Christie: Boehner ignored multiple phone calls on Sandy relief funds

[UCmeNdc]

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said Wednesday that House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) ignored multiple calls on Tuesday, even as the governor was hoping to convey the urgency of a now-delayed vote on funding for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

“Last night, the House Majority failed most the basic test of leadership and they did so with callous disregard to the people of my state,” Christie said at a news conference on Wednesday. “It was disappointing and disgusting to watch.”


Raw Story (http://s.tt/1xSX7)

[Iceberg Louie]

1. Could it be an implosion of the Republican Party?

The conspiracy theorist in me wonders how much of this is political theater, and how much is genuine sentiment. Could this be a staged coup, propping up Christie and Peter King, among others, as the ones who stand out from the political machine, who don't kowtow to the party line, etc...

Not to minimize the legitimate tragedy of how the Sandy relief bill has played out, but if it is theatrics, it is a brilliant strategy.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. It does not need to be a 'staged coup' to be a bunch of political theater, which it is.

Christie and King are just playing their roles. For the radical right, when they see Christie say these things, they think 'the House is great, taking a real stand'. That's Christie's part here, to play outrage in the 'tough NJ' mode, which just makes those who support the House think better of the House while making those who oppose the House think better of Christie 2016.
The thing about dramatics is you don't look at the verbiage, but at the actions. To see what really happens with a Christie rant or a Peter King whine, you have to look at what they do, not what they say. Christie remains a Republican. A few months ago he called Obama an 'absentee leader'. Then he praised him. So the words, they are words. The action, Christie's only actual action in the face of this shit- he remains loyal to the very Party he claims is harming NJ. So his actions are Party above State while his words are designed to sound oh, so very outspoken and harsh...
He could say anything. As long as he remains a Republican he is nothing but a Republican.

[Iceberg Louie]

4. Agreed. I'm not buying Christie's feigned outrage myself

But I wouldn't be surprised to see, on the road to 2016, Christie building up momentum by positioning himself as the "rogue outsider", the "Republican with a difference". People like you and I might see through it, but the low-info voters could buy into the hype, which ultimately gives Christie an edge, even flipping the negative sentiment the voters currently have of the GOP into an advantage for himself by presenting himself as not being bound by the party line. Ever since I started paying attention to him, I've seen an endless string of well-calculated subtle campaigning for 2016.

But you are right, though. It's all theatrics, executed for the crass, craven purpose of setting himself up as a strong candidate. And it's all b.s. He will continue his act, but at the end of the day, the GOP puppetmasters will continue to get their way. They are realizing that the tide has turned on overall public support of arch-conservatism, and they know the only way to survive is through devious maneuvering like this. We will see how it plays out; perhaps Christie will hold it together for the next four years, perhaps he will unravel like every other primary contender last year. Only time will tell.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

2. beohner probably thinks christie should pull himself up by his,

bootstraps!