TenuredVulture wrote:First, in my day, we would often drink really crappy bourbon on the 6th floor of Hickman Hall regularly. Carey McWilliams, rest in peace, would pour shots into cups of equally crappy coffee. The coffee served to amplify the bourbon smell which would pervade the whole 2nd hall.

Second, when it comes to political scandal, it seems to me exoneration is pretty rare. I suppose Clinton/Whitewater could be one prominent example, and Ray Donovan might be another. But the pattern tends to be where there's smoke there's fire. (I'm not suggesting innocence in either of my examples, but it is certainly true that no one ever came up with enough evidence to prove wrongdoing.)

My standard on resignation is Elliot Spitzer--if what you did was worse than what Spitzer did, you should resign. I think Christie may well be over that line.

mozartpc27 wrote:"Evidence exists" to prove a Kennedy assassination conspiracy, big foot, and ancient aliens too.

Then you have the immediate issue that Team Christie's argument, not the charge but their argument, their defense is that a group of close Christie insiders did this petty, vindictive, sleazy thing. Christie just didn't know about it.

That's a tough sell against the quality of your judgment and your qualities as a leader. Again, even if he's totally innocent.

But finally, look at what we have today: Christie either declaring or more like joining war with David Wildstein, something that looks to be no-holds-barred, nasty and to the (political or legal) death. Team Christie is arguing that Wildstein is a lifetime sleaze and liar who would do or so anything to save his own hide (all quite possibly true) ... who Christie appointed to a position of great responsibility at the Port Authority.

Who did this with a key Christie insider.

Again, that's Christie's defense, not the accusation.

But here's the killer for Christie. The 2016 primary is already underway, lining up political professionals, money people, power brokers in key states. That's all happening now and it will continue through this year. Next year, the actual campaign starts. But a lot will have happened by then.

Houshphandzadeh wrote:I'm still really doubtful that anyone will care about this in 2016 or even 2015

dajafi wrote:I think that of the folks who would be most into Christie, Jeb is the most acceptable alternative.

jerseyhoya wrote:Both Kasich and Walker have competitive reelections in November that they have to focus on before they can start dreaming of the White House. Jeb doesn't have to do much groundwork at this point because if he decides to jump in, the Bush name that'll hurt him when it comes time for people to vote does a lot of the work on the raising $$ and assembling a team front. The lack of effort Jeb needs to do at this point means I think he'll put off a decision for a while. Ryan seems committed to being Ways and Means Chair in the upcoming Congress, and I think the field would have to be a 2012 type disaster for him to jump in.

drsmooth wrote:

dajafi wrote:I think that of the folks who would be most into Christie, Jeb is the most acceptable alternative.

want this to happen, to see ads pointing out he's the candidate even a mother doesn't love*




*(as a candidate, for reasons Babs hasn't elaborated on, but voters have attention spans the size of this type dontcha know)