Chris Christie’s Reagan-Style Governance Raising His 2012 Profile
And while the liberals are coming unglued, students of Reagan, like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, are thrilled at what Christie is doing. When Limbaugh looks at the way Christie is willing to “stand up to [liberals] and tell the truth,” he sees a model that conservative politicians throughout the country should be following. And Hannity recognizes Christie as someone who may actually possess the fiscal responsibility and leadership necessary to turn New Jersey around.
Yet it’s not just through policy alone that Christie impresses people, but also through the manner with which he communicates his policies and the rationale behind them.
In other words, just as Reagan is often referred to as “the Great Communicator” because of how he talked directly to the people and presented things with clarity, so too the New York Times admits that Christie “uses clear language, doesn’t mince words, … and he says what he thinks.” Or to use Christie’s own words, he is “treating New Jerseyans … reporters … and union leaders … like adults.”
While it may be a weird concept for students of the circuitous oration that characterizes Obama-speak, Christie is straightforward in admitting that when he “feels something,” he’s actually “going to say it.”
No wonder conservatives in New Jersey and around the country are comparing Christie to Reagan and hoping he makes a 2012 presidential run.
The bad news is that Christie says the presidential run isn’t going to happen. The good news is that he’s still going to be in New Jersey, bringing his version of Reagan’s “shining city on a hill” to bear on union leaders and tax-hiking Democrats.
Governor Christie is truly a breath of fresh air in a state and country that needs solid, honest reliable leadership. Cutting taxes, ‘treating citizens like adults’ is what should be happening in our congress and white house; but since we have such an abundance of evil striving to destroy our country, New Jersey and Arizona just may be the only two free states left in a destroyed nation. I agree that we need Mr. Christie in the white house. I do think that when he finishes his job in New Jersey he may consider the option. But, until he has finished cleaning up the mess that the demon-crats have created, he will stay in New Jersey for the people’s sake.
I love Governor Christie’s style and political stance. But remember, the Gipper proved himself by running California well for 8 years. Give this guy a chance to govern before promoting him. Mr. Christie is young and should be looked at as a hope for the GOP future in 2016 or beyond. Look what we got when the country elected an inexperienced Senator as President!
I live in New Jersey and Chris Christie is sort of a God here. He is the best thing that has happened to this state in a long, long, time and he’s the first politician to actually stand up to the union thugs that run this state. He is actually bringing control back to Trenton, our state capital, and taking it away from the union dogs who have really been running this state for years. I would follow Chris Chritie to Hell while holding a can of gasoline. He is THAT good, but he really can’t run for president anytime soon until he brings order to this state of ours. Once he does, though, and has completed one or two terms here as governor, watch out America. You will have a blunt-speaking enforcer who will actualy do what he says he’s going to do. That’s a very rare quality to have in American politics today and he would make a fantastic national candidate.
As for the far left who sob and cry and whine like a bunch of five-year-old girls, Christie is your worst nightmare. He is stopping the high taxes, he is reducing the size of the state government, and he is the ONLY politician who is actually trying to put an end to these insane union pension fund contracts that were forced on to the state years ago. Put bluntly, New Jersey is broke and we just can’t afford these embarassing union pensions and benefits anymore. In fact, a lot of states in the Union (New York, California, Illinois, to name just a few), are in the same boat and would do well to look at what Christie is doing. Because, if you don’t, you’ll be broke too and there will be no way out of your bankruptcy, unless you get another bailout from Washington. But even if you do, that will only treat a symptom and not cure your problem. Your real problems are the union pensions and benefits and if you don’t reduce those you’ll be in the same shape California is in right now.
