The last couple of days of the Christie/Obama dynamic is one of the most interesting things I’ve seen in a while in politics. Adding to what I wrote this morning, I think that Christie’s supposed emotional outbursts are actually pretty calculated, and that’s even more reason why he should be taken seriously as a politician. So when I read shit like this, from Jeffrey Goldberg, I have to laugh:
3) Chris Christie loves Bruce Springsteen. (This story, by yours truly, explains why.) Bruce Springsteen loves Barack Obama. Bruce Springsteen does not love Chris Christie. Being overtly supportive of Barack Obama might get Chris Christie his holy grail: The approval of Springsteen, even a meeting with him. Believe me — he’d rather meet with Springsteen than with Obama, or anyone else.
Goldberg’s other two reasons are that Christie is an emotional guy and Obama’s support has made him grateful, and that Christie is “impatient” so he wants to run in 2016 and therefore wants to sink Romney’s battleship.
2016 is Christie’s year, but not for the reason Goldberg gives. It’s pretty clear that there’s no place for Christie to go from being New Jersey’s governor. Lautenberg is going to retire in 2014 if he doesn’t die first (he’s 88), which means that Christie is out of phase to get that seat, since he’s up for re-election in 2013, not to mention that it’s a real long shot. Being a Fox News personality or some other wingnut welfare recipient would be death to his attempt to run as a reasonable Republican. It’s not impatience dictating that he run in 2016, it’s electoral reality.
It’s typical for DC pundits to look for a single reason for everything. In this case, it’s Christie’s emotions, and Goldberg is just wondering about which irrational neurons are firing in Christie’s brain. But in the actual world, it’s possible for the following propositions to be true at the same time:
1. Christie is genuinely concerned about the people of his home state, and moved by their suffering, and he wants to do everything he can to help them.
2. Christie realizes that his political future lives or dies on the basis of his administration’s response to Sandy so he’ll do whatever he can to get the maximum federal response..
3. Christie enjoys fucking over his rival Mitt Romney by going overboard in his praise of President Obama.
Baud
We spend more time talking about Chris Christie praising Obama than about how so completely justified his praise for Obama is, and what a contrast to the disaster that was Bush and that would be Romney.
The last few days have reminded us that, beneath all the hollering and spin, this election is about basic competence, and Obama’s competence is something that deserves to be rewarded.
beltane
I also have a very strong suspicion that Romney said something on his weekend phone call to Christie that Christie found offensive in some way. Not to fall into CT territory, but Romney really, really wanted this to be Obama’s Katrina so slacking on the rescue and relief efforts and letting some more people die would have been in the Mittbot’s interests though it would not have been in Christie’s interests.
blingee
“I think that Christie’s supposed emotional outbursts are actually pretty calculated, and that’s even more reason why he should be taken seriously as a politician.”
LOL….You and wrong way Cole are on a roll. Is this some kind of competition to see who can come up with the most over the top gag me with a spoon crap?
Christie is an obnoxious beligerant fat fuck. And if you think he has a future as a politician nationally…let me give you one thought…..you think Palin rose to fame with the wingnuts because she was a serious politican or because she was a former beauty queen? You think Scott Brown rose to fame with the wingnuts because he was a serious politican or a hunky guy in a magazine spread who claims to drive a pickup?
tick tock tick tock. Now that you had time to think about that…how much of a future do you think a sweaty fat fuck has…on the national stage?
beltane
@Baud: What, you mean to say you don’t want one of Ann Ronney’s rich dressage friends being put in charge of FEMA?
eemom
’bout time another FPer weighed in on Christie.
Maude
After Obama left, Christie said that no one should feel helpless and no one should feel alone. He asked people to call for help and gave the FEMA number.
General Stuck
It could be, unless he drops dead of a coronary or strokes out by then. I think sometimes his outbursts are calculated for the ‘independent thinker’ aura to maintain. But I also think Christie is a loose cannon under pressure. He didn’t need to love boat Obama, though he did need to not play politics and do his job, and saying Obama is doing his was all that was needed.
Instead, he sent a torpedo through the USS Wingnut, with his gush to O. And may well have cost his party a win in a close election. That will not be forgotten by the base, in 2016, or 2020 and beyond. I think Christie knows he is not suited for the presidency in the modern era of teevee and digital everything. He is a throwback to when politicians got away with a lot more shit than they do today. At least on the national stage running for president.
hitchhiker
If CC can take power away from the tea party, good on him. If he can stand up to the neocons, even better. We really do need two functioning political parties, not one that’s half in the pockets of big capital and another that’s flat bugshit.
CC may be reprehensible on 27 levels, but he’s not bugshit. Bring him on.
Raven
@blingee: You know I never heard of you until yesterday but you are proving to be one annoying little motherfucker.
Baud
@beltane:
I wouldn’t trust any friend of Romney’s with horses, much less emergency management services.
Scott Alloway
As much as I despise Christie and his politics, he knows how to play the political game. The boy ain’t no dummy and he will play to his Joisy constituents and their needs. It’s the long game he looks at and he does it well. But he still won’t make the cut in 2016.
Yutsano
@eemom: What you have done there, it has been seen.
@Raven: It’s Durf man. He’s a miserable little sand flea. Please to be ignoring him.
Michael G
@eemom:
I see what you did there.
Smiling Mortician
@blingee: Christie’s physical appearance is not what torpedoes his chances with the wingnuts. Hell, they’d all vote for Rush Limbaugh if given the chance. Christie won’t get that wingnut love because he calls them assholes on a fairly regular basis.
Raven
@Yutsano: K
am
I don’t know. I think he just might be an honest-to-goodness NJ loudmouth (proud NJian here). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83z552NJaw for supporting evidence.
eemom
We may now proceed with our regularly scheduled reiteration of the exact same shit that’s been said on 5 different threads already.
jheartney
The huge problem facing all would-be Republican nominees will be the same in 2016 as it was this year; the base is stone crazy, and will demand to see that crazy reflected in all the primary contenders. The problem as actually worse for seeming moderates like Christie; the base will expect even more slavish professions of wingnuttery from them than from the true believers. Given Christie’s many apostasies (of which buddying up with BHO is only the latest), he’d need pretty astonishing levels of crazy before GOP primary voters would even consider him.
Barring a return of relative sanity to the Republicans following their second defeat by the kenyan usurper (no, I can’t see it happening either), Christie is not going to be the party nominee in 2016 or ever.
