In his keynote address on the first night of the 2012 Republican National Convention, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie delivered a fiery defense of conservative governance and principles. Notably, though, he barely spoke about Mitt Romney's record or principles; instead, he devoted much of his speech to laying out his own governing philosophy, accomplishments, and personal biography.
"The greatest lesson Mom ever taught me, though, was this one: she told me there would be times in your life when you have to choose between being loved and being respected," said the famously combative governor. "She said to always pick being respected, that love without respect was always fleeting—but that respect could grow into real, lasting love."
In fact, from his opening line on, Christie dedicated a significant portion of his speech to establishing his biographical working class bona fides. Such a speech, highlighting his own attractive qualities as a presidential candidate, could leave him well positioned for a presidential run in 2016 if Mitt Romney loses the general election.
That would also explain by Christie spent so much time highlighting his record as New Jersey governor. "They said it was impossible to touch the third rail of politics," he said at one point. "To take on the public sector unions and to reform a pension and health benefit system that was headed to bankruptcy. [But] with bipartisan leadership we saved taxpayers $132 billion over 30 years and saved retirees their pension."
New Jersey voters "rewarded politicians who led instead of politicians who pandered," he added, presumably including himself among the politicians who led.
Though Christie did praise Romney as someone who "will tell us the hard truths we need to hear," he declined to go on the attack against Barack Obama, as many earlier speakers had done. In fact, he did not mention Obama's name once during the entire speech. "It doesn't matter how we got here," he said instead. "There is enough blame to go around."
On Monday, the New York Post reported that sources had told them Chris Christie turned down an opportunity to be Mitt Romney's running mate because he thought Romney might lose. Last month, he said he would "certainly think about" running in 2016 if Romney was not the incumbent president.
Following Christie's speech, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow called it, "One of the most remarkable acts of political selfishness that I have ever seen."
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Thought that Rachel's comments on Christie's speech were spot-on accurate.
2600 words and 1800 on himself!! He said a little about Romney then went back to himself!!
Chris Christie the blowhard of all time....Tad overweight too...
I'd Hate See What Would Happen If he Extracted his Butt-Plug .... OOoowwwwwwwww ...........
Jabba the 'Hut' is just another teabagger politician thats a legend in his own mind.
Another ignorant post by MD/Mi - GOMER!!! he he he he Hey! Go away goofball... lol.
Are we really surprised Republicans mostly talk about themselves anyway. Nothing new there folks. ME ME ME screw everyone else even the one I'm supposed to be here talking about. Ahhh this is going to be a fun election season.
You know who is worse then Boehner ? It's fat boy Chris Christie! .... Lies about saving Social Security and Medicare! The truth is they want to pay for tax cuts to the rich by reneging on what is owed to our Social Security Trust fund. Shame! Can't stand his lies! We need to fight this thug. He should be driven out of politics. What a monster!
Chris Christie is so full of hot Air. He is a bully weasel. I have absolutely no respect for him. To bad he mentioned his ancestry. There are a lot of Irish and Italians I do have respect for,but he sure is not one. He knows who the selfish ones are. He wants to give them more tax cuts and will steal from teachers, retirees, the middle class, to do so. We have to stop them. Vote him and them out!
Funny none of the speakers say much about Romney.... There isn't any meat there for them to brag about. He has nothing to run on and the Republican agenda would continue Bushes disaster.... A disaster we can't gamble on. Seeing how Romney handled his trip to England for the Olympics sure shows his lack of common sence. Combine this with the republican agenda for dismantling Social Security, Medicare, and the Social safety net to fund tax cuts for the wealthy... Just plain shows me they have no answers and no clue to what they have done or how to fix it.
He is the reason it is so hard for me to move back to New Jersey. I cannot stand Christie never have and never will. His views are so one sided and he cares nothing about the middle class. I am from Trenton the capital of Jersey and he pays the least attention to that city. The mayor's office is full of corruption, the streets are gang filled, and the only positive thing about Trenton is the school system. But for how long will that last.
Laura....now who is being one sided? Chris Christie has taken control of the state's budget and won the battle. If it means being "one sided" to put the state of New Jersey's fiscal house back in order, so be it.
Hah - christie -- Spoke of Respect towards Others ----- Give Me A BREAK ........... Hypocrite - GOMER ............What a DEEEEEEK !!!!!!
christie - What an Arrogant and Pompous SLOB -- Oh And A FULL-Blown LIAR !!!!!
