The New Jersey bully-boss tradition

      Perhaps the Stephen King horror movie " The Dead Zone " might also have been a warning about potential fascist leaders coming to power in America.  In " The Dead Zone " an ambitious maniac politician passes himself off as just  a regular guy, folks. There is a tradition of bully-bosses in New Jersey. Students of American history will recall the notorious Frank Hague, mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from 1917 to 1947- " the grandaddy of Jersey bosses ".  He waged a personal hatred war against organized labor and all other forms of " communism ". He was also corrupt and greedy.

       Whenever I see New Jersey  governor Chris Christie doing his bully routine, I am reminded of the great lines of Rossano Brazzi  playing the romantic anti- hero Frenchman Emile  in  the famous Hollywood musical " South  Pacific. Speaking of the growing darkness  before  World War II,  Emile says to an American naval officer : " When I was 22 I thought the world hated bullies as much as I did. I was foolish.... I have seen these bullies multiply and grow strong and the world sat by and watched ".

     The  whole world is still watching !