Chris Christie

[WiffenPoof]

Serious question here and one that deserves an honest answer...

Did your feelings concerning Chris Christie change at all when he sat politics aside and worked with President Obama to put the welfare of the citizens of his state first?

Paige

[MgtPA]

1. Yeah.

[teddy51]

2. Mine certainly did, I have a lot of time for Christie now. He seriously did put politics aside in

favor of helping his State heal from this disaster.

[democrattotheend]

8. Agreed. I like him a lot better than I did before the storm

He did a mostly good job of handling the storm and I appreciated him working with the president when a lot of people in his shoes might have used the opportunity to say that the president wasn't doing a good job of handling the storm even if he was, which would have probably handed Romney the election.

I still won't vote for him because I disagree with him too much on issues like unions and affordable housing, but my opinion of him is higher than it was before the storm.

[teddy51]

10. I saw a real human being under the cloak, and he was very much into helping his people

get through this thing, and working well with the President. It was a great bonus that he praised the President constantly. He is and has been taking the flack from the Repugs. for doing this.

[bigwillq]

3. It was nice to see

Not sure my feelings changed about him on anything else besides that one event, but it was nice to see both parties working together during a crisis.

[CTyankee]

4. I have reservations. I do like his outreach and his work with Obama. It makes sense.

I think that is fine. I want to hear how he has "evolved" on social issues such as women'r reproductive rights and marriage equality.

So, we'll see! So far, okay at best, but I am waiting for the other answers...

[veganlush]

5. Yes

He seems like a straight-shooter, pretty cool guy for a repugnant.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

6. yes

Especially the respectful way he spoke of and with the President.

[JaneyVee]

7. Only for that one moment. Still think he's a bully jackass.

[joesdaughter]

27. Agree n/t

[IL Lib]

32. +1 n/t

[Kber]

9. Yes, but

Yes in that it is a relief to find a republican who can put practicality over partisanship.

But he's still going after public teachers with a vengeance and I disagree with many of his policies.

He behaved well during the storm and I'm totally OK with him being politically "rewarded", if that happens. I'm also cautiously optimistic that he may represent a reality based wing of the republican establishment with whom we can work when circumstances allow.

Any fantasy that he will give up his conservative beliefs and become a liberal Democrat is just that: a fantasy.

Which is OK - America needs a strong two party system and right now we have a center-left party and a bunch of crazies.

[pacalo]

11. Yes, & I'm hoping that the discussion that continues to evolve from that positive incident

will cause Christie to reevaluate the error of some of his heavy-handed policies against those who are vulnerable.

I'm thinking he probably feels pretty good about himself in doing the right thing & perhaps the negativity being spouted from those in his own party could lead to his own introspection about the two parties' value systems.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Yes.

As much as I disagree with him on a lot of things, it wasrefreshing to see him do what was best for the residents of New Jersey, especially in light of what a complete and utter fraud Mitt Romney was.

I wish Christie was a Democrat. Maybe if he gets screwed over enough by the republicans he'll mellow out even more.

[Jennicut]

13. Somewhat. I still disagree with some of his ideas.

But like Charlie Crist, I have a more positive opinion of a Repub willing to put politics aside. Charlie left his party, wonder if Chris will too.

[Raine]

14. I have some respect for him now but I don't trust him. nt

[Honeycombe8]

15. Yes. nt

[WinkyDink]

16. Yes; doubly so when I saw on SNL how good he is at comedy!

[ToxMarz]

17. If all Republicans were like him

I wouldn't be repulsed and in mortal fear of them in power. But I wouldn't vote for them.

[jerseyjack]

18. He ran on a platform that promised not to interfere with state employees' benefits.

During his first year, he fucked over those employees. He argued the state was in bad economic straits. He made no attempt to raise taxes on the rich.

By the way, the Democrats in the state legislature rolled over on this.

Until the hurricane, he wanted to LOWER taxes. This was probably in anticipation towards 2016.

FUCK CHRISTIE !

Yes, he was good during the hurricane. But what's that they say about a broken clock?

[djg21]

47. No different than Cuomo in NY.

I might consider voting for Christie if it comes down to the two of them in 2016.

[RichGirl]

19. I always liked him....

Because he wasn't the typical politician. Now I like him more. BUT....if he ran for prez I can't imagine liking him more than whoever the dem candidate is. I certain I wouldn't even consider voting for him Maybe I would be a tiny, teeny, weeny bit less stressed during the election. McCain/Palin then Romney...so SO stressful.

[MotherPetrie]

20. Hell to the no.

[wandy]

21. I would like to say I felt better about Christie. Trouble is.......

Since GWB, Teapublicans have grown ever more dishonest, disreputable and just plain disgusting. Yes his behavior was commendable, still warming up to the guy gives me about the same warm fuzzy feeling as warming up to a rabid badger.
I can't help but to think that they are all teabaggers now with a goodly amount of Nixon thrown in for good venom.

[Trailrider1951]

22. Absolutely! Here was a Republican who decided to act to serve THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED HIM, instead

of the party leaders and pundits. That was the act of a STATESMAN, not the act of a politician. Most Republicans elected to office would be wise to study that fact.......and a few goddam DINOs as well.

Edited to add: The rumored meeting with the BOSS may have helped to grease the skids....jus sayin'.

