Book of the Month

Shuts and Failures

by Michael Maiello

Christie Praises Obama for Storm Response

by artappraiser 10/30/2012 - 2:14 pm

New York Times' "Tracking the Storm Live Updates Section," October 30, 2012, 12:21pm

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey took an unscheduled break from partisan attacks on the President Obama on Tuesday to praise him, repeatedly and effusively, for leading the federal government’s response to the storm.

“Wonderful,” “excellent” and “outstanding” were among the adjectives Mr. Christie chose, a change-up from his remarks last week that Mr. Obama was “blindly walking around the White House looking for a clue.”

Some of Mr. Christie’s Republican brethren have already begun grumbling about his gusher of praise at such a crucial time in the election.

But the governor seemed unconcerned. When Fox News asked him about the possibility that Mitt Romney might take a disaster tour of New Jersey, Mr. Christie replied:

I have no idea, nor am I the least bit concerned or interested. I have a job to do in New Jersey that is much bigger than presidential politics. If you think right now I give a damn about presidential politics, then you don’t know me.

Read more on The Caucus.

Read the full article at http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/28/nyregion/hurricane-sandy.html#sha=d89b0c455

Another update on the Live Coverage @ 1:36pm that makes me wonder about possible effects on the election:

Blizzard Conditions in Appalachians

The freak winter storm that crashed into the tropical storm from the Atlantic brought as much of two feet of snow to Appalachian states, spreading blizzard or near-blizzard conditions over parts of Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, officials said.

The storm dumped what may well be a record amount of heavy, wet snow in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park [....]

by artappraiser 10/30/2012 - 4:34 pm

This development; these communications by Christie just knock my socks off!

I am really, really impressed.

And there are those who will attribute bad motives upon this gigantic governor and as far as I am concerned, they are full of it.

He is praising the President because he needs help from the Feds and the President has said:

Hey you got a problem with bureaucracy; call me.

This entire dialogue just intrigues me.

Maybe, just maybe, Christie gives a damn about those residing in Jersey.

I know there are advantages for the Obama Campaign; but damn!

I would NEVER have predicted this reaction from Christie.

And even though the TV ads continue and Wild Bill and Uncle Joe continue the campaign; Barry is doing right and he is risking much in doing right.

Oh well....

by Richard Day 10/30/2012 - 5:08 pm

I think it all boils down to when push comes to shove, thems that are in politics for public service and thems that are in in for other reasons show their true colors. You might totally disagree with how Christie thinks the world should work, but it was even pretty clear before this that he's in it because he thinks he can help people in general by being in politics and likes helping, wants to serve the public good.

by artappraiser 10/31/2012 - 12:39 am (re: Richard Day)

Damn.

Yes I believe.

Maybe that is why I am so disappointed so many times during my life.

And here, here I see two people from two different parties WHO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HUMANITY.

Obama did not surprise me as much as Christie.

I swear by Almighty God, I shall not make fun of a fat person ever again--except for rush of course since he makes fun of fat people. hahahahah

by Richard Day 10/31/2012 - 12:48 am (re: artappraiser)

Heckuva Job Brownie, George W.'s FEMA boss and former horse show lawyer who 'handled' Katrina so well, and who now is a little Rushbo right wing radio blowhard in Colorado, thinks Obama reacted too swiftly. Would have been more dramatic to wait. Perhaps he is on the short list for return to his previous position in a Romney administration. Got the GOP qualifications, an ignorant fool and partisan a**hole

by NCD 10/31/2012 - 10:29 am

 I watched the last fifteen minutes of Hannity last night and then the first thirty or so of Gretta what's-her-name and their guests. They had two topics total. First was  smearing Obama hard on Benghazi and the second was saying that while Obama was flying around pretending to do something about the storm crisis that Romney had to get back to hardball politics. Time's a wastin'. Among the political talk was a vicious hammering of Christie for saying anything that might give any credit to Obama.

by A Guy Called LULU 10/31/2012 - 1:22 pm

Hannity is a chickenshit coward. People are dead, and some have lost everything, and all this sleazy bag of monkey shit can think of is politics. If Murdoch hadn't given his lying fat ass a job at Fox he would be lucky to get a gig selling used cars in Jersey.

by NCD 10/31/2012 - 4:41 pm (re: A Guy Called LULU)

I cannot ignore this!

I hereby render unto NCD (once again) the Dayly comment of the Day Award for this here Dagblog Site, given to all of him from all of me.

I dunno why; just got to me where I live. hahahaha

by Richard Day 10/31/2012 - 4:56 pm (re: NCD)

I have nothing but respect for Chris Christie right now.  I'll probably never agree with him on anything ever again, but at the moment he is a governor and not a politician and I never thought I'd see the day. 

He and Obama are working together and they're each showing their appreciation for the other. They're making an exceptionally good team.   It's a real eye-opener.

by Ramona 10/31/2012 - 4:55 pm

I agree; they were just on cable two minutes ago. No campaigning. Senators and Congressmen joining this dynamic duo.

