Christie Courted, Still Says No (again)

WSJ ^ | Monday September 26, 2011

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

I know the term RINO gets thrown around a lot and many times undeserved. But from my understanding, Christie is left on the social issues. Is that someone we really want as our nominee?

No. But he is the exact type of Republican with whom we need to make common cause on those critical issues where we do agree.

[The Citizen Soldier]

He is probably about as good as New Joisey can get, and that’s where he belongs, doing the job he was elected for.

Completely agree. The last time I remember a Republican governor from New Jersey moving from statewide to national level was the "other "Christie" - Christine Todd Whitman. Ugggh, what a nightmare that was. Thanks, but no thanks.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I understand that we can’t have a perfect candidate. But there are some rubicons that cannot be crossed. Being the original author of Obamacare is one of them (Romney) and being for gun control is another one (Christie). He wouldn’t have the support of the NRA which means a lot of independents and moderate Dems may not be swayed to vote for him. Don’t underestimate the power of the NRA.

For me, my ideal candidate right now is Cain. He aligns very closely with me on many issues. However, he is way down in the polls. Among the front runners, I can support Perry. Though he’s been disappointing so far in the debates. He needs to pick his game up.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"No. But he is the exact type of Republican with whom we need to make common cause on those critical issues where we do agree."

I totally agree. I feel the same way about Mittens, Scott Brown and Guilliani. I don't want them as our nominee but they are mostly on our side and I support them from that perspective.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

I totally agree. I feel the same way about Mittens, Scott Brown and Guilliani. I don't want them as our nominee but they are mostly on our side and I support them from that perspective.

The Left has beaten us over the long haul us by putting together issue-based coalitions, despite the fact that their overall philosophy does not have majority support. We need to learn from that. Build one coalition, focusing on commonalities and ignoring differences. Win that issue. Then do the same for the next with a different coalition, then the next, and the next. But trying to win everything at the same time never works. All it does is make it impossible to get even that first coalition off the ground.