What Is The Republican Path To Victory?

[Yumyumsuppertime]

The GOP's attempt to reach out to minority voters in Detroit by sending Rand Paul as an emissary begins with a speech to a mostly white audience.

[Blasveck]

The GOP's attempt to reach out to minority voters in Detroit by sending Rand Paul as an emissary begins with a speech to a mostly white audience.

It's kinda adorable to see them try so hard and yet fail so horribly.

[The Black Forrest]

The GOP's attempt to reach out to minority voters in Detroit by sending Rand Paul as an emissary begins with a speech to a mostly white audience.

It's kinda adorable to see them try so hard and yet fail so horribly.

I kinda of think it's cute they are taking classes on how to talk to women and how to argue against women candidates.

[Neutraligon]

The GOP's attempt to reach out to minority voters in Detroit by sending Rand Paul as an emissary begins with a speech to a mostly white audience.

The move is a god move to make, trying to reach out to urban African Americans. The problem is they messed up in who they sent. The other problem is that there is a large amount of distrust from urban communities for the Republicans. If they want to succeed they have to overcome that.

[Narland]

The Republican path to victory is to disestablish the RNC with its ideologues. Return to a more pre-1976 fiscal policy by the Parties of the several States and voting Territories to allow for more local control of election directives and potentially viable candidates. This will help provide candidates that are more in touch with the local constituents, even if they are at odds on some issues that the ruling class of the party does not like.

At the state levels, devolve the centralized control creep of the state chairmanships back to county levels so that the party once again represents the Republican principles which it purports to follow. County chairs are then more free to represent the local constituency by allowing the district chairs and precinct committeeman to once again have deliberative power in their assemblies. This frees them up to truly represent the people of their districts, because they ARE the people of their districts, instead of just a rubber stamp for whatever comes down the pike by way of RNC monies, and the machinations of the state chairs.

The county Republican Parties need to send their chairs and precinct committeeman into the streets and homes of the precincts to find out what the wants, needs, and desires of the constituents actually are instead of relying on talking heads, yes-men, and pollsters to spit into the wind to see which way it is blowing. By being a deliberative part of their local communities there can be a true path to Republican victory.

I think Akronia has the right idea.

There can't be a winning GOP until there is fundamental change in the party structure. The top-down foolishness trying to make the GOP a cheap copy of the Democratic Party is a failure. Who wants a cheap imitation when they can have the real thing? This deprives the people of true alternatives.

The GOP does need to go back to running its self at the county and state levels. Blue and Red Counties/States have very different needs. Let the party be free to meet those needs. Replace the corrupt national leadership with young blood from those levels.

The GOP is supposed to be a Republican Party. It should return to a republican structure of representation and deliberation at the precinct, district and county/municipality levels. The states and national level then must meet the needs of the communities. Right now, the national GOP tells the communities how high to jump by telling them how much money they deserve.

Control money by the communities to give to national Party when the national Party deserves it. Politicians must meet the needs of the people at the local and community levels. The nepotism of corrupt business and special interest at the national level will become irrelevant.

As long as the GOP pretends to be the Democratic Party Lite, it will disappear the way of the Whigs. Return to republican principles of civic virtue, and Liberty. Spurn corporatism, fraud, greed and special interest. The people need a choice not an echo.

[Blasveck]

The Republican path to victory is to disestablish the RNC with its ideologues. Return to a more pre-1976 fiscal policy by the Parties of the several States and voting Territories to allow for more local control of election directives and potentially viable candidates. This will help provide candidates that are more in touch with the local constituents, even if they are at odds on some issues that the ruling class of the party does not like.

At the state levels, devolve the centralized control creep of the state chairmanships back to county levels so that the party once again represents the Republican principles which it purports to follow. County chairs are then more free to represent the local constituency by allowing the district chairs and precinct committeeman to once again have deliberative power in their assemblies. This frees them up to truly represent the people of their districts, because they ARE the people of their districts, instead of just a rubber stamp for whatever comes down the pike by way of RNC monies, and the machinations of the state chairs.

The county Republican Parties need to send their chairs and precinct committeeman into the streets and homes of the precincts to find out what the wants, needs, and desires of the constituents actually are instead of relying on talking heads, yes-men, and pollsters to spit into the wind to see which way it is blowing. By being a deliberative part of their local communities there can be a true path to Republican victory.

I think Akronia has the right idea.

