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Subscribe to RSSNew Jersey Governor Chris Christie and President Obama talk after flying over damaged communities and talking with residents, saying they are determined to rebuild as quickly as possible.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has adamantly insisted that presidential politics are the furthest thing from his thoughts during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, though that hasn’t stopped some from filtering his praise for President Barack Obama through a political prism.
The pugnacious New Jersey governor, who supports Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney over Obama this fall (and delivered the keynote address at Romney’s nominating convention), has heaped effusive praise on Obama’s handling of Hurricane Sandy, the massive superstorm to wreak havoc in the northeast, and especially the Jersey Shore.
Larry Downing / Reuters
President Barack Obama and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie talk with survivors of Hurricane Sandy in a community center while touring damaged areas in Brigantine, New Jersey, October 31, 2012.
“I want to thank the president for coming here today. It's really important to have the president of the United States acknowledge all the suffering that's going on here in New Jersey and I appreciate it very much,” Christie said this afternoon as he and Obama toured the devastation. “We're going to work together to make sure we get ourselves through this crisis and get everything back to normal.”
Obama was similarly complimentary, telling people at the Brigantine community center that Christie, who is up for re-election next year in deep-blue New Jersey, “is working overtime to make sure that as soon as possible everybody can get back to normal.”
The two appeared together, along with the New Jersey congressional delegation, following their tours to give similar remarks on camera.
Mitt Romney has continued to push full-speed ahead with his campaign in the battleground state of Florida this morning. The president's campaign team is charting the political course ahead while he tours some of the worst damage in New Jersey. Jen Psaki, Obama traveling press secretary, discusses.
The mutual praise is an outgrowth of both leaders’ handling of a natural disaster, but it coincides with a crucial juncture in the presidential campaign, with just days to go until Election Day. Obama is trying to preserve an advantage in swing states as Romney barnstorms the country in an effort to subsume the incumbent president.
Christie rebuffed suggestions on Tuesday that there were political implications to his work with the administration.
"I've got 2.4 million people out of power. I've got devastation on the shore. I've got floods in the northern part of my state,” he said on Fox News. “If you think right now I give a damn about presidential politics then you don't know me."
And the Romney campaign gave Christie a pass for his work with Obama on Wednesday, dismissing a question about whether the GOP nominee was annoyed by the New Jersey governor’s praise for the president.
“Gov. Christie's doing his job. He's the governor of the state that's been hit by a very, very horrific storm,” Romney adviser Russ Schriefer said in a conference call with reporters. “He's doing exactly what he's supposed to be doing as governor of New Jersey. And the president is doing what he needs to be doing as president.”
That won’t necessarily stop observers from searching for political implications in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, especially so close to Nov. 6.
“I am hesitant to kind of make political calculations about the impact of an event that resulted in the deaths of 50 people and the loss of $50 billion in property,” senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod said on a separate conference call this morning. “This was a disaster of huge proportions, and the president is doing what his responsibilities require -- and that includes going to New Jersey, as is what he's done in the case of every major disaster during the course of his presidency, to offer the support of the people of our country, to tour the scene himself, to speak firsthand with the first responder and the elected officials at the scene.”
Reuters, Getty Images
In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.
Obama will return to the campaign trail on Thursday after canceling three days’ worth of political events. And Romney on Wednesday was mostly tentative in attacking Obama, opting instead for a softer tone and words of encouragement for recovery efforts in the northeast.
Axelrod suggested that the storm essentially washed out several days of campaigning, during which point there was no movement in the jockeying between Romney and the president.
“Wherever you think this race is, it tended to freeze the race because people are focused on the storm,” he said. “That's what's been in the news; normally the election would have been in the news. So I think it's fair to say that that is the case.”
But as a series of polls suggest Romney is trailing in some battleground states, those days might also be crucial opportunities lost.
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.."he looked very Presidential"... REALLY? For all you Dems with amnesia over the past 4 years...HE IS PRESIDENT! Contrary to popular belief that George W has!
The HYPOCRISY of you liberals who post on these vines...........is nothing short of LAUGHABLE. I have been posting here for years and reading what you liberals post is like reading a comic book.
Even your fearless leader "Fiesty Redhead" who is a paid liberal troll by FR/MSN........"calling Christie a leader" in the same sentence as Obama, are you "f-ing" kidding me?
I read the posts about Christie from you liberals when he spoke at the Republican National Convention.....................and you liberals called him every name under the sun.....
mostly about his weight......and not one praise of Christies "leadership".
