What Do You Make of This? Chris Christie Endorses Donald Trump.

 

Christie-Trump

I have long been suspicious of Chris Christie. In his years as governor, as far as I can tell, he has done nothing for the New Jersey Republican Party, which is as moribund today as it was when he was first elected (if not more so). In 2012, at the moment which counted most, he ostentatiously embraced Barack Obama, and that may have decided what looked a week earlier like a very close race.

So when I see that he has endorsed Donald Trump, I ask myself the only question that seems plausible. What might be in it for Christie? The vice presidential nomination? A court appointment? Membership in the cabinet?

Or is this just revenge? He certainly does not seem to like Marco Rubio, who blasted him and bested him in New Hampshire. My own instinct is that the only time that Chris Christie is eager to see the Republicans win is when he is leading the ticket. Am I being unjust?

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  1. Paul A. Rahe Member
    Paul A. Rahe
    @PaulARahe

    TKC1101:I fully expect the same conspiracy character assassination theme will apply to every endorsement of any candidate. Christie plays what’s in it for Christie. You really think Haley or Gowdy or Abbott are doing it for the good of humanity?

    Sheesh, folks, they are politicians.

    My guess is that Haley endorsed the candidate that she thought would win and do the most good and that the same is true for Abbott. Gowdy I do not follow. And Christie . . . has he ever done anything for anyone but Christie?

    • #31
  2. Tim H. Inactive
    Tim H.
    @TimH

    So, Christie’s still part of the Establishment, right?  Or does that all change, now?

    • #32
  3. PHCheese Inactive
    PHCheese
    @PHCheese

    He can take over the school lunch program and gain all his weight back.

    • #33
  4. Fat Dave Inactive
    Fat Dave
    @FatDave

    So, will there be an “Anchorman”-style street fight between Team Kasich and Team Christie for Veep?  The Rand Paul folks show up on the sidelines just to refuse to fight?

    • #34
  5. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    Christie has never had a core and Fightin in Philly gives us insight (I wrote something similar a while ago being a long suffering Eagles fan) to his weird contrarian personality.
    But this is what happens when anyone can play Republican.
    I’m remembering those who thought that Krispy Kreme would make a good nominee in 2012 or a good VP for Romney.
    The Trump candidacy continues to inform us about the fundamental problems in the GOP. It’s now exposed as a sham.
    Go Cowboys!

    • #35
  6. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Fat Dave:So, will there be an “Anchorman”-style street fight between Team Kasich and Team Christie for Veep? The Rand Paul folks show up on the sidelines just to refuse to fight?

    I wonder if being Vice President is actually a more desirable gig than being Governor?  It’s considered more prestigious I guess, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some VP’s ended up wishing they had stayed in their old job.

    • #36
  7. Solon Inactive
    Solon
    @Solon

    Vance Richards:

    Paul A. Rahe: In 2008, at the moment which counted most, he ostentatiously embraced Barack Obama, and that may have decided what looked a week earlier like a very close race.

    First, it was 2012 (I know because that storm took out my garage).

    And, do we really believe Romney voters switched to Obama because of Christie’s hug?

    I do believe that.  The SNL before the election opened with a bit about how Christie really thought Obama was a great leader.  I do think things like that affect voters.

    • #37
  8. Solon Inactive
    Solon
    @Solon

    Tim H.:So, Christie’s still part of the Establishment, right? Or does that all change, now?

    Comment of the day.

    • #38
  9. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    No one else has said it (and since I have heard it on the Ricochet podcast in the past it must conform with the CoC) so I will: Crapweasel. Chris Christie is a crapweasel.

    • #39
  10. Mr. Dart Inactive
    Mr. Dart
    @MrDart

    Gov. LePage of Maine also endorsed Trump this evening.

    • #40
  11. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Paul A. Rahe: And Christie . . . has he ever done anything for anyone but Christie?

    Did Christie spend 80% of his time in the endorsement announcement talking about himself, like he did when giving the keynote address in 2012?

    Since that moment, I’ve had no further use for the man.

    • #41
  12. Big Ern Inactive
    Big Ern
    @BigErn

    Christie sees an opportunity to get some of that Trump money back across the Hudson. There is also the strong possibility Trump has already made some promises.

    • #42
  13. Paul Dougherty Member
    Paul Dougherty
    @PaulDougherty

    Big Ern:Christie sees an opportunity to get some of that Trump money back across the Hudson. There is also the strong possibility Trump has already made some promises.

    Trump can get him a dinner with Bruce Springsteen?

    • #43
  14. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    As saw these two boys, Trump and Christie on a CNN broadcast today, side-by-side.

    I thought, P & VP?

    No way. Too much the same.

    Their partnership seems built on sameness not complementary qualities. They are both enamored of themselves.

    That’s my take, and I say, No. No. No.

    • #44
  15. Skarv Inactive
    Skarv
    @Skarv

    Bullies-R-Us

    • #45
  16. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    I agree with those saying that Christie is angling for a position in a Trump administration.  This is a sensible move for Christie, who is a capable guy.

    I don’t think that Cruz would offer Christie an important position, simply because Christie is not conservative enough for Cruz.

