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?
Karl Rove is the other one.
I would say “self-indulgent hack,”
ENOUGH!! McPain and Romney did not get it done--let's go for the hat trick, eh? And, RNC, Reice Prebus (?) and company: I might have been induced to vote for him if you guys supported Tea Party candidates. But now you can all go pound sand.
No. Next...!
Wait a minute. Did you miss the question mark in the title and the last sentence? He is just asking the readers. He is not telling the readers that Christie is the one
No. He's a Number Two.
Supposedly he had a lab-band surgery but just let it go at that and did not follow up
Okay, now what about the 2014 election, when we have a chance to take Senate over. Will you stay home then too and guarantee that we will stay the minority party forever?
Thanks a lot /s> T
No more N.E. RINO’s for me
You hit the old nail on the head with your #17, as sure as night follows day.
I swore off voting for liberals after McCain and I meant it, I did not vote for Romney and have no need to apologize for it.
I read people on here saying after McCain, “never again”, then Romney comes along, several degrees worse than McCain and those same people said, we have to vote for him. Now some of the same folks are saying they’ll never vote for Christy. We’ll see.
I don’t vote for liberals, I don’t give a rat’s ass what letter they have behind their name.
google...lobbyist for bernie maddoff...guess what ya find
How about a bing?
.
But I will long remember what the pubbies did to the Commonwealth of Virginia just because they didn't 'like' Cooch.
Do you want more of Boehner, McConnell and Rove? I sure don't.
TED CRUZ:
AND...
ANN COULTER SUPER WOMAN
I held my nose and voted for McCain and voted for Romney. I happily voted for Chris Christie for Governor of NJ on Tuesday.
It is because of voter fraud and the dopes who refuse to vote for RINO’s who sat home in 2008 and 2012 that we have 0bama in the White House. Fight for the best candidate — to me that would be a “true conservative”. If your candidate didn’t get the nomination, vote anyways and select the best candidate. In 2012, it was easily NOT 0bama. No matter how much of a RINO is on the ballot, they will be better than the Dem candidate (see what has happened since 0bama got in the WH). Fight for the most conservative candidate in the primaries and vote for the most conservative candidate on election day.
More like the whole cast of the Five.
Re: “If we don’t win, we don’t govern.”
Even when we do win, we don’t govern!
The answer is HELL no!
You make an excellent point.
Well stated.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.