How Tax 'N Spend Dems Destroy New Jersey!

Since Chris Christie left office NJ spending is: UP $26 billion — a 75% increase NJ taxes: UP $23 billion — a 64% increase Now, Democrats are poised to pass a budget with $765M more in tax increases and $1.9B more in spending year-over-year. 

Same story. Bigger numbers. Every year. 

Christie? Let's At Least Hear What He Has To Say

It's been reported that former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is ready to travel around the Garden State once again to talk about politics -- Republican politics and the future of his beleaguered party in a state where he once reigned supreme.

One would think that Christie's voice would be welcomed as the GOP begins to analyze the results of last November's gubernatorial election, learn from its mistakes and search for a path forward. After all, Christie is one of only three Republicans to win the governor's office in half a century. In a stunning victory, he unseated an incumbent in 2009 and was re-elected by a near record margin in 2013. He's the last Republican to win statewide in New Jersey. Yet, some within the state GOP don't seem to want to hear from the Big Guy.

Okay, we get it. You may not agree with everything Christie has to say or what he may be proposing.  We, as well may  not agree with some things he has to say.

And yes, Christie has always been brash, opinionated and often confrontational. But, so what? The GOP in New Jersey today seems to have nowhere to go but up. Can a bit of sometimes uncomfortable straight talk do any greater harm than that which the party has already suffered? Indeed, maybe the ailing party can benefit from the hands-on approach of a doctor who may lack a bedside manner but comes equipped with genuine bona fides and perhaps a tonic that may have it back on its feet again.

We ask you: isn't this a time for all voices within the party to be heard? No notion or idea or person who has something to say should be dismissed out of hand. Certainly, democracy would demand as much, not to mention basic pragmatism and a sense of healing. Face it: this is no time for Republicans in New Jersey to be fighting one another; unless, of course, they simply want to fight over how to lose the next election, and that's what they'll be doing if  they don't come together -- all of them, in good faith -- to move forward.

The Grand Old Party has faced greater challenges and come back to win before and it can do so again if it follows what Governor Tom Kean called the politics of inclusion. 

So, put aside petty personality differences and destructive grudges and put on your Big Boy pants, Republicans. Get beyond the me, get to the we and let every voice be heard!

NJ Gets New Leader But One Man's Legacy Endures

This week, New Jersey will inaugurate a new governor -- only the second woman to assume the office and the first one in 235 years to choose to take the oath of office in Newark rather than the state capital of Trenton. 

Doubtless, she will spend a lot of time looking forward and setting forth grand plans. But right now, for a few moments, I want to look back to a governor who not only set an ambitious agenda but actually carried most of it out, often in the face of overwhelming odds.

In the annals of New Jersey politics, few figures loom as large as Christopher J. Christie. Serving as the state's 55th governor from 2010 to 2018, Christie brought a brash, no-nonsense style that epitomized a elbows-up Jersey mentality. Like it or not, he was clearly on site and in charge 24/7.

Regardless of what you thought of him personally—his bombastic rhetoric, his sometimes confrontational nature or his national ambitions—one fact remains undeniable: Christie was a consequential leader who tackled big challenges head-on and delivered tangible results.

In a state often paralyzed by partisan gridlock, he forged bipartisan alliances to enact sweeping reforms that touched every corner of New Jersey, from the bustling suburbs of the north to the resilient communities of South Jersey. His tenure wasn't without controversy, but his record of getting things done speaks for itself, proving that effective governance transcends both personality and party politics.

Here’s a look at some of his key accomplishments, highlighting his knack for pushing through major initiatives that improved fiscal health, public safety, education, and more—benefits felt across the Garden State:

