Not surprisingly, Special Report‘s “straight news” report on Gov. Chris Christie’s press conference this evening about George Washington Bridgegate was full of praise for how he handled it. But reporter Mike Emanuel went the extra Fox News mile by reporting that “some experts” say it could wind up as a net plus for him “with 2016 voters.” However, we only saw one such expert with that view.
Emanuel first made sure to report that Democrat David Axelrod tweeted that Christie handled the press conference "about as well as he could” and that House Majority Leader John Boehner said “I think so” when asked if Christie can remain the top runner for 2016.
There was no mention that there could well be lingering questions as to how Christie’s (now fired) deputy chief of staff could have thought it was OK to use the governor’s office to shut down bridge lanes on the George Washington Bridge in order to punish a Democratic mayor. Nor that Christie is now in the position of either looking like he either doesn’t know what’s going on in his own administration or of lying about not knowing.
Instead, Emanuel continued by saying, “Some experts say Christie’s handling of this matter could actually help him with 2016 voters.” He then played a clip of Larry Sabato, of the University of Virginia (and frequent Fox guest) saying:
They (voters) want to know that the person they pick will be able to withstand withering fire because every candidacy and every president has crisis after crisis. You don’t want someone who’s going to fold. Well, Christie not only didn’t fold. He did a superb job at that press conference.
Emanuel never said who the other “experts” were who think Bridgegate will help Christie.
Besides, I thought apologies of any sort were anathema to the Fauxites — considering how they still get up in arms over President Obama’s (nonexistent) “Apology Tour” of the Middle East . . .
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Ah, yes, the FOX “news” talking heads are spinning this shameful fiasco just as Ailes wants (has instructed?) them to. Even the so-called “fair & balanced”, “independent-minded” (ha!) O’Reilly came to the Governor’s aid by trying to dismiss the bully label that’s rightfully been pinned on Christie.
Yeah, once FOX “news” finally started having segments on Bridgegate (instead of just mentioning it in passing when they read the headlines), the spin is playing out as per the Ailes’ mindset. After all, Ailes said that he wants “to elect the next President” and Christie is his choice.
“I don’t micro-manage every little thing. Just ask my staff, they’ll tell you.”
Is that the same staff that you fired, not because they harmed NJ residents with there retaliation, but because they lied to you?
Can we expect this same staff that you said you “lost confidence” in to tell us anything truthful?
Are we expected to believe that a former prosecutor wouldn’t ask his staff if they had anything to do with this?
Will he ask all staff members(state employees) to release there un-redacted e-mails so that the tax-payers of NJ can be assured that there petty bullying Governor did not retaliate against political adversaries by punishing there constituents?
Investigate…impeach…convict…perp-walk
Only on Faux would being belly-deep in a scandal actually prove to enhance your odds in a future candidacy. Well, if you are a Repub, that is.
Christie hugging Obama: “he’s a RINO and a traitor who’s got no chance in 2016.”
Christie possibly using his office for political retribution: “he’s a great guy and this may put him over the top for 2016.”
So, for the rightwingnut teabagging sector of the GOP, if you refuse to compromise and are vindictive, you’re the ideal candidate. Got it.
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All the more reason why FoxNoise would love Christie now. By “not knowing what’s going on in his own administration,” he evokes memories of St Ronnie of Raygun (Iran-Contra, anyone? Ollie North in the White House basement shredding files?) and by “lying about not knowing,” he evokes the “good” memories of Dubya (Saddam and 9/11?).
Of course, now FoxNoise can’t use the “T” word against African-Americans anymore, unless they’re now willing to admit that being a “thug” can be a good thing. And let’s face it: FoxNoise’s audience isn’t developed enough intellectually to be able to understand how a “Sopranos”-style thug is any different from a “Trayvon”-style thug. (It’s like their trying to understand how “Allah” is nothing more than the Arabic name for “God”—they simply can’t comprehend it. No matter how many times it’s explained to them that the Arab Christians living in the Middle East pray to “Allah” just as the Arab Muslims do, they just can’t understand it. Their brains haven’t quite made it past the “reptile” level yet.)