[Spirochete]

23. Yes, somewhat

I didn't think any of these repub governors were remotely capable of putting the people they were elected to serve over the GOP, but apparently he was. He's still a gonad, but a little less of one, IMO.

[WiffenPoof]

24. I Was Really Afraid...

...that when I posted this question, I was going to get a flurry of the typical bashing of a Republican (and there is some and somewhat deserved in my opinion). It was a pleasant surprise to find that people were willing to give credit where credit was due. I am no fan of the Republican Party and I am confident that I would never vote for Christie. However, to see someone say that he didn't give a damn about Presidential politics and that his people come first was refreshing. To his credit, he complimented the President's effort on his behalf when it would have been so easy for him to either ignore the President or even make up some sort of story that the President didn't do his job. Once again, I could never vote for a Republican...but I give kudos to Christie for acting like a statesman.

If the roles were reversed, I wonder if people in Freeperland would have complimented a Dem doing the same thing. I'm not so sure.

-Paige

[bluestate10]

25. Yes. A lot, for the positive. Christie did what a leader should do. nt

[JI7]

26. I thought it was consistent with when he defended his appointment of some Gay and Muslim

people to certain offices. unlike Romney he defended them and showed his irritation at the crazies in his party who complained.

[Kalidurga]

28. Christie was one of the Republicans I am somewhat neutral on.

But, I think he should switch parties. I don't know what role he could play as a Democrat, I don't think he is evolved enough to be of much use. But, his party is nuts, he knows it. I can see the stress in him that this is causing. I also think he is lying about who he voted for. I can't blame him, but if he is I wish he wouldn't do that. I am glad he put politics aside to serve his people. Now if he could just evolve to stop being a union busting thug we can talk.

[doc03]

29. I kind of like the guy he says what he thinks although

I rarely agree with him. Being from New Jersey with all the mob influence we hear about I wonder if he has any skeletons in his closet.

[MrSlayer]

30. No, he's still a union busting toadie of the 1%.

Just because he isn't as insane as West or Bachmann doesn't mean he's any less of an asshole.

If he can make it past a primary he's dangerous in a Presidential run.

[mzteaze]

31. I have a bit more respect for him

BUT this is a qualified respect since he and his policies have sucked with regards to unions and the mishandling of other funds around the state.

[2naSalit]

34. I agree with that

He was responsible and did the right thing with regard to his handling of the storm thing. He still has a ways to go to make me think he's national material. I do appreciate and respect his honesty with regard to how he interacted with Obama and bailed out on the R$ campaign circus because he had a big job to do at the time. He would have been skewered by the rest of the planet if he blew it on the responsibilities he needed to address with the storm... in some ways I think he handled his state's issues better than Bloomberg handled his responsibilities before and after the storm. But I wouldn't consider voting for him.

[bestobdii]

33. Spam deleted by gkhouston (MIR Team)

[upi402]

35. a tiny bit

he's a conservative politician. this disease of the soul is intractable.

he did a basic, NORMAL thing and does not deserve a Brownie Button for it.

[polichick]

36. Chris Christie was thinking about Chris Christie...

He never did put politics aside imo.

[MadrasT]

37. Living near Philly

I have seen a lot of Christie over the past few years (NJ is just over the river after all) and I have always rather liked his style. He seems much more real to me than most politicians. This side of him came out more to the world during Sandy.

I don't agree with his politics, but I have always kind of begrudgingly liked him.

I wish he'd defect and go Dem.

There, I said it.

[Jersey Devil]

38. No, but it probably won him re-election

He is a union busting bully and mean spirited. How he handled Sandy didn't change any of that. But everyone I've spoken to here in NJ gives him great credit for how he rose above politics to work with President Obama concerning the storm. He also won some points for speaking sentimentally about his days as a kid at the shore, a side of him no one has seen before.

I think the only Democrat with a remote chance of beating him would be Corey Booker, but would not be surprised at all if Booker passes on the nomination and waits for 2017 or runs for the US Senate (should Lautenburg retire) in 2014.

[One of the 99]

39. I would still never vote for him

but do have a more positive opinion of him.

[JVS]

40. No

[yardwork]

41. Not to the extent of ever supporting him for any political office.

I'm curious about why a person who did the minimally decent thing expected of him in his role of governor is now being lauded as some kind of hero. It says a lot about how pathetic most Republican politicians are that we would praise somebody for simply doing his job.

[WiffenPoof]

42. I Understand Your Point

However, I think people are responding to the fact that he was so willing to praise the President for his outstanding support at every turn. He really didn't have to go as far as he did.

Paige

[Yavin4]

43. Yes, Christie Showed Compassion During the Storm and Receptive of Govt. Help

which means that he has no chance for the nomination of the GOP.

[forestpath]

44. Not a bit.

[PoliticalBiker]

45. Hmmm...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=252240

[SoCalDem]

46. He's the same guy he always was (for better or worse)

Disaster has a way of focusing people's attention to the HERE AND NOW..

He will still be the same person he always was, with one exception. He will never again be able to trash government with the same credibility he once may have had.

I do not think he will ever be "the candidate".

He has regional appeal, and that's about it.

His potential health would always be an impediment too. He's a heart attack waiting to happen...and who knows which doofus with an "R" after their name, would be his "second".

[Ruby the Liberal]

48. It speaks volumes for the level of discourse in this country

when what Christie did is the exception and not the norm.