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/new-jersey-ranks-21st-on-websites-best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-list
http://www.oddgods.com/articles/2009/f03a
http://money.cnn.com/interactive/economy/state-unemployment-rates/
So far the RNC is not meeting expectations. Christie did not live up to expectations. Ann was sweet and we know she loves her husband. We are happy for her. Sorry, Mittens is not the man for America. Rick, please, if claims to love America stop with the lies. It is impossible to be sincere if you are lying and will have no credibility with the American people. The speeches are all over the place. They have no central theme.
Boehner was too disrespectful to the president regardless if that is his character. Publicly it makes him look like a clown. The Republican Party are degenerating the highest office in American politics.
This was a convention for the next election eveyone one was promoting theirself.
Learn nothing about Romney only his wife show her love for him, the rest of the speakers did nothing for Romney.
Haven't heard anything about what he is going to do for this county and how he is going to do it.
Glad he has a beautiful family and his wife had a nice speech.
But we need to know what he is goinng to do for the country he needs to help sell hisself,
ann robUS is Also A LIAR - she first stated when she came on stage that she would Not be Political - Yet Approx. every 60 secs - She threw out a Political DIG --- Just another LIAR - as Far as I Can See -- I Was In NO Way Shape or Form Impressed With Her BS ............Typical Narrow minded Elitist/Entitled Attitude -- Soo Out of Touch !!!
She has a lot more class then Obama's ignorant, ugly wife!
Horse hockey. 16 minutes before mentioning R-Money.
It is a very sad day when we spend so much of our precious time for so little compensation. We are, truly, becoming a deepening narcissistic society. Those who are not are preyed upon by political jackals.
MSNBC did one of the most racist thing last night during the RNC convention Ive seen on TV for years
They didnt show not one speech by a minority speaker last night Rep. Artur Davis, a black American; Mia Love, a black candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah; and Texas senatorial hopeful Ted Cruz, a Latino American not one of them was allowed to be herd
Why is that MSNBC do you not think they are worthy enough for your few viewers to hear what they had to say. are you that racist that they don't deserve to be shown on your show. Are you that much of a bigot that the minorities you do have on your channel are there for entertainment because they tell you what you want to hear like a bunch of house
LOL...Love the fake outrage. Now tell the truth, you just passed along another racist e-mail from one of your teabagger 'intellectual' buddies, didn't you....
I saw them on PBS, and I turned them off too!! VOTE DEM 2012!!
I tried to listen objectively but failed to find any meaningful insight which would incline me to vote for the Romney-Ryan ticket. I expected Ann Romney to show her love for her husband and she did this remarkably well for her first major speech. Too much was said against Pres. Obama but nothing about specific actions for the future of our country. Better actions than words!
Rachael, your comments about Christie's speech were on the money. Listening to Morning Joe this morning with their guests, was an attempt to make "a silk purse out of a sow's ear" It was pathetic to see. I will be so glad when msnbc give Obama equal time when he campaigns. I am sick of looking at Romney, and hearing his lies. Obama, of all Presidents this country , has endured the most disrespect of any. He has had a congress that has stopped him in his tracks and then blamed him for the result. The Repubs have become a disgrace to America but the main stream media are to blame that it is allowed to continue.
Chris Christie knows something, that the rest of america do not know, ask him and if he is an honest politician he might tell Americans he knows what romney fate is, i think all of the republicans know too, just ask them, but do not expect an answer.
Of course Tubby knows Mitt is going to lose. His speech was one long audition for 2016. And speaking of losing, Christie better start dropping the pounds if he ever thinks he has a chance to be Prez. People can't trust a guy that doesn't have the self-control to keep in reasonable shape. He reminds me of Ralph Kramden, only without the humor.
The great orator Obama just had his a$$ handed to him by CC. Obama's toast and his supporters know it. That's why he can't raise any money. Not to mention he has no record and no message. Smear, smear and smear again. A very dignified President.
Bye Bye, Barry. Without the taxpayer-funded Air Force One, you driving back to Chicago?
Another ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^RE-REG^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^GOMER
Very articulate. But, again, no wonder. You liberals have nothing to say.
Speak for Yourself -- GOMER ............................he he heeeeeeeeeeeeeee................
We've said pleanty, you morons just can't comprehend it. After all, you're teabaggers.
John - and you're a typically ignorant liberal!
You can call me Ray, you can call me Jay, just don't call me a braindead teabagger.
Rachel: It's like you were reading my mind! Your comments on his speech were right on target!
Well TRFjr,
As the viewers of these liberal news stations (like msnbc) start to wake up, they start realizing that there are people in this world who can think for them selves. When people start to think for them selves, stations like msnbc lose viewers. If they show that people are leaving the Democrat party, such as Arthur Davis, more of their viewers wake up.
Right, except tea bagged republicans never think they just repeat the same tired old Welfare queen lies and other Bull@!$%# that Reagan sold them.
