Chris Christie slams Republican leadership over lack of Sandy aid; says his own party is solely to b
35 replies, posted
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSI7aZjqeHY[/media]
[url]http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/chris-christie-calls-disgusting-boehners-decision-yank-sandy/story?id=18114029[/url]
[quote=ABC News]New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said today that it was "disgusting" that the House adjourned without voting on a $60 billion relief package for the victims of superstorm Sandy and put the blame squarely on a fellow Republican -- House Speaker John Boehner.
Christie, who is considered a possible Republican presidential candidate four years from now, said there was "only one group to blame, the Republican Party and Speaker Boehner."
The blunt talking New Jersey governor joined a chorus of Republicans from New York and New Jersey fuming over his decision to pull the bill at the last minute.
Christie in an angry news conference decried the "selfishness and duplicity," the "palace intrigue," "the callous indifference to the people of our state."
"Unfortunately people are putting politics ahead of their responsibilities... You do the right thing. Enough with all the politics," he said.
Christie said that when it comes to natural disasters, "We respond as Americans, at least we did until last night... it was disgusting to watch."
"In our hour of desperate need, we've been left waiting for help six times longer than the victims of Katrina with no end in sight," said Christie. "Sixty-six days and counting, shame on you. Shame on Congress."
The governor said his four calls to Boehner Tuesday night went unanswered, but he said he spoke to the House speaker today. Christie would not disclose any details of the conversation, but clearly his anger over the no-vote was not mollified.
Following Christie's press conference Republican representatives from New York and New Jersey announced that the speaker promised a vote on the bill on Jan. 15.
Lawmakers were initially told by Boehner, R-Ohio, that the relief bill would get a vote on Tuesday night following an eleventh hour vote on the fiscal cliff bill. But in an unexpected switch, Boehner refused to put the relief bill to a vote, leading to lawmakers from parties yelling on the floor of the House.
Congress historically has responded to natural disasters by promptly funding relief efforts. It took just 11 days to pass a relief package for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Senate already passed its version of the bill that would replenish an emergency fund set to run out of cash next week and which will help repair subways and tunnels in New York City and rebuild parts of the New Jersey shore devastated by superstorm Sandy.
Time is particularly pressing, given that a new Congress will be sworn in Thursday. The Senate will therefore have to vote on the bill again before it comes to the House, which could be as late as February or March.
"This was a betrayal," Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., told ABC News.com. "It's just reprehensible. It's an indefensible error in judgment not have given relief to these people that are so devastated."
Rep. Peter King, R- N.Y., took the floor of the House and to the airwaves and aimed his outrage squarely at Boehner, accusing him plunging "a cruel knife in the back" of storm-ravaged residents "who don't have shelter, don't have food," he said during a House session this morning.
"This is not the United States. This should not be the Republican Party. This shouldn't not be the Republican leadership," King said on the floor of the House.
He made no attempt to hide his anger, suggesting that residents in New York and New Jersey should stop sending money to Republicans and even questioning whether he could remain a member of the party.
"Anyone who donates one cent to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee should have their head examined," King, a staunch conservative and Republican congressman for 10 years, told CNN.
"They have written off New York and New Jersey. They've written me off…. Party loyalty, I'm over that. When your people are literally freezing in the winter… Then why should I help the Republican Party?" he added.
He said that Boehner refused to talk to Republican members from New York and New Jersey when they tried to ask him about the vote Tuesday night.
"He just decided to sneak off in the dark of night," King said.
Democrats were also outraged.
"It is truly heartless that the House will not even allow the Sandy bill to come to the floor for a vote, and Speaker Boehner should reconsider his ill advised decision," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D- N.Y., said in a statement.
October's storm was the worst natural disaster ever to hit the region, causing billions in damage and leaving 120 people dead.
More than 130,000 people are expected to make claims to the federal government, but without a funding increase only about 12,000 people can be covered with existing funds.
"It doesn't make sense they wouldn't vote on this. There are truly people in need," said Steve Greenberg, whose home was flooded and damaged by fire in the hard-hit Breezy Point section of Queens. "Not of these people are fit to serve," he said.
Grimm said Boehner's decision fuels a perception that the Republican Party does not care about people.
"It buys into the ideology that Republicans don't care and are callous," he said. Grimm said there were enough votes to get the bill passed and that it makes fiscal sense, because the money would go to help spur small businesses.[/quote]
Oh man. The dirt's kicking up from the shovel of the people and the Republican party is going into the pit.
Chris Christie is the only Republican politician I have a modicum of respect for
Edit: and John McCain :)
He's wasn't really a respectable person until after the hurricane. He was literally a puppet to the party before the disaster.
[editline]2nd January 2013[/editline]
Like, after he saw the partisan shit being pulled during the Hurricane, he finally stood up and did his fucking job as a governor and stopped traveling around to market the party.
[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;39070466]He's wasn't really a respectable person until after the hurricane. He was literally a puppet to the party before the disaster.
[editline]2nd January 2013[/editline]
Like, after he saw the partisan shit being pulled during the Hurricane, he finally stood up and did his fucking job as a governor and stopped traveling around to market the party.[/QUOTE]
Frankly I have to disagree both with you an Christie here, all he did was start parading around and being a puppet for a different party, and you simply can't say Republicans are to blame for the disaster either, the Democrats haven't brought much of anything to the table except using it to promote themselves.