And to you liberal elitist snobs out there who want to say that Christie is trying to take money away from teachers and education, POUND SAND! New Jersey spends some of the highest amounts on a per capita basis on kids in our public school system for some of the worst results. In Newark, New Jersey, the shool system spends about $29,000 PER CHILD, probably the highest amount in the country, and yet Newark has one of the highest dropout rates in the country and some of the poorest test scoring in the nation. Clearly, simply throwing money at this problem has done NO GOOD at all. But when you have public school teachers in that same school system pulling in about $85,000+ per year (if you add in all the benefits) and if you add in the fact that the state will probably be forced to kick in about $3 million on average into that same teacher’s pension fund after he/she retires with FULL medical benefits as well for as long as they live, you can see why we’re broke. And we have not even talked about how much cops, firemen, and other state workers make here and what their pension fund benefits are like. It is as if the SEIU people have gone crazy with greed and now the taxpayer, as usual, is left to pick up the tab.
You go get’em Chris Christie. There is one voter here who will follow you and your policies no matter what. He is our last best hope for our state.
What? You live in New Jersey too?
Your defense of Christie is as good as any I have seen on the internet, and that includes Allahpundit, who is perhaps his greatest fan in the blogosphere.
Perhaps the best compliment anybody has paid Christie is Cory Booker, the politically-savvy and media-savvy Mayor of Newark — who not only agreed with him on tax increases, but by most accounts, will not challenge him in 2013, but will aim to replace a retiring Frank Lautenberg in the Senate in 2012.
Frank Lautenberg is almost 90 and has stomach cancer. People around here are wondering if he will make it to 2012. If he does not, there could be a battle here to see who will replace him. It could get interesting.
Libertyship46:
I am a resident as well. I recall when the legislation was passed in the seventies that allowed firefighters and police to retire well before age 65 with an average of their three highest years salary as the pension and full health care for them and their families, I said to myself: we cannot afford this. Lo and behold, we cannot. I sat on my local school board for about 17 years and was the single voice that objected to the continuous and unrelenting salary increases of 4-5% with full health care benefits. Christie is a salvation without a doubt and he is absolutely correct in his perception that we, the taxpayers, simply cannot afford to live like Greece or any other European country that thinks someone else owes them a living.
For all of those whiners in the state, county and local governments who lament either the reduction in salary, mandated contribution to their health cost, loss of their position or a reduction in pension benefits, I say welcome to the private sector criteria of living and get ready to get down for the struggle.
The fat man is a breath of fresh air only because we have neutered men in leadership of the GOP.Unless there is a dramatic event, the GOP will nominate Mr. Romney in 2012, and probably lose.
Christie is not fat, big or obese – he’s huge! Huge, effective, game changer.
And huge governance and Constitutional rule of law is what we need in 2012 to boot OCarter out of our White House.
The USA can’t wait til 2016!
Pedro: Don’t worry about Mr. Romney being the Republican candidate in 2012. Fox News and their stooge the guitar pickin’ good ol’ boy from the great state of Arkansas will see that he’s branded a cultist and Brit Hume will be called in to enforce the suggestion, ala his advice that Tiger Woods convert to Christianity. Bill O’Reilly knows a lot about religion too. How to fill his coffers while looking down his nose at the little people whom he is “looking out for.”
Don’t be taken in by any these most excellent actors in the political play that never ends.
Dr. Victor Davis Hanson for President in 2012. He at least is real. And very very smar. And a patriot to boot.
Pedro, Glen and CGW,
You guys seem to have a pretty savvy read on our political future. I’d be interested in your opinion of a few things:
1.How will Christie deal with the huge “Too Big To Fail” Corporations that were quite complicit in the economic meltdown that occurred in 2008? Would Christie support bailouts for those who cost millions of American Investors and Homeowners to lose Trillions of dollars of their wealth?
2.How will Christie reign in the Union Thugs?
3.How will he be different from the “Politicians For Hire” (yes and many Republicans are included in that group) that were complicit in the economic meltdown of 2008?
Is Christie’s tax spiel an excuse to extend the power of the state government over local issues?
In the words of a professor at Rider University, “The governor is really imposing state control over local government beyond anything we’ve seen before. He’s telling teachers to take a pay freeze, forcing employees to contribute to health care, capping local government’s ability to raise taxes, proposing ways for them to cut costs, and now he’s telling school districts how much they can pay their superintendents.”
