Governor Christie

AN EDITED VERSION OF THIS POST APPEARS IN  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ON NOVEMBER 7, 2013

("With NJ Re-election, Christie Vaults to Front Ranks of G.O.P. for 2016")

It is amazing that in NJ this often bombastic, teacher baiting, anti-minimum wage raising, gay marriage opposing, rail tunnel killing Republican in Democratic waters can be viewed so favorably. It probably speaks to several things:

1. New Jersey is comfortable with a Republican governor (see Christie Todd Whitman from 1994 to 2001 and Tom Kean from 1982 to 1990)

2. The Democratic leadership self destructed, leaving an open path for Christie (see Jim McGreevey, 2002 to 2004 and Jon Corzine, 2006 to 2010)

3. In a landscape where even a hint of sanity is cherished, Christie has achieved almost sainthood for actually thanking the President and the federal government for coming to the aid of those desperately in need in NJ in the aftermath of Sandy.

4. Christie has, despite the animosity between the parties, been able to govern with a Democratic controlled legislature. Maybe it is because the legislature, while holding its nose, is doing the best it can with a difficult boss.

For the moment, Mr. Christie's shortcomings seem to be airbrushed out. In the surreal universe of the national Republican party, his has become the voice of reason. However, in the run up to the presidential election, the warts on Mr. Christie will hopefully be exposed.

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