Chris Christie, America's Latest, Greatest Acela Republican

People have previously called the breed "Polite Company Conservatives," conservatives who the media "likes" (so long as they're attacking other Republicans).

The Rick Wilson notes we've been down this road before.

The Acela Republican is as comfortable in the green rooms of MSNBC as he is at a green energy conference. The Acela Republican isn't one of those horrible Tea Party yahoos who comes from somewhere other than a big, coastal metropolis. The Acela Republican is softer, smoother, and less confrontational...unless he's taking on his own party.

Then, he's a ferocious scold. “Taking on his own party” is the passport of the Acela Republican to hundreds of stories about how he—and only he—can save the GOP. He talks about bringing people together, working with the other party, getting things done for everyone, regardless of politics...if only his own backward, hick, red-state, cousin-kissing bumpkin party will see the light.

Right now of course, it's Governor Chris Christie. In 2012, it was Jon Huntsman. Most famous of all, of course, was John McCain. They're not entirely new, but in an age of rising conservatism, the Acela Republican is just the kind of candidate America's media class pretend they could almost possibly contemplate thinking of voting for in the general election. The Acela Republican is the one Republican who shares their contempt for the GOP broadly, and modern conservatism specifically.

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You can understand why the Acela Republican is blinded by the adulation and praise. You can see the cycle of addiction to the cheering and the media rewards given to him every time he scolds and chastises the Republican Party and the conservative movement. It will be too late when he understands that the price of the glowing coverage is a slow accretion of betrayal and insult to the very people who are necessary to win the Republican primary.

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Will Chris Christie survive Bridgegate? Most likely. Will he be the Republican nominee? It was unlikely before the bridge scandal.

And last time I checked, the Acela doesn't stop at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Read the whole thing.

Via @benk84.

posted by Ace at 02:18 PM

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