Christie's Airport Comeuppance

Former New Jersey Governor and blowhard bully Chris "Krispykreme" Christie needs to get used to the way average citizens are treated, now that he's one himself. Yesterday, the rotund trash mouth was unceremoniously turned away from Newark Liberty International Airport's VIP entrance by Port Authority police, who escorted Krispykreme and his taxpayer-funded state police entourage to the public access area. He was trying to circumvent the TSA checkpoint that us commoners have to use when he was re-routed in humiliating fashion. Bravo, Port Authority police.

Krispykreme was the most unpopular Governor of New Jersey ever when his term ended last week. His Bridgegate scandal, his routine bullying and mocking of voters who stood up to him, and his sense of entitlement exhibited when he vacationed on a New Jersey beach that was closed to the public, led to widespread public disgust with the former Governor. His pathetic sucking up to sociopath and narcissist Donald "Rump" Trump never paid off for him, being yanked off the Rump transition team as chair after a short reign and not given any significant Federal appointments.

So, it's with some considerable glee and schadenfreude that we say "buh bye" to Krispykreme for now, although like other objects visible from space, he can't just disappear. Sadly.

(photo: Not so friendly skies await Krispykreme)

A Bridge Too Far?

New Jersey Gov. and head of the state's Rethuglican crime family Chris "Krispykreme" Christie has yet another bridge to worry about.  This time, Federal prosecutors are looking into the illegal diversion of over $1 billion from Port Authority (PA) funds to pay for repairs to the state-owned Pulaski Skyway, which links Jersey City and Newark. The PA had planned to use the money for the Hudson River rail tunnel project, which Krispykreme cancelled.

The core of the investigation involves the misleading description of the project to PA bond holders, a felony under state securities law.  Over the strong objections of PA lawyers, the Krispykreme regime pushed aggressively for the shift in funds, and misleadingly tried to link the Pulaski Skyway project -- which is clearly out of the PA's scope -- to "access to the Lincoln Tunnel".  It appears to fit the patten of diverting or withholding funds (PA funds, Hurricane Sandy relief funds, etc.) to reward or punish opponents of the porcine Governor, and could lead to criminal indictments.

Chris Christie's Bridgegate: Key Witness Now Cooperating

From Esquire's Scott Raab:

Bad news for Chris Christie -- and very good news for the citizens of New Jersey: Esquire has learned from sources close to the investigation that David Wildstein, the former Port Authority operative who helped plan and execute the Great Fort Lee Clusterfk, is now cooperating with Paul Fishman, the federal prosecutor investigating the soon-to-be-ex-governor and his minions for criminal conduct. Fishman has also increased the number of investigators at work on the case, and has begun presenting evidence and witnesses to a grand jury in Newark.  (our emphasis)

Raab's analysis and prediction?

Chris Christie’s White House fever dream died at his January press conference, where he spent two hours wallowing in self-pity over how his aides had deceived him. Now that David Wildstein’s talking, his days as governor are numbered -- in weeks and months, not years.

The gusty winds expected over the mid-Atlantic states in the next 24 hours?  Yeah.  Krispykreme deflating.  All that lips-on-tuchas action with Sheldon Adelson was for naught?

Sunday Cartoon - Chris Christie Gets To The Bottom Of Things

(click to enlarge - heh heh)

We're far from "the bottom of things," of course.  Christie is on his innocent humble-bluster tour of teevee and Sheldon Adelson's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire's Bitch."  A brief lull until the immunity deals start dropping.  (This cartoon lends itself to the "Where does the 800 pound gorilla sit?" joke chestnut, too.)

BONUS:  It looks like Gov. Krispykreme's pilgrimage to Sheldon Adelson's tuchas didn't go off without a hitch:  in remarks to the Rethuglican Jewish Coalition, Krispykreme referred to the West Bank as "occupied territories," a big no-no especially to the assembled audience and to the Israeli right wing.  Krispykreme later "apologized" for his gaffe to Adelson, who reportedly was "satisfied."

BONUS II:  Headline over at Andy Borowitz': SHELDON ADELSON SAYS NO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WORTH BUYING.  

(Matt Davies, via gocomics.com)

Headline of the Day

Chris Christie update: Lawyer hired by Christie to investigate Christie clears Christie

Who would have expected that outcome?  More on the sham "investigation" here.

Chris Christie Scandals: More Bacon Hits The Frying Pan

Interesting times for the "King of Bacon" (h/t Sen. Aqua Buddha):

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have subpoenaed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for records related to potential conflicts of interest involving its chairman, David Samson, a prominent New Jersey lawyer and close political ally of Gov. Chris Christie, according to people with knowledge of the matter. 

The business dealings of Mr. Samson and his law firm, Wolff & Samson, have come under intense scrutiny as a result of the politically charged closing of access lanes to the George Washington Bridge in September and the scandal that ensued. The lane closings are the subject of a separate inquiry by federal prosecutors in New Jersey, who are examining the roles of several current and former aides and allies of Mr. Christie. 

Neither of the federal prosecutor’s offices would comment on the subpoena nor on its possible connection to the bridge inquiry. But an examination of possible conflicts of interest involving Mr. Samson would appear to represent a significant widening of the scandal. [snip]

Some of Mr. Samson’s potential conflicts have been the subject of news media reports. And an article in The New York Times last week detailed the wide-ranging business dealings in which he and his law firm represented clients doing business with the Port Authority and the administration of Mr. Christie, showing the extent to which their ambitions and success have become intertwined, as Mr. Samson benefited financially and Mr. Christie politically.  (our emphasis)

There's enough legal peril in the State and Federal investigations blossoming around Gov. Krispycreme and his band of cronies to offer hope that some of these ethically-challenged bastards (over and above David Wildstein) will start cooperating with prosecutors.  If and when the rats start deserting the "King of Bacon," it will be hard for him to divert attention by blaming MSNBC and Democrats for his troubles.

(Photo:  That's a rash rasher right there.)

Another Shoe

According to new reports, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer told associates (including a city council member) last May of the threat by New Jersey Gov. Chris "Krispykreme" Christie to withhold Sandy funds from her city unless she supported a development project backed by Krispykreme.  That would give Federal prosecutors reason to lend additional weight to Mayor Zimmer's allegation, since contemporaneous accounts of the threat were given to others.   New Jersey Lt. Gov. and Krispykreme's underboss Kim Guadagno has denied Mayor Zimmer's charge that she relayed the Governor's threat in a parking lot outside the Hoboken city hall last May.  Federal prosecutors will be interviewing the associates next week to get their sworn statements.  In the face of this development, Guadagno will have to decide whether she will cooperate with the Feds, or try to stonewall.  For Krispykreme, neither option bodes well.

And that still leaves the separate, ongoing investigations of Bridgegate….