Jorge
It is interesting hearing Jeb trying to balance out Christie. His heart just isn’t in it. Jeb always did a great job during hurricanes and knows how apolitical they are. Had Jeb been governor of Louisiana during Katrina he’d have hid foot up GW’s and Brownies asses two days before landfall.
beltane
@Smiling Mortician: He’s also a little too “ethnic” for their tastes. Like Giuliani, he just wouldn’t play well over the long-term outside of the NE.
Raven
@eemom: Shit, the what’s his face twink thread lasted 4 fucking hours. At least I posted a picture of my fish there!
aimai
At least Haley Barbour had the good sense to admit that America will never elect another Boss Hogg lookalike, not even if he talks with a Joisy accent. Chris Christie is, indeed, a fat fuck–with an emphasis on the word fuck. He’s an unmitigated asshole, blowhard (to not mix my metaphors) and all around bully. The exact and total opposite of our President. This is not the remake of The Odd Couple or The Defiant Ones. These two guys both have a need, at this moment, to do the best job they can–Obama because he’s a serious perfectionist who gives a fuck and Chris Christie becuase whatever future he imagines for himself doesn’t hinge on being remembered as a dying hippo wallowing in a sea of sewage water and burned out houses.
aimai
Smiling Mortician
@Yutsano: Damn. My bad. I’ll update my scorecard immediately.
geg6
I think you’re right, but I, personally, am totally enjoying #3. The speed and force with which he threw Mittens under the bus, backed up, and ran over him again has been beautiful to watch. Maybe it’s terrible of me, but I just can’t quit cackling over it.
The vaunted GOP party discipline has finally shown its crack (yeah, you see what I did there) publicly and bluntly. I’m popping popcorn as fast as I can here.
PsiFighter37
I don’t care much for Christie, but when it comes to the stupid shit that the wingers sometimes say, he does a good job of smacking it down.
In this case, that happens to align with giving Mittens a sad. Which is excellent.
PF37 +3
eemom
@Yutsano:
If we could put him in a jar with that multi-nymed republitard dung beetle, that might be sorta cool.
Skipjack
I think Christie wants to make straight talk and gitterdun his brand. I’ve enjoyed his press conferences here in NY while all I’ve had to go on is the radio (just got Internet back a couple hours ago). It definitely will offer a contrast, but don’t forget that counter-programming is all he can do. The rest of the party seems likely to just fly off the handle if Obama wins so they may well not be ready for a Christie or anyone who might seem like a big government conservative by 2016. He’s got to get through the primaries and that means the South embracing him.
Just Some Fuckhead
OMFG, Christie is using Obama to get to Springsteen. That two-timing tawdry hotopotamus can kiss my ass!
Odie Hugh Manatee
@eemom:
When it comes to Christie, there’s so much to weigh and so little time!
OT:
Dan McLaughlin of Redstate infamy has a post up about the wide gulf between his and Nate Silver’s predictions for the election that attempts to soften the blow that will come when Obama wins next month, despite what Dan has been saying. I’ve been reading the alternate universe Redstate is occupying in their polling and am looking forward to reading the meltdown that is going to occur on November 7th after Obama wins the election.
The Teahadists are going to scream about the election being stolen from them and ignore the disservice that Redstate has done for its readers in distorting the facts in the polling to make them feel positive before the election.
Buckets are not going to be enough to contain their tears, 55 gallon drums are more in order.
Raven
@Odie Hugh Manatee: Next month? Oh, yea.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@General Stuck: You wrote the same thing I’m thinking. I just watched the Obama-Christie press conference in Brigantine, NJ. It felt like Christie torpedoed the Republican Party as it’s currently constituted.
After watching that, I just got the feeling of Romney Who? And all the Tea Party crap just seemed so small and petty. It will be interesting to see where things go in the next couple of months.
@am: Agreed. I’m cognizant of my fellow commenters better knowledge and dislike of Christie and his policies. Nevertheless, he comes across as authentic in a way that Bush, Romney, and Reagan never did, at least for me. Put it this way: My skin doesn’t crawl when I hear his voice.
Baud
@Raven:
Don’t forget the post-election litigation.
Gin & Tonic
@eemom: You don’t have to read it.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Raven:
Next month makes it sound like eternity. ;p
Next month is November, right? Or are you one of them furriners hiding on the other side of the International Date Line?
Davis X. Machina
Triggered filter….
Warren Terra
You skipped:
4) Whatever his future career plans, Christie has this week made sure that every “Responsible Moderate” on television (Chris Matthews, Bob Schieffer, etcetera, etcetera) will forever after introduce him as a trans-partisan, no-nonsense Serious Person. This is even more valuable than the bamboozlement Paul Ryan cast over these people that Paul Ryan Supposedly Does Arithmetic.
More valuable for what isn’t clear. Christie can’t really run for President: he’s got no constituency in the primary (no strong ties to any of the Gods, Guns, and Gays crowd; not enough of an anti-government firebreather on behalf of the New Corporate Feudalists; no war record) and, plus, he manages to be even fatter than I am. But if he wants to run for Senate, it will pay off. If he wants to be the trans-partisan figleaf to a future Republican nominee as Veep or in their cabinet – or even in a Democrat’s cabinet, perhaps at DHS – it will pay off.
Basically, he’s done everything he can to ensure his re-election. He realizes that – barring a possible run at the Senate – that’s the end of his elected political career. And he’s already looking ahead to semiretirement in the executive branch, or to his legacy.
Raven
@Odie Hugh Manatee: It;s in 2 hrs an 15 minutes.
Raven
“I believe that FEMA plays a key role in working with states and localities to prepare for and respond to natural disasters,” Romney said in a statement supplied by his campaign Wednesday. “As president, I will ensure FEMA has the funding it needs to fulfill its mission, while directing maximum resources to the first responders who work tirelessly to help those in need, because states and localities are in the best position to get aid to the individuals and communities affected by natural disasters.”
Davis X. Machina
If money talks, and bullshit walks—and speaks in tongues doing it—I wouldn’t be surprised to see a ticket like Christie/Susan Collins in 2016. Not-Romney/Anti-Palin. As far from Newt and Michelle Bachmann as you can get.
Neither is an ex-Confederate, notorious public god-botherer, or high-profile f*g-baiter. Both are completely reliable corporate sock-puppets.
Neither of them looks or acts—or in Collins’ case sounds – ‘like a politician’. You’re not going to look at them and go “Ew… Elmer Gantry”….
You can probably build a half-dozen tickets along those lines.
lacp
@aimai: Shame on you, aimai. You’re just not feeling all the moist manlove around you for Gov. Tons-of-fun.