There can't be a winning GOP until there is fundamental change in the party structure. The top-down foolishness trying to make the GOP a cheap copy of the Democratic Party is a failure. Who wants a cheap imitation when they can have the real thing? This deprives the people of true alternatives.

The GOP does need to go back to running its self at the county and state levels. Blue and Red Counties/States have very different needs. Let the party be free to meet those needs. Replace the corrupt national leadership with young blood from those levels.

The GOP is supposed to be a Republican Party. It should return to a republican structure of representation and deliberation at the precinct, district and county/municipality levels. The states and national level then must meet the needs of the communities. Right now, the national GOP tells the communities how high to jump by telling them how much money they deserve.

Money should go from the communities to national Party. Politicians must meet the needs of the people at the local and community levels. The nepotism of corrupt business and special interest at the national level will become irrelevant.

As long as the GOP pretends to be the Democratic Party Lite, it will disappear the way of the Whigs. Return to republican principles of civic virtue, and Liberty. Spurn corporatism, fraud, greed and special interest. The people need a choice not an echo.

How, in any way, is the GOP the "Democratic Party Lite".

Are they not conservative enough for you?
Do they need to nominate a True Conservative^TM?

This line of thinking is killing the GOP, not the thing they need to aim for.

[Shaggai]

I think Akronia has the right idea.

There can't be a winning GOP until there is fundamental change in the party structure. The top-down foolishness trying to make the GOP a cheap copy of the Democratic Party is a failure. Who wants a cheap imitation when they can have the real thing? This deprives the people of true alternatives.

The GOP does need to go back to running its self at the county and state levels. Blue and Red Counties/States have very different needs. Let the party be free to meet those needs. Replace the corrupt national leadership with young blood from those levels.

The GOP is supposed to be a Republican Party. It should return to a republican structure of representation and deliberation at the precinct, district and county/municipality levels. The states and national level then must meet the needs of the communities. Right now, the national GOP tells the communities how high to jump by telling them how much money they deserve.

Money should go from the communities to national Party. Politicians must meet the needs of the people at the local and community levels. The nepotism of corrupt business and special interest at the national level will become irrelevant.

As long as the GOP pretends to be the Democratic Party Lite, it will disappear the way of the Whigs. Return to republican principles of civic virtue, and Liberty. Spurn corporatism, fraud, greed and special interest. The people need a choice not an echo.

How, in any way, is the GOP the "Democratic Party Lite".

Are they not conservative enough for you?
Do they need to nominate a True Conservative^TM?

This line of thinking is killing the GOP, not the thing they need to aim for.

I think by "The Democratic Party Lite" they meant the version of the GOP many people advocate in this thread, which is effectively the Democratic Party but slightly more conservative.

[Narland]

I think Akronia has the right idea.

There can't be a winning GOP until there is fundamental change in the party structure. The top-down foolishness trying to make the GOP a cheap copy of the Democratic Party is a failure. Who wants a cheap imitation when they can have the real thing? This deprives the people of true alternatives.

The GOP does need to go back to running its self at the county and state levels. Blue and Red Counties/States have very different needs. Let the party be free to meet those needs. Replace the corrupt national leadership with young blood from those levels.

The GOP is supposed to be a Republican Party. It should return to a republican structure of representation and deliberation at the precinct, district and county/municipality levels. The states and national level then must meet the needs of the communities. Right now, the national GOP tells the communities how high to jump by telling them how much money they deserve. z

Money should go from the communities to national Party. Politicians must meet the needs of the people at the local and community levels. The nepotism of corrupt business and special interest at the national level will become irrelevant.

As long as the GOP pretends to be the Democratic Party Lite, it will disappear the way of the Whigs. Return to republican principles of civic virtue, and Liberty. Spurn corporatism, fraud, greed and special interest. The people need a choice not an echo.

How, in any way, is the GOP the "Democratic Party Lite".

Are they not conservative enough for you?
Do they need to nominate a True Conservative^TM?

This line of thinking is killing the GOP, not the thing they need to aim for.

they are not only not conservative, they are (at the national level) most decidedely fascistic, nepotistic, and panderous. pretending to be a shade different thatn the democratic party (which they are not), instead of being a conservative altrernative to is disgusting. but how can they know when they are so out of touch with their constituencies? the national leadership is only fooling itself.

oops forget this part:

And yes, there is such a thing as true consevatism since it is an idelogoically consistant position.

[Shaggai]

How, in any way, is the GOP the "Democratic Party Lite".

Are they not conservative enough for you?
Do they need to nominate a True Conservative^TM?

