Oh boy - can I jump up and down and say goodie goodie LOL. I would love to see this guy exposed for what he is - a crook.

In the course of looking up an earlier post, I found what I wanted:
But when I clicked on the article's link to the Gibson Dunn/Bridge(t)Gate Mastro report at GDCreport.com, this is what came up:
Well, I hope all you haters are happy -- maybe now you'll face the truth instead of believing all this nonsense about Gibson Dunn getting 7 million dollars of taxpayer money from Christie (minus what was "donated" to his Republican Governors Association). Apparently, the law firm of Gibson Dunn is actually so broke they can't even afford keep their web URL names renewed. But what are we supposed to do now? The entire Mastro Report is GONE! The cover letter explaining it all -- GONE! The executive summary -- GONE! The interview summaries of 75 of Christie's best friends -- GONE! All 360 pages of the report itself -- GONE GONE GONE! http://rocktivity.com/Graphics/cry.gif http://rocktivity.com/Graphics/cry.gif http://rocktivity.com/Graphics/cry.gif http://rocktivity.com/Graphics/cry.gif

While there was absolutely no reason to believe that the reports might unceremoniously disappear from online one day, all we can do is hope that someone had the foresight to download them first...and a place for uploading them, too!

Remember her?
And remember her?

Well, their paths crossed this week, and you'll be delighted to know that Espasa-Guerrero showed neither partisanship, sentiment nor mercy when she slammed down the feather of justice upon the humbly bowed head of Renna-Genovese:
While they are no doubt scrambling to re-finance their mortgage in order to pay the fine, you can bet that the Genovese-Rennas will think long and hard before they dare to acknowledge non-public information in some emails they share ever again!

It wasn't a question of IF Governor Soprano would use the Charleston South Carolina racial shooting to his political advantage -- it was only a question of HOW badly he'd screw it up.

Here's what he had to say to a predominately white conservative religious audience:
And here's what he had to say to a predominately black liberal religious one:
If only Christie had told the white audience that not looking racism in the eye is the root the problem, and the black audience that adhering to their love and faith was at the root of the solution. He seems to be confused as to who the real victims were, but as a Republican, he's not alone.

There has been a lot of Republican reluctance to entertain even the possibility that the victims were targeted for racial reasons, as explained here. Most of them have declared the attack as one on Christianity since it happened in a church. Not even a manifesto written by the domestic terrorist himself has deterred them:
Christie's not confused as to the real victims were, but he's not enough of a leader to point out to white people that racist hate by white people does exist, and most important, actually involves white people. Instead, his answer is love, love, love, not laws that will make it harder for people to get guns, discriminate and avoid accountability. Love plus faith equals peace -- groovy and far out, man!

Another super storm, another self-serving response, another Christie power failure
 

Did you know that Southern New Jersey was devastated by Sandy-like storms and damage on June 23rd?
Well, don't feel too bad -- apparently Chris Christie didn't, know, either:
And if you're planning to announce your run for president and will be traveling heavily afterwards, the last thing you want is a state of emergency declaration, as it would probably interfere with your getting the national headlines you're looking for!
Well, that was the right thing to do: as of June 25, Christie had something more important to worry about -- nearly half a million affected by a storm in South Jersey! But later that day...
And what did he have to say about the storm and his response to it? Well, during June 25 Ask The Governor radio show, it took thirty minutes to even broach the subject: all he said was that he's in the process of filing the federal paperwork, and since the estimated amount of damages automatically qualified them for federal aid, there was no need to declare a state of emergency. He makes it sound like the lights went out for a couple hours in a couple of neighborhoods. He offered no info on shelters, who to call, how to apply for aid, how to make donations -- he didn't even invite anyone to call the station if they were still in dire straits. Has he even toured the area?

Imagine if he'd stated on the radio show that his presidential plans (such as they are) were off the table until both the budget AND the aftermath of the storm were under control, then enthusiastically explained how he was going to get 'em done. Being able refer to the great job he'd done after hurricane Sandy would have been helpful, of course. But the point is, it would have made him appear so much more -- well, presidential!

Parts of southern Jersey were really devastated in that storm. There were several reports of tornadoes and waterspouts. People that have lived in some of these areas all their lives have said that they have never seen such damage.

