NJ Gov. Christie Calls Mayor Bloomberg A 'Putz' Over Handling Of 9/11 Ceremony: Report

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been in charge of the 9/11 anniversary ceremonies at Ground Zero for the past nine years, yet as the tenth anniversary approaches, it appears other elected officials are doing their best to control the proceedings.

Mayor Bloomberg announced last month that the ceremony would be led by President Obama, former President George W. Bush, Governor Andrew Cuomo, NJ Governor Christie, former NY Governor George Pataki, Bloomberg and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Bloomberg said that all of the elected officials would read brief lines of poetry at the ceremony, as his been the custom.

Yesterday however, The Wall Street Journal reported New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has quietly been pushing the Bloomberg administration to allow him to give more substantive remarks at the ceremony, i.e. a speech.

And although Bloomberg's administration insisted the program had been finalized, with preselected passages to be read, Richard Bamberger, a spokesman for Mr. Cuomo, told the Journal "We are working on what the program is going to be."

Speaking to the press this morning, Bloomberg told reporters, “Everybody will do exactly the same thing. Nobody’s going to give a political speech. This is much too solemn an event. And I’m sure Gov. Cuomo and Gov. Christie understand that.”

The New York Post cites unidentified sources today that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie privately called New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg a "Napoleon", a "dictator" and a "putz" over Bloomberg's omission of former New Jersey Governor Donald DiFrancesco, who was Governor during the September 11th attacks, from next month's ceremony.

Later that day however, Bloomberg extended an invitation to DiFrancesco -- saying all the former governor had to do to be included was ask.

"Though former Governor DiFrancesco hadn't asked to speak at the previous 9/11 memorial ceremonies, the New Jersey's Governor's Office asked on his behalf this afternoon," a Bloomberg spokesman said. "He'll have the same role in this year's ceremony as the other officials in elected office."

Comments

[snoopypuppy1106]

10:59 AM on 09/11/2011

This ceremony does not belong to the politicians. The only politician that was there during the 1st crucial days after the attack was Rudy Giuliani. He should be the 1 leading the ceremony along with the rescue workers. Not all of these political idiots that want the PR. As far as Gov. Christie calling anyone a PUTZ, maybe he should look in a mirror. Oh that's right, he would need 1 that is 5 feet wide just so that he could see his face. And I can say this because he is the governor of the state that I live in, and most of us do not like him. He ought to just sit back, shut up and keep stuffing his face.

[KIKONG]

08:30 PM on 08/20/2011

Dear Gov. Christie,
Did you really call Bloomberg a "putz" or was this made up by the "media"?
If you did, would you please be a bit more civil about your critical remarks toward other elected officials and express yourself in a more manly and responsible way that reflects your office.
Of course, if you didn't really say what the "media" said you said, perhaps you should take them to task for making you look like a mid-level politician with an axe to grind that very few of us sinking middle-class want to see rise beyond your status.
Thank you.

[Jefferson Vickers]

12:13 PM on 08/20/2011

Christie has politically said everything to bash NY, cut funding for the tunnel. The only thing big he could do is show up.

[dayzee10]

04:38 PM on 08/19/2011

How about noone speak....except for some unknown announcer to say....Could we please have ten minutes of silence in the United States to reflect on the events of September 11.2001........The whole country.....at the same 10 minutes.............Let the politicians of all political persuasions just shut up for once and let the collective conscience of America have a chance to THINK!

[MIKEinNYC]

01:37 PM on 08/19/2011

Except MAYBE for the mayor and governor of New York, where the underlying events took place, there should be NO POLITICIAN featured at 9/11 events, except if they want to come and stand in the audience like everyone else. Especially tubby. He can get a few NJ State Police to prop him up after he helicopter's in as he stands amid the throngs in attendance in the audience. I do not want to hear from this guy.

[Eris23]

12:07 PM on 08/19/2011

It would be nice not to see any politicians talking at this event. Regardless of what they are saying or reading, it's still a stunt for them.

[nappyman]

10:24 AM on 08/19/2011

Should a told Christi he was taking the space of two that's why they didn't invite the former governor. Zing.

[LittlePickle]

09:17 AM on 08/19/2011

Just like Cuomo to try to take advantage of the stage and promote himself.

[Mochilero]

02:12 AM on 08/19/2011

The only unity Christie is familiar with is between his mouth and a doughnut.

[WilliamWalton]

02:05 AM on 08/19/2011

The actual 911 ceremony in NY should just be the victims who were there, the families who lost someone, and the responders. Reporters should be behind a line away from the proceedings with a camera setup to catch the visuals. The citizens and us can watch from afar and pay our respect silently and from our homes.

The ceremony in DC at the Pentagon should be the President, possibly the former President, the Pentagon workers, the families of those who perished in the plane or building, and the families of any fallen military. Once again, reporters should be kept at bay and a camera setup to allow us to watch.

This would keep political speeches to a minimum. I don't think 911 is something that should be celebrated, but rather something that should be reflective and respected for the loss of life.

[DeTex]

11:23 PM on 08/18/2011

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is an authority on being a "Napoleon", a "dictator" and a "putz".

He should be treated with the respect that he is due.

[patnamm]

10:07 PM on 08/18/2011

Why the insults? Why are these people so rude?

[ena]

07:12 AM on 08/19/2011

The personification of rude is the gov of NJ.

[patnamm]

11:35 AM on 08/19/2011

You just wonder what he teaches his kids. Children learn mostly from actions than they do from words and instructions.

[holyghostie]

09:45 PM on 08/18/2011

How about mass transit fares where you pay by the pound?

[docketeer09]

09:36 PM on 08/18/2011

Christie doesn't seem like the type to call Bloomie a "putz." That is so not a Christie phrase. And it takes one to know one when it comes to Christie, if he did say as much, calling Bloomie a Napoleon (the pastry sort?) and a dictator (CC more likely to focus on a big ol' baked POtator.) I think the NY Post made it up. Murdoch is just looking for something to sell and nobody's buyin'. Shame, eh?

[truthocentric]

09:05 PM on 08/18/2011

Poppin' Fresh is a bully.

[ena]

07:14 AM on 08/19/2011

haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa