Dear Liberals: Please stop calling Chris Christie a "moderate" Republican. Thank you.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

I heard Chris Hayes say it just last night.
I've heard Rachel Maddow say it.
I've heard Tweety say it repeatedly.
Dear God, I heard Ed Schultz call the guy a "sane Republican" and nearly threw up my dinner!

PLEASE STOP!!!

Chris Christie is NOT a moderate Republican.

Just because he may be "reasonable" on a few issues--not prejudiced against Muslims, for instance, does not make him a moderate.

Just because he pretended to like President Obama does not make him a moderate.

Just because he pretended to do something on gun control and ended up doing nothing doesn't make him a moderate.

On just about every single issue, he has been nothing but a corporatist pro-Wall Street, anti-woman, anti-union, pro-private education voucher, hostile towards racial minorities conservative. Period!

He is:

1. Anti-choice
2. Pro-school vouchers and pro-charter schools
3. Incredibly anti-union
4. Pro-Wall Street
5. Pals around with Tea Party candidates and campaigns for them
6. Champions states rights, even claiming that civil rights (including issues related to segregation should have been addressed at the state level)

But because the modern American political right has moved so far to the right, anyone that deviates from the extreme right is considered "moderate".

We liberals cannot and MUST NOT fall into this trap.

Chris Christie is nowhere near a moderate Republican. He has only been deemed that by the mainstream Corporate Media because he *appears* only slightly less crazy and extreme as Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann. But when it all comes down to it, he agrees with the Palins and the Bachmanns more often than he disagrees. Calling him a moderate excuses him and absolves him of every single rotten thing he has done to the great BLUE state of New Jersey!

Don't fall for it!!

[Robbins]

1. I agree

There are no moderate republicans politicans anymore.

[yeoman6987]

53. He is done in Politics forever after this term

If he does not resign or impeached, we are less then 4 years until he is done in politics forever. It is a shame that the bridge thing didn't happen in July and found out in September. Oh well at least he DEFINITELY won't be President now for sure (even if it was a 1 percent chance before).

[polichick]

2. k&r

[kimbutgar]

3. He's a good chameleon republican who changes back and forth but is still part of the reptile family

I have never thought crispy was a good man so I am gleeful the spotlight is on him. That said there are NO longer any good reptilians I mean republicans anymore. They are now extinct like dinosaurs.

[shenmue]

4. True

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. in addition: Dear Democrats, Don't vote for Republicans. nt

[RC]

6. Not even 3rd Way DINO's

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. i meant what i wrote. Don't vote for the Republican

even if you don't love the democrat, chances are the Republican will be the bigger dick.

We have many Democrats to blame for the re-election of this douchebag.

[RC]

14. And I meant what I wrote. I just carried it one step farther.

Don't vote for the Republican, even if they have a (D) by their name. What good are "Democrats" if all they do is enable the Republicans.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. it's rarely that easy a decision. if you live in a conservative state

what you are usually stuck with is a conservative Democrat and an insane Republican. Vote for the Dem, even if you don't like him/her. :Shrug:

[ConservativeDemocrat]

44. Actually, it's a very easy decision...

Anytime someone like "RC" demands that you petulantly scream, cry, hold your breath until you turn blue until that one perfect Democrat that agrees with your every position 150%, is a choice... or else you'll take your ball home and let the Republican win because DINO DINO DINO DINO whaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!

...just remember that people like RC were the ones who voted for Nader over Al Gore, and are the reason we got George W. Bush.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[La Lioness Priyanka]

47. i tend to think that in politics you have to be utilitarian

vote for the most good or the least evil.

[Iggo]

7. I have never called him a moderate.

So you can scratch me off your "we" list.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. If my post doesn't pertain to you, then don't take offense. It was mainly meant for those

in mainstream liberal circles who I've been hearing call him that. Not even just on MSNBC, too, but in liberal-leaning print media and other commentary as well.

[Iggo]

26. It's more of a general objection to the use of "we" in posts like this.

Kind of along the lines of: If you're not doing it, and I'm not doing it, who is this "we"?

I'm a grump sometimes.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

49. No worries. "We" is used as a "general" term. It is not at all directed to any one person.

[lark]

41. Can't believe Rachel (Rachel, for God's sakes) called him a moderate!

WTF! She knows better than that. He may not be totally batshit, he doesn't think Obama is a Kenyan Muslim, but he is 100% for the 1% and against the 99%. In that, he is a true believer. Anything else is just for show to get to the point where he can enrich himself and his cronies.

