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The Spectacle Blog
I was shocked when Chris Christie won the governor’s race in New Jersey. When I saw his acceptance speech, I thought it was nothing special and figured he just rode a wave into office.
I have come to realize that Chris Christie is nobody’s average politician. Chris Christie is an amazing leader, a statesman, and a courageous governor (something I have rarely seen in my life).
Chris Christie’s address to the New Jersey legislature giving his plan to balance the budget is one of the most astounding speeches and demonstrations of leadership I have ever seen. He may not blow you away with the Obama-esque perfectly-pressed pant leg that so impressed David Brooks, but he has the kind of leadership ability and determination that we could only pray God will put into the Oval Office.
I am begging you to watch this. When have you seen its like? Christie doesn’t just touch the third rail. He performs a pommel horse routine on it and then dismounts perfectly.
Here is the text of the speech.
And here is a clip:
One state retiree, 49 years old, paid, over the course of his entire career, a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments over his life and nearly $500,000 for health care benefits , a total of $3.8 million on a $120,000 investment. Is that fair?
A retired teacher paid $62,000 towards her pension and nothing, yes nothing, for full family medical, dental and vision coverage over her entire career. What will we pay her? $1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime. Is it “fair” for all of us and our children to have to pay for this excess?
The total unfunded pension and medical benefit costs are $90 billion. We would have to pay $7 billion per year to make them current. We don’t have that money , you know it and I know it. What has been done to our citizens by offering a pension system we cannot afford and health benefits that are 41 percent more expensive than the average Fortune 500 company’s costs is the truly unfair part of this equation.
View all comments (61) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Hunter Baker
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Mary Louise| 2.14.10 @ 7:23PM
A very good speech. Smart going after both State Pensions and Education. He has to, as does NYS.
The good thing he did towards the end is say that those who were deciding to stay in the corner would be dragged to the center of the room. He forced them to become part of the effort.
Very well done. You can't compare it to any of Obama's speeches because it's grounded in truth.
Lullaby's,Legends and Lies| 2.14.10 @ 7:44PM
I wish our President had given this same speech during his State of the Union address, instead of the B.S. speech that he gave instead. This “slightly” overweight Governor just told, the Great State of New Jersey, that it needs to go on a serious painful diet, and you got to love that!! I’m so happy I sent this man money during his campaign; he definitely has the answers to the problems that this truly Great State is facing. The only problem I see here for him, is the rolling of the eyes, and lack of clapping that so many in the audience were giving him. The truth hurts, and reality sucks, but such is life, get over it, and do the right thing. “Be part of the solution” Lawmakers of New Jersey, instead of the main problem.
Albert A. Turner| 2.14.10 @ 7:51PM
Finally. An elected leader who has the gumption to speak the truth and actually be in a position to do something about the problems we face.
I love this dude. Go Chris. Stay strong.
Margie| 2.14.10 @ 8:33PM
Ha ha! And they said this man was a RINO!
Man am I proud I voted for this RINO!
Lesson: There are and never will be the perfect candidate.
Question: Are there any Marxists in the Republican party? Any Communists? You know the answer.
VOTE REPUBLICAN! Or get ready for more Marxist destruction.
C4P| 2.15.10 @ 2:41AM
Just hold the Republicans' feet to the fire and keep pushing them to the right and maybe, with God's help, we'll be able to save our country after all.
Jocon307| 2.15.10 @ 12:02PM
I feel the same way Margie. For once someone is living up to my expectations. Christie just seemed like the kind of person who would make their very best effort to get things done. And he seems to have a backbone which is what is lacking in most pubbies.
I also found it interesting the link for the text of the speech led to Philly.com. I wonder if the Star-Ledger or any of the other big Jersey papers ran the full text.
Margie| 2.15.10 @ 1:56PM
C4P, agreed.
Jocon307, when I vote it is for the party which I believe best represents the conservative mindset, and that is the Republican party. It's just a fact. Everyone was yelling "you're a RINO! You vote for RINOS! You go against your "principles!" No! I vote my conscience. I vote for the BEST man that is running, which will NEVER be a Democrat Leftist. You cannot work with a Democrat admin. You CAN work with a Republican one. Christie was said by ALL to be a RINO. I am so sick of hearing it! There will never be a perfect candidate, WE are not a perfect people! I will never throw my vote away either by not voting, or by voting for a Democrat.
