The 350 pound yo-yo
From Gary Bauer’s e-mail, September 27:
BREAKING NEWS: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie WILL NOT be a candidate for president in 2012. According to Fox News, Christie has made a “definitive, once and for all decision” against running for the White House next year.
From the
New York Post, September 29:
Christie seriously considering presidential bid after GOP prodding
After months of hedging, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is giving serious thought to jumping into the ring for a GOP presidential run—and could make his decision next week, The Post has learned.
The announcement may come as soon as Monday, said sources familiar with Christie’s thinking.
The renewed consideration about a White House run came after prodding this week from some Republicans he idolizes, including former First Lady Nancy Reagan, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and former President George W. Bush, sources said. [LA replies: If Christie idolizes GW Bush, that disqualifies him right there.]
“It’s more than just flattering,” a source close to Christie said, adding they helped convince Christie that he not only could win, but that he has what it takes to be president.
Only the pugnacious, popular Christie could pull off such a complete 180 from his blustering denial of interest less than a year ago.
“Short of suicide, I don’t really know what I’d have to do to convince you people that I’m not running. I’m not running!” Christie thundered on Nov. 4, 2010.
Christie pals said the pol’s “mind-blowing” experience at the Reagan library in California Tuesday changed his thinking.
“We need you. Your country needs you to run for president,” one woman pleaded after Christie’s moving speech there.
Yet when the governor first arrived at the Reagan library, he was still telling his inner circle he was a definite “no” for a presidential run—and planned to make that clear in his appearance.
Something changed that night, sources said.
Behind the scenes, sources said, the discussions about running took on a more serious and “surreal tenor,” as the encouragement from Reagan, Kissinger, Bush and others began to sink in.
Even Christie’s wife, Mary Pat, has warmed to the idea of becoming First Lady after months of discouraging a run.
She originally thought a presidential campaign would upend their family. But she got a phone call from former First Lady Barbara Bush, who reassured her the challenge is manageable, said a source close to the Christie family.
Mary Pat Christie now is committed to supporting whatever her husband decides, the source said.
Insiders say Christie is ready to put a presidential campaign together “pretty fast.”
And he’d have to, since filing deadlines for key primary ballots are just weeks off.
Months ago, his top advisers roughed out a finance plan that could be put into play immediately, insiders said.
The heightened buzz has Washington Republicans worked up too.
A Republican Party insider declared that if Christie gets the nomination “he would be a formidable force in uniting the base and winning over independents.
“A Christie candidacy may not be a lock on the White House, but his positive effect down-ballot would almost guarantee a GOP House and Senate,” the insider said.
Not everyone was enthralled with the idea.
Veteran GOP operative Roger Stone said it was already too late for Christie to make a competitive run.
“Running an effective campaign for president takes years of preparation and planning and can’t be done by the seat of your pants,” he said.
“Raising the money needed is also daunting … [and] the media would turn on him with a vengeance,” he warned.
“As much as I like him, I hope he does not run but waits until 2016.”
Christie will be out of New Jersey through today on a fund-raising swing for the state GOP.
He doesn’t plan to make a public appearance until at least Monday.
- end of initial entry -
Alexis Zarkov writes:
New Jersey governor Christopher Christie keeps telling us he won’t run for president because he doesn’t feel “ready,” and wants to serve out his term. I don’t believe that for a moment. Politicians have giant egos; pretty much all them think they would make great presidents. A few rich Republican donors are virtually begging him to run; yet he still refuses, and I think he means it. Why won’t he run?
I think I know the answer after reading Eric McPike’s article on Real Clear Politics, The GOP and Race: The Perils of Unseating a Black President. If Christie ran and won, he would face an immense backlash from the black community, and their supporters. We might even have race riots. If Christie won the electoral vote, but not the popular vote, the black community and others would regard the election as “stolen.” A president Christie, or any other white candidate unseating Obama, would face the same problems. But let’s face it; Christie is basically a liberal. His positions on gun control, global warming, immigration, etc all point to the northeastern RINO exemplified by Rockefeller, Javits, Lindsay, Giuliani and Bloomberg. The economy has forced him into fiscal conservatism. He has no choice because New Jersey was (is?) on the brink of fiscal collapse. As a Republican liberal, Christie is supremely uncomfortable with the thought that he would be the white politician who did in America first black president. Candidate Christie would have to attack Obama during the campaign, and suffer the inevitable accusations of racism.
Look at the way McCain ran his 2008 campaign. Kid gloves all the way. I think he actually wanted to lose so as not deny America its first black president. Christie doesn’t want to face the choice between being a loser, and attacking a black president. Not only that, his whole style is one of confrontation and plain speaking. How is he going avoid his inner conscience telling him (to quote Archie Bunker) “stifle yourself. That kind of emotional tension would be too much to bear. In my opinion, this is why Christie thinks, “he’s not ready.”
LA replies:
This is 100 percent speculation, based on not a single fact.