Liquid
I never cared for Chris Christie. I believe the first time I had paid him any notice was when he killed that new tunnel for political reasons.
That said, isn’t it just a tad hypocritical to (rightly) accuse Christie of political calculation while exempting Obama from the same?
I will say that Christie appears, to my inner cynic, to be genuinely concerned for the people of his state. It would be foolish to suggest he has not pondered methods of turning this to his political advangtage. The same can be said for Obama though I have no doubt about his sincerity and concern for the people whose lives have been destroyed by Sandy.
But then God sent the hurricane to punish The Gheys and, instead of hampering the election and helping Romney, it’s helping Obama. I can’t wait to hear how the right sorts out this little fantasy.
hitchhiker
@Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason:
Yup. If you’d never heard of the guy and didn’t know what his policies were and weren’t into fat-shaming, you MIGHT just say that he’s sort of like Biden when it comes to letting his actual thoughts make their way into his mouth & out where people can hear them.
He doesn’t seem to be calculating & it comes across as authentic. He comes across as more authentic than Clinton did, way back when.
Doesn’t mean we like his politics or even that we believe what he’s saying — just means he’s easy to see as NEW kind of Republican.
Maude
The Pentagon announced that the military is going to be helping the states that were damaged by Sandy. There will be three Navy ships in New York soon.
drew42
I’ll rephrase what I said in the earlier post — as with Giuliani during 9/11, Christie is not doing anything special. It’s simply what any minimally competent local/state leader does during a crisis, but it comes across as brave an admirable because of the situation. And it’s magnified by the comparisons to Bush’s and Romney’s respective incompetent responses. Honestly, the same overreaction is happening to Obama’s competent response (not that I’m complaining, mind you).
But Christie would be a horrible, just horrible, presidential candidate. He’s abrasive, obnoxious, freaking irritating to listen to, and just flat-out unlikeable in most situations. The media love those ruff n’ tuff, no-nonsense Mayors (like Giuliani was) and Governors, but how often does that translate into Presidential material? He’d be a sideshow freak (like Giuliani was). Or worse, like Gingrich.
Raven
@Liquid: “I will say that Christie appears, to my inner cynic, to be genuinely concerned for the people of his state.” I totally agree. Fucking people are such little bitches with their theories.
arguingwithsignposts
FOR FUCK’S SAKE, we haven’t even finished with this election yet! STFU ABOUT 2016!
lacp
@Raven: This was Willard Romney who said this? Not Ann, or Tagg, or Gnork, or Rafalca? I thought everybody in America just saw a video where he said FEMA could get stuffed.
arguingwithsignposts
@lacp:
That was on a different day ending in ‘y.’
blingee
@Raven: Awww…someone else has a hard on for the Outlaw Jersey Whale. So sweet. Do you dream of eating boxes of donuts with him and swapping the creamy filling?
Jon
I love you guys, but if they can nominate abortion dump truck profiteer and Obamacare inventor Mitt Romney, they will nominate Obama fellating Chris Christie if they think it will get them the White House and Paul Wolfowitz back behind a government desk.
They love power. The tea nuts are just pawns.
Baud
@drew42:
What are you basing this judgment on? Like so many other areas of life, just because Obama (and others) make it look easy doesn’t mean it is easy.
SuzieC
@geg6:
I agree, I totally love it. And even more, the beauty of it is that they can’t call him out for betraying the party. It would look like Repugs yes, flooded out people no.
I’m very intrigued by post # 2. Care to elaborate, beltane?
Spaghetti Lee
A Chris Christie thread without fat jokes and people being scolded for fat jokes? Am I on the right blog?
I think Christie’s an ass. He may be one of the better Republicans but that doesn’t mean I have to like him in any way. I mean, yeah, it’s good that he doesn’t want people to suffer and die in a hurricane because it might help him politically, but…my god, is our political system really so soul-crushingly awful that that’s the new standard? Maybe I just don’t want to consider that.
If Christie wants to run in 2016, I don’t see what good any of this is doing him-voters will forget or stop caring, but the GOP won’t. Alluding to your presidential nominee being an incompetent ass a week before the election would seem to not make them feel charitable towards you in the future.
blingee
You morons talking about “Christie 2016” are so fucking off the deep end it’s not even funny. This reminds me of reading mistermix obsessing over Palin 2012 day after fucking day and all you idiots chiming in then sayin…yea, she’s gonna do it. Yea, that was really gonna happen too…according to you idiots.
Corner Stone
Although it took a bit of doing, I’ve changed my mind. After the handshake and light cordial backslap I saw today between Obama and Christie I have come to understand that Christie is the kind of Republican we need in higher office. He’s the kind of common sense, compassionate, straight forward and competent elected R official that we, as a country, have been looking for. His no nonsense responses over the last 24+ hours have convinced me who to support in 2016.
Maude
@SuzieC:
The Romney camps says Christie is doing his job, when asked about Christie and Obama.
lol
The problem for Christie is that the GOP base is going to say that the problem is that they didn’t nominate a REAL conservative. They tried it the moderates way twice and failed. They’ll go full teatard.
Meg
I am just not surprised at all that Christie praised President Obama. What can he do?
New Jersey is really in deep shit and needs help. What can Romney and his photo op do for him? Nothing. He is not the President!
But Obama is. And he has the real power and tools to help him. This takes a giant load off him. As simple as that.
beltane
I don’t see anything particularly “new” about Chris Christie. He is just the latest in a long line of loudmouthed, sometimes beloved sometimes hated, NJ/NY politicians of both parties (Al D’Amato and his Nassau County GOP cronies come to mind). Hearing Christie speak reminds me of the time Ed Koch came to my high school (1983) to speak to the students. One of the boys stood up in the auditorium and shouted “Hey, Ed. F*ck You!” and was answered by Mayor Koch with a “F*ck You, too!”
Much cheering and clapping ensued.
Spaghetti Lee
And Jeffrey Goldberg’s a twerp. There’s a long and rich tradition of pundits (mostly but not exclusively conservative) swearing that every political event is caused by someone trying to backstab or blackmail or suck up to someone else, because the pundits assume that everyone is like they are-soulless starfuckers.
lacp
@lol: Now that would be some amazing entertainment. The Dems could probably nominate a slice of bread, and it would get 350 EV.
Baud
@lacp:
You really think Evan Bayh will be the nominee?