This line of thinking is killing the GOP, not the thing they need to aim for.

they are not only not conservative, they are (at the national level) most decidedely fascistic, nepotistic, and panderous. pretending to be a shade different thatn the democratic party (which they are not), instead of being a conservative altrernative to is disgusting. but how can they know when they are so out of touch with their constituencies? the national leadership is only fooling itself.

Wait. Oh my Azathoth. You, as far as I can tell, are an actual, literal conservative. I can't believe it. This is incredible. I think Edlichbury is one, but do we have any others on NSG? I can't think of any.

[Narland]

How, in any way, is the GOP the "Democratic Party Lite".

Are they not conservative enough for you?
Do they need to nominate a True Conservative^TM?

This line of thinking is killing the GOP, not the thing they need to aim for.

I think by "The Democratic Party Lite" they meant the version of the GOP many people advocate in this thread, which is effectively the Democratic Party but slightly more conservative.

thank you, that is what i mean.

also, the GOP only needs to go back to a representative form of party structure to make the necessary changes that dictatorial control from the top-down cannot bring.

[Blasveck]

they are not only not conservative, they are (at the national level) most decidedely fascistic, nepotistic, and panderous. pretending to be a shade different thatn the democratic party (which they are not), instead of being a conservative altrernative to is disgusting. but how can they know when they are so out of touch with their constituencies? the national leadership is only fooling itself.

Wait. Oh my Azathoth. You, as far as I can tell, are an actual, literal conservative. I can't believe it. This is incredible. I think Edlichbury is one, but do we have any others on NSG? I can't think of any.

Caninope.

[Shaggai]

Wait. Oh my Azathoth. You, as far as I can tell, are an actual, literal conservative. I can't believe it. This is incredible. I think Edlichbury is one, but do we have any others on NSG? I can't think of any.

Caninope.

I thought they couldn't be that few, and I was almost certain I had seen someone else, but I couldn't remember who. Thank you.

[Narland]

Wait. Oh my Azathoth. You, as far as I can tell, are an actual, literal conservative. I can't believe it. This is incredible. I think Edlichbury is one, but do we have any others on NSG? I can't think of any.

Caninope.

Fixed:
American Conservatism is quite distinct in its ideological presuppositions to conserve Liberty. Mere conservatism (little-c avoiding change) is not what is necessarily meant. True conservatism in the American sense relies upon the principles of self-government, civic virtue, and Liberty, as established by the Founding Fathers, not upon the fallacy of begging the question. Each individual is thereby free to pursue their course in that broad swath be they conservative (little c) or radical in disposition to whatever distinctive they expound so long as it does not interfere with the rights of another.

Many in the GOP wish to consider themselves conservative (little c)--in opposition to change, and forget the paleo-liberal cause they are conserving.

[Avenio]

The GOP does need to go back to running its self at the county and state levels. Blue and Red Counties/States have very different needs. Let the party be free to meet those needs. Replace the corrupt national leadership with young blood from those levels.

That 'young blood' was the majority of the contingent of the GOP that was leading the charge into the abyss in mid-October.

You sure that's the people you want to be leading your party?

[Narland]

The GOP does need to go back to running its self at the county and state levels. Blue and Red Counties/States have very different needs. Let the party be free to meet those needs. Replace the corrupt national leadership with young blood from those levels.

That 'young blood' was the majority of the contingent of the GOP that was leading the charge into the abyss in mid-October.

You sure that's the people you want to be leading your party?

Again, the party needs restructuring back to republican principles before the "young blood" can be representative of the communites from which they spring. As it is now, what happened is merely a rebellion within the ranks that isnt going to change anything that makes the national GOP the dicatatorial (monarchial, i.e., un-republican) machine that it is.

[Avenio]

Again, the party needs restructuring back to republican principles before the "young blood" can be representative of the communites from which they spring.

Lot of buzzwords in that sentence.

As it is now, what happened is merely a rebellion within the ranks that isnt going to change anything that makes the national GOP the dicatatorial (monarchial, i.e., un-republican) machine that it is.

So you agree with the 'rebels', then?

[ALMF]

How, in any way, is the GOP the "Democratic Party Lite".

Are they not conservative enough for you?
Do they need to nominate a True Conservative^TM?

This line of thinking is killing the GOP, not the thing they need to aim for.

I think by "The Democratic Party Lite" they meant the version of the GOP many people advocate in this thread, which is effectively the Democratic Party but slightly more conservative.

