# 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:** 24
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/461 "2014-01-23T19:04:02Z")
[NBC has an article that names the three people](http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/22/22404789-fbi-questions-hoboken-mayors-aides-over-alleged-sandy-relief-funds-threat-sources?lite). They are the chief of staff, the communications director, and a city council person. ---
**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 23, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/462 "2014-01-23T19:09:45Z")
The witnesses apparently bear out Zimmer’s story, or at least they remember Zimmer stating that was the case at the time. On the other hand, Guadagno could hardly seem more forced and insincere in her denial. I’ve seen more convincing footage of POWs making forced statements. So the question is, will Guadagno continue to deny or will she cut a deal with the feds and testify against Christie in exchange for immunity? Totally irrelevant, but does anyone else think Dawn Zimmer is a hottie? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/463 "2014-01-23T19:19:39Z")
Can anything actually come out of a private conversation between two people? If funds were withheld that would be easy enough to prove i assume. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/464 "2014-01-23T21:42:07Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The witnesses apparently bear out Zimmer’s story, or at least they remember Zimmer stating that was the case at the time. > > On the other hand, Guadagno could hardly seem more forced and insincere in her denial. I’ve seen more convincing footage of POWs making forced statements. So the question is, will Guadagno continue to deny or will she cut a deal with the feds and testify against Christie in exchange for immunity? if she does, and if she doesn’t get impeached or forced to resign, guess who becomes governor. > [@](#): > > Totally irrelevant, but does anyone else think Dawn Zimmer is a hottie? Best looking thing in Hoboken. Which, btw, was Lou Costello’s (of Abbot and Costello) home town. At least the hometown of the character. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/465 "2014-01-23T23:50:36Z")
Lou Costello’s actual hometown was Paterson, NJ (not sure if it was changed for his character). ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/466 "2014-01-24T01:06:22Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > The article says that their statements support the mayors account. > Granted, we don’t know who the “two people briefed on the matter” are, but the NYT does have some credibility. I am really not getting this. My Boss and I have a conversation in his office, overheard by no one. Afterward, I tell 5 people that the Boss said he would give me a raise (he did not). Later, when asked, all 5 people report that, yes, that is what Typo Negative said. The 5 people all speak the truth, but how does that support MY account of what transpired between me and my Boss? Sounds a bit like we’re saying I can be more correct if I repeat a lie to more people! Just to be clear, I am NOT suggesting that the Mayor lied. I do not know if she did or did not. Just that her repeating something to more people doesn’t make it any more or less true. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/467 "2014-01-24T01:43:27Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Just to be clear, I am NOT suggesting that the Mayor lied. I do not know if she did or did not. Just that her repeating something to more people doesn’t make it any more or less true. In a “he said/she said” (or “she said/she said”) case, discussions with third parties can be used to determine the credibility of each of the parties. This is often the case with sexual harassment cases, where the issue of whether the person who was harassed discussed the harassment with others can be a significant factor in determining whom to believe. Obviously motivation enters into this as well. Did the Mayor have a reason to lie at the time she told the other parties? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/468 "2014-01-24T01:53:06Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Obviously motivation enters into this as well. Did the Mayor have a reason to lie at the time she told the other parties? This is definitely one reason the testimony of those she talked to at the time matters. If she were making this story up for partisan reasons, the reasons for her to do so in the month or so since the Bridgegate story broke are readily apparent. But as the saying goes, if you come at the king, you’d best not miss: there’d have been no percentage a year ago in manufacturing an attack against Christie, and few people are cagey enough to play a long game like that just in case someday the opportunity to pile on came up. ---
