An Offer They Can't Refuse

During the second leg of my flight home today, from Dallas to L.A., I managed to crank out a quick piece -- one inspired by Chris Christie's "holy shit" news conference earlier today, the one in which he pretty much threatened to have John Boehner and the House Republicans whacked.

Here's an excerpt:

"The fact that an attack this visceral came from Christie is what makes it so damaging. Sure, Christie’s never been one to mince words but that’s part of what’s made him such a political powerhouse and star within his party. The thing is, though, it’s Christie’s willingness to put country and the actual governing thereof over partisan politics when the situation demands it — as in when he effusively praised President Obama’s initial response to Sandy — that’s made him a political star in general, irrespective of party. People like Christie. He commands attention and respect from both sides of the aisle and is that unique figure in American politics who can call out childish antics in Washington with plainspoken anger and have that criticism be truly withering and resonant. I may not love Chris Christie’s policies for the most part, but there are times I can’t help but like him."

Read the Rest Here

Quote of the Day

"$60 billion? In this time when we’re trying to solve the deficit problem?"

-- Republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, scoffing at the Obama administration's request for $60.4-billion in disaster relief for the states affected by Superstorm Sandy

I love this one simple statement because it perfectly sums up the ridiculousness of the current Republican party and why it doesn't deserve to be taken the least bit seriously. It's got it all: the phony outrage, the logic-defying implication that a future crisis should be dealt with before one that's affecting Americans right now, the shameless partisan obstructionism disguised as a principled stand.

Kyl really has constructed a thing of beauty. Please take a moment out of your day to appreciate it.

Waterworld

If you're interested in seeing some of the best and most surreal pictures from last night across New York City and the rest of the Eastern Seaboard, the Atlantic has assembled them all in one place.

They're pretty incredible.

The Atlantic: Sandy After Landfall/10.30.12

The Engulfed Cathedral

The Empire State Building Shines in the Darkness

Obviously there are a lot of other places besides New York City taking a serious hit from what used to be Hurricane Sandy tonight. But however unfair it may be, there's truth to the argument that the press tends to fixate on any disaster striking New York not only because it's a media hub but because there's something primally unnerving about watching helplessly as some of our nation's grandest manmade achievements are laid waste. We like to think of New York City as a citadel which, through sheer fortitude and attitude, remains impregnable. The reality, though, is that it's anything but.

I spent several years of my life in New York City and I still hold it very dear to my heart. It'll always be like home to me. And tonight I'm keeping my friends, family and all New Yorkers in my thoughts -- along with everyone else, the millions of others, affected by this monster storm.



The FDR at 34th St. Underwater



Flood Waters Come Through the Elevators of the PATH Train



Flooded 148th St. Subway Station



The FDNY and Other First-Responders Search for Flood Victims at 14th St. & Avenue C



A Submerged Parking Garage in Lower Manhattan



The Heavily Toxic Gowanus Canal Overflows Its Banks in Brooklyn



Flood Waters Rush Into Ground Zero



Jane's Carousel Along the East River Underwater



Flood Waters Cover Cars on the Lower East Side



The Front of a Building Falls Off in Chelsea



The Con-Ed Power Plant at 14th St. & the FDR Explodes

The Perfect Political Storm

Today's column for the Daily Banter, as you might imagine, has to do with Hurricane Sandy -- and its potential effect on the 2012 presidential election.

Here's the opening shot:

"Well, if you wanted a surprise just before the election, you got one: a late-October hurricane that practically defies explanation and description, a once-in-a-lifetime superstorm named Sandy. The storm is now pummeling the Eastern Seaboard, bringing 90-mile-an-hour winds, blistering sheets of rain and severe flooding to some of the country’s largest metropolises and most heavily populated suburban areas. And the worst is yet to come; as of this writing Sandy hasn’t even officially made landfall yet and its aftermath is sure to last days and potentially even weeks and months. In the end, this will likely wind up being an epic natural disaster. It’s certainly not the time to talk about politics — and yet in some ways it’s exactly the time to talk about politics as well as policy."

Read the Rest Here