Posted on 11/07/2013 1:13:17 PM PST by Kaslin
Last August before a closed meeting of Republican leaders in Boston, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey said, "We are not a debating society. We are a political operation that needs to win."
Tuesday night, Christie won. Big time. In one of the nation's bluest states, Christie got 60.5 percent of the vote. His Democratic opponent, Barbara Buono, claims she lost because "Democratic political bosses" made a deal with Christie "despite him representing almost everything they're against. ... They did it to help themselves politically and financially." In other words, they voted out of self-interest. Imagine that. Self-interest in politics.
"I didn't seek a second term to do small things," said Christie Tuesday night. "I sought a second term to finish the job. Now watch me do it."
It was the first Christie speech I have seen in several months and it was the first time I didn't think of his weight before considering his words. Christie, who had lap-band surgery to lose weight, appears committed to slimming down and looks good. If he can drop another 50 to 100 pounds, he could be in shape for 2016. After demonstrating his ability to attract Democrats and Independents during his re-election campaign, Christie must be considered the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.
"A political celebrity" is what Newark Star-Ledger reporter Jenna Portnoy called him in her Election Night story. The last time Republicans had one of those his name was Ronald Reagan.
Christie does more than dump on Washington's gridlock and dysfunction. He contrasts his accomplishments with Washington's failures. It's not only style, but substance. As when he said Tuesday night: "I know that if we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, then maybe the folks in Washington, D.C., should tune in to their TVs right now and see how it's done."
Virtually everyone runs against Washington, but none have been able to slay the dragon. That's because changing Washington ought not be the goal; the goal should be to change ourselves and our attitudes about government. Virtually everyone dislikes "Washington," but when it comes to giving up a favorite program, they resist. If Christie seeks the presidency, he will have to say what he will eliminate and how he will do it, as well as tell voters they must do more for themselves. The force of his personality will not be enough. Few change Washington. Usually Washington changes them.
For Christie to have a successful run at the presidency, he might assemble a bipartisan group of advisers. If he has Democrats working with him that would make it more difficult for them to attack him, giving him the chance to replicate nationally what he has done in New Jersey. He doesn't have to compromise his principles. He should focus on what works. It's one thing to take on the unions in New Jersey, for example. It's quite another to take them on nationally.
Should Christie run for president, the national media will initially be torn between a sure-fire ratings booster like Christie and the possibility of the first woman president. Ultimately, it'll be no contest. Media will likely back Hillary Clinton.
But Hillary Clinton can be beaten. After all, Barack Obama did it. In 2008, it was a choice for Democrats between Clinton and the first African-American president. That choice won't be as profound, or as historic, in two years. Christie will have to run on a platform of knowing how to succeed, which puts Clinton at a disadvantage, since her list of accomplishments is meager, if not nonexistent.
The conservative wing of the GOP will have to decide whether they want purity or victory. No politician (including the sainted Reagan) is perfect.
At the August GOP gathering in Boston, Christie said, "I'm in this business to win ... if we don't win, we don't govern. And if we don't govern, all we do is shout into the wind...."
This country needs someone who will govern. Is Christie the one?
The BIG one? From his photos, it looks like it.
Hell No.
While there is some logic to having some Democrats on your side (Reagan had quite a number of them from the South and his foreign policy neoconservatives), I would be hard pressed to think of what Democrats today would be worth aligning with to get crossover support.
Chris Christie is just the latest Juan MeCain & Mitt Romney and we know how those presidential campaigns ended!
If “Krispy” is the “answer” it MUST have been a REALLY STUPID Question!
We must make significant headway in 2014 in terms of displacing the RINOs. If we don’t, Christie will be the inevitability similar to the one Clinton presents to the Dems.
From a guy who wears size XXXXXXL, he's probably thinking he said a funny there.
Not by Chris Christie, she can't. And she won't be. Christie would finally divorce the Republican Party from its base, and never would a split up be so richly earned or deserved.
Is Christie the One? To lose another Presidential Election?e
YES..............
Hey, I like the Five. I mute Beckel if I have to, and you can to
“Is Christie the one?”
No, no way in hell!!
Everyone will complain about Christie being a liberal for the next 2 years & swear they will never, ever vote for him.
As the election gets closer, those same people will get weak knees & insist the only acceptable thing to do is vote for him. Otherwise, life in the Milky Way galaxy will cease to exist as we know it. Those who insist otherwise will be insulted, told they are closet Democrats, called traitors, etc.
Christie will then either a) get defeated (see Romney, McCain, Dole) or b) win, but govern like a liberal (see Bush I, Bush II).
And then the cycle will start all over.
Not much of a prediction, really.
“A political celebrity” is what Newark Star-Ledger reporter Jenna Portnoy called him in her Election Night story. The last time Republicans had one of those his name was Ronald Reagan.
How dare you compare this political hack to Reagan...
Christies wouldn’t even carry New Jersey.
If the choice is between two democrats, why not go third party.
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