Big Things, or BIG LIES?

Court Clerk:    "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

Gov. Christie:  "I call 'em as I see 'em.  Ain't that the truth?"

Today the New York Times published an article with the headline Christie’s Talk Is Blunt, but Not Always Straight .

   I'll quote from that article shortly, but before I do, I should add that its author, Richar Perez -Pena, is not the first, nor the only, journalist who has wondered about Mr. Christie's casual relationship with the truth. The closer one looks at Chritie's statements AND the measured responses of those who were in a position to know more of the facts in each situation, the more obvious it seems that the Gov doesn't hesitate to spin any story or act towards a favorable reflection on his behavior or decisions.

Consider these examples:

The Snowstorm and Acting Governor Sweeney

   And in December, Mr. Christie was at Disney World during a blizzard that paralyzed the state. He refused to apologize, saying he had kept in touch with the acting governor, Mr. Sweeney — but Mr. Sweeney said they never spoke.

State Workers Don't Pay for Benefits

“two types, those who receive benefits and those who pay for them.”

Don't state employees pay taxes too?

New York Times Magazine Profile

Recently the New York Times Magazine published a lengthy profile of Mr. Christie. What was particularly telling was that the article generated over one thousand published comments from readers, so feeling it was too laudatory while others felt it was an attack on the Governor. But these comments also amplify the facts behind some of his assertions:

Comment Highlights from NYTimes Magazine Profile

   This article elicited well over 1000 comments from readers, some feeling it was a puff piece, laudatory of the Governor, while others thought it was a hatchet job.  But what was particularly enlightening were the thoughtful remarks by individuals who had actual firsthand knowledge of many of the events in question.

Then there is a similar article from a New Jersey journalist, also questionning several of Christie's budget cutting claims:

Twisting the Budget Figures and other Facts

Much of the $11 BILLION BUDGET gap Christie closed was done by skipping a $3.1 billion pension payment.

Christie also reduced tax relief. Property tax rebates were cut by 75 percent in fiscal year 2011, meaning that ultimately, homeowners had a higher tax bill.

CHRISTIE: State workers got a 7 percent salary increase this year.

THE FACTS: They did in July 2010. But that's because they deferred for 18 months a 3.5 percent raise in 2009 as part of a deal with former Gov. Jon Corzine that guaranteed no layoffs. The 7 percent Christie cites combines the 3.5 percent raises over two years.

CHRISTIE: Says he increased K-12 aid by 3 percent the 2012 budget, or $250 million.

THE FACTS: That's true. What he doesn't mention is that he cut education funding by $820 million in the 2011 budget year, which ends in June. So by comparison, the state spent $8.5 billion in direct school aid in the 2010 budget year ($1 billion was federal stimulus money). It spent $7.9 billion in 2011. Christie proposes spending $8.1 billion in 2012. So spending is up, but not at the same level as before he took office, when federal money was available.




Now here is how the NYTimes article referenced above begins:

New Jersey’s public-sector unions routinely pressure the State Legislature to give them what they fail to win in contract talks. Most government workers pay nothing for health insurance. Concessions by school employees would have prevented any cuts in school programs last year.

Statements like those are at the core of Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign to cut state spending by getting tougher on unions. They are not, however, accurate.

AEI Speech and No Lost Sleep

   And of course many will recall Christie's coming out party in Washington, DC, earlier this year when he made a speech at the American Enterprise Institute with the title “It's Time to Do Big Things”

And Governor Corzine very famously invited the press into his office, now my office, and there was cot in the office. I can tell you it's not normally there. And he said to them," I'm going to be sleeping in this cot, right over here, until this crisis is averted." So I knew these were the same fellas who had been in the legislature when he was there now threatening to do the same thing.

So I decided to call them down early on and advise them that the place was under new management. And what I said to them was listen, if you want to pass an income tax increase that's fine, I'm going to veto it. And if you want to close down the government because of that, that's fine. But I want to tell you something-I'm not moving any cot into this office to sleep in here.

If you close down the government I'm getting into those black SUV's with the troopers and going to the governor's residence I'm going to go upstairs, I'm going to open a beer, I'm going order a pizza, I'm going to watch the Mets. And when you decide to reopen the government give me a call and I'll come back. But don't think I'm sleeping on some cot take a look at me you think I'm sleeping on a cot- not happening.

More on Twisted Facts

Then I read this report from someone who was covering the legislature during those weeks:

Brilliant, or Dumberer?

And there was his infamous trip to Illinois in an attempt to lure business to the Garden State:

Text Press Release on Illinois Business relocation:

New Jersey has extraordinary advantages:

Well-educated, diverse talent pool.

Funny, back in New Jersey, it seems that all he ever does is rail against what he then labels as a

“failed educational system.”  HEAR: the ad 

Booed by 7000 Firefighters

Another of Mr. Christie's bragging statements is that he went to the New Jersey Firefighter's Convention where he was booed by over 7000 in attendance.

But consider this line in that same article:

“Booing the state's governors has become a tradition for firefighters at the annual convention,” and then read the comments from one who was in attendance:

Comment:  Rich Kocsis

"With thousands of firefighters booing him from the Wildwood Convention Center bleachers Friday".... THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN but it makes a great opening sentence for this propaganda called media. sure he was booed by union FF's, a few dozen...maybe a hundred or so but there were 7,004 in attendance and why doesn't the "media" report how the governor changed the heckled boos into overwhelming cheers by the end of the speech. this type of reporting is just fueling a fire that doesn't serve to anybody's interest. as Christie said on friday, if his plan to save their pensions work, he expects them to thank him in the future. if not, he's take the heat. one thing is certain, under the current system, there will be no money to pay any unionized worker in this state.