As for the NJ papers~ I don't read them so I wouldn't know. I can't read anything that can't hold my interest. Especially Leftist newspapers!
C4P| 2.15.10 @ 4:39PM
We just have to make sure that our candidates stay conservative, because once they contract 'Potomac Fever', they have a tendency to move left.
They forget the conservative folks at home who voted them in so we have to keep REMINDING them of their responsibilities--to us and our conservatives beliefs.
victor| 2.14.10 @ 9:17PM
It was so inspiring to see the bespectacled Bret Schundler near the front row taking notes. After all, he will be the new Education Commissioner for New Jersey.
Bret would have made a great governor as opposed to the two schnurrers that we got instead.
Bret was stabbed by the Regular Republicans and the newsmedia and kept from the governor's mansion back in 2001.
It was good to see him in the cabinet.
Can Steve Lonegan be far behind?
For those in New Jersey who know Steve Lonegan, this is the kind of speech that he would write.
About time we got a governor that we deserve.
Let the handwringing on the Left begin! And that includes those who want to keep things as they are.
danny| 2.14.10 @ 9:18PM
gov. christi represents real hope and change. we're set to get more leaders like him. just watch.
Greta| 2.14.10 @ 10:59PM
The same problem exists in every state and in the federal government as well. The benefits and pension plans are a crime and must be changed. Every one of them should be on the same social security plan and the same benefits as the average American. Salaries that have risen to outrageous levels also should be trimmed.
jrs| 2.15.10 @ 1:45PM
I agree this is a rather universal problem. The underlying cause is the same as that plagued us steelworkers and plagues social security and medicare. The problem with all of these is threefold, 1) their ponzi schemes, 2) people are living too long, 3) returns in the models aren't nearly conservative enough. The result is that not enough is set aside. If we truly treated these in an asset/liability framework, we would not only have not let this unfunded liability grown so large but everyone, including workers could get a better understanding of this cost.
Unfortunately, while we'll need sacrifices from everyone involved, the government has made a contractual obligation and this fact will complicate solutions.
bfwebster | 2.14.10 @ 11:07PM
You're right -- it is brilliant, brave, and honest, and it reflects all that is lacking in Washington.
Also, is it just me, or do the NJ assemblymen that the camera keeps focusing on look like, well, New Jersey types? Some of them look a bit nervous as well, and appear to be looking around to see how others are reacting. Heh. ..bruce..
victor| 2.14.10 @ 11:43PM
BFWebster:
"Some of them, NJ assemblymen, democrats no doubt, look a bit nervous as well, and appear to be looking around"
That's because Christie, when he was United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, appointed by GW by the way,
convicted 130 politicians, nearly all of them democrats.
Apparently they were anticipating being marched out of the room in handcuffs.
Can you blame them?
So many corrupt democrats, so little time.
New Jersey Democrats and the Federal Pen:
Perfect Together!
Spicy Joker| 2.14.10 @ 11:13PM
Chris Christie has more guts than all 41 Republican U.S. Senators combined.
Smitty| 2.15.10 @ 2:37AM
Yeah, Spicy--but no bigger balls than Sarah Palin.
jrs| 2.15.10 @ 1:51PM
More importantly, it sounds as if Christie is a number of times more intelligent than Palin. While I love her rhetoric, in reality the issues facing our nation are way more complex than simply cutting taxes, praying and drilling for more oil. Our biggest problems, as highlighted by Rep Ryan's brave (although unrealistic) budget are various entitlements. The ultimate solutions will require rather rigorous thought if we wish to find a solution that simultaneously doesn't bankrupt the country, doesn't screw over those that have paid into the system as well as doesn't leave millions of seniors destitute.
Smitty| 2.15.10 @ 4:18PM
No, he doesn't--you just made that up because you're a worthless Palin hater. Sarah's very smart and she was an excellent governor.
