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  1. BThompson Inactive
    BThompson
    @BThompson

    I think Rubio was ready for the most part. He hit back with the remark about New Jersey’s credit being downgraded 9 times and with the shot about Christie not wanting to go back to his state during the snowstorm. Also, the first time he made the point about Obama being effective at changing the country was fine as well. So I wouldn’t say he wasn’t ready.

    The mistake was believing that the pivot to Obama was more effective than it actually was and going back to it again and again. My guess is that Rubio saw diminishing returns by getting in the mud with a guy who was at 5% in the polls. Getting into a back and forth would only elevate Christie’s status potentially, plus the rules of the debate where people who were attacked in an answer getting a chance to respond meant that by continuing to hit Christie in his responses the exchange would just continue. Rubio was trying to give a response that would force the moderators to end the exchange and he thought the Obama answer was a powerful, on message way to cut the bickering short.

    Once that didn’t work, though, Rubio should have had a way to defend his record and point out that being a governor isn’t necessarily better preparation.

    • #31
  2. RyanFalcone Member
    RyanFalcone
    @RyanFalcone

    The days of Republicans who govern or legislate from blue states is over (for now) for getting the nod for President. I think that is a good thing. I think he got a raw deal from many who just refuse to understand what governing is, especially when you are in the minority of the governed. The fact is though, when you get in a rut of thinking that you are “only” a minority, you can never become the majority.

    • #32
  3. Fricosis Guy Listener
    Fricosis Guy
    @FricosisGuy

    Jager:

    Fricosis Guy: As a [mostly] Rubio guy, I wasn’t happy to see Christie jump him. However, I’m grateful Christie did so. We cannot have a general election candidate who pulls a Romney and freezes when ambushed. Rubio should’ve had obvious comebacks at hand

    That’s just it though, this really wasn’t an ambush. Christie had been making comments in the Press calling Marco a “bubble boy” and robotic before the debate. It is worse than being ambushed. When your opponent telegraphs his shot, you really need an answer.

    Maybe Rubio gets better from this. We want our candidates fire tested and ready for the big stage.

    Oh yes, exactly. Perhaps it surprised Romney that Crowley jumped in, but he should have had responses in hand.

    There is no way Rubio should’ve been caught off guard. Christie had been peddling this line of attack for days. Rubio either wasn’t prepped for this, prepped lousy responses, or locked up…and the last two aren’t mutually exclusive.

    • #33
  4. Duncan Winn Member
    Duncan Winn
    @DuncanWinn

    This must be another viscous Cruz rumor….. ;-)

    • #34
  5. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    I never understood the hate that Christie got over The Hug. What was he supposed to do, cross himself and spit on the ground?

    I also agree with everything he said re. senators vs. executives.

    Those things being said, the sooner we make this the three way race we all know it is, the better. Have a nice life, Governor.

    • #35
  6. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    Duncan Winn:This must be another viscous Cruz rumor….. ;-)

    It’s dripping out slowly?

    • #36
  7. Robert McReynolds Member
    Robert McReynolds
    @

    Manny:I guess it’s not a surprise. The best to the Governor.

    Gosh, I don’t know why people are so mean. I didn’t support him, but dancing on someone’s grave is as classy as Donald Trump. Are we all becoming Donald Trumps? Internet snarkyness I guess.

    No but such is the state of things when you attack/challenge The One.

    • #37
  8. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Jon & all,

    Well, he shoveled the snow and cracked somebody on the knee with a lead pipe. All in a days work for a Jersey boy. Now it’s back to the Garden State.

    Bye bye.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #38
  9. donald todd Inactive
    donald todd
    @donaldtodd

    BThompson:I would happily say this to his face. He knifed Romney at the convention and then during Sandy. He has been a complete menace to NJ gun owners, he hasn’t reformed jack in his state and has ruined it’s credit. He is a blowhard and an obnoxious ass. He deserves no warm wishes or praise for anything he’s done in his political life.

    Don’t hold back.  Tell us how you really feel!