What a difference it makes when Obama may LOSE re-election and you idiots start grasping at straws.......hypocrites the lot of you.
It has done my heart good to see a these men together to get a job done. It also has been enlighening to actually see a Republican treating the President with respect. There has been so little of that it is mind boggling. You can campaign against each other on each other records. There is no reason to to wallow in the mud and tell total lies about someone. These Super Pac's are really bad. They can say anything they want without even touching on any truth and if you check them in Fact Checkers, they are nothing but lies. The Supreme Court messed up big time allowing this outside money into our elections and we need to get rid of Citizens United. This country deserves honest elections, not purchased elections, and we need to prosecute those who are trying to restrict voting for our citizens and prosecute those who are attempting fraud.
@CAROL NOBODY is trying to RESTRICT anyones vote from the RIGHT.........any kind of VOTER fraud(illegals voting, dead people, voting multiple times) all the things come from the LEFT.
And the Supreme Court did the RIGHT thing with Citizen United because without that.....
the LEFT has a LOCK on INFORMATION do to the FACT that "mainstream Media outlets are nothing more than STENOGRAPHERS and PROPAGANDISTS for the Democrat Party
..........and with ACORN fraudulent "voting record", SEIU thugs and New Black Panther intimidation......THATS VOTER FRAUD.
Mruseurhead, posted like the vitriolic, divisive lying righty.
Yup you've been "posting" in here for "years" however, it falls more into the category of defacating. Trying to lay voter fraud on the left is just another lie. And to denounce the right's attempts at voter restriction is pathetic. But then, we all need to consider the source.
Really CHIP?????? The only thing the RIGHT has advanced is PHOTO ID......you know what you need to do anything in America to do??? T
he only ones who would not have PROPER ID is.......I don't know........dead people or ILLEGAL ALIENS. You only see things through LIBERAL SPECTRUM.......huh CHIP.
Research Patrick Moran(son of Democrat Virginia Congressman Moran) being CAUGHT advising VOTER fraud.
And I suppose SEIU thugs and New Black Panthers are there just to HELP elderly white voters into the booths.........RIGHT CHIP????
And the CLUBS and BASEBALL BATS the New Black Panthers were carrying like walking canes for the "elderely" in case they were needed?
Mruserurhead, please take your meds.
Mrusearhead...
Voter fraud is virtually non-existent. The efforts from the right were so transparent even one of your dolts went on camera and stated that the effort was to deliver his state to Romney. To paraphrase Jeff Foxworthy, if you don't find that disgusting, you could be a tea bagging right wing nut.
Your arguments simply don't hold water, are typical right wing propoganda and are ludicrous on their very face.
And it does not GOOD to point out the OBVIOUS to a lefty.........even though there is VIDEO PROOF of a Congressmans son advising how to commit VOTER FRAUD..............see ya!!
Mruseurhead, gee lets have a contest to see who's trying to pull the dirtiest and disgusting voting vices/practices.
Wait! The Republicans take the gold!!!!
But you'll stick by that lying sack no matter what. Every week he comes out with some outrageous boner and the campaign and their lemmings try to spin it away. The latest, FEMA. Of course he's come out to "clarify" his previous remarks. It's like an addiction with this clown of a candidate. A mna with absolutely no moral comapass. And that's what the Republican Party has to offer...
Pathetic...
You got it in a nutshell! They keep opening their mouth and putting their foot in it, there is no chance of them getting in, the Americans with brains won't let them. The Republican party has stepped back in time... they are mega racists and sexists.
Hey Obama, go back to Washington, sit down and shut up. If you and your Democrat-Liberal cronies were not so wasteful with your obscene levels of taxing and overspending, Americans would have plenty of money to recover from this disaster. As it is, we are trying to recover from the disaster that has been your presidency.
Sarah, not that was intelligent, and boat load of lies to boot!
Nice job...
Sarah Palin ................ Is that you ...... ?
This is a major election. The choice – incrementally build on the work that's been done, or throw everything out and start over.
So, if you're not voting, you are leaving this critical decision to others. You're letting your neighbor vote for you. You're letting your grandpa vote for you. You're letting your ex-boyfriend vote for you. You're letting your crazy Uncle Charlie vote for you.
Even if you believe the candidates' differences are not overwhelming, there is always a choice. Even if "you'd rather there was someone else," there is always a choice.
And think about it - who benefits if they can keep you from voting?
I'm not letting that happen with my vote.
Praise these guys for what??? Doing their jobs???
