A Thinner Chris Christie Still Faces Big Political Challenges - by Robert Shrum

[DonViejo]

by Robert Shrum May 10, 2013 4:45 AM EDT

Thanks to the GOP’s self-defeating refusal to back pragmatists over true believers, he may not be a winner, says Robert Shrum.

Two Republicans made big news this week. One had a comeback, the other a lapbelt operation. The first was a sideshow, the second points toward a decisive test of whether the Republicans can be a competitive presidential party in 2016.

A special election in South Carolina saw the defeat of a first- rate Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, who deserves to be known as something other than Stephen Colbert's sister. Congresswoman would have been nice. It was not to be. I was wrong and John Avlon was right: It turns out the mythical trip on the Appalachian Trail didn't lead Mark Sanford to political oblivion, but to the House of Representatives. It also turns out that the self–ordained, self-righteous voters in the land of Bob Jones University believe in family values—-until they don't.

Their flexibility could be critical to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has acknowledged shedding 40 pounds with the help of weight-loss surgery. He's right that it's "ridiculous" to assume that his poundage precluded a race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Fat is an easy, unproven shibboleth of a barrier to the White House—much like age used to be, until that truism was soundly disproved by Ronald Reagan. The New Jersey governor says he had the operation for his health, his family, his children.

You don't have to be cynical to recognize that while the decision may not reflect a political imperative, it does have an important political implication. One Republican strategist who covets Christie as his party's 2016 leader has worried that he probably couldn't withstand the rigors of a national campaign, day in and day out, speech after speech, flight after flight, if he continued to carry around 350 pounds or more. The problem wasn't that he was unelectable because he looked like William Howard Taft; a century after Taft, the problem was the withering intensity of the modern road to the White House. In order to run, you have to be physically up to the task.

Christie still has another, possibly debilitating challenge. He's a conservative, but not a purist; he's a conviction politician—and a pragmatist too. That's precisely why he's the most delectable Republican candidate—and I don't aim to hurt him by writing that. But for him, Republican voters had better be in as forgiving a mood--as intent on winning--as they were in the South Carolina special. And there is a difference. There will be other candidates, truer believers, on the 2016 primary ballot.

full article
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/10/a-thinner-chris-christie-still-faces-big-political-challenges.html

[tabbycat31]

1. His true colors are starting to show again

As shown by yesterday's veto of bringing early voting to NJ (we've had a vote by mail law since 2009 but very few people understand it and get it).

[Cha]

3. Good Luck to Barbara Buono..

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/09/1208048/-NJ-Gov-Barbara-Buono-D-Calls-Out-Chris-Christie-s-R-Inaction-On-Gun-Safety#

[tabbycat31]

4. well if you'd like to help her chip in $5

She's a very good progressive.

[Cha]

5. thanks tabbycat..maybe I will. :)

[Cha]

2. Would the reCon primary candidates Ever let the voters forget the pics

of Christie and Pres Obama Together Idiots!

Barbara Buono is the Dem running for Gov of New Jersey! Be nice if she won.. then all this would be moot.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/09/1208048/-NJ-Gov-Barbara-Buono-D-Calls-Out-Chris-Christie-s-R-Inaction-On-Gun-Safety#

thanks DV

[Cosmocat]

6. Christie's biggest problem is Christie

His personality is great for New Jersey.

Folks in NJ are pretty in your face.

When he goes off on people on the Boardwalk all he is doing is enamoring himself even more with NJ people.

That kind of stuff does not play well nationally.

Different thing entirely.

Yeah, there probably is a niche for someone who has his sense of going against the grain politically a bit, someone who will speak more directly on things.

But, he is who is.

And, he won't go more than 5 minutes in a Presidential race before he loses it on someone. And, he will to id often as the microscope really hones in on him.

While the Repubilcan's will come up with some half arsed meme and repeat it ad nauseum to make it OK for them and the media whores, it won't get him to 50% nationally. He will be like Romney, propped up, but bleeding support in the fringes.

[backscatter712]

7. Maybe he'll get the Thinner curse from Stephen King's book...

[LiberalFighter]

9. It didn't help the Huckster. He lost a lot of weight too and Presidential nom. nt