate stage ready to cross-examine her. Here's a question for you, who was the person subjected to Mr. Christie's toughest cross examination?. (hint-it's a trick question-the next person Christie cross-examines will be his first!) Yet nobody calls him on it. Even Matt Katz' somewhat critical book gives him something of a pass on his spurious claims of law enforcement glory. His persona as a tough prosecutor is nothing but a charade-just like everything else the guy does, its all an act with no substance. We could get into the contrived "terrorism" prosecutions he oversaw as further proof of the vacuous nature of his claims-it's an endless pit of empty bluster.

[Human101948]

4. Ruthless Ambition is sitting on my bookshelf...

Christie is a egregious windbag and a corrupt crook.

[Cyrano]

5. "I'll get a mop."

That was Christie in response to a New Jersey town being underwater.

When his term is up, he's finished in NJ. (He might even be in jail if one of his "Bridgegate" pals rolls on him.)

So why in the world would anyone think he's fit for the Oval Office? Well, given this crazy year, the GOP could run Attila the Hun with the belief he could win.