Christie Uber Alles
Typically, the biggest Chris Christie enthusiasts give you the best arguments for why it makes sense for Chris Christie to jump in the race. Certainly the case can be made that Christie's entry would be good for the Republican Party, good for the country, good for the news media. (The opposite case can also be made.)
So boosters like Jennifer Rubin, who's long been atop the Christie heap, are now in the position of offering counter-narratives to those of the skeptics (see, e.g., Byron York). Rubin's right, I think, that the practical obstacles to a Christie candidacy can be brushed aside by Christie and team (whether with a lot of work or a little). But I'd now be surprised if Christie doesn't run for reasons that arch a bit higher than campaign mechanics.
Why are we even here, captivated by Christie, in the first place? Why does he command so much attention? What itch does he scratch, simply in virtue of who he is? Start asking these questions, I'm arguing at the Daily Caller, and you start thinking that Christie's decision to run has already, in a way, been made for him -- and if he vetoes it himself, it'll be mainly to prove to himself that he can.
It might be a blessing or a curse that this is Christie's moment. But it is.
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Mar '11
Re: Christie Uber Alles
James Poulos:
Why are we even here, captivated by Christie, in the first place?
He is good at town halls and balancing budgets, I guess.
I am not that enthusiastic about him because of other issues (e.g. man-made climate change), which suggest that he is a Rino squish. Nothing wrong with that, of course.
I don't have a problem with him running, as he will most likely split the Rino squish vote with Romney (and Perry), leaving the way open for Herman Cain :-)
Edited on Oct 3, 2011 at 8:23amJun '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
It's time we started asking how many first tier candidates we can field before we get a brokered convention. I'm starting to think that such a scenario might be good for a dark horse like Gov. Gary Johnson.
Nov '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
James Poulos:
Why are we even here, captivated by Christie, in the first place?
That is an excellent question -- a better question might be "who is the 'we' that are 'captivated' by Christie in the first place?"
I'm not part of that "we." The guy doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. Normally I love Ann Coulter, but I've grown quite tired of her constantly harping about how Christie is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I just don't see Christie as a true "movement conservative." It's highly suspicious to me that he has the support of the GOP Establishment, the same folks that gave us McCain and Dole (gee, thanks a lot for that).
It seems to me that the reason ya'll are enamored with Christie is the utter failure of Romney to gain traction. He debates well, looks good, has tons o money, but Perry still beats him, and Cain is overtaking him.
Christie is the Establishment's best stab at getting their guy elected -- that's the answer to your question.
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Seeing a brokered convention is on my bucket list. Let next year be the year!
Mar '11
Re: Christie Uber Alles
I don't think it is possible, in this day and age, for a brokered convention to lead to the selection of a dark horse candidate. Unless that candidate is named Mitch or Paul.
Nov '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
David Williamson
I am not that enthusiastic about him because of other issues (e.g. man-made climate change), which suggest he is a Rino squish. Nothing wrong with that, of course.
I don't have a problem with him running, as he will most likely split the Rino squish vote with Romney (and Perry), leaving the way open for Herman Cain :-) · Oct 3 at 8:21am
Was that sarcasm, or do you really think nothing's wrong with being a RINO squish? Just curious. I do like your analysis, though. Primaries are zero sum game to a great extent. If Christie gains traction, it is necessarily at someone else's expense. If Christie convinces us that he is a movement conservative, he could siphon votes from conservatives like Perry and Cain. If he doesn't, he siphons votes from Romney.
My bet: the anal exam of Christie by conservatives will make even Palin feel sorry for him. He'll come up lacking and will not be seen as a Reagan conservative, and will falter. He's not VP material either, so he'll be a flash in the pan. IMHO, that is.
May '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Because, as I argued in a member post the other day, "we" are worried that the current candidates don't have what it takes to 1) unify the base and win over independents to defeat Obama, and then 2) right the ship of state.
We're looking for someone who does--someone's who's conservative enough to be acceptable to Tea Partiers and someone who's experienced enough to reassure the establishment types that he'll know what he's doing once he's in office.
Since Mitch Daniels, Haley Barbour and Paul Ryan bailed out, we're thinking Christie may be our last best hope, imperfect as he is. He's more "real" and naturally conservative than Romney; more experienced than Cain and Bachmann, bolder and more articulate than Perry. He has no personal baggage.
Edited on Oct 3, 2011 at 8:49amJul '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
There is no "Establishment". There is no "Tea Party". These are only terms upon which people can fix their suspicions.
Christie does appeal to those people worried about the coming Debt Collapse, and who worry when the only reference to the grim mathematics of "entitlements" is over whether or not Gov. Perry should have said Social Security was a "Ponzi Scheme". Some of us wish that the conversation could be, ummm, a little deeper than that. Christie, confronting that crisis head on every day in New Jersey, appeals to us because he has not failed to speak about it in simple and direct words.
Having said that, I'm not sold on Christie myself. I wish he had a little more seasoning, and had finished reforming my formerly native state.
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Precisely!
May '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
I disagree. Christie's appeal is based on authenticity. There's a feeling that what you see is what you get. He doesn't parse his words for the PC crowd. Understand that NJ is dominated by outside media. There is one network affiliate in the entire state. It is mostly served by NYC and Philadelphia.
I also disagree with the idea that Christie is "Establishment." The Establishment guys who opposed Reagan were the go-along-to-get-along types that would have never touched the amount of third rails the Governor has.
