Here’s how Republican Governor Chris Christie handled the giant snowstorm that buried his state right after Christmas:

Christie made international news when the storm dumped nearly three feet of snow in some places and he remained in Florida. He said he had promised his children that he would take them to [Disney World] the week between Christmas and New Years and didn’t want to go back on that promise. He said since he flew on a commercial airline it would have likely been impossible for him to return to the state earlier, adding that his flight this morning was delayed several hours.

“I wouldn’t change the decision even if I could do it right now,” Christie said. “I had a great five days with my children. I promised that.”

(…)

“You can decide to be a showboat, hop on a plow and act like you’re doing something or you can actually put leadership skills to work that put competent people with good character in important positions,” Christie said.

You have to admire the way Christie honors his commitments.  A lot of people don’t have the kind of moral courage necessary to endure five days of fun in Disney World rather than insulting their constituents’ intelligence by showboating around on a plow.  You know, like Newark’s Democratic Mayor, Cory Booker:

For the past two days, Booker has been responding non-stop to residents’ concerns over Twitter. Booker’s Twitter feed has offered a fascinating window into how a public official can harness social media to handle a city crisis.

(…)

On Tuesday, one Twitter user asked: “Can we can we please have trucks on Wainwright Street ASAP? My street is terrible!” Booker quickly shot back: “On it.”

Another notified Booker today about a street that needed to be dug out. “I’m heading over there to look at ur st,” Booker responded.

If coordinating snow removal wasn’t enough, Booker also delivered diapers to one resident and apparently helped lift a car Monday night. One resident asked Booker how he was feeling the next day: “Thanks 4 asking, back killing me: Breakfast: Advil and diet coke.”

What a grandstanding jerk that Booker guy is!  If he really wanted to help people, he should have gone on vacation so he could order his subordinates around by phone.  But I guess he couldn’t because he didn’t hire a crack team of trustworthy ultracompetent professionals like Christie did.  Loser.

Booker’s not the only mayor who’s part of the problem, though:

When asked about mayors who said they were forced to divert their resources to unplowed state roads instead of clearing local roads Christie said, “I know who these mayors are and they should buck up and take responsibility for the fact that they didn’t do their job.” [This was right after he said that “If someone is snowed into their house, that’s not our responsibility,” unless they live on a state road.]

Here’s hoping someone with Mayor Booker’s commitment to service buries Christie in the next election.  They might not be able to singlehandedly dig out the whole state, but at least they’d show up to help.

(h/t Atrios, Blue Jersey, & Engadget)