New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is riding high this week. But politics is a fickle business, Americans have short memories, and every race is different.
On the latter point, as Sen. Marco Rubio (who was on top just a year ago) told CNN's Dana Bash, "I think we need to understand that some of these races don't apply to future races. Every race is different — it has a different set of factors — but I congratulate (Christie) on his win."
Some will say this is a less-than-gracious congratulations. Maybe. But it's also true.
There is a danger in winning, inasmuch as it fosters hubris and often reinforces the wrong lessons. Ken Cuccinelli, for example, won a series of down-ballot elections despite being outspent and having a penchant for micro-managing. He always won — until he didn't.
When we win, we have a tendency to think it's because we did everything right. In this regard, winning a landslide election can be especially dangerous. Losers may have to re-evaluate things — but not winners. For this reason, winning can ironically reinforce bad habits and make a candidate less likely to engage in introspection, or even be open to constructive criticism.
It must feel good to believe you've finally cracked the code. But this is a trap. As Cuccinelli just learned, what works in a state Senate race may not work in a governor's race. And as Christie may soon learn, what works in a governor's race may not work on a presidential race (just ask Rick Perry).
For Christie right now, the champagne is still flowing, and laudatory notes and calls and columns are still coming in. So if you're Chris Christie, you probably think a couple things are true. You think that through the shear force of your personality, you can make people like you. And you probably believe that you can get away with being confrontational. You might even think this is a selling point.
You think this because — so far — it's held true. So far, Christie's confrontational style has mostly come across as refreshing. (Perhaps we secretly enjoy getting to yell at people vicariously through him?)
But as Scott Galupo points out, other interest groups Christie might encounter on the presidential trail won't make for such easy marks:
Is Chris Christie going to yell at senior citizens about Medicare?
Is he going to yell at beneficiaries of food stamps?
Is he going to yell at families on Medicaid or CHIP?
Is he going to yell at farmers about agribusiness subsidies? [The American Conservative]
The problem isn't just that Christie's style won't always work on the presidential trail. It's that it might backfire ... horribly.
Ah you establishment types should just love Chris--He is the GOPe poster-- boy-Status-Quo after all and big government just with an R after his name and he hates the tea party so you establishment cheerleaders should be all in
Quote: Eglman wrote in post #4conscience pricked?--Just saying he is establishment material
No. When you and you're kind post "you" in a thread you usually run away when the person you addressed calls you on it. So I decided this time to actually ask where your gratuitous reply was aimed.
Zitat So I decided this time to actually ask where your gratuitous reply was aimed.
Answer--YOU
I know. But you tried to run and hide first.
Now that you've made it clear you don't read my posts and have a completely self centered bent towards lying about my views, I'll remember to skip responding to your dishonest snark. Why waste time?, right!
Quote: Eglman wrote in post #2Ah you establishment types should just love Chris--He is the GOPe poster-- boy-Status-Quo after all and big government just with an R after his name and he hates the tea party so you establishment cheerleaders should be all in
How about we wait and see who the Republicans annoint as the GOP nominee before we decide who must be defended?
"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." Thomas Jefferson
"If people can’t trust not only the executive branch but also don’t trust Congress, and don’t trust federal judges, to make sure that we’re abiding by the Constitution with due process and rule of law, then we’re going to have some problems here." - Barack Obama, June 7, 2013
I do not run and hide--my views are straight forward--I do not straddle the fence and pretend something that I am not--I will defend my beliefs when I am wrong then I will admit to it when it am right I do not become an in your face told you so guy--you have straddled the fence and when I point it out it pisses you off
RIGHT'S RIGHT 
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Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:26 am
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We know 