    • #39
  10. Redneck Desi Inactive
    Redneck Desi
    @RedneckDesi

    I enjoyed the Christie anti-teacher union porn, but being obnoxious was his one trick pony.

    • #40
  11. Paul Erickson Inactive
    Paul Erickson
    @PaulErickson

    Vance Richards:This is good news for Trenton pizzerias.

    But bad news for the Bergen Record.  They have been slamming him on the front page for months.

    • #41
  12. Quake Voter Inactive
    Quake Voter
    @QuakeVoter

    Stipulate to all of Christie’s demerits, BUT …

    if his name were Cris Cristoforo, handsome son a Cuban bartender and maid from Union City, bilingual with a family that comes with the picture frames, and Mark Redd were a young white pudgy Anglo senator from Florida …

    this line of replies would be very different.

    Don’t change one policy position or political action of either man:  everything would change.

    There was (or I guess “is”) a superficial affirmative action aspect to Rubio’s candidacy that also played into that critical fail Saturday night.

    It goes unmentioned but must get under the skin of the other candidates.

    Good riddance to Christie.

    Left with an all-time great line though.

    • #42
  13. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Quake Voter:Stipulate to all of Christie’s demerits, BUT …

    if his name were Cris Cristoforo, handsome son a Cuban bartender and maid from Union City, bilingual with a family that comes with the picture frames, and Mark Redd were a young white pudgy Anglo senator from Florida …

    this line of replies would be very different.

    Don’t change one policy position or political action of either man: everything would change.

    There was (or I guess “is”) a superficial affirmative action aspect to Rubio’s candidacy that also played into that critical fail Saturday night.

    It goes unmentioned but must get under the skin of the other candidates.

    Good riddance to Christie.

    Left with an all-time great line though.

    No, you’re wrong. You can be a jerk no matter what your body type or ethnicity. There’s overwhelming evidence for that.

    • #43
  14. Quake Voter Inactive
    Quake Voter
    @QuakeVoter

    Brian Watt: No, you’re wrong. You can be a jerk no matter what your body type or ethnicity. There’s overwhelming evidence for that.

    Agree completely.  You can be a jerk, unaccomplished, self-absorbed, petulant, and trade in empty clichés… and be elected POTUS twice because of enormous indulgence for preferred ethnic and racial categories.

    And you can try to base your campaign for the Republican nomination on personal story of uplift, attractiveness, ethnic appeal and clichés, and actually forget your own record of conservative accomplishment at a crucial moment in your campaign.

    Rubio is finished this year.  Unless the stop Trump rhetoric was always just a Rubio talking point, supporting Cruz is SC is the only viable strategy today.

    • #44
  15. tigerlily Member
    tigerlily
    @tigerlily

    katievs:Well, good riddance.

    Ditto.

    • #45
  16. Larry3435 Inactive
    Larry3435
    @Larry3435

    So after knee-capping Romney in 2012, and knee-capping our most electable candidate Rubio in 2016, Christie decides to take his bottomless pasta bowl and go home.  Thanks a bunch, Chris.  Nice of you to stop by.

    • #46
  17. Frozen Chosen Inactive
    Frozen Chosen
    @FrozenChosen

    Umbra Fractus:I never understood the hate that Christie got over The Hug. What was he supposed to do, cross himself and spit on the ground?

    I also agree with everything he said re. senators vs. executives.

    Those things being said, the sooner we make this the three way race we all know it is, the better. Have a nice life, Governor.

    Shake Obama’s frickin’ hand!  Is that too much to ask?

    • #47
  18. Jim Kearney Member
    Jim Kearney
    @JimKearney

    Umbra Fractus: I never understood the hate that Christie got over The Hug. What was he supposed to do, cross himself and spit on the ground?

    Good start, but not enough. Extend the pinky and forefinger, wear a necklace of garlic cloves and bada-a-bing, he’s on to South Carolina.

    But why accessorize after the fact?

    Prediction. Law and order conservatism lives on. In a year when Democrats fall over each other pandering to #Black Lives Matter, illegal aliens, detainee rights, and “criminal justice reform” (i.e. going soft on crime), Chris Christie will be on board for doing the opposite of all that in the next Republican administration.