• Fiscal Reforms and Property Tax Relief: Christie implemented a 2% cap on property tax increases, providing much-needed relief to homeowners statewide after years of unchecked growth. This was paired with four balanced budgets that avoided tax hikes, alongside $2.35 billion in job-creating tax cuts, helping to stabilize local economies from Bergen County in the north to Cape May in the south.
• Pension and Health Benefits Overhaul: Facing a massive unfunded liability, Christie spearheaded landmark bipartisan reforms to the state's pension and health benefits system, projected to save taxpayers over $130 billion in the long term. This bold move addressed a crisis that had plagued New Jersey for decades, ensuring sustainability for public workers and retirees everywhere, including in Central Jersey's industrial hubs like Trenton and Middlesex County.
• Superstorm Sandy Recovery: In the wake of one of New Jersey's worst natural disasters in 2012, Christie led a comprehensive, bipartisan recovery effort that rebuilt housing, infrastructure, and schools. His hands-on approach secured federal aid and accelerated rebuilding along the Jersey Shore, particularly benefiting South Jersey communities like Atlantic City and the barrier islands, where tourism and livelihoods were restored faster than many expected.
• Education Reforms: Christie was the only governor in my lifetime to boldly and decisively take on the powerful New Jersey teachers union, the NJEA. "It's not the teachers I'm after," Christie said "it's the union." And he meant it.  Christie prioritized turning around failing schools by introducing accountability measures, a fair teacher evaluation system, and expanded school choice in underperforming districts. These changes aimed to give every child access to quality education, with notable impacts in urban areas like Newark in the north and my hometown of  Camden in South Jersey, where he invested in revitalization efforts including education partnerships and the deleopment of charter schools.
• Criminal Justice and Bail Reform: Pushing for smarter justice, Christie championed bail reform that virtually eliminated cash bail, focusing on risk rather than wealth, and promoted treatment over incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders through expanded drug courts. This surpassingly progressive shift reduced jail populations and saved costs, affecting communities statewide, from Hudson County in the north to rural South Jersey counties like Salem and Cumberland. Again, Christie was guided not by ideology but by what he saw as a practical response to the situation.
• Opioid Crisis Response: Recognizing the epidemic's grip on New Jersey, Christie signed a 2017 law limiting initial opioid prescriptions to five days, leading to a 26% reduction in prescriptions in its first year. He also expanded treatment programs and chaired a national commission under President Trump, helping families across the state, including in opioid-hard-hit areas like Central Jersey's Monmouth and Ocean counties and South Jersey's Gloucester County.
• Job Creation and Economic Turnaround: Under Christie's watch, and with the invaluable leadership of Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, New Jersey added over 143,100 private-sector jobs after years of decline, fueled by tax incentives and reduced red tape via his Red Tape Review Commission. This economic boost was felt in diverse regions, from high-tech corridors in North Jersey's Morris County (where he once served as a freeholder) to agricultural and manufacturing sectors in South Jersey. Christie also spearheaded a casino revitalization effort for Atlantic City that completed construction of the huge Revel (now Ocean) casino/hotel and funded promotion efforts for the legendary oceanside resort.
• Adoption Records Access: After an initial veto, Christie signed legislation allowing adoptees to access their original birth certificates, a compassionate reform that aided thousands in tracing their roots, with ripple effects in family services across all parts of the state.
• Camden Police Department Overhaul and Public Safety Turnaround: Christie played a pivotal role in the bold 2013 decision to disband the struggling Camden City Police Department and replace it with a larger, county-run Camden County Police Department Metro Division. This regional approach increased officer numbers (from around 260 to nearly 400), emphasized community policing, de-escalation training, and foot/bike patrols to build trust. The result was a dramatic drop in violent crime—including halving the murder rate and reducing overall crime significantly—transforming one of America's most dangerous cities into a national model for reform, with benefits felt deeply in South Jersey's Camden community.
• Advancing Higher Education and Healthcare in South Jersey: Christie supported and signed the 2012 New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act, which elevated Rowan University to research university status, transferred UMDNJ's School of Osteopathic Medicine to Rowan, and facilitated partnerships that strengthened medical education in the region. This built on the establishment of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (opened in 2012), the first new four-year M.D.-granting medical school in South Jersey in decades. Christie attended and spoke at its grand opening, highlighting its role in addressing physician shortages, boosting healthcare access, and sparking economic growth through collaboration between Rowan, Rutgers-Camden, and Cooper University Hospital—delivering long-term benefits to South Jersey's residents and economy.

These achievements underscore Christie's ability to navigate a Democratic-controlled legislature and deliver on big-ticket items that required tough choices and cross-aisle collaboration. From the shorelines of South Jersey, where Sandy recovery funds rebuilt boardwalks and homes, to the urban centers of the north and the heartland of Central Jersey, his policies left a lasting imprint—including transformative public safety and educational advancements in Camden and beyond. 

