NJ Gov Christie fired Ed Commissioner Bret Schundler this morning

[no_hypocrisy]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/gov_chris_christie_asks_nj_sch.html

Gov. Chris Christie fired state education commissioner Bret Schundler this morning after Schundler refused to resign in the wake of the controversy over the state's loss of up to $400 million in federal school funding, two officials briefed on the situation said.

Christie's chief of staff, Richard Bagger, ordered Schundler to turn in his resignation Thursday night after federal officials released a video that appeared to contradict the commissioner's account of what transpired when the New Jersey delegation met with the federal officials to review funding application and review process.

By this morning Schundler had not quit, so Christie ordered his termination.

[vi5]

1. Good Riddance.....

See ya Brett. Although it should be Christie on his way out the door.

But I'll settle for watching the egg drip all over his face after he spent days blaming Obama and the federal government for being inflexible on the Race To The Top error, only to have a video emerge of the feds specifically asking for the information, specifically giving them more time to come up with it, and STILL not having it to submit and correct the error.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. How about this? The Assembly is going to hold hearings.

Wanna guess how loyal Schundler will be to the Governor during his testimony?

[LostinVA]

4. Oh yeah

hahahahaha

[tilsammans]

7. Ditto!

bwahahahahahaahahahahahaahahahahahaahahahahaha! :rofl:

[MH1]

9. Nice!

I'm luvvin' it.

:)

[gratuitous]

3. So much for the governor taking ultimate responsibility for his administration

Didn't New Jersey re-do its application when some right wing radio blowhard objected to the application as originally proposed? And then in re-doing the application, Gov. Christie failed to answer a question properly, which cost New Jersey just enough points for their application to fail.

Oh yeah:

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/christie-rewrites-race-to-the-top-application-at-last-minute-to-eliminate-language-njea-accepted

[LostinVA]

5. Yes

[KamaAina]

6. Bret, with no votes, you ARE the Weakest Link. Goodbye!

:bounce:

In my Jersey City days, I saw Schundliar pressing the flesh one morning. at the Journal Square PATH station. I called him a pig as I passed him on the escalator.

[LynneSin]

8. If you ask me, Christie fired the wrong person....

he should have canned himself. I seriously hope there is a recall in NJ because I will enjoy paying the $3 turnpike fare to drive over the DMB and help out the cause!

[MH1]

10. Does NJ have a recall law?

because even if this isn't enough, in time the buyer's remorse will be overwhelming.

[LynneSin]

12. Yes they can start in November

And rumor has it they are gearing up to make that happen

[JustAnotherGen]

14. I really hope not

We have enough problems. We need to stay the course - the reality is whether we like it or not -

The man won fair and square. Just as President Obama did.

[LostinVA]

17. It is insane to me that you are defending this man

He is horribly corrupt, cares nothing for the middle class or poor, is a Freeper, and has said he would like to have NJ's civil union law undone.

It doesn't matter if he won "fair and square," NJ has a recall law.

And, as I stated in another post, if Christie was serious about getting rid of high taxes and corruption, he would try to get the state to get rid of Home Rule and go to a City-County system. 70% of the problem would be solved there.

[LynneSin]

19. So NJ should just stand around and twiddle their thumbs while Christie ruins the state?

LostInVa clearly gave the best reason to recall him - because he wants to dismantle civil rights for GLBT and take away their right to a civil union (not quite a marriage but better than 40+ other states in the US).

His bungling of this Race-to-the-Top cost NJ over $400million in very despartely needed funds for their education program. To be honest, New Jersians are already one of the most overtaxed states in the union. Property Taxes are amazingly outrageous and there is no more money to be found to help cover the cost of education. The mistake was stupidity at it's greatest and what's worse - the idea that Christie caved to a right-wing screed who insisted they not accept money from this program is just mind-blowingly stupid. BTW if that turns out to be true that's a second very valid reason to have the man recalled. He should not be using radio talk show hosts as political confidents.

Without a doubt he was a mistake and his removal can only benefit NJ - November can't come around soon enough.

[JustAnotherGen]

11. I'm actually glad Christie did this

He's not responsible for every single employee's behavior. Now the job is open to someone who will pay attention to detail.

