Reply #9: I am completely impressed with Lugar

[karynnj]

He was incredible standing up to Heritage et al on the START treaty - even to the point of calling all the other Republicans who were making outrageous excuses. No matter how good a job Kerry did leading the floor fight or Obama did in marshaling administration forces, it would not have passed without Lugar.

Add to that, he is now speaking of favoring reinstating the assault weapons ban.

I think it is disgraceful that the head of the House Foreign relations Committee sees fit not to attend. It is interesting that the head of Human Rights Watch understood that going does not mean you support the Chinese government. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/01/ileana-ros-lehtinen-turns-down-invite-to-state-dinner-with-chinas-hu.html

I would bet that had a significant number of people in China's government refused to attend a dinner when an American President visited China, Ros-Lehtinen would be among the first to take that as a slight to the United States.

Christie likely loved the attention - and the food. I would guess that few governors were invited. It is good that he attended.