There's an interesting article in yesterday's New York Times about Republican backlash against NJ Governor Chris Christie for putting concerns for his state over his party. But what most striking were the lede paragraphs in which Christie calls "king maker" Rupert Murdoch as a crucial part of his political recovery work.

The Times article begins:

A few days after Hurricane Sandy shattered the shores of New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie picked up the phone to take on a different kind of recovery work: taming the Republican Party fury over his effusive embrace of President Obama.

On Nov. 3, Mr. Christie called Rupert Murdoch, the influential News Corporation chief and would-be kingmaker, who had warned in a biting post on Twitter that the governor might be responsible for Mr. Obama’s re-election.

Mr. Christie told Mr. Murdoch that amid the devastation, New Jersey needed friends, no matter their political party, according to people briefed on the discussion. But Mr. Murdoch was blunt: Mr. Christie risked looking like a spoiler unless he publicly affirmed his support for Mitt Romney, something the governor did the next day.

You got that? Christie called Murdoch for political help. This is after Murdoch had tweeted political marching orders to Christie that he needed to reaffirm his support for Romney. Which Christie did the next day.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the owner of the news network that calls itself "fair and balanced."