General Discussion

ProSense

(116,464 posts) Sat Jan 11, 2014, 01:49 AM Jan 2014

Josh Marshall: In Plain Sight?

In Plain Sight?

Josh Marshall

<...>

The second piece is something I think I remember reading about when we first started reporting on this story several weeks ago. But it now it really demands some kind of explanation - not just from Christie but from Gov. Cuomo as well.

This is from a December 12th article in the Wall Street Journal ...

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week to complain about a Cuomo appointee's handling of a growing controversy over traffic pattern changes on the George Washington Bridge, a person familiar with the matter said.

Mr. Christie, a Republican, complained in a private phone call to Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, that Patrick Foye, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was pressing too hard to get to the bottom of why the number of toll lanes onto the bridge from Fort Lee, N.J. was cut from three to one in early September, according to this person. The lane closures occurred without notice to local authorities, officials have said, and snarled traffic for a week in the small borough on the Hudson River bluffs.

December 12th 2013 was a Thursday. So presumably this means the call took place on the 9th, 10th or 11th of December.

We now seem to know pretty clearly that Foye was blowing the whistle on some pretty bad stuff and was the one who had ordered the lane closures to end in the first place. There's also some evidence in the documents released today that Foye eventually backed off his aggressive pursuit.

For now though look at Christie's role here. Did this call really take place and did Christie really tell Cuomo to rein in Foye?

If he did, I do not see how that doesn't gravely undermine the credibility of the story Christie told in his epic press conference on Thursday. When an issue rises up to the governor to governor level, it's something pretty important. And I don't think you tell someone to rein in an investigation unless there's something you don't want getting a close look.

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/in-plain-sight--2

On Rachel Maddow's show tonight, it's clear that NJ Assemblyman John Wisniewski is not buying Christie's BS.

NJ Port Authority Chief Warned That Bridge Lane Closures Were Illegal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024311993

Bridge Scandal Documents Indicate Effort to Hide Political Motive
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024312727

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Josh Marshall: In Plain Sight? (Original Post) ProSense Jan 2014 OP

Our Minds Think Alike On This Matter left on green only Jan 2014 #1

A recording, now that would be interesting. n/t ProSense Jan 2014 #6

K&R sheshe2 Jan 2014 #2

He was starting to feel the heat and get worried, and got the Foye guy to back off. TwilightGardener Jan 2014 #3

What's one more lie for Christie.. he's been lying through this Cha Jan 2014 #4

"In Plain Sight" is relevant ProSense Jan 2014 #7

Yes, it does.. and I didn't mean to make light of it. But, Cha Jan 2014 #10

And, uh, why did Cuomo rein in Foye? El_Johns Jan 2014 #5

Exactly what I was wondering. senseandsensibility Jan 2014 #8

No, he's not. I can't recall the details, but it seems to me he's been involved in some right-wing El_Johns Jan 2014 #9

Well, then I hope he gets his little tail Cha Jan 2014 #11

left on green only

(1,484 posts)

1. Our Minds Think Alike On This Matter

Reply to ProSense (Original post)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 02:18 AM

Jan 2014

As soon as Christie came up with his plausible deniability stunt at the press conference, that was the first thing that popped into my mind.

I wonder it Cuomo has a recording of the conversation? If not, then wouldn't Mr. Foye make a good witness at a future hearing?

ProSense

(116,464 posts)

6. A recording, now that would be interesting. n/t

Reply to left on green only (Reply #1)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 10:18 AM

Jan 2014

sheshe2

(83,842 posts)

2. K&R

Reply to ProSense (Original post)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 02:20 AM

Jan 2014

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

3. He was starting to feel the heat and get worried, and got the Foye guy to back off.

Reply to ProSense (Original post)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 02:34 AM

Jan 2014

Yes, it's pretty significant that he called another governor to tamp this down. I don't know another plausible reason why he would worry so much about an underling merely looking into the temporary, unintended effects of a VERY IMPORTANT, DOCUMENTED TRAFFIC STUDY.

Cha

(297,464 posts)

4. What's one more lie for Christie.. he's been lying through this

Reply to ProSense (Original post)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 02:39 AM

Jan 2014

whole thing, His "epic" presser was a crafty example of Orwellian doublespeak designed to placate the masses.

Didn't work out so well.. turns out the masses are smarter than those who vote for Christie.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)

7. "In Plain Sight" is relevant

Reply to Cha (Reply #4)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 11:58 AM

Jan 2014

"What's one more lie for Christie.. he's been lying through this"

...because everyone reporting on this knows that Christie made that call to Cuomo. They've known for weeks. For him to give a bullshit press conference feigning ignorance and playing the victim is beyond hubris.

It doesn't take a lot of critical thinking to come to the conclusion that this alone "gravely undermine the credibility of the story Christie told in his epic press conference."

It doesn't take any of the documents to come to that conclusion. The fact that Christie is still lying in the face of what he know his extremely damaging information also speaks volumes.

Cha

(297,464 posts)

10. Yes, it does.. and I didn't mean to make light of it. But,

Reply to ProSense (Reply #7)

Sun Jan 12, 2014, 12:57 AM

Jan 2014

I kinda did. Sorry.

I don't know how I missed this reply earlier.. glad I finally saw it!

"...because everyone reporting on this knows that Christie made that call to Cuomo. They've known for weeks. For him to give a bullshit press conference feigning ignorance and playing the victim is beyond hubris."

Well, let's hope his Extreme Chutzpa gets him into such hot water that it never cools down!

What do bet the Sunday gasbags don't bring it up.. hope John Wisniewski does.