I thought of something this afternoon regarding NJ Governor, Chris Christie, and his blunt and lavish praise of President Obama this morning. I did not notice any other diaries on this subject, so if I'm stepping on anybody's toes, let me know, and I'll delete this. This won't take long.
Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie heaped praise on President Obama on the morning talk shows today, no doubt to the consternation of republicans in general, and the Romney campaign in particular. His unsubtle rejection of Fixed News suggestion that Christie might want to tour the damaged areas of his state with the Mittster, caused heads to explode in rethug stategy sessions, and certainly didn't win him any points with the current conservative power structure. So, why did he do it?
First, there may yet be faint traces of humanity in a few members of the republican party, though evidence of this is scant. Second, as I heard mentioned on the Chris Mattews show earlier, Christie is facing re-election next year, and realizes that playing tea party games with the lives of residents of his state would ensure a loss to any reasonably competent democrat in a very democratic state.
One thing he also accomplished, and I've not seen mentioned, was to at least potentially position himself as a practical, somewhat moderate politician that can work with the other party when the need arises. I know, moderates need not apply in today's republican party. I think he might be looking ahead to 2016.
Notwithstanding the continuing need to GOTV until this time next week, I think that the election was decided at the same time that Hurricane Sandy came ashore. Most voices I've heard today agree that the race is at least stalled now, and if that is so, then PBO wins. I think that the difference in how the two candidates are handling the storm's aftermath will give the President something of a bump over the last week. This is especially true when a few new ads come out in the next couple of days showing how so many rethugs have talked about (not) sending federal dollars to areas hit by calamity.
I think that the coming loss of the White House, and losses in the senate and house, will lead to a markedly reduced influence of the wingnut-nut-nuttiest faction of the tea party and other conservatives. It won't happen right away, but I'm confident that it will. So that leaves an opening for a "sane" republican to run in 2016, without having to face an incumbent.
Chris Christie positioned himself as that practical republican today. Have I misread this? You decide.
Much as I would like to, I can't respond to comments tonight, as I'm starting a new job in the morning.
GOD-DAMMIT, I'm going to miss so much in the next week! DK rules! You folks are awesome!
P.S. - One year ago today, I, like so many around me, began a long few days without electricity due to the blizzard. My family and I were lucky, in that we had hot water and we could cook on our gas stove, and the destruction was limited to trees and power lines.
Many, many people in the northeast not only have no power tonight, they have lost their homes, their means of earning a living, their means of getting to their jobs, if they still have one, and in all too many cases, their lives. They need help.
Donate. Volunteer. Give blood. Do what you can, but do something.
Update: A hat tip to control for his diary on this. I missed it. Sorry, I can't figure out how to link to it. It is "Chris Christie's Calculus"