# So, we should get used to saying "President Christie?" Yea or nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 21, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448 "2013-11-21T17:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/341 "2014-01-11T16:40:00Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Whether or not to fire people who do wrong isn’t political handling. It’s called accountability. A concept Democrats seem to be confused about due to the Obama adminsitration’s unwillingness to be held accountable for anything whatsoever. You, my friend, are the perfect Fox News viewer. Roger Ailes loves you, and the thought of millions like you gives him a special feeling in his pants. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/342 "2014-01-11T20:20:50Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Exactly what I wanted to say, saved me a lot of typing. > > Plus I add to my nay … he’s too fat, he goes to sleep at Bruce Springfield concerts, he has skeletons in his closet, he’s a sure thing for SNL to make fun of him and everyone doesn’t automatically like people from Jersey. **I like people from New Jersey, but Christie is not going to be the next President of the United States of American and that’s my final answer**. > [@Marley23](#): > > SNL makes fun of everybody. Sometimes it’s even funny. I’m not sure how much his weight is going to matter, but I’m not ready to assume people will refuse to vote for him because of it. There’s just not much evidence to go on. **And what skeletons in his closet are you thinking of?** I told you so, but you wouldn’t listen 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/343 "2014-01-11T20:44:23Z")
Moderate Republicans are very rare these days. We need moderates in both parties that are willing to compromise and work for solutions. I hope Christie can still run. It’s still very early in the bridge investigation. If it can be proved that Christie was involved it will end his career. ---
**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 11, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/344 "2014-01-11T21:34:47Z")
It’s already been proven that Christie was involved. When you’re a governor, and your number 1 staffer is involved in something, you are, too. The question is just to what degree he was involved, and whether he knew. Which, according to the Wall Street Journal, appears to also be the case. ---
**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 11, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/345 "2014-01-11T21:42:08Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We’re not comparing the severity of the scandal, but the way it was handled. > > Christie, assuming he’s not hiding anything, put everything out there and punished people. > > Most politicians allow a drip, drip, drip of new revelations, because they won’t tell what they know. It’s not the crime, it’s the coverup. And the not punishing anyone. It’s hard to argue that it’s not your fault when you let the people who did wrong get away with it. > > It also doesn’t look good when you appoint your political allies to investigate your administration. Are you serious? I know, stupid question, of course you are. But the bridge closing happened back in September. Christie has done nothing but stonewall it for four months. The only reason he’s fired anyone now is because the entire story has come out in the press and people are being charged with crimes. And Christie appointed his own lawyer - a man who’s mentioned in the incriminating emails - to investigate the incident. So Christie has done everything you claim is the wrong way to handle a scandal. Yet you sit there and praise him. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/346 "2014-01-11T22:46:02Z")
Colbert’s very funny take on Christie’s press conference: [http://www.salon.com/2014/01/10/must\_see\_morning\_clip\_stephen\_colbert\_rips\_chris\_christie\_over\_his\_someone\_else\_a\_culpa/](http://www.salon.com/2014/01/10/must_see_morning_clip_stephen_colbert_rips_chris_christie_over_his_someone_else_a_culpa/) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/347 "2014-01-12T06:47:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Are you serious? I know, stupid question, of course you are. But the bridge closing happened back in September. Christie has done nothing but stonewall it for four months. The only reason he’s fired anyone now is because the entire story has come out in the press and people are being charged with crimes. And Christie appointed his own lawyer - a man who’s mentioned in the incriminating emails - to investigate the incident. > > So Christie has done everything you claim is the wrong way to handle a scandal. Yet you sit there and praise him. Well, you’re right, and furthermore Christie says he’s responsible. Just as the President says. I believe that when a politician says he’s responsible, that the public should hold him responsible. ---
**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 12, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/348 "2014-01-12T20:08:47Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Well, you’re right, and furthermore Christie says he’s responsible. Just as the President says. I believe that when a politician says he’s responsible, that the public should hold him responsible. It was a meaningless statement on Christie’s part. He claims to have taken responsibility, but fired someone else. Claiming responsibility means something when you do it as you resign, which Christie will eventually be forced to do. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/349 "2014-01-12T20:30:17Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > This makes no sense. As usual for our friend. But at least he is consistent in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/350 "2014-01-13T01:34:56Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Christie, assuming he’s not hiding anything A gymnast, a quarterback, and an economist are stranded on a desert island. They find a coconut tree. The gymnast tries to climb it, but is defeated by the slick branchless surface. The quarterback tries to shake it, but nothing falls out. The economist says, “Assuming that we have a ladder…”. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/351 "2014-01-13T05:17:19Z")
If it was Obama, you’d assume he knew nothing until proven otherwise. Not that it really matters much, as others have pointed out. Christie says he’s responsible, we should take him at his word and treat him accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/352 "2014-01-13T05:43:02Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Not that it really matters much, as others have pointed out. Christie says he’s responsible, we should take him at his word and treat him accordingly. So you fully agree we should treat Christie like someone who put the lives of uninvolved people - who he’s supposed to serve - at risk in order to attempt to “punish” his political opponents over perceived slights. You fully agree he’s somebody who doesn’t mind hurting others just to get what he wants? Great. Now maybe you should stop trying to drag threads off topic by bringing up other, unrelated politicians, because doing so is a tactic that does nothing but try to defend those in question. Stick to the Obama talk to other threads, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/353 "2014-01-13T06:52:07Z")
I agree that a politician is responsible for what people who work for him do, yes. That’s the nature of leadership, that someone you’ve never even met can cost you your job. That’s why the great leaders establish a good culture with clear accountability. Christie failed to do that. He’s holding people accountable NOW, which is a plus, and if nothing further happens over the next three years I think he’ll be fine. ---
**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 13, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/354 "2014-01-13T11:38:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If it was Obama, you’d assume he knew nothing until proven otherwise. > > Not that it really matters much, as others have pointed out. Christie says he’s responsible, we should take him at his word and treat him accordingly. We’d probably be more willing to give Christie the benefit of the doubt if he was not such a boorish prick and did not have a history of bullying. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/355 "2014-01-13T12:11:48Z")
That’s the key, isn’t it? Does it reinforce a pattern of behavior? In terms of corruption, no, assuming this is an isolated incident. In terms of being a bully, it does reinforce that. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/356 "2014-01-13T12:16:25Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If it was Obama, you’d assume he knew nothing until proven otherwise. If we had the sort of emails from Obama’s senior staffers that we’ve had from Christie’s you can be damn sure we’d assume he either knew something or should have. The IRS “scandal” is not remotely the same thing despite your repeated protestations that it should be. > [@](#): > > Not that it really matters much, as others have pointed out. Christie says he’s responsible, we should take him at his word and treat him accordingly. This is the same Christie who keeps saying he knew nothing, it wasn’t him and he feels really bad about it, right? That’s an interesting definition of accepting responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/357 "2014-01-13T12:29:56Z")
It doesn’t matter what he accepts, he said the words, therefore people should hold him responsible in whatever way they see fit. If that means not voting for him in 2016, fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/358 "2014-01-13T15:10:56Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I told you so, but you wouldn’t listen 🙂 You didn’t actually point to any skeletons, so you don’t get to say “I told you so.” > [@adaher](#): > > Well, you’re right, and furthermore Christie says he’s responsible. Just as the President says. I believe that when a politician says he’s responsible, that the public should hold him responsible. Should we hold _you_ responsible for all the stuff _you_ said about Christie that Nemo just show down? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/359 "2014-01-13T15:27:00Z")
Now the feds are investigating Christie’s use of relief funds to do tourism ads. > **[Feds investigate Christie's use of Sandy relief funds | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/politics/christie-feds-investigating-sandy-ads/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)** > > New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is facing questions over the use of Superstorm Sandy relief funds. This is bad, because it’s 100% true. Not sure what an investigation is going to turn up that the conservative media didn’t already turn up. It was a scandal among the right that apparently no one else cared about until today. Go figure. Using relief funds for things other than relief is a time honored practice of local and state politicians. It’s about time the government made an example of someone. ---
**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 13, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448/360 "2014-01-13T15:28:40Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Using relief funds for things other than relief is a time honored practice of local and state politicians. It’s about time the government made an example of someone. Would you happen to be able to cite other examples? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-should-get-used-to-saying-president-christie-yea-or-nay/674448.md?page=19)