Free Republic

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie doesn’t relish the idea of campaigning against Jeb Bush in 2016. In fact, a presidential primary tussle with the former Florida governor would be “stressful,” Christie acknowledged Tuesday. “You like to run against people that you don’t like, not run against people that you do like and respect, so of course it would be stressful,” Christie said on New Jersey radio station 101.5′s “Ask the Governor” program. “I am close with the Bush family … [Jeb] has been a wonderful friend to me, especially during [superstorm] Sandy and the aftermath,” he added. When asked about...

As the political winds are turning to presidential politics in 2016, now is the time for Republicans to start thinking about their ticket. I know it's early, but the top of the Democratic ticket has already been pretty much decided by the mainstream media. It's Hillary and whoever she wants as her veep. For the Republicans, they will need someone at the top of the ticket who is principled. He'll keep his campaign promises. He must have an economic issue that will resonate with women because men already support the GOP. Women — especially independent women — are the holy...

The controversial lane closures at the George Washington Bridge last September delayed emergency responders from attending to at least four medical situations in Fort Lee — including helping a 91-year-old woman who lay unconscious and later died, according to a report by The Record. Democrats have long accused Republican Gov. Chris Christie of ordering the lane closures as political retribution for Fort Lee's Democratic mayor refusing to endorse his re-election bid last year. Today, newly unveiled e-mails show that one of Christie's top aides knew about the closures in advance. The governor himself has denied being involved and today issued...

Jeb Bush says he’s not worried that his work toward comprehensive immigration reform and his ties to the GOP establishment will alienate conservatives and negatively impact a potential 2016 presidential campaign, referring to critics as “the chirpers.” -snip- It’s not the first time, of course, that a Republican establishment figure has coined a new nickname for the outspoken conservative wing of the party. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) a few months ago labeled Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) as “wacko birds.”

In an exclusive sit-down interview with The Brody File, Jeb Bush began to sketch out his case for President of the United States if he decides to run next year. “It will be based on my record. And that record was one of solving problems from completely from a conservative perspective. I cut taxes every year, I shrunk the size of government,” Jeb Bush tells The Brody File. And as for his critics who say he’s too mainstream establishment he offers this: “I will be able to, I think, manage my way through all the chirpers out there.” We sat...

Here's something of a surprise given Chris Christie's last-second Sandy-fueled embrace of President Obama during the final days of the 2012 presidential election, via Politico: Romney, whose supporters and aides were furious that Christie complimented the president’s response to Hurricane Sandy, has given the maximum contribution possible, $3,800, to the New Jersey governor’s reelection bid, a source familiar with the donation said. We probably shouldn't make too much of a $3,800 check—Romney didn't exactly have to sit down with his family and rework his budget to carve out the cash, and he's cut plenty of such checks in the past—but...

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush gave the keynote speech Friday night at the Conservative Political Action Conference 2013 Reagan Dinner and received what was described as a “respectful” standing ovation when introduced, as reported by Twitchy.com. As he laid out what appeared to be the foundation for a future presidential campaign platform, there was a general lack of enthusiasm that brought some to describe it as tepid.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) said Tuesday that he would endorse a pathway to citizenship that does not incentivize illegal immigration. It's a stance that differs from the immigration reform plan that he laid out in his new book. Bush, a well-known pro-immigration reform Republican, raised eyebrows on Monday when he said on the "Today" show and in his book that he opposes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, arguing that it would violate the rule of law and encourage future illegal immigration. In his new book, "Immigration Wars," Bush offers up a plan that would provide a...