Back in January of 2009 I wrote a short blog on a rising star in New Jersey that can still be read here.
As I said then he was the right man and many here at RS soon took up the call to arms and supported his position.
The 46-year-old Republican with a reputation as a corruption-busting prosecutor has been flirting with a gubernatorial bid since resigning as U.S. Attorney Dec. 1.
The Newark Star Ledger article on him at the time is still available. It’ll perhaps provide some insight on the man before he became Governor of New Jersey.
Lately there have been some comparisons of Chirsite and Palin and the fact that there seems to be a confrontation brewing between the two.
A Quinnipiac University poll on Monday revealed that Christie scored higher than any other potential 2012 candidate on its “hotness index,” which measures the intensity of warmth voters feel about a figure. Christie has said he won’t be a presidential candidate next year.
Palin, on the other hand, scored lower than 13 other potential 2012 Republican candidates. And, when broken down by party, even among Republicans — where her support is strongest — Palin managed only sixth place, while Christie led all 13 challengers.
Over the weekend, Palin fired her harshest shot yet at Christie. Her words weren’t just inflammatory; the whole context was kerosene.
I assume that there is a great deal of “assumption” in this article which can be read here, and even though Christie says he won’t run next year I urge you to help him change his mind.
In an excerpt from that 2009 Newark Star Ledger article the following quote was made by Tom Wilson:
“It’s a positive development in the minds of Republican, a late Christmas or Hanukkah present,” state Republican Chairman Tom Wilson said. “For somebody who has never won a statewide campaign before, he has some qualities he’s bringing to the race we have not seen.”
I am going to write a long letter to the Governor this afternoon. I think Chris Christie is the right man for 2012. I love Gov. Palin, but as I said when she was announced as John McCain’s running mate and to the dismay of many of my fellow RedStater’s back then, I don’t think she is the right person for the job.
Moe Lane
PG DeFreese
Victoria Coates
Daniel Horowitz
Dan Spencer
GC recos for discussion. While Christie is the best on government spending/debt at state level
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 9:43AM EST (link)He has major problems on many other issues, including cap and trade, ground-zero mosque, life, radical judges, and several other issues that were documented by a guest host for Mark Levin several weeks ago. I’ll try and find that list.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Agreed GC...
GordonTaylor (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 10:50AM EST (link)But, as I have said in another comment, we have to find someone we can “Sell” to America and I believe, strictly from a marketing perspective, he is the one. However, it may be a moot point as he steadfastly says he isn’t running, until he does!
The Dems had a better marketing campaign and “Sold” America on ‘Bama…
Let’s not let that happen again.
Lets settle on
Goldwater_Conservative (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 9:49AM EST (link)Pawlenty. That might be my new battle cry
GC leans to a Pawlenty-Cain ticket as of now - Tom Marr on 10 reasons not to vote for Christie
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 10:00AM EST (link)I also like Barbour-Cain. Next? Maybe Newt and Palin.
http://www.marklevinshow.com/article.asp?id=2088054
Mike Castle
Cap and Trade
GZM
coddles illegal aliens
radical judges
life
etc
see link above and this one below
http://conservativenewjersey.com/the-myth-of-christie-conservatism-intro
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
I think I threw up a little...
acat (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 10:06AM EST (link)when you said Gingrich/Palin (or Palin/Gingrich) …
Newt Gingrich’s time in the sun should be over. Very smart guy, but .. messy personal life, and no clear sign (that I’ve seen) that he’s figured out how not to get rolled by the Dems again.
Pawlenty/Cain works for me.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
furball from acat on third course. Third course...
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 10:11AM EST (link)Of course, this is a function of who is supposedly running and I have a hard time going back to Mitt, think Huck is too liberal on some things and so was ranking the 6.
BTW, don’t read to far into MacBeth….
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
See, if you'd said...
acat (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 3:01PM EST (link)Palin-Cain, or Cain-Palin, I could have gotten on board.
The problem is Newt, not Palin. (I can live with media-radiation-sickness…)
I’d be a little surprised to learn Newt moved out of D.C. when he quit in disgrace… he sure acts like the D.C. insider… and that is exactly what’s not needed. Someone who knows D.C. like Barbour (and, arguably, Daniels) yes, but someone who appears to think of himself as a “mover and shaker”, not so much.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
Laughable answers by Newt
chihank Wednesday, March 9th at 3:30PM EST (link)Newt’s knows his martial cheating will be a problem. So he is trying to face the problem head on. But his answers are material for the liberal joksters. For example, Newt says his cheating in 1998 was due to the fact that he was under stress for protecting America from Bill Clinton. If Newt wants to put the adultery behind him, he owes up them and maybe the SoCons will overlook his past sins. BTW Newt will finally make an annoucement aobut 2012 in May.
