Did Christie Trigger Union Busting Trend?

Is the current union-busting trend that seems to be sweeping through statehouses across America really the work of New Jersey's tough-talking Governor Chris Christie?
Did this all begin in Trenton?
And was Christie the catalyst?
This question is examined in an opinion column in the Washington Times.
Here's a portion of the column:

Every time Gov. Chris Christie plays another round of smash-mouth politics with New Jersey’s public-sector unions, conservative voters across the country lead the cheers.

“When he speaks to the unions and the other parasitic special-interest groups ripping off the taxpayers, you want to applaud,” said Mark Kevin Lloyd, chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriot Federation. “Think about the first time you heard [Clint] Eastwood say, ‘So, you feel lucky, punk? Go ahead — make my day.’ Remember how everyone cheered?”
A poll finds that Republicans and independents have warmed quickly to the governor’s in-your-face style with teachers unions, state government workers, police and firefighters — so much so that they propelled him to the front among possible GOP presidential nomination contenders in 2012 despite Mr. Christie‘s frequent assertions that he won’t run.

Click here to read the entire column.