Here's a story that might suggest a new theory to explain Governor Christie's baffling lack of awareness of all the dodgy activities so many of his staff and appointees have been accused of enacting. It appears that Christie may have issues with his memory... I mean real issues.
Philly.com reports Christie seemed unaware he signed Camden eminent domain bill
Asked Monday about a measure giving eminent domain powers to a new Rutgers-Camden and Rowan University joint board of governors, Gov. Christie said he was unaware of such a proposal.
"If a bill like that comes to my desk, I'll have to take a close look at it," Christie said, fielding a call from a listener on NJ 101.5's Ask the Governor radio program. "I haven't heard anything at this point about eminent domain being given to a university - I don't think that's the way it works."
However, Christie signed the bill into law last month. The measure, sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) and swiftly approved by the Legislature, confers eminent domain powers on the joint board, created last year to oversee a new health-sciences partnership between Rowan and Rutgers-Camden.
Later in the article we learn that Governor Christie not only signed this bill last month, but has already appointed one of three commissioners to the board that will enact the eminent domain actions! He has two more appointments to make.
In a rather scathing blog on The Washington Post Blog, Ilya Somin notes:
Back in September, Governor Christie also signed a bill enacting an eminent domain “reform” law that actually increases the risk of abusive takings instead of alleviating it. It would be interesting to know whether he has forgotten about that bill as well.
Christie’s apparent ignorance about a law he signed is an example of the broader problem of political ignorance by powerful government officials. That problem is, in turn, linked with the issue of widespread political ignorance on the part of voters, who are the ones who elect and reelect ignorant politicians (though the latter’s ignorance on policy issues is usually less extreme than that of the average voter).
In fairness, it may be hard for Christie and other high officials to keep track of all the many issues they decide. Giving university officials the power to take people’s homes and businesses may just be a typical day’s work for a busy Garden State governor; he can’t be bothered to remember it even a month later, because he has so many other pressing responsibilities. But, as Christie himself puts it, this is the kind of decision that at least requires a “close look.” If he and other political leaders don’t have time to give the matter the consideration it deserves, that strengthens the case for cutting back on the range of issues the government is empowered to decide in the first place.
Matthew Slyfield then slyly comments:
Sounds like he has too many responsibilities. Maybe the people of New Jersey should reduce those responsibilities some.
Well, that's sort of unkind. Goodness knows I forget things everyday. While this story is rather trivial, taken along with the dozens of other similar stories, it contributes to the recent meme going around suggesting that Governor Christie is in way over his head, and does not have the leadership competence even to be governor, let along President of the United States of America. I seem to remember someone around here raising the possibility that Governor Christie is an example of the Peter Principle.
I certainly do not want to be one to start any unkind rumors, but if it were to turn out that Governor Chris Christie has some kind of early onset dementia, it might cast these mysteries in a more sympathetic light. Whatever the explanation of these many mysteries turns out to be, it is sad. Let's hope for a happier explanation like Governor Christie was just operating a gang of thug-like conspirators.
6:36 PM PT: Only after hitting the publish button did I realize how close I was to being able to make a joke about "The Christie Principle," so I put it in the tags as well. Has anyone ever looked up how many unique tags we have here just due to me? I'm am just about 60 comments away from hitting 25,000 comments, which should happen late tonight, or tomorrow morning. I'm already working up candidates for a really witty one. Any suggestions will be much appreciated.