These storms are getting worse and worse - far stronger than they used to be. I checked about the history of tornadoes in this state and it was as I expected. All the while I was growing up here there wasn't a single tonado.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...rsey_tornadoes

NO tornadoes at all from 1899 to 1973. Since 1973 there have been 6 of them. But no climate change right? :roll:

And you already know my opinion of this governer - he is a scumbag who only has his own interests at heart. He doesn't give a fcuk about the people of New Jersey.

While Governor Soprano barely mentioned the mini-superstorm that was happening in his own back yard while on a radio show, he did mention this:
Well color me called out, if you'll pardon the expression: Bravo, Governor -- someone or something must have gotten through to him! Good job of telling ALL of New Jersey that discrimination is a two-way street, and that we all need to learn how to start walking in the same direction! It marks a major evolution in his thinking about fighting discrimination -- look at what he said three and a half years ago:
He got barbecued over it, and deservedly so:
Nearly two years later, when he decided to back off from challenging New Jersey's legalization of same-sex marriage, he decided it was better to burn out than fade away:
Well, that's all water under the bridge now (again, if you'll pardon the expression): equality via popularity contests and doling out civil rights for good behavior like Scooby snacks hasn't worked out properly since King Tut tried it. It's good to know that Christie has finally obtained at least a grasp of the true nature of discrimination (whether by race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation), and of why civil rights referendums are nothing short of con games pre-rigged in favor of the oppressors.

Well, it really was fun while it lasted...

http://tablet.olivesoftware.com/Oliv...F28&id=Ar00802

Great article - How can you tell when Christie is lying? His lips are moving.

And the great articles just keep on coming!

Mayor calls out Gov. Christie for storm response

6ABC.com: Gov. Christie was quickly on the scene when Super Storm Sandy devastated the eastern Jersey coast. But last week, after tornadoes strength winds and downpours hit the western side of the state, leaders say the governor was nowhere to be seen. "As a fellow Republican, I have been good to him from day one. Our township has been good to him. The governor has repaid us by forgetting us in our time of need," said Mayor George Shivery, Greenwich Township.

Power was knocked out for hundreds of thousands of customers after Tuesday night's storm. And Saturday's weather caused an estimated 16,000 new outrages. It's estimated that about 5,000 customers still do not have electricity...

"Christie was out there, for us this was as bad as Sandy," said Megan Crowne...(She) and her neighbors in Gloucester Township just got power...after being without it for five days...Mayor Shivery is calling on Gov. Christie to do his part to come to his state's aid: "I haven't seen anyone from FEMA. Members of council are standing with me - they haven't seen anyone from FEMA. Communication has been terrible during the crisis and it is unacceptable...Twenty-five percent of the people in Greenwich are still without power..."

The mayor says if it was five years ago. he would have stood beside the governor as he announces his presidential bid. But now Mayor Shivery says he is going to standing right here helping his residents rebuild their lives.

10 Reasons Chris Christie Has No Business Announcing His Run From A New Jersey School

Reverb Press: New Jersey governor Chris Christie is widely perceived as corrupt to the core and only has a 30% approval rating among his own state’s voting public. Nevertheless, on Tuesday, June 30th, Christie plans to announce his run for the Presidency at the public high school from which he graduated...

Christie...was class president for three years and catcher on the baseball team...His return to his home town high school is likely meant as symbolic of his recent statements that there is too much federal meddling in education and that states, districts and towns ought to make their own decisions.

The greatest flaw in Christie’s new state by state approach to education policy is that there are people like Christie running many of our states in this country. Few politicians have been as consistently eager to attack teachers, slash budgets affecting public school children and impose dictatorial control on local districts. If Christie had treated cops the way he’s treated teachers and was announcing his presidential bid at a police precinct, hundreds of cops would be barricading the door and refusing to let him in...

YES YES YES YES YESSSSS!!!! A towel and a cigarette, please.... http://www.rocktivity.com/Graphics/smoke.gif

I think that you and I are the only ones reading this shit LOL. It's nice to have someone to share with though :)

I don't think I've read each post 63 times, but if you have, too, that would account for the 21,500 views, LOL!

