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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy didn't Zimmer turn immediately to the U.S. Attorney for NJ? Well, who used to hold that job?
Oh yeah, Chris Christie, from 2002 to 2008. He was the guy who Zimmer originally went out on a limb for, giving him cross party praise for helping clean up corruption inside New Jersey. Christie helped bust Democrats who abused state power when he was the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Then Zimmer discovered that Christie was abusing it himself. Why on earth would she trust anyone to be honest given the evidence of long term endemic serial political corruption in New Jersey? How far did the power of money in New Jersey penetrate? I sure as hell would have been asking myself that question back in July if I were Mayor Zimmer.
Back in July the entire national media was having a love fest over Chris Christie because of his image as a straight shooter that they all swallowed hook line and sinker. Christie was riding high in New Jersey running away with his bid for reelection. He was being praised for being above politics when it came to Sandy relief. Had Zimmer come out against Christie then he and his media friends would have immediately pounced on her for being politically motivated. They would have spread rumors that key Democrats had gotten to her, that there would likely be some pay off for Zimmer if her charges against Christie derailed his expected victory in November. That would have been a plausible line of attack against her back in July.
What supporting evidence did Mayor Zimmer have to make her case against Christie back then? Her diary would have been worthless as evidence in July since clearly she could have fabricated journal entries against Christie concurrent with her going public against him if her accusations were false. Back in July there was no way Zimmer could have known that Christie would become embroiled in a national scandal stemming from a bridge related traffic jam that hadn't happened yet. She had every reason to expect that Christie would be a national darling after sweeping to reelection in November; it makes zero sense that she would have plotted against Christie in July expecting to take him down in December. Had Zimmer moved to expose the Governor's corruption in July she could only expect to be swept aside, she had to feel alone back then not knowing if there was anyone she could trust to not do Christie's bidding. Why would she trust the U.S. Attorney for NJ in that political climate? Just because he was appointed by a Democrat this time? Corruption in New Jersey has long been a bipartisan affair.
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)She's being entirely logical.
Rec'd.
fredamae
(4,458 posts)Criticizing Zimmer for NOT "following chain of command" on this matter-makes Zero sense- What they are doing to Zimmer is no different than criticizing a victim of Rape for not going to Her commanding officer/supervisor to report it when He was the assailant!
Sometimes, the way the system works- you have No reasonable recourse.
Little Star
(17,055 posts)Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)Not anyone in the republican Party with Christie firmly in control of it, and an unknown number of Democrats could have been in on the corruption also. Samson has major influence in both political parties. I don't think anyone would expect a Christie loving media to have played the watchdog role either.
fredamae
(4,458 posts)I find her records--totally and legally acceptable--I do not find her actions between then and now any different or more unusual than what Anyone in a similar situation would do.
Sometimes the situation is So egregious and threatening, one has no other reasonable alternative than to wait and Hope for a "window of opportunity" to have the best chances for resolution.
Considering the political clout and loyalties of the far reaching "Christie cabal" - What else could anyone have possibly expected her to do at that time considering the circumstance of recourse available to Zimmer?
Yes, indeed-Exactly Who could she trust in either side of the political parties in NJ?
Jim__
(14,076 posts)Now people are wondering, has Christie bullied other mayors? They're asking NJ mayors if Christie has bullied them.
Also worth noting, the Fort Lee mayor never believed it was about an endorsement. He did suspect that the billion dollar construction project was more likely the reason.
SunSeeker
(51,557 posts)Zimmer, accurately, stated that no one would have believed her back then.
It reminds me of when a woman finally comes forward with horrific accounts of sexual harassment, such as what happened with Mayor Filner down in San Diego. It gives his other victims support to come forward, once there are others who can corroborate the pattern of abuse. The priest child abuse scandals worked the same way.
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)hoping that funds for Hoboken would come through after all. But the closer the deadline came for giving out the second batch of funds, the more she was probably worried that Hoboken wouldn't get any of that money, either.
I've read that.. makes perfect sense. In all of this Mayor Zimmer was doing her very best for Hoboken, NJ!
EC
(12,287 posts)and it would have just been buried.