Though Christie may not have left office with the highest popularity ratings of his tenure, history judges leaders by their impact, not their popularity polls. Christie proved that in a divided era, a governor with grit can still move mountains. New Jersey is stronger for it—flaws and all. And I, for one, have always been proud to support Chris Christie and to follow him (as I told him myself) "not matter what" -- which is exactly what I have done!

Thank you, Governor Christie! The current outgoing Governor's record is lilliputian next to yours and likewise, the incoming governor has the stature of a centipede alongside you. You da man!

In Which We Ask: What's Next For Chris Christie?

Whither Chris Christie?

Why did he take the course he's taken and, now that Donald Trump has won decisively, where does that leave him?

When people ask us these questions, the first thing we tell them is don't worry about Chris Christie. In fact, he would never want you to worry about him or look upon him as someone in need of solace. 

This man doesn't flinch. He always has his wits about him and, again and again, he's proved to be durable and tireless. Not only can he take the slings and arrows that have come his way but, win or lose, he's always gained strength from such assaults and invariably emerges stronger. 

Translation: never, ever count Chris Christie out.

For one thing, the guy doesn't need politics to survive. 

In fact, Christie's most recent financial disclosure statement showed that he racked in more than $4 million over a two year period from his law firm income, consulting fees, investments, corporate director positions, speaking engagements, royalties and his ABC TV News gigs. Yes, those TV commentator appearances alone generated $475,000. 

That's not exactly chump change and it reminds us that even if Christie had become a Trumspter this time around and landed a cabinet post, he actually would have had to absorb a massive salary cut.

Oh, we know -- Christie was once an avid (and indeed, passionate) Trump booster. You will recall that Chris Christie was one of the first to abandon his own 2016 presidential race and support Trump. 

And after Trump won the first time around Christie was originally in charge of Trump's 2016 transition team and was justifiably set to play a key roll in choosing Trump's cabinet. But then, apparently at the behest of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner (who blamed Christie for the prosecution and incarceration of his father when Christie was U.S. Attorney for New Jersey) Chris Christie was abruptly jettisoned from Team Trump. 

Still, relations between Trump and Christie remained cordial and cooperative (if not exactly chummy) until election night 2020 when Trump launched an election denial effort that culminated in the infamous January 6 march on the nation's Capitol. All this apparently did not sit well with Christie. 

Yes, Trump has been able to put aside differences and welcome previous foes back into the fold. And the same can be said for Christie as both men have proven to be practical politicians when push came to shove. But not now. Not this time. 

Still, no one knows what twists and turns the future may take and in politics, it's wise to never rule anything out.

One thing's for sure: whether or not fences with Trump are mended, Christie continues to have much to offer. He remains a national figure and he's hardly one to shun the spotlight much less take a sabbatical to lick his wounds. No way!

Indeed, Christie's now in many ways liberated, as his future does not depend on Trump or his coterie. What's more, at 62 Christie's still young compared to Trump and many of those in leadership roles in Washington right now. In fact, next to many in Congress, he's a virtual teenager! God willing, he's got many years ahead of him.

On a personal note, our warm memories of time spent with Chris Christie on the campaign trail here in New Jersey resonate with us at this time of year. He was always kind to us -- affable, caring and generous with his time. He was funny, human and fun to be with. So, this Christmas we wish Chris Christie and his family all the blessings of a bountiful, healthy and happy life with many triumphs yet to come. Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo!

Christie And Kean To Murphy: Keep This Non-Partisan NJ Tradition!

 

Love Him Or Hate Him, He Speaks His Mind

We have too many people in our party who complain about Donald Trump privately but are not willing to do the hard work.

We need more leaders who will stand up and push back against Donald Trump’s lies. pic.twitter.com/0x0rp2Q8OK

— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) February 6, 2024

Whither Christie? The Options -- AND The Danger!

Chris Christie is out of the 2024 presidential race. This is a leap year which means gals and supposed to chase guys. Does that mean that Nikki Haley will attempt to romance Christie? She could certainly use his support and the nine to 12 percent of primary voters that Christie appeared to attracting in New Hampshire would put Haley over the top or at least bring her close enough to Trump to claim bragging rights.