The problem with this approach isn't the Republican partie wold be too like the Democratic partie. The problem is the Democratic partie is " effectively the [center] but slightly more conservative." Therefore, there is not room for a majority right of the Democratic partie.

[Shaggai]

I think by "The Democratic Party Lite" they meant the version of the GOP many people advocate in this thread, which is effectively the Democratic Party but slightly more conservative.

The problem with this approach isn't the Republican partie wold be too like the Democratic partie. The problem is the Democratic partie is " effectively the [center] but slightly more conservative." Therefore, there is not room for a majority right of the Democratic partie.

Actually, what matters is the median. If the median American voter-not the average, the median-is slightly to the right, the Democrats will win because the median voter is the one who matters.

[ALMF]

The problem with this approach isn't the Republican partie wold be too like the Democratic partie. The problem is the Democratic partie is " effectively the [center] but slightly more conservative." Therefore, there is not room for a majority right of the Democratic partie.

Actually, what matters is the median. If the median American voter-not the average, the median-is slightly to the right, the Democrats will win because the median voter is the one who matters.

As a mathematician I appreciate the being technical. Average is an informal term that can mean median or mean. I was using it in the former seance.

[Narland]

Again, the party needs restructuring back to republican principles before the "young blood" can be representative of the communites from which they spring.

Lot of buzzwords in that sentence.

As it is now, what happened is merely a rebellion within the ranks that isnt going to change anything that makes the national GOP the dicatatorial (monarchial, i.e., un-republican) machine that it is.

So you agree with the 'rebels', then?

Those buzzwords were defined in Akronia's post, and my first post. Basically the GOP has ceased to be organizations of deliberative assemblies that represent the people of the precincts, districts, counties and municipalities from which they derive. If the GOP cannot represent the communities that make up the nation, it cannot represent the nation.

As to the "rebels," (if you are referring to Cruz) anything that shows how messed up the GOP is, then yes.

As to the specific political issues, I support constitutional federalism--the federal government has 17 specific things delegated to it to do by the People and the States, and they cannot even do these thing well. To try to manage tens of thousands of things from a centralized location apart from the public interest of the individual, families, and communities is fool-hardy. For the Federal Government to tell me with whom I can or cannot contract for medical care is lawlessness. In accordance with Marbury vs Madison, I am within my rights to disregard the ACA as though it were no law at all. Fortunately, I live in a State where the governor has ordered the executive employees, peace keepers and law-enforcement of Idaho to interpose themselves between the people and the IRS when they try to collect the ACA "penalty."

As to shutting down unessential government services, our federal government was built to do so. Congress used to meet only two months out of the year, and when congress disbanded, all non-essential government services shut down. The House Barber shop closed down, but the Post Office still delivered.

Non-essential government routinely shut down. Government has shut down periodically multitudes of times since its establishment. Now that congress thinks its so important that it has to meet all year around they use this as a bogey-man. Many news media outlets follow suit made it sound like all hell was breaking loose--what a joke.

Congress needs to live within its means, by all means. If it cannot, it should disband and allow for new elections. It should not withhold essential services, nor use non-essential services as a poker chip. It should pass appropriations one subject at a time as it was intended.

[Death Metal]

The GOP's attempt to reach out to minority voters in Detroit by sending Rand Paul as an emissary begins with a speech to a mostly white audience.

The move is a god move to make, trying to reach out to urban African Americans. The problem is they messed up in who they sent.

I know. If a political party tries to court MENSA into getting their vote, they don't send Pol Pot!

[Death Metal]

As long as the GOP pretends to be the Democratic Party Lite, it will disappear the way of the Whigs. Return to republican principles of civic virtue, and Liberty. Spurn corporatism, fraud, greed and special interest. The people need a choice not an echo.

Corporatism, fraud, greed, and special interest is all the GOP has ever stood for since the 60s.

If anything, the Democrats are GOP lite, not the other way around. GOP is hardcore right wing, Democrats are centre-to-mild right.

If you're talking about going back to the principles of Lincoln? Shit, you'd have to go farther left than any significant political party since the Bull Moose, and becoming like the Green Party minus the insane anti-business anti-technology policies of the current Green Party (For international NSers, talking specifically about the American one)

And there's NO WAY that will happen, because they'll be considered degenerate elitist hippy godless communists by the core of the GOP. Just like Lincoln himself would be.

