Gov. Christie smarter than all the pundits thought.

[Mr.Bill]

Calls for a special election and refuses to pic a successor to Lautenberg.

[warrior1]

1. link

[lob1]

3. Msnbc right now.

[warrior1]

4. saw that

thanks

[Benton D Struckcheon]

2. Whoa. Didn't see that one coming. n/t

[Mr.Bill]

6. Yeah, neither did any of the talking heads.

A Democrat will be elected, but he won't have to take resposibility for it.

[warrior1]

5. republicans are going to eat him alive

[KharmaTrain]

7. He Punted...

...the easy way out to avoid getting himself stuck in a political mess. If he had appointed a rushpublican, he would have faced shit from the moderates and cross-over democrats who support him. Appointing a Democrat would have screwed him over even more with the great unhinged on the right who will still be pissed that he didn't name some teabagger to the seat. This was a no-call...that gives him the least amount of political damage. For the people of New Jersey it'll mean having one less voice and vote in any important legislation the Senate may end up dealing with for the next 5 months...

[Mr.Bill]

11. Won't be five months.

I think he's calling for a special election sooner than that.

Edit: I stand corrected. The special election will be in October.

[hrmjustin]

8. No he is not. He is afraid to run with Cory Booker on the ballot.

He is going to be criticized by people of his state for not holding the election on election day this year. He is afraid to run with a senate seat on the ballots. The Democrats will take him to court as they should to get the date moved to November.

He is doing this because he wants to win the legislature and with a low democratic turnout he might be able to do it. The dems need to take him to court.

[Mr. David]

26. Agreed. Plus NJ is broke.

Cancel the special election and take a beating like a man, Christie. If NJ folks wants you out, they'll kick you out.

[Jennicut]

9. Whatever you think about him, he's in a traditional blue/moderate state.

He gets that. He is not stupid. Republicans can bash him and it will work to his advantage.

[djean111]

10. He is smart - but he is a conservative.

So I won't admire him, and I sure as hell would never vote for him.

[Mr.Bill]

15. Neither would I.

I don't like the way he talks to his constituents. The Major Asshole image probably carries some weight in NJ, but it doesn't fly with me.

[tabbycat31]

12. I called it last night

The man was between a rock and a hard place when it came to the seat knowing he's on the ballot this year and has 2016 in mind. So he punted the issue (like he did with marriage equality) and left the decision to the voters.

The only thing I disagree with him about is the 10/16 general (just hold it on 11/5 and save the state a ton of $$$ because there already is a statewide election then). But he's too much of a coward to want Booker on the same ballot as him. It will make GOTV a bitch this year for November's election.

Speaking of NJ elections, today is also election day in NJ, go vote if you have not NJ DUers

[EC]

13. I know

I was laughing when I started to get the gist of what he was leading up too. He just won't deal with the problem...well played Gov.


Booker better get busy.

[leftynyc]

14. Counting on pathetic turn out for Democrats

to get a pub in. He's smarter than I gave him credit for.

[IdaBriggs]

16. I appreciate him actually supporting voter preferences.

I expect the Republican overlords will be incensed, but the idea that the will of the people should prevail --

Wow.

[Life Long Dem]

17. The only chance they have in 2016 and

the crazy Republican base will kick him out. With this base there is no compromise even if your a white Republican. Continue on.

[Mr.Bill]

18. He has no need to worry.

If he gets the nomination, they will vote for anyone with an R after their name.

[leftyohiolib]

21. it's odd (to me) that the clapping hands are clapping in unison

[Jenoch]

19. He will be appointing someone to hold the seat until the special election.

A governor appointing a senator can be a tricky proposition. When Mondale became VP. Minnesota had a popular Democratic governor. He decided he wished to be a senator. He resigned the governor's office, the Lt. Gov. became governor appointed the recent former governor to the senate seat and then he got smoked in the following election. Depending on circumstances, he could possibly be a Democratic U.S. Senator to this day had he appointed a caretaker and ran for the office instead of 'appointing himself'.

[Bucky]

20. Not impressed. He was avoiding giving the Dems an election issue.

He's trying to survive through November. But if he sticks with this (not sure he will) and he really doesn't appoint anybody, then maybe dodges a small controversy... but only by dodging one of his Constitutional duties. I just don't see how he can end up looking good here if he leaves his state with only half their senators until a special election.

[hrmjustin]

22. He is afraid to be on the same ballot as Cory Booker.

The dems will take him to court to move the election to Nov.

[Bucky]

24. Oh, no. Chris Christie's a true bipartisan. He's above politics. He's gonna fool the Baggers.

Thanks. That makes a little more sense.

[hrmjustin]

25. Don't you just love some of the Christie love on DU.

[Dawson Leery]

29. Certainly.

[Kingofalldems]

23. Maybe he wants that seat for himself.

[1KansasDem]

27. I saw his anouncement. He said he will pick a replacement

to fill the seat until Oct. election. He hasn't decided who, as of yet.

[roamer65]

28. I strongly suspect former governor, Tom Kean Sr.

It will be hard to argue with that selection.

[JI7]

30. This is why Dem Control of a State is So important

[dkf]

31. If smart = being a chicken.

Tip toeing around everyone...that's not bold. That's someone who wants to be everything to everyone.