Chris Christie: Libertarians Like Rand Paul Are Kind Of Dangerous, Huh?

Welcome to 2016. It's on.

Mr. Christie had told fellow GOP governors in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday that Mr. Paul is part of a “strain of libertarianism that’s going through parties right now and making big headlines I think is a very dangerous thought.”

Mr. Christie on Thursday also once again found a way to compliment President Obama while slapping at Mr. Paul.

“President Obama has done nothing to change the policies of the Bush administration in the war on terrorism,” he told fellow Republican governors at a meeting.

“And I mean practically nothing,” he said. “And you know why? Cause they work.”

Christie then suggested that Paul sit down with widows and orphans from 9/11 and explain his position to them.

Why should Paul or anyone not thrilled with extensive and illegal surveillance have to explain why the failures of Bill Clinton (noted non-libertarian) invalidates their positions?

This is Christie's MO..make big outrageous charges to put his opponents on the defensive. Honestly, it was a lot more fun when he was using on Democrats. Once he gets beyond his re-election campaign in NJ, where he's working hard to run up the bi-partisan score, he'll turn to his presidential bid.

My prediction: Absent some sort of complete meltdown in NJ in the next 2 years, he'll be the GOP nominee in 2016.

He's going to win "the invisible primary" for money, endorsements and campaign staff.

Don't think so? The GOP big donors are going to love his bi-partisan appeal (who else in the field could win in a state like Jersey? Twice. You want the great white whale of Pennsylvania? Christie is your man.).

I'm not saying that "the establishment" will select him and it's over but on balance, more money and organization is better than less. He'll have the donors from DC to Boston locked up, plus I'm sure his good buddy Mitt Romney will share his list with him.

Voters will pick him because, while he'll piss off some vocal ones, he'll please plenty of others...RINOs will love him for his willingness to scold conservatives, unlike Romney he's unquestionably pro-life, he's run rough shod over Democrats for years in NJ so he's not going to be out done in the "tougher on Democrats" contest than anyone, including Scott Walker (who just doesn't have the big name recognition like Christie), and he's obviously going to appeal to hawks.

While his acceptance of ObamaCare money for Medicaid expansion will annoy conservatives, by 2016 the fight won't be over how to repeal ObamaCare, it will be how to make it workable a bit more conservative. Christie will trot out his pension reforms to check that off.

Yeah, he's on Team Amnesty but again, squishes will love that.

And don't forget he can give the hardcore conservative and I love America speeches as well as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

He'll be the "Not Ted Cruz/Rick Perry/Rand Paul" candidate for the establishment once Rubio is seen to be damaged goods.

Honestly, there's a lot to like about Christie from a Republican point of view (as opposed to a conservative one) and my guess is many conservatives who say they'll never support him will come around.

posted by DrewM. at 11:53 AM

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