January 14, 2014 at 1:26 P.M. I experienced numerous difficulties in signing-in at computer #7, NYPL, Morningside Heights branch. The printer and reservation mechanism has been destroyed or disabled. I found it necessary to sign-in twice today. If I am unable to regain access to these blogs, I will try to find an alternative location in which to continue writing.
January 13, 2014 at 7:03 P.M. Important developments are expected soon in connection with several investigations in New Jersey's Hudson and Bergen Counties. I will be writing more about well-known New Jersey politicians this week.
James C. Mckinley, "Sanity of Defendant in Psychologist's Death Is Again at Issue," The New York Times, January 3, 2014, p. A16. (David Tarloff, 45, found incompetent because he is severely mentally-ill, insane at the time of the killing, so as to render all moral and legal judgments concerning blameworthiness or liability not merely wrong, but pointless. What should the legal system do to conceptualize these situations consistently with our traditional models of individual legal responsibility?)
"Republican Disdain For the Jobless," (Editorial) The New York Times, January 6, 2014, p. A18. (Republicans have gone beyond the "let them eat cake" slogan to suggest that they -- the poor -- not eat anything at all.)
Morsi Secret, "Man Gets $3.4 Million for 17 Years in Jail," The New York Times, January 8, 2014, p. A19. (Martin H. Tarkoff filed a wrongful imprisonment suit after his false 1990 conviction in the death of his parents.)
Michael Schwirtz, "Body of a Brooklyn Landlord Is Discovered in a Basement," The New York Times, January 8, 2014, p. A21. (A wave of such killings points to issues of safety in overcrowded and poorly-guarded environments and, perhaps, worse dilemmas.)
Alison Smale, "Germany Charges Former SS Member in Wartime Murders," The New York Times, January 9, 2014, p. A15. (Justice delayed is better than no justice at all.)
Kate Zernike, "Christie Faces a Scandal On Traffic Jam," The New York Times, January 9, 2014, p. A1. (Mr. Christie's continuing saga over use of traffic, or traffick, or traffik to damage or attack or undermine opponents is getting interesting. It's all relative.)
N.R. Kleinfeld, "Behind Inflamatory [sic.] Email, Aide With a Low Profile," The New York Times, January 9, 2014, p. A18. (Bridget Anne Kelly, 41, is a deputy chief of staff who may get to "keep the body," as they say in prison, in this political crisis.)
"The Bully Was a Dupe: Gov. Christie is 'Outraged' to Learn of a Traffic-Jam Vendetta: How about 'accountable'?," The New York Times, January 9, 2014, p. A22. (Democrats are ventilating their hostility at Christie by expressing outrage, for once, at the politics of the "Soprano State." There are quite a few Democrat "bosses" and "bullies" in New Jersey politics, most are far worse than Christie.)
Gail Collins, "Bridge Over Troubled Politics," (Op-Ed) The New York Times, January 9, 2014, p. A23. ("Jamming" with Chris Christie.)
Kate Zernike & Mark Santora, "'Very Sad' Christie Extends Apology in Bridge Scandal: Fires Aides and Cuts Ties With Adviser -- U.S. Starts Lane Closing Inquiry," The New York Times, January 10, 2014, p. A1. ("Little did he know ...")
"After Chris Christie's Performance: The governor has to admit that he set a tone of vindictiveness if he is to regain any credibility," (Editorial) The New York Times, January 10, 2014, p. A23. (What goes around comes around.)
Mark Santora & Kate Zernike, "Papers in Traffic Scandal Point to Cover-Up of Political Materials," The New York Times, January 11, 2014, p. A1. (OAE cover-ups, prosecutorial lies, and judicial stone-walling are far worse offenses that are ignored, every day, in my situation by the very people "offended" by Mr. Christie's "unethical" behavior. Hypocrisy? Perhaps it is something worse than hypocrisy. "Prosecutorial Misconduct.")