Go back under your rock, toad.
jrs| 2.15.10 @ 6:18PM
That's hilarious. Best one I've heard all day.
Smitty| 2.15.10 @ 9:31PM
Which one amuses you? The fact that you're worthless or you're a toad?
They both apply.
victor| 2.15.10 @ 9:17AM
I'd love to say:
"Christie-Palin 2012!"
, but New Jeresy needs him for eight years to unravel the mess that the previous democrat governors perpetrated upon the state.
Democrats that I'm sure that Liberal reader supported; McGreevey, because he's homo sexual and Corzine, because he's bald.
New Jersey voters are no dumber than any others, but there must be some reason they keep electing corrupt and venal politicians from the democrat party.
If you think Chicago politics are corrupt, they have nothing on Hudson, Essex and Newark politicians.
Smitty| 2.15.10 @ 4:24PM
Nah. Nobody knows Christie and he has a lot of work to do in New Jersey in the upcoming years anyway.
Congratulations, New Jersey--good luck!
Pingback| 2.14.10 @ 11:23PM
The integrity Washington is lacking | And Still I Persist links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 2.15.10 @ 9:35AM
Congratulations to the New Governor of New Jersey. Can we transplant his cojones into Scwarzenegger and all the other RINO Governors around the country? As for the nervous Assemblymen and particularly the Democrats in Trenton, does the baloney know the meatgrinder?
Margie| 2.15.10 @ 2:00PM
I wish Scwarzen-Arnold would just do us all a favor and switch to the party he truly belongs in and get it over with already. Arnold~ "Vee Vant to pump you up" ain't so pumped anymore.
Missy| 2.15.10 @ 9:33PM
Ahnold's a RINO, no surprise he's a bust.
Bob| 2.15.10 @ 9:41AM
Like you, Hunter, I have been surprised as well. But I strongly welcome his point of view. You cannot be a fiscal conservative and not like what Christie had to say. I certainly don't like his anti-abortion and gay marriage views, but fiscal conservatism is far more important than the social issues.
Now that the rhetoric is there, I'd like to see some action. His success will be based not on what he has to say, but what he can accomplish. He has my support.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.15.10 @ 10:22AM
Hunter, thanks for the glimpse.
Here's wishing you New Jersey-ites the best up there. Heh, we have so many of you moving here, I sound funny when I walk into a bar with my Texas accent.
ggoblue| 2.15.10 @ 10:31AM
amazing. simply amazing. the revolution has begun, and once again, without a shot. there will be no sweeping this under the rug, it will spread like a wildfire across america....i cannot wait until november 2010, and then 2012. thank you god.
martin j smith| 2.15.10 @ 10:44AM
Very intelligent and very relevant to our times. Funny how populism that Democrat Left uses can be turned around on them. No wonder Big Union loves Obama!!! Of course all of these connections need to be exposed.
Pingback| 2.15.10 @ 11:21AM
Chris Brown — Twitter ( In My Zone – 15 ) | Chris Brown Celebrity Monitor links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 2.15.10 @ 12:39PM
Streaky Minnesota Still on Bubble – www.webuda.com – deep web news … | Educational Mi links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
jrs| 2.15.10 @ 1:37PM
It's about time someone makes a serious push to tackle such a controversial but important issue. I wish the governor good luck as this will be no easy task and there are no easy solutions. I'm sure I'm being way too optimistic, but NJ could help provide some some answers every other state and more importantly the country needs to deal with.
Civil Servant| 2.15.10 @ 3:59PM
Apparently it is time to scapegoat the Public sector employee. Let me offer a different point of view.
First of all, let me state that most Americans who work full time for the government at whatever level are honest, hard working people who have chosen to serve the public with the understanding that while their wages would be limited, they could depend upon a secure retirement in exchange for a lifetime of public service.
