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Christie's Too-Good Reasons for Not Running

By Joseph Lawler on 7.20.11 @ 9:59AM

As was the case with Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie's reasons for not running, ironically, prove that he would have been a worthwhile candidate. From Politico's Playbook:

I've weighed this carefully; I didn't dismiss it out of hand. There were four considerations. 1) One question was: Where's my wife? She's not enthused. 2) The second is: I looked ahead at the potential for two years of running, and not seeing my kids. If I won, six years of not seeing them. If I won a second term, 10 years of not seeing them. Missing my kids growing up is a big deal to me, and it was a big reason. The wife was the biggest. The children were the second.

3) I'm staying in New Jersey. I am not just going to quit halfway through my term. The people trusted me, and I feel like I owe that trust and faith some fidelity. 4) And fourth: Could I win? Could I really do it? I think I would win -- not saying I would win, but I could win. I brought my oldest son today because, first of all, I wanted him to wake up early. And, second of all, to have to put on his one suit and tie. But I wanted him to listen because if I did run, which I'm not going to - but if I did in the future -- it's going to affect him. There's six people in the family -- I'm just one.

View all comments (12) | Leave a comment

Wayne | 7.20.11 @ 11:55AM

Sounds fine with me.

Bob| 7.20.11 @ 11:56AM

I love his choice of word, "weighed this carefully". When you weigh Governor Blubber you better be careful...TILT!

David| 7.20.11 @ 2:29PM

I agree. The over weight in this world are inherently inferior human beings. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the hypocrisy of the left in action.

Warrior| 7.20.11 @ 3:28PM

Bob, what are your thoughts about Bill and Hillary Clinton's "girth?"

tonypal| 7.20.11 @ 4:31PM

Bob, if you get any dumber, you could be a future democrat senator.

FastJohnny| 7.20.11 @ 9:51PM

Hey Bob, I hope you are fit as a fiddle to be able to say that. Besides, everyone loves a fat man and who knows maybe he can take as much time off as Obama and play golf during every crisis, that would surely help him lose some pounds.

Gary McArthur| 7.20.11 @ 12:22PM

How ironic, the very reasons he states for not running are at the core of why he should. Let us hope that by not running he actually will have the opportunity to enjoy his family given the current direction of this country. Socialist societies are not all that great and they are certainly the antithesis of the great American story.

randyinrocklin| 7.20.11 @ 4:16PM

Christie is another big RINO! He's for global warming, for less drilling, for gun control. Any other points against his running?

Bo| 7.20.11 @ 5:15PM

Seems that he might be able to win unlike the candidates that meet every purity test.

jann| 7.20.11 @ 6:11PM

Oh he's out there teasing a run but they all want Obama to win another 4 years so Jeb Bush can throw his little hat in and win. These establishment liberal Republicans helping Obama get away with all this destruction will pay for what they have done, mark my words! We know exactly who you are and we are coming to get you!!! Keep it up boys keep it up, you're making our job easier!!! :) grrr!!!!

Wayne | 7.20.11 @ 7:09PM

I think Jeb should run in 2016... for the Democrats.

Occam's Tool| 7.20.11 @ 6:13PM

This is quite sad. The Presidency was not always problematic for kids.

It should be pointed out that Lincoln doted on his boys while in the White House, except Robert. Robert was already grown, and father and son were somewhat distant. Robert was also the only one who lived past the age of 18 (Tad died at the age of 18 of heart failure, in 1871).

Willie famously died of a fever in the White House in 1862. Edward, the second born, died in 1850. Willie and Tad were famous for crawling all over dad while he was holding meetings.

Robert became Secretary of War and Ambassador to Great Britain and died in 1926.

Another President famous for playing with his kids was Teddy Roosevelt. But the Presidency has gotten harder and harder for kids with the years.

Another reason for not running is that the position horribly ages people and subjects them to assassination threats for at least 4 years.