A concise must read in the Journal today - stemming from a meeting between Christie and their editorial board. Christie's office interaction with the union chief is enough to warm your cold, black little Right-leaning heart. His focus on what's termed NJ's regulatory morass is key for a NJ resurgence. Christie claims he wants to prove to like minded politicians that if you stand up to the usual special interests they can and must be beaten for the good of the state. Read it, I doubt you'll be disappointed.
'I said all during the campaign last year that I was going to govern as if I was a one-termer," explains New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on a visit this week to the Journal's editorial board. "And everybody felt that it was just stuff you say during a campaign to sound good. I think after the first 12 weeks, given the stuff I've done, they figure: 'He's just crazy enough to do it.'"
Call it crazy, or just call it sensible: Mr. Christie is on a mission to make New Jersey competitive once again in the contest to attract people and capital. During last fall's campaign, while his opponent obliquely criticized Mr. Christie's size, some Republicans worried that their candidate was squishy—that he wasn't serious about cutting spending and reining in taxes. Turns out they were wrong.
NJEA President Barbara Keshishian visited his office this week to apologize for a recent email sent to thousands of teachers by a union official that included a mock prayer for the governor's death. According to Mr. Christie, the conversation went something like this: He accepted her apology immediately but asked if the email sender would be fired for "doing something that monumentally stupid." When the union chief questioned why the man should be fired, Mr. Christie promptly ended the meeting.
"I'm a product of public schools in New Jersey," Mr. Christie explains, "and I have great admiration for people who commit their lives to teaching, but this isn't about them. This is about a union president who makes $265,000 a year, and her executive director who makes $550,000 a year. This is about a union that has been used to getting its way every time. And they have intimidated governors for the last 30 years."
Great story. This reminds me of the greatest story of leftist-slaying in modern politics: Rudy Guiliani in New York. He took them on as Christie is apparently doing now, one by one. In each case, reaction from the Left was the same stunned disbelief when he would call for corrupt, stupid, inept people to be fired.
Posted by: rrpjr | Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 02:07 PM
I doubt, if Christie accomplishes everything that he has set out to accomplish, that he will be a one term governor. But it is his willingness to expend his political capitol for the good of his state rather than his own political career that increases his power. Quite the opposite of the "politics as usual" that we have grown accustomed to.
Good for Christie. Now we need to go on the hunt for more just like him.
Posted by: carol | Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 04:18 PM
Man, this guy must have a special place in your heart, Dan... bet you never thought you'd live to see a guy like this in the governor's mansion.
My buddy just moved out of NJ at 63 years old, lived there his whole life... why? Taxes.
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 05:19 PM
I like christie the only man in the GOP to show he has balls. Teh gOP needs more men with spine. So far it has only the women tha thave shown fortitude.
I would love to see a Palin/Christie ticket in 2012.
Posted by: unseen | Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 07:27 PM
For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my governor...
Posted by: Tired NJ wingnut | Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 01:30 PM