The current egregious examples by Christie of public sector abuse are in a distinct minority and these citations are typical examples of their disinformation strategy. (Remember Reagan and his absurd insinuation that welfare mothers drive Cadillac’s? At the time, a single mother lived on a grant of $322 a month. It is worse for them now…30% unemployment among the poor)
According to the latest Bureau of Labor statistics, which includes salary and benefits, the professionals in the private sector make $46.82 per hour and the professionals in the public sector make $1.12 more at $47.94 per hour. (This slightly higher rate for the public sector is NOT historically representative and undoubtedly reflects the corporate migration overseas and the ability of the non-unionized private sector to lay off employees at will). Ergo, the private sector gets more salary, the public sector gets more benefits.
The depredations of Darwinian capitalism have transformed our democracy into a plutocracy where the top 1% of the population control 42% of the nation’s wealth and the average person is out of luck. As mentioned, our multi-national corporations have relocated their operations overseas where they can exploit people who have no organized union protection thereby diminishing good private sector jobs in this country. We are left with a service economy where many private sector jobs are minimum wage service positions. This drives down the average wage in the private sector. The furor over public pensions is understandable for those who chose the private sector to find their fortune. They actually believed in the delusional Horatio Alger stories where anyone can go from rags to riches. That scenario has an extremely low statistical probability.
No one was complaining before because those who chose the private sector for self aggrandizement were doing well in making large amounts of money. Now that the free market has been exposed as a gambling casino which is what it was all the time, these people are moaning about the job securities of the public sector that they spurned when times were good. Don't scapegoat those who sacrificed their earning power during their career to help others and to secure a safe retirement. They pay taxes also and the public services they perform should be supported by taxes.
Pensions have been under funded or not funded at all for many years because people, while they want public services, do not want to pay for them. This is called impaired reality testing. (Those who don’t want public services, think that we still live in the wild west and keep loaded guns are subjects for another discussion.)
The point is that the average person today is suffering as a result of:
1) Tax cuts for our royal rich class extending back to the Reagan years. (Did you know that during the so-called “Golden Age” of the middle class in the Fifties, the marginal tax rate was 91% as compared to the 35% of today? Our economy was just fine and the wealth was distributed more equitably);
2) The waste of blood and treasure on an unnecessary invasion and occupation of Iraq to “preserve” our access to oil. (If we were going to try to get rid of dictators or bring democracy somewhere, China or Africa surely would have benefited from our help);
3) Deregulation of our financial sector which has led to wretched excess in unleashing the natural driving force of capitalism…GREED.
Instead of scapegoating public employees, I would like to see members of Congress focusing on appropriate regulation of Wall Street and reformation of campaign finance. In the long run, those are the problems that, once resolved, would be of greatest benefit to the average person.
In the short run, federal aid to the states would certainly be helpful to prevent the meltdown of public services.
Marxists in Government| 2.15.10 @ 6:23PM
Wow, you have studied the manifesto well. Public sector employees produce nothing and are sponges on the system. The very private sector that you despise takes the risks and produces the wealth so you worthless gov't employees can make $1.12 more than the private sector. You worthless gov't employees have better health insurance and defined benefit plans which hardly exist in the private sector. Marxists like you make me ill and your days of raping the private sector are near an end.
kathynj| 3.14.10 @ 11:15PM
A few comments: 1) Public employees "produce nothing"? Really? But Goldman, Sachs does? I'd venture that fire and police personnel, along with teachers and many other public employees (e.g., those in the armed services) provide far more value to society than your typical investment banker (and let us not forget that Christie had his federal position bought for him by his brother, Todd, whose financial-services firm was involved in highly questionable activities prior to selling out to Goldman for tens of millions of dollars.)
2) Defined benefit plans USED to exist quite broadly in the private sector, but white-collar workers refused to unionize, especially when they were receiving salaries far in excess of their public-sector equivalents, and were therefore sitting ducks when corporations reduced benefits and shifted to 401(k)s (and look how that has worked out for most workers over the past few years!!!).
3) The growing gap between the very wealthy and everyone else in this country will eventually undermine the very foundations of our republic. It may make you feel good to spout your uninformed vitriol, but be careful what you wish for!
Nick| 2.15.10 @ 11:15PM
Marxist Servant,
You epitomize the term "Useful Idiot."
Do you believe anyone actually read all of your diatribe?