And honestly? As a citizen of NJ (I was just told in another thread re Crist that 'they no better than outsider' ) - I'm pulling rank.


I moved here 4.5 years ago and let me tell you - this state is a joke. All a recall will get us is Governor Wall Street again.

[LostinVA]

15. Christie is way worse than Corazine ever was

He is at least as corrupt as Corazine, and Freeper to boot.

And, what NJ needs is to get rid of Home Rule NOW. Doing that would immediately cut down on a HUGE amount of the corruption and tax burden.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. I disagree

Corzine just stepped and fetched for his old buddies in NYC. It's true.

As for corruption - well -

Welcome to NJ. It's just the way this state works.

[LostinVA]

18. I know how the state works, having lived there way longer than you

It works because the local government system is set up to make it work that way. Get rid of Home Rule.

And, YOU are 100% mistaken: Christie is worse than Corazine. Corazine did good for middle class and poor NJers.He even put the first dent in Home Rule.

[JustAnotherGen]

20. What community/county do you live in now

I lived in NY State for 30 years prior to living here. So I hope you aren't weighing in on New York my dear.

As for being an 'outsider' - I'm in a perfect position to state - This place is f*cked up to the nth degree. Like seriously seriously screwed up. I don't have rose-colored glasses of nostalgia covering my eyes.

Look - it's okay for Democratics to support Crist.

It's okay for a Democratic to say - I'm sticking with my Governor. I didn't vote for him. But he beat Corzine fair and square.

This is also the gov that said: If the Democratic legislature send me the bill to sign forcing us to elect a Senator or Representative - he would sign it. But what has the worthless bunch of jerks in Trenton done? Nothing.

[LostinVA]

24. I don't think it's okay for Crist to be supported over a Democrat

I also don't think ANY Democrat should say they are "sticking by" that Teabagger Christie.

Your comments strike me as rather strange, to be honest.

[LynneSin]

21. Wouldn't a recall put the head of the NJ Congress in charge?

I remember when McGreevey step down the guy was the Speaker of the House or something like that for the NJ Congress and if I recall NJ folks wanted him to run since he did such a good job as interim governor.

[LostinVA]

22. That's how it used to be, yes

[JustAnotherGen]

23. Then why didn't he run

Against Corzine. Look - amongst Dems I know - people I worked with during Obama's election -

We were neither happy nor sad to see Corzine go. We got our asses handed to us.

IF we - the people of NJ do this? We are no better than Birthers running around whining that President Obama is illegitimate. Now - if we were to find that there were gross voting irregularities or fraud - yes - I would want that looked into. If he is breaking the laws of NJ - then yep. Look into it.

But I'm not joining with the Dagget cry babies or the Corzine cry babies. Corzine didn't do a good enough job getting out the vote.

Take a look at the number of people that actually voted in the election. We had far more Dems than that show up in 08.

[LostinVA]

25. rofl

Performance art post.

[JustAnotherGen]

28. Back at ya babe!

*smiling sweetly*

[JackBeck]

31. You're thinking of *former* Senate President Richard Codey.

But in a recall, I'd assume that Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno would be in charge, a position that was created in the last election, primarily due to McGreevey stepping down, and Corzine's automobile accident.

[Arkana]

13. Schundler...that name rings a bell.

Wasn't he the guy who got caught photoshopping Howard Dean's website a long time ago?

Also, Christie's CoS is called Dick Bagger. DICK BAGGER.

[Hawkeye-X]

27. Yup. Saw the name, rang a loud bell.

Posted the image right underneath you! :hi:

[Hawkeye-X]

26. Oh, this Bret Schundler?

He is no Dean!

[tilsammans]

29. Oh my. That is BALLS.

:puke:

[karynnj]

30. Schundler was a very right wing Republican - very pro life and pro vouchers.

That is a huge error - and in the meeting with the Obama people, there was not even an attempt to try to call back to NJ to get the right answer - so they apparently were too dumb to see it was important and that it existed.

[no_hypocrisy]

32. PUNCHLINE!

Just heard on WCBS-AM (880) News that Schundler ASKED to be fired rather than resign.

B/c he wanted EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. B/c he has a mortgage to pay and a daughter who just started college.

Thought you'd appreciate the irony.