Besides that - BRIDGEGATE, and Hurricane Sandygate! The guy is a complete backstabbing moron who thinks he can get away with doing any heinous thing, long as his underlings are there to take the fall for him. He's despicable, is what he is!

[JaneyVee]

9. K & Effin R!

[SMC22307]

10. Most of DU figured that out, but I do remember...

skimming threads post-Sandy in which Christie was welcomed to the big Democratic tent. Guess cuz he was *nice* to Obama?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

27. What's funny is it can now be seen as smoozing for cash.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

51. Yeah, I remember that, too. I'm a fan of the president, but even I knew not to fall for that BS!

DU, of all places, should have known not to fall for the likes of Chris Christie. We know what he's all about. We know his record.

[SMC22307]

78. Yep. And it sure wasn't the *emoprogs* doing the welcoming.

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2014, 03:04 PM - Edit history (1)

That's what's so funny. Well, funny if not tragic. Too many people are hurting under CC, and these pics always come to mind when I think of him:

/





Laid-off cops and firefighters...

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

79. When I think of the Democrats who support(ed) him, and how they still call him a "good man,"

I literally have to fight to keep myself from throwing up.

[Egalitarian Thug]

11. The only moderate republicans are registered with the Democratic party.

Don't worry, I won't vote for them either.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. He's very right wing, also opposed to marriage equality

nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. That's right. How could I forget that very important issue? My father couldn't marry in Jersey to

his partner, but could move to New York, Maryland and D.C. and marry. Go figure...

[Bluenorthwest]

31. You forget out of exhaustion listing the right wingery of Chris Christie, extreme

right winger. You did an excellent job, we could list right wing aspects of Christie all the live long day.

[Fumesucker]

13. If you think Christie is a "moderate" then you are not a "liberal" n/t

[okaawhatever]

15. Christie only appears moderate because he works within the confines of a blue state. If he had

the state legislature on his side, he'd be doing a N Carolina, Ohio or Michigan end-run around the Constitution. Look at what he did do given the opportunity, soon after taking office he declared a state of emergency (fiscal emergency) to defund already approved budget measures. That's probably when he started threatening people to play along. He vetoed gay marriage knowing it had the votes to become law. He's also vetoed just about everything a moderate or even right wing Republican would sign into law. His move declaring an emergency is straight out of the tea party/Koch brothers handbok. New Jersey is the moderate here, not Christie. You just didn't hear about all the crazy laws being passed because the legislature wasn't Republican. Wake up sheeple....Christie was never the solution, only a better disguised problem.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. Exactly. People singing his praises because he's forced to work with a Democratic legislature.

That doesn't make him bipartisan. He's forced to work with Democrats, not because he wants to--because he HAS to! First of all, he has vetoed more bills than any governor in Jersey's history. And yet he brags about compromising with Democrats? He's a fucking liar! Why Jersey Democrats fall for these lies, I don't understand.

It's like George Bush. It drove me crazy to hear people praise him because he worked with Democrats in the Texas legislature. Get real! Texas governors have the weakest constitutional powers of ALL governors in the country. He was forced to work with the Lt. Gov. who is elected separately and was a Democrat, and he was forced to work with a legislature, which at the time, was Democratic! And the American people bought into this lie that George "Dumbya" Bush was some moderate and "compassionate conservative" who *willingly* worked across party lines. He didn't!! He was forced to! He had to!! He was a weak-ass governor who never did shit and never accomplished shit!!

[Wounded Bear]

46. Yep...he's like Romney with a weight problem...

[glowing]

17. 1-4 could explain many dems in office as well... sadly.

[Rex]

20. Never have never will, point me to these liberals I want to talk to them.

I want to know why they think Crispe Creme is a moderate. So far, I've seen NOTHING moderate about him.

[bobclark86]

21. Compared to Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Sarah Palin...

Yeah, a bridge-closing bully IS a moderate.

[joeglow3]

22. States rights is hardly a conservative issue

I seem to remember MANY on here championing Washington and Colorado a lot lately.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

24. They also love Ron and Rand Paul, and many of them embrace Stand Your Ground laws.

This place is scary sometimes.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

50. As a black woman, anyone who utters the phrase "states rights" sends shivers down my spine.

Sorry, but being from the South sends a special jolt of fear as well. While I understand the difference based on specific policy issues, it has been a mantra of the conservative movement when speaking on civil rights. I can't go down that road.