After that quote was published, Christie is now attempting a state takeover of the casino district of Atlantic City.
Funny, but what do you think higher taxes are. Of course you are going to cry foul when someone freezes taxes or stops teachers from getting undeserved (in many cases) pay raises and union officials from getting fat-cat, unsustainable benefits for life. Of course you’re going to call a shovel a broom when in reality the already-in-effect-laws and taxes are the largest state-over-local-government hold you can have… wake up, and stop trying to say the sky is falling… it’s only falling on all you bums with your hands out for free, government sponsored raises, at the expense of the tax-payers.
Although I don’t live in NJ, it sounds like you have a valid point. Let me meet you halfway on it.
Don’t let government workers join unions that are organized at the state and federal level. Mandate that their unions, if any, be local, or forbid them altogether.
When that happens, I’ll join you in opposing Christie’s involvement in local matters.
There’s a big difference between Reagan and Christie. Reagan cut taxes. Christie is raising them. My property taxes are up $1150 this year because Christie, in order to keep state aid flowing to urban cesspools, eliminated it to every suburban and rural town. Yeah, power’s flowing to Trenton alright, but not from the unions who haven’t seen one state worker fired. This guy is a fraud. Oh yeah, Reagan didn’t support Socialized Medicine or Cap and Trade either. But Christie does have one thing in common with the Gipper. He supports amnesty for illegals.
His biggest “budget cut” was not making a $3 Billion pension payment. When you take out the missed pension payments, canceled homestead rebates and aid cuts to suburban and rural (but not urban) towns, Christie’s budget is up 8% — far more than even Obama’s inflation.
Here in New Jersey, we have the worst tax burden in America. BUT CHRISTIE HAS MADE IT WORSE. If Libertyship really lives in New Jersey, then he must not own a home here or if he does, it’s in one of the Democrat run ratholes. Christie’s poll numbers here are bad and most people haven’t gotten their property tax bills and still think they’re getting rebate checks. Canceling the rebate checks is a tax increase any way you look at it. Reagan never raised taxes. Between state income and property taxes, my bill is going to go up four figures this year. If that’s what you think of Reagan, then you are soiling his legacy.
Bobby boy, I do live in New Jersey and I don’t know what state you’re living in. I also don’t know if you’re a troll for MoveOn.org or some other slimy web site. My local property taxes has a lot more to do with the town I’m living in and NOT the state. Christie’s poll numbers are good (just check the Bergen Record if you don’t believe me) and would be better if it wasn’t for all the pissed-off Democrats living in this state who depend on Union jobs. I really don’t know what you’re talking about regarding state income taxes going up (I have not heard that) and most of the costs I’m concerned about is our TOWN, not the state, spending more than it can afford on the teacher’s pensions and benefits (mostly free medical) here. The rebate checks you’re talking about was also approved by Corzine and it was something we could never afford to begin with and never should have been proposed. Corzine thought he could placate voters with a rebate check while increasing state taxes for yet more state spending.
If your property taxes are going up, it’s because the town you live in is either mismanaged or is paying too much to its union members. It is NOT because the state is charging you more. And if you really want to know something about Christie’s budget, read this and learn something:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/gov_chris_christie_is_expected_1.html
If you not, this article clearly states: “Christie’s budget rejected major tax increases and cut 2.2 percent of state spending — or 8.6 percent including federal funds — from Corzine’s final budget. It marked a big milestone for the rookie governor, who campaigned on a platform of cutting spending and shrinking state government after a decade of Democratic control.
The budget cuts hit programs big and small, from the state’s largest expense — $10.3 billion in local school aid — to items such as the $7.5 million anti-smoking program, which will get nothing. Economic development grants have been curtailed, the Public Advocate Office was disassembled and the State Police will go without a new recruit class for another year.”
Christie is clearly reducing the size of government AND taxes, NOT expanding them. Bobby, you should do a little reading before making silly accusations. That is, of course, unless you really do NOT live in this state and just want to try a spread false information.