Forgive sure, but overlook? In a word, no. nt
Melody Warbington (rwm52) (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 4:15PM EST (link)The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things. (John 4:25)
Could you live with Obama/Biden? You know I don't have the power to produce a better GOP field, and in a
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 4:28PM EST (link)field of 6, I put Newt 5 or 6. We try.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Oh, Newt would be better than Ron Paul ...
acat (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 5:23PM EST (link)Newt would still be a disaster, but on a smaller scale… an F4 tornado instead of an F5….
My concern is that it’s looking like 1996 all over again. Vulnerable, weak Dem, but the GOP can’t find a candidate who could actually, you know, *appeal* to people.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
GC is not a Newt fan - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:16PM EST (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
not as a leader, but...
kyle8 (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:18PM EST (link)he is a great Idea guy and could be a powerful Sec of Treasury, or some other position.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
Giuliani for DHS, Newt for SecTreas, Bolton for SecState... [nt]
acat (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:22PM EST (link)——
Caveat Suffragator
agreed re ideas and he did a great thing in leading the House takeover, and
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:48PM EST (link)yes, one might appoint him to the Cabinet, but Newt’s problem is ego and that most hurts him when he is the boss of something.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
The Contract wasn't just Newt - Barbour had a hand in...
acat (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 7:07PM EST (link)As did many others including the ghosts of Ronald Reagan and Lee Atwater…
I’m not trying to minimize it as an accomplishment, I’m just not interested in trusting the guy who fumbled on the opposition’s 20 and hasn’t shown that he’s learned from his errors.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
Well, I thought the K for America was puny. I think the Newt-Clinton gridlock
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 10:34PM EST (link)was great for preventing growth in govt in dollars, but not in regulation. But think Newt’s great work was done in attaining the House and not so much his agenda and how he compromised with Clinton too much. He also betrayed JC Watts, but that’s for another day. I am not for Newt.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Or Maybe...
BigGator5 (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 10:32AM EST (link)Or how about Cain/Pawlenty.
I think I can live with that combo instead.
Educated (About The Issues Facing Us Today), Dedicated (To Making A Difference), And Highly Motivated (To Getting Things Done)
Pawlenty...ZZZZzzzz
azaeroprof (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 3:13PM EST (link)Don’t get me wrong, I like Pawlenty. I think he would make a great Chief of Staff. But if he’s our nominee, we lose by 10 points.
To beat a popular guy (yes, Obama is still popular) with a $1 billion war chest, we need someone who hundreds of thousands of people can get excited enough about to give their time and money.
Since I’ve been vocally supportive of Sarah Palin here, I’ll leave her out of this discussion. I’m skeptical that she’ll run anyway.
As a 3-legged stool guy, I could get excited about several potential candidates, including Christie (and Cain, Perry, Daniels, etc.). I’m willing to overlook any So-Con weaknesses of Christie’s in order to get Obama out.
But now here’s where I risk making a fool of myself… prognostication! You heard it here first (well, maybe): the ticket will be Romney/Rubio. And they will have about a 40% chance of beating Obama. Mark my words.
If only Christie's weaknesses were only on social issues - they aren't:
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 4:30PM EST (link)http://conservativenewjersey.com/the-myth-of-christie-conservatism-intro
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
I'm not surprised, GC.
azaeroprof (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:03PM EST (link)But I also think that defeating Obama is SOOO important and will be SOOO challenging, that many of us will have to lower our “minimum conservative score” for our nominee, at least for 2012. I don’t like it, but the alternative is so much worse.
The country is center-right, don't like cap and trade and many other things Christy
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:20PM EST (link)is for that could negate any good he did on the budget. Christy needs to stay put, make NJ solvent and then we need to get a better candidate than him even for NJ.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
There's some truth to that, but the problem is
Melody Warbington (rwm52) (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:31PM EST (link)once the candidates see that we’re willing to lower our standards, that’s all they’ll be willing to live up to.
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things. (John 4:25)
Don't get me wrong!
azaeroprof (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:58PM EST (link)I’m not saying we lower our standards now. Just that once we’ve selected a candidate, we have to put some things on the shelf and enthusiastically work for that candidate regardless of their conservative score.
Sounds like "Conservative in the primary, Republican in the general"
acat (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 7:12PM EST (link)And I’m with you on that.