 

Read all the articles and decide for yourself.

But apparently it would seem that as was often said in those politically incorrect Westerns from my youth, “Fat Man speak with forked tongue.”

Depends on Whom You Ask, Mr. Popularity or Mr. Not Really That Hot!

Dateline: March 8, 2011

While Chris Christie's concerted effort to get his name out seems to be working. Although a virtual unknown little over a one year ago, now more and more Americans feel he could be an up and coming Republican leader, perhaps capable of higher office.

   However, two stories today indicate that the more you know about him, perhaps the less you like all that Christie really has to offer.

    First, consider this piece of video, from The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. As you will see in the piece, Howard Fineman begins with footage of a statement from last year's “next big thing,” Sarah Palin, as she attempts to boost her own (limited) gubernatorial achievements while criticizing Christie:

Okay, so Christie comes off better than Palin, right? Not so fast, buster. How about this story from the Newark Star Ledger, in Christie's home state of New Jersey:

New Jersey Voters, That Same Week

     Voters are split on whether they have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Christie, with 46 percent viewing him favorably and 44 percent unfavorably. That’s down significantly from December, when 49 percent of voters saw Christie favorably and 39 percent had an unfavorable impression.

   “While some polls showed Gov. Christie’s support increasing before the budget speech, reaction to the budget itself is mixed, which appears to be reflected in a decline in his post-speech favorability and job performance ratings,” said poll director David Redlawsk.

      Forty-eight percent of voters said they are displeased with the govenror’s proposed budget, while 45 percent said they are pleased.

     When asked to rate Christie’s job performance, 14 percent said excellent, 28 percent said good, 30 percent said fair and 26 percent said poor. 

     Fourteen percent graded him with an A, 24 percent gave him a B, 26 percent gave him a C, 15 percent gave him a D and 19 percent failed him with an F.

      President Obama fares better than Christie among Garden State voters, with 57 percent viewing him favorably to 36 percent unfavorably.

ARC Tunnel, cont. (March, 2011)

Devoted readers know that in the Fall of 2010, Gov. Christie lumbered to the forefront of a major construction project that would have delivered a train tunnel underneath the Hudson River, connecting New Jersey with New York City. The ARC Tunnel would have permitted increased rail traffic for both New Jersey Transit commuters and Amtrak, with a projected cost of $8.7 billion. New Jersey was to commit $2.7 billion towards this total, with New York and the Federal Government each paying for the $3 billion.

      However, citing concerns about potential cost overruns that might bring the final total closer to $11 billion, Gov. Christie ordered a halt to the project. So it came as a surprise four months later when it became public knowledge that New Jersey was negotiating to reclaim part of nearly $162 million paid to insure the Hudson River rail tunnel project.

     An official says locking in insurance coverage saved taxpayers millions because it insulated the project from potential price increases.

     For those who are continuing to tally the final costs of this Tunnel to Nowhere, here is a partial list of known expenses, to date:

$272 million already delivered to New Jersey from the US DOT, to be reimbursed.

$95.5 million for land leased ONE WEEK prior to the project cancellation

$162 million for the insurance

?? unknown sum for legal work by DC firm attempting to keep Federal funds

$528.5 Billion, plus Legal Fees (total)

    So it came as something of a surprise when Gov. Christie proudly talked about his role in terminating this project by claiming that afterwards the only phone calls he got in protest were from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Gov. David Paterson and Manhattan real estate developers.  Odd, how both New Jersey senators made public statements critical of the cancellation-- but maybe they didn't call.  

     Never mind that only two months after canceling the project, he was asking for an unusual $4.4 billion loan from the Port Authority-- which normally only funds projects which connect the states of New York and New Jersey.  Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Democrat of New Jersey, said, 

“The plan is more proof that the governor killed the critically needed new tunnel to Manhattan so he could use its funding as part of a fix for his political problems. During Governor Christie’s campaign for office, he said borrowing to finance the Transportation Trust Fund is unconscionable. Why is it now acceptable?”

 Once again, Gov. Christie continues to put spin on a story, making himself a hero for saving the New Jersey tax payers from the evil doers on the other side of the Hudson. 

How BIG Is His Ego?

       No one has ever said that Chris Christie was a shrinking violet, but nevertheless nothing prepared us for the incredible hubris he displayed in his recent interview with The National Review. After turning aside the questions about a White House run and stating time and time again that he was not interested in running, he still surprised most people when he told a reporter,

"I have people calling me and saying to me, 'Let me explain to you how you could win.' 

 And I’m like, 'You’re barking up the wrong tree. 

 I already know I could win.' That's not the issue.”

    This is The National Review headline for that article:

Gov. Chris Christie said He Knows He Could Win the White House if He ran for President next year.

    Not since George W. Bush has there been such a display of political arrogance and ignorance, from a man who has held elective office for just over one year.   And barely won the gubernatorial race, despite running against an incumbent who would have lost to Anybody But Jon Corzine.

   Digging deeper in another, related National Review article we learn,

“I have a Google alert on myself. Who doesn’t?” he asks. 

“I’m well aware of it, I’m well aware of all the stuff. My temperament is off, I’m too fat, I’m too abrasive, I shoot from the hip, I read all of it. 

Some of it’s right, but that’s okay. Nobody sold me as perfect, I have my faults also. 

But I think people from New Jersey generally look at me and say “‘He’s one of us.’”

Res Ipsa Loquitor (2-28-2011)