Posted on 10/04/2011 12:30:18 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
So. A man who wasn't running for president isn't running for president and won't be trying to run for president. Got that? Still awake there, at the back?
In front of the starried ranks of America's finest political press corps, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie finally put an end to the weeks of frenzied speculation about his White House ambitions. "Now is not my time", he told reporters. "New Jersey, whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me."
Moment in the spotlight
Clearly relishing his big moment on the national stage, the Governor admitted he had been caught up in the momentum: "When you get into this whirlwind you begin to lose your bearings a little bit". He's said to have spent the weekend consulting with aides, and his family, his wife apparently waking him at 6am to say she was fine with him entering the race. But, despite the lure of the world's most powerful job, he's staying in Trenton. For now.
On cue, as he spoke, a Quinnipac opinion poll projected him to the head of the Republican contenders for the 2012 nomination - yes, a man who wasn't even in the contest tying for top place with former Masschussetts governor Mitt Romney, who's been slugging away, spending gazillions of dollars, for months. And therein lies the problem. For Republicans are clearly so unhappy with the candidates on offer that they've been flailing around wildly for someone - heck, anyone - to champion instead.
Anyone round here want to be President?
Hence all the pressure on Christie, a man who's governed his state for less than two years, who has no national network of supporters, no big-time donors primed to open their wallets and fund a national primary campaign.
But he is a man who's built a reputation on strong leadership, or as he put it: "lead on the tough issues by telling your citizens the truth about the depth of our challenges. Tell them the truth about the difficulty of the solutions".
Straight talk
Straight talk, then, for straightened times. Although not everyone's painted him as a dream candidate. This week it wasn't his actual policies attracting all the hot air, perish the thought. No, the pundits were all universally agreed: Chris Christie is just too fat to be the leader of the free world. The man himself was typically blunt: "It's not news to me that I'm overweight. You gotta know who you are in this life". But image is everything, as ABC News gravely intoned: "study after study shows that people judge the hefty more harshly than they judge those who are thin".
Still, another day, another saviour beckons. Rumour has it that Sarah Palin's lawyers have been suddenly asking for details of filing deadlines. Last week's rising star, Texas Governor Rick Perry is fading fast, thanks to a lacklustre debate performance and a mini-scandal over a racially offensive slogan outside a hunting camp leased by his family.
Cain in the lead?
And, in the spirit of the anyone-but-Romney tradtion, new polls carried out in three key states put the pizza mogul and rank outsider Herman Cain ahead of the pack. Herman who? Exactly.
Governor Christie managed to enjoy 43 minutes of live television to make his non-announcement about his non-run. Republicans? Now is the time to come to the aid of your party. You have nothing to lose but your deposit.
I’m probably going to announce tomorrow that I’m not running either. Anybody else ready with their decision? Geesh! The “media” acts like this is some kind of big news.
Put an end to the speculation? Impossible.
In other news, the Pope is still Catholic and Generalisimo Franco is still dead. Maybe waiting a week between press conferences would be an effective tool in trying to convey that one is not running for President.....
I was going to announce my intention to jump in and be a stalking horse for Buddy Roemer, but now that Sarah’s people are making a bit of noise, I’m keeping my powder dry.
Does it bother anyone else that he held a press conference just to repeat his “not now” statement?
There’s no “hope” for my running. All I have in my warchest is “change”.
Watched a tiny bit - couldn’t hear the questions - but Christie showed his humor and candor.
He’s perfect where he is - a round plug in a round hole;)
:-) Dig the Chevy Chase reference. Is it for the Hearing Impaired?
I will give Christie accolades, however, as he *never* said that he was running. He never coyly played footsie with the MSM (unlike others not in the race, yet)... pretending to "study the issue" while slyly winking at the camera.
All of his "Announcements" (at least that I'm aware of) have been: "Nope. I'm not running." Then the media, and Ann Colter, and a bunch of other know-nothing talking heads would respond: "Really? Really? Are you ABSOLUTELY certain? For REAL? Positive? PRetty Please, would you get in the primary?", and we'd go through the ringer again.
I didn't see his announcement today, however it wouldn't surprise me if it was "Look. For the last time, I'm not running. Period."
Christie’s too heavy. Yet it’s obama that’s dragging everything down.
Let’s stop with the “candidate Palin” talk. The Obama Regime, the Romney campaign, the mainstream media, and in fact the entire liberal establishment has assured us that she is not running. If you can’t trust that group, who can you trust? She’s not running. She’s not qualified. She’s just in it for the money. Even if she runs, it’s only to sell more books/videos. Even if she gets the nomination, she can’t win. Even if she does win, she’ll be a terrible president. And if the economy turns around as soon as she takes office, it’s not because she’s good, honest, or trustworthy, and businesses are willing to hire under an ethical government, it’s only because by January, 2013, Obama will have fixed Bush’s mess, and she will be coasting on Obama’s coattails. How’s that for a summary of the anti-Palin talking points?
You forgot - “She’s just lucky but doesn’t deserve it - that Attractive, Pro-Life, Christian, Pro-Gun, Pro-Israel, Pro-normal-fly-over-country-Americans, Pro-ethics #$*#$)(#)$@”
Well done and succinctly reflective of the anti-Palin stuff we get from the MSM and, too often, some FReepers whenever Sarah Palin’s name comes up.
“Let’s stop with the “candidate Palin” talk. The Obama Regime, the Romney campaign, the mainstream media, and in fact the entire liberal establishment has assured us that she is not running. If you can’t trust that group, who can you trust? She’s not running. She’s not qualified. She’s just in it for the money. Even if she runs, it’s only to sell more books/videos. Even if she gets the nomination, she can’t win. Even if she does win, she’ll be a terrible president. And if the economy turns around as soon as she takes office, it’s not because she’s good, honest, or trustworthy, and businesses are willing to hire under an ethical government, it’s only because by January, 2013, Obama will have fixed Bush’s mess, and she will be coasting on Obama’s coattails. How’s that for a summary of the anti-Palin talking points?”
Excellent. I might have added “and she’ll quit when the going gets tough because we all know she quits when the going gets tough!”
:-)
Suddenly?? I doubt its suddenly except to those who don't know her strategy -- wait and plan.
The headline on Drudge says “PALIN TIME?”
It is Sarah Time! I hear bells in the distance.
The headline on Drudge says “PALIN TIME”
It is Sarah Time! I hear bells in the distance.
Christie is too liberal on social issues.
Ann Coulter, He is not running and he would not have beat Palin, you toothpick, YOU.
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