I’d like to see if the Conservatives can come together behind a single candidate before Iowa – as we did in 1980 when Reagan showed Carter to the door.
I’m not sure who that candidate is yet.. I’m sure it’s not Romney or Gingrich or Paul, though.
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
It's not always about the Politics
GordonTaylor (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 10:45AM EST (link)Like I said back in ’08, it’s all about who is the most electable, not the most qualified.
The candidate for the top office in the world must be a “Sellable Package”, not necessarily the best candidate. A sad cometary on America, but non the less true.
If the most qualified candidate were the only criteria we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in right now with our current POTUS.
It’s all about selling a package and most investors will put their money on the “perceived” winner.
Madonna was a no-body until a group of investors in the world of music were looking for someone that they could sell to the public. They chose Madonna, because in their eye’s she was the most “Sellable” package they could find. And sell her they did.
In her case their ROI was measured in dollars. In Politics the ROI is measured in control to further a specific agenda. Them Dems beat our marketing efforts in 2008, because we went after the most qualified, or so we thought.
If we have learned anything we should learn not to speak from our hearts on the best candidate, but concentrate on the best product to sell … one that has the broadest appeal to the consumer.
It’s all about the marketing … just ask the ‘Bama camp.
Then how do you explain Reagan.
gekster (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 11:04AM EST (link)Everyone said he wasn’t “electable”.
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
As did I and nearly
GordonTaylor (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:29PM EST (link)tossed my cookies when the primary was over. McCaniacs are sure to be back in action, but let’s not make the same mistake twice….puleeezzzzz
I think it is less about electability
powertothepeople (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 11:12AM EST (link)and more about conservatives who throw temper tantrums. It is a big problem amongst our ranks and it reared its ugly head in 2010.
Palin did not win, taking my ball home,
Huck lost, I hate you all,
Daniels got sent packing, I am not helping anymore,
And so on and so on.
Quite frankly, put just about any name in the pot and we could win with them but only if all of us take our beating and get behind the winner. Regan was able to get us unified even, as Gekster stated, when he was supposedly not electable.
The key to Reagan is how *early* he started...
acat (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 5:33PM EST (link)He literally spent years campaigning before he declared for his first winning run for the white house, softening up and preparing the ground through his editorials and speeches…
This made it very easy for conservatives in the primary to come together behind him to defeat Carter… and Reagan’s tendency to bring his rivals’ staff into his campaign (in the case of the 1980 election, this would be George H. W. Bush’s staff..) it proved very effective
A number of the current candidates seem to be employing part of the Reagan approach, including Romney whose campaign staff have met regularly since the start of the 2008 race…
So, Conservatives – if we don’t want Romney, we need to decide on one candidate we all want *before* Iowa… as happened in 1980.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
The Three Wives Of Newt Gingrich
Ausonius (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 10:46AM EST (link)The hypocrisy of it all makes him a laughingstock, and he is quite rightly mocked by HuffPo and others on the Left, which makes his background a liability. I was in favor of impeaching Clinton, because his adultery opened up national security issues of possible blackmail.
Who can guarantee that Gingrich would not behave the same way, given his past behavior? He needs to go away.
Christie was recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal as being adamantly opposed to running in 2012 for the White House. We shall see if his “No” means “No.”
And…
Can anyone fix the title’s misspelled name?
Ausonius: 310-395 A.D. Teacher, Poet, Consul, General, Farmer.
Personal Tutor to the future St. Paulinus of Nola and to young Gratian, heir to the throne during the turbulent final years of the Western Roman Empire. When his former student Gratian was assassinated, Ausonius threw up his hands and retired to his farm in Gaul. Rome was captured by barbarians 14 years after his death.
Cato@rock.com
Try to imagine.........
KC (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 3:49PM EST (link)….Chris Christie on the presidential debate stage going one-on-one with Obama.
They could make that pay-per-view and put a dent in the National debt.
Just an ‘ole country boy from Missouri
It's been a great debate here...
GordonTaylor (Diary) Wednesday, March 9th at 6:27PM EST (link)Kinda feels like the old days when we had a lively debate about those running in ’08. I was a diehard Rudy fan, but that was then and this is now.
Great job guys, keep the debate going!
I really like Christie's actions in Jersey...
no2nt Thursday, March 10th at 1:59PM EST (link)…but I’ve heard him time and time again say he’s not interested in running. I’m sure he would turn out well, but if his heart and mind isn’t in it, then pushing him would be detrimental and disrespectful.
A Pawlenty/Cain ticket looks like a potentially strong contender.