The only way there will be a Lincoln-era Republican party is if the current one disbands completely, and the new one reforms without a single member of the old party (or their splinter groups, the Tea Party, Libertarian Party, or the even more conservative Contitution Party).

If you can heap up all your hatemongers and un-American conservatives,
And risk them all on one election cycle, and lose,
And start over from your beginnings, without breathing a word about the border-jumping homosexual agenda,
Then a future in politics is yours, and what's more, you'll be a real alternative political party, GOP.

[Gauthier]

Looks like Boss Christie might have a boneyard collecting in his closet.

Chris Christie Administration In A Jam Over Charges Of Using Busiest U.S. Bridge In Political Payback

WASHINGTON -- The George Washington Bridge connecting Manhattan to Fort Lee, N.J., is the busiest in the country. So it was no small matter when in September, two of the three access lanes to the bridge were shut down, creating significant traffic problems on the New Jersey side.

The shutdown was ordered by a political appointee of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Christie's administration said the closure was justified due to a traffic study, while Democrats questioned whether it was political retribution against the mayor of Fort Lee, who weeks before had refused to endorse Christie's reelection.

But on Monday, the top Port Authority official threw cold water on the Christie administration's claim, testifying at a state Assembly hearing that he didn't know about any traffic study. The Christie ally who ordered the closure, David Wildstein, resigned on Friday, reigniting questions about whether the traffic snarl created by the closure was all just political payback -- allegations that the Christie administration has dismissed as "crazy."

Christie brought Wildstein into his administration as a top Port Authority official in 2010. But the two go back much further. Wildstein, who founded the political website PolitickerNJ, and Christie were just a year apart in high school. A 2012 profile of Wildstein in The Record newspaper said figured "prominently" in Christie's effort to change the Port Authority.

"Longtime employees ... privately describe a man intent on carrying out a political agenda rather than one built on reform or improving the region's transportation system," wrote the paper.

Wildstein ordered the closures on Sunday, Sept. 8, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move created a "horror story" of traffic jams in Fort Lee the next day -- the first day of school in the borough -- with cars backed up into local streets. The access lanes reopened on Sept. 13, upon the orders of the Port Authority's executive director, Patrick Foye, an appointee of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).

Fort Lee's Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich, wrote on Sept. 12 to Christie's top appointee at the Port Authority, Bill Baroni, saying he believed Wildstein's actions were "punitive," although he has since backed off that accusation.

Just two weeks earlier, Sokolich had declined to endorse Christie's reelection bid.

In late November, Baroni told state lawmakers that a traffic study was the reason for the closures. He asked why so many lanes needed to be dedicated to Fort Lee traffic.

Several Democrats said at the time they were unhappy with his testimony

“While it was nice for him to come, his appearance was somewhat clownish,” Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D) told The Record. “He smirked through most of the hearing, changed the direction of the hearing as many times as possible to the point where he was asking the committee if we agreed with the policy call the Port Authority made.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that the closures were ordered without notifying police, emergency officials or officials on the New York side of the Port Authority's leadership.

Christie, meanwhile, has been going after Democrats for being "obsessed" with the issue, arguing that they were the ones playing politics.

Christie also defended Baroni's charge that Fort Lee perhaps had too many bridge lanes, telling reporters early this month, "We should look at this policy because I don’t know why one town gets three lanes. One lane maybe; three lanes?”

When asked if he had anything to do with the lane closures, he sarcastically replied, "I moved the cones, actually unbeknownst to everybody."

On Friday, just days before a legislative hearing on the closures, Wildstein announced that he will resign on Jan. 1 because the investigation had become a "distraction." He continues to collect his six-figure paycheck in the meantime. Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak called him “a tireless advocate for New Jersey’s interests at the Port Authority.”

Foye testified before a New Jersey state Assembly committee on Monday that he would have fired Wildstein, but did not have the authority. Other Port Authority officials said Wildstein directed them not to tell Foye about the bridge closures.

When asked if he knew about a traffic study, Foye replied, "I don't."

"I'm not aware of any traffic study," Foye said. "I don't know why it was done."

Christie's office has declined further comment after Monday's hearings, according to The Wall Street Journal, and his office did not immediately return a call to The Huffington Post. Democratic lawmakers are now calling for the firing of Baroni.

Not even "moderate" Christie is immune to the Republican temptation to shut things down for petty vendettas it seems.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Looks like Boss Christie might have a boneyard collecting in his closet.