I agree with him on a lot of stuff but his position on illegal immigration disturbs me. While serving as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Christie stressed that simply “being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime,” but rather a civil wrong.
I don’t care how you slice it, but if you’re here illegally you are violating federal law. It is not a civil wrong, it is a felony. In all honesty I like Reagan too, but granting illegals amnesty and supplying the Mujahideen (our enemies even then) to fight the Soviets was wrong. You never reward crime and you never help an enemy even if he’s fighting another enemy because it will always come back to bite.
I can generally overlook these things and overall Reagan was a good president. He’s certainly the best one we’ve had in a long time.
As a NJ resident, big booster of the governor, and somebody who would probably be a 75-80 on the ACU rating scale rather than 100, let me ask you this:
Would you rather nominate someone with whom you agree 75% of the time, and win, or nominate someone with whom you agree 100% of the time — and lose to Obama?
Amen
Gov. Christie is the kind of leader Republicans need whether he ever runs for higher office or not. His is the example we can and should follow.
Can we please stop nominating people for the presidential ticket, who by then spend only 2 or 3 years in their current job? On all sides?
I am in full agreement with that idea. Let people actually do their jobs before boosting them into something else. So far Gov. Christie looks like he’s doing well, but changes in policy take time. Mix him up in an election now, and he’s a lame duck as a gov. Let him (or Jindal, or whoever) finish their terms, try to accomplish their goals and go from there. Give them the time to work out their models- a Gov. Christie with a healthy state budget after one or two terms, and a growing state economy, etc, will be a much stronger candidate than one who just got the ball rolling.
I’d also like to propose that no sitting office holder should be allowed to keep their job and run a campaign. You can’t be an effective legislator or executive if you’re not in your office, period. You officially start a campaign, your state officially finds your replacement. If you don’t win, tough. It was your choice to look for a new job (not to mention break faith with the people who elected you in the first place).
I hope Chris Christie doesn’t get worn down and slack off.
So many Republicans still want to dilly dally around between a rock and a hard place, make concessions and compromises, reach across the aisle (to morons) and the like.
As in NJ, what’s needed all the way around where states are suffering due to over-indulgence and reckless policies (see in particular CA and NY) is very, very difficult belt tightening.
There is no other way out of the mess so many states (not to mention the federal government) have built for themselves.
The kinds of cuts necessary to restore this Nation’s fiscal health will foster riots and civil unrest. This era will be akin to Vietnam Anti-war protests combined with the Watts riots except on a national scale. Even if these needs are communicated with the skill of Reagan, it will test the fabric of this nation.
I don’t see a leader of this stature on the horizon.
By the way, if Christie does not run in 2012, I very strongly suggest people take another look at Bobby Jindal.
People have written him off because the Democratic propaganda machine (i.e. – the MSM) laughed at his response to the 2009 State of the Union message.
However, look at how he has taken on the Obama junta over the BP Oil Spill and made total fools of them.
Can you picture him in a debate with Obama? He’d crush Obama so badly even the Messiah’s acolytes in the leftist media would have to gudgingly conced that he won.
I too am disturbed by Christie’s stand on illegal immigration. I am very attracted to this mans no nonsence approach to issues and his ability to speak plainly. I also think he is courageous. The illegal immigration issue and his ambivalence is troubleing, however.
Gov. Christie is the perfect example of what Rush Limbaugh has said for years: “Conservatism wins everytime it’s tried.”
Just like the other Rushism. “Abstinence works every-time it’s tried.”
Christie/Jindal would be the best Republican shot for 2012. However, Christie would be in a much better position if he had served at least 1 complete term as governor of NJ before starting the 1.5 year minimum of a campaign. Romney has funding, organization and some talent. However, the history of politically driven opinion changes, and a perceptgion of being too-elite and too-clean with no callouses means he probably will not get out of the primaries. He would be crushed in a general. Palin can pound the drums, but too many indies worry about her depth. There needs to be a no-nonsense inspiring alternative to Christie. Needed talent development in the Republican party means getting Liz Chaney elected to something (preferrably a governor), and Michelle Bachman graduating beyond Congress.
