Retribution is regarded as a form of punishment inflicted in the spirit of vengeance, and although some scholars consider retribution different from revenge, they are both for perceived wrong treatment. For a person in a position of power with inflated feelings of amour-propre, privilege, or infallibility, wrong treatment can be perceived as something as minor as failing to show proper obeisance or submission that is typical of people with a god complex. A person with a god complex regards themselves as superior, and their opinions unquestionable, to the extent they disregard rules and demand special consideration or privileges. There is nothing as particularly dangerous as a politician with a god complex.
The scandal surrounding New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and revelations a case of political retribution drove the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge (GWB) would be damning enough if he was connected to just one instance of political retribution, but there is a mountain of evidence that retribution, bullying, and a sense of infallibility informs that Christie suffers from a god complex. Over the coming weeks, and likely months, investigations, subpoenas, and federal inquiries will reveal whether the GWB lane closures were a case of political retribution, an attempt to thwart a billion-dollar redevelopment project, or a warning to Democrats in New Jersey’s legislature not to cross dictator Chris Christie. The real issue is not just whether Christie had a hand in closing lanes on the GWB, but his character, or lack thereof, that drives his sense of entitlement, bullying, and willingness to use any means to impose his will; including pilfering federal funding for disaster relief to maintain his hold on power.
Bloated-ego Christie has “sent messages” (retribution) to people failing to acknowledge his deity beginning with former Governor Richard Codey. Cody said Christie denied him state trooper protection, fired Codey’s cousin from his position at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and removed a former Codey aide from the New Jersey Office of Consumer Affairs because Codey publicly disagreed with him. After a Republican State Senator, Sean Kean, told a reporter Christie erred in not calling for a state of emergency sooner during a 2010 blizzard, Christie banned Kean from attending the next Christie news conference held in Kean’s home district. One of Christie’s aides told a New Jersey newspaper that Kean “got what he deserved.” Alan Rosenthal, a Rutgers Professor, saw his state funding slashed after he supported a re-districting map favorable to Democrats, and a Republican State Senator, Christopher Bateman, saw confirmation of a judicial candidate he recommended suddenly stall after he voted against Christie’s reorganization of the state’s public medical education system.
After 36-year-old Iraq war veteran, Democrat Steven Fulop, won his election as mayor of Jersey City in May 2013, Christie made congenial promises to help him in any way he could. Christie’s office set up a full day of meetings and scheduled appointments with heads of six different agencies, including transportation, economic development, the state treasurer and the commissioner of community affairs as well as with the director of Hurricane Sandy recovery. A Christie aide wrote, “We’re looking forward to working closely with you and your administration. Some of the conversations may be simple and introductory, while others may focus on actual pending projects and issues.” However, after Fulop sent word he could not endorse Christie’s re-election, Christie’s office called off all meetings, refused to return Fulop’s calls, and declined to help with Hurricane Sandy recovery, transportation and other issues.
Christie’s sense of entitlement, and quest for power, also drove him to misuse about $2 million in Superstorm Sandy federal relief funds for an ad campaign that put him in the spotlight during his re-election campaign. Christie is being audited by the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for “misappropriating funds allocated by Congress from the Sandy aid package and taking advantage of this waiver for political purposes.” The inspector’s focus is on a federally-financed $25 million Jersey Shore marketing campaign that included a television commercial featuring Christie and his family which cost $2 million more than a competing bid without them. New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. requested the investigation in an August 8, 2013 letter; “It is inappropriate for taxpayer-funded dollars that are critical to our state’s recovery from this natural disaster to fund commercials that could potentially benefit a political campaign.”
Republican Senator Rand Paul said Christie’s appearance in the ads gave the recovery effort a “black eye. People running for office put their mug all over these ads while they were in the middle of a political campaign. You think there might be a conflict of interest there? That’s why people who are trying to use taxpayers’ money wisely are offended to see our money spent on political ads. That’s just offensive.” Christie blamed President Obama for the ads and said, “The Stronger Than The Storm “ad campaign was just one part of the first action plan approved by the Obama Administration and developed with the goal of effectively communicating that the Jersey Shore was open for business during the first summer after Sandy.” However, although the Obama administration approved a waiver to allow the state to spend $25 million on ads, it was not involved in the bidding process under federal review, and certainly would not have authorized spending $2 million in taxpayer money for a Chris Christie campaign ad.
Chris Christie is drunk on his own sense of self-importance that is manifest in his four years of bullying, vindictive political retribution, and blatant disregard for the people of New Jersey who are as much victims as politicians who make the mistake of failing to do obeisance in the presence of Christie’s bloated-ego. It would be bad enough if Christie’s retribution was isolated to shutting down 2 lanes on the GWB to thwart a billion-dollar redevelopment project or send a message to Democrats in New Jersey’s legislature he is not to be crossed, but the cretin has racked up an impressive record of vengeance that are too numerous to ignore. Fortunately for New Jersey residents, the state legislature and federal government are not ignoring Christie’s malfeasance borne of his god complex that drives his sense of entitlement and infallibility.
If Christie were a law enforcement officer, he would be charged with abuse under color of authority. However, he is just a self-indulgent glory hog and power-hungry man with a god complex who regards himself as superior to the extent he disregards rules and demands special consideration that state and federal inquisitors are more than happy to give him.
Born in the South, raised in the Mid-West and California for a well-rounded view of America; it doesn't look good.
Former minister, lifelong musician, Mahayana Zen-Buddhist.
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