I dunno, it makes me feel good.

by Richard Day 10/31/2012 - 4:58 pm (re: Ramona)

Ah, indeed,   Bipartisanship as it should and needs to be for all.  I know I'm no doubt being a bit too optimistic, but what if..........this was only the beginning and others joined them now and in the future?  Our nation would reap huge benefits! Does it have to be an impossible dream?  No.  Yes, we can!

 

by Aunt Sam 10/31/2012 - 5:42 pm (re: Richard Day)

If we can win this election I think we're going to see the beginnings of this. The frenzy we're seeing now on the republican side is the last gasp of the extreme right, especially the evangelical right, that sees this election as their last chance to pass their agenda. They need to win this one to get their picks on the Supreme Court. if Obama picks them Roe and many other issues on their agenda are lost for a generation. If Romney wins Roe is gone and there will be more right wing rulings. Demographic changes means they have to start moving to the center or lose. It will be small to start but I think we'll see definite movement.

If Obama wins. This is an incredibly important election. If the republicans win they will continue to pander to the racists, evangelicals, and right wing nuts for another decade.

by ocean-kat 10/31/2012 - 5:58 pm (re: Aunt Sam)

Everyone is giving Christie more credit than I allow almost any politician on my least cynical day.

 Christie probably does rise above politics a bit in the current situation but he has an election for governor coming up and he is in a blue state. If Romney wins and repeats Christie will have been term limited out of office for some time and he wants to be President. I hope all his sudden fans are correct and I am wrong.

by A Guy Called LULU 10/31/2012 - 6:06 pm (re: ocean-kat)

I'm not a fan of Christie, that wasn't my point. I don't doubt that politics plays some role in his activities. It always does. My point is if we can win this election politics will force the republicans to begin moving away from the extreme right. Anti-gay, anti-hispanic, anti-abortion even in cases of rape or incest, personhood amendment, pandering to racists. Those just aren't going to work anymore. The change will be slow but it has to happen. There just aren't enough white votes to sustain it.

The pendulum is slowing down and will begin to shift back. We can stop it now and begin that shift with an Obama win. Or wait another decade for it to happen.

by ocean-kat 10/31/2012 - 6:23 pm (re: A Guy Called LULU)

Job One is to send Rmoney/Ryan on a leaky Bain leased foreign flagged mahogany trimmed yacht with a  bad diesel, a broken GPS, a tankful of cheap fuel, and a outsourced mechanic to the Cayman Islands.  If they cross paths with the next hurricane, good riddance.

by NCD 10/31/2012 - 6:28 pm (re: A Guy Called LULU)

I figured Christie will have a cabinet position before long.

Also, 1) it's fairly obvious Obama wasn't going to check out like Bush, which means 2) his popularity would go up, which means 3) he'll win the election handily which means 4) Romney ain't worth time of day (he was already pushing a long shot, and now it's gone from 3-pointer to half-court

Not that Christie isn't really serious about the situation. But Romney no longer has anything to offer.

And even staying governor, a close relationship with the White House while rebuilding a state? A lot more valuable than having Charles Krauthammer praise you for your wing-nuttiness. 

Oddly, Christie is in worse position than Obama - Obama just has to limp across Nov 6, and that's the end of his elected career. Christie has miles to go before he sleeps.

by PeraclesPlease 10/31/2012 - 7:24 pm (re: A Guy Called LULU)

Right, Romney no longer has anything to offer Christie, assuming that he loses, and Romney losing is the best bet. Where we differ is that Christie might accept a Cabinet post from Obama. I doubt it because of my belief, stated above, that he hopes to become President. Cabinet members don't become President and meanwhile Christie likes being Governor.

 If Romney was at this point a 70% odds on probable winner in the coming election, I think Christie would likely finesse the situation much differently. He wouldn't be sucking up to Obama in the same way.

by A Guy Called LULU 10/31/2012 - 8:43 pm (re: PeraclesPlease)

He's definitely got some of Bill-Clinton-feel-your-pain talent on the one-on-one:

On Christie's Tour, Hugs, Tears and a Personal Touch
By Carolyn Ryan, NYTimes Live Update, 6:52 pm

Gov. Chris Christie’s aerial tour alongside President Obama on Wednesday of New Jersey’s storm damage was being observed in intensely political terms.

But down on the ground, earlier in the day, the governor’s interactions with displaced residents displayed the personal gifts that have won him a broad following. His visit was documented by a pool reporter.

In Sayreville [....]

It's a major political talent that Professor/Senator/Mr-Cool-No-Drama Obama sorely lacks, mho. Got me thinking that when you got that, you don't need attractive looks; actually not being that physically attractive could be a benefit in that average people with troubles think you can relate better to them.

by artappraiser 10/31/2012 - 9:53 pm

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