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Fringe party not Christie's cup of tea [He's no conservative, folks]
The Woodland Park Record ^ | October 5, 2010 | Charles Stile

Posted on 10/05/2010 3:08:36 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

There's a better chance of seeing Governor Christie mingling with President Obama at the private dinner reception in Cresskill on Wednesday than finding him on stage with Sarah Palin or any other Tea Party gathering, for that matter.

The pugnacious, rant-and-ramble governor may sound like a Tea Party activist from time to time, and Glen Beck may be smitten with a severe case of political man-love, but in reality Christie wants as little to do with them as possible. He prefers the high ground of the GOP establishment, perched at a safe distance from the roiling Tea Party tide.

That preference was made clear Monday, when a Christie spokesman signaled that the administration will probably not file a lawsuit to block Obama's health care reforms, a top Tea Party priority. Attorneys general in 20 other states have already done so.

"Litigation is not always the best course," said Michael Drewniak, Christie's press secretary. "We want to do what's in the best interests of New Jersey residents. That is not to say that, if conditions or circumstances warrant, we would not resort to litigation."

That answer doesn't come as a complete shock — Christie showed little enthusiasm for jumping into the anti-Obamacare scrum after the president signed the historic reforms into law in March. Christie said he would calmly dispatch his attorney general and Health Department commissioner to sift through the law and wait for their recommendation.

But it was clear from his body language and tone Christie was stalling. He was letting the hot air slowly fizzle out of the Tea Party Express tires, which have had limited traction on the New Jersey landscape, anyway.

Critics, such as Steve Lonegan, president of Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group that pressed Christie to join the lawsuit with a petition signed by 10,000 people, said he was "very disappointed" and said it belies Christie's reputation as a "conservative icon." Jeffrey Weingarten, a leading Tea Party activist from Clifton, said he was "mystified," given Christie's other high-profile steps to rein in government spending.

"It is a very unpopular law," Weingarten said. "People, even now, are realizing that this is not going to drive down insurance policies."

But that fact is, the decision is consistent with Christie's avoidance of the loose-knit coalition Tea Party activists. As a candidate last year, Christie publicly disinvited Palin from joining him on the campaign trail. His warning to the GOP officials not to "paint all of Islam" with the broad brush of terrorism in their opposition to a proposed Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero struck a careful, centrist departure from Palin and Newt Gingrich.

Christie and his surrogates also backed Delaware Senate candidate Rep. Mike Castle, the moderate Republican who was clobbered by Tea Party challenger Christine O'Donnell.

There are exceptions. Christie did headline a fund-raiser for Anna Little, the Tea Party-backed upstart who captured the GOP nomination for the 6th Congressional District contest, stunning wealthy publisher Diane Gooch in a razor-thin primary victory. Little's campaign website includes a picture of Little standing next to Christie. And Christie has also thrown a few high-profile sops to the party's right wing — his cutting of $7.5 million in funding for family planning centers and other health care programs, a move cheered by antiabortion groups.

But Christie also knows that Jersey is a state whose heart beats at a moderate, tolerant rhythm and Christie is well aware that it would be politically untenable to stand in the way of a law providing the promised benefits from health reform — especially when they are not being paid out of the state treasury.

The first installment of Obama's health care took effect in August, when $141 million was made available for some 21,000 people in New Jersey who have preexisting health problems like cancer or diabetes. While New Jersey law mandates coverage for these conditions, the cost can be prohibitive. Obama's reforms could stake New Jersey to increased Medicaid funding, money that any governor managing a cash-starved budget is not likely to casually dismiss.

His decision also reflects fear that the unruly, quasi-libertarian Tea Party will become the identity of the GOP establishment, or as in Castle's case, prevent the establishment-backed candidates from winning.

In that view, the Tea Party is a threat to the GOP's return to national dominance. And there is no advantage in getting too chummy with a fringe group if Christie does indeed harbor ambitions for national office.

