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Global Warming on 15-Year Hold
April 2, 2012 | 12 comments
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Suddenly This Summer
March 31, 2012 | 8 comments
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“Climate” and the Campaign
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Germany’s Green Bubble Follows Spain’s; Will Congress Waste More Billions on Ours?
December 15, 2011 | 3 comments
The Spectacle Blog
So in the wake of the two front-running Republican candidates leaving the base underwhelmed due to unapologetic deviance on some core base-type issues — Obamacare and illegal immigration high among them — there is much clucking in certain quarters about how this dissatisfaction creates just the opening New Jersey governor Chris Christie needs to let a draft effort succeed.
But Christie is not only an avowed proponent of man-made global warming theory — he’s listened to a small group of activists with PhDs, but whose activism happens to extend to generic left-wing political activism — but has also vowed no new coal plants. These are key concerns to the conservative base.
No. A fever borne of two front runners having non-conservative positions on key issues is not cured with a third.
Game this out. Christie wouldn’t even have to come out at a debate and say if you don’t believe in ‘doing something’ on global warming, or with the scientists I’ve chosen to speak to, then you don’t have a brain. He just needs to keep saying it’s incontrovertible. In the end, there’s not a material difference between the two, and that would be his end.
Best case scenario for a Christie candidacy would include running from ‘incontrovertible’ and adopting the clumsy Romney Shuffle of muttering about a state response to a state issue, hoping interest in his views it goes away. Post-cap-n-trade, Solyndra, “necessarily skyrocket,” et al. In this economy. Mmm.
Who knows, it’s not inconceivable that someone might even take enough briefing on the matter in preparation for the general election to be able to point out that not even the ‘global treaty’ Kyoto would, according to any computer model on which the agenda is premised, have a climatic impact. All pain, no gain. More squandering, more costly, futile gestures from politicians. In that event, well, game over. Leaving Republicans still searching. But at least we’d also free up Mr. Hunstman’s podium as a co-benefit of tackling head-on his ‘edgy’ issue.
Of Obamacare, global warming panic, and yet one more tuition subsidy for children of illegal immigrant parents, With the past three years in the rearview mirror I’d guess the latter would be the least fatal to an otherwise strong candidate. If only he could lay it out without insulting.
There may be a call for someone else, but if so it is someone without a history of stridency or even activism on an issue and position dear to the other party’s base. Occasional impurity is to be expected, and the fact that we all are not running shows we all understand that and accept it. But not to the level of advocacy for the other team’s brass rings. The longing is for a principled conservative who can credibly explain his odd wayward stance drawing on his conservative principles, not insults about those who disagree with is conclusion.
View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Chris Horner
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/09/26/if-christies-the-answer-there
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CK| 9.26.11 @ 12:28PM
You think that climate change is going to be a decisive issue this time? This election will be about the economy, the economy, and also the economy.
Not a single one of the current candidates can speak as bluntly about the economy, and what needs to be done about it, and get voters to accept it. Christie can do that, and unlike Romney if he's elected he'd actually do something about it.
Christie would also take away a big chunk of the moderate/independent vote from Obama and that would help in the down-ticket races too.
Alternately you could pick a candidate who says things a minority of the country wants to hear about social issues, and give the demoralized independents and progressives a reason to vote for Obama, and lose.
martin j smith| 9.26.11 @ 12:32PM
If Chris Christie gets and sounds anything like Romney or Perry or worse McCaine--FORGETABOUT HIM.
I think voters want a new kind of President --Up front,honest,Pro-American and Pro-Freemarket
and similar stuff. NO MORE CRAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CK| 9.26.11 @ 12:57PM
If Chris Christie gets and sounds anything like Romney or Perry or worse McCaine--FORGETABOUT HIM.
Christie doesn't sound anything like Romney OR Perry, much less McCain.
It's very rare for a politician to be able to deliver bad news to voters and have the voters thank them for it. Christie can do that.
I think voters want a new kind of President --Up front,honest,Pro-American and Pro-Freemarket and similar stuff. NO MORE CRAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christie is more up-front and honest than ANY of the current crop of candidates. He's blunt in a way none of them are. He's pro-America, pro-Constitution and pro-freemarket, and you can see it in both his words and his actions.
He would disappoint some social conservatives on some issues, but those are the kinds of voter who would rather lose the election with a candidate who reminds them of themselves, than win with someone like Christie. Romney is counting on that kind of voter to continue doing what they've done so well so far, falling in behind weak candidates like Bachmann and Perry, making it easy for Romney to stay above the fray and look good in comparison. Christie would change the dynamic of the race in a positive direction.
NotPropagandized| 9.26.11 @ 1:12PM
Did not know Christie was a human-caused-warmist. Forget it now. I'm all in for Cain. He's by far the most likeable, sensible, articulate, honest, mature and capable of addressing problems and crises. Barring reconsideration by Daniels or Ryan or JebBush, etc, Cain's the one. Further, he is the best one to mitigate the partisan divide. And maybe his leadership can put an end to all this cheap, trashy racism crap we keep hearing from desperate leftists...
LC Jack | 9.26.11 @ 2:01PM
Christie is easy to like, he's bold, brash and refuses to back down. We're desperate for a leader who can actually lead, instead of mealy-mouth platitude spinners.
With that said, are you kidding me?
Christie is not only pro-AGW but left leaning on many issues important to conservatives such as 2nd Amendment and pro-life/choice. Mr. Horner is on the money here by noting that nominating someone even MORE RINO than Mittens or Perry is silly and a non-starter, forgettabout down-ticket issues and this absolute fixation on winning at all costs, even betraying or own principles.