Pooh
However odious on any number of issues Christie may be, it is worth noting (and sadly among today’s GOP, noteworthy) that building a record of competent governance seems to be part of his pitch going forward. That’s an unmitigated good, I think.
Smiling Mortician
@lacp:
Followed by a full day of watching him go La-la-la-I-can’t-hear-you as reporters asked him repeatedly to comment on said video. Yup.
Liquid
@blingee: Wait, agreeing with me that Christie just might have a shred of humanity, instead of pure political calculation, equals a hard on for TBoggs brilliant moniker? Ok, count me in!
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Raven:
I know… didn’t you feel that tugging on your leg? I promise it wasn’t a thrill! ;)
@Liquid:
In 2008 the Repubs had a hurricane screw up their convention. In 2012 the Repubs have had a hurricane screw up the election (more) for them.
If there is a god it’s clear that he doesn’t like the GOP.
Tom Levenson
@aimai: Ahhh, Aimai. Tell us what you really think. I mean it. Don’t hold back.
[snorts, chortles]
Schlemizel
Crusty the clown’s chances for 16 depend on two things. First, he will be the least insane occupant of the clown car. The VSP have a raging woody right now because of his bipartisaniness so the early press will be on his side. That will make him the Mitt of ’16. How that plays out will depend a lot on how the purges turn out after next Tuesday. If the teatards win control Crusty is dead meat. If the Gaultian overlords win he has the inside track. Second, will his gastric bypass and followup skin removal leave him looking presidential. Yes, we are a ‘lookist’ society & Crusty at 350 has no chance but at 200 if things break right he is playing this very well, the best he can for the hand he has to play.
Tom Q
@drew42: Going back a ways, they loved Ed Koch, too. And he couldn’t even get through a primary for governor. Snarl just doesn’t work as a trait for higher office candidates.
eemom
@Meg:
Ain’t gonna touch that. Nope, not even with an eleventy foot pole.
Narcissus
@Raven: Whoa there was a twink thread
cmorenc
@blingee:
It worked for William Howard Taft, a bona fide fat fuck if ever there was one, and Taft was not only elected President, he later was appointed to a seat on the US Supreme Court (only person to pull off that bi-fecta). Legend has it that he was so fat that his wide body got stuck in a bathtub and he needed help to get out.
Of course, Taft came along decades before television (and even radio was still in its infancy).
Smiling Mortician
Hey, am I the only one who just discovered the Joe Isuzu Romney ad? It’s creepy and perfect.
Villago Delenda Est
Don’t buy proposition one.
Proposition two and three, though, I can buy.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@beltane:
Hmm. Maybe you’re right. We haven’t seen one of these all primary season, so we may have forgotten about the species and it looks all new and shiny suddenly.
Smiling Mortician
Hey, am I the only one who just discovered the Joe Isuzu Romney ad? It’s creepy and perfect.
Villago Delenda Est
Don’t buy proposition one.
Proposition two and three, though, I can buy.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@beltane:
Hmm. Maybe you’re right. We haven’t seen one of these all primary season, so we may have forgotten about the species and it looks all new and shiny suddenly.
lacp
@Smiling Mortician: That’s why I think he’s a badly programmed cyborg instead of a skilled pathological liar – he can’t improvise. Too insensate to recognize “Danger, Will Robinson!”
Midnight Marauder
@arguingwithsignposts:
Word. These clowns are gearing up to impeach President Obama in his next term and we’re trying to make predictions about 2016?
Beyond moronic.
beltane
The GOP is going to go with someone like Bob McDonnell in 2016. The 2012 election is going to leave them even more extremely Southern than they already are and after the experience of Romney leading them to another loss I doubt they go with a Yankee again.
Liberty60
“1. Christie is genuinely concerned about the people of his home state, and moved by their suffering, and he wants to do everything he can to help them.
2. Christie realizes that his political future lives or dies on the basis of his administration’s response to Sandy so he’ll do whatever he can to get the maximum federal response..
3. Christie enjoys fucking over his rival Mitt Romney by going overboard in his praise of President Obama.
@blingee:
4. Christie is an obnoxious belligerant fat fuck.
I don’t see any contradiction.
catclub
@Davis X. Machina: I can see that ticket in about 12 years, if the GOP is soundly beaten in all the preceding national elections. Or the twelfth of never.
Beltane gave the other objection.
Romney the Yankee got in because he is a zillionaire. Christie ain’t.
Liquid
Christie represents a near majority of the country BMI-wise and he doesn’t suffer fools lightly.
Having said that he strikes me as a bully but I wonder just how much of it is a bluff. How much of his Tony Soprano act is bluster and what does he really think at the end of the day?
At some point one of them is going to have to stand up and say ‘ENOUGH’ to the crazies if the GOP is to stand any chance of gaining ground.
I will concede that he does not have much flexibility (ha) due in large (ha) part to the TP and the rest of the crazies. But I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he may not be quite as big of an ass (haHA) if he wasn’t surrounded by assholes on the national stage.
dead existentialist
@Corner Stone: That backslap by the President was just him checking to see if the governor was wired.
And I don’t doubt that you’ve found a kindred spirit in Christie.
ETA: Misspelled the fuckers name. Oops.
Amir Khalid
Chris Christie seems to be learning the trade of weather crisis management, I’ll grant him that. And the NYT story of him touring affected areas with Obama does let on that he can be a decently empathic person when he makes the effort. But from what I gather, Christie hasn’t been all that great in other areas of the governor’s job. Policy-wise, he’s still pretty much a run-of-the-mill Republican, isn’t he? If, after a successful and popular second term for Obama (touch wood), there’s not much of a market for those in 2016 then I have a hunch he might not run then either.
As for the idea that Christie is sucking up to Obama to get Bruce Springsteen’s attention, I do believe Goldberg is kidding. Christie might have done better to make a fuss over that animal-rights legislation Bruce’s daughter petitioned him to sign. “Dear Ms Jessica Springsteen, If I sign this horse bill, will your dad come talk to me? Sincerely, Governor Christie.”
cckids
@Jon:
Bingo. I mean, look at the total bullsh*t renovation of Reagan; the man’s actual acts as President bear little if any relation to his burnished image as St. Ronnie the TaxCutter. And 90% of Teabaggers are over 50; well able to remember the Reagan years. Their philosophy is: WIN. Win at all costs. They aren’t really tuned in to the reality of who the majority will vote for, thank FSM.
Corner Stone
@Midnight Marauder:
On what charges, do you think?
Keith G
@Baud:
No, not really.