The better play is to co-opt their anger and donor lists without committing to their cause. Dissolve their tentative structure by absorbing their anger.

Rail against public employee unions, throw politically acceptable sops their way, and bask in the glow of Glenn Beck's tributes — just don't sign onto their lawsuits.


TOPICS: New Jersey; Issues; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: chrischristie; christie; logcabingop; newjersey; obamacare; palin; rinos; rockefellergop; sarahpalin; teaparty; teapartyexpress
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To: centurion316

No, just calling him out for what he is doesn’t mean he should be tossed out. Just call a spade a spade. Steve Lonegan was the “conservative who couldn’t win” in the GOP primary, Christie the “moderate”. There is some good , some bad. With Corzine it was all bad.


21 posted on 10/05/2010 3:34:06 PM PDT by curth (SarahPac: Over 2 million members! Are you in for $20.12?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
There have been liberals that weren’t for big spending, but they still weren’t conservatives.

Not in this day and age.

22 posted on 10/05/2010 3:37:21 PM PDT by Force of Truth (Yes political conservatives are libertarians. They want to have their rights and eat them too.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Mitt was a big factor in his selection and election. Christie's view that illegals are not criminals was all I needed to here to know Christie was not for me.
23 posted on 10/05/2010 3:38:21 PM PDT by unseen1
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
He prefers the high ground of the GOP establishment

That's a stinking plateu which we now have under siege.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

24 posted on 10/05/2010 3:40:57 PM PDT by The Comedian ("Progressive" is a code word for "Pending nitrogen cycle contributor")
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To: rightwingextremist1776

Just keep jumping up and down, rightwingextremist.

Gov. Christie tells it like it is.

He is the real deal ... possibly the ONLY politician on the planet who speaks the truth 100% of the time.

Sorry if your radical template is not matched exactly.


25 posted on 10/05/2010 3:43:33 PM PDT by Walrus (My congressman is toast in 2010 --- how about yours?)
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To: All

my question is this..... why should Christie fight that battle? many other states are involved in lawsuit that will inevitably go to the scotus. there, obamacare will be declared unconstitutional and it will go away. or the new republican congress will repeal it. christie is slugging away at the big labor unions that have nearly destroyed NJ and he is making progress. why stop that momentum by opposing something that many voters in his deep blue state support when it will ultimately be deleted from law by the federal level?


26 posted on 10/05/2010 3:46:39 PM PDT by madamemayhem (defeat is not getting knocked down, it is not getting back up.)
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To: Walrus
Sorry you believe in a liberal with some modicum of common sense....
27 posted on 10/05/2010 3:47:48 PM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
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To: rightwingextremist1776

He is also shakey on second amendment issues (Especially CCW) so even though he’s a darn sight better than the alternative he’s not a 100% conservative to me.


28 posted on 10/05/2010 3:48:50 PM PDT by Rebel Wolf (I came into this world kicking, screaming and bloody. I have no problem going out the same way......)
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To: Rebel Wolf
Shaky is being kind....BIG advocate of gun control....that's a deal breaker for me...and it's very NOT conservative.
29 posted on 10/05/2010 3:53:15 PM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
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To: Al B.
Thanks, Al.....I already saw this and posted on FaceBook for all my conservative friends who are going ga ga over this guy.

I'm glad the word is getting out......but I hear rumblings that CC will be the RINO alternative if Romney falters against SP......but her recent alliance with Steele may have co-opted her left flank.....Christy is a tough talking RINO who sounds conservative but he is not delivering the goods....He is in office to SAVE the welfare state, not END it...plus he is pro-illegal immigration....... but thanks for the ping !!

AND BTW...WHEN ARE GOING ON FACEBOOK....OUR GIRL IS ON AND WE ARE FRIENDS......AND I COULD USE SOME HELP !! :))

30 posted on 10/05/2010 4:00:48 PM PDT by mick (Central Banker Capitalism is NOT Free Enterprise)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I like Christie quite a bit. He’s far and away better than Corzine and the best thing to hit New Jersey politics in a long, long time. I think we could use a couple hundred more guys (and gals) in politics with the stones Chris Christie has.