    I don’t think that Rubio would offer Christie an important position, because of Christie’s attack on Rubio during the campaign.

    I don’t mean to complain about the fact that Christie attacked Rubio.  They were opponents, and sometimes an attack is a good move strategically or tactically.  I just think that Christie has burned his bridge with Rubio, so he’s very unlikely to be offered a position in a hypothetical Rubio administration.

    So for Christie, a Trump endorsement is his best chance of a substantial position in the next administration.

    • #46
  17. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Arizona Patriot: Christie has burned his bridge with Rubio,

    ha ha. Bridge. Christie has a problem with bridges, it seems.

    • #47
  18. Paul A. Rahe Member
    Paul A. Rahe
    @PaulARahe

    Arizona Patriot:I agree with those saying that Christie is angling for a position in a Trump administration. This is a sensible move for Christie, who is a capable guy.

    I don’t think that Cruz would offer Christie an important position, simply because Christie is not conservative enough for Cruz.

    I don’t think that Rubio would offer Christie an important position, because of Christie’s attack on Rubio during the campaign.

    I don’t mean to complain about the fact that Christie attacked Rubio. They were opponents, and sometimes an attack is a good move strategically or tactically. I just think that Christie has burned his bridge with Rubio, so he’s very unlikely to be offered a position in a hypothetical Rubio administration.

    So for Christie, a Trump endorsement is his best chance of a substantial position in the next administration.

    Yup.

    • #48
  19. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Game over, man. Game over.

    • #49
  20. Suspira Member
    Suspira
    @Suspira

    Solon:Well, some Republicans make me just as angry as Democrats, that’s for sure!

    Truth. The one salutary effect of the Trump phenomenon for me is the Great Sorting–anyone who supports the crony capitalist goes into the bin labelled “Never need to listen to again.” It’s been eye-opening and saddening, but perhaps I’ll be wiser in the end.

    • #50
  21. Boss Mongo Member
    Boss Mongo
    @BossMongo

    Jim Kearney: What do all these men have in common? They’re doers.

    Yes, and huzzahs for that.  But last night, Trump didn’t look like a “knower.”  Doing informed by ignorance is a roadmap to disaster.

    • #51
  22. H. Noggin Inactive
    H. Noggin
    @HNoggin

    Christie and Trump cooked this up before the debate attack on Rubio.

    • #52
  23. blood thirsty neocon Inactive
    blood thirsty neocon
    @bloodthirstyneocon

    If Trump wins then maybe Christie gets a good job in the Trump administration. If Trump loses (more likely), then Christie can run again in 2020. If Rubio beats Trump then Christie gets nominated as federal bridge and tunnel inspector. This is a no-brainer for Christie.

    • #53
  24. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    Just because Christie endorsed him doesn’t mean Trump is bad.

    • #54
  25. Ralphie Inactive
    Ralphie
    @Ralphie

    Boss Mongo:

    Jim Kearney: What do all these men have in common? They’re doers.

    Yes, and huzzahs for that. But last night, Trump didn’t look like a “knower.” Doing informed by ignorance is a roadmap to disaster.

    That’s why Trump needs a team of lawyers.

    • #55
  26. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    I have gone through life thus far assuming that everyone operated on the same premise that Donald Trump was a gaudy, self promoting blowhard clown, who just happened to have inherited his fathers vast real estate fortune.

    Now Donald Trump appears to have an honest to God chance to become the Republican candidate for the Presidency, with many actual Republican grandees agreeing that this will work out just fine.

    Why would having an orange faced, bad comb over, blow hole, who has shown nearly zero Conservative/Republican leanings prior to 2015 suddenly be the Republican answer in an election when the Dems are running a extremely flawed ethically challenged Hillary Clinton?

    I can’t help but think that somehow the Democrats are Axelrodding Republicans just like they did in the the 2004 Illinois US Senate race: Result = Barack Obama (D)  70% ,  Allan Keyes (R) 27%

    • #56
  27. rosegarden sj dad Member
    rosegarden sj dad
    @rosegardensjdad

    The real loser in the Christie announcement is *Kasich*. If Christie is Trump’s VP, Kasich’s strategy of hanging around and being nice to the Donald for a VP slot now looks lost. Nice try, but Kasich just got marooned by the Donald.

    • #57
  28. TKC1101 Member
    TKC1101
    @

    rosegarden sj dad: The real loser in the Christie announcement is *Kasich*. If Christie is Trump’s VP, Kasich’s strategy of hanging around and being nice to the Donald for a VP slot now looks lost. Nice try, but Kasich just got marooned by the Donald.

    Christie is more the AG type than Kasich. I could see Kasich as the VP with a mission to keep congress calm and on board. Much as I dislike Kasich, he does know the place well.

    • #58
  29. Sash Member
    Sash
    @Sash

    I read that there is a serious attempt to get an Independence Party off the ground.

    Does anyone have information and how do I join.

    If this becomes the Party of Trump.  I’m out.

    • #59
  30. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    I can’t see a Trump/Christie ticket.  It’s just too harsh.  I can see a Trump/Kasich ticket.  I can see a Trump/Rubio ticket.  As for Christie I bet he’s angling for Attorney General.

    • #60
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