Psychoanalyzing Christie: Why the love for Obama?
The internets are atwitter today, scratching their collective head to grapple with the fact that a big-name Republican and the biggest-name Democrat HUNG OUT YESTERDAY at the Jersey Shore.
Psychoanalyzing Christie: Why the love for Obama?
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
The internets are atwitter today, scratching their collective head to grapple with the fact that a big-name Republican and the biggest-name Democrat HUNG OUT YESTERDAY at the Jersey Shore.
The most obvious explanation is that New Jersey is in a lot of pain right now, needs a lot of hands and a lot of cash. No one in America has more access to what Christie needs to help his state than Obama. And by all early indications, Obama is helping. He called Christie at midnight on Tuesday, roused him out of bed:
POTUS: Chris, Barack here. What do you need?
GOV: Emergency declaration, stat.
POTUS: Done.
And it was. Two hours later, FEMA called Christie to say it was taken care of. That no-nonsene, cut-through-bureaucracy approach speaks to this governor like nothing else. So Christie has expressed appreciation, over and over again, telling everyone that the president has been a pleasure to deal with.
Those on the ground in Jersey, as we reported today, loved the fact that these two disparate politicians came together to visit them. The top liberal blog in the state, Blue Jersey, wrote Christie a public letter of thanks. One reader named Ellis wrote to me asking: "What's the dirty secret motive here that's going to snuff out this small ember of pride I feel for America?"
Well, Ellis, you may be the least cynical guy around. Just consider the reaction from your fellow Americans.
There's the supposition, here, that Christie has inside information that Romney is going to lose. Or that Christie is just prepping for his 2013 re-election campaign in an Obama-loving New Jersey.
The conservative Daily Caller floats several theories, including: 1) Christie wants to help Romney lose so he can run for president himself in 2016, 2) Christie is pissed he wasn't tapped for VP, and 3) Christie and Romney had a fight.
Meanwhile, conservate commentator Tucker Carlson said Christie simply doesn't like Romney, and he's just being passive-aggressive about it by kissing up to Obama.
Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic surmised that Christie is trying to woo his rock idol, Bruce Springsteen, the staunch Democrat who has famously cold-shouldered him.
If that was the goal, looks like it worked. Last night at a concert in Rochester, NY., Springsteen spoke of the Jersey Shore disaster and then essentially dedicated "My City of Ruins" to Christie, saying: "We'll send this out to all the people working down there: the police officers, the firemen, and also to the governor, who has done such a hard job this past week."
Believe what you will. Or just listen to Stephen Colbert break it down in the way only he can:
Know what man, its good that they can put aside the party stuff and do what's right. Hell, CC might even cross over -- "There's good in him, I know it"---------------GO NAVY!— neon doctor- Perhaps, unlike the over-the-top LOSERS on here, these two are able to put politics aside in order to see that the most that can be done for New Jersey gets done? Politicizing a natural disaster just 3-4 days after it happened is a sign you have failed in life and society. The internet is your life.— jabs69
- I have no love for Christie and usually actively dislike him. But he has been on the frontlines since before this storm started, and it is obvious he cares about the state and wants to get us back on track. The fact that he was willing to work with Obama (and yes, ask for lots of Federal money, unlike some other Republicans) makes me think better of him. I feel like he took leadership during a disaster.— Jen D
Governor Christie had a " Come to Jesus" moment during the storm. Despite all the mean snarky garbage he has said about the president, he, like all Americans, got good government and strong excellent leadership. Unfortunately it took a huge disaster to show him, but now he sees how stupid and dangerous partisan politics can be.- Bradley...you pose the question that most of us want to know. Politicians will be politicians and will suck up to anything that will get them a vote, but what the voters really want to know is how Christie sits on the throne, and more importantly, how does he wipe. lol.— FletcherT
Governor Christie called the first debate...and now he calls the next (two?) election.— Cuddles- — psualum
Any president? Really? So how did Bush handle Katrina? Or have you conveniently forgotten about that massive #uck up. Oh, and you do realize Romney has said on more than one occasion that FEMA should be disbanded and disaster relief should be handed over to the states and the private sector. For the life of me, I wonder if you republicans even listen to the words that come out of your candidate's mouth.— Hemingway - Well folks, this is the bus boy of Clinton vs the Wigger of Bush.— Peter of Manassas
- "Government spending is at its lowest levels since Ike"
Now...as always, THE TRUTH:
The spokesman’s words caught our attention because here at The Fact Checker we try to root out “BS” wherever it occurs.
