The Chris Christie charisma
The New York Times (yes, the New York Times) has an excellent article about the appeal of Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey. He’s not only sensible, savvy, and sharp, but he’s a pretty good stand-up comic, too.
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
Chris is not charismatic…
he has something we rarely see that could embue one with the same, but could be earned..
MERIT…
Charisma can make an idiot look great
but merit, can make a person you wouldnt look twice at, be more than the charismatic idiot.
PROOF:
hitlers charisma got him an office, the rest of the years were spent (besided the war of course) trying NOT to be killed by his own people.
on the other hand..
Churchill barely had any body guards…
Hitler had guards inside rings of guards, and guards watching the guards…
one was charismatic and failed on competency in the end
the other was full of merit, and succeeded on such in the end, and was adored, despite being ugly, course, foul, and a whole bunch of other qualities.
if not for merit he would have easily been disliked.
What makes Christie special: Hard work. He’s done his homework to find out how to make what he says resonate–like Reagan putting in his time as GE spokesman for 10 years. Nothing beats true competence, not even the required obedience to party line coupled with affirmative action head nodding. Oh how we wish to see true competence destroy the agonizing amateurishness of the present administration.
Christie is also helped by several things: He’s picked the right subject; he’s not a social conservative or even a true conservative so he doesn’t engender a derangement syndrome. Add Reaganesque humour, youtube and victory and no wonder people are stretching out their hands like so many supplicants begging him to run because he only has the answers. Whew! Is that how rare true competence is in politics?
Christie is a very impressive off the cuff speaker. He can go on for an extended period with effective arguments without notes or a teleprompter.
What really must irk the teacher’s union is how Christie took them to class on how to be an effective teacher. He explained the economic issues to New Jersey and the rest of the country in a compelling way while demanding respect as he did it. Reminds me of the best teacher i ever had actually.
Mr. Frank has noted the Christie attribute I appreciate the most. He thoroughly understands the issue he is most focused upon and does not need the teleprompter because he knows the subject. It doesn’t hurt that he has a sense of humor. That is also what I like about Cain and West. Conversely, Obama needs the teleprompter to talk to 6 year olds.
I found this interesting: “… Christie pointed to a meeting about a month into the transition, when his aides came to him brandishing an analysis of the state’s cash flow produced by Goldman Sachs. They advised the governor-elect that, without some serious action, the state could fail to meet payroll by the end of March.” Clearly Corzine, as former-Goldman Sachs co-chairman, was aware of the report — he certainly commissioned it. If he had been re-elected, he would not have dealt with the NJ’s financial crisis nearly aggressively Christie.
I too have been impressed with governor Christie.
Which is why it was so disappointing to discover that while his record indicates that he’s great on economic matters, in other areas, it appears to be a very different story.
Consider the very disturbing:Governor Christie’s Dirty Islamist Ties
Then there’s Gov. Christie’s energy policy. “During last year’s gubernatorial campaign, Mr. Christie posted a video on YouTube in which he outlined a plan for “energy as industry” in New Jersey. Coal burning plants? Nope. Offshore oil drilling and refining, perhaps? Not a chance. How about more nuclear power plants? Fuhgeddaboudit.
According to Mr. Christie, the future of New Jersey prosperity lies in “green technology,” specifically, wind turbines and solar panel farms.”
Then, from
Chris Christie: A Conservative Myth – Part 7 this seems especially relevant: “Lately, it has become fashionable among conservatives and Republicans nationwide to lavish effusive praise and encomiums upon Governor Chris Christie as the “Conservative Savior” of New Jersey – and this trend has begun to mushroom into a fervent cult of pseudo-personality that is already calling for him to throw his hat into the 2012 Presidential campaign ring.
Myth #7: Gov. Christie strongly opposes illegal immigration, gun control and the Ground Zero Mosque.
Here are the facts: Just the opposite is true for every one of these issues.”
We so desperately need real leadership that it’s very easy to seize the first sign of it as a godsend. Maybe Christie’s positions on these issues is more nuanced than these articles give credit for but on the surface they appear to be pretty damning.
