If Chris Christie picks Cory Booker to replace Lautenberg...he will become a "bipartisan" hero.

[swayne]

I wouldn't be surprised. Christie has NOTHING to lose at this point by doing appointing Booker and it would be a great way to get back at the Republicans that snubbed him over the Romney VP slot among other things.

It will not hurt ANY Republican to have a big bipartisan achievement under his belt. Cory Booker would be indebted to Christie and it could cause all kinds of problems for the Democrats.

This could be the power move that Christie needs.....

[Savannahmann]

1. Christie could appoint anyone

He could appoint himself, which would give him a year of free publicity, and lots of talk on national news before he ran for "Re-election".

In the end, like all Republicans, he'll do what is best for himself, and fits within his plans.

[BeyondGeography]

2. You make a good point

If he tried to steal the seat for a Republican he would be seen as just another hack. Bad for the brand. Plus Booker always worked with Christie, so he actually likes the guy, which always helps.

[DonCoquixote]

3. BARF

As Cory Booker is to the right of Obama, replacing one of the few hard leftists left in the Senate, this is bad news all around, except if the GOP makes a big stink of it, ..

Oh, never mind, not like stupid behavior has ever hurt the GOP.

[sabrina 1]

8. Agreed, and that's why it is a possibility. The line between both parties narrows each time

Democratic administrations appoint Republicans to power. To complete the blurring of the line Christie is the most likely Republican to start that trend in the other direction.

Otoh, their base doesn't seem to care about anything other than the letter after the name of a politician no matter how much that politician has agreed with them on issues. Booker could do what Bloomberg does, keep changing the letter after his name I suppose.

[duffyduff]

19. He's a total faker

Booker was bankrolled by the far right Bradley Foundation as a way to divide the African American community on the issue of school vouchers and charter schools.

He really IS a Manchurian candidate, a complete and total fraud.

[Dawson Leery]

4. Points to consider.

[alsame]

5. He will never get through the

GOP primaries if he appoints a Democrat, even a DINO like Booker.

[swayne]

9. I don't see where Christie has anything to lose by appointing Booker.

The tea baggers will vote for whatever Republican is on the ballot, even if Christie appoints Cory Booker. Christie will lose democratic votes if he appoints a right wing/tea bagger type. He will be shown as a total SHAM if he does go in that direction.

That's why I think that Booker is the man, it solves more problems than it creates for Christie. He gets Booker out of the way while at the same time gaining his total support should he be appointed...

[alsame]

11. I'm talking about the primaries, which will

be typical teabagger bat shit crazy. He's already in trouble for being too close to Obama, a Dem appointment would ruin him in their eyes.

[Kahuna]

14. Christie will not appoint a Dem. Fugitaboutit!

Christie want to run for president. He needs to impress the repuke base, not Dems.

[emulatorloo]

30. Yes, it would be career suicide.

[Mz Pip]

24. He won't get through them anyway

He would if Republicans other than bangers vote. Romney did but he had to tow the bagger line. I doubt Christie would go that far.

[tabbycat31]

6. Christie's between a rock and a hard place

If he appoints a Republican like Joe Kryrillos (his boy that ran against Menendez last year, and he may be toast tomorrow as he's being teabagged in the GOP primary) then he loses the bipartisan card he plays for his own reelection.

As much as I want Frank Pallone to have the seat (I've known him for years and he's a true progressive and he's been eyeing the senate since Corzine vacated his seat), I know that Christie would not appoint him (they do not get along).

I personally think we can do better than Booker, but if he's on the ballot in November, it helps the Democrats as he would bring out the Obama voters.

[JustAnotherGen]

22. I'd like to see

Frank Pallone in that position too.


I think Christie (who is not running for Gov right now - he's running for 2016) is going to appoint a Priebus/Rove Approved Republican.

[riqster]

7. It would also make it less likely that Booker would challenge him for the Governor's slot

Self-interest would be satisfied.

[Kahuna]

13. Cory isn't planning to challenge him for Gov. Cory is going to run for that Senate seat. nt

[riqster]

16. Yeah, but appointing him now makes it even safer

Plans change, after all.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. He's going to appoint a republican

I'd put money on that prediction.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. +1

[Kahuna]

12. He's already a bipartisan hero. He needs to hone his creds with the wingnuts..

He will not appoint Cory. I hope I'm wrong but I doubt it.

[JI7]

31. i'm guessing safest choice will be a "liberal republican" type

and some retired type or someone else with no intention of running for the office .

[JVS]

15. You're wrong. The best thing that Christie can do for himself is to work in consultation with his..

party to fill the seat with the republican most likely to be able to hold the seat in the face of a challenge from Cory Booker. If Christie has a protege, now would be a good time to put him or her forward.

Rewards for this could range from a low end of being the helped by the national party to be the undisputed Republican boss of NJ (i.e. they make sure he faces no primary challengers and he controls party activity in the state) to becoming a serious contender for the presidential or VP nomination. There would also be numerous appointment possibilities eventually.

Chris Christie was not snubbed in the 2012 VP pick. Nobody expects a MA republican to pick a NJ republican to balance the ticket. The selection of Ryan seemed too much a redundant mix of blue state republicans already.

Having Cory Booker indebted to him would mean very little.

[MADem]

27. I concur with your assessment. nt

[kelliekat44]

17. If he does that, he really can become the next President. nt

[duffyduff]

18. You have GOT to be kidding that he would be a hero

Cory Booker is the closest thing to a Manchurian candidate that has ever gotten anywhere in politics.

He is a complete and total fraud.

He shouldn't have been elected mayor.

[Are_grits_groceries]

20. Appoint Springsteen! nt

[hrmjustin]

21. Not going to happen. He will likely choose Tom Kean Jr.

[NCTraveler]

25. Fuck Christie.

Right Wing Ass Hole.

[MADem]

26. He gives Booker a "leg up" against a GOP opponent.

It would hurt the RNC if he did that, and he needs them if he wants to run for President.

If he wants to play it safe, the way to do that is appoint the wife.

[MrSlayer]

28. Generally, you appoint someone from the elected party.

Regardless of your party. He would just look like a dick if he appointed a Republican to seat that was held by an elected Democrat. You almost never see it happen.

[Gothmog]

29. Such an action would kill any chance in 2016

Christie is on thin ice with the base and doing something bi-partisan will kill any chance of Christie doing well in the 2016 primary process. BTW, I think that Christie already has no chance of being the GOP nominee in 2016 under the current rules and so there is some chance that Christie may appoint Booker