Free Republic

Two days after Chris Christie’s reelection rout in New Jersey and his sweeping speech that left little room for guessing about what he plans to do next, the governor was greeted Thursday with a Time magazine cover calling him the “elephant in the room.” The suggestive language about the New Jersey governor, whose weight struggles have been chronicled and analyzed at length, was obvious. “Dr. Hitchcock?” asked one GOP strategist in a conversation with a reporter, referring to the jowly silhouette of the famous director. … Christie is being heralded by donors and elites as a potential GOP savior—their early...

On Tuesday night, the governor was the subject of David Letterman’s Top 10 list under the topic “Ways the Country Would be Different if Chris Christie was President.” 10. Al-Qaeda taunts America with ‘Yo president’s so fat’ jokes. 9. Goodbye White House vegetable garden. 8. Cabinet now has a Secretary of Cake. 7. New state: Fatassachusetts. 6. Congress does whatever he wants, ‘cause fat guys are, like super-strong when they freak out. 5. Presidential retreat moved from Camp David to Hershey Park. 4. Taxpayers would have to pay for president’s second seat on Air Force One. 3. New National Anthem:...

If Chris Christie doesn't get into the presidential race, the would-be comics of the MSM might be even more disappointed than the Republican honchos reportedly urging the Jersey gov to run. Yesterday, I noted how ABC's "Good Morning America" managed to work a number of fat cracks into its report on Christie. Today it was the oleaginous Martin Bashir's turn. Bashir never acknowledged his jokes with a wink and a nod. But from describing Christie as "massively" popular with Republicans, to observing that when it comes to a possible run Christie hasn't "pushed away from the table," to suggesting that...

Was it just coincidence that of all the ways "Good Morning America" could have reported that Republicans are urging Chris Christie to get into the presidential race, the ABC show today spoke--twice--of Christie being "heavily" urged to run? Throw in GMA describing Christie supporters opining that the other candidates are "too small" for the job. Oh, and the show's decision to roll extended, less-than-flattering footage of Christie walking across an airport tarmac to greet President Obama. Makes you wonder whether this was the opening salvo of an ABC attack on Christie's avoirdupois. Of course, such cheap shots have a history...

I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised that a TV host who clownishly closes shows by throwing wadded-up balls of paper at the camera would indulge in middle school-worthy taunts about a person's weight . And yet . . . I actually was surprised when on tonight's show, Keith Olbermann unleashed a string of jibes aimed at Roger Ailes' physique. So surprised that when Olbermann first began his barrage, with a comment about Ailes doing something "between pies," I actually wondered whether I had misheard him or misunderstood his intent. But Olbermann's mean-spirited motive soon became unmistakeable. Displaying what was...