Carney made his comments while berating reporters for not realizing that “the rate of spending — federal spending — increase is lower under President Obama than all of his predecessors since Dwight Eisenhower, including all of his Republican predecessors.” He cited as his source an article by Rex Nutting, Carney made his comments while berating reporters for not realizing that “the rate of spending — federal spending — increase is lower under President Obama than all of his predecessors since Dwight Eisenhower, including all of his Republican predecessors.” He cited as his source an article by Rex Nutting, But we are talking about the federal budget here. That means lots of numbers — numbers that are easily manipulated. Let’s take a look:
Nutting basically takes much of 2009 out of Obama’s column, saying it was the “the last [year] of George W. Bush’s presidency.” Of course, with the recession crashing down, that’s when federal spending ramped up. The federal fiscal year starts on Oct. 1, so the 2009 fiscal year accounts for about four months of Bush’s presidency and eight of Obama’s.
The correct figure to use is the CBO’s analysis of the president’s 2013 budget, which clocks in at $3.72 trillion.
So this is what we end up with:
2008: $2.98 trillion
2009: $3.27 trillion
2010: $3.46 trillion
2011: $3.60 trillion
2012: $3.65 trillion
2013: $3.72 trillion
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/the-facts-about-the-growth-of-spending-under-obama/2012/05/24/gJQAIJh6nU_blog.html
.
— sarah89 - Did you post in the wrong thread or something?
Is 89 your IQ?— carl and sons - "I don't doubt he did this to position himself for 2016 if Romney doesn't win".
Then if you know so much please explain why Bubba Clinton all of a sudden became a Barry supporter after years of hammering him for his failed policies???....Hint...could it possibly be to garner support for Hillary if Barry doesn't win???!!! Truth does hurt these Libs that's why they ignore it on a daily basis.
"Today's new Republican and Teanderthal parties ARE America's Taliban".
this crazy stuff really even exceeds their daily lies. These folks have put themselves in a haze and statements like this can only come from the jaws of a nutbag Libby who is nothing more than a sharkbeatoff...LOL!!!!— sarah89 - Sarah. You're right, this is the worst outrage EVER. Get mad. Get full of hate. That's it. The president and the governor working together trying to help people. HELP PEOPLE!!! Can you imagine anything so communistic, so evil, so decadent, so deranged? It's enough to make you POP a blood vessel and fall to the floor in convulsions foaming at the mouth..
Please?— carl and sons - "Romney doesn't care about white people." --Kanye West— brentrn
- Christie sealed his demise for national office with now two deal breakers: Morbid Obesity - Slobbering over Obama begging for cash
He lacks the class and situational awareness to tailor 'appropriate'
comments that addresses his concerns for Federal Disaster relief while
not PLAYING TO THE MEDIA DURING AN ELECTION!
— American.Dude61 - How exactly does Chris Christie take a dump?— Bradley85
- becuase christie already knows obama won the election. the results will be released after the "feel good" straw poll next week.— lighterfluid
- becuase christie already knows obama won the election. the results will be released after the "feel good" straw poll next week.— lighterfluid
- becuase christie already knows obama won the election. the results will be released after the "feel good" straw poll next week.— lighterfluid
- becuase christie already knows obama won the election. the results will be released after the "feel good" straw poll next week.— lighterfluid
- It's good news for NJ that Obama is the President. If Romney was President, he would've told Christie and NJ that YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. NO HELP FROM ME.— CommonSense in Philly
- obama is doing what any president would be. Vote Romney for hope and change. enough of the socialist welfare state in this country.— psualum
- Romney would not have helped NJ. — CommonSense in Philly
- Katz is an example of the new left who wants to collect all the taxes from Republicans but doesn't want to do anything for Republicans when they are faced with a disaster. If Katz had his way, Christie would ask for nothing and then Christie would lose the next election because he did nothing to help people. You far left crazies better start toning it down. You're starting to sound worse than al-Qaida.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- I don't like chubby because he acts like a bully, but I don't doubt he did this to position himself for 2016 if Romney doesn't win.— Jasper2020
- Or, New Jersey has just been slammed with one of the worst storms in its history, and these two guys are just doing their jobs. I haven't been a huge fan of Christie, but the fact that he was able to put politics aside for the sake of his state has given me new found respect for the man. The car salesman running for president on the republican ticket could learn something from this.— Hemingway
- Christie is smart to praise Obama. He helps Obama win the election and slyly helps knock out Romney without actually being overtly disloyal. Christie looks Presidential and positions himself to run in 2016. Very very smart.
— DarnelX
Reach him at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattkatz00. Reach Matt at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