One thing most commenters here cannot be accused of is underselling their praise for Obama.
@Warren Terra: You sir, have typed wise things.
Warren Terra
@cmorenc:
The WH Taft story reminds me of one of my favorite stories in American history, which I’ll recount from memory, maybe a bit spottily (I think it’s in Stanley Karnow’s Philippines book):
Before he was TR’s Vice President, Taft was the American colonial governor in the Philippines, which we’d just recently acquired. Taft was of course famously corpulent, and even more than the typical unacclimatized White guy he was really suffering in the heat of Manila. Informed that the British officials of the Raj dealt with a similar problem by decamping in the summer months to cooler sites in the Himalayan foothills (most famously Simla) and running the country from there, Taft instituted a search for suitable higher-altitude sites to build a summer capital for the US’s new colonial holdings in the Philippines. A promising and nearby site having been found, Taft visited it for an inspection; he then sent a very long telegram to his boss the Secretary of State explaining how he’d set out on horseback and had spent all day surveying the site and considering its pros and cons, before returning to Manila to send his message.
The Secretary Of State sent back a three-word reply: How Is Horse?
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
Wow, my first ever duplicate post. I’m no longer a FYWP virgin. Is there a special clubroom for us like for airline frequent flyers?
JosieJ
@Meg:
Exactly. A Romney photo-op benefits no one but Romney, and that Fox talking head’s–I swear, I can’t even keep them all straight anymore–suggestion was inane in the extreme. After viewing the washed-out ruins of the Jersey shore, of which he clearly has fond childhood memories, I can’t imagine Christie was in the mood for that kind of bullshit. He also knows that, regardless of the outcome of the election, Obama’s hand is the one currently on the federal purse strings, and Christie needs his help to pull his state out of its current crisis.
If Christie’s looking toward any future election, it’s next year’s, in which he’ll have to justify why voters should let him keep his current job.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Smiling Mortician:
Nope. I posted about it in another thread and it was ignored. With Christie in the news, other things were weighing on the minds here.
Betty Cracker
@Spaghetti Lee:
I’m afraid so. Look who was up against awful Mittens in the Repub primary.
matt
Christie is out in front of the rest of GOP and realizes rapprochement with Democrats will be the only route to relevance for GOP politicians at the national level.
Enhanced Voting techniques
@General Stuck
Keep in mind these are the people that just eat up the alpha dog nonsense. If Christie is belligerent enough and shows he could win in 2016 about it they will roll over. After all they did rally arround a toad like Mittens.
eemom
@Amir Khalid:
Not entirely. Goldberg is himself rather weirdly obsessed with Christie’s obsession with Springsteen. See his link in today’s piece.
Corner Stone
@dead existentialist:
It’s not so much that he’s a kindred spirit, exactly, but it has just seemed to me that if we want to move legislation and this country forward we should probably recognize that a straight forward type no-BS guy we can work with is our best bet.
We may or may not agree with policy, but at least we’ll know where he stands and that he’s someone we can work with.
MikeJ
@Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason:
Any time Betty Cracker posts a pic with a click on it. You can comment in the secret thread.
dead existentialist
@Corner Stone: BBWP, of course.
eemom
@dead existentialist:
Corner Stone is trolling you based on last night’s Cole post.
Sheeyit, do I have to do EVERYTHING around here?
SiubhanDuinne
@eemom:
Heh.
Groucho48
Christie is a paternalistic narcissist. He reminds me of that mine owner, a few years back, after there was a mining disaster and a bunch of miners died. The guy made it all about himself and did the paternalistic act on the air. Full of concern. Full of plans. Full of sympathy for the families.
Then, it turns out, he had cut every corner and safety rule there was in order to make an extra few nickles.
And, his concern came across as perfectly genuine, too. Because he does genuinely believe that what is good for him is good for his little “family”.
Christie is the same way. His press conferences are all about him. And, if you have the temerity to question him…watch out! As long as you live in his house (state), you will follow his rules. His way isn’t the best way. It’s the only way.
Yutsano
@Betty Cracker: Willard was judged by the Republican base to be the most acceptable option. This says more about them than I’m comfortable with.
Midnight Marauder
@Corner Stone:
Presidenting While Negro.
You know, that old hat.
patrick II
@Liquid:
God has previously sent hurricanes to destroy the Bush presidency and the Republican convention earlier this year. The Republicans should consider this third time enemy action.
GxB
@Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason: Even better, Champagne Room – and don’t believe Chris Rock for a moment… be prepared.
MikeJ
@GxB: https://balloon-juice.com/2012/10/29/monday-morning-open-thread-19/1012-patsy/
dead existentialist
@Corner Stone: I was referring to your shared obstinate dickishness.
Gawd, you’re no fun when you’re civil. And your girlfriend thinks you’re trolling me. It’s all about tricks and treats tonight, isn’t it?
Smiling Mortician
@Odie Hugh Manatee: Well OK then. I guess it will be our little secret. How ’bout that Chris Christie, eh?
Brantl
I think that numbers 2 and 3 are exactly true. I think number one is wrong, I think Christie is only interested in his people to the point that he can avoid his inevitable blame, should he not do a reasonably creditable job.
Especially with Obama being a model of efficiency, right in his face.
Karma has a funny way of biting assholes right on the ass.
pseudonymous in nc
@aimai:
I’m going to be generous here, and suggest that you can be a bullying bloviating bastard, but still want to use all the power that’s available to you when people in towns and cities you grew up around are under water.
It’s really not healthy to jerk the knee at a GOP governor who apparently believes in the power of government at least of times of crisis, because it provides far too much cover for the elected ideologues and idiots in mansions across the nation.
Liquid
@patrick II: Time to declare unilateral action against Mother Nature!
OT: So now the “Bromance” thing between Obama and Christie is becoming a bit of a meme…goody.
Frankensteinbeck
Predictions for 2016 are futile for lots of reasons. One of them is that the odds of a black man being on the presidential ballot are very slim. I’m not even sure how the GOP will behave next month, when they’ve lost the big chance to slap Obama down that they dreamed of night and day for four years.
Svensker
@Midnight Marauder:
No, Libya. Look at the Fox News website. All the other news homepages are leading with Sandy stories. Fox is blaring some more crap about Obama’s failure to take care of his men in Benghazi. It’s a huge deal for them.
Midnight Marauder
@Svensker:
No doubt, they will find something “factual” to base the impeachment proceedings on. Libya is certainly a good candidate for the job. But I think all reasonable people know that the foundation for the charges will be “Get that Negro out of the White House ASAP.”
