"...it was disappointing and disgusting to watch."

[babylonsister]

[panader0]

1. I always wanted to like this guy

and now it's getting easier.

[msanthrope]

3. Don't be fooled for a second. He's a political opportunist, through and through....

He's going to blame his own lack of preparedness and fuckups on the Teahadist Repubs, but this guy has his eyes firmly on 2016.

[babylonsister]

4. He's also a native from New Jersey who saw firsthand the

devastation Sandy caused. I think the guy has buckets of compassion for his fellow NJ citizens/his constituents. Not everything in this world has to be politically motivated. Having said that, sure, he'll probably run, but that doesn't negate why he's acting like a compassionate human being. I know, seems they're rare in the world of rethugs.

[msanthrope]

8. I've met him, personally. I know people who have worked for him, closely. Lemme 'splain....

He has more compassion for the cheeseburgers he has for breakfast.

This man is an extremely convincing political animal. He is dirty as fuck--and I mean, serious, securities lobbyist dirty. His wife is Cantor Fitzgerald scum.

This dude is a motherfuckin' machine....and he is a Wall Street paid lobbyist who leveraged his ass into the DOJ....he is the Governor of New Jersey because Wall Street got tired of Corzine.

This is one dangerous mofo....don't be fooled.

[Rockyj]

21. Didn't he used the Governors Helicoptor...

to attend his kids game? Could you imagine if a Obama or a Democrat did that?
He's definitely an opportunist & likes to flaunt his power & bullies people that calls him out on his shit!
Christie could never be trusted!

[Walk away]

10. It's sadly obvious that you don't live here in New Jersey

It is really discouraging to come here on DU and read about what a compassionate guy Chris Christie is. He has cut billions of dollars from programs for the poor, defunded our schools and given billions more in tax breaks to his very wealthy friends. It is a constant battle between him and our Democratic state legislature to stop him from cutting programs for the elderly and children.

He is a savvy actor and politician. Not a compassionate man. He has destroyed many live and caused illness and death in NJ.

[babylonsister]

11. No, I don't, but I am from NY originally and

have friends there who are struggling mightily from the effects of Sandy. I was happy to see someone stood up to the House on their behalf, even if it is someone you loathe. I have read some repulsive things about Christie; doesn't mean he didn't do the right thing in this instance.

[Walk away]

15. Chuck Schumer stood up to the house and so did every Democratic Pol in NJ

Christie is an opportunist. He cares about votes. What else could he do and still run for Governor next year. I have friends and family who have suffered losses but at least they are smart enough not to trust Chris Christie and his republican brothers.

How would you like it if I came on DU and talked about what a great guy Mitt Romney was before the election? This DU Christy worship is terrible and of no service to the people of NJ who will suffer through 4 more years of Greedy Republican rule.

[babylonsister]

17. You just want to argue. Go find someone else to do it with. nt

[Walk away]

19. I just want DU to support Democrats not Republicans.

This man is running for office in my state in eight months and you are telling me to buzz off because you want to say nice things about him and not get called on it. Put me on ignore if you don't like what I have to say. I am about to do the same for you. Any Democrat who gets rolled by the likes of Christy is of no real interest to me anyway.

[NashvilleLefty]

22. Thanks for your insight.

In public, Christie seems more Dem than Repub. In fact, considering the way he's been treated I've been wondering if he won't at least change to Independent at sometime in the future.

But if we look behind the curtain and see a charlatan, then that charlatan needs to be exposed. Which is what it looks like you are trying to do.

Right now, Christie is looking like the "anti-Republican" who actually cares about his people. If that is incorrect, then we need to rip the curtain away and expose him as the opportunist you claim he is.

If he is a "user", then perhaps he can be "used" to help us rip the curtain from other candidates and help us rip the Republican Party apart.

So that the People can finally rule themselves rather than have the Corporate Masters rule over the rest of us - True "Free Market" and Capitalistic values which are not possible without a referee (in this case, Government).

[JI7]

24. if there were threads calling on him for President it would be one thing, but there is nothing wrong

with giving him credit for calling out his party on this issue of aid for Sandy Victims. people need the help.