* * *
Here are some comments on this story at Lucianne.com. As you can see, regular conservatives see through the idea that Christie is a conservative. They understand that doing one conservative thing, such as being strong on cutting spending, does not make one a conservative. One L-dotter makes a telling comparison between Giuliani and Christie—that they are both strong on one thing (law and order; cutting spending), but typical northeastern liberals in other respects.
Reply 1—Posted by: awen, 9/29/2011 8:12:13 AM
So. Romney is no longer the candidate of choice for the Establisment Republicans. Like rats off a sinking ship, they are jumping for Christie’s barge?
Very interesting times we live in.
Reply 2—Posted by: TheMom, 9/29/2011 8:13:03 AM
Come on, now. Establishment GOP are the ones wanting this, to take the momentum away from Tea Party candidates. Don’t be fooled.
Reply 3—Posted by: Mazeman, 9/29/2011 8:14:55 AM
Well at least he’d be an entertaining debater.
Reply 4—Posted by: antiquegolf, 9/29/2011 8:15:17 AM
Mr big beefy bugs me. I wish he’d roll out of the way.
Reply 5—Posted by: tocsin, 9/29/2011 8:21:03 AM
The latest Elite Establishment Republican cackling caucophony will be all over the talking heads shows on Sunday.
Reply 6—Posted by: frenesi1, 9/29/2011 8:25:52 AM
Enough of Christie. He won’t get my vote.
Reply 7—Posted by: riabks, 9/29/2011 8:31:08 AM
Did these people SEE his answer to this question 2 days ago? At the Reagan library? If he changes his mind after that definite refusal, saying he didn’t feel it in himself, the press will make mincemeat out of him.
Reply 10—Posted by: janjan, 9/29/2011 8:41:37 AM
Two strikes against Christie. One is that he is grossly obese and looks like a heart attack waiting to happen. Two is that he is a RINO and he will quickly lose any conservative creds he has once his true self comes out. I’ve loved his jabs at the teachers union in NJ but that doesn’t qualify him to be CIC.
Reply 11—Posted by: mirjoy, 9/29/2011 8:42:35 AM
He idolizes Henry Kissinger??????? Nah, Id take Herman Cain over him any day in the week.
Reply 12—Posted by: Former lurker, 9/29/2011 8:43:35 AM
Just saw Rick Perry on CNBC, he was excellent. I had almost written him off after his debate performances but I have put him back on top of my list of those who are already in the race.
Reply 15—Posted by: Rumblehog, 9/29/2011 8:49:29 AM
Christie and Rudy Guilliani are both great at one thing each. Rudy is law and order, and Chris is financial. They’re one trick ponies. They’re also typical North Eastern social liberals. Not good enough, sorry.
Reply 16—Posted by: jackson, 9/29/2011 8:53:11 AM
Remember Cuomo in ‘92 with this same Hamlet act?
Let the obscure Arkansas governor in the door.
Reply 17—Posted by: Freeloader, 9/29/2011 8:53:47 AM
Christie needs to finish the job in The Garden State. Governor Perry is the candidate the left fears the most as the GOP Standard Bearer in 2012 and “the proof is in the pudding”…. the daily, unceasing barrage of negative coverage by the Democrat controlled media.
Reply 18—Posted by: Felixcat, 9/29/2011 9:02:35 AM
Oh great. Last week we had Gov Perry saying in the debate that if you don’t believe in helping illegal alien children get an education then you’re heartless. Now will have Gov Christie treating us like some whiny union school teacher when he doesn’t agree with us.
Reply 20—Posted by: upchuck, 9/29/2011 9:05:03 AM
Christie needs to stay in the Garden State and eat a few green salads for his diet. He’s hard on unions and furniture and that’s about all. He’s a RINO and a darling of the old Republican elites who hate the Tea Party.
I wouldn’t vote for the Bouy Man.
Reply 22—Posted by: BanishBubba, 9/29/2011 9:09:32 AM
Christie is very weak on 2nd Amendment. No thanks! The candidates we have now all have warts, but I don’t want a guy that’s a squish on our rights to defend ourselves. Other than Ron Paul and Huntsman, I can live with the others that are running and sleep well voting for one of them.
Reply 23—Posted by: WhamDBambam, 9/29/2011 9:12:12 AM
And some accuse Sarah Palin of being a tease.
Reply 24—Posted by: kanphil, 9/29/2011 9:14:06 AM
He’s great for New Jersey, but he won’t play in Texas.
Reply 27—Posted by: Spunk, 9/29/2011 9:18:21 AM
Perry, the last Establishment compromise masquerading as a tea partier flopped, so now they’re going back to their fonder big (anti) gun wish: the blowhard from NJ.
How they would have liked Palin to have got in the race by now, but she’s got more discipline than any of them.
At least Christie blows any Establishment cover for questioning Palin’s experience and credentials.