What's the next move for Chris Christie? He's a shrewd political operator and this all depends on what Christie's looking for in his end game. He could sit back for awhile (but not too long) and decide which Republican (DeSantis or Haley) he wants to endorse. It's unlikely he'd endorse Ramaswamy because Ramaswamy was actually running behind Christie in recent polls.

But there's another option. Christie could do nothing. He could endorse none of the Republicans and just let the nomination process play out. In that scenario, President Trump remains the most likely nominee. And that brings us to the bombshell move. Remember what Christie said yesterday? He strongly warned voters against electing Trump to a second term in office. But then he went further: "I want to promise you this -- I am going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump, ever be president of the United States again," Christie said "And that's more important than my own personal ambitions."

That's a very strong statement. And it's really been the basis of Christie's entire campaign. So, if Trump is the nominee? Well, there's some speculation that, if that happens, Christie will endorse President Biden for a second term. Don't you think the Democrats would love to have Chris Christie as a lead speaker at their 2024 convention when they coronate Joe Biden?  Might  they even be wooing Chris Christie now? Wouldn't that be a coup if Christie appeared at the opposing party's convention to support their nominee the way Joe Lieberman did in 2008? And might it not set Christie up for a prominent role in the second Biden administration? 

Hey, it's no secret that we like and respect Chris Christie and still regard him as a compelling public figure. And Christie will reportedly soon make the rounds with a new book that's apparently in the works. What's more, he remains an attractive political analyst on TV where he could pick up where he left off. But endorsing Biden? While any such move may still be a long way off, we'd have a very, very hard time accepting it. Biden has been a complete disaster and the future of our country is too important for us to follow anyone into the dark and thoroughly corrupt reaches of Bidenworld. 

We will support the nominee of the Republican Party. 

And, as always, we wish Chris Christie the best.

Why Christie Still Remains Fascinating, Compelling

The following excerpt is from a Politico story detailing a body language expert's analysis of the most recent GOP presidential debate. Note the expert's take on Chris Christie. What he coveys about Christie is something we've always known -- something we noticed 14 years ago when we first started covering him, when this blog was just gaining steam. Christie is and always has been a very compelling figure and he continues to be a personal favorite of ours. No matter the eventual outcome of his current campaign, he remains formidable. 

Chris Christie Can Tell a Story With His Eyes 

''Christie was as polished as always. As a former prosecutor practiced at charming a jury, he used his smooth vocal cadence to deliver talking points in a way that was easy to understand. His hand gestures were also smooth, communicating a sense of calm and control. Only Scott, himself a polished orator, used nonverbals to demarcate his most important points so effectively. Christie is particularly adept at communicating with his eyes, arching his eyebrows for drama and narrowing his eyes to underline important messages. You may not agree with him, but when he is speaking, you cannot turn away from him.''

Say What You Will, He's A Fearless Fighter!

Ready?

I was born ready.

If Trump doesn’t show up to the debates, he’s a coward.

Either way, I’ll be there telling the truth for 90 minutes. Because the truth matters. pic.twitter.com/5UlIO2R2HI

— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) August 6, 2023

What The Hell Is Chris Christie Up To, Anyway?

Chris Christie mocking Donald Trump, tagging him as his "own worst enemy" and even calling out his fancy Peter Millar country club wardrobe.

Christie talking about a "family of grifters" but not in reference to the Bidens -- no, instead he's talking about the Trumps.

Christie refusing to say that he will support the eventual 2024 GOP presidential nominee* even though that's what the RNC wants him to do as a condition for participating in the debates.

Christie being booed at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington and taunting the crowd, replying "you can boo all you want" but "he's let us down" and "people have to stand up and take accountability for what they do."

