How Bad Does the GOP Need Chris Christie? Really Bad.

[DonViejo]

Michael Tomasky

Without the scandal-engulfed New Jersey governor, Republicans don’t have a candidate who could even come close to the votes needed to win the presidency in 2016.

Well, well, well, today is an interesting day: it’s Chris Christie’s re-inauguration day. It was just two weeks ago, a little more, that this was going to be a day of shimmering triumph. I was just reading this CNN dispatch, from January 6, that talks about how the governor is planning on starting his day at a black church (whose reverend presided over Whitney Houston’s funeral) and ending it at Ellis Island. There’s nary a word in it about bridges and subpoenas.

Back then, today was supposed to be the official beginning of the slow and ineluctable ascent to the White House. He didn’t have to do or prove anything in this putative second term. Lose a little weight, maybe. But otherwise, he was on the glide path to the GOP nomination, not that Rand Paul and others wouldn’t have something to say about it, but the party establishment and most of the big money all set to gather around Christie and make sure that he didn’t have to spend too much time crossing swords with the crazies.

Now? Things are a little different, aren’t they? I trust you’re enjoying the Christie panic among Republican establishment types as much as I am. That New York Times story on Sunday, with big boosters like Home Depot’s Kenneth Langone fretting publicly that he really must surround himself with better people (so it’s their fault!), combined with the cable damage-control efforts by the likes of Rudy Giuliani, really shows the extent to which the party big shots have been counting on Christie to save them.

They know deep down that there isn’t a single other figure in their party who can come within yodeling distance of 270 electoral votes. Certainly not against Hillary Clinton. Against her, the rest of them max out at around 180, which would constitute the biggest wipeout since Bill Clinton thumped Bob Dole in 1996 (379-159). Imagine Republicans waking up on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 and reading: “Not in 20 years—in fact not since her husband trounced Bob Dole in his anti-climatic reelection campaign—has a Democrat won so lopsided a victory.”

more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/21/how-bad-does-the-gop-need-chris-christie-really-bad.html

[Scuba]

1. Well, they've got this guy, a proven winner ...

A successful fundraiser ...




A protector of the priviledged ...




Who knows who his bosses are ...

[PearliePoo2]

5. Wow...nicely done!

This should be sent to Joey Scar (one of Walker's biggest groupies!)

[unionthug777]

7. thanks scuba

had lunch all ready.....now, after seeing these pics.......not so hungry.

[VWolf]

15. Yes, thanks scuba

I had lunch already. Now I wanna puke.

[SunSeeker]

9. LOVE that woman's poster! LOL

[Scuba]

11. I took about 500 pics of hand-made signs at the 2011 protests in Madison ....

... that one is my favorite.

[NJCher]

16. I laughed at the "dresser" one, too

People can be so creative. The protest signs are one of my favorite parts of going to a march.

Thanks for sharing part of your collection with us, Scuba!


Cher

[Scuba]

33. Here's links to a few more. Enjoy ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2346505

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x930158

[NJCher]

47. LMAO

OMD! Those are priceless!

I love the pink slip and the young mom with the kids who have better budget ideas in their diapers!

I was in your fair state this summer. I had to travel north to Tomahawk and up and around that area. I was wondering about what conservatives elected this major @$head and I sure did find evidence of it up there.



Cher

[unionthug777]

31. lots of great ones.

i think i still have mine.

[apnu]

41. How can he (or anybody else) be ranked 49th in job growth in 2016?

I don't get it... what's the source on that fact?

[Scuba]

43. Forbes, projected.

[Cha]

49. Excellent visuals of Scott Walker's

history of record, Scuba!

[Little Star]

2. k&r

[freshwest]

3. No idea stats showed Clinton to be so popular and not my first choice. If she builds on what Obama

has done, fine. From the link, Christie's approval rating nationally among conservativs is disturbing:

Sorry Conservatives, Benghazi Won’t Stop Clinton

...For what it’s worth, liberals should remember this as they salivate over potential consequences of “Bridgegate” for Chris Christie’s presidential aspirations. If there’s nothing that undermines his core credibility with Republican elites and party actors, then he remains a decent shot for the nomination. And if he wins the nomination, and the economic conditions are right (read: bad), then there are few things that could derail his path to the White House.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/16/sorry-conservatives-benghazi-won-t-stop-clinton.html

That is a truly frightening thought to me, Christie as POTUS...

[Blanks]

4. Governor's seem to do better...

I wonder if the republicans would have won in 2008 if they'd run a former governor.

Romney was running against an incumbent in 2012, but if he'd won the nomination in 2008 - it might have looked different. Of course he's overly wooden and awkward, so probably not, but it's hard to tell.

Senators have too much baggage because of the whole 'I was for it before I was against it' reality that is congress (too complex for the voting public). I'm sure that's why the GOP wants Christie. Paul, and Rubio (or Cruz if he really is a citizen) will have a congressional record that they'll have to defend.