That said, I’ve held few illusions about his stances on some issues. Aside from his position on health care reform, he’s not a hardliner on immigration, and he’s very status quo with the stringent NJ gun control laws.

Does that make him a RINO? I don’t happen to think so. I see him as a pragmatic, NE Republican governing in a very blue state. I think there’s room at the table for a guy like that. Like Rudy Giuliani, Christie would be a tremendous asset to any administration in the right role. I’d make him my OMB Director in a heartbeat, for example. I just don’t personally think he (or Rudy G, for that matter) is the guy to run at the top of a presidential ticket.

All just MHO, of course.


31 posted on 10/05/2010 4:08:13 PM PDT by DemforBush (You might think that, *I* could not possibly comment.)
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To: x
If you’re in politics and want to actually get things done you pick your battles...

There are a lot of people who simply do not want to hear that. They want political purity on ever issue and will throw someone under the bus the minute they compromise or choose not to fight on some particular front.

32 posted on 10/05/2010 4:25:39 PM PDT by Longbow1969
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To: Longbow1969

“There are a lot of people who simply do not want to hear that. They want political purity on ever issue and will throw someone under the bus the minute they compromise or choose not to fight on some particular front.”

Exactly. I am not a slave to the Tea Party any more than I am a slave to the Establishment Pubs, but but one has to make room for both in the Republican Party which is the only current vehicle we have to accomplish our conservative ends. I don’t like the Libertarian part of the Tea Party movement because I am not a Libertarian. Therefore, should I not espouse the rest of the ideals of the Tea Party movement? Well I do, minus the libertarian bent of many Tea Partiers. There is lots of room for Christie in the Pub Party (he needs lots of room), as his fiscal policies are dead on, in fact most of his policies are good ones. You just can’t keep dumping people over if they don’t think EXACTLY like you do. It will be the death knell for our side winning any election if we go as hardcore as the crazy leftists. Think, you purists, think of the damage you yourselves can be doing to our attempts to restore sanity to our government.


33 posted on 10/05/2010 4:48:37 PM PDT by flaglady47 (When the gov't fears the people, liberty; When the people fear the gov't, tyranny.)
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To: Longbow1969
In ordinary times I would agree with you. But I believe we are entering-or are already in- one of those times when a litmus test is appropiate. Or as you say "political purity" test.

The first time was the Revolutionary War period. The purity test then was "Independence". After the shooting started anyone who called for compromise with the British was considered an enemy. Their property was confiscated, they were sometimes tar and feathered, and in some cases killed as loyalists.

The other was the Civil War period.....then the purity test was "Union". Each side punished with death anyone who disagreed with that litmus test.

I don't know what the word will be this time.....but one is coming. There can never be a peaceful compromise between men who believe in constitutional limitations on federal power and those who believe the constitution is a living document and can be interpreted according to modern standards. A final clash is enevitable. You see the hardening of positions everyday. Neither side wants to compromise because each side belives the other side is wrong AND EVIL

Just like during the Revolution and the Civil War, everybody will have to chose a side.

34 posted on 10/05/2010 5:22:39 PM PDT by mick (Central Banker Capitalism is NOT Free Enterprise)
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To: darkangel82

Don’t you know 80% is fringe? LOL!


35 posted on 10/05/2010 5:22:41 PM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: flaglady47

See my post 34. It was also supposed to be addressed to you also. Sorry.


