New Jersey Likes Their Bridges Open, Chris

Oh how the mighty have fallen....

Christie’s national focus has intensified the movements of those Democrats seeking to supplant him, however, and that pension deal he once struck with the help of Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) now looks like a distant planet given those political demands that Sweeney must now fulfill to the public sector unions if he wants any shot whatsoever in a Democratic Primary.

Christie has gotten what he wanted here by virtue of his ability to jail, outmaneuver and/or intimidate those power players whom he needed to advance a political agenda in a tough guy state built by political party organizations.

Although he still has his alliances in the other party, the game has changed, and is changing each day.

Gleeful national Democrats seized on bullet points that stare Christie and this dog-eared state in the face as he tries to gaze into those Fox News cameras.

New Jersey ranked last year at or near last in the nation in job creation and has an unemployment rate higher than the national average. New Jersey has seen a record-breaking eight credit downgrades and the highest property taxes in the country.

Then there’s Bridgegate and its ongoing associations.

“During last year’s address, Christie sidestepped questions about his involvement in the apparent political payback scheme that shut down lanes on the George Washington Bridge, threatening public safety,” Democratic State Party Chairman John Currie complained in advance of today’s State of the State. “And, since that time, he has fought efforts to obtain basic information about his administration’s operations, continued to bully constituents and members of the media, and unrepentantly abused the powers and resources of his public office.

“Governor Christie has been an unmitigated disaster for our state,” Currie added. “While he wastes taxpayer dollars in a shameless effort at self promotion, his policies trample the hopes and dreams of New Jersey families. In the wake of his hypocrisy, Sandy survivors have been left out in the cold and pensioners were robbed of funds they were promised. Meanwhile, his economic record is one of repeated credit downgrades, increased property tax burdens, and stunted job growth. The true state of the state is vulnerable and neglected and, for this reason, the governor should really strike an apologetic tone.”

I wonder how he'd do if he were running for Governor now...