[url=http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/02/peter-king-near-tears-threatens-to-quit-republican-party-for-blocking-sandy-relief/]Apparently[/url] GOP Rep Peter King has also slammed this, and even threatened to leave the Republican Party and urged New Yorkers to withhold campaign donations
[QUOTE=smurfy;39070440]Chris Christie is the only Republican politician I have a modicum of respect for[/QUOTE]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRq6Y4NmB6U[/media]
[QUOTE=asteroidrules;39070560]Frankly I have to disagree both with you an Christie here, all he did was start parading around and being a puppet for a different party, and you simply can't say Republicans are to blame for the disaster either, the Democrats haven't brought much of anything to the table except using it to promote themselves.[/QUOTE]
I don't remember any promoting from the democratic party. If you're talking about Obama doing what he could without congress and going there, that's a president should do. Not survey it from an aircraft two weeks after it happened.
[editline]2nd January 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=smurfy;39070568][url=http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/02/peter-king-near-tears-threatens-to-quit-republican-party-for-blocking-sandy-relief/]Apparently[/url] GOP Rep Peter King has also slammed this, and even threatened to leave the Republican Party and urged New Yorkers to withhold campaign donations[/QUOTE]
Oh man. When King is even standing up for this, you know the party is in Shambles. King is fucking insane.
[QUOTE=smurfy;39070440]Chris Christie is the only Republican politician I have a modicum of respect for[/QUOTE]
You probably live outside NJ too.
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;39070576][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRq6Y4NmB6U[/media][/QUOTE]
Didn't McCain defend that Arab woman in the White House or something?
I think. I know that after the Arab springs, people like Palin were accusing random arabs of being part of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Christie is fucking pissed
[url]https://twitter.com/GovChristie[/url]
I thought Chris changed over to Democrat?
[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;39070740]I think. I know that after the Arab springs, people like Palin were accusing random arabs of being part of the Muslim Brotherhood.[/QUOTE]
Yes
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGf9AgilJYs[/media]
For every 1 good republican, there are 100 bad ones in their place
[QUOTE=Jetpack Bear;39070854]For every 1 good republican, there are 100 bad ones in their place[/QUOTE]
For every bad republican there's a good one who doesn't get the spotlight.
[QUOTE=smurfy;39070440]Chris Christie is the only Republican politician I have a modicum of respect for
Edit: and John McCain :)[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/17/new-jersey-gay-marriage-b_0_n_1284641.html[/url]
I don't.
He looks a lot like John Goodman.
[QUOTE=Bletotum;39071104][url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/17/new-jersey-gay-marriage-b_0_n_1284641.html[/url]
I don't.[/QUOTE]
He wanted to put it to the public vote in a public referendum, not that he hates gay marriage and will 'never allow it on my watch', although I agree it's not exactly a good thing.
[QUOTE=Bletotum;39071104][url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/17/new-jersey-gay-marriage-b_0_n_1284641.html[/url]
I don't.[/QUOTE]
Who cares about his opinions? You gotta be able to respect a man who can put what's important in front of personal political agenda.
I'd rather vote for an uncorruptible, honest, smart conservative than a lazy, dumb, corrupt democrat. And when I say "smart", I mean a person who has the ability to compromise and work for the betterment of the people he or she is supposed to serve.
[QUOTE=MrEndangered;39071227]He wanted to put it to the public vote in a public referendum, not that he hates gay marriage and will 'never allow it on my watch', although I agree it's not exactly a good thing.[/QUOTE]
You don't put civil rights up to a vote.
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;39070576][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRq6Y4NmB6U[/media][/QUOTE]
I fucking love John McCain.
[QUOTE=gamefreek76;39071188]He looks a lot like John Goodman.[/QUOTE]
Mark my words, one day there will be a biopic about Christie during the Sandy crisis and his change of view, starring John Goodman.
[QUOTE=smurfy;39070440]Chris Christie is the only Republican politician I have a modicum of respect for
Edit: and John McCain :)[/QUOTE]
he's like a terrible governor who is obviously using the disaster as a popularity boost.
We had a HUGE education disaster in NJ when he slashed it which even affected my school
and hes fat
The GOP is falling apart.
Why doesn't Chris Christie switch parties? Seems like the logical thing to do at this point.
McCain says some stupid things sometimes, mostly recently, but I guess he's okay.
[QUOTE=An Axolotl;39073607]Why doesn't Chris Christie switch parties? Seems like the logical thing to do at this point.
McCain says some stupid things sometimes, mostly recently, but I guess he's okay.[/QUOTE]Christie is still conservative and still a colossal ass, he just happens to be right about this matter.
[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;39073621]Christie is still conservative and still a colossal ass, he just happens to be right about this matter.[/QUOTE]
I guess he's an ass, but he did work with Obama closely when Sandy hit, and he is obviously unhappy with the GOP.
I think he's turning man!
Nope. He knows that his career is doomed for "Working with the enemy" and is trying to distance himself so he can run as an independent.
[QUOTE=An Axolotl;39073997]I guess he's an ass, but he did work with Obama closely when Sandy hit, and he is obviously unhappy with the GOP.
I think he's turning man![/QUOTE]
So long as people are chanting "Christie 2016" for the presidency, he won't jump ship. Even though I don't think he wants to run for the presidency anyway.
On an NPR interview, he was asked, "President Christie. How does that sound to you?" to which he replied without hesitation, "I don't like it".
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