Christie is using Obama for more than Hurricane relief

[sellitman]

He is going to use the press from this to launch his 2016 bid. He knows Flipper is toast.

Bet the ranch.

[Are_grits_groceries]

1. And Obama is using him!

Obama couldn't buy better ads than Christie's appearances praising him or both of them looking at damage together.
It's a win-win.
Take care of 2012 first.

[Myrina]

22. +1 brazillion

Nt

[hedgehog]

2. The Republican Party will have to run somebody......

for now at least, Christie looks to be an improvement over the recent batch. I am enraged at the selection of GW Bush and the nominations of Palin and Ryan. McCain and Romney should be ashamed of themselves!

[rbrnmw]

3. I fully expect this man to be treated like Gov Crist was

The Tea Party is going to bring this man down just for having some humanity and humility

[Indpndnt]

30. If they try, the fireworks will be spectacular.

Christie is no gentleman like Crist (comparatively). Christie is an 'in your face brawler.' He wouldn't go quietly. It would be loud, public, and profane. It would be UGLY.

My money's on Christie. After this, he'll have a lot of folks behind him over the teabaggers.

[Larkspur]

4. Except that Christie's approval of FEMA and Prez Obama could be an albatross around his throat

in the 2016 Repub primaries, a la Rick Perry and his support for educating the children of undocumented workers.

Christie's support of Obama is helping Obama more than the other way around. Christie is proving that if Repubs are reasonable at governing, Obama can work with them with, so Christie is proving that the deadlock in Washington is the Repubs fault entirely.

[lunatica]

10. God I hope the Teaparty doesn't have that much longer to live!

I hope they're deader than a doorknob by 2016.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

17. Yup. I only want teabaggers to stick around long enough to torpedo the 2016 nomination. nt

[kestrel91316]

18. I don't. I hope they linger and continue to destroy the Republican brand name.

[panAmerican]

26. Most Republicans in NJ are moderate; few Tea Party crazies

They tend to be more fiscally, as well as socially, on the moderate side. This is why Christie has a lot of support from Republicans, and enough support from Independents and moderate Democrats to get things done.

[itsrobert]

28. Yeah, that's good for him in his state

but nationally in a republican primary that doesn't play too good with the republicans who vote in the primaries. I think Christie will run as a game changer. Hillary will be on the other side and Republicans will be desperate in 2016 to try something different.

[theKed]

39. moderation

Of all the Republicans, a rather large chunk of them will vote for basically anyone with an R after their name, probably even some of the less diehard teabagger extremists (they be grinding their teeth down to the gums, but they'll do it). By positioning himself as a moderate willing to put aside partisan politics in this situation, it sweetens him in the eyes of the independent/moderate/undecided percentages ... the real essential voter base to snatch up.

IF he survives the primaries, he could be a real contender. Of course, those primaries are a fatal gauntlet of hate, racism, and ignorance. In some ways, it's kind of what Mittens tried (badly) to do this time around - run fiercely conservative in the primaries, then flip to moderate for the general election - although it would probably serve him better to try to remain more moderate through the primaries and hope the republicans are sick enough of vitriolic fundamentalism (on a party level) to slip a moderate through. It could loosen up a lot of those north-eastern swing states for them.

Of course, that's just wild speculation, and the repubs are probably still to fucked in the heads to put him up for President.

[Lucinda]

5. That's fine with me. He's doing his job for his state. n/t

[PatSeg]

14. I agree

As governor of New Jersey, he should do whatever it takes to help the people of his state. I'm not a huge fan of Christie, but I think he's shown genuine empathy for the victims of the hurricane and I believe he will whatever is necessary regardless of the politics involved.

There was a time when this would have been the norm. Politics the last ten years or so have gotten so ugly and mean-spirited.

[Lucinda]

27. I have been thinking the same. Too much "party before country".

Many politicians seem to forget that they are there to serve their constituents. All of them. And that should always be their focus over partisan politics.

[PatSeg]

32. And then to see so many politicians

using every tragedy and disaster as a political opportunity is chilling. 9/11 was a coming together phenomenon for about five minutes and then it just became another callous opportunity to further someone's career and/or win elections.