Chris Christie Administration In A Jam Over Charges Of Using Busiest U.S. Bridge In Political Payback

WASHINGTON -- The George Washington Bridge connecting Manhattan to Fort Lee, N.J., is the busiest in the country. So it was no small matter when in September, two of the three access lanes to the bridge were shut down, creating significant traffic problems on the New Jersey side.

The shutdown was ordered by a political appointee of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Christie's administration said the closure was justified due to a traffic study, while Democrats questioned whether it was political retribution against the mayor of Fort Lee, who weeks before had refused to endorse Christie's reelection.

But on Monday, the top Port Authority official threw cold water on the Christie administration's claim, testifying at a state Assembly hearing that he didn't know about any traffic study. The Christie ally who ordered the closure, David Wildstein, resigned on Friday, reigniting questions about whether the traffic snarl created by the closure was all just political payback -- allegations that the Christie administration has dismissed as "crazy."

Christie brought Wildstein into his administration as a top Port Authority official in 2010. But the two go back much further. Wildstein, who founded the political website PolitickerNJ, and Christie were just a year apart in high school. A 2012 profile of Wildstein in The Record newspaper said figured "prominently" in Christie's effort to change the Port Authority.

"Longtime employees ... privately describe a man intent on carrying out a political agenda rather than one built on reform or improving the region's transportation system," wrote the paper.

Wildstein ordered the closures on Sunday, Sept. 8, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move created a "horror story" of traffic jams in Fort Lee the next day -- the first day of school in the borough -- with cars backed up into local streets. The access lanes reopened on Sept. 13, upon the orders of the Port Authority's executive director, Patrick Foye, an appointee of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).

Fort Lee's Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich, wrote on Sept. 12 to Christie's top appointee at the Port Authority, Bill Baroni, saying he believed Wildstein's actions were "punitive," although he has since backed off that accusation.

Just two weeks earlier, Sokolich had declined to endorse Christie's reelection bid.

In late November, Baroni told state lawmakers that a traffic study was the reason for the closures. He asked why so many lanes needed to be dedicated to Fort Lee traffic.

Several Democrats said at the time they were unhappy with his testimony

“While it was nice for him to come, his appearance was somewhat clownish,” Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D) told The Record. “He smirked through most of the hearing, changed the direction of the hearing as many times as possible to the point where he was asking the committee if we agreed with the policy call the Port Authority made.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that the closures were ordered without notifying police, emergency officials or officials on the New York side of the Port Authority's leadership.

Christie, meanwhile, has been going after Democrats for being "obsessed" with the issue, arguing that they were the ones playing politics.

Christie also defended Baroni's charge that Fort Lee perhaps had too many bridge lanes, telling reporters early this month, "We should look at this policy because I don’t know why one town gets three lanes. One lane maybe; three lanes?”

When asked if he had anything to do with the lane closures, he sarcastically replied, "I moved the cones, actually unbeknownst to everybody."

On Friday, just days before a legislative hearing on the closures, Wildstein announced that he will resign on Jan. 1 because the investigation had become a "distraction." He continues to collect his six-figure paycheck in the meantime. Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak called him “a tireless advocate for New Jersey’s interests at the Port Authority.”

Foye testified before a New Jersey state Assembly committee on Monday that he would have fired Wildstein, but did not have the authority. Other Port Authority officials said Wildstein directed them not to tell Foye about the bridge closures.

When asked if he knew about a traffic study, Foye replied, "I don't."

"I'm not aware of any traffic study," Foye said. "I don't know why it was done."

Christie's office has declined further comment after Monday's hearings, according to The Wall Street Journal, and his office did not immediately return a call to The Huffington Post. Democratic lawmakers are now calling for the firing of Baroni.

Not even "moderate" Christie is immune to the Republican temptation to shut things down for petty vendettas it seems.

Unless this is the beginning of a pattern, I can't see this story having legs for long enough to make a difference.

[New Chalcedon]

Looks like Boss Christie might have a boneyard collecting in his closet.

Chris Christie Administration In A Jam Over Charges Of Using Busiest U.S. Bridge In Political Payback



Not even "moderate" Christie is immune to the Republican temptation to shut things down for petty vendettas it seems.

Unless this is the beginning of a pattern, I can't see this story having legs for long enough to make a difference.

Beginning? It's the continuation of a pattern - Christie is uniformly rude, arrogant and bullying in his approach to politics. That may play well enough in New Joisey (where politics is a blood sport), but won't win the support of Establishment figures and the like, and Christie can't fake "insane" well enough to draw the Tea Partiers' support.