The Race for 2012 and Chris Christie's Refreshing Honesty

(From the American Enterprise Institute)

Many people are praising Chris Christie right now.
Not the teacher's unions he battled or the Democrats in New Jersey that can't handle a fair political fight. But Republicans in many circles think he is the GOP's only chance at success. This seems to be Ann Coulter's position. And if I had to guess, if the Editors of the Weekly Standard had to pick a favorite, they would choose Christie or General David Petraeus.

Did you catch Christie's remarks at the American Enterprise Institute? It's very hard to listen to Christie and not warm up to him. He is a very principled "regular guy" that voters can relate to.

One of my favorite of his remarks involved Governor Corzine's response to the
budget crisis several summers back. In response to a government shut down, Corzine famously brought reporters into his office and pointed to a cot that he would sleep on until the crisis ended.

How would Chris Christie handle this?

So I knew these were the same fellas who had been in the legislature when he was there now threatening to do the same thing. So I decided to call them down early on and advise them that the place was under new management. And what I said to them was listen, if you want to pass an income tax increase that's fine, I'm going to veto it. And if you want to close down the government because of that, that's fine. But I want to tell you something-I'm not moving any cot into this office to sleep in here. If you close down the government I'm getting into those black SUV's with the troopers and going to the governor's residence I'm going to go upstairs, I'm going to open a beer, I'm going order a pizza, I'm going to watch the Mets. And when you decide to reopen the government give me a call and I'll come back. But don't think I'm sleeping on some cot take a look at me you think I'm sleeping on a cot- not happening.

Could you imagine one of the other presidential candidates saying this?
It would be too off-color. Too risky.

It's too bad Christie said there was no chance he was running in 2012. Isn't it ironic, that the one political figure the country really needs, isn't going to run?

Obama Tries to Push Aside Governor Paterson

For Barack Obama, it's about politics and not losing. In New York, Paterson's low approval ratings and a viable GOP challenge (either by Rick Lazio or Rudy Giuliani) have given Obama pause and have compelled him to gently nudge Paterson out of the race.

If Paterson is like any politician, he will not take this lightly. It will be harder to cry racism here, but he might still put up a fight.

Now, Andrew Cuomo can seriously gear up. Will this give Eliot Spitzer the green light to run for Attorney General? His scandal already has worn off.

Frum wants Giuliani to be McCain's VP

In a recent article published in the June 25, 2008 edition of the New Republic, David Frum comments on John McCain's Vice-Presidential selection process.

He cites the dire political situation of the Republican Party and the importance of McCain's pick--not necessarily to boost McCain's ticket, but to ensure the future of the Party and the country.

Admittedly, Frum is a little biased in his favored pick. He thinks McCain should pick Rudy Giuliani. (Correct me if I am wrong, but Frum was an advisor to Giuliani's Presidential campaign).


He writes,

I have my own personal nomination for vice president for McCain. It's Rudy
Giuliani, precisely because he shares the vision of a practical, reforming, war-winning
Republican Party that inspires John McCain, plus the
stronger-than-usual grounds for hoping that he might be the rare candidate who
can make a difference in an essential state--in this case, New Jersey.

This blog certainly wouldn't mind if Giuliani was the VP pick. We prefer Mitt Romney for his youth, business experience, and organizational assets. But Giuliani would also be another good choice.

If Giuliani isn't the pick, we sincerely hope he runs for Governor of New York. After the Spitzer mess, and now the Paterson fiasco, New York needs a solid Republican governor. No one knows New York like Rudy, and he could certainly lift the state out of the current blindness it faces. No pun intended.

What McCain's strategy should be

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/mccain_military/2007/11/02/46217.html

This is what John McCain needs to do in order to salvage his campaign. He needs to emphasize the fact that throughout his adult life, he has served the country. Other candidates such as Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, have been involved only in self-profiting endeavors. Where were Rudy and Mitt when the country needed them in Vietnam? We need a President who puts the country before himself. Running a business or being a lawyer does not make you qualified to be Commander in Chief.

McCain needs to make this distinction every step of the way and challenge the other candidates during the next debate on this. Call them out in person and make them respond.

Reasons to Vote for Giuliani

Although Mitt Romney is the current favorite of this blog, Rudy Giuliani is giving us reason to look more favorably upon him. First, he is a strong advocate of the King Amendment, a law designed to protect citizens from lawsuits for reporting suspicious activity. This stems from the lawsuit filed by imams who were kicked off a United Airlines flight.
http://www.joinrudy2008.com/news/missed/508

Good Presidents have good people behind them. Giuliani has recently picked some good advisors concerning the Middle East. Among this select group are several neoconservatives including Norman Podhoretz.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/7/26/155618.shtml?s=ic