I think we all just won a date with Chris Christie. Well, that’s what the media would like anyway. Sure, yes, we get it. The Republican presidential candidate field is littered with wishy-washy, strange jokers, who can’t go more than two weeks without some sort of gaffe, image problem, or just plain inability to connect with more than just the Tea Party. So some Republicans are frustrated, but even more to the point, the media is just beside itself with trying to latch onto a candidate that actually offers a consistent message, and a measure of stately, unshakeable, staunch republicanism that can actually take Obama to the mat.
Enter the makings of a savior, Chris Christie.
Christie, the New Jersey governor of just a little over 20 months, has lit a fire in the Republican base not seen since Bobby Jindal looked like the answer to everyone’s prayers. Is he a great governor? That’s a bit debatable. It depends on who you ask. He’s had perhaps two perceived achievements during his tenure including, placing a 90-day freeze on the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and establishing the Housing Opportunity Task Force, and signing Executive Order No. 14, which declared a “state of fiscal emergency exists in the State of New Jersey” due to the projected $2.2 billion budget deficit for the current fiscal year (FY 2010). The latter did stir up Democrats who claimed they were not consulted on his budget cuts and for circumventing the Legislature’s role in the budget process. Aside from that, his popularity has increased due to a few firebrand YouTube videos and some kind of kerfuffle regarding tax credits to The Jersey Shore television show.
He’s also had a few bumbles. He’s angered teachers due to a loss of $400 million in federal Race to the Top education grants because of some sort of “clerical error” that resulted in the firing of the Education Commissioner, as well as a mini-scandal about taking free helicopter trips for non-government business.
All told this isn’t what you would call a stellar governing resume, but the way the media and some prominent republicans would tell the story, Christie is the last hope for the GOP. And just what about the other outliers? Well, Sarah Palin’s ongoing presidential tease may be drawing to an end. In a recent appearance with best girlfriend, Greta Van Susteren, Palin asked whether or not the title of “President” is worth it?
Does a title shackle a person? Are they — someone like me, maverick, you know, I do go rogue, and I call it like I see it, and I don’t mind stirring it up… is a title and is a campaign too shackling?
Well, that sounds to me like someone who really doesn’t want the office, but perhaps would be content to just keep themselves in the public eye (using the public’s money) to continue being an unshackled maverick crazy person, or a pony, or a Hello Kitty doll. Whatever.
So, then the field narrows even further, the push for Christie even stronger. At the top, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, and now Herman Cain, the latest, unexpected winner of the Florida Straw Poll. Bachmann is somewhere below the top three discussing how she “radically abandoned herself to Jesus Christ” while calling herself a former sinner, and using her evangelical powers to speak to students at Liberty University in Virginia, to the bafflement of some, while also proclaiming that her campaign is flat broke. Not good signs. All in all, as far as the GOP is concerned these options aren’t enough.
However, does Christie want to join the fray? The New York Post seems to think so. They claim he’s reconsidering a presidential bid which came about after a rousing speech at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California this week. There appears to be some “prodding” going on from First Lady Nancy Reagan, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and former President George W. Bush.
The fly in the ointment is the fact that Christie has forcefully denied wanting to run. He even went so far to claim that only death could make this clearer.
“Short of suicide, I don’t really know what I’d have to do to convince you people that I’m not running. I’m not running!” Christie thundered on Nov. 4, 2010.
Yet, all of the new found flattery has apparently turned his head, anonymous sources say. Even so, do you really want to prop up someone who has said time and time again that they’re not interested in the presidency? This is kind of like stalking your ex-girlfriend on Facebook, hoping for a status update. This morning on Good Day New York, keeper of the golden Republican nominee chalice, Donald Trump, said that even he doesn’t believe that Christie will run. There’s also been speculation that Christie would if nothing else, keep his name out there, suck up all the attention, but not for a presidential run, but to fortify his re-election as governor of New Jersey. See how this could all backfire, guys?
So who is this unfettered Christie media tease really benefiting? Certainly not the party. It looks pretty apparent that the party should work within their own ranks and coalesce around someone already in the field, because holding out hope for a shining knight jetting in on a free helicopter may just be a fantasy…but of course the actions of the GOP never cease to amaze. Perhaps there is something Christie wants that someone in the fickle party is willing to offer that will make him jump into the race before the South Carolina ballot deadline. And won’t that make Mittens crap his pants?