Smitty| 2.15.10 @ 4:34PM
Dude--WE CAN'T AFFORD YOU!!! It's not personal, don't you see? Wouldn't you have more pride if you actually added something to our economy?
If our economic system crashes you're going to take a hit, too. I don't understand why people don't get it--it's just a matter of dollars and cents--and we're running out of both!
Our debt is NOT sustainable, regardless of your denial, there are just too many pigs at the trough.
Civil Servant| 2.15.10 @ 6:37PM
Dear “thoughtful” respondents,
What we cannot afford as a nation is to allow these so-called “conservatives” to regain full power. As it is, even though they lost the elections of 2006 and 2008, they still have managed to paralyze the process of governing through the nuclear use of the filibuster and the gutless response of the hapless Democrats.
Their “talking points” are hypocritically opposed to their actual goals which are inimical to the average person’s best interests. They talk about diversionary social values with their carefully phrased slogans such as right to life, no taxes, small government, etc. Notice how those campaigns have played out.
Zero.
At the same time their true agenda is to create a capitalist plutocracy which supersedes government and protects the privileged top 2% of our economic elite. Real wages have stagnated since 1980 when “Saint” Reagan took office while the rich have gotten much richer.
Not only have they gained in their wealth but also their arrogance is insupportable. They almost destroyed our economy under the deregulation policies of the past 30 years. (Yes Clinton was a classic Rockefeller Republican with NAFTA, Welfare Reform, and repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act).
Now they moan and whine that, after having been bailed out with taxpayers’ money, they can’t get their extravagant and obscene bonuses.
You want to complain about what we CAN’T AFFORD DUDE, try looking at that more closely. These people produce nothing. They just move money around to maximize their profit.
At least the people in the public sector can say they have added to our society through their selfless service.
Pingback| 2.15.10 @ 7:58PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Chris Christie Demonstrates … Tools links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Smitty| 2.15.10 @ 9:51PM
"Selfless service," my ass. You liberal bureaucrats ALWAYS make sure you're compensated well. Try real volunteering--like me, then talk about selfless service. What a joke.
Republicans couldn't obstruct legislation in 2009 because you democrats had super majorities in both houses of congress and the presidency. Don't blame democrat incompetence on us, you liberals just don't know how to govern.
Corrupt Crony Capitalism is what Obama and you democrats practice; you've made sure your fat-cat liberal cronies on Wall Street have been paid off. Don't give me that crap about the little people--you democrats are the party of the filthy rich.
The American people have rejected the far left agenda of the democrat party and we will punish you royally in November.
Better start looking for a REAL job, liberal leech!
Margie| 2.16.10 @ 11:35AM
I really like your style, Smitty!
Pingback| 2.16.10 @ 2:21AM
Courage That Changes Your Life links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 2.16.10 @ 7:57AM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Chris Christie Demonstrates … | Drakz News Stat links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Civil Servant| 2.16.10 @ 9:29AM
Ah...argumentum ad hominem...the last refuge of the ignorant right when thought is too much effort and spoon-fed talking points don't work.
Pingback| 2.16.10 @ 4:34PM
Governor Christie Forms Housing Opportunity Task Force to … | New Jersey Real Estate links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 2.17.10 @ 8:21AM
Courage links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Chris Christie Demonstrates … | Drakz Free Onli links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
ZerObama| 2.18.10 @ 2:08AM
Get a real job, leech! Your DNC talking points won't work here.
And get off your work computer, creep.
Pingback| 2.19.10 @ 12:23PM
The Courage to Change Your Life links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 2.20.10 @ 2:54PM
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Stossel Exposes Cali’s Lavish Public Sector Pensions :Natural Diabetes Treatment links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Mad in Middletown | 4.21.10 @ 4:06PM
Get em Smitty!
shine| 5.8.10 @ 3:52AM
Is there anybody out there with political courage?
fax on internet
Phil| 3.18.11 @ 7:24PM
Christie has been what the state of New Jersey has needed for a long time. You have to like the guy's commitment to getting the state back on track fiscally. He has a no nonsense style that I respect.
Peter
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