**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 24, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/469 "2014-01-24T02:38:24Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I wasn’t aware that the job that wasn’t created would have been an unpaid job. Can I assume that there would also have been no travel expenses or per diem for the job that didn’t exist yet? At least until after the job had actually been created? > > What a coup for NJ. Carl Lewis - NJ fitness ambassador. Isn’t that how Schwarzenegger got started? As chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports? And Lewis was born in the U.S… Just think of it, President Carl Lewis. The proper response when you’ve made a mistake is to acknowledge that you were in error. Not come up with a different set of allegations. I see why you feel Christie “took responsibility” - you apparently have a flexible definition of what that means. ---
**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 24, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/470 "2014-01-24T02:43:40Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > if she does, and if she doesn’t get impeached or forced to resign, guess who becomes governor. Interesting fact I hadn’t known - Guadagno is the first Lt Governor of New Jersey. The position was created in 2006. Prior to that, if the Governor resigned, the President of the State Senate became the acting governor - and continued in his Senate position. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/471 "2014-01-24T04:45:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The proper response when you’ve made a mistake is to acknowledge that you were in error. Not come up with a different set of allegations. > > I see why you feel Christie “took responsibility” - you apparently have a flexible definition of what that means. Just so we’re talking about the same thing, you’ll have to be more specific. What do you consider to have been a mistake? Please remember that I’ve been limited to discussing Christie and/or NJ. What do you believe it is that I feel Christie “took responsibility” for? Christie said his people were responsible and it happened under his watch. The elected head of the executive branch “IS” ultimately responsible for the actions of his people. Christie fired a couple of people. There is no evidence yet that shows Christie ordered his people to restrict Ft Lee access to the GW bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/472 "2014-01-24T16:15:55Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Totally irrelevant, but does anyone else think Dawn Zimmer is a hottie? Irrelevant and doesn’t matter, but I did look, and I have to say, [she look like a man](https://www.google.com/search?q=dawn+zimmer&client=aff-maxthon-maxthon4&channel=t26&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ZZHiUszlOIqQ2QWnlYAY&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAw&biw=1386&bih=768). But de gustibus etc. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/473 "2014-01-24T22:26:25Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Irrelevant and doesn’t matter, but I did look, and I have to say, [she look like a man](https://www.google.com/search?q=dawn+zimmer&client=aff-maxthon-maxthon4&channel=t26&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ZZHiUszlOIqQ2QWnlYAY&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAw&biw=1386&bih=768). But de gustibus etc. That is _not_ an attractive woman. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/474 "2014-01-25T01:15:07Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Irrelevant and doesn’t matter, but I did look, and I have to say, [she look like a man](https://www.google.com/search?q=dawn+zimmer&client=aff-maxthon-maxthon4&channel=t26&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ZZHiUszlOIqQ2QWnlYAY&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAw&biw=1386&bih=768). But de gustibus etc. “That’s not your mother; it’s a man, baby!” ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/475 "2014-01-25T01:16:15Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > That is _not_ an attractive woman. Very _not_. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/476 "2014-01-25T01:49:22Z")
So, it’s tasteless to make fat jokes about Christie, detracts from a serious conversation, but assessing the hotness of a female politician is just harmless fun? Adding: She’s not good-looking in that vapid airbrushed way a TV news anchor would be, no – she has a real face, that’s lived a real life. If we were discussing a man, we’d be talking about character not sex appeal in the person’s looks. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/477 "2014-01-25T02:38:20Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > – she has a real face, that’s lived a real life. If we were discussing a man, we’d be talking about character not sex appeal in the person’s looks. And the phrase “hottie” would not be the one used. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/478 "2014-01-25T03:09:39Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > So, it’s tasteless to make fat jokes about Christie, detracts from a serious conversation, but assessing the hotness of a female politician is just harmless fun? > > Adding: She’s not good-looking in that vapid airbrushed way a TV news anchor would be, no – she has a real face, that’s lived a real life. If we were discussing a man, we’d be talking about character not sex appeal in the person’s looks. Please, we and everyone else talks and makes fun of Christie’s weight constantly. And she has a real face, a real ugly face. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/479 "2014-01-26T00:04:23Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > So, it’s tasteless to make fat jokes about Christie, detracts from a serious conversation, but assessing the hotness of a female politician is just harmless fun? What tasteless joke? Christie is fat, end of story. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/480 "2014-01-26T00:28:11Z")
Just saying that he’s fat isn’t tasteless (unless you say it to his face or something), but the jokes about it can be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351.md?page=25)