Apr. 12 and 19, 2011
New Jersey's Governor, Chris Christie, spoke at the American Enterprise Institute on Feb. 16, 2011, in Washington, D.C. There's a reason people find this non-candidate irresistible. No BS. He's honest. He's blunt. The cliches are applicable here, as old time sportscaster Howard Cosell might say, "He tells it like it is."
The president recently said that America was all about doing the big things. Gov. Christie agrees, but what are the big things? The governor starts by paraphrasing the president, "the big things are high speed rail." Christie looks up and gets a little nervous laughter. "And internet access for some percentage of the population. One million electric cars on the road by some date." Chris Christie pauses a moment, changes his tone, and says, "That is the candy of American politics. Those are not the big things."
Gov. Christie informs the crowd, "Let me guarantee you something, if we don’t fix the real big things, there are going to be no electric cars on the road. There is going to be no high speed internet access, or if there is you’re not going to be able to afford to get on it." It's time for all of us to open our eyes, he's right, the real big things are our economic woes.
I know some of you judge a politician by how much he promises the poor, or how much he loves corrupt labor unions. Maybe you hold onto that old, reactionary, tiresome, and antiquated stereotype that all conservatives are racist and homophobic. Or, perhaps you can just read their mind (sure you can, Jack). Or, their accent bothers you. Perhaps you're jealous because you think Christie's the worst of all sins, rich! Some will make fun of him because he has a hard time with his weight, and his L's. Well, I don't know about you, but this is a guy I can support. No, he doesn't say what each constituency wants to hear, he's about tough love. Gov. Christie genuinely likes everyone - equally - and you can feel it when he speaks. This is a realistic politician who cares about all Americans.
By being careful with spending, Chris Christie's trying to save the pensions of workers in New Jersey, he's not trying to take them away. But, the entitlement state can't go on forever. With more baby-boomers retiring each year and fewer and fewer younger people to pay for them, how can the system sustain itself? It might not be fair, but that's the way it is. So, c'mon, liberal friends, admit it, sometimes fat-cat labor unions and previously coddled workers have to sacrifice, too. At times they have to do the big things, too. Maybe they will. But as we've seen, they'll whine and complain all the way!
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Keywords: Conservatism, Conservative blog, Mark A. Cohen, From The Left to the Right, Governor Chris Christie, Time to Do the Big Things, High Speed Rail, President Obama, New Jersey
Keyword Phrases: "Conservatism”, “Conservative blog”, “Mark A. Cohen”, “From The Left to the Right”, "Governor Chris Christie", "Time to Do the Big Things", "High Speed Rail", "President Obama", "New Jersey"
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