Shouldn't that be "his personality DEFECTS?" He's currently tied for sixth place with 5% of the vote in a field of 14 candidates. And so it begins, LOL!
http://rocktivity.com/Graphics/rofl_pound.gif

http://www.app.com/story/entertainme...usic/29514369/

It's a slow news day...

I think it just sped up, LOL! Is Bon Jovi about to make another entry in the "Victims of Songs Getting Pre-empted by Politicians" Hall Of Fame?

Asbury Park Press:

Hillary Clinton attended a fundraiser hosted by Jon Bon Jovi at the Molly Pitcher Inn (June 30)...which donors...attend(ed) for campaign donations...Attendees tweeted from the event, including photos of Clinton speaking and Bon Jovi playing guitar...

Of course, Richie wrote those songs, too -- maybe it was he who gave Christie permission...

Jon seems to have a friendly relationship with Christie when they have mutual interests. He probably gave him permission to use the songs if he asked nicely. LOL

Nope - Jon gave him permission:

http://www.billboard.com/articles/co...-2015-democrat

I sincerely hope that's the honest truth and Jon isn't just trying to cover his ass. Why? Because to the Chris Christie that I've come to know, retribution is practically a sacrament, that's why.
He didn't hire that cover band because he loved Bruce that much any more than he blocked access to that bridge because he wanted to do a traffic study. He's even gone as far as to remove a state police security detail from a former New Jersey governor who criticized him. Here's an illustrated guide:

http://www.gq.com/story/the-chris-christie-story

And I hope that Christie will have enough class (if not common sense) not to play Bon Jovi music in the future now that Jon has an official "political friendship" with Hillary.

Why would Jon have any reason to lie to cover his ass? He wouldn't. It's well established that Jon and Chris Christie get along and share some of the same charitable interests.

If Jon gave him permission to use the music to announce his campaign, I see no reason for him not to continue to use it. I'm sure he intends to use the music all along the campaign trail, at least until he gets knocked out of the race. Let's face it... he's not going to be on the ballot in November.

Not a good move by Jon to agree on this.

Republicans don't have a very good image (at least internationally) these days, from what I read, neither does Christie. Him using Bon Jovi songs immediately creates associations Jon should try to avoid considering his political views are completely opposite. I think people pay attention to these things.

Also, is Jon going to support Hillary next year or someone else? Or is that uncertain at this point?

Well, in the USA, just as many people hate Hillary as hate Christie. So by associating with either one of them, Jon will lose supporters. It's like I said in another thread. Hillary (or Christie) will lose no support by being associated with Jon. Jon, on the other hand, WILL lose support by associating with either one of them. That's why I wish he'd keep his nose out of politics.

She hasn't gotten the party's nomination yet. There are a bunch of other candidates. She seemed a sure thing 2 elections ago and then Obama came along.

ETA:
On the subject of the songs:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...ro_981854.html

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/30/politi...Most+Recent%29

If you scroll down the Yahoo home page news selections, there are 4 stories about this. A bit redundant.

This is my most fervent hope. Even the New York Times said yesterday that he would be unlikely to carry his own state because he has screwed over New Jerseyans too many times.

Exactly -- everyone loses because it calls the basic judgment of Jon, Christie AND Hillary into question. Besides, true "apolitical friends" let each other know when they're doing something that will make them look bad.

Rachel Maddow concurs with your diagnosis, LOL!

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-s...6-473968707511

The first week of Christie's presidential campaign: how did it go?
 

His campaign launch drew about as many protestors as supporters:

North Jersey.com: Governor Christie launched his long-awaited presidential campaign Tuesday...(before) a crowd of about 1,000 inside Livingston High School, his alma mater...

North Jersey.com: More than a thousand demonstrators - mostly dressed in red and carrying banners and signs - congregated on the front lawn outside Livingston High School Tuesday morning to protest Governor Christie announcing his presidential bid...

His campaign launch speech drew mixed reviews: a mix of getting caught in lies...
...and psychoanalysis with a very poor prognosis:


He's lost control of his campaign slogan's #TellingItLikeItIs Twitter hashtag

IBTimes.com: More than 3,000 tweets with the hashtag #TellingItLikeItIs were sent via Twitter in the first few hours after Christie made his announcement, according to data compiled by the social-analytics firm Topsy. The sentiment score, measuring the mood of the tweets, was listed as 17 and therefore skewed toward negativity and away from positivity.

