(Gov. Christie looks down upon the ladies of The View)
Chris Christie knows the value of showing a little leg, but not enough to be called a slut. It's a lesson he's perhaps learned from the examples of such as Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich (though it may be argued that Newt has been long-established as a slut in this narrowband non-sexist use of that noble word of obscure Middle English origin).
Chrisie's teasing never-quite-say-never presser last night further muddles the muddly Republican race in which no one in the field who's electable is abided by the base.
Meanwhile, Christie's girth is being discussed as a deal breaker not only by the predictable Hollywood types, but also by conservatives like Dennis Miller ("he's North of 4, (hundred pounds) isn't he?") and alleged friends like Ann Coulter who calls him "the fat guy."
The too-fat-to-be president discussion goes two ways:
- Is someone "North of 4" electable?
- Is a big, fat guy physically up to the run?
1. The conventional wisdom is that Americans don't like fat people and haven't elected fat president since Taft (1913). (On The View: Elisabeth Hasslebeck argued that Christie offered something that Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann didn’t. “Krispy Kremes!” Joy Behar shouted out).
2. An unconventional way to answer the second question is to picture someone running through the grueling Iowa caucuses and hilly New Hampshire carrying a 200 lb. person on their back or more anatomically accurate, their front.
Unless he's really running, not sure what Christie is gaining by taking the oxygen out of the room for the declared candidates. But he's a politician, and a good one, so he's not doing it for nothing.
Running for president is good for business: whether your business is political or otherwise or both. All three know: when you truly pull out of the run, you lose media suck. Palin has already experienced this, since polling shows that if she were to get in, she'd be a second or third tier candidate. Her ego wouldn't bear that and she's too lazy to do the work that would change it.
Newt is announced, and has been since approximately 1999. But nobody really takes him seriously except his recently plasticized wife. Republicans just like to hear him harrumph multisyllabically on the debate stage which also has the advantage of giving the Party cover on its anti-intellectual rap.
Talk radio is still bashing Rick Perry for his artistry as a stumblebum at last week's debate, yes, but more importantly for his unforgivable "you have no heart" remark about giving undocumenteds in-state college tuition. That was unforgivable and is pretty hard to undo.
The longer this goes, the better it is for the President. We wish him the best, of course, and in our heart of hearts, we wish the Republican primary - not unlike SNL - would never end.
When someone who's proud of executing innocent people says you have no heart, perhaps the wise reaction is to look in the mirror. Hard.
Posted by: Pete | September 28, 2011 at 09:54 AM
What was fun was watching Rove and Hannity try to make the case that people clammoring for Christie to enter the race somehow showed that Republicans are actually happy with the field they currently have. Obama might have problems, but like Clinton, he is blessed with having enemies that are so driven to the right to try to keep the base in line that they are not electable in a country wide race.
Posted by: JDB | September 28, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Christie won't be running for POTUS. He's having to much enjoyment being Gov. of NJ, where his approval rating is 56%. Doing what he is doing now is his passion, not running for Prez.
The field of candidates for the GOP is still better than in 2008 & the field for the Dems - well, let's say that the shiny gold has left and been replaced by tarnish and found to be fools good. It's all the fault of the Tea Party sons of bitches- right ?
Posted by: KS | September 28, 2011 at 07:14 PM
Christie's approval is at 54% (not 56%). It shot up 10 points after he called out congressional Republicans for playing politics with disaster relief (in the wake of the NJ flood).
Posted by: Mike D | September 28, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Maybe the fat man can ride around in an open top car like FDR did and just drive onto the stage and never get out.
Posted by: Moral Voice | September 28, 2011 at 09:56 PM
Christie's approval is at 54% (not 56%). It shot up 10 points after he called out congressional Republicans for playing politics with disaster relief (in the wake of the NJ flood).
Posted by: Mike D | September 28, 2011 at 08:05 P
Where did you read that ?
Posted by: KS | September 28, 2011 at 10:10 PM
The 2012 election is shaping up as a competency election or referendum on Pres Obama.
Are you better off today then you were 4 years ago will be the number one question people ask. And if not, is Pres Obama the one to get us to a better place?
The party faithful for the Dems will blame the Repubs, but the first two years of Pres Obama's administration he largely had veto proof majorities. He could have gotten any legislation he wanted with the support of his own Party.
Yet he failed to get it done.
The last two years have forced him to deal with the Repubs and it has been even worse.
Oh, it must be disheartening for the Progressives who haven't gotten any of the promised talking points/campaign promises that they wanted. The signature achievement, Healthcare, is not even close to what the Progressives envisioned.
If the Repubs can manage to nominate a centrist like Romney with a Rubio as VP, it will not gin up enough worry among the left who may vote with their feet -not voting- rather than get worried about the Repubs Moral Majority type like Sarah Palin.
Chris Christie is better for Repubs in the Administration such as Secretary of Education.
Posted by: Puget Sound Blathers | September 29, 2011 at 05:51 AM
What are his actual qualifications for being President? How does he stand on the really important issues? You know, gay marriage and abortion...
How about hearing him debate Romney or Perry about how they are going to fix the economy and 'save the country' since they say that Obama is unable to do it? Oh, that's right, I forgot... The Republicans will never engage in an actual debate. It might expose them for being the phonies they are.
Hey, I've got an idea... Why don't we elect another moron like GW Bush? What were Rick Perry's (M Texas) grades?
He rarely earned anything above a C in his courses -- earning a C in U.S. History, a D in Shakespeare, and a D in the principles of economics. Perry got a C in gym.
Perry also did poorly on classes within his animal science major. In fall semester 1970, he received a D in veterinary anatomy, a F in a second course on organic chemistry and a C in animal breeding.
Yes, Republicans, Yes... The country is in economic crisis. Let's elect someone who got a D in economics to 'getter dun'. Maybe we can invade Australia this time.
Republicans are simply too stupid.
Posted by: Bill Lawson Nazole | September 29, 2011 at 09:05 AM