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For Our 2016 Candidate: Inspiration or Grit?
Last night, I was listening to Hugh Hewitt talking to The Daily Caller’s Matt Lewis about Mike Pence’s response to the outcry over Indiana’s RFRA law. One of them noted that Pence’s failure (and that of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson) to fight back hurt the conservative cause. Lewis noted that a fighter like Chris Christie would have hit it out of the park. Pence, he said, is an affable guy and a good communicator, but isn’t a fighter. He concluded that if Republicans want inspirational speeches , they should nominate Bush or Rubio. If they prefer a fighter, then Christie or Cruz (and someone else whose name escapes me) should be their choice.
Since Cruz has been a polarizing figure who has not shown an ability to work with other Republicans or accomplish much, I would be inclined to rule him out. Christie has been a fairly successful governor and has helped elect many Republican governors. And because he is a fighter — yet one with a more personable style — I think he would do better in a general election. Christie was able to win reelection in liberal New Jersey with 61% of the vote without changing his positions on abortion or SSM.
If there is anyone else with his abilities (which Walker may also possess), I’m willing to consider him or her.
Your thoughts?
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Published in Politics
I would be very suspicious of any Republican who WON a statewide race in CA(see Schwarzenegger, Arnold). I’m not too concerned about the lack of political experience, Hillary’s experience amounts to a whole lot of nothin’! Didn’t know about the pro-choice thing. I’m anti-abortion but not a single issue voter so not a huge deal for me.
In fact, I want a president who puts the United States first, and so I saw Christie as advocating, doing whatever it takes, for his own state, which is exactly what he should have done as that state’s governor.
I’m a Romney supporter who didn’t see Christie’s hug as against Mitt Romney but, rather, for New Jersey.
I was not a Romney supporter, and I viewed it the exact same way.
He’d maybe make an ok VP twisting arms behind the scene. We need someone more affable. I love his Jersey shtick, but it would do to the office the same thing Obama’s various appearances in idiot led interviews, demean it.
Christie is a fighter, and that holds a lot of appeal.
You cited his pretty good stances on abortion and SSM. The thing is, I cannot imagine Christie fighting to change the status quo on either of these issues.
I can imagine Christie fighting for, and winning, a budget that grows federal spending less than what the Left wanted.
You nominate Christie and I will work to elect the Democrat. We are either going to get a Conservative or I am not participating in this cycle’s episode of GOP Stupidity.
We need someone who, rather than wanting to hurt people or his enemies, wants to hurt government by shrinking it and sending the cockroaches scurrying. I heard a rather interesting piece of information for an Appropriations Committee staffer about spending and it just baffled me that this is how spending is looked at. Basically she told me that the more lines of revenue for a program the better because it shows the Congress how many interested people there are in the program and it becomes harder to cut. We need someone who can cut through that BS and get rid of programs that destroy society.
I think of fighting and inspiring as two things that yield emotional satisfaction for the fans, but what I want from a President is not emotional satisfaction.
I think Christie has achieved some great things (particularly fiscal) through skillful negotiation, which is important to me. I’d like some of those results in the WH, and his policy flaws seem no worse than the average candidate’s.
I don’t want him to be President or nominee for the same chief reason I don’t want Newt to be a public figure; given the choice between his ego and principle or party, Christie seems to want to snag a seat on Air Force One. We have a chance at a 2018 supermajority, which would yield more conservative results than anyone since Harding. With Christie, I fear we’d hand a near supermajority back to them.
As with Paul, I’m not interested in someone landing new demographics of voters by promising not to be like those haters downticket.
I’ve only seen him a few times, though; his CPAC speech was the most friendly fire heavy speech of the event (including the Ted Cruz speech!). His RNC speech was one of the lowest points of the 2012 campaign. I have seen him give some other self-centered interviews. The hug. A half dozen data points, though, is not really enough. People say that I’m wrong about him. I hope this is true and he contributes positively to this cycle.
This is it, exactly. I want a Frankencandidate. I want someone with the grit and principles of Cruz, Christie’s ability to brawl, Rand’s appeal to the young, Bush’s ability to fundraise, Newt’s vision and ability to debate, the blue state and blue collar appeal of Walker, and the business acumen of Fiorina and Romney.
But such a beast doesn’t exist.
In the end, as we’ve seen too often (even with Obama) no matter how principled the candidate, compromises will be made, and promises unfulfilled. That goes with the territory of democracy and federalism.
What we need most is someone who can win, someone the people can like and trust, and most importantly someone who can win the purple states. Right now that looks like Rubio or Walker to me.
I am persuaded by the comments of My Brother De Seno. I do NOT want another narcissist in the White House. Thus: no Christie. Most political figures are self-centered to a fault; I do not want to assist another to high office.
What I do want is a modern day Cincinnatus, a man who does not seek the commission as a personal goal and is reluctant to seek it because of the cost to himself and his family. Conversely, I want someone who is unrelenting in his pursuit of the office and our goals after he accepts the commission.
Governor Walker seems to me at this moment to fill the requirement better than anyone else I have seen.