Reply 28—Posted by: Native Texan, 9/29/2011 9:18:40 AM
I am voting for Perry! He was on CNBC and was great.
I could not get past Christie appointing the Muslum judge that believes in Sharia law. He needs to stay in Jersey. He would become tiresome with his antics.
Perry 2012!!!
Reply 29—Posted by: GRWeicheld, 9/29/2011 9:20:35 AM
Media want this man and will do all they can to bring him down after he decides to run. Wake up we have danced to the Good Old Boys back room choices and lost time after time … vote Herman Cain.A man of the people
Reply 30—Posted by: gwmcclintok, 9/29/2011 9:23:17 AM
I like Perry and Cain. I just want Perry to assure us he will take a tough stand on illegal immigration in America. And, I could care less what Christie is ‘seriously considering’.
Reply 31—Posted by: awen, 9/29/2011 9:23:41 AM
#27
Perry has NEVER been the darling of the GOP Establishment. Look at the treatment he received from Rove for goodness sakes.
And he isn’t done. Not by a long shot.
Reply 32—Posted by: Thos Weatherby, 9/29/2011 9:26:16 AM
Why does the press want to keep this thing going. He has stated that he’s not running. I think it they are trying to make it more difficult for the Republicans that are running by keeping them off the front page and keeping the Chrisie’s of the world on the news stands.
Reply 33—Posted by: Pluperfect, 9/29/2011 9:29:22 AM
It’s not just ordinary folks who say they won’t support this or that candidate if he or she is the nominee. I saw a Cain statement this morning that he would not support Rick Perry if Perry is the nominee. How foolish! So, would Mr. Cain be voting for Barack Obama instead? Very disappointing.
- end of initial entry -
Paul K. writes:
“The 350 pound yo-yo” has to be the funniest title you’ve come up with, or at least in the top five. I’m picturing this yo-yo being operated by a construction crane.
Corey N. writes:
The people saying he is still considering a run are in every case anonymous sources that the newspapers don’t name, while it is Christie’s own brother (and Christie himself) who have repeatedly said there is no chance. I think what is going on here is that somebody or several somebodies are trying to pressure him into running, in defiance of Christie’s own clearly expressed intentions on the matter.
Repeatedly announcing over the loudspeakers that someone else is about to do something, such that everyone around him actually expects him to and is obviously waiting for him to do it, is certainly one way of psychologically pressuring the person to do what is expected of him. However in the first place I don’t think Christie (whatever his faults on policy) is the sort of personality to give in to that sort of pressure, and in the second place, if he was, he’d be exactly the wrong choice for the job in question anyway.
September 30
Alexis Zarkov writes:
The New York Post is not a particularly reliable news source. However Bloomberg News reports Christie as “considering entering the 2012 Republican Presidential race,” as of 8:48 a.m. today. Bloomberg also reports that Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak, and Rick Gorka, a spokesman for the New Jersey Republican State Committee, as having declined comment. This suggests that Christie is indeed considering a run. In which case, I stand corrected by events. I was careful to state that my theory was a personal opinion.
Should Christie decide to run (by no means a certainty), he faces formidable obstacles.
1. It’s very late in the game to be putting together a national organization.
2. He will look foolish after saying he’s “not ready” to be president. The Obama campaign will keep reminding the voters that Christie himself doesn’t believe he’s qualified at this point.
3. The conservatives and Tea Party people are already wise to the fact that Christie is not one of them.
4. Christie’s physical condition could prove troubling. I estimate his weight at 320 pounds. A person with that weight and his height (5’ ,11”) has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 44, which qualifies him as morbidly obese, a potentially serious health condition. While BMI provides only a crude estimate of percent body fat, in his case we need only a glance to see this guy is one mountain, and it’s not muscle. As BMI increases, the chances of many serious conditions also increase. The proper BMI is 22 not 25. That threshold of 25 for overweight was a political compromise. Christie should weigh something like 160 pounds. He seems to have a large frame so I would up that to 180. Thus he needs to lose 140 pounds! His age (49) is getting into the actuarial danger zone. The force of mortality curve (a risk measure) starts turning upward for men at about 45. He could easily start to develop serious medical problems over the next several years. Campaigning is very stressful. So is being president. I see Christie’s weight as a campaign issue.
LA replies:
Here’s another problem for him. If he does run, it will be because all these big name and big money people are telling him that the party and the country absolutely need him; the implication is that there is this great hunger for him in the party, and if he announces, he will almost automatically be nominated. But that is not at all the case. As seen in the L-dotters’ comments I’ve copied in this entry, the grass roots conservatives are on to him; they know he’s a Northeast liberal. So imagine Christie’s humiliation if—after having said for a year that he absolutely would not run and that he’s not ready, and after, under the urgings of the big name and big money people that he must run to save the party and the country, he changes his mind and puts himself forward as the savior of the party—he LOSES the fight for the nomination.
Posted by Lawrence Auster at September 29, 2011 06:13 PM | Send