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@GxB: I looked around the intertubes, but couldn’t find it, for an old SNL clip when one of the hosts, I think it was Tom Hanks, was inducted into the 5-Time Hosts club. Elliott Gould, Steve Martin, and Paul Simon sat around in smoking jackets holding brandy snifters.
I was hoping the FYWP club would be like that. I’d like a smoking jacket. And a brandy.
Bill E Pilgrim
Hah.
You know, I’m not sure exactly which of these theories about Christie’s motivation are correct, some combination of things obviously. One thing I do know for certain though is how much I’m enjoying the fact that for the most part Republicans have to just watch and fume quietly without criticizing, because the thing that Christie is doing, out of whatever motivation he may have for it, the act that so goes against the conservative Republican creed, is that he’s acting decently.
By not politicizing it I mean. And I mean even if he’s politicizing in a sideways fashion, or partially or whatever, it looks like acting decently, and in this grave a crisis, their hands are tied.
forked tongue
Maybe Christie really isn’t interested in running for president, but enjoys ratfucking Romney not because he’s a “rival” but just because anyone would enjoy ratfucking that piece of shit.
eemom
@dead existentialist:
I thought I was Cole’s
girlfriendLadyfriend.pseudonymous in nc
@Corner Stone:
On farting in the Oval Office. It takes a straight majority of the House to impeach, and they can do it for shits and giggles.
(Though I imagine that ArsonIssa would be all BENGHAZIGATE for it.)
Spaghetti Lee
@Liquid:
So now the “Bromance” thing between Obama and Christie is becoming a bit of a meme
I can hardly contain my joy. Will there be statements about them “keeping calm”? Will someone shop their faces into the elevator part of the Gangnam Style video? Will some enterprising soul stick their faces on a colored background and add two contradictory descriptive clauses? Oh, sweet rapture!
Corner Stone
@dead existentialist: I think that’s a little uncalled for.
Have we gone so far past the post that it’s not possible to recognize a potential partner on the other side of the aisle?
Of all people here I would think you, or maybe DMX, could see the rationale behind seeking out the next stage of where we need to move to in our elected officials. Gov Christie has displayed to the nation that he’s not afraid of the nutters to his right, and can use some straight talk to get people focused back on what’s important.
geg6
If O wins (which I totally believe he will, handily if not as handily as last time), this is another indication of how lucky his political career has been. I don’t mean that anyone, let alone Obama, thinks a hurricane is a lucky thing, but that except for his first campaign for the state house, some completely unforeseen event sets him up for a win. Usually, it’s been in having the world’s most incredibly incompetent opponents. The last two campaigns, it will have been both an incompetent opponent and an incredible national disaster. It’s kind of amazing to think about, his political career.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Smiling Mortician:
Chris who? Christie? Who is this guy and what’s so big about him?
GregB
Those motherfucking Fox Nazis were cheerleaders for the Goddamn Iraq War from the get go. They plugged every phony line about WMD’s to drum up the fever and they accused everyone who questioned the wisdom of the war of being a traitor.
They made excuses for every bombing death and attack and cheered on the war as the bodies piled up and demanded that the tragedy of war was the cost of freedom.
Now they are in high dudgeon over tragic deaths in Benghazi as some sort of an act of negligence or malevolence?
Fuck that shit and fuck every one of those ghouls from Murdick and Ailes on down.
Fuck them all.
Liquid
@Spaghetti Lee: I had ESPN on in the background last night. Mike and Mike showed some horribly embarassing Gangnam Style music vid starring them.
We can now commit Gangnam to the void and pour wine upon its grave.
patrick II
@Jon:
I agree. If Christie has the most money at the beginning of the Republican primaries, he will win. The money boys make the real selection before the primary season begins, and if they think Christie has the best chance, he will have the most money. And no republican I see will hold a candle to him in any primary debates.
lacp
@Spaghetti Lee: I sense a buddy movie in a couple of years…maybe a teevee series….
Smiling Mortician
@Odie Hugh Manatee: Everything! (Thank yew! Thank yew vurry much!)
jefft452
@Liquid: “I will say that Christie appears, to my inner cynic, to be genuinely concerned for the people of his state.”
maybe, but its not the first natural disaster to hit NJ during Christie’s term, and his previous performance didnt display the same concern
@drew42:”It’s simply what any minimally competent local/state leader does during a crisis, but it comes across as brave an admirable because of the situation”
Yeah, on one hand im reminded of Chris Rock’s “what?, do you want a cookie? You’re SUPPOSED to feed your kids”
This used to be normal, when disasters struck, the Fed, State, County, and Local officials just took it for granted that disaster relief was a good idea. Sure there was finger pointing, but nobody worried that rescuing people from a flood was turning the safety net into a hammock
BUT on the other hand
Christie is the only Republican who is acting like a “competent local/state leader” (I’ll even strike the “minimally”)
If he wants a cookie, Im willing to give him one, just to encourage the behavior among others
Shouldn’t have too, but we are where we are
lacp
@Odie Hugh Manatee: He’s the reincarnation of a famous Jersey poet. Y’know, “I am large, I contain multitudes” or some shit.
Svensker
@GregB:
It’s all Red Team vs Blue Team. They don’t give a shit about any of the bodies, as long as their side wins.
But, yes, the Iraq comparison hit me today when I was thinking about the Libya freakout.
ranchandsyrup
@Odie Hugh Manatee: ha! massively funny.
the joe isuzu thing freaked me out for a second. then it was also funny.
dead existentialist
@Corner Stone: Heh heh. Well played.
I’m all for the warm-fuzzies. I’m all for coming together as a people (hell I’ve been reading Charlie Pierce lately). If there’s a Republican out there at the national level who’s ready to get on with the job of governing, I’ll embrace him or her as far as my arms can reach.
You, on the other hand, I wanna knee in the junk and punch in the throat. Not that it’s called for. It’s just Balloon Juice Town.
Litlebritdifrnt
My darling 17 year old cat Lari was savaged by a pit bull and killed this evening in her own front yard. I hate irresponsible dog owners. I hate the entire fucking world right now.
TheMightyTrowel
@Litlebritdifrnt: Huge hugs if you want them and my condolences. A close friend just lost her cat that way too.
Geoduck
@Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason:
It’s the Five-TimeRs Club. Here’s a clip of it, but unfortunately the sound is out of synch with the picture. Check out who is the club doorman.
ranchandsyrup
@Litlebritdifrnt: awful. im so sorry.
