Wed. Jan. 8, 2014
..."It will be a tough November (click here) for this little Serbian," Wildstein wrote to Sepien, apparently referencing Sokolich's nationality. Elsewhere in the documents, Bill Baroni, the deputy executive director of the Port Authority, refers to Sokolich as "Serbian." Sokolich is Croatian....
I haven't heard exploration of a larger picture, so this is my opinion, especially with this statement. I had been thinking about the larger implication, but, never thought it valid until I heard this statement about the ethnicity of the Mayor.
Some of this maybe the political culture of New Jersey, however, I don't recall it being this bizarre. This is bizarre.
This isn't political punishment. This was a political plan to push the Democratic Mayor out of office to turn Fort Lee to Republican Red. I am not convinced Christie knew about this. It is obvious high level staff was involved, but, I am not convinced the Governor did this.
That said, currently Governor Christie is the Republican Governor's Association President. One of his statement at the time he made it caused me pause, "We have to get the Governors of 2014 elected." Something like that. With that reality why would they put Christie into the Chairmanship.
01.02.14
By David Freedlander
At the beginning of 2013, (click here) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had a big electoral target on his back. He was the Republican leader of a blue state, one where a host of hot-button issues, from gay marriage to the minimum wage, were coming to prominence. And even at the start of the year, Christie was widely assumed to be gearing up for a national campaign. Even if Democrats couldn’t beat him, it was widely assumed they would want to make sure he entered the national stage wounded, forced to explain policy positions he took during the campaign that wouldn’t play outside his liberal state....
I don't believe the New Jersey Democrats are finding a reason to wound the Governor. This presented itself. The Democrats didn't chose this as a focus to effect state and/or national politics.
But, why would such a controversial Governor be elected to the Chairmanship of the RGA? Seems kind of odd, doesn't it? These folks are mostly Right Wing. There is not a liberal among them and besides Christie whom else is a Moderate?
The average home in New Jersey is worth $337,900 compared to the US average of $181,400.
The per capita money income in the past 12 months (2012 dollars) is $35,928 compared to $28,051 nationally.
The median household income in New Jersey is $71,637 compared to $53,046 nationally.
Of all the other states in the nation, California comes first to mind as one that can rival those statistics.
Now.
How many other Red States have those statistics?
California has been deep blue for a long time and the Republican dreamscape is interesting to win over California by dividing it into six separate states, but, New Jersey is handy right now, isn't it? Right now, there is a Republican Governor that could turn water into wine. If the RNC could run some solidly wonderful fund raisers winning over New Jerseyites, would that not be great?
And what be better but to add Christie his densely populated state to his roster of wins for the Presidency of 2016?
See, Jersey is still rather blue. Not even purple. What would it take to turn Jersey not only purple, but, red?
In order to remove New Jersey from the Democratic column in 2016 to the Republican column all the major cities in the state would have to vote for Christie. That may not happen if some mayors of major cities such as Fort Lee didn't endorse him in 2016.
I've got this idea I can't really get rid of. What if the political hacks surrounding Christie were given a clear vision of turning New Jersey red by other Republicans promising to endorse Christie for 2016 if they could indeed deliver the electoral votes to a Republican.
The political culture in New Jersey, which might be ruthless but that is not my experience. But if that were the goal; to turn the Garden State red in 2016, wouldn't his political circle have ruthless incentive to make it happen by November of next year as PROOF of their ability to deliver?
The dead give away to this is Bill Baroni. I would never expect him to participate in hubris. It seems so out of character of his public face. But, a place in Washington, DC in a Christie presidency would be enough for him to dive into ruthless tactics.
The really sad truth to this reality is this. If the Christie inner circle could deliver more and more mayors and elected county Freeholders into the Red Column by 2014, Christie would never be the nomination. Once it was obvious that NJ could go red in 2016, Christie would be kicked to the curb.
If this is what it takes for Chris Christie to be elected in 2016 to the Presidency of the USA, he really needs to set sites lower as perhaps a US Representative. I honestly believe that is his capacity as a Republican. Honestly and I even like the guy.
Oh, one other thing. I don't believe the cones to the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee would have removed until after the mayor was by a recall election or worse. I don't think this is paybacks for the lack of endorsements in 2013; it is sabotage to the future of Democrats.