[nomorenomore08]

74. Except that legalizing marijuana isn't remotely comparable to, say, ignoring the Voting Rights Act.

So why would anyone implicitly equate the two in the first place?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

81. Yes, that is an odd equivocation, isn't it?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

25. According to some here, Obama is a moderate Republican.

[VanillaRhapsody]

28. I don't think that word means what you think it means....

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

56. I'd like to hear your ideas...

[VanillaRhapsody]

57. moderate as in less severe...

compared to other even more conservative Republicans yes..he is moderate...thus moderate Republican.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

60. But only in appearance. Only on TV. We have to understand what this man's policies

have actually done to the state of New Jersey. He is systematically trying to destroy public education. He has destroyed public unions. He has not created one job. Not one single job! This man is dangerous. Incredibly dangerous precisely because he wields such great constitutional authority in the state. One of few governors with very strong line item veto powers can wipe out projects, and as we know, carry out politically motivated vendettas, OR reward friends with funded projects he likes. There is no such thing as "even more conservative" Republicans. Chris Christie is putting on an act because he leads a blue state. If you go down every single issue of import, you will see that he lines up very well with the most conservative of conservative Republican.

He wholeheartedly endorses and campaigns for Tea Party candidates, and were it not for this scandal, would have gladly campaigned for Rick Scott down in Florida. His inaugural speech was all rhetoric about compromising and working with Democrats, but it all was a huge lie!! He has done no such thing!! He has not worked with Jersey Democrats; instead, he has vetoed more compromised bills that he has initially agreed to than any other governor in the state's history. Please do not fall for these appearances. He is no moderate.

[VanillaRhapsody]

62. but consider what Michelle Bachmann, Louie Gohmert or Sara Palin

on and on and on would do to that state....ad nauseum.

Compare NJ to say...South Carolina...and Gov Nikki Haley for example...

No Medicaid expansion there!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

64. The only difference is that they don't hide their craziness. And they're in safe districts

They don't represent diverse, heterogeneous populations.

[VanillaRhapsody]

65. That "unhidden craziness"....that's what makes them more "severe"....

at least he had the good sense to expand Medicaid for NJ citizens....there is THAT!

that's a big that!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

68. Yes, because he was forced to by the legislature, not because he wanted to.

Those policy stances that I listed in this thread. None of them are moderate; they are wholly conservative philosophically. Just because the Jersey legislature forces his hand by overriding his veto on gay marriage or expanding Medicaid, for instance, doesn't make him a moderate. It makes him a conservative Republican leading a blue state working within the confines of a state assembly that is controlled by Democrats.

[VanillaRhapsody]

72. I guess the fact that he actually HAS a Democratic opposition in his state makes him seem that way..

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

70. Look, for some odd reason, you're finding it necessary to defend Christie, so

I'll let the record speak for itself, but all credit is due to Prophet 451 who posted upthread (post #75).


In no particular order:

http://www.onenewjersey.org/christie-by-the-numbers/

http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/111064/chris-christie#.UuCeZrTFLs0

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/11/don-t-believe-the-chris-christie-hype-look-at-his-economic-record.html

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/15-chris-christie-controversies-you-missed-101999.html#.UuCfc7TFLs0

Bottom line: Chris Christie is NOT a moderate. I'm sorry, but he's just not.

(Maybe he's less crazy than Michele Bachmann, but don't set the bar so low! :hugs

[VanillaRhapsody]

75. WTF? Not defending him at all...

in fact I just agreed that maybe he only "seems" less "severe" because he has opposition pushing him back.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

80. I'm sorry...

But do check out the links.

[VanillaRhapsody]

82. Will do Thanks!!!

[another_liberal]

29. Can I still call him . . .

. . . a thoroughly mobbed-up, lying asshole who is unabashedly shilling for the Kock brothers, so they will secretly fund his 2016 run for the Presidency?

Is that still OK?

[rocktivity]

33. .

rocktivity

[Cha]

54. there ya go, Rock!

[lark]

42. Right on!

Who cares whether it's "OK" to say that? It's true and should be repeated.

He's "a thoroughly mobbed-up, lying asshole who is unabashedly shilling for the Kock brothers, so they will secretly fund his 2016 run for the Presidency? "

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

58. Fine by me!! LOL!!!

[progressoid]

30. Pro-charter schools - Pro-Wall Street - Champions states rights

There are some in the White House that are like that too.

[obxhead]

35. Yeah, there are far too many D's

Last edited Wed Jan 22, 2014, 03:26 PM - Edit history (2)

that fall into those standards.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

66. Agreed. Those aren't moderate positions. And they definitely aren't liberal ones.

[rocktivity]

32. I was never fooled by Bush II's or McCain's "moderate maverick" act

So "Governor Soprano" never had a chance.

Besides, it's only the right wing national media who have been calling him that. The good news is, his cover is blown: Christie's idea of moderation is "my way or the highway," and his idea of bipartisanship is "my way, or I'll CLOSE your highway."