Hey, in our current political climate any politician who does their job is a saint.
In a normal civil society I would agree with this headline however there is nothing normal of civil about this election campaign so I would say this cooperation is as scarce as hen's teeth.
It was Nagin who piled all those people in the Superdome, and it was the Democratic Governor Governor Blanco, who, shortly after Katrina passed, did not hesitate to bash the president for a slow response... however, she had forgotten to declare a state of emergency and request what she needed from the federal government.
The Coast Guard was the first on the scene and they were there immediately after it was safe to begin rescue efforts. Bush sent ships with supplies as soon as they were requested, but it took longer for the ships to arrive than it did for the Coast Guard to arrive, as they were stationed closer.
This is the stark difference the gov of New Jersey is only concerned about his state and not politics, he simply wants the president to do his job, while obama and his co-harts look for every chance to politicise their situation. What really sticks out is that when the president does what he's getting paid for he is being praised, the fact that obama said he wants all red tape and obstructions removed so that New Jersey can receive the funds that they are entitled to is a direct admittance to the fact that the government is over loaded with bureaucracy.
Hi.....this is a message from the poster boy of Republican conservatism, RICK SANTORUM.
" if Romney is the nominee of our party, YOU might as well just vote for Obama "
Please vote on Nov. 6th. Thanks, Rick
Wow, a bunch of "intolerant" Democrats and "libbies" praising Gov. Christie on this thread. Gee, when's the last post you've EVER read from a Republican or conservative that has praised ANYTHING Obama has EVER done? Oh, I know...it's because he's NEVER done anything right, correct?
Hi.....this is a message from the poster boy of Republican conservatism, RICK SANTORUM.
" if Romney is the nominee of our party, YOU might as well just vote for Obama "
Please vote on Nov. 6th. My name is Republican Rick Santorum and I approve this message!!!
Any more questions about Republicans or Conservatives praising Obama???????????????????????????
I think it is admirable that Governor Christie and President Obama were civil and worked together. Everyone is all aghast about it on the left and the right fringes but folks - THIS is the way people are supposed to work together in the government for the good of the people. We just haven't seen it for a long long long time.
Just me...
The number 1 priority of the Republican Senate is to make Obama a 1 term president...
~Mitch McConnell (R-Ky)
And WE pay HIS salary????? Throw them OUT!!!!!
I hope "Mitch" McConnell and many others of the Republican Party are listening and watching on how true leaders come together and resolve issues for the American people.
I always thought Gov Christie was arrogant, I learned to understand his position since Sandy , He speaks his mind and could care less what others think about him. I give him thumbs up . It won't make me change my political party I just love a straight up person who like me will speak my mind . WTG Governor Christie I love that U love your state and will fight for the people of NJ
The headline is "Obama and Christie's shared praise far from unusual," but the article went on to say nothing about previous times they have shared praise. Nor did it talk about other times either of them have worked with, and shared praise about, members of the other party. There wasn't a line in the article that supported the assertion made by the headline.
It is obvious how conservatives feel about Obama and how liberals feel about Romney. The comments remind me of when I was in Vegas several years ago and went into a Harley Davidson apparel shop. They sold all of this outlaw paraphernalia. The only problem was once you went through it you realized that all of the outlaw paraphernalia would be the same for anyone who shopped there. So much for original thought. And to top it of each side thinks the other side is stupid. They are probably both correct.
Good to see governments coming together for the greater good. Get the basic infrastructure up and going again. THAT is the job of government.
This is how the country should be run - both parties working together for the good of its citizens. It is sad that it had to take a disaster for this to happen. The GOP must be hating it!
I am ashamed of the Republican Governor Groveling for help from A Democratic President. The Stupid Republican Leaders have been preaching that no State should get any help from the Federal Government. Republicans want to do away with Fema and have every state and every person fend for themselves no help from the Feds. I think that Christie forgot that he is charading as a Republican. Christie should join the Democratic Party, since, obviously he believes that the Feds should help. The way I see it, you cant have it both ways. Welcome to the Democratic Party Gov.
.... AND YET MORE LIES FROM FOX NEWS .... REPUBLICAN PARTY USING LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES ..... JUST PATHETIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .... and voters don't see it ... or refuse to see it???
U.S. says CIA responded within 25 minutes to Benghazi attack
Intelligence officials dispute a report by Fox News that officers in Libya were ordered to 'stand down' after the diplomatic compound came under attack.
