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The Spectacle Blog
I’ve enjoyed the YouTube clips displaying New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s no-nonsense style and unapologetic attitude as much as the next conservative, and love that he’s leading a courageous fight against spending, tax hikes and public sector unions. But I have to disagree with Jim Geraghty’s conclusion here:
It would probably not be best for Chris Christie or New Jersey if he were to run for president in 2012; he’s still got a lot of work to do and a lot of promises to Garden State voters yet to be kept. But right now, the idea of Chris Christie running for president or appearing on the 2012 presidential ticket just stopped being unthinkable, crazy, and implausible.
I think Geraghty was on the right track with his initial caveats. For Christie to be a plausible presidential candidate, he’ll have to do a lot more than say and do awesome things over a series of months. A lot of young executives come into office and act tough in the beginning — but soften up over time. So at the minimum, Christie is going to have to show that he can sustain this kind of performance. Even more important, he has to be able show that his actions produced tangible and objectively demonstrable positive results — balanced budgets, improvements in education, a better economy (at least relative to neighboring states). But it’s just impossible that we can know any of these things in time for him to mount a credible 2012 presidential run, keeping in mind that the 2012 campaign won’t start two years from now, but — if the 2008 race is any indication — five months from now, or the morning after the midterm elections. I think Geraghty is right about Christie’s potential appeal. So, it is plausible that he could be a presidential contender someday. Just not this time around.
View all comments (20) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/06/16/christie-2012-still-implausibl
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Ted. B| 6.16.10 @ 2:02PM
I like Christie, but I see him more as being a Republican Rahm Emmanuelle type than a presidential candidate. This guy doesn't have time to kiss ass and be diplomatic he would be a great Chief of Staff. He really understands power well and that is his strength.
Oldefarte| 6.16.10 @ 2:16PM
There are plenty of Christies out there in the political world [Romney, Palin, Jindal,etc]. The most important thing is for the American voters to NOW realize their huge mistake on 11/4/08 etc, and to vote for only politicians with administrative/managerial abilities going forward. Otherwise, this country will end up in the crapper for sure!!!!!!
Brian Richard Allen | 6.17.10 @ 1:17AM
"... Otherwise, this country will end up in the crapper for sure!!!!!! "
Otherwise?
You mean the bottom can fall out of the crapper we're already in?
Oldefarte| 6.17.10 @ 10:39AM
Oh, believe me, we haven't seen anything near the bottom YET [think THE 1930'S GREAT DEPRESSION]. Grab your sock and hold your jocks, because it's coming, if we don't vote in substantial numbers in November]!!!!!
Liam| 6.16.10 @ 2:48PM
Romney AIN'T no Christie. Give me a break.
Oldefarte| 6.17.10 @ 10:40AM
He ain't no Barry THE CHOSEN ONE either, now is he??????????????????????
Liam| 6.18.10 @ 7:57PM
Why mention Obama, bonehead?
Joe Ptak| 6.16.10 @ 2:56PM
I love what he says and has been doing...let's wait for the results/aftermath two years from now.
He has to go after the public sector unions and win in order to clearly define himself as a leader willing to tackle the obstacles in controlling state costs.
Devasahayam| 6.16.10 @ 3:05PM
I personally would consider that Christie cannot be a worse candidate (or president) than the current (and treasonous) occupant of White House--but that's hardly an endorsement.
Oldefarte| 6.17.10 @ 10:42AM
""""Worse'''''', try BETTER, much better. Anyone with a fifth grade education would be so!!!!!
Humphrey Dumfries| 6.16.10 @ 4:27PM
"A lot of young executives come into office and act tough in the beginning -- but soften up over time."
If Christie "softens up" any more, he won't FIT in the Whitehouse!
shorething| 6.16.10 @ 6:11PM
but think of avoiding the long primary season and his getting tapped as vp, gives me a little more hope
Joan of Snark | 6.16.10 @ 7:38PM
Christie's good. Very good. But as America learned by electing President Walking Eagle, talking and doing are two very different things so unless candidates have real-life, sucessful for-profit business-type experience under their belt, they are no longer going to get votes based on teleprompter reading alone.
Which is as it should have always been.
darcy| 6.16.10 @ 9:02PM
"For Christie to be a plausible presidential candidate, he'll have to do a lot more than say and do awesome things over a series of months."
Yes, that's what OUR side requires of those to whom we confer POTUS candidate status. It's a shame and a disgrace to America that the Left plays by different rules. Witness the neophyte blowhard in today's Oval.
But just let's say we Americans gauge only the rhetoric. Let's see. O says redistribute income; abandon coal and expect soaring energy costs; negotiate with our bud, Iran; big-momma nanny state will take the edge off all your vicissitudes; health care for everyone at your neighbor's expense.
Christie says the day of reckoning is here. We intend to leave behind to our children and grandchildren a state at least as financially sound as it was for us.
On rhetoric alone, Christie is one million times the man that Mr. empty suit in the oval is.
O is a charlatan. Christie is real.
PCC| 6.16.10 @ 10:32PM
Christie is no more implausible than any of the other potential GOP contenders; they all have their weaknesses.
Of course, if he could spend a year or two community organizing, that would be even better.
chuck| 6.17.10 @ 12:10AM
To become a viable presidential candidate Governor Crisco needs to become a Weight Watcher candidate. Two Ton in Trenton needs to drop a ton.
Oldefarte| 6.17.10 @ 10:44AM
At least he has a BRAIN
chuck| 6.17.10 @ 11:07AM
He has a brain encased in a FAT HEAD. Take an aerobics eat sprouts and lose the weight.
Ladysmith| 6.22.10 @ 7:19PM
What do YOU look like bonehead? O is a skinny empty headed jerk....I'd MUCH rather look at fat with smarts!
Rob Harrison | 6.17.10 @ 5:33PM
Gov. Christie needs to do just one thing to be a viable presidential contender: win re-election in 2013. If he keeps up what he's doing and does it well enough to pay dividends, he might be able to pull that off; and if he can win re-election in New Jersey as a blunt-force fiscal conservative, he will be immovably on the presidential short list.