Funny! When people think for them selves, democrats call them"tea bagged republicans" repeating what someone else told them.
But, when people listen only to what msnbc wants them to hear (i.e. last night, msnbc didn't brodcast any of the speaches made by minorities), and then they repeat the talking points fed to them as facts, they are free thinking democrats.
I'll tell you what, if I have to be put into a group, I would rather be part of the group that is trying to keep the country from going bankrupt, than to be part of the group that just wants more handouts. And before you say that I'm full of it, all I'm doing is comparing the "tea baggers" with the "occupiers" (you're the one who brought the "tea baggers" up)
Your teabagger leaders do your thinking for you. All they have to do is mention 'God, Guns and country in their speeches and you believe any BS that comes out of them. Thats what makes you all so gullible.
Well TRFjr,
As the viewers of these liberal news stations (like MSNBC) stat to wake up, they start realizing that there are people in this country who think for them selves. When people start thinking for them selves, stations like MSNBC lose viewers. If they show that people are leaving the Democrat party, such as Arthur Davis, more of their viewers wake up.
Definitely wouldn't be happy with that blowhard's speech if I was Mitt Romney. Can you say self serving?
Ah yes self serving self seeking egotistical jerks, or better known as the GOP, Greedy Old Pervs who are 89% made up of white racists.
He wants to be President in 2016. Do listen to this turd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First it takes a long time for a thought to travel through all that lard. Idiots with nothing to say They can't get out of their own way. Best quote of the night Gov. Lard Ass saying enough is enough for the first time in his life . He is fatter than Limbaugh except in the cranium area
Chris Christie has New Jersey going in the right direction. Fiscal responsibility and accountability. Balancing the budget without raising taxes on anyone.....actually lowering taxes in the process. President Obama had his chance and he blew it.
As it slowly circles down into the cesspool of a GOP controlled state where the GOP dictate to the people what they need instead of being good public servants and doing the will of the people. But thats ok davey we know that being a true tea bagged republican you won't take any responsibility for people like Christie, you will just whine that it isn't your fault you were just following when the @!$%# hits the fan. We have watched you people since 1979 always pointing fingers at others for your dirty deeds.
He must have gotten paid by the word! He didn't mention Romney and seemed to avoid mentioning Willard. And only did until he stuffed is even bigger ego than himself that he did! Attack and tried to make points about how gridlock is the enemy so it looks as if your simple minded to that's all the problem all you need to do is vote for Romney because he a few things done in a democratic controlled state legislature. Between the lines he was pointing the finger at Obama and was saying its Obama's fault. They want to play innocent to the fact that their slampaign is doing just that! And I expect anti Obama attack ads to make point of that.
Gabriel Giffords will be the political prostitute that the Democrats will parade in front of America at their convention. The mileage they get out of her appearnce won't sway too many voters away from the economic catastropohe that is plaguing this country right now.
You are One Sick POS ..........................................
MD you gotta remember what party this one supports. Lost and not found!
Peter Griffin, speaking of paid prostitues, how's Sarah Palin?
Sarah is screwed in the head and Willard has a screw lose.
Absolutely!!
Got to love it.
A bunch of leftwingnuts covering the RNC, kind of like the Wolf telling you how bad the 3 little pigs are.
Udders --- Speaking of PIGS -- hey .........................................
Like shooting fish in a barrel.
You people are so predicable.
This cow has its head stuck in the bung hole of the barrel.
Christie's speech was just awesome. Such a great description of the contrasting philosophies. It wasn't a speech about Romney. It was a speech about ideas, and ideals, about priorities, about HOW to fix what ails us, not about dividing this group from that group from the other group. I thought it was masterful, and so did most every analyst out there other than the MSNBC team. I wonder why that is? I literally was flipping back and forth across every one of the news channels and PBS, getting the tone of the analysis. Everyone, almost without exception, thought Christie's speech was masterful. Only the MSNBC crew hated it. I thought that was hilarious. So indicative of what a pathetic excuse for a network MSNBC and their lot of "analysts" have become.
OH -- Deaf in One Ear And Just Cannot Hear Out of the Other --- Hey ------- GOMER .......................
After 34 years of GOP trickle down failure we get you telling us that by changing the person and not the policy this time trickle down will work. Except it is a policy designed to ensure wealth continues to go to those already wealthy.
Wow what an imagination! I watched CBS and they thought the blow hard just blew his own horn! Beep beep big fat ass coming though! And when he ordered the crowd to stand! Wow future dictator wanna be!
I wonder why they weren't bragging about setting the record for the number of filibusters in the senate including all those jobs bills. Must have been an oversight on their part. Whats wrong Mitch, cat got ya tongue? I'm sure that will be brought up during the debates