That's why I'm hoping for Howard Dean (former governor) in 2016, of course it depends on how things come out this November.

[DFW]

17. I've been in touch with Howard. Don't count on it.

He has long been of the opinion that younger people need to step up to the job of the presidency, and besides, Judy would go ballistic if he tried it again. She wouldn't stop him, but she wouldn't be happy.

[CTyankee]

44. I think he's right and I think he's made his peace with his loss...correct me if I am wrong...

does he strike you as bitter?

[DFW]

45. Not in the slightest. I will elaborate:

In 2008, he told me that he was feeling a little sorry for himself after the collapse of his campaign early in 2004. He talked to Al Gore about it, and Gore reminded him that this was bigger than just him or any one other individual. He said that a light went on, and he realized Gore was right. That's when he decided to go for the DNC chairmanship and look for the position where he could do the party the best good.

Other than a few public kudos, Howard got no reward for his amazing victory in the 2006 midterms, and, of course, his crowning achievement in 2008. He was a little disappointed again in late 2008 when Rahm became WH chief of staff, which he knew was the end of his chances to play a major public role in the Obama administration. Actually, now that Rahm is long gone, and under the radar, the WH has been consulting a lot with Howard recently on domestic policy, especially the health care.

Howard is comfortable with his accomplishments, and knows full well that he changed the course of history, even if his name was not in the headlights for having done so.

[CTyankee]

46. Glad to hear this. He doesn't strike me as bitter, given his appearances on Morning Joe....

and that he is being included in the loop with the WH on domestic policy he must be very pleased. Of course, the WH is to be praised for including him in this. It shows a maturity and judgment that I would expect from the Obama admin. Dean has that ease I have seen with several of my more successful Yalie friends...they "made" it early in life being at Yale and have that sense of public service that Yale instills in them early on, that great things are expected of them because of all that has been given them...

[mountain grammy]

18. I would vote for Howard Dean any day..

[Arkana]

25. You don't think the Change juggernaut would have run Romney over

just as effectively?

We were in the middle of the biggest economic crash since the 30s--I think running a guy who personifies the excesses of the wealthy against the Obama machine would have been an even bigger slaughter than Obama v. McCain was.

[SunSeeker]

6. K & R

[Dopers_Greed]

8. Jeb Bush

Let's hope he doesn't run. He's a much stronger candidate than Romney was, and I'm sure you'll all agree with me that Romney got FAR too much of the vote percentage.

[leftieNanner]

13. Jeb???

But his Mommy doesn't want him to run!

[heaven05]

19. he is the 'smart' bush

he could be a real challenge, I think. Like one poster said, "far too many gave romney the vote", and jebbieboy is light years ahead of that clown.

[Arkana]

26. "I'm not George" is not an effective slogan.

Jeb would spend half his life running away from his brother's record and the other half fending off pissed-off teabaggers who hate the fact that he speaks Spanish.

[heaven05]

28. I do really hope you're right

[Dopers_Greed]

35. Junior isn't as much of a liability as you would think

The M$M is trying to retcon his presidency now. I see op-eds popping from time to time saying "It's time to admit that he did a good job" or whatever. I don't have any links, but I saw one on CNN a few months back.

And he is still practically worshipped as a god by a lot of RWers. Especially here in Texas. I still hear some of my RW relatives talk about "how good things were" during the Bush years compared to Obama's. No matter how insane that sounds, it's what a lot of people believe.

[Rozlee]

39. Personally, I think the Bush's are going to throw Jeb under the bus and concentrate all their

hopes, ambitions and capital on George Prescott Bush. They're running him right now as this great hero that will save Texas from becoming blue and deliver us Hispanics into his manicured hands. Not so fast, Malinchista.

[Harry Monroe]

27. A smart Bush?

Isn't that sort of an oxymoron?

[heaven05]

29. I hope so

[jeff47]

21. "No, my brother's the idiot" is not a winning campaign slogan. (nt)

[spin]

34. Jeb was a popular governor in Florida and in my opinion...

would have been a far better President than his brother. (A very low standard.)

Still I often say, "No more Bushes and no more Clintons."

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Christie was sizing up as 2016's Mitt Romney

As pathetic as it was, Romney was the best the GOP had in 2012. The man had a history as a vulture capitalist and was completely out of touch with popular sentiment. Yet he became the Republican nominee because the alternatives were Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, etc., etc. The GOP might have done better to nominate Mickey Mouse, but he wasn't running.

[Nay]

32. I wouldn't laugh so much at Romney. I feel he would have won if that

47% video had not been found and released. There truly is no depth to which the baggers will go to get a pub, any pub, in office. They simply have no powers of discernment at all.

That's why I think Jeb Bush will run in 2016. I don't think he will bother the baggers at all. I think they really WILL consider him just fine because he's the 'smart' one.