Sadly I see Romney using the storm for political advantage, but can't say that I expected him to do anything differently.

[sellitman]

36. Is there an effort to go back?

I don't see it. This one exception from Christie not withstanding.

[PatSeg]

38. I don't know

I don't see it either. Maybe things have to get really bad before people wake up. I see people I've known most of my life acting in ways I could have never anticipated. The division and anger is insane. I really blame a lot of it on FOX and Rush. They are masters at manipulation and they have made a lot of people very angry without reason.

[Jim__]

6. It almost makes you feel bad for Romney.

[PatSeg]

33. Yeah, almost

Really though, if this guy isn't used to rejection by now, he clearly is mentally disturbed.

[GDoyle]

7. Curious

I have a weak stomach so I can't go over there myself, but what's the reaction on Free Republic or Red State about Christie's actions this week?

If any of you adventurous types like to lurk over there to observe the crazies, let me know what they're saying about it.

[rbrnmw]

11. Diabetic here here can't go over there it will raise my blood sugar

[Jennicut]

20. Fellow diabetic.

It would kill my blood sugar too. Only go occasionally over there. It is sickening most of the time.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

8. The rotund governor is running to be the leader of the slightly less bat guano insane

republickcon party. That is the only party remnant that will remain after the romnocalypse implodes the completely insane teabagiban run republickcon party as it currently exists.

The republickcon remnant will be largely irrelevant after The President's landslide victory.

[lunatica]

12. Your new additions to the English language dictionary is breathtaking

LOL! I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe!

Welcome to DU! DU loves funny!

[Tennessee Gal]

23. ROFL!!! How did you come up with that phraseology?

That is pure genius!

Welcome to DU and keep up the good humor!

[We People]

34. "Romnocalypse"! Please send that one to Team Obama

Maybe they can use it to remind the country what would've happened if not for PBO's re-election.

Thanks for the laughs!!

[madrchsod]

9. yup....

[LynneSin]

13. New Jersey is a mess and right now Christie is doing what it takes to get things done

and that includes tossing aside partisan politics so he can work with Obama to make it happen.

Honestly right now I think even Bruce Springsteen might return Christie's phone calls.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. Right now, I'm fine with that.

Christie's state needs help. Obama is in a position to help expedite that help to him.

The people of NJ are befitting from Christie doing the right thing. That's what's most important at the moment.

Oh, and the Teabaggers are preparing their campaign against Christie even as I type this.

[blm]

16. Jeb2016 - Christie will be tapped for VP. Christie wouldn't just kick Romney to the curb....

without knowing there would be reward in it from more powerful Republicans.

[Viking12]

19. I came to the same conclusion last night.

Christie knows Mittens is toast. He's doing his bets to look statesman-like for 2016.

[H2O Man]

21. Yes, definitely.

Recommended.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

24. As long as people get help as needed. nt

[flamingdem]

25. I don't think Christie is presidential and it's not just his shape

He's a Joisey boy and seems small scale mentally for the job. How can the USA afford a hot head like him in charge.

He should be easy to beat.

[RedCloud]

29. Christie just hopes we all forget about his flood relief/ bridge vetoes...

http://www.politickernj.com/58304/christie-dashes-hope-flooding-relief-vetoing-bridge-funding


Sort of like Rudy Giuliani hoping nobody noticed those faulty 9/11 inspection permits.

[Tikki]

31. I am just asking about Cory Booker and if christie feels pressure..

from a possible Cory Booker run for any office that christie might be interested in running for, also.

I know zero about New Jersey politics..been there once..nice family type state.


Tikki

[Honeycombe8]

35. Maybe. But I really think all Christie has on his mind now is the devastation to his state.

It's unprecedented. He doesn't want to happen to his state what happened to Louisiana because of miscommunications and bad blood between the Democratic Governor & Bush. And because he's so frank, he probably really does think that the fed is doing all it can to help him. NJ is going to need a lot of help.

I think that's all he has on mind right now. The situation is overwhelming.

[LisaL]

37. Whatever.