![]("http://images.nymag.com/nymag/letters/comments101206_sprd_198.jpg") |
| (Christie: "The Answer is No!" From nymag.com) |
Chris Christie commanded a lot of respect with conservative activists during
the first years of his first term in office. He was Presidential material, and
certainly presented better leadership than my governor, Jerry Brown. I even wrote
about his compelling leadership skills early on: “He talks tough,
walks gruff, and gets stuff done. I wish he were my governor”.
Corzine regime in New Jersey deserves a second look, and Christie did just that
in 2009, even while former financier, Senator, finally illiberal Democratic Governor Corzine mocked
Christie's weight within weeks of the election.
some of the executive errors, but the legislature remained Democratic. That was
the beginning of the problems for the new Republican governor, whom local
press claimed was too moderate. To his credit, a conservative, no matter how
principled, can only accomplish so much on his own. However, New Jersey
executives do command a greater deal of power and influence than other
governors, particularly the rest of the Northeast/New England delegation.
outset, Christie was not about to be bullied, and he had no problem
throwing his weight around(figuratively speaking). He stood up to unions, he
blocked wasteful projects. He had the courage to shame those teachers unions
when the leadership called for his death. He did not run away from
confrontation, even posting front page headlines of himself, a figurative
Christie, standing firm with his feet on the ground: "The Answer is
No!"
|
|
Yet with his
presidential potential on the rise, his pride in his own abilities took greater
stride. He hugged President Obama, attacked fellow Republicans. He pushed
gun-control, despite common sense, legal precedent, and moral necessity. Sean
Hannity warned him, but Christie didn’t listen.
In contrast to Christie,
Walker stood up, stood firm, and stood his ground on his principles, despite
the Democratic legacies of the Dairy State.
sector unions, and refused to budge. He won his second statewide election the
only Governor to survive such a recall, running on his reforms. Even his
two-time Democratic challenger Tom Barrett could not assail Walker for his Act
10 reforms.
On gun rights, Walker
signed off on the Castle doctrine, allowing homeowners to protect their homes,
and their property, with firearms – and deadly force – if necessary.
banned gay conversion therapy for minors, which alarmed family activists,
concerned that youth could be abused and yet not seek help from caring
professionals.
Christie
campaigned against in-state tuition for illegal aliens in 2009.
In 2013, he pandered and signed off on the legislation,
arguing that since "we are paying for their education already", so
American taxpayers might as well continue doing so. His decision was
purely political, with no moral or even legal meaning. Scott Walker repealed
in-state tuition for illegal aliens, and he stood his ground on this issue.
Unlike Christie,
Walker has been a team player, fighting for working families and his party, as
well as the country. When a special election opened up following the death of
US Senator Frank Lautenberg, Christie solidified his reelection bid, at greater
cost to his state and his party, scheduling the election one month after the
2013 general election: selfish all the way.
Christie's "I syndrome", look no further than his speech at the 2015
Iowa Freedom Summit. He discussed his accomplishments, in
generalities, but still spoke about “Me, Myself, and I.”
Governor Christie is pro-life, and stayed pro-life. He vetoed funding for the
Orwellian Planned Parenthood five times, in spite of a Democratic legislature
which pushed a liberal agenda in spite of the best interests of New Jersey
residents.
and has gone further than many elected leaders, who have pushed for expanding
options outside of student zipcodes. Christie supports vouchers for private
school enrollment, and campaigned on this issue in predominantly black and Hispanic
neighborhoods.
Planned Parenthood, in spite of the liberal tinge of his state. Walker worked
with his Republican party to bring up their numbers in Madison, as well, while
Christie's personal popularity never transformed Trenton's political
legacy. Walker expanded school choice
Walker opposed collective bargaining for public sector unions, while Christie
openly supported allowing those unions to bargain, even though he had
recognized that their collective power is bankrupting the Garden State. Walker
signed off on right-to-work. He rejected the Obamacare Medicaid expansion,
while Christie at first rejected then accepted “the fool’s bet”. Walker has
stayed away from partisan GOP infighting, while Christie has not only battled
with House Republicans, but even presidential contenders like US Senator Rand
Paul.
scandals. Christie played nice with the media and lost
(i.e. Bridge-gate). Walker has been the subject of false smears, yet
has won time and again.
weight, but also a lot of credibility. Aside from some fiscal and labor
reforms, there is very little about Christie to interest the nation’s growing conservative voting constituency,
while Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s appeal grows stronger every day.
![]("http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDxtLqnmKv8/VSxUFSfEhaI/AAAAAAAABC8/O0UkT946yCA/s1600/Walker%2BSmiling.jpg")