Bush silent on Christie bridge joke
(CNN) - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush didn't take the bait Friday when he was jokingly asked if he had closed any bridges during his time as governor.
The moment came during an appearance at the Broward County economic forum in Davie, Florida, where Bush, a potential presidential candidate, delivered a keynote address before sitting down for a Q&A on stage.
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The moderator pointed out that Bush at one point mentioned an issue involving the Port of Newark in New Jersey and the Bayonne Bridge, which connects the Garden State to Staten Island in New York.
"I know you're trying to be nonpolitical this morning, but I did notice on a subliminal level you managed to put in the same sentence 'New Jersey' and 'bridge,’" the moderator said, drawing laughs from the audience.
While Bush didn't actually say the name of the state in that portion of his remarks, he conceded that he had talked about New Jersey.
"Anyway, just to clear the subject," the moderator continued. "When you were governor, did you ever close any bridges for traffic studies?"
Pausing for a few seconds as the audience laughed, Bush stayed silent and made the zipping-up-the-lips gesture, instead.
The joke was in reference to another potential 2016 contender, Gov. Chris Christie.
The New Jersey Republican's administration is under investigation over suggestions top appointees orchestrated traffic gridlock near the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee last year to politically punish that town’s mayor for not endorsing their boss for reelection.
No officials have been accused of any wrongdoing, but the scandal has called into question Christie’s forceful governing style and clouded any prospects for a potential presidential run.
State officials initially blamed the gridlock on a traffic study, which has since been called into question.
A state legislative committee and the U.S. Attorney's office are looking into the matter.
Christie has maintained that he didn't know anything about it until after it occurred.
As the scandal as unfolded, Christie's numbers in 2016 presidential polls have dropped, while Bush has gained some traction.
CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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Nice, shrub #3 never to be president skirting an important topic and issue.
Jeb's a smart man. Unlike many other conservatives out looking for a cheap sound bite, he knows when to zip it. I think Jeb/s biggest obstacle to a succesful run for the Whte House will be his administration's role in the 2000 Florida Presidential race. His integrity will be called into question over it. I'd be anxious to see how he would address the questions. I'd ask him now if I could.
The jokes on us if he gets elected
That makes him the smartest Bush to date.
Smart man. There is no joke in the Christie matter, and until there is or isn't a definitive answer from the various investigations, we're all better served by not playing the hypotheticals.
Saying that, the question I would have liked to have asked Mr. Bush (had I been present) would be along the lie lines of: "what roll did to and Neil Bush play in the savings & Loans failure crisis of the late '80s and early '90s? Did you profit from that crisis?
Bush 2016
The 3ed times the charm .
If Bush ignores the Krispy bridge joke, maybe Krispy will ignore Bush's "Stand your ground joke."
Bush has class. Something sadly missing in the current White House.
People laughing and joking about the New Jersey bridge scandal. Most scandals people aren`t joking and laughing. Maybe its because the scandal is a joke.
@Dean
Bush has class. Something sadly missing in the current White House.
Why is that Dean? Because President Obama and his family are black?
@smith
People laughing and joking about the New Jersey bridge scandal. Most scandals people aren`t joking and laughing. Maybe its because the scandal is a joke.
No Smith, the way you write is a joke.
Jeb would have likely been a better preseident than his simpleton brother, but the neo-cons needed an easily manipulated tool to implement their plan and smith and dean had no name recognition....
Naw. Jeb just handed his brother the Oval Office. And Jeff that is exactly what Dean meant though he will swear he didn't. I've heard the same thing said about Mrs.Obama.
The whole family would be better served if they'd do one thing. GO AWAY.
Please stay out of the Bushes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Jeff Brown in Jersey
Thanks for your response to Dean
@Rudy NYC: "Jeb's a smart man. Unlike many other conservatives out looking for a cheap sound bite, he knows when to zip it."
He's pulling a Mittens: staying out of the fray, waiting to be tapped by the gop leadership after all the clowns are done whipping the gop/tea bag base into a froth over how Hilary or any Dem would destroy our country.
Me
Bill from GA
The Dems did great in 2006. Since then the right-wing propaganda network has been working overtime. That is obvious from some of the garbage from the righties posting here.
The last time we had a balanced budget (surplus, actually) was from the Bill Clinton years. W & Dickie didn't like paying down our debt, so he cut taxes and started a useless war.
_________________________
I love all this talk about Clinton's “surplus”, go look at the debt clock, did the debt go down AT ANY TIME DURING HIS PRESIDENCY??? NO it did not therefore his surplus was WORTHLESS, he just spent the money on other things, negating the surplus!!! Get a clue!!!
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Me, if you were to fact check you would be proven wrong. I know the geniuses who kept the Bush wars off the books are now crying that using cash expenditures versus accrual eliminates the surplus. No matter how you look at it, you are wrong. As a wingnut once put it, "get a clue."
"Bush has class. Something sadly missing in the current White House."
You're confusing "class" with sitting, staying and shutting up until the gop puppet masters say it's OK.
Is Jeb an alcoholic like his brother George?
@smith: "People laughing and joking about the New Jersey bridge scandal. Most scandals people aren`t joking and laughing. Maybe its because the scandal is a joke."
Tell that to the people in need who had to wait for emergency personnel stuck in traffic.
Jeff Brown in Jersey
@Dean
Bush has class. Something sadly missing in the current White House.
Why is that Dean? Because President Obama and his family are black?
-------
That didn't take long.
This guy is another pathetic idiot. No new Bush the thush.... Enough.
Fair is Fair
Jeff Brown in Jersey
@Dean
Bush has class. Something sadly missing in the current White House.
Why is that Dean? Because President Obama and his family are black?
---
That didn't take long.
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Nope, it didn't. I'm disappointed whenever I see posts like that. Enjoy your weekend, Fair. We can box next week.
My bad Wallace, next time I`ll do better just for you. You can go change diaper now.