Is Christie a fiscal conservative, social liberal? We need to find out before we make him the 2012 nominee.
Beware.
If the MSM starts playing him up that means they may want him to run, and that they know they can turn around and destroy him in a second.
Gov. Christie recently commuted the sentence of Brian Aitken who received a seven year sentence on a bum rap for gun possession. That would suggest he can be reasonable on guns.
I don’t want him to run. I like him where he is. IF he can produce credible progress in turning around the finances of NJ an example will have been made. I hope the same thing will occur in WI and elsewhere.
Geoffery, I think the answer to your question is probably yes. People tend to be complex and most do not strictly fit into a pigeon hole. You and I can probably find many areas of agreement and other areas where we see things differently. Does that mean I should not support you or you support me on the big issues where we agree?
As you suggest Parker, my support would be contingent upon consideration of all of the relevant factors. That said, it’s easy to step by step, compromise oneself into a position of abandonment of principle, which is what I would contend every RINO in Congress has done.
Arlen Specter be thy name.
The Times also carries an unflattering photo of Christie and makes a cheap shot at his weight. Par for the course for a liberal newspaper.
His stemwinders remind me of Limbaugh’s at his best: using careful ridicule of the Left. It’s what the Left hates most, being mocked for their beliefs and attitudes. I wonder if he borrowed the technique from Maha Rushie. It’s doubtful, given his apparent feelings about the radio godfather, that he’d ever admit it if he did.
Here’s some fun when reading on the NY Times website:
In the comments, click “Highlights” to see an editor’s pick of representative/substantive comments.
Then click “Readers Recommendations” – like magic, all the moderate-to-conservative comments disappear.
This is especially clear with this article – as it would be for a Sarah Palin-related article, I assume.
Christie is a great governor for New Jersey and has accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time, but he is a Governor and not a national level politician. He is concerned about the things that matter here in New Jersey.
Because of that concern he can be agnostic towards illegal immigration because it is neither a state issue nor bad for NJ. We like having our lawns mowed for cheap. He can ignore gun control because we already have some of the strictest controls in the nation and the Aitken issue was a no-brainer. And every politician better be in favor of the GZM because there is a church and state separation whether you like it or not and the GZM is a social issue only.
Christie has an attribute that goes beyond charisma, knowledge and a good work ethic. He has guts and a true laser like focus on what is ailing our state. He is banking on the truth as being the thing that politicians need to start exposing without apology. That is not an easy position to take, despite what mothers try to teach us.
New Jersey needs Christie for several more years and Christie needs to prove that his leadership and policy changes really do work. Obama is going to win in 2012 and there is no reason for a good candidate to put their neck on the block this season.
“”Obama is going to win in 2012 and there is no reason for a good candidate to put their neck on the block this season.””
Daniel
If Obama wins, we ain’t seen misery compared to what will come. I personally won’t be satisfied unless he loses and finds it intolerable to even live in America.
I’m certainly not cheerleading for Obama, SteveH, but I am facing reality.
Obama is still very likable and despite job approval polls an election always comes down to a choice between two people. I don’t see anyone yet who is as charismatic as he is to a general population. That’s just one hurdle to overcome.
Add to that the power of incumbency.
Add to that the likelihood that the economy will have improved enough for it to not be as big a burden on him as it was in the last election.
A lot can happen between now and then, but I think you can see every other good Republican candidate gaming the system and realizing that this is not the year to do a run for president. 2016, when Joe Biden will be the only one with the incumbency on his side is the time to pull out all stops.
Daniel wrote, “Obama is going to win in 2012 and there is no reason for a good candidate to put their neck on the block this season.”
I like everything else you wrote.
But I don’t believe it is reality.
Look at the schalacking. See the enormous shift in the votes.
Obama has tried to bring out the support by campaigning for the Ted Kennedy seat and the NJ governor and the VA governor. This is prior to the 2010 elections. All 3 were smacks against the Democrat as a result.
Then 2010 elections. Smack.
I do not think it is “reality” as you put it.
Boy, the Times much have searched far and wide to find such an unflattering photo to run with the article.
If now is not the time for an America loving conservative to win the Presidency in a landslide then there will never be one.