Am I surprised at any of this? Not really, not one bit. And you wouldn't be either if you knew Chris Christie as I do. Here's why:

• There's a part of Christie that's a riverboat gambler. He actually likes long odds. He gets off defying the so-called experts, especially when going after what he calls the "Big Things." And there's no Bigger Thing than the presidency. 
• Christie loves the drama of politics and he delights in playing the role of the provocateur. It doesn't bother him that this may rub some people the wrong way. He calls it as he sees it and he can give as good as he gets, and then some. Plus, once he steps onto the stage he regales in the well-timed riposte.
• Christie may very well have concluded that Trump will probably not be the 2024 presidential nominee anyway -- that Trump's legal problems are so numerous and so real that it will all catch up with him. So maybe Christie wants to be ready when that happens -- not to say "I told you so" but to say "I told you we needed to move beyond this. Yes, we've wasted time with all this, but I'me the one who's best positioned now to make that time up and move us ahead."
• Christie prizes loyalty. He stepped out and supported Trump way ahead of the others. And he stuck with Trump through some of the darkest days. Remember, Christie defended Trump even after Trump stiffed him, removing him as transition chair; not making him attorney general; allowing his son-in-law to determine Christie's fate; refusing to take his advice and even transmitting the Covid virus to him. Christie was loyal to trump. Trump wasn't loyal to Christie. Payback time.
• And suppose Christie doesn't get the nomination but plays a key role in preventing Trump from getting it. Then, Christie's well-positioned to be rewarded if the eventual nominee is elected. In fact, he may be able to pick whatever cherished plumb he has in mind.
• You can aspire to the presidency once or twice, not make it an still come up a winner the next time. That's how Reagan and Biden did it.
• And, in 2024 if Trump is nominated and is elected? Christie's certainly not without options. His myriad of talents (as an administrator, lawyer, commentator and celebrated personality) remain very much intact. He's certainly not the type to drift gently into anonymity. 

One final thought: Politics is a strange and funny business. It's grand opera without a script, without a libretto. Some of us remember when a president won a landslide victory only to be forced to resign. And then a virtually unknown governor (a peanut farmer, no less!) became president. Then an over-the-hill movie actor stepped into the role and became a real-life hero. And not long after that another obscure governor from a southern state unseated an incumbent president. And this was followed by W. Bush and Bush v. Gore and Obama (a junior senator with little experience) and Trump's astounding upset and Covid and Joe Biden's stealth campaign and muddled victory. 

Chris Christie's an avid baseball fan. He understands the complicated nature of a thinking person's sport where everything can and does happen. Maybe that's why he likes politics so much -- a game whose incalculable nature fuels a happy warrior.

*For our part, let it be known that we will support the eventual GOP nominee whoever that may be. 

Most Don't See Christie As GOP Nominee

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced his 2024 presidential candidacy this month, but at this time few voters – especially among Republicans – see him as having a chance at becoming the GOP nominee.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 20% of likely U.S. voters believe Christie is likely to end up being the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, including just six percent (6%) who see his nomination as very likely. Seventy-one percent (71%) don’t think it’s likely Christie will get the GOP nomination next year, including 39% who say it is not at all likely. While those numbers are the worst measured so far for any 2024 Republican presidential candidate, it is early yet and politics is notoriously unpredictable.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Republicanism 2024: The Chris Christie Factor . . .

People keep asking me what I think and how I feel about the entrance of Chris Christie into the 2024 presidential race.

What the hell do you expect me to say, folks? Huh?

I've been writing about Chris Christie for nearly 15 years now. From the first moment I met him at a small gathering at Medford NJ's town square, I knew I was meeting someone who was utterly distinct -- set apart from every other politician I've ever met, and I've met hundreds of 'em. Here was this guy from mostly urban North Jersey in a cozy, precious South Jersey small town and he was as comfortable as he would be on a Newark front stoop. 

Chris Christie is like that. He can go from crass to class in a nanosecond. Maybe it's because he's a real people person and, as Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan recently noted, Christie is simply "politically gifted." Here's more from Noonan:

In 2013, the year he won re-election by 22 points, I spent a day with him on the trail and wrote of what I saw—the presidential-sized crowds, the affection and something else: the lost joy of politics. His pleasure in the game and the meaning of the game, his remembering that on some level it is a game, to be won or lost to cheers or boos. What a figure.

"The lost joy of politics!"  I gotta admit it, that phrase tugged at my heart. I grew up seeing the street corner people-to-people joy of politics first hand. And Chris Christie is still the best retail politician in America today. Face-to-face, eye-to-eye and handshake-to-handshake, nobody tops Christie. 

