Steve Chapman on Chris Christie and the Perils of Power
Many Americans might have learned from watching Chris Christie's marathon news conference on Thursday, but none more than Meryl Streep. If there is anything she doesn't know about acting, the governor of New Jersey is the person who could teach her. No one has ever done a more convincing portrayal of incredulous innocence than his. This is the same governor who, when state legislators raised questions about the now-infamous lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, snorted that "it just shows you they really have nothing to do." In December, however, bridge workers testifying under subpoena before a legislative committee said the closures were "unprecedented" and "wrong." A wise citizenry, writes Steve Chapman, would take this episode as a warning about the dangers of ceding control over our lives to the government.