General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe key allegation is not that Sandy funding was withheld
The allegation is that
the Lt. Governor communicated to mayor Zimmer that if Zimmer fast-tracked the Rockefeller project the Sandy funds would flow
That is the allegation.
The allegation does not depend on the Lt. Governor being in a position to back up the implicit threat.
The allegation does not depend on the threat being carried out.
This is basic stuff...
That guy said to me, "I have a gun in my pocket and if you give me $20 your wife will remain healthy."
That allegation (he said X to me) is not dependent on the man really having a gun, nor is it dependent on my wife subsequently being shot. It is what it is.
And that is a very effective way to get $20, whether or not you have a gun, and whether or not you have any intention of actually harming someone's wife.
If you want person X to fast-track the Rockefeller project and you think like a gangster, then when that person says, "I want Sandy money," you say... fast-track the Rockefeller project and the Sandy money will come your way.
And if a person wants a school built then you say, "fast-track the Rockefeller project and the school building thing will go better."
And so on.
Bandit
(21,475 posts)Yes that is exactly what this is all about besides being an EXTREME Abuse of Power...
Wash. state Desk Jet
(3,426 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 20, 2014, 05:43 PM - Edit history (1)
what is clearly demonstrated is something more of a likeness to the hole in the middle of a chris crispee donut. That hole is the invisible buffer zone between the governor and his key lieutenants.(This comes directly from the governor through a meeting .) The threat was passed by word of mouth leaving no paper trail -cell phone, email trails on and so on.
And the conversation was not recorded.
The whole point to that is that there is no real visible trace back to the governor .And that is why that threat was delivered in person by one who is known to be on the inside of the power circle.Out of that hole comes denial.
What is visible is that hole and that hole is the key to exposing just how that administration operates.
The thing of it is ,they did not expect anything to escape out of that hole. In the process a crack formed and soon no doubt a whole lot of stuff will find it's way out of there and eventually it will pour out and than the flood begins.
This brings on the question where and when did it all begin ? And that trail is no doubt a very long and winding road. The other question is, how far down that long and winding road will th feds. go ?
30/40 years ago those theys ,whoever those they's are or were denied the mafia exists .In fact some other they's are still looking for a body.
Bullying and strong arm politics is one thing,But the organized order of thugs is a very different thing.
In short, if that happened once-,it happened many many times ,hundreds maybe far more.
And maybe passing verbal untraceable threats ,blackmail-, is a standard practice in their ways of wheeling and dealing.
At the moment there is just but a crack in the dam and so it's just a matter of time before the the flood waters rush in.
Or maybe it will be dubbed the christie sand storm.
Hypothetically of course.
Now than imagine that hole in the middle of the donut is a lake and that lake touches ground at some point most everywhere in New Jersey either literally of figuratively via courier. Than Imagine Christie on some type flotation device freely floating and touching the state in different places from time to time doing the dirty business. Actually you see he was never really there but something for sure went down so in a way he was. That lake is his own place where he is shielded ,nobody can touch him. He is there and not there at the same time. Can you imagine ?
Those on the receiving end ,well,who's gonna come out and say something about it in public and even if they do,how they gonna prove it ? As you know lieutenants have considerable power and that power comes with certain obligations and one of those is standing prepared to take the fall for the one who is at the top of the parade, the untouchable one .
The unthinkable thing to them is what if everybody they hit comes out from behind the walls all at the same time. But if they took the deal-are they guilty of something too ? How far does immunity stretch ? That question in relation to that long and winding road.
Thats the storm front.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,964 posts)It's one of those subtleties they use for "plausible deniability", to help them maintain their own steely gaze into the cameras.
Technically, the Lt. Gov. didn't lie when she said she didn't make a threat. That is not what was alleged, but it is close enough that many will let it slip by without realizing the real allegation. The real allegation from Mayor Zimmer is that the Lt. Gov. communicated (conveyed) Christie's threat.