Okay, so maybe in the digital age of artificial intelligence that's not important anymore. But, here's the thing: Christie's talents are broad and transcending. He can (and does!) move effortlessly from a shopping mall to a TV studio, from a debate stage to a corner bar, from social media to an ice cream social. And, believe me, I've seen him do it.

On top of all this Christie is bright, inquisitive, practical, adaptable and, above all authentic. Politically, it's not always easy to label Christie precisely because he's inimitable -- he's non-dogmatic, non-formulaic and non-stereotypical. 

Yes, he loves the spotlight, he craves attention and he adores being center stage. But I've also seen him in quiet, more thoughtful moments when he's willingly attended to the concerns and trials of others. As Noonan has noted Christie "got the state through the true disaster of superstorm Sandy" because "he knows what to do with power. He isn’t secretly frightened of it, as many politicians are." 

But Christie's road ahead will not be easy. We're more cynical, more brittle, more hardened than we were when Christie first ran for governor here in New Jersey in 2009. And, worst of all, we're way more divided. Our nation is in serious trouble. As Christie pointed out, America has gotten smaller. We're absorbed more and more by inconsequential stuff and, sadly, we're more petty. It's like we're gobbling one another up with a million tiny, trivial bites. And be sure of this -- our enemies take delight in it!

Still, for Christie to catch on it seems to me something really BIG has to happen to throw Donald Trump off course. And it's as if Christie right now is the fulcrum struggling to free the bolder that will roll down the hill and flatten Trump. Christie's resourceful, he's got his wits about him and he's got good advisors guiding him.

But will all that be enough? Stay tuned . . . . 

 

Oh, Yeah -- You're Gonna Wanna Watch THIS!

 Smart, funny, genuine and as entertaining as ever!

Rubio: Setting The Record Straight On 2016

Any political reporter/commentator claiming Christie “ended” my campaign in 2016 is lazy or dumb

NH debate sucked because instead of hitting back when attacked like I wanted to, I listened to advice about “pivoting” & not “punching down” on a CC who was at 7% & about to drop…

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 6, 2023

Statehouse Redo Dazzles: Thanks Gov. Christie!

Check out this first glimpse of the $283 million renovation/restoration of the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton. The project to update the state’s capital, originally conceived by Governor Chris Christie, began in 2018 and is now nearly complete. We certainly hope Chris Christie will be front and center when this beautiful new edifice is rededicated and reopened to the public. He made it happen! Thank you, Governor.

NJ GOP Assembly Hopefuls Denounce Indictment

Parental Rights advocate Josh Aikens (who also serves as President of the Lafayette Township Board of Education) is joined by his Assembly running mate, Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski (who also serves as a Republican State Committeeman) in issuing the following statement on the indictment of Donald Trump:

“This is clearly a political prosecution aimed at preventing the American people from having a choice in the 2024 Presidential election. It is the stuff of third-world regimes and speaks to the dysfunction of our electoral process today.

We call on the leadership of the NJGOP, the Republican State Committee, the Senate Republican Caucus, and the Assembly Republican Caucus to speak with one voice in denouncing this political prosecution.

In Legislative District 24, we call on the Space-Fantasia-Inganamort team to join us in chastising former Governor Chris Christie for his attacks on Donald Trump in the run-up to this indictment. Governor Christie’s incendiary attacks gave aid and comfort to those lobbying for this political prosecution.”

As Always, Christie Tells It Like It Is!

.@GovChristie gives the leftists on the @ThisWeekABC panel a badly needed reality check on Biden's age and looming disastrous campaign. pic.twitter.com/2n1Ud7rKYM

— Kevin Tober (@KevinTober94) March 5, 2023

Christie & Trump? Like The Movie, It's Complicated!

Our friend Chris Christie is back in the news. Big time!

And that always pleases us because we like Chris Christie and we think he should always be part of our national dialogue. And make no mistake about it, Chris Christie has jumped into the conversation in his own inimitable style. At a meeting of the Jewish Republican Coalition Christie took on Donald Trump and he basically said that the GOP must now turn the page and move beyond Trump because Donald Trump "has put himself before everyone else" and this is why the party keeps "losing and losing and losing."