[exboyfil]

37. That and the auto bailout

and Romney's ham handed response to it. I feel Jeb will be the most difficult candidate to beat. He will hold all the states Romney won and of course be a favorite son in Florida (he already stole one Presidential election in that state). Ohio could very easily go for him. Iowa ditto (he is at 259 - PA or VA puts him over the top). Since Jeb can no way be tied to the utter foreign policy disaster (the crash had both party's hands on it, it might work. At the end of the day economics trumps everything else. If employment is still anemic, Clinton is going to have a tough time

[PatrynXX]

12. still

consider Hillary to be to the right of Chris though. thing people just don't have long memories

[Bluenorthwest]

14. How do you figure that? Christie is a right wing, anti choice, anti gay

Bushco minion. Hillary's no liberal, but she sure as fuck out liberals Christie. If you are under the impression that he is somehow 'moderate' you are simply incorrect. He's far to the right.

[DFW]

20. Howard Dean had the best comment last night

He said that Christie would be trying for the nomination as a moderate in a party that has no moderates left.

Will they nominate a nut case extremist even if it diminishes their chances? Maybe. I'm thinking they will will go for an extremist who is telegenic, talks softly and disguises himself as "undangerous," something Rubio has been trying, unsuccessfully, for a while now.

Cruz is too off the wall, and is too butt-fucking ugly to boot. That's why Cheney let Bush Lite be his front man in 2000. That's also why McCain went with Palin in desperation instead of Giuliani. It's why the Republicans went with Romney in 2012--they figured he was photogenic enough, and then they could control him through Ryan, like they did Bush through Cheney.

One thing we're probably all going to regret--all the wonderful political cartoon opportunities lost at having "Mama" Hillary spanking diaper-clad Rubio for lying all the time, and baby Marco whining pitifully as she does it.

[ProfessorPlum]

22. a telegenic extremist who talks softly and disguises himself

Describes Mike Huckabee to a T, and is why I was so afraid of him in years past.

[DFW]

24. He certainly has a financial advantage others don't

As a Fox Noise host, he can get himself about a billion dollars' worth of free exposure before having to resign once he declares his candidacy. I'd be wary of his being labeled a "has-been," though. He has the qualifications to be dangerous, but I don't see him as having enough charisma.

[anti partisan]

51. Huckabee is at odds with the Tea Party and especially Rush Limbaugh

I do know there's a bit of a spat between Rush and the Huckster from 2008, where he supported Romney as the "more conservative" of the two. I think he still stands by that and you know the influence that pill-dumpster has on typical GOP voters.

If you want a potential guy who's pretty scary, telegenic, well spoken, try John Thune. He's hidden in the background but has a lot of those Huckabee qualities with a bit more conservative cred.

Also, Chris Callizza has Rand Paul ranked 2nd in his power rankings, with the understanding that he could get access to large amounts of money, as well as motivated supporters. Photogenic though? I feel he comes off as a bit sketchy, kind of like a used car salesman, and his actual ideas leave him open to a ton of attack. There's nothing hidden with him.

[FiveGoodMen]

23. But if Hillary wins, the GOP will still get everything they want

[exboyfil]

38. Not everything

Romney's proposals on defense spending were truly alarming. We would never have gotten the tax increase on the top bracket under Romney. ACA would have been scrapped (impossible to implement with a resistant executive - having lots of problems anyway).

[Proud Liberal Dem]

30. Does it really matter?

The teabaggers won't let anybody too "moderate" near the GOP nomination without some major butt-kissing and at that point, how does he appear "moderate" to the rest of us?

[tofuandbeer]

36. Just curious what everyone thinks:

If this scandal doesn't harm him too much more, there's still plenty of healing time before 2016. And I don't know of is abilities, but he seems to be able to pick himself up—especially with all the GOP money behind him.

I hope not: I hope he gets what is coming to him—big time! But U.S. voters seem to forget pretty quickly, so I'm not holding my breath.

[apnu]

40. Christie is the only guy they have that can appeal to indepenents and moderates but...

... he'd never survive the GOP primary process. That's been hijacked by the hard right and religious fundie crowd so they're driving the clown car.

[jmondine]

42. From ineluctable to inelectable

[Cha]

48. MIchael Tomasky!

"Now? Things are a little different, aren’t they? I trust you’re enjoying the Christie panic among Republican establishment types as much as I am." Maybe

"They know deep down that there isn’t a single other figure in their party who can come within yodeling distance of 270 electoral votes." Butbutbut Rubio?!

Benghaz!

"Only Christie can save them" But, can Christie save himself?!!!!? See Bully Scandals.

Freaking KEY!>>>>

"But ultimately, facts are facts. And if the facts finish him off, and the GOP is stuck with Cruz-Rubio-Paul, or even a right-wing governor like Scott Walker, the establishment will be reaping what it’s spent the Obama years sowing: a party that cares more about feeding its base’s fever-dreams than being nationally electable. And that’s where things stand, as Christie begins a term that there’s a sporting chance he may not even be able to finish."

Mahalo DonViejo~

[tblue37]

50. I think they will rally around Jeb Bush. nt