Fluke bucket
@Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason: I will always remember mine and the memory is reward enough.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Litlebritdifrnt: @ranchandsyrup:
She had earned the right to die in her home, asleep in the sunlight, on top of some piece of furniture or other. She did not deserve to die this way because some fucking moron could not keep his pit bull in his yard.
Fuck ALL the chickens! (né Studly Pantload, t.e.u.u.)
FTFY,YW.
feebog
Christie is living proof that being a prick and being competent are not mutually exclusive attributes. The guy is full of himself, but that does not mean that he doesn’t have a modicum of concern for his fellow citizens.
Having said that, he has an election just a year away. He has pissed off a lot of people. A good performance in this crisis will go a long way towards assuring his re-election. Because if he doesn’t get re-elected, his chances of becoming the Republican nominee in 2016 are slim and none. So, first things first, do the job you were elected to do. Get re-elected a year from now. Lose 125 lbs. After that, who knows. I mean really, who else is on the bench? Scott Walker? Pfffft. Bob McConell? Really? Any of those clowns in the Senate? Ryan in a remake? I think Christie stacks up pretty well against any of them.
geg6
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Oh my gosh, that’s awful! I’m so, so, so sorry. Hugs to you and yours. I’m welling up from just reading that. Horrible people who own that dog. Horrible. I hope you called the cops on him.
ranchandsyrup
@Litlebritdifrnt: you’re completely right. she deserved that and more.
i agree with goldman that the owner should face the consequences in the future.
there aren’t really words….but if you want to vent or reminisce or anything i’ll listen. sending good thoughts your way.
VEC
Being from Jersey, I have to agree with Goldberg… it really is just a ploy to meet Springsteen. I brought that up to my husband yesterday after thinking about it, and I can see it as THE undeniable reason. The rest just happens to fit his plans.
Litlebritdifrnt
@efgoldman: @geg6:
It happened in the middle of prime Trick or Treat time, my neighbor was in his yard when the dog attacked Lari in our driveway, he smacked it upside the head with a log to make it let go but it was too late. We think she died of shock. He immediately called the Sheriff’s Dept to report it cause this dog was loose in the neighborhood with hundreds of children trick or treating. We arrived home seconds after it had happened because Lari was still warm. I am gutted at what happened to Lari, but this dog was loose among all these children. I cannot imagine what might have happened.
Betty Cracker
@Litlebritdifrnt: God, that sucks. I’m so sorry.
GregB
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Condolences on your loss.
smith
@Litlebritdifrnt:
ETA: Because you explained the situation above. That dog had no business being out unleashed among so many children. Has this dog had incidents before?
I am so, so sorry for your loss.
JoyfulA
@Litlebritdifrnt: What a horrible story! My heart is with you.
Joseph Nobles
Came to post this link to Joe Mande’s Twitter feed, who’s retweeting all the love the right wing is showing Chris Christie tonight.
Saw Litlebritdifrnt’s tragic loss. So sorry.
DCLaw1
@feebog: John Thune. Mark it.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Smiling Mortician:
I heard that he’s becoming so big that people are starting to orbit him.
@ranchandsyrup:
When I first watched it I wasn’t ready for the ‘transformation’ and was wondering what this had to do with Joe Isuzu. Once he morphed into Joe I was a bit creeped out too but then it got hilarious.
David Leisure sure has fun with that character, that’s for sure.
Old Dan and Little Ann
@Litlebritdifrnt: That’s a nightmare. Ugh. A pit bull attacked my 6 month old lab puppy about 12 years ago. It’s a miracle he unclenched his jaws from his snout for a split second so I could pull my dog away. He had a hold for a couple of minutes but it seemed like hours. That stupid fucking pit bull was put down. I hope you at least get to see the same result. Good luck.
Petorado
Funny to hear mention of Christie, Springsteen, and Holy Grail in the same sentence. Especially in the context of this storm. Longtime Bruce fans know that Bruce sang a song about “Sandy” a long time ago, well, maybe it’s better know as “4th of July in Asbury Park. Just funny to me.
But I do think Christie is a Republican who is seeing little future in the race to be the absolutely wingnuttiest wingnut out there and sees more benefit to competent governance than failure to do so and attempting to blame it on the other. That said, his brand loyalty and ability to be a complete dick for the party’s purposes still makes me think he’d be more than happy to stick a shiv in anyone if it got him political points, including any anonymous public group.
And hearing Mara Liason on NPR analyzing this Christie/ Obama tete-a-tete in purely cynical political terms reminds me that no national event is ever about the people who are physically suffering because of it, it is only important to those for whom it does, or doesn’t, politically benefit. To hell with that woman and NPR’s so-called political team.
cckids
@Litlebritdifrnt: I’m so sorry for your loss, what a horrifying thing to happen. How can people be so thoughtless & stupid?
TS
@geg6:
Nothing to do with luck – God looks after his own
jon
The thing Christie understands is the Electoral College math and how it affects the GOP. What he probably sees is that no Republican is going to win an election in the near future without getting some big state to go over to the GOP side. So what to do? Make moves to ensure he’ll win at least a state or two that are traditionally Democratic. What could those be? There aren’t any GOP candidates that could win California, so New York or Illinois would be the next big target (assuming Ohio is still close enough to go either way.) A guy from New Jersey could do that, he’d like to think. So this is his huge opportunity to make New Yorkers very happy, he has partisan cover because he’s just talking about New Jersey while doing so, and as long as there isn’t a cholera epidemic or some sort of horrible financial scandal he’ll be in good shape to come out looking like the guy who rebuilt New Jersey’s shore (and also New York City). All while expending how much political capital? It’s not as if Romney is going to insist President Obama is fucking the whole thing up, is it? (Maybe I don’t want to know.)
The GOP will want to win in 2016. The Fucking South will vote for anyone with an (R) attached, but the battlefield isn’t there. They’ll try a Massachusetts Mormon and a Wisconsin Weasel. They accepted a Carpetbagger/bomber and a Dimwitted Alaskan, too. They want to win more than anything, so Christie is the front runner and that’s just how it is.
handy
@eemom:
You know the drill
handy
@jon:
Christie needs to drop about 2 and a half bills before he’s even a serious contender.
