Christie Crime Digest Volume III

[rocktivity]

129. Christie's Gut Check Week (a metaphor, not a weight joke)

The past week had all the makings for a big comeback for Christie -- nationally as well as locally. What better way to show off his presidential credentials than by celebrating the third anniversary of his victory over Hurricane Sandy?

Washington Post: Some victims of Superstorm Sandy said they feel New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has forgotten about them in his pursuit of the presidency...

About a dozen protesters intended to pitch tents and camp out across from the Statehouse in Trenton on Tuesday to dramatize their plight, but were barred by state police...Many of the demonstrators are still unable to return to their homes three years after the storm...

“He’s completely forgotten about us,” said Doug Quinn, whose Toms River home is still uninhabitable since the Oct. 29, 2012 storm. “He didn’t even mention Sandy in his State of the State speech. We feel absolutely abandoned by Chris Christie.”

The state Community Affairs Department said Tuesday that of the more than 8,000 homeowners active in the state’s main rebuilding grant program, 7,680 have signed their awards and more than 7,600 have received at least one payment...(M)ore than $659 million has been paid out to homeowners under the program, more than half the projected total...

NJ.com: Chris Christie showed up in New Jersey last week for the third anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, so finally, storm victims didn't have to chase after him on the campaign trail. He also made them a brand new promise: to finish the recovery effort before his term ends.

This is the first time Christie has set a particular time limit...But the end of his term is still two and a half years away, which means...that some people may be out of their houses for more than five years...Christie...defended his performance...saying..."365,000 homes damaged or destroyed in Sandy, and now you’re talking about a few thousand that are left...I think it’s a pretty good record.”

...That big number likely includes (those) who had only minor damage and little interaction with the state...The vast majority of...(those who) actually needed help putting their lives back together...are still stuck in limbo...What are all these people going to do in the interim? And what about those who are already facing foreclosure?

And what about the interest that has been accruing on the funds he's been so slothful about disbursing in the interim? However, Christie does have a point -- should a thousand homeless people and a dozen protestors be considered the "voice of the people" of New Jersey? Forget those ingrates -- let's turn to some New Jerseyans who DO understand the meanings of appreciation and respect!

NJ.com: During a hastily arranged visit to Camden...to counter President Obama's trip to Newark to discuss reform of the criminal justice system, Christie declared that (Nov. 5) would be Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to showcase the city's efforts at stemming the wave of violent crimes and thank local police. "...(W)e'll stand shoulder to shoulder," he said. "We're going to keep supporting you in every way we can."

...(But) Patrick Colligan, president of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association...rejected the gesture..."Our officers deserve respect and appreciation every day, and not just when Chris Christie is polling within the margin of error and grasping at anything that might possibly give him a boost on our backs...(And) we would appreciate Gov. Christie holding to the sacred trust promise he made when he was a candidate for governor in 2009 and meeting his obligation to fully fund the pension system..."

Well, forget New Jersey law enforcement, too, if they're going to drag Christie's pension looting into it. Besides, the only New Jersey poll that really counts is the one that's held on November 3 -- Election Day!

IfYouOnlyNews: The results are in...Voters have had all they can stand of the failed and corrupt Christie administration...and sent them a message to get out...Democrats now control at least 51 of the 80 seats in the lower house of the state legislature as of January, which is their biggest majority since 1979.

Despite all of Christie’s bluster, bullying and grandstanding, he did not have the ability to bring Republicans to power in the state house. Mostly this was due to the (Bridgate) scandal...his flop as a presidential candidate...(and) a long list of local failures (including)...Hurricane Sandy money being held hostage...(O)n the train to the Presidency, there is a limit for “carry on baggage...”

But just as a handful of people don't reflect an entire state, a single state doesn't reflect an entire nation. With the help of two Republican candidates dropping out of the race, Christie has undisputed possession of tenth place in the national poll rankings, and an opportunity to make up ground at next week's national Republican debate:

UPI: The next prime-time Republican debate...on (November 10) will be much like the previous three, with two distinct exceptions -- Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee...will appear in the secondary debate, which occurs immediately prior to the prime-time event...Candidates averaging 2.5 percent or better in those four polls qualified for the main debate... Christie...drew...an average of 2.3 percent.

"It doesn't matter the stage, give me a podium and I'll be there to talk about real issues," Christie tweeted.

What a trouper! And only with only three other debaters to shout down, there's definitely the potential to make lemonade out of this lemon of a week!



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