36 posted on 10/05/2010 5:24:22 PM PDT by mick (Central Banker Capitalism is NOT Free Enterprise)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; markomalley; pissant; calcowgirl; Impy; Clintonfatigued; Clemenza
>> Critics, such as Steve Lonegan, president of Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group that pressed Christie to join the lawsuit with a petition signed by 10,000 people, said he was "very disappointed" and said it belies Christie's reputation as a "conservative icon." <<

Steve Lonegan and his hard-core fans react to the fact that the "RINO" who beat them in the primary is now a national conservative icon:

No, he's not perfect, but it's clear the die-hard Lonegan followers are going to accuse the guy of being a "Giuliani/Whitman type RINO" regardless of what he does. They're STILL actively spreading a whisper campaign on FR that "Christie is pro-abortion and not a social conservaive in any way", even after he's proudly publicly said he's pro-life a million times AND single-handily shut down NJ Planned Parenthood. You can't honestly say the "Christie is pro-abortion" crowd is still "accidentially" portraying him as pro-abortion because they don't know the facts. Christie has proven he's a social conservative on 80% of the issues on numerous occassions. They just choose to ignore it and lie about him because his actual positions don't fit their tired "Whitman/Giuliani RINO" sterotype they've been slinging since the primary.

The jury' still out on whether Christie is presidential material, and his position on guns and immigration need improvement, but the verdict is in on 4-time loser Steve Lonegan: He is a bitter, vicious loser and in hindsight Christie is 10X the leader Lonegan is.

I'd gladly take Christie over real RINOs abortion loving, Obama-suckup socialists like Ahnuld or Crist. Hell, I'd even take him over "conservatives" like McDonnell. We need more GOP governors with balls.

37 posted on 10/05/2010 5:25:24 PM PDT by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: flaglady47
Exactly. I am not a slave to the Tea Party any more than I am a slave to the Establishment Pubs, but but one has to make room for both in the Republican Party which is the only current vehicle we have to accomplish our conservative ends. I don’t like the Libertarian part of the Tea Party movement because I am not a Libertarian. Therefore, should I not espouse the rest of the ideals of the Tea Party movement? Well I do, minus the libertarian bent of many Tea Partiers. There is lots of room for Christie in the Pub Party (he needs lots of room), as his fiscal policies are dead on, in fact most of his policies are good ones. You just can’t keep dumping people over if they don’t think EXACTLY like you do. It will be the death knell for our side winning any election if we go as hardcore as the crazy leftists. Think, you purists, think of the damage you yourselves can be doing to our attempts to restore sanity to our government.

I heart you!

I agree entirely with everything you say here. People simply have to understand that politics as we know it have not changed for much of the population of this nation. Much, perhaps most, of the American public is still sympathetic to the social welfare state. We will not be able to reverse this trend over night. Our fights must be within the confines of the Republican party, and we really need to nominate the most conservative candidate that CAN actually win. This will mean that sometimes political purity must be sacrificed with the bigger picture in mind.

38 posted on 10/05/2010 5:36:34 PM PDT by Longbow1969
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To: mick
In ordinary times I would agree with you. But I believe we are entering-or are already in- one of those times when a litmus test is appropiate. Or as you say "political purity" test.

You do make an interesting point here. I presume you are asserting we are entering something of a pre-revolutionary period. I agree, this is possible, but I am not by any means sold on it. As of now, most of the zeal for change is really only on the right. Yes, much of the public is angry or disappointed, but there just isn't any real evidence they have turned against the social welfare state. Far too many conservatives spend a bit too much time in the "echo chamber" and overestimate the power of the energized right/Tea Party, and badly underestimate, quite frankly, how far gone much of the American public really is. Perhaps a majority now are wedded to big government and it will be a long process turning this around in my opinion. You'd be right if the entire system as we know it is about to collapse, but I really don't see that in the cards. Then again, who knows...

39 posted on 10/05/2010 5:41:44 PM PDT by Longbow1969
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To: BillyBoy

Great post!

Christie is simply awesome so far. Nominating candidates is not as simple as just going through a check list trying to find political purity. Someone like Christie has the ability to actually lead, actually get things done, actually push back against the left/unions. Christie may not be perfect on every issue, but he was the right nominee and has emerged as a very bright light for the conservative/Republican movement!


40 posted on 10/05/2010 5:47:34 PM PDT by Longbow1969
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