Dear everyone: Chris Christie is conservative

[DonViejo]

UPDATED: How many times do we have to explain this?

BY ALEX PAREENE

Chris Christie in swimming in Democratic money as he runs for reelection. His Democratic opponent, Barbara Buono, is ignored by the national press and the sort of people that would usually be writing checks for the Democratic challenger to a Republican governor in a large, liberal state.

Hugging Barack Obama was maybe the best political decision New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has ever made, and he’s made some very canny ones. I’m not saying his embrace of the president following Hurricane Sandy was entirely cynical, but it was very boisterous, and it continued through last week, when Obama visited the Jersey Shore and once again made nice with Christie before the national TV news cameras.

Here’s what’s odd about this Republican governor who currently seems much more popular with Democrats than national Republicans: He’s quite conservative. Especially for the Northeast. That was, in fact, his original appeal, back when conservatives were thrilled about him: He’s the most conservative possible successful statewide officeholder for a blue state like New Jersey.

In his first term, Christie torpedoed a much-needed mass transit tunnel project, same-sex marriage and early voting. He vetoed a minimum wage hike. He vetoed legislation designed to eliminate the gender wage gap. He withdrew from a regional carbon cap-and-trade agreement. He killed a Jersey version of the DREAM Act and cut funding for women’s health services, including eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood. Remember how pissed everyone got when Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives tried to do the same thing? Many liberals seem to give Christie a pass for his antiabortion views that they’d never give a “red state” Republican. (This is maybe because he used to be pro-choice, meaning he made the exact switch on the issue everyone trashed Romney for making.)

full article
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/04/dear_everyone_chris_christie_is_conservative/

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Dear Everyone: Conservatives are running (and ruining) the Democratic Party.

[MotherPetrie]

2. He's a giant steaming piece of stinking conservative SHIT

[busterbrown]

8. Bless you my son!

Father Buster...

[BillyRibs]

21. In other news; Water is wet!

[bigdarryl]

3. Democrats here in NJ are CLUELESS!!

[truedelphi]

4. However, much of the DLC "Democratic" leadership is conservative.

The only way, policy-wise, I can distinguish Diane Feinstein from Ahnold Scwartzennegger, is that Ahnold was liberal on legalizing marijuana. Period.

For instance - here is a list on some major policies, where I say "check" I mean both Di and Ahnold agreed:
pro-abortion rights: check.
pro-environment: check.
afraid of "socialistic programs" like Single Payer Health Care for everyone: check.

[indepat]

12. Both Republicans and Democrats are conservative in unimaginable numbers:

thankfully, most conservative Democrats are not, at least now, among the prevalent bat-shit crazy type most 'pukes are.

[n2doc]

5. He's a valued member of the ruling party in America

The Corporate Party. Which is why he gets along so well with Obama.

[blm]

6. He's also the guy who successfully lobbied NJ to exempt securities fraud from consumer fraud laws

and did so for a group headed by Bernie Madoff. Amazing that NJ Dems haven't been smearing Christie as Madoff's lobbyist of choice.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/03/1022317/-Christie-has-a-Bernie-Madoff-Problem#

[forestpath]

7. K&R Any Democrat who thinks he's a good guy

is a fucking idiot, a traitor, or both.

[busterbrown]

9. Bless you my son!

Hallow be thy name....
Father Buster

[SunSeeker]

10. Why are so many people being fooled by Christie?

He is just like any other Republican, except he doesn't say batshit crazy stuff like Jesus rode a dinosaur. We have really set the bar low for Republicans.

[Zoeisright]

11. Boy, do I agree.

Let's face it, anyone with an (R) next to their name is against progress, the working class, women, children, the poor, and anyone who isn't a rich white man.

[byronius]

14. Look! He only wants to co-opt democracy, not destroy it outright and divide up the women!

Give the guy a break!

Yeah, not cool at all. Low bar, so low it's f***ing buried.

[Skittles]

29. because when a repuke does something decent they think he has changed

he hasn't

[Cha]

13. I can't imagine the New Jersey Dem Legislature is too happy

with him.. Vetoing their Legislation?

[BlueStater]

15. You don't need to convince us.

I seriously doubt anyone here ever plans on voting for him for anything.

[Myrina]

17. Think again.

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/04/18756138-christies-appeal-rises-above-polarized-nation-nbcwsj-poll-shows?lite


The MSM is going to make him their media darling for the next 2 years and before we know it, he'll be atop the GOP ticket and then, moving in to 1600.

We need to be alert. VERY alert.