N.R. Kleinfeld, "A Bridge to Scandal: Behind Fort Lee Ruse: Trail of Reprisal, Force and Cover-Up Led to Christie's Office," The New York Times, January 13, 2014, p. A1.
As a person who has struggled against the behind-the-back, retaliatory, corrupt politics and stone-walling or cover-up culture in Trenton for several decades, this recent absurd situation in Fort Lee that is so fascinating to liberal journalists is merely the same old stuff that I experience every day. ("New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System" and "New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics.")
Mr. Christie has experienced far worse from his political enemies in the state, whether he has been fully aware of slimy tactics or not. I am confident that Christie knows this and is genuinely angry at the political damage from this stupidity by well-meaning friends.
Incidentally, a lawyer representing that his client now contends -- as opposed to and in contradiction of that client's earlier statements -- that Mr. Christie was aware of the bridge closing when it happened is neither here nor there.
What does "aware" of mean in this context? When did Christie become aware of the traffic jam? Was it before or after the order that caused the incident was given by an aide of the governor?
None of these questions has been answered. No lawyer is under oath in writing such a letter. He or she may suggest an "interpretation" of the client's testimony that is beneficial to that client. This is far from establishing the truth of the matter or that any other factual witness or party contradicting this interpretation is lying.
New Jersey's political bosses and elected officials -- including Christie -- wield their power, sometimes, to damage their enemies, enemies who will do exactly the same to them if (or when) they, these enemies, have the chance to do so. ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" and "Jim Florio and the Mafia in Atlantic City.")
Ethics, law, decency have very little to do with N.J.'s legal and political systems. Traditionally, Democrats have held political power in the Garden State. Democrats have used that power to hurt those who challenged the state's notorious corruption. Mr. Christie has fought that corruption for a long time and earned the hostility of the Jersey Boys for doing so.
This selective sense of outrage by liberals in the Garden State explains the mobilization of armies of journalists more concerned about this episode in New Jersey politics than about Syria's new threat to the Middle East and America as well as Israel; Iran's nuclear program; Afghanistan and Iraq, to say nothing of Pakistan. Mr. Christie has not charmed Rachel Maddow nor has he pleased Melissa Harris Perry, but he sure has won over New Jersey voters. ("Skinny People Dressed in Black.")
"Boss Bob" Menendez did not appreciate that I supported a rival candidate against him in an early Congressional election, a decision I do not regret -- whatever it may have cost me -- and Bob acted against me (I believe) from behind my back. ("Menendez Gets Over On the Feds.")
Far from claiming to be Bob's friend or (heaven forbid!) his relative, I said and repeat, publicly, that I thought Menendez was (and is) dishonest and corrupt. I am sure that Senator Menendez is a far worse human being, also much more inept than Christie could ever be. I am not a Republican. I am not a Communist. ("Is Menendez For Sale?" and "Crooked Broker Paid-Off Menendez!")
I have said before -- I now repeat -- that Democrats in New Jersey established alliances with organized crime groups which greatly facilitated corruption for all concerned.
Without Christie's efforts, as U.S. Attorney, nothing would have happened to deal with the "inconvenience" to voters resulting from theft of their money and abuse of their children. ("New Jersey's Child Sex Industry.")
No one suggests that Mr. Christie accepts bribes; few people in New Jersey deny that Bob Menendez does exactly that, except for people that work for Menendez. ("Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks.")
Christie -- like anyone opposing decades of pay-to-play Democrat-mafia control of N.J. -- has fought efforts to harm him on a personal level, I believe, to damage his family members and friends (we're seeing one such attack now), to humiliate and insult Christie, often with the eager cooperation of the trained seals in the media.
The media's dislike seems to be based on Christie's lack of political correctness on such trendy issues as gay marriage rights (which I favor and the Governor does not), while ignoring the Christie administration's massive achievement with regard to controlling corruption and creating a sane budget for New Jersey. ("Mafia Influence in New Jersey Courts and Politics" and "44 Persons Arrested in Latest New Jersey Political Scandal.")