Romney, on the other hand, IS pure establishment and about as left as it gets in the Republican party. He could never have given the type of speech Christie delivered at the Reagan Library.
May '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
By the way, James, can't say I am enamored by the title of your post. The left thinks we're Nazis anyway. Don't hand them anything on a silver platter.
Mar '11
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Doug Lee
Was that sarcasm, or do you really think nothing's wrong with being a RINO squish? Just curious.
Doug: I do use sarcasm a lot in my comments - my English heritage.
But I like Rob, even though he is a Rino squish, and often agree with him, in spite of that. Similarly with Mr Christie. I don't have a big problem with Mr Romney, either. It's just that I would prefer a true conservative candidate.
I also agree with the rest of your post about the media treatment that Mr Christie will get - his weight, especially. I kinda like him, so wouldn't want to see him go through that. He is a fine Governor, and should stay where he is (kinda like Mr Perry, who is currently undergoing his anal exam).
BTW, Doug, I really like your post #3 :-)
Edited on Oct 3, 2011 at 9:07amJan '11
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Poulos' premise: "I think, that the practical obstacles to a Christie candidacy can be brushed aside by Christie and team (whether with a lot of work or a little)."
Quite simply, not for me, and not, I believe for many others. Too many documented liberal policy statements and actions to overcome, particularly in a Republican Party with strong representation of Tea-Party ideas.
If Christie is strong at the national convention, it portends a 1968 Chicago Democratic convention melee - this time for the Republicans. Too many failed choices made by Rockefeller Republicans in the recent past, along with very dangerous, indeed explosive, national and economic social conditions for a go-along candidate this time.
I see Christie as a Republican Obama - all hope and little or nothing conservative to base it on.
Dec '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Which governor has been in office for 11 years and which one for 2?
Which governor runs a state with 20 million people when elected, 25 million now, and during the same period, 9 million but only 8 million now?
Who’s the governor of a state having more than 1,200 miles of border with a threatening foreign country and whose state has more than half of its border with the Atlantic Ocean and preserved bays?
Which governor hunts and has served in our armed forces and which one fights against the 2nd Amendment?
Which governor wants more drilling for oil wells and which one subsidizes idle windmills?
Which governor has declared that he will represent the tea party movement and which one is being ordered to declare by the GOP Eastern establishment?
Jun '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Anyone who believes in AGW is not fit for elected office by nature of the fact that you cannot trust that person not to be taken for a ride on the next hoax to come along.
Please governor Christie do not run. And if you feel the urge to run, do what you have always done, sit on the couch til the feeling passes.
May '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Cas, you have just tossed aside the best climate scientists in the world. AGW is not at issue- CAGW is. What to do about any CAGW, if anything- and cost-benefit analyses of the nonsensical proposed "solutions".
I am bored with Christie and with all of the others playing footsie with the race. Every possible nominee- including Huntsman, believe it or not- will seriously attack spending and entitlements in a way that Obama will not and cannot due to his support base.
This constant search for Mr. or Ms. Perfect has been a juvenile embarrassment, bringing us boomlets for Daniels, Barbour, Gingrich, Bachmann, Palin, Perry, Christie, Ryan, Cain, Kermit the Frog, Donald Duck, etc.
Stop trying to create the glib-give-Obama-heck-so-I-can-feel-fulfilled mouthpiece. Concentrate on those who are seriously able to run and lock them down with the most important policy prescriptions as an unequivocal condition of support. Then elect them and hold them to it.
May '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Duane Oyen
This constant search for Mr. or Ms. Perfect has been a juvenile embarrassment,
Speaking for myself, I'm not looking for Mr. Perfect, I'm looking for someone who can do the job of winning and governing capably enough to avert disaster once in office. None of those currently running gives me that confidence. If I were forced to vote today, I'd probably choose Romney, though with regret and misgiving.
Christie seems to me better than Romney. Much better. That's why I'm hoping he'll get in.
Mar '11
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Mrs Perfect seems to be staying home in Alaska.
Oh, well, Mr Cain is not perfect (I have some quibbles about his 999 plan), but he satisfies the Buckley rule (most conservative candidate that is electable) - Mr Christie does't.
Which part of no don't you understand?
May '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
Sarah Palin's views, values, principles and priorities line up much more perfectly with mine than Christie's do, but her inarticulateness is so bad that I fear she would lose if she got in. We can't risk that.
Herman Cain has never held elected office. I worry that even if he got elected, his inexperience would prove disastrous for the country and an enormous set-back for the Tea Party.
I don't believe in the Buckley rule. I don't think Buckley even believed it, or voted by it. It's serviceable only as a reminder that "most conservative" isn't enough. Electable isn't enough either. We need articulate. We need capable and effective.
All reports are that Christie is reconsidering.
Edited on Oct 3, 2011 at 11:41amSep '10
Re: Christie Uber Alles
I am very sympathetic to Duane's sense of tedium at the endless dance en route to the Republican nomination, but at the same time, I'm still not satisfied with the choices in front of us, and I'm still interested in doing more window shopping. I think James P has the Christie charm pretty well sussed out, and I have to say that his authenticity is a powerful lure. I would love to see Christie in the next few debates. I think we've all been done a tremendous favor by getting a good look at Perry in action, and I'd like as good a look at Christie.
Off the point, is anyone else getting tired of the semi-ironic use of "RINO squish"?