Chris Christie is kicking off his 2016 Presidential campaign.

[strongermessage]

In my opinion, with his supportive comments about President Obama, he is trying to distance himself from the romney campaign.

[DJ13]

1. He'll be kinda old by then

[strongermessage]

8. Good point.

[Jennicut]

13. Not really. He will only be 54.

Younger then Romney is now by 9 years.

[DJ13]

26. The original date on the title was 2106

[Jennicut]

27. Sorry.

I assumed you thought Christie had one foot in the grave. 50 something isn't a spring chicken but okay for the Presidency.

[KaryninMiami]

2. Yes but if he's not careful- photos taken of him with the President may come to haunt him!

Remember what happened to Charlie Crist- forced out of office by the tea party because he showed support of the Pres and being photographed with him. Not that I care what happens to Christie who is an overbearing buffoon- but it will be interesting to see how this all falls into place.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. What your seeing is the first shot in an organized war to purge the Teahadists from the Party

The GOP knows they had an easy walk this time around had it not been for the Gay Haters, the Racists, and the Rape Baby Fanatics. They're going to put the yoke on the social conservatives, and Christie is just the guy to do it.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. If mankind is still alive...

Zager, meet Evans.

[strongermessage]

14. Excellent response.

[doc03]

4. I was thinking this morning, he hopes Mitt goes down

so he has a clear field in 2016.

[polichick]

5. Absolutely - and by insisting that "he doesn't care about the campaign."

[Life Long Dem]

6. He was Romney's attack dog

Now he's looking at 2016? Don't think so.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. He can count

The man knows how to read county maps.

[CoffeeCat]

7. Did Christie really...

....tell Romney to stay out of New Jersey?

I heard that on MSNBC about an hour ago. Romney called Mitt and asked if he could come to Jersey and survey the damage. Christie said that he didn't want any politics or political campaigning going on in his state in the middle of a disaster.

I mean...WOW.

I think you are right. Not only is Christie sidling up to Obama, and praising him constantly--he is dissing Romney.

Good news for us, Dems. I think the Republican party is distancing itself from the nightmare from hell that is Mitt Romney.

He has really damaged the Republican brand with his lying, flip-flopping and bullshit campaign.

This is a definite signal that everyone (except Fox News viewers), even Republicans--understands that Romney will not win.

[Jennicut]

17. Romney should not come to NJ. It is a mess and Christie knows that.

He does not have time for Mittens and his campaign right now. Honestly, neither does Cuomo in NY. Our Gov in Connecticut, Gov. Malloy, has his hands full too. There is a lot of destruction along the coasts of these states. I assume in DE too. It's really bad and Romney is just going to get in the way. I frankly have never seen anything like this and have lived in CT my whole life. Maybe Hurricane Gloria but I think the storm surges were worse. No one has time for politics right now. Obama is doing the right thing and concentrating on his job. We really need his help.

[pointsoflight]

9. My suspicion is that Romney ticked him off.

I suspect that the Romney campaign really, really pressured him to politicize Sandy while he was working his a$$ off to do everything he could to help people. Totally pissed him off. Then in contrast to that, Obama said nothing about the election and just offered to help in any way he could.

That's what we're seeing here, IMO. Christie get first-hand experience of the difference between a deeply cynical, opportunistic Romney team and a genuinely concerned Obama.

That's my read on Christie's public statements. You see an underlying annoyance and disgust when speaking of Romney wanted to go to NJ, but a genuine appreciation when speaking of the interactions with Obama.

[Myrina]

15. I don't think Crispy ever liked Robme

Hell, I can't think of anyone who REALLY likes Robme.

[strongermessage]

20. You may be right and I may be wrong.

Christie may have kicked off his campaign with the keynote speech at the convention, in which he mostly talked about himself and didn't mention romney until the end.

[Bigleaf]

22. I agree. Christie was just the loyal GOP guy helping RMoney but this disaster gives him the chance

to give RMoney the big FUCK YOU! His campaign for 2016 is off and running.

[CoffeeCat]

23. I think most Republicans hate him...

McCain hates him. The other primary candidates all hated him, and showed contempt for him that they didn't show for each other.

They know what a narcissistic, homecoming-king type Mitt is.

I almost think that they ran the guy just to get rid of him once and for all. I'm sure Mitt told all of them that it was "hit time" and "his turn" to be President. So, they let him run against Obama, knowing that he would lose and be sent back to doing whatever it is that he does. Ugh. He's so awful. Just the worst.

[CoffeeCat]

21. Clearly, Christie is punishing Romney for something...that's obvious.

It's a week before the election. We know that Romney asked to come to NJ and Christie told him to stay out. That info is out because Christie wanted it out. Romney sure as hell didn't. It makes Romney look like a buffoon.

I don't know what in the hell happened, but Christie is publicly praising Obama, doing photo ops with him--and openly making Romney look like the flipping cad that he is.

It's beautiful.

I'd really love to know what happened.

This could be the start of the entire GOP backing away from Romney. He ran a shit campaign. With his flip flops, lies and other disastrous steps--you can bet that the Republicans will be glad when Mitt goes back to riding up and down on his car elevator.

Seriously. I bet the GOP hates Mitt as much as we do. It was clear from the primary that everyone up there despised him with the white hot passion of a thousand burning suns.

[Myrina]

12. That's fine. When a GOP non-nominee

Looks more mature & presidential than the 2 frat boys at the top of the ticket, all the better for our side.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

16. The Governor sees the impending landslide

that will destroy the radical teabagiban run republickcon party.

He is positioning intelligently as a moderate, capable of bipartisanship. That is the only part of his party that will survive this election.

I would never vote for him, but he is an intelligent and prescient politician, at least.

[PowerToThePeople]

18. on nov 7th, we need to look "Forward" too. n/t

[meadowlark5]

19. Actually, I heard Christie and transvaginal U/S Bob McDonell

are both up for re-election in 2013. They're the only 2 on the odd year governor election.

We haven't heard accolades from transvaginal Bob, but I'm sure he'll use the FEMA response in his state to his advantage recounting how good of a job he did to earn re-election.

And Christie has a couple of reasons to speak for himself - 2013 re-election and a possible bid in 2016 if willard loses this year.

[catbyte]

24. He's touring NJ damage withObama tomorrow. Footage for 2016?

[EC]

25. I also think that he thinks the repubs that would be in charge

are crazy. I think he believes in climate change and is seeing it's effects. He doesn't want Rmoney or the rest of the crazies in there that won't do anything about it. After all is said and done, Christy does love his family and his state and I think he's scared after last night.