The Big Three networks, in a frenzy over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's traffic headache dubbed “Bridgegate,” have devoted a whopping 34 minutes and 28 seconds of coverage to the affair in just the last 24 hours.
By comparison, that's 17 times the two minutes, eight seconds devoted to President Obama's IRS scandal in the last six months, according to an analysis by the Media Research Center.
What difference does it make, at this point, why those traffic lanes were shut down for several days?
If Governor Christie ordered this--or allowed it when he knew--he should pay whatever price politicians pay for abusing authority. So I'm not defending him.
Indeed, it highlights my view that it is folly to try to control an expanding government machinery in the hopes your guy will do better. It is much better to reduce the scope of government so the abuse is at a lower level of pain.
But let's not pretend that this isn't machine politics anywhere. I dare say Chicago couldn't stand the scrutiny of how friends and foes of city government fare in virtually any city service or regulation.
Hey, maybe Christie should blame some obscure Internet video for his department's assault on traffic.
Or explain that Christie Administration Core didn't carry out the lane closures, and that is was just some loose self-identified affiliate in no way controlled by the executive office.
Tip to Instapundit.
