NJ Dems Blast Gov. Christie And Lt. Gov. For Leaving State During Blizzard

by Frances Martel | 8:54 pm, December 27th, 2010

» 19 comments

Tea Party darling Chris Christie has landed in hot water with some New Jersey legislators after leaving the state, along with Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, during this weekend’s blizzard. Guadagno is the inaugural tenant of her office. Previously, the President of the Senate would take over for an indisposed governor; current Senate President Stephen Sweeney is running New Jersey upon Christie’s and Guadagno’s departure.

The Star-Ledger reports that prominent Democratic lawmakers are, besides somewhat upset with the simultaneous vacations of the governor and lieutenant governor, upset that the latter job was created in the first place if it had little impact with the way the state was run in practice:

“We clearly made a mistake if we created the office lieutenant governor and wasted money if the lieutenant governor is not going to be here when the governor is out of state,” said state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union). “It’s being handled very well by Sen. Sweeney, but you have to really question the purpose of the office.”

Sen. Lesniak was not unanimously supported in his skepticism, however. “The real purpose of the law was to avoid that situation where you have one person controlling two-thirds of the government,” Democratic Assemblyman John McKeon, adding that he is not “overly-critical” during the holiday season as the purpose of the law was not broken.

Government jobs are a major point of contention in New Jersey politics, as the state has one of the largest and most expensive state governments in the nation, and Christie’s campaign platform promised drastic cuts to said jobs and salaries to help balance the budget. The creation of a new job was met with some skepticism when introduced during the Jon Corzine administration but ultimately passed a constitutional referendum vote in the state in 2005.

Christie’s spokesman, in typical Christie form, defended the governor’s escape to Disney World by noting that “the world is not coming to an end” and “We are a northeastern state and we get snow – sometimes lots of it like this – and we will get through it just as we always do.

Blizzard, Chris Christie, Democrats, John McKeon, Kim Guadagno, New Jersey, Ray Lesniak, Republicans, Star-Ledger

http://www.facebook.com/people/Greg-Palmer/100000481076398 Greg Palmer

I had to walk 2 miles to school in 2 feet of snow, uphill both ways. Stephen Sweeney and his fellow Democratics are a bunch of little babies. It’s Winter, there is snow, get over it.
Just4thefax

Fact: Need a signature endorsement to cash the checks! Government must stop because Christie is the man!
Seeing 2012 From My Window

Christie knows the libs target him for the same reason they target Beck, Palin, and FOX, they are scared to death of him.

Christie/Ryan 2012!!
Nahu Tuk

Weak admonition at best. Libs need to get a life.
Nacho

According to the The Star-Ledger, one(1) NJ Dem. “blasted” Gov. Christie And Lt. Gov.. According to The Star-Ledger, one (1) prominent Democratic lawmaker is upset with the simultaneous vacations of the governor and lieutenant governor.
Bunny

Thank you for pointing that out, Nacho. I read the story at the Star Ledger site after seeing your post, and you’re right — there was one single state senator trying to make a stink. One person. I don’t see how anyone could have read the Star Ledger article and come away with the impression that there were multiple lawmakers up in arms about the vacations.

Not sure whether it was laziness on the part of the Mediaite author or an attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill. Either way, pretty lame. Mediaite needs to remove or correct both the headline and the article.
Dave Richards

Bunny said:
Thank you for pointing that out, Nacho. I read the story at the Star Ledger site after seeing your post, and you’re right — there was one single state senator trying to make a stink. One person. I don’t see how anyone could have read the Star Ledger article and come away with the impression that there were multiple lawmakers up in arms about the vacations. Not sure whether it was laziness on the part of the Mediaite author or an attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill. Either way, pretty lame. Mediaite needs to remove or correct both the headline and the article.

It’s laziness. No question.
Seeing 2012 From My Window

Bunny says:

Not sure whether it was laziness on the part of the Mediaite author or an attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill

I vote both

Either way, pretty lame. Mediaite needs to remove or correct both the headline and the article.

What do ya say, Frannie?
reddogs

I’m sure that when Gov. Christie gets back he’ll call a press conference, pound on his elegant oak podium, and severely reprimand the storm. Case closed.
FearMonger

Meanwhile, The Prez is in Hawaii instead of DC. No moonbats screaming about that?

Nuff said.
reddogs

FearMonger said:
Meanwhile, The Prez is in Hawaii instead of DC. No moonbats screaming about that?

Nuff said.

We “moonbats” didn’t scream when Bush went on vacation every Christmas. Why would we scream when Obama does the same? What a pity the wingnuts among us can’t show the same maturity.
timzank

Bunny said:
Either way, pretty lame. Mediaite needs to remove or correct both the headline and the article.

The headline did exactly what it was intended to do. Here (as well as other sites) they always use a sensational innacurate and inflammatory headline. It’s what they do to drive traffic. News websites are no different than used car lots when it comes to advertising (the headline). It’s all about “sales”.

As for the real story, here’s a newsflash, it snows in the winter in the Northeast. If an “emergency” needs to be declared the Governor can do that from Florida or while in the shitter at home. It’s called a telephone.
Nacho

timzank said:As for the real story, here’s a newsflash, it snows in the winter in the Northeast. If an “emergency” needs to be declared the Governor can do that from Florida or while in the shitter at home. It’s called a telephone.

Because of the misleading headline you obviously missed the real story of the piece.
disgusted

is ‘bomma in washDeCadende for their “snow”?
http://none pyrope

FearMonger said:
Meanwhile, The Prez is in Hawaii instead of DC. No moonbats screaming about that? Nuff said.

You noticed, too?
timcajun

FearMonger says:

Meanwhile, The Prez is in Hawaii instead of DC. No moonbats screaming about that?

Nuff said.

The teas always cry every single time Obama goes anywhere, again “always”, even when it’s in our interest!
What about the made up Fox crap about the costs of some of his recent trips!

Nuff said.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kim-Barker/693546751 fb693546751

Oh Republicans, claiming that government is inadequate then getting elected and proving it.

Yes, Chris Christie, government does suck when people like you are in charge. It’s probably best he stay away, he wouldn’t be much help anyway.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kim-Barker/693546751 fb693546751

disgusted said:
is ‘bomma in washDeCadende for their “snow

Gee, I didn’t know that the President holds jurisdiction over the local services of Washington. Obviously you think that he does.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kim-Barker/693546751 A Kim Bo

FearMonger said:
The Prez is in Hawaii instead of DC

So you’re suggesting that the President go to New Jersey and clean up YET ANOTHER Republican mess?