By Ken Dilanian, Los Angeles Times November 2, 2012
WASHINGTON — CIA security officers in a Benghazi post responded within 25 minutes to a call for help from a nearby State Department compound after it came under attack Sept. 11, officials said Thursday, seeking to refute a Fox News report asserting that CIA managers ordered them to stay put.
In releasing a detailed timeline of CIA actions that night, senior intelligence officials have put aside long-standing concerns about revealing the extent of the agency's presence in Benghazi in order to push back against what officials say are baseless allegations that aid was withheld.
"At every level in the chain of command, from the senior officers in Libya to the most senior officials in Washington, everyone was fully engaged in trying to provide whatever help they could," a senior intelligence official said in a statement. "There were no orders to anybody to stand down in providing support."
Fox News asserted in a story last week that CIA managers had ordered agency security officers to "stand down" and remain in their own facility, known as the Annex, when the attack on the diplomatic compound began about 9:40 p.m. and that there was an hour delay before officers disobeyed orders and went to help repel the attack that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and State Department officer Sean Smith.
Among those who rushed to help was Tyrone Woods, a former Navy SEAL who was part of the CIA security team and who later died in the attacks.
The Fox story also asserted that the CIA "chain of command" refused to pass along requests from its officers for military aid and that special operations forces in nearby Sicily could have been sent to help but were not. Intelligence and Pentagon officials strenuously denied that Thursday.
They insisted there was no viable military option to disrupt what amounted to a series of sporadic attacks in a crowded city full of people sympathetic to the U.S. There were no armed drones in the region and airstrikes were not called for, officials said.
"Let's say we were able to get an aircraft there. Do you go in and start strafing a populated area without knowing where friend or foe is?" a senior Defense official asked. "If you did that, you could kill the very people you are trying to help."
A special operations team was sent to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, but the team arrived after the attack ended, said the senior Defense official, who would not be quoted by name discussing potentially classified
information.
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta learned of the attack shortly after it began, about 4:30 p.m Eastern
time, Defense officials said, and discussed it in a previously scheduled meeting with the president. Obama ordered him to pursue whatever options were feasible, a Defense official said.
Panetta "ordered all appropriate forces to respond to the unfolding events in Benghazi, but the attack was over before those forces could be employed,"Pentagon spokesman George Little said.
Shortly after 11 p.m. a surveillance drone had arrived from elsewhere in Libya — about an hour after it was requested, officials said. But the video feed was not seen by the president, contrary to some news reports. And the feed did not offer analysts a clear understanding of what was happening on the ground, officials said.
After the CIA team arrived at the compound, "over the next 25 minutes, team members approach the compound, attempt to secure heavy weapons [from Libyans], and make their way onto the compound itself in the face of enemy fire," the senior U.S. intelligence official said.
The senior intelligence official disclosed that the CIA also sent a second six-member team from Tripoli on a chartered plane to help repel the attack. The team included Glen Doherty, another former SEAL, who was later killed when attackers fired mortar rounds at the CIA Annex.
The team arrived around midnight but got bogged down at the airport. Ultimately, it learned that "the ambassador was almost certainly dead" and headed to the agency facility "to assist with the evacuation," the official said.
It arrived with Libyan support at the Annex at 5:15 a.m., just before mortar rounds began to strike. Woods and Doherty were killed as they fired on militants from the roof. The mortar attack lasted 11 minutes, the official said.
The drone overhead was not armed. Even if it had been, there were no viable targets, officials said.
"The officers on the ground in Benghazi responded to the situation on the night of 11 and 12 September as quickly and as effectively as possible," the intelligence official said. "The security officers in particular were genuine heroes. They quickly tried to rally additional local support and heavier weapons, and when that could not be accomplished within minutes, they still moved in and put their own lives on the line to save their comrades."
Where is FEMA Now? Obama failure.
The fact is not enough money from our taxes to help these people as a result of Government stimulus waste and Union Bail Outs. Nothing but politics for Obama.
The people in the meantime as a result of NBC, CBS and ABC are lied too, even die in wastelands. The rich Hollywood stars and politician millionaires (majority Democratics look it up) move from their posh upper side apartments because of lack of generators to the lower half of New York and throw a party with each other in the bars. I know I was at one last night. It was sad.
Where is FEMA with the president on his campaign trips when others are freezing? I want to thank Catholic Charities (as well as the Red Cross) being a Jew that lives rat infested streets today amoung what was once his home, while punks with guns in the night rob our possessions.
As soon as UPS can deliver everyone had better buy guns to protect themsleves from the Socialist that now run our country including Obama and Clinton.