Bennett
My theory is that (a). Christie can’t stand Romney because like the rest of us he knows Romney is a stone-hearted sociopathic chickenfucker and (b). he knew that Romney is the goat this time around & wouldn’t touch his VP slot because the Romney campaign has been, is, and will be a sure loser.
jon
@handy: Yeah, and a Mormon or a Black guy would never have a chance, too.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Wow, I’m really sorry to hear of your loss. My condolences to you on the unnecessary loss of your companion. I’m struggling with the problem with my little Manx now. She’s only about 4-5 years old (feral rescue) but has had chronic health issues for all of her life. Her hindquarters are weakening and she is having more problems with controlling her bowels (she has always been fecal incontinent with chronic diarrhea). She isn’t acting like she is in pain but she is wasting away despite everything we have been doing for her. She seems comfortable and not in pain but I know the time is coming soon that I will have to make that decision that I’ve been dreading.
Having fixated on me, she is my cat and I’m her human. She trusts me and me only and barely tolerates my wife though she has been more accepting of her as her health has degraded. Our neighbor has two pit bulls and they leave her alone after once trying to spark a chase with her that didn’t go too well for them. She set them straight by not moving or acting scared when they had their first chance to get to her, she just stared them down until they backed off in confusion. Now they completely ignore her and she them. I’ve never seen her run from a dog, instead facing them down every single time.
I’ve never had a cat that makes all of the vocalizations as she does. My wife thinks shes the cutest when she is ‘talking’ to me. When she’s on my car in the garage I can go up to her, kiss her on the forehead and then bow my forehead down so she can ‘kiss’ it back. I’m spoiling her rotten right now (as always, actually, just more!) and trying to make her life as easy as possible for her.
End of life stuff sucks, especially when it is sudden as in your case. I’m lucky in that regard but I feel your pain in knowing how much our pets mean to us.
Take care and best wishes.
Bennett
In the present situation Christies reminds me of The Fat Man (Sidney Greenstreet) and Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) at the end of The Maltese Falcon telling Wilmer (Elisha Cook) that you’re going over cause you’re the fall guy.
Spaghetti Lee
@jon:
New York is never going to vote Republican in our lifetime. (I admit it was just one poll, but I saw one over the summer that had Obama up 63-36.) Illinois, only slightly less likely. Not as long as their dominant big cities keep growing, their suburbs keep diversifying, and their backcountries keep fading.
handy
@jon:
Yeah but Obama’s not really Muslim and Romney is not really a Mormon.* Christie on the other hand is very obese.
*-Okay I made that up but he’s able to overcome his religion problem by basically pretending it’s not there, an advantage Christie at his current girth doesn’t have.
Daniel
It could be that he’s really just a human being that has had his home town squashed like a bug.
And it could be that he’s having an actual human reaction to that.
It also could be that that reaction makes him look more human and that therefore makes him more electable.
Are we really now going to be criticizing Republicans for being more human?
This is what we want!
I for one will be thrilled not to vote for him in 2016.
Death Panel Truck
@aimai:
This, this, a thousand times this.
Daniel
… adding,
You think C.C. is going to stand there and let the teabaggers boo a gay soldier?
Perhaps he’s just what the Republicans need to break their fever.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@Geoduck: Thanks for finding that, it was one of my favorite SNL bits. And the sound was in sync for me, too.
1-2-3-4-5 You’re great! You’re great!
Jane2
@Litlebritdifrnt: what an awful thing to happen. I’m so sorry for your loss.
James E. Powell
@Groucho48:
He reminds me of that mine owner, a few years back, after there was a mining disaster and a bunch of miners died. The guy made it all about himself and did the paternalistic act on the air. Full of concern. Full of plans. Full of sympathy for the families.
That was Bob Murray, of Murray Energy, the same asshole who made his employees take a day off with no pay to pose with Romney.
James E. Powell
@Daniel:
Totally agree. I would have loved to see him respond to that. I recall when he nominated a Muslim to be a judge and the wingers went nuts. He was not amused.
The question: Is Christie bracing evidence that the Republicans have a future outside of the Confederacy, or will the right-wingers keep him out of the club? This is, after all, the party that tossed quite a few sitting senators and congress-creatures who strayed from the herd.
slightly_peeved
@Litlebritdifrnt:
That’s awful to hear. My condolences.
ruemara
@Litlebritdifrnt: I’m so sorry. I’m near speechless with horror. I hope you find that dog’s owner and he or she gets the full brunt of whatever the law allows all over their heads.
Lojasmo
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Well, that’s just fucking terrible. I’m so sorry.
drew42
@Baud: Off the top of my head:
1. In the span of a few years, Giuliani went from America’s Mayor for how well he publicly appeared to handle the crisis, to “creepy weirdo that everyone ignores” because he’s professionally corrupt and not very bright.
2. Crisis management is glamorous, but also a basic requirement for leadership positions. And it’s a reason why a lot of politicians, with their over-sized egos, get into the business. All politicking and opposition goes away, you have to / get to show that you are in charge, give frequent updates, and make sure everyone involved gets credit to keep up morale. It’s a situation that all would-be leaders dream about.
U.S. Presidents need be able to do a lot more – things that require not-so-glamorous foreign policy skills. And the not-so-glamorous negotiating with people who have honest disagreements with you, rather than telling them to piss off. Christie does not have those skills.
rumpole
How is romney a rival? Christie didn’t run. If Romney loses, he’s out for 2016; you get one shot. Unlike the fainting spells that Gingrich routinely employs, for example, his emotion seems to be genuine. In particular, take a look at his face when Doocy asks him about Romney and the rest of it.
It is possible to be a decent guy and wrong about a lot of things (ask Cole). I’d never vote for the guy, but on this it seems like he’s trying to do the right thing, and he deserves credit for it. If it doesn’t go well, 2016 will be out for him so there is a natural confluence of interests.
In any event, his motives are not terribly relevant. We will see what happens in the coming weeks, but I for one am (a) rooting for him to be successful, and (b) willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I genuinely think that he wants to be for reasons other than himself.
jon
The love and charity of the Right is on display. Those people are so
retardedAnncoultered.FlipYrWhig
@Litlebritdifrnt: just saw this … Oh, God, so very sorry.
catatonia
@Litlebritdifrnt:
That is f*****g awful. I am so sorry.
JosieJ
@jon:
Um, no. Christie doesn’t have a damn thing to do with New York City or State, except in areas where the 2 states share functions through quasi-governmental agencies (usually having to do with shared infrastructure like transit). There’s no way he gets to take credit for anything else going on in NYC or NYS, especially with our own two ego-monsters Bloomberg and Cuomo on the case.
@Litlebritdifrnt:
How horrible! I am so sorry for your loss!