[A Simple Game]

25. Please watch some clips of Christie, the man enjoys belittling people.

The clips are out there, many of them. He is not a nice person.

[harmonicon]

37. You just want to pump up the Republican opposition. Go find someone else who will listen to it.

Where the fuck are you getting "FORMIDABLE REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION" graphics from anyway? I'm sure there are plenty of anti-union right-wing discussion boards that would love to kiss Christie's ass along with you.

[bluesbassman]

39. It's a facebook blog by someone named Ozzy Amos.

https://www.facebook.com/OzzyAmosFRO#!/OzzyAmosFRO

You might want to check it out for the frame of reference.

[harmonicon]

41. I don't use facebook. Sorry. (nt)

[bluesbassman]

42. Understood. A lot of people don't. I did check it out though,

and it's legit. Does not support repugs at all.

[harmonicon]

43. The graphic seems pretty pro-Christie to me.

As far as I'm concerned, if it's in support of one Republican, it's in support of Republicans in general.

As others pointed out in the thread, it's not as if there aren't many voices saying the same thing. There is no reason to pump-up a Republican who will jump on whatever is the popular bandwagon. If anything, it just makes me all the more suspicious of him.

[bluesbassman]

44. I take it more for the indictment it levies on the greater republican body.

I'm no fan of Christie. His track record up until Sandy was abysmal, and I don't blame you a bit for not wanting to hear anything from him. He's a political animal and it shows in these quotes. However, the mere fact that ANY repug is uttering these words is extremely newsworthy as it shows the level of in-fighting and dysfunction going on in the party. That Christie happens to be the one saying them at this time is a matter of political expediency for him, but it's also a boon to us on the left as it underscores the mess that is the current repug party.

[harmonicon]

45. It's not a boon to the left.

Christie, and every other Republican, will be for whatever whack-job the party runs for any seat unless they start talking about "legitimate rape." These kind of statements will be forgotten by the media, and if brought up, discussed as a polite disagreement. Christie had no problem doing the exact opposite right after Sandy. Before he needed Obama's help, the president was going to destroy the country. It's all just politics. I don't believe for a second that he's a man of principle.

[NYC Liberal]

23. I think he is telling the truth about how he feels on this issue. HOWEVER...

that does not mean he isn't saying this stuff with an eye toward 2016. He's not stupid and he knows everything he says and does between now and then will be what people remember most if and when he runs. So I'm sure he is pissed, but he's using it to try to pull the wool over people's eyes and distract people from all the shit he's done.

[JI7]

13. and yet the Blue State would easily re-elect him if the election was today

[JI7]

7. i don't think he is some great guy, but i do think he cares about his state

[msanthrope]

9. He doesn't give a shit about his state--except what he can grift. The Genoveses taught him well. nt

[Walk away]

12. He care about his power and money. Ask the children that go hungry and without...

medical care in NJ.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/02/231147/christie-medicaid-recipients-rich/

[Walk away]

5. Let me guess...you don't live in New Jersey. We know the truth about him.

He is not only deep in the pocket of the Chamber of Commerce and their friends, he is stupid and his stupidity has cost New Jersey billions. The only things Christie has going for him is that he is politically savvy and a big bully.

[JI7]

14. so why is he so popular in the state ? and it's a blue state

[Walk away]

16. He wasn't until Sandy. Now half the Democrats in the country think he a great guy.

Except the families who make over $6,000 a year who are now without Medicaid and food stamps.

[cynatnite]

6. I'd like him, too, if he wasn't such a bully...

Just because he's easy to like right now doesn't mean he's any less of a bully or a RWer. He's doing his job with this, but ask him about issues and he's RW all the way.

[panader0]

18. He's a force. His straight talk and brash style was different.

Of course, he was an opportunist, as mentioned above, and a repub, and spouted the right wing bs. He's got a different tune since Sandy. Probably just posturing, but any time someone like him trash talks the repubs it's good. The right is in chaos.