    • #48
  19. Ray Kujawa Coolidge
    Ray Kujawa
    @RayKujawa

    Jim Kearney: …Chris Christie will be on board for doing the opposite of all that in the next Republican administration.

    Chris Christie for US Attorney General!

    • #49
  20. Frozen Chosen Inactive
    Frozen Chosen
    @FrozenChosen

    Ray Kujawa:

    Jim Kearney: …Chris Christie will be on board for doing the opposite of all that in the next Republican administration.

    Chris Christie for US Attorney General!

    Too many skeletons in his past

    • #50
  21. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Ray Kujawa:

    Jim Kearney: …Chris Christie will be on board for doing the opposite of all that in the next Republican administration.

    Chris Christie for US Attorney General!

    FEMA Director.

    • #51
  22. katievs Inactive
    katievs
    @katievs

    Ray Kujawa:

    Jim Kearney: …Chris Christie will be on board for doing the opposite of all that in the next Republican administration.

    Chris Christie for US Attorney General!

    I was hoping Andrew McCarthy would be AG.

    • #52
  23. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    katievs:

    Ray Kujawa:

    Jim Kearney: …Chris Christie will be on board for doing the opposite of all that in the next Republican administration.

    Chris Christie for US Attorney General!

    I was hoping Andrew McCarthy would be AG.

    Katie,

    Great suggestion. I’ll second the motion.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #53
  24. donald todd Inactive
    donald todd
    @donaldtodd

    Ray Kujawa:

    Jim Kearney: …Chris Christie will be on board for doing the opposite of all that in the next Republican administration.

    Chris Christie for US Attorney General!

    Given Christie’s soft position on the second amendment, I’d be surprised that Trump or Cruz would nominate him for AG.  He would not draw a large number of votes on the behalf of either of them, so he would be a liability.  If Trump or Cruz has to choose between the NRA and Christie, I’d put my chips on the NRA which is pretty much a block vote.

    • #54
  25. Jim Kearney Member
    Jim Kearney
    @JimKearney

    donald todd:

    Ray Kujawa:

    Jim Kearney: …Chris Christie will be on board for doing the opposite of all that in the next Republican administration.

    Chris Christie for US Attorney General!

    Given Christie’s soft position on the second amendment, I’d be surprised that Trump or Cruz would nominate him for AG. He would not draw a large number of votes on the behalf of either of them, so he would be a liability. If Trump or Cruz has to choose between the NRA and Christie, I’d put my chips on the NRA which is pretty much a block vote.

    The AG job, traditionally announced after the election, has never been considered a political appointment. Prosecutorial objectivity, and all of that. (Let’s hope we see some of that from Loretta Lynch in the weeks to come.)

    My hope is that Trump’s AG comes out of the Giuliani/Christie wing of the party. Freed of the pressures from a liberal NJ state house, I’d expect Christie to be a strong supporter of armed self-defense — and very much in favor of disarming terror suspects.

    Besides the AG, I’d expect Trump to put some real heavyweights in charge of immigration enforcement. He needs to empower our border enforcers in the same way which Giuliani revitalized the NYPD. As we’ve seen in the two Ray Kelley and Bill Bratton terms as NYPD Police Commissioner, the PC is only effective under the right boss.

    [Mayor Bloomberg, a complete ass on firearms policy, was nevertheless strong on supporting police — stop, question, & frisk, etc. — and in letting Commissioner Kelley develop a super-charged anti-terrorism force. Contrast that with Kelley’s first term as PC, when he was shackled to the criminal-friendly policies of Mayor Dinkins.]

    Trump will support most if not all NRA positions. I think there is an argument to be made for test firing and “fingerprinting” all new guns into a database for use by police and the FBI in solving crimes. But given how many guns are out there, it would take decades for such a policy to be broadly effective.

    Governor Christie could also see a position on the Federal bench come his way. (But hold those Supreme Court seats for Ricochet’s own legal experts, Epstein and Yoo!)

    • #55
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