Our side is in perfect position to retake the WH and Congress, why blow that for someone after the inauguration is going to be Democrat Lite?
Occam's Tool| 9.26.11 @ 2:09PM
He's Conservative by NEW JERSEY standards. 'Nuff Said.
PattyMor| 9.26.11 @ 4:05PM
Christie wouldn't participate in the Obamacare lawsuit and it wouldn't have cost a dime. Christie flirted with global warming. How stupid is that? Or is it just because he has a bunch of stockbrokers and investment bankers living in NJ that would make a killing off raising our energy costs? Then he nominated an Islamist to the courts. How omininous is that? Sorry, but I don't trust Chris Christie, even though he took on the teachers unions. But, so did Scott Walker, so where are the big pockets looking to draft Scott Walker. And, Christie didn't have the marchers parading through HIS capitol building.
Robbie| 9.26.11 @ 6:28PM
Oh boy, here come the single issue voters.
Chris Horner says if Christie's the answer, we must ask another question. Fine. What's another question? Willard likes global warming. Is he DOA with you? Perry may not believe it, but can he walk and talk at the same time? Bachmann thinks the world is 6000 years old? If she's the answer, then we definitely need to ask a better one.
The simple fact is no candidate is ever going to be perfect and, even worse, the entire 2012 Republican field is just awful. Because of that, I'm fine with Christie running. If he sucks, he won't win. Just prepare yourselves though, you're not going to be happy with any nominee.
Lamar Carnes| 9.26.11 @ 6:30PM
I can't think of "ONE REASON" I would vote for Christi! In fact, I don't hear anything from him that makes the man a Conservative, or Tea Party type or even a Republican unless one like a moderate type! So, he to me is rude, crude, and very insulting to say the least! He also does'nt even have a clue about Islamic dogma or doctrine and cares less! This man is not the man for the job folks! Please don't go there!!
CK| 9.26.11 @ 6:58PM
Our side is in perfect position to retake the WH and Congress, why blow that for someone after the inauguration is going to be Democrat Lite?
Because the real way to blow it is to run a candidate who alienates the middle and energizes the left.
And, Christie didn't have the marchers parading through HIS capitol building.
Exactly. Walker handled the whole thing in a clumsy, ham-fisted way and seemed befuddled at the backlash. Christy went into a similar situation and spoke plainly to the voters, not pulling any punches but laying out the problem in clear and simple terms. Certainly some people were still infuriated but Christie avoided a lot of the backlash. That's why he didn't have people marching on his capital the way Walker did.
That's why a candidate who can speak bluntly and plainly to voters, and convince enough of them to go along with him, is what we really need, not just someone who is ideologically "pure" but politically clumsy.
Nite| 9.26.11 @ 7:20PM
Christie is a liberal. I won't vote for him period! Conservatives should be very careful what they are looking for and asking for. Perry can beat Obama I am not sure the rest of the candidates can at this time.
CK| 9.26.11 @ 7:38PM
Nite, Christie is no liberal. He may not toe the line on some issues near and dear to your heart but he's a conservative on fiscal issues and that's what we need most.
We need someone who not only wants to do the right things for the economy but who can articulate the reasons to the voters. That eliminates Perry right there.
The only sense in which Perry can beat Obama is that potentially anyone can beat Obama. Cain would do better than Perry in debates against Obama. Romney would pull in more of the independent vote. Ron Paul is a loony old crackpot but he's better at Perry at holding to a consistent message.
Keith| 9.26.11 @ 7:44PM
As I said on Quin's post this past weekend, if you want to fight the good fight and hope Cain, or whoever, gets the nomination, then I respect that. There certainly are people out there who could jump in and who would be good on all the issues, like Paul Ryan.
BUT if we get to primary day, and if the only viable contenders are Romney, Christie, and Perry, then we have a choice between three establishment Republicans. At that point, I ask two things: who can win, and who would make the best president?
Romney: no real principles, takes whatever positions he has to in order to win. Won in a blue state so probably could beat Obama.
Perry: Liberal on immigration. Talks the talk on state power but doesn't walk the walk, as proven by his mandates on things like Gardisil. Can't seem to form a coherent sentence so would probably get creamed by Obama.
Christie: Liberal on global warming and maybe a couple other issues. Conservative on the big issues. Won in blue state.
I would have to say that Perry is unelectable based on this analysis, while Romney and Christie are both electable. And between Romney and Christie, Christie is good on most of the issues, while Romney is good on either all the issues or none of them, depending on which way the wind is blowing. I'll take Christie over Romney because at least I know where Christie stands.
CK| 9.26.11 @ 8:41PM
Exactly right.
bluecollarbytes| 9.26.11 @ 11:39PM
The field is still wide open, with the 'Stuck With Romney' possibility still hanging out there. I guess that means we'll get Romney or someone better.
davod| 9.27.11 @ 2:48AM
"Christie is good on most of the issues,"
Rubbish.
Global warming is not a single issue item when you consider the regulations and tarrifs will overwhelm the country. Just to-day the EPA reported it will need 230,000 new employees and $15 billion to enforce the regulations.
As stated above, he appointed , or recommended, a pro-Islamist Muslim to the courts. Worse than that, he went to bat with the immigration court for a pro-Islamist Muslim. I believe the FBI and DHS wanted the guy deported. The person was allowed to stay.
Do we know his views on OBAMACARE, immigration, the best economic model for the country?
How does Christie plan to bring jobs back to New Jersey?
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