Yes, Christie laid down the gauntlet. He says we must stop treating Trump like "he who must not be named" and we must take him on. Christie wants a confrontation with Trump because, in his mind, the party is bigger than Trump so "it is time to stop being afraid of any one person. It is time to stand up for the principles and the beliefs that we have founded this party on and this country on.” And, indeed the Grand Old Party is bigger than any one personality and its valued principles deserve to be honored and embraced by a broad coalition that can win and govern. Christie is right on that score. What's more, the country seems to have a serious case of Trump fatigue.

Oh, we know -- Christie was once an avid (and indeed, passionate) Trump booster. You will recall that Chris Christie was one of the first to drop out of the 2016 presidential race and support Trump. And Christie's hardly denying that.  Far from it! “I was there early, I was there faithfully, and I was there all the way — until election night 2020,” Christie says.  According to Christie, the turning point came when Trump became an election denier and began insisting that he actually won the 2020 race over Joe Biden.

Not that relations between Christie and Trump have always been lovey-dovey. You will recall that Christie was originally in charge of Trump's 2016 transition team and was set to play a key roll in choosing Trump's cabinet. But that came to an end apparently at the behest of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner who blamed Christie for the prosecution and incarceration of his father when Christie was the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. 

And the friction between Christie and Trump may even preceded that, because, let's face it: Donald Trump stole Chris Christie's playbook. Going into the 2016 presidential election Chris Christie stood out as the no-nonsense, straight-talking candidate with the Big Personality.   Christie took the stage as a sort of natural born scene stealer. This was Christie's political DNA. His sharp mind, quick wit and regular guy demeanor captured the public's imagination and, Bridgegate notwithstanding, Chris Christie was determined to ride that persona into the White House.

But then Donald Trump came along. And, in a New York minute Trump out "Christied" Christie. Incredibly, he seemed brasher, more daring, more irreverent and more of a maverick than Christie himself. And Trump brought big time media savvy with him. After all, he was already a top-tier TV star and he had long since honed a compelling flair for the dramatic. To be sure, it wasn't just Christie that Trump bested. Donald Trump blew everybody out of the water. But, among the crowded field of GOP presidential aspirants, no one seem more diminished by Trump's climb to the top than Christie.

Give Christie credit for this: he's a resilient and practical politician. He didn't sit and sulk. He didn't seek our pity or sympathy. He stepped up, endorsed Trump and campaigned for him. It's hard to imagine Trump doing the same for Christie if the roles were reversed.

But, that being the case, the truth is the two men share remarkable similarities. Both Christie and Trump love the spotlight. Neither man is cut out to play second fiddle to anyone. Both like to be totally in charge. To borrow a word from Trump, both are "yooge" personalities. Both are disruptors, so just as Christie vowed to "turn Trenton upside down" as governor, Trump promised  to "drain the Washington swamp" as president. Neither man suffers fools gladly and both expect and prize loyalty. And both can be brusque and dismissive.

Now, as we've noted, this is not to suggest that Christie and Trump are mirror images of one another. Indeed, there are many dissimilarities between the two. In fact, Christie's always been more disciplined and not nearly as boastful as Trump. And he's been better at reaching across the aisle to build pragmatic coalitions. Maybe that's part of the reason why Christie was overwhelmingly re-elected and Trump wasn't But, fairly or not, the two men's public personas came across as starkly similar.

And so this may be the real reason why the relationship between these two guys has probably always been, well . . . complicated.  In the end, as public figures they seem too much alike for there to be enough room on the Big Stage for both of them. And Christie has made it clear: unlike some other Republicans, he's not only willing to name the menace in our midst; he's ready to take him on. This despite the fact that, at various times both men have described themselves as friends. But then again, let's not forget that old Italian saying: Dai nemici mi guardo io, dagli amici mi guardi Iddio! I will protect myself from my enemies, may God protect me from my friends!

You May Not Like The Messenger, But . . .

Christie: “It’s time to stop being afraid of any one person. It is time to stand up for the principles and beliefs that we founded this party and this country on. I am ready for that fight.” pic.twitter.com/aqFMnywC3J

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 19, 2022

Christie Speaks Out On Ukraine, Hunter Scandal