- I will tell it like it is, you're an angry fat man who needs anger management courses

- Christie sold out the people of NJ to Exxon. He couldn't care less about us...or you.

- Of course he's lying: His lips are moving.

- Chris Christie has a 31% approval rating, and is the most unpopular governor in the nation!

- "I have a bad economic record."

- Remember when @GovChristie helped hundreds of thousands w/o power instead of running for office? Neither does S. Jersey

- You're a crook, a scam, and an embarrassment to my state. Did you have to check w/Norcross before you ran?

He and a rival candidate were house guests of the Republican who lost the previous U.S. presidential election
I'll try to put this as tactfully as possible, Governor Soprano: You have NO BUSINESS WHATSOEVER being within NINETY-NINE MILES of EITHER of those men!!! Not Rubio, because he, too, is a presidential candidate and should not be privy to your campaign confidences (did you offer him a vice presidential slot?); and not Romney, because his presidential campaign featured such brilliant tactics as not showing his tax returns and suggesting that how he ran his businesses should not be a campaign issue. Political advice from Mitt Romney is like marriage counseling from Henry the Eighth.


Geez, didn't ANYTHING happen last week that he can feel positive about? Well, yes:

NorthJersey.com: Governor Christie received his first major endorsement...(from Maine governor) Paul LePage, a...conservative with a fiery persona that rivals Christie's..."(T)he only difference I see between Chris Christie and I -- he's a little bit shy. I'm gonna work with him for the next year, bring him out of his shell.”

And no:
But Christie should look on the bright side -- he has nowhere to go BUT up...

Personally I hope he keeps sinking. And the following article shows that the Lincoln Tunnel Access swindle is still being investigated.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/port...fies-1.1368743

His wife visited my school once. She was totally uncomfortable and awkward around the kids. Spoke volumes in my book.

Even the LAWYERS are lawyering up?
 

And she has four kids of her own? Yes, that is fascinating. And does she always smile as though she wants to bite your head off?

This is truly fascinating, too:

Quote:

...(T)hree in-house attorneys have lawyered up amid an escalating investigation into the Port Authority’s decision to redirect $1.8 billion in toll money from its Hudson River crossings to fix roads in New Jersey...suggest(ing)... (that)...prosecutors and federal regulators are closely examining the legal justification for shifting toll dollars to New Jersey-owned roads...The Port Authority quietly justified the spending by labeling the highways as access roads to the agency’s Lincoln Tunnel — even though they are miles from the tunnel, do not connect to it directly and do not generate any revenues for the Port Authority... The probe into the Pulaski Skyway repairs...is also casting a light on the Christie administration’s reliance on the Port Authority to fund New Jersey projects: Christie claimed $1.8 billion in toll money only a few months after he and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved five years of toll hikes at Port Authority bridges and tunnels...The $1.8 billion was originally slated to go to a new Hudson River rail-tunnel project, called ARC, which Christie canceled his first year in office...All the while he blamed the agency for runaway spending and years of mismanagement... The probe into the Pulaski Skyway repairs grew from the scrutiny in the wake of the lane-closing scandal but is being led by prosecutors and regulators in New York...The (Security and Exchange Commission) is involved because it enforces federal regulations that maintain the integrity of the bond market...The fact that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the SEC are working together raises the stakes...It is also casting a light on the Christie administration’s reliance on the Port Authority to fund New Jersey projects... Prosecutors in New York have a powerful investigative tool in the form of the state’s Martin Act...Under the Martin Act, fraud “includes all deceitful practices contrary to the plain rules of common honesty” in the sale or purchase of securities...That language leaves prosecutors with a lot of discretion, experts said. “I would not want to be a public official looking at an investigation under the Martin Act,” (says the) director of New York University’s Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement and an expert on securities fraud. “It’s very broad.”

In case you need your memory refreshed, here again is a map of the area in question:

http://www.rocktivity.com/Graphics/pulaski.jpg


And here's a wonderful video the New Jersey Star-Ledger did:
http://www.rocktivity.com/video/christieTonnelle.webm

If it can be legally designated as fraud, AND as a favor to then-PA head David Samson (who would have raked in monster fees from his PA clients at his law firm), then it's no wonder that the Feds have been so downright apathetic about nailing Christie on Bridge(t)-Gate!