As Bush II himself once attempted to say, fool me three times -- you're a Republican.


rocktivity

[dbackjon]

34. +1000000000000000

What is sad is that he would be considered fringe right pre-Reagan

[ashling]

36. I agree!

This is the same king of thinking that led to George W. Bush being called a moderate in 2000.

He wasn't even a "compassionate conservative."

[on point]

37. Yes! Need to re-calibrate scale back to reality for re pubs and dems.

He very much a conservative

[NancyDL]

38. As Republicans go, as far as the political issues go, he's a moderate...

...trouble is, he seems to be in the pockets of the money people. So, I say, "Keep calling him 'moderate'. The base hates it. 8

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

52. If doing so knocks him out of the running for the Republican primaries, politically I'm all for it.

But if doing so dupes Americans into voting for him as they did Reagan and Bush II, then no way, no how. Absolutely unacceptable.

I'm going on his record. And his record tells me that he is not, in any way, a moderate Republican.

[quakerboy]

39. But he really is

I mean, he only wants to see liberal policies fail and millions of his constituents broke and suffering. non moderate republicans want to see us "hung high" or shot in the streets, not just stuck in traffic for crossing them.

Republicans are scum who aim to damage our nation at any level they can. The difference between a moderate or extreme republican is only how far they are willing to go in their desire to harm others.

[Jack Rabbit]

40. At this point, Christie's ideology is irrelevant

The question is: what did the Governor know and when did he know it? When "it" is pay-to-play politics, withholding emergency relief funds from a community pending a re-election endorsement from the mayor and deliberately manufacturing traffic jams also to punish a community whose mayor declined to endorse Christie for re-election, then it makes no difference whether the people doing "it" push a political agenda that is moderate or ridiculously extreme. It doesn't matter if Governor Christie advocates abolishing democracy and elevating the crooks on Wall Street to a level of aristocracy or advocates the confiscation of all private property or any point in between, his underlings have got to go and perhaps he needs to go, too.

This is not about any political agenda. This is about the universal principles of good government. We can disagree about abortion or the benefits of casino capitalism or of privatizing drinking water, but we cannot disagree about government acting to make people miserable because their mayor doesn't do something the governor and his staff want him to do. That is just wrong.

[dotymed]

43. You are correct.

His lies may classify him as a potential candidate, not a moderate.

We have been shown that candidate for POTUS is synonymous with liar IMO, especially those of the "two party system."

[Jamaal510]

45. The only person so far

on MSNBC who I haven't heard act like CC is all sane and cool is Reverend Al. He knew what was up with him from the get-go. CC is just like his other anti-poor Republican brethren. It's just that he is somewhat more pragmatic and employs the use of different tactics than the likes of Rand Paul and Michele Bachmann types in order to get ahead. Unfortunately, though, some so-called Democrats (particularly in NJ) apparently already did fall into the trap and contributed to his re-election.

[Phentex]

48. Dear Chris Christie...

go away!

[longship]

55. Give a guy a reputation as an early riser...

...and he can sleep until noon every day.

(Paraphrasing Samuel Clemens.)

[Prophet 451]

59. As I posted an OP a while back, Fuck Chris Christie!

He's a hard-right corporatist, propped up by an adoring media that pretends he's moderate just because he's not a gibbering madman like so much of the party.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

63. Some people are buying it. I need to post some articles or information on

Christie's record. It's late tonight, and I have to prepare for work tomorrow, so I'll have to wait and post some stuff then. If you have anything, I'd be grateful. I'm not sure what it's going to take. I didn't realize how strong this Christie facade was in influencing, but I guess it really is. Once the image takes old, it's hard to convince people otherwise.

[Prophet 451]

67. I have some sources

In no particular order:
http://www.onenewjersey.org/christie-by-the-numbers/

http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/111064/chris-christie#.UuCeZrTFLs0

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/11/don-t-believe-the-chris-christie-hype-look-at-his-economic-record.html

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/15-chris-christie-controversies-you-missed-101999.html#.UuCfc7TFLs0

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

69. You rock!! Those sources are the best!! Thanks!!

[Prophet 451]

73. No problem n/t

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

61. Unfortunatley, with the center having been dragged so far rightward, he just might be.

[TheKentuckian]

71. Agreed, except calling Tweety a liberal is pretty similar kind of thing.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

77. Yep. That was an oversight on my part.

I was going down the list of MSNBC commentators. I know Tweety is far from liberal.

[Gothmog]

76. Christie is not a moderate

Christie is very right wing