“In fact, I love collective bargaining,” Christie told the crowd Wednesday, packed into a room in the municipal building. “I’ve said let’s get rid of civil service and let everything be collectively bargained, as long as collective bargaining is fair, tough, adversarial and there’s someone in that room representing you.” – Chris Christie: Collective Bargaining Something ‘I Love’
But remember, Gov. Christie is not running for president.
That may be so, but the quote on collective bargaining is something a politician says to distance himself from a newsmaking Republican who has marginalized himself with the broader public that is against weakening collective bargaining. It’s setting the record straight, for sure, but it’s also sending a message well beyond New Jersey that reveals a Republican not afraid to lead against conventional wisdom being driven at base level.
So, let’s call it keeping your options open, with a background that has you on the record humbly stating you don’t think you’re ready for the big job.
It’s all so perfectly crafted.
Yes. Believe me, I’ve been interested in politics my whole life. I see the opportunity. But I just don’t believe that’s why you run. Like I said at AEI, I have people calling me and saying to me, “Let me explain to you how you could win.” And I’m like, “You’re barking up the wrong tree. I already know I could win.” That’s not the issue. The issue is not me sitting here and saying, “Geez, it might be too hard. I don’t think I can win.” I see the opportunity both at the primary level and at the general election level. I see the opportunity. But I’ve got to believe I’m ready to be president, and I don’t. – The Corner
Gov. Christie is smart to think he’s not ready to be president.
Nobody is when they start out. Some prove unready once they’re there.
But as possible Republican candidates mull whether to get in or not, looking at the Newt, Rick, Donald, Tim, Sarah, Michele, Buddy, Ron, Mitch, Mitt, Mike, Jon, Gary, Haley possibilities, none of these people have what Mr. Christie offers.
In an era of Obama word salads, candidate promises dashed on anti-Democratic policies, not to mention incoherent leadership that isn’t inspiring anyone, there is something charmingly appealing about Gov. Chris Christie’s Trumanesque bluntness and damn the torpedoes directional certainty.
It’s how an incompetent man named George W. Bush won two terms.
There is no one in the Republican field right now who comes close to the brash exuberance and certainty of conservative purpose, however wrong, of Gov. Christie. He’s simply the most dangerous politician for the White House to contemplate facing not running for the presidency today.
Davids Plouffe and Axelrod should thank their lucky stars Gov. Christie contends he won’t announce.
I’m also reminded of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton who wouldn’t take on the presidency in 2004, because she’d made a promise to her constituents to fulfill her senate term. Of Barack Obama who didn’t have the resume for president, but sensed the moment was his to grasp. That it’s not always about convenience, but has a lot to do with sensing and seizing your day and time. A moment that opens for what you’ve got against an opponent who can’t offer what you can.
When Gov. Christie says he knows he could win he means it. There’s a reason for that and it’s because given his style he’s the perfect anti-Obama for a moment that is crying out for someone to fill it.
I was wondering when you were going to weigh in on this topic Taylor. Maybe the GOP 2012 ticket is the picture you have in this post. Makes sense to me. If Governor Christie is not ready for the Presidency, why not the VP slot?
Gov. Christie isn’t the veep type.
Well, that is certainly true. Wondering if you saw this Taylor?
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2011/03/03/hillary-clinton-traitor-to-the-village/
I’d love to see him debate Mr. Biden though.
Taylor, I do think Chris Christie could be a dark horse candidate. Ann Coulter also is a huge fan of Mr. Christie and believes he could easily beat Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee in a Republican primary. The general might be a trick step for him to win 2012.
I believe Mr. Christie is smart enough to know that the best time for him to run is 2016. Right now, there is a whole lot of good potential Republicans sitting out 2012 for a reason. They know Obama will be very tough to beat in a general election. Plus, if one the Republican contenders did luckily win in 2012, they would inherit a lot of issues left over from Bush eight years of terror and the added on failures of Obama administration to cope with. Mr. Christie sees these problems and wish to wait until hes truly confident that he can lead America in the right direction.
Let him run and run now. He’d have to win the south in the early primaries and the only way you do that is by going hard right. A northeasterner, especially from NY & NJ would have a hard time getting traction in the south now or in the future-imho.
If he went hard right for the south and tried to move back to the near center in the general he’d have a hard time getting the northeastern vote -including NJ. Lets not forget Corzine was a mediocre governor who ran a poor campaign for re-election against Christie. And this he “loves unions” bit is bs. Labor will fight him hard(he turned down rail money that would have created thousands of jobs)
If Christie waits to 2016 and Pres Obam is relected in 2012 and somehow things do get better – Christie’s toast. If things aren’t better he’s got a shot.
If things do get better, then in 2016 you have a strong Dem field-potential candidates, Sec Clinton, Brain Schweitzer from Montana, Howard Dean-maybe, Sheldon Whitehouse(God I can only hope), Kamala Harris, AG of CA(definite VP material), Kirsten Gillibrand (VP Material), Gov Malloy-darkhorse from CT., and others who will emerge that aren’t on the radar yet
Forget Andrew Cuomo- from NY and not to inspiring
But 2016 is a lifetime away and many things can change the landscape such as getting out of Iraq but getting into another war, another financial crisis(I bet that one happens within the next 5-10 yrs-the Wall Street reform act is too weak).
So I say let Chrisitie run-seize the moment now if now is the time Pres Obama is most vulnerable. Christie gets beat, probably doesn’t even get the nomination.
Bring it.
Newt, Barbour and Christie need to join Jenny Craig. Perhaps, Reverend Huckabee can point them in the right direction — LOL!
Christie is just another lying, fat blob of the RWer stink tank mentality. Good riddance!
2012 is not going to be about “image, appearance, style, life story, uniquely qualified…, cute kids, attractive wife, personel experiences, blah, blah, blah.”
If so, the republicans would have just ordained John Thune. He was a marketing teams response to Obama, but at least he understood that, and decided not to run.