Chris Christie is trying to do fiscally what should have been a long time ago. You may question his style, but his objectives are correct.
However, Mr. Christie appointed a Democrat from ESSEX County as his AG. She is anti-Second Amendment. Mr. Christie’s credentials in that respect are none too good himself.
Additionally, he is on record stating illegal aliens are not breaking Federal Law by being here.
On many social issues, Mr. Christie’s conservative credentials are less than sterling.
That makes him a great governor for New Jersey, but as viable as Rudy Giuliani on the National Level.
I’ve tried to look at/appraise most of the potentially credible tickets for ’12. I strong suspect a Gingrich/Jindal ticket would win going away. First, they’d mount crushing wins in any/all debates. Second, they’d have a well defined, plain English plan — one that’s worked before. Third, since their language would not allow for interpretation, their message would be clearly understood by what is still a center-right nation.
Confession: I am an outsider who never actually lived or worked in NJ. I met lots of great hard working people in college from NJ, one of whom introduced me to Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City,Avalon, etc. #10, great handle, are you perhaps a RAH reader? #11, I have felt for some time that no matter who wins in Nov massive budget cuts are coming in 2011. Considering the recent publications of George Will and Angelo Codevilla, I think your scenario is highly probable. The Republicans [by default since Dems won't] must tell the truth up front before the elections. Most conservatives are horribly upset at the shredding of our Constitution and its stated and implied contracts. Those on the receiving end of our tax “donations” have come to see their situation as covered by the equivalent of a contract also. We can’t change 80 years of misperceptions in a few months, but clarity and honesty in stating the problem and outlining the [very few left] possible solutions are the only basis for getting all of us through this period safely. We are all going to have to give up some things we like, and accept some things we don’t like. The next two years are crucial since the President inaugurated in Jan 2013 will probably be facing the worst military and foreign policy crises since 1942. I think that to be a viable candidate at national level, Gov Christie must stand for secure borders, and that means ID and SSN for all citizens. BTW, if they finally force Michelle Rhee out of DC, Gov Christie should try to recruit her for NJ. GBUSA
I am a native of NJ and am finally proud to admit I live here! Governor Christie is very much loved here.
Taxes and spending go up in the Christie budget. He is no conservative. http://www.gopusanj.com/wordpress/?p=13835
Someday, you guys are going to have to come to grips with the fact that Reagan was a terrible president who whose policies were underwritten by Goldman Sachs. Under his watch, the national debt skyrocketed, homelessness and joblessness were rampant, and the American Dream become more of a dream than a reality for most Americans.
Given 30 years of hindsight, we now know indisputably that most of the policies failed miserably. His meddling in the Middle East created Osama Bin Laden. His “Reaganomics” were complete bull and failed to create any substantial “trickle down” of wealth. Instead, it just caused a spike in the deficit and gutted the middle class. And his “winning the Cold War”, if you’d like to call it that, has created a lasting legacy of violence and anarchy in Russia and its surrounding states that eventually culminated in the KGB taking over again.
I know that you folks cling to Reagan because he’s the only modern day Republican president who wasn’t run out on a rail, but really, that’s not saying all that much.
OK, so you think Reagan was a lousy president. It would be helpful to your argument if you at least took the time to inject some actual facts or historical data to buttress any of your sweeping and highly generalized assertions… but if you did it would have contradicted your central point.
I’ll address the one thing you were correct about first:
-Under Reagan the national debt increased from $998B to $2.5T.
But after that you are running on empty:
- Unemployment at the time he took office was 7.5%. When he finished his term the rate was 5.3%
- Median HH income (adjusted for inflation) at the time he took office was 43,200. When he finished his term it stood at $47,600.
These two pieces of data alone refute the ignorant comment about “homelessness and joblessness rampant” and middle class getting decimated.
