Chris Christie

A few months ago I made my first post about the 2016 presidential election, and posited that Jeb Bush may be the Republican nominee. Well, after Jeb made an ill-considered speech saying that "immigrants are more fertile," the notion of another Bush in the White House seems to be a fantasy.

Republicans, who usually have an orderly, almost Teutonic, succession for nominations, seem to have a wide open choice this time around. And things will be different, as the Tea Party now has many more members who have been elected to state legislatures and such; this may skew the nominating process even more to the right than it has been in the past.

This would be bad news for New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who, despite a typically mean and nasty conservative record, is appealing to centrist voters, and in my view, would give putative Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton the toughest fight.

Christie, who is running for re-election this year, has created a persona that celebrates him as being something of a regular guy and a straight-shooter. He loves Bruce Springsteen, and worked with President Obama in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, crossing party lines. Many in his party, and those who waver in party, might find him a refreshing alternative to the thoughtful Obama, as Christie is bumptious and arrogant (although Obama can certainly be arrogant).

But, as is always the case, the hard part will be getting the nomination. Christie, despite towing the line on most conservative issues--he's anti-choice, against gay marriage, against the Affordable Care Act (because of that, I will have to look into the Federal system, as he is preventing New Jersey from setting up its own exchange). But, whether sincerely or not, he has staked out a territory that John McCain had some years ago--he ignores party politics, and does what he thinks! To this end, he recently signed a law banning "gay aversion" therapy, and approved the use of medical marijuana. But note, he still doesn't believe in same-sex marriage, and the medical marijuana is only for children.

As a resident of Christie's state, I see firsthand the blowhard that he is. When Frank Lautenberg died, he shamelessly called for a special election that will cost the state over a million dollars to replace him. This, even though a general election will take place a month later. Why? Because Christie did not want to be on a ballot that included Cory Booker, who would surely attract more turnout from traditional Democrats who might vote for his opponent.

Christie is running twenty points ahead of his challenger, Barbara Buono (she has moved up ten points in the polls, which is kind of like saying the Titanic is sinking a little slower). He is immensely popular in a deep blue state, which would surely help the Republican party.

But, is Christie not conservative enough? The wingnuts who have taken over the party have decided that any cooperation with Democrats is like worshipping Satan. They are going after Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell, of all people. Footage of Christie and Obama will be in the commercials of his primary opponents. He will not be "pure" enough. This is how the Republicans will lose another election.

Also, it will be interesting to see how an obese man does in this day and age. Christie is much slimmer after lap-band surgery, but is still a big man. I despise fat jokes, or any jokes about a person's appearance, even by comedians I normally respect. Will fat jokes subconsciously affect voters who might be put off by his appearance? We haven't had a fat president (I mean really fat, not like Bill Clinton) since Taft, and there were no late-night comedians than.