Chris Christie, Democratic hero

[DonViejo]

Chris Christie gave Obama a huge assist just days before the election. He may be thinking about his own bid in 2016

BY STEVE KORNACKI

That Chris Christie is providing a serious political assist to President Obama less than a week before the election is indisputable. The question is why he’s doing it.

Christie, who was the keynote speaker at the Republican convention and has been one of Mitt Romney’s top campaign surrogates, will survey the post-Sandy wreckage in New Jersey with the president today. This comes after Christie went out of his way to praise Obama at the height of the storm and after Christie angrily shot down a Fox News host’s query about whether Romney might tour New Jersey with him too.

“I have a job to do,” he said. “If you think right now I give a damn about presidential politics, than you don’t know me.”

Needless to say, this is all music to the ears of Democrats. Christie is one of the most prominent Republicans in the country, and one of the better-liked ones too. This is exactly the sort of cross-partisan boost that candidates dream of receiving in a race’s final days, especially a race as close as this one. So what’s Christie up to?

The simplest explanation is that this is just Christie being Christie. He’s as ambitious as any politician, but unlike many other national stars on the make, he sees his current gig as more than a steppingstone.

more:
http://www.salon.com/2012/10/31/chris_christie_democratic_hero/

[catbyte]

1. Well, that's overstating it a little. How about Chris Christie, human being

doing his job and thanking others for doing theirs. Although, the cynic in me can't help but think Christie was filming his first 2016 General Election ad, lol.

[mother earth]

2. I give major respect when it's due, he's not following and singing the same old GOP talking pts.

That, in itself, speaks to his ability to actually think. I like Christie. Isn't it about time that a politician show he is capable of being his own man?

President Obama does deserve cooperation and respect simply because he is our president, and it's what's best for the country, if for no other reason.

Nice to see an American, having good old fashioned American values for a change. K & R for Christie & President Obama.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

6. Well said. My thoughts also. nt

[otohara]

8. So All That Nasty Shit He Said Last Week

“You’ve been living inside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for the last four years,” “If you don’t think you can change Washington from inside the White House let’s give you the plane ticket back to Chicago you’ve earned.”

“If he believes that, then what the hell is he doing asking for another four years?” “We’re happy to give you a bus ticket to the outside, Mr. President.”

Obama is “blindly walking around the White House looking for a clue.”

“He’s like a man wandering around a dark room, hands up against the wall, clutching for the light switch of leadership and he just can’t find it.”

[mother earth]

9. I haven't been keeping track of everything Christie says, but on the hurricane response he's correct

and he's correct to give kudos to President Obama. As for those derogatory remarks, they speak for themselves. It's refreshing to hear a GOP'er praise the president, a rarity, so perhaps he's waking up to the fact he'll have to work with him for another term. Maybe the rest of the GOP should take their cue from Christie.

[otohara]

12. Politically Correct

he's a politician in need of federal dollars.

What Christie said last week about his new best friend, is the real Christie!

[winterpark]

3. Call me cynical, but from what I've seen of this man, I believe that

all this happy Obama talk from him is a setup. A) to praise him until something goes wrong then slam him as incompetent and he had so much hope for his handling of this disaster, yada yada.

B) To set himself up for re-election by saying, hey, you voted for Obama in 2012 and I worked side by side with him so I deserve re-election for working with a Dem.

I would caution everyone giving him all this publicity and props to take him with a grain of salt. I think this is purely self serving on his behalf

my 2cents

[Indykatie]

11. Any Slam from Christie Won't Come Until After the Election so the Praise Now is Invaluable n/t

[liberalla]

4. Christie and Obama working together is an in-your-face reminder

of how we all benefit when the parties work together. It's an advertisement for fully functioning government. I hope people see that cooperation and demand their own elected leaders do the same.

I keep thinking this horrible weather event may have a positive influence on the way things get done in DC during Obama's second term. Maybe only 60% "NO", compared to the 99% "NO" he's been getting.

I gotta' have hope.

[hamsterjill]

5. I'm thankful to Christie for what he did yesterday.

But I'll be taking him one day at a time. I don't trust him.

He did the absolute right thing yesterday, and from what little video I saw of him, his words sounded sincere. He looked tired and stressed, and he was convincing when he said he knew the importance of putting people ahead of politics.

So, thank you for that, Governor Christie.

Now...I'll just wait to see how he behaves in the future.

[PsychProfessor]

7. what Christie is doing may be 100 percent self serving but...

it is important to think about why it is self serving. Why is what he is doing the best political move he could make? It is because he knows that Romney is a goner. If he believed strongly that Romney was going to win the self serving thing to do would be to get Romney in there somehow. It is in Christie's best political interest to do what he is doing. So, one can argue that he is NOT casting political gain aside here but that means that he knows what side his bread will be buttered on, both as a the governor of a blue state and also as a continuing national figure in the Republican party. If he believed his political future was in some way (or even any way) tied to Mitt Romney, there are a variety of ways he could work this to accomplish his goals while maintaining Romney's standing. He is not doing that. Because he is well aware that his political future does not rely on Romney's political future. Because Romney does not have a political future.

[Alekei_Firebird]

13. Exactly. Christie is the canary in the mineshaft.

He's already smelled the toxic fumes, and it's emanating from Romney's political carcass.

[Jennicut]

10. The three tri-state Govs were shaken up by this storm and are putting the people ahead of

politics right now. I think Christie, Cuomo and Malloy have done a really good job during this. They were clear in their warnings about evacuations. Bloomberg was too.
Don't like Christie's politics but I do believe he does care about what happens to people in his state and has a love for his state. I would never vote for him though.
But this storm has been overwhelming. These 3 guys have worked round the clock on this storm and all look exhausted and worried. And seem like they care deeply about their states.

[yellowcanine]

14. Playing the cynic card, it wouldn't be a bad thing for Christie to have Obama win.

After all if Romney wins, Christie has almost no chance of getting the 2016 Republican nomination. But with an Obama win and positive reviews for hurricane recovery in NJ, Christie is almost automatically a front runner and maybe THE front runner in 2016 for the Republican nomination.

[wilsonbooks]

15. Yes indeed. The cristie is out for number one at all times.

A skunk does not change it.s stripes.