I can only hope they nail him on this. Also this article ran in the NYT today - once again pointing out how Christie killed the tunnel project - and kept mucho money from the Port Authority.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/ar...ies-below&_r=0

I'm not totally clear on exactly where the tunnels would run: between Penn Station New York and Penn Station Newark, the Hoboken NJ Transist station, or both?

And I hope you had a chance to look at the Star Ledger video. The sight of those hourly rate "no-tell" motels on Tonnelle Avenue bring back such fond memories...uh, of my having to drive past them in order to avoid the tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike, of course!
http://rocktivity.com/Graphics/blush.gif

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatewa...Gateway_Tunnel

More than you probably ever wanted to know about the Gateway project LOL

And yes - I watched the Star Ledger video (also sent it to my husband). It had been years since I thought of it looking like that LOL.

North Jersey.com:

A federal judge has ordered the law firm that wrote a report on the George Washington Bridge lane closings for Governor Christie’s office to turn over any handwritten notes or recordings of interviews it conducted with dozens of administration officials during its investigation.

The notes had been requested by attorneys for two former Christie allies who are now fighting federal criminal charges, the governor’s onetime deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, and a former Port Authority deputy executive director, Bill Baroni...

Mastro had previously submitted a letter to the judge stating that the firm had no additional notes or recordings, just interview “summaries” that have already been made public. The 345-page report was based on interviews with more than 70 people.

Mastro has said that investigators did not record or transcribe the interviews, and the “summaries” state that they reflect the “mental thoughts and impressions” of the attorneys who conducted the interviews. Some people who were interviewed later said during legislative testimony that the summaries were not entirely accurate...

So Christie and Mastro are now officially between a rock and a hard place, and have 45 days in which to either produce the documents or explain why they don't exist. They're damned if there's no cover up, damned if there is -- somebody wake up Kathleen! :D

I'm awake :D I am just waiting for the shit to hit the fan in the press - still hoping it will anyway.

How goes it with the Christie presidential campaign? As well as can be expected:

Among the top ten declared U.S. presidential candidates, he's #8 on the money-raising list. And among the declared Republican candidates, he polls at #9 -- important because only the top ten candidates will be invited to the first round of nationally televised Republican debates.

Since Independence Day, Christie has hung out in New Jersey just long enough to see a U2 concert with Jon, shrug off a 10% increase in New Jersey Transit fares, and has announced that he won't be doing any more local town hall meetings:
Well, standing for two hours might be a problem for him physically -- which might explain why he allowed this New Hampshire town hall attendee to get a word in edgewise:
On the other hand, maybe Chrisite has been advised to try being as nice to the constituents who can give him votes as he is to the constituents who can give him big donations. But if this is supposed to be Christie's new, improved, non-bullying town hall version, his sarcastic, contemptuous "Are YOU running for president?" doesn't stick the landing: a cool, calm, even-voiced bully is still a bully. Maybe if he did the meetings sitting on a chair, he wouldn't get so tired and cranky.

P.S. Get rid of the Social Security salary cap altogether, and not only would it stay solvent forever, everyone could pay a lower rate.

P.P.S. Note to candidate Donald Trump: Keep it up with the anti-Hispanic sentiment, and Tico may take back the painting he sold you!

Where did this reporter learn journalism -- Cracker Jack Box University? There is no mention of Jon's supporting Hillary to the point of hosting a fundraiser for her. And as for it being "impossible to know...just what Mr. Christie had in mind in spurning Mr. Springsteen," the spurning was the other way around -- which the reporter might have figured out by comparing some of Bruce's lyrics to some of Christie's policies!

More fun! :lol:

http://www.app.com/story/entertainme...teen/30547961/

The pandering in these stories is making me gag :(

Fun, indeed: the Asbury Park Pander -- I mean Press -- article contains links to three other articles AND an editorial on the subject! Did they give that much attention to the recent mini-Hurricane Sandy, and is this how Christie intends to blow leading Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump off the front pages?

You are both stronger people than I am...
http://www.rocktivity.com/Graphics/pukeBig.gif