Did Christie's advisers order, through their henchmen at the Port Authority, reprisals that caused traffic jams at the G.W. bridge? Probably. In fact, almost certainly this idiocy occurred.
Do I believe that Christie, as a lawyer and former U.S. Attorney, would be so stupid as to risk his political future and law license over something like this? I have to say obviously not.
If Christie did order such a dangerous traffic obstruction to score political points or intimidate people, he should resign his office. I doubt that anyone cares whether he has "cancelled" an appointment with a mayor from the opposing party over politics.
The Governor's political enemies KNOW about Mr. Christie's honesty and integrity. They will continue to use this bridge incident to gain political advantage.
No one has yet suggested that Christie has misused or misappropriated public funds for personal use -- unlike every Democrat governor I can remember in New Jersey who "dipped" into the public treasury at least once before leaving office. McGreevey was probably corrupt before coming to the governor's office and became worse as New Jersey's Chief Executive.
I am also certain that Democrats have ordered far worse than traffic jams, including (I believe) New Jersey Transit delays intended to make persons they dislike uncomfortable or sick, regardless of the effects on other riders or commuters, and far worse for political purposes that are designed to hurt their enemies. ("New Jersey is the Home of the Living Dead" and "Voting in North Bergen, New Jersey" then "Is Union City, New Jersey Meyer Lansky's Whore House?")
New Jersey's Democrats -- like the KKK -- cannot be slandered nor can they be believed on ethics or legality issues in light of the state's history. ("New Jersey's Feces-Covered Supreme Court" and "Sexual Favors For New Jersey Judges" then "New Jersey's Politically-Connected Lawyers On the Tit.")
N.J. Democrats have certainly targeted persons that "bosses" do not like -- myself, for example -- for professional destruction and personal harm, usually by means of lies and fraudulent testimony, false evidence that is accepted by crooked judges engaging in known obstructions of justice. ("New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics" and "Terry Tuchin, Diana Lisa Riccioli, and New Jersey's Agency of Torture.")
Democrats have used computer crime to suppress and censor critics in violation of their civil rights and of rights of access to these writings of New Jersey's innocent residents. ("How censorship works in America.")
Others (besides me) have certainly charged prior Democrat administrations with theft of pension funds based on fraudulently claimed benefits to which they were not entitled, while LYING about their actions then -- and expressing outrage now -- at Mr. Christie's "manners." ("Jennifer Velez is a Dyke Magnet!" and "New Jersey's Pension Funds Are $46 BILLION Short.")
New Jersey's Democrats, with many exceptions granted -- much more than their G.O.P. rivals, unlike at the federal level, perhaps -- have been most of the thieves, liars, and hypocrites in New Jersey's colorful history of political corruption. (Again: "Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")
Under the circumstances, the false piety in the media about the G.W. bridge "delay" -- a delay coming at a bridge which allows for the transportation of TONS of illegal drugs, child porn, illegal weapons from New Jersey into New York and the rest of the country! -- strikes many of us as disingenuous whatever the facts may be. There may have been good reasons for what they were doing at that bridge on the day in question. ("Mafia Influence in New Jersey Courts and Politics" and "Cement is Gold.")
Spare us your expressions of moral concern by way of bogus bylines in the Times, Mr. Menendez and "others." Is "Kate Zernike" connected to "Barbara Buono"? ("Menendez Consorts With Underage Prostitutes" and "Does Senator Menendez have mafia friends?")
"The release last week of messages between conspiring government officials exposed a back story of a political ruse and cover-up. A chronicle of what happened, based on a review of documents and numerous interviews, shows how that ruse impinged on unsuspecting lives and ricocheted between two states before [morphing] into a national scandal that has shaken Mr. Christie's administration. There have been resignations, at least one high-profile firing, and incalculable damage to the governor's reputation and national aspirations." Times, January 13, 2014, p. A1, et seq.