[cynatnite]

20. He's in a good position to put the screws to the repukes...

I agree that it's probably to benefit him later down the road.

To be honest, I did like him coming down on them the way he did.

[leftyohiolib]

29. i was worried about this kind of reaction- he's a koch whore puppet

remember that- they're grooming him for 2016 and they arent stupid

[democrattotheend]

31. I feel the opposite

I don't want to like him but right now am finding it hard not to.

[Lordquinton]

34. We should not be praising people for doing the jobs they were elected to do

after all this time he is finally looking after his people on this one issue, this is not a commendable act, it should underline and lay bare how much he doesn't care about people until it becomes politically impossible to not do so. If he hadn't have said these things, being intentionally contentious, then he would still be a villain in the public eye.

I believe the majority of NJ voters did not vote for him, he managed to slip in on a split ticket, and we must never abandon any state because "It's what they deserve for electing (insert asshole here)" We should be saying to them instead "Hey, you guys were lied to, and are being lied to, we want to help our fellow Americans."

I always remember that the red star on the California state flag is there for Texas. As much as I don't like that state much, they are still our companion in this union, and we need to stand beside our brothers and sisters there who are being abused. We can take back the south, if we believe the south is worth taking (and it is).

kinda went afield from where I started, but you get the gist.

[Recursion]

2. Watch for a trip to Iowa this spring (nt)

[jerseyjack]

26. Fucked over the public employees unions after saying he wouldn't.

His explanation was that he was trying to save the pension system. Tells the legislature to vote to fuck over the unions and he will fully fund the pension program.

They do.

Then he proposes consecutive budgets that do not fund the system.

His refusal to raise taxes on anything, for anything speaks volumes about his political ambition.



Do I believe he cares about the Sandy victims? Yes.

But he's still a piece of shit.

[blm]

27. Christie knew GOP was soul-less when he joined them, campaigned FOR them, pushed their policies,

and, if Sandy had hit the west coast, instead, would be siding WITH their intransigence today.

Christie is OK with GOP's soullessness until it's HIS state that needs the compassion and the help. I'm sure his outrage right now is real because it's personal......THIS time. Real leaders know disasters happen in every state - no Democratic lawmaker would THINK to stop a disaster relief bill for ANY state - red or blue.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

28. He's speaking to a national audience now.

Rebuilding after Sandy will be a bipartisan issue he will campaign on. He will run as
the un-Republican on the repub. ticket. All the videos of Obama and Christie, liberal
talking heads cooing over Christie will be run over and over. Keep a sharp eye on where
recovery funds he eventually gets go to. Christie would be on Wall Streets dream ticket.

How soon people forget.

[xtraxritical]

35. Yep, it's all free publicity for Christie.

[MrSlayer]

30. Yeah, broken clocks and whatnot.

He's still out to destroy unions and education in general. He still refuses to tax the rich at the expense of the poor. He still refuses to implement the ACA. And that tunnel project hasn't come back online.

Congratulations Christie, you're still an asshole even though the others in your party are even bigger assholes.

[YOHABLO]

32. What Else Could One Expect for the Gov.of N.Jersey ?.. What if he said: ''oh that's okay ..

take your time, even though people are suffering and need help .. we understand how the House works deals .. take your time, yeah" He's a politician first and foremost .. a Republican second.

[MrSlayer]

38. Oh I know.

I just don't want people here and in general to start thinking he's ok because of this and his cooperation with the President as Sandy was happening.

He's a crumb.

[Pisces]

33. I hope this leaves a mark on the Repubs come 2014

[harmonicon]

36. Awwww... it's so cute that he wants to be president, and even more cute that you want to help him.

Think he'll give you a big ol' bear hug, or do you think he'll send flowers and chocolate?

Oh, sorry!! He won't give you shit.

[OldDem2012]

40. He called it like it is in this situation, but he's not to be trusted by any Democrat. nt.

[jillan]

46. This is the same guy that has spoken out several times AGAINST Gov't Spending.

I like that he is speaking out now but he will always be a loud mouthed Republican in my eyes.