So Christie does the morning show rounds and a levee has broken inundating a NJ town.

[Skidmore]

People are being rescued from their rooftops (per ABC GMA just now). Christie can be out there because someone else is on the ground. No wonder he's showing the love for the President, who has it covered. Cuomo is on the job. Christie is out interviewing for the next job he wants.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

1. I give him a pass on this...

I don't expect the Governor to be dangling from a helicopter snatching people from their rooftops. If being on the morning news telling people to be calm, etc., is providing some assistance to the first responders, then that's his job.

[Earth_First]

2. +1 n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

3. Yep. There's not much he can actually do on the ground.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. He is also giving President Obama a lot of credit with

no caveats or hidden meanings.
I am no fan of Christie but from what I can tell, he is and has been on top of things. I'm sure we will hear if he isn't.
I'll wait before I jump on him about this.

[exboyfil]

5. He is buttering his own toast

2016 is only four years away. Just like Rubio earlier I think the Republican hopefuls are starting to walk away from the crazy party. In a week they won't have Obama to run against anymore. Time to find a new message.

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. And he's buttering Obama's.

At his time, the president couldn't buy a better election message.

[RichGirl]

8. One step at a time...

FIRST STEP: GET OBAMA RE-ELECTED.

Next step...who cares!

[faithfulcitizen]

10. LOL, exactly. :)

[faithfulcitizen]

11. Not only is he praising the President, he is practically gushing!

[Earth_First]

18. Expect to be accused as a GOP operative...

Seems I've been outed...

[BainsBane]

6. He's not the one pulling them from the rooftops

and he's praising Obama. He seems to be competent, which in times like these is more important than party affiliation. Of course, if he had bad mouthed the President, I wouldn't cut him any slack.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

9. +1 nt

[.99center]

12. He's trying to preemptively squash any bad press that will come

For all those that are giving him a pass because he said a few kind words about Obama, I hope you see the hypocrisy in criticizing bush for Katrina. No one said Christie should be doing ground rescues, but he's making the same mistake Bush did which is failing to oversee the people he put in charge of emergencies. Can any of you honestly say that your priority would be to do interview's and talk shows while the people you're in charge of are coordinating a major disaster? Even if you had no control over the relief, would you be surrounding your self with those that are coordinating and are in the know , or the press?

[Earth_First]

13. You do realize that we live in the 21st century, right...

Cellphones, laptops, tablets et. al.

Additionally, good public relations (regardless of party affliliation) requires a strong media presence; it soothes the public into creating a sense of calm by appearing strong in front of the camera. It's a necessary evil.

I am not the world's leading Christie supporter, however in this situation; until proven otherwise; he's doing a great job appearing in control.

I bet while you slept last night, Christie slept nary a wink.

[.99center]

17. You just gave perfect examples of how

He should be communicating with the press... cellphones, laptops, tablets et. al. Should Obama also be campaigning, I mean he can do all that silly coordinating with his Blackberry. We need him in front of the cameras to soothe our fragile minds.

[Horse with no Name]

14. Opportunities like this--and I hate to use that term

don't come along everyday...ie Katrina, 911


And now, for Christie, Sandy.

He made the conscious decision to use it to his full advantage--showing that he can reach across the aisle while avoiding the photo op mistakes that Bush made. But, it is interesting that he was willing to throw Romney under the bus so quickly--unless he is 100% CERTAIN that Romney is going to lose.

I think you are 100% correct. He is auditioning to be the candidate of his party in 2016.

[obamanut2012]

21. I think he has seen GOP internals

And thinks Romney is definitely losing to Obama.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

15. Mayor Corey Booker has been helping with rescues. nt

[DesertRat]

19. I agree. nt

[obamanut2012]

20. Good -- he is giving Obama and FEMA terrific PR

From a bully boy GOPer who was seriously considered for Romney's VP. I don't care what his motives are.

And, governors are supposed to coordinate with Feds and local officials, give info, and improve morale in a situation like this. I loathe CC, but he is doing what he's supposed to right now. He can go to disaster areas for photo ops later.