# Did Christie (or his staff) intentionally cause the Fort Lee traffic jam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 9, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351 "2014-01-09T13:34:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/361 "2014-01-18T19:00:08Z")
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/362 "2014-01-18T21:33:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I disagree. Maybe it’s a sign of being old but I still say it’s wrong for a man to hit a woman. (Okay, if she’s trying to stab me or something, I would defend myself.) But there are circumstances where I would hit a man for doing the same thing that I would not hit a woman for - and getting spit on would be an example of that. If that makes me sexist, so be it. I can relate, I have an enormous fondness for effeminate women. Maybe I could do something about that, but I’m not gonna. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/363 "2014-01-18T21:44:10Z")
I’m guessing these revelations about political bullying over property development offers a strong hint about what happened with The Bridge. It has been pointed out that even the hint of lane closures on the GWB would affect the value of Fort Lee’s development project, sending a tremor of worry through the investor’s sphincters. I’m thinking that the investors and backers of the project had neglected to direct a sufficient amount of the contracts to companies with a solid reputation for civic virtue, as demonstrated by their generous support for the political party most aligned with those admirable qualities. And, of course, the candidates who best embody those virtues. ---
**Author:** ![burunduk34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burunduk34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burunduk34)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/364 "2014-01-19T16:08:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Men don’t hit girls. End of story. Perhaps not in your misogynistic world. In my world, a potentially violent situation got diffused quickly and painlessly for everyone (except the attacker) involved. Furthermore, I’d venture a guess that the whale in question will think twice about attacking anyone again. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The bridge blocking you’re whining about was not ordered by any government official. The government official, Melissa Mark-Viverito, participated in the bridge blocking. Incidentally, since the time she’s blocked the bridge, she’s become New York City council speaker, with the strong support of Bill de Blasio, who, in principle, believes that bridge-blocking is “immoral” and “immature”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/365 "2014-01-19T17:30:00Z")
Dammit! He discovered liberal hypocrisy! Well, guess we’re screwed now! I blame **Bricker**. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/366 "2014-01-19T17:39:47Z")
> [@burunduk34](#): > > Perhaps not in your misogynistic world. In my world, a potentially violent situation got diffused quickly and painlessly for everyone (except the attacker) involved. > Furthermore, I’d venture a guess that the whale in question will think twice about attacking anyone again. Your disapproval reassures me that I’m right. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/367 "2014-01-19T18:13:01Z")
> [@burunduk34](#): > > In my world, a potentially violent situation got diffused quickly and painlessly for everyone (except the attacker) involved. > Furthermore, I’d venture a guess that the whale in question will think twice about attacking anyone again. Yes we know. In your world - read: in your ball-swinging manly imagination - you get to punch fat women all the time and the police stand there and pat you on the back for it. I bet in your world there’s a Hooters, a gun-range and a World’s Gym every three feet too. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/368 "2014-01-19T18:27:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I disagree. Maybe it’s a sign of being old but I still say it’s wrong for a man to hit a woman. (Okay, if she’s trying to stab me or something, I would defend myself.) But there are circumstances where I would hit a man for doing the same thing that I would not hit a woman for - and getting spit on would be an example of that. If that makes me sexist, so be it. It may mean no more than that you know you have greater upper body strength and a greater reach than most women, and from that take a default position that you apply to all women. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/369 "2014-01-19T19:03:52Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yes we know. In your world - read: in your ball-swinging manly imagination - you get to punch fat women all the time and the police stand there and pat you on the back for it. She had to be fat. Otherwise, he would have had imaginary sex with her instead of an imaginary fight. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/370 "2014-01-19T19:07:15Z")
> [@j666](#): > > It may mean no more than that you know you have greater upper body strength and a greater reach than most women, and from that take a default position that you apply to all women. I wouldn’t hit a woman who was smaller than me, because it would be unfair. And I wouldn’t hit a woman who was bigger than me, because I’d be afraid she’d hit me back. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/371 "2014-01-19T19:09:27Z")
The Sandy accusation is more troubling than the bridge closing. Global climate change will be throwing more and more of this at us, and the political apparatus we have for our survival is run by the bad kids from an ABC Afternoon Special. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/372 "2014-01-19T20:55:56Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > The Sandy accusation is more troubling than the bridge closing. Global climate change will be throwing more and more of this at us, and the political apparatus we have for our survival is run by the bad kids from an ABC Afternoon Special. One gets the impression that Christie was pretty good at separating kids from their lunch money when he was in school. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/373 "2014-01-19T22:12:54Z")
I can not condone poking fun of someone for physical appearance. It’s childish and mean. So I refrain from commenting that the modern day Christie seems to be adept at separating people from their lunches. I make no such comment. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/374 "2014-01-19T22:39:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I wouldn’t hit a woman who was smaller than me, because it would be unfair. And I wouldn’t hit a woman who was bigger than me, because I’d be afraid she’d hit me back. I must be better than you, because I also treat men the same way. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/375 "2014-01-19T22:53:48Z")
[President Christie, Day 100](http://www.gocomics.com/tomthedancingbug/2014/01/17#.UtxXUf2tvpQ) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/376 "2014-01-19T23:26:48Z")
Yes, it does look like we narrowly averted having a gangster run for president. Part of me kinda wished it would happen. In an alternate universe. ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/377 "2014-01-19T23:36:39Z")
Supposedly (it may already have been mentioned upthread), Romneys people took a look at his record to fill the VP pick and decided he was to toxic to risk. ---
**Author:** ![burunduk34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burunduk34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burunduk34)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/378 "2014-01-20T01:17:20Z")
> [@burunduk34](#): > > 1. The purpose of those who blocked a bridge–“a political retaliation” is not ok, while a “protest” is ok. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > This is all that matters. Period. Well, that’s your opinion, **Exapno Mapcase** , however, **Marley23** appears to disagree with you–when talking about acceptable bridge-blocking, he places the purpose (protest vs. political retaliation) **at the distant 3rd place** , while assigning the prime importance to _the length of time the bridge was blocked_. So, according to (let’s give them a name) “Marley23’s acceptable bridge-blocking practices”, not blocking the bridge for “very long” (1 minute? half-an-hour? hour? 6 hours? a week?) is acceptable. > [@Marley23](#): > > _1) The bridge wasn’t blocked for very long._ > 2) The people who did it were quickly arrested. > **3) That was a protest, not an act of politically motivated retribution.** PS. Please note that the rules above do not include the additional 6 bridge-blocking rules, that we can hope will be provided by **Marley23** shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/379 "2014-01-20T01:56:17Z")
**burunduk34** , your position appears to be that we should treat the people behind both bridge “closures” equally. Given that hundreds of the protesters that blocked the Brooklyn bridge were arrested, are you in favor of the same treatment for Chris Christie? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/380 "2014-01-20T02:01:51Z")
We’re missing important pieces of information. Do you disapprove only of the Occupy protests or all left-wing protests? Are all right-wing protests allowable? What about bridge blocking? Surely no one who is faintly aware of American history thinks this is a first. Do you think it was a first, however? Where do you draw the line at protests? What can be blocked and what cannot? Where may protests take place? Does it make a difference if they are left-wing protests or right-wing protests? How close may protesters come to those who oppose them? What are opponents allowed to do in response? Do you know the meaning of the term Civil Disobedience? Should a distinction be drawn between liberal fucks and liberal cunts? So many questions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351.md?page=20)