[tabbycat31]

38. he already is a media darling

He's been in bed with Morning Joe since he took office in 2010.

[BlueStater]

24. You could have made your point without being snippy.

I'm well aware of how popular he is in NJ. I was referring more to the members of this website.

[premium]

25. You're right, I could have,

and I apologize.

[BlueStater]

26. I accept your apology.

[premium]

27. Self deleted the post.

Have a good day, supposed to get to 105 degrees here today. Ugggg.

[TrollBuster9090]

16. No kidding. THIS IS STOCKHOLM SYNDROME. Just because Christie is the first Republican to show a

to show a little bi-partisan cooperation in 20 years is NO REASON TO START GIVING HIM YOUR MONEY! That's like showing favoritism to the prison guard who beats you LEAST OFTEN.

[csziggy]

18. So is Charlie Crist but that hasn't stopped FL Dems from pushing him

Or stopped them from giving him preference over real Democrats. Charlie Crist only changed the letter behind his name to collect Democratic money, and it's working for him.

Christie, if he gets enough push back from Tea Party people, will go the same route as Crist - change parties in name only.

Democrats should support REAL Democrats and not give their money to Republicans, even if those Republicans are slightly less conservative than Tea Party members. Let the Tea Party drag the Republicans further right until they all go over the cliff.

[Jennicut]

19. All true.

Too conservative for NJ, gets away with it through his personality and being the only Repub to act halfway decent to a President of a different party. Which should not be unusual. People must be so shocked from what was once normal bipartisanship. He is sly and shrewd for sure. His ideas are not good for NJ.

[blkmusclmachine]

22. .

.

[valerief]

23. Right. He's a Republican for a reason. nt

[AgingAmerican]

28. Creeping fascism

He isn't a conservative. He is a radical reactionary statist.

[Arkana]

30. Also he's a douche.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

31. There were people here hoping he'd jump ship and throw in with the D's last year

He occasionally says and does some things that are respectable (for a Republican) but at the end of the day he is union-busting bully out to crush 'libs and one of Rush Limbaugh's favorite governors (or at least was at one point) for going after teachers unions. He's not with us and I fail to see how/why Democratic donors are lining up to back him.

[warrprayer]

32. Fuck Chris Christie

and every other republican.

[KinMd]

33. But compared to most of the GOP...he's seems at least sane

[Lydia Leftcoast]

34. If Dems are supporting JUST BECAUSE he's prochoice, then they're like the Oregon Dems

in the 1980s who supported Bob Packwood because he was pro-choice (as if his Dem opponent wasnt=/t).

[Rowdyboy]

36. Its quite discouraging. Apparently if a New England Republican is even rational on a couple....

of issues, she or he is considered a moderate and worthy of praise and support from the mainstream. Senators Susan Collins and Kelly Ayotte are not moderates. They are self-hating women who support their oppressors. Governor Christie is a rude, overbearing cretin who deserves scorn.

By comparison, Packwood was probably reasonable, at least by the standards of the time. While I really disliked him, I didn't loathe him. These people I truly loathe.

[Ter]

40. He's not pro choice

Here's a direct quote from him: "Here's my position on it. My name's the name on the ballot. I am pro-life, I believe in exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. That's my position, take it or leave it."

http://www.ontheissues.org/governor/chris_christie_abortion.htm

[Kablooie]

35. Christie is smart.

Dancing for Democrats will pull in Dem votes and he already has the Pug votes.
It could be a winning combination.
Once he's won he will be free to drop the facade and become as conservative as he wants.

[tomp]

37. irrespective of his politics (which suck)....

....the man is a phony and a bully. most likely a sociopath. americans are very often extremely poor judges of character, especially in politics. why anyone would like or trust this man is beyond me. why any democrat would like him says as much about democrats as it does about christie.

[mountain grammy]

39. All Republicans are conservative.. moderate Republicans are Democrats.

Christie is no Democrat but the mainstream corporates will sell him to us like a shiny new car, or maybe like they sold us Reagan. What could possibly go wrong?

[craigmatic]

41. I can't see why people vote for him. He doesn't even seem like a nice guy.

[Chiennoir54]

42. Yes

I'm glad you made this point strongly. Just because people see a Republican not consumed with visceral hatred for Obama, and goes on The Daily Show and may have some slight sense of humor he's considered wonderful. Do people forget that he's governor of a very blue state and that if he expects to continue to be governor he damn well needed to get the President's attention after Sandy. Well obviously I'm speaking to the choir but thanks for your post.

[hrmjustin]

43. Welcome to DU my friend!