As to your opinion on his foreign policy record, there isn’t much there to discuss as both your claims are recklessly detached from reality. They fall too deeply into the Michael Moore or Alex Jones/PrisonPlanet.com school of intellectually lazy and paranoid blowhards.
Yes, Ronnie left us a 20 BILLION dollar deficit.. Thats a good thing? Hang on N.J.
By the time CC gets done saving New Jersey,
and similar reforms have played out elsewhere,
a Governor will be as important as the POTUS;
CC should stay home and keep NJ state govt. honest,
paying particular attention to who goes to Fed. Congress.
I am a resident of Michigan, which has the same problems as NJ: high taxes, high unemployment and out of control state government spending. We need someone like Gov Christie but I don’t see anyone on the horizon who comes close.
Hey Muppet,
When Reagan was deficit spending aka fiscal policy, it actually had a positive effect on the economy. Clearly his fiscal policy was desperately needed after Carter’s embarrassment of a term. The similarities between 1978 and today are interestingly similar. A POTUS whom is driving the nation into the ground? Why, because I personally believe his education and indoctrination have made him have real disdain for a Great America. If and when interest rates are forced to rise to battle inflation, it will be bye bye Obama for certain. Oh and how we desperately need a President of principle, a believer in the greatness of this country and it’s greatest natural resource. We the people. I spouted your nonsense back in the mid 80′s but history has shown me otherwise. Perfect. No. No POTUS could ever be. However, his speech at the wall. The end of Stasi, all of the freedom he did bring people around the world make him one of the greatest presidents of the 20th century.
Your talking points are old, recycycled leftist nonsense filled with partial truths and distortions.
Obama will run the country further into the ground. He will take care of his own undoing.
I like Governor Cristie’s approach to standing up to unions in New Jersey. We need his style of Governing in Illinois as well, a state that is corrupt and heavily dominated by union representation and money. one such politician that would be great for Illinois is neither a Democrat nor a Republican(suprise,Suprise). He is from the Libertarian Party. His name is Lex Green. His website is ElectLex.com. If we are ever going to really clean house here in the state of insanity and corruption called Illinois, we must get away from the same old politics as usual and the same old 2 party system that has dominated and deciminated Illinois politics for many years now. Illinois is corrupt and needs the corruption to be cleaned out. The Republicans as well as the Democratic Socialists Party here in Illinois have both contributed to the corruption and overspending and both parties need to be booted to the curb in Illinois. A fresh start needs to happen in the state of insanity called Illinois. That fresh start would begin with Governor Lex Green.Go to his website and look at his views on issues that directly effect everybody in Illinois. Elect a real Governor that will truly represent you the citizens of Illinois. We here in Illinois don’t need any more phony Governors from either the Democratic Socialists Party of Illinois or the Republican Party that will only lie to you just to fill their pocketbooks. we here in Illinois need real true representation in Springfield and that representatives name is Lex Green.
12. Eric R.
By the way, if Christie does not run in 2012, I very strongly suggest people take another look at Bobby Jindal.
Jindal is not constitutionally eligible to be POTUS. Read up on your Constitution, ERic. Jindal is a naturalized citizen – born in the U.S. but to parents who are not natural born (read up on the difference).
15. Portones
Christie/Jindal would be the best Republican shot for 2012.
Jindal is not constitutionally eligible to be VP or Pres. REad up on this stuff. Sheesh! How can we have americans who don’t know this?
Bobby Jindal was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is therefore, a natural-born citizen of the U.S. Please have someone explain the Constitution to you before commenting as you, obviously are incapable of understanding it,
12. Eric R.
By the way, if Christie does not run in 2012, I very strongly suggest people take another look at Bobby Jindal.
I, too, love Jindal, but he’s not constitutionally eligible to be POTUS. He’s a naturalized citizen due to his being born in the US but to parents who are not natural born citizens (they are Indian). Read up on the constitutional rules for POTUS, and the difference between natural born and naturalized. People, we need to be familiar with our founding docs.