I wish I could have made it down to Richmond for this, it sounded like an amazing couple of days. According to Hotline, this straw poll was conducted by around 1,500 or so people who were there. Gov. Christie won with roughly 14%, hardly a huge mandate but he did so over some very established names, which leads me to conclude two things.
Tea Party folks really are looking for different politicians. Unlike Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich and even Palin; Christie really has taken on "the establishment" in both deed AND word. He's brusk, in your face, and unashamed to take the fight to the powerful interests . . . something Tea Party voters are looking for.
The Tea Party is about limited government, low taxes, and economic liberty first . . . and social issues second. Gov. Christie maybe a Republican rock star right now, but he's hardly a champion of the Bush-style social issue campaigning. But that fits the mood of conservatives right now.
There is a chance that the Tea Party could genuinely "draft" a presidential candidate and it not be fake. Sarah Palin has alread stuck her toes in these waters, saying she'll run if folks want her too. And while he might be trying to push away from the Tea Party a bit for himself in New Jersey, the way he has acted and governed so far is exactly what the Tea Party is looking for. Some people are mistaking Tea Party with conventional conservatism. The Tea Party doesn't just want to take over and cut taxes, they want to take over and fundementally change the system not simply adapt to it. Christie has gone into New Jersey's deep waters and taken on every entrenched liberal special interests from teachers to government beauracracy. If the Tea Party is successful in taking over the GOP, it will be a candidate like Christie that wins the nomination - someone who doesn't just remold the system, but someone that tears the whole thing down and builds it back up.
Its why more moderate Republicans like Scott Brown and Chris Christie remain popular with the Tea Party - its becuase of the narrative of taking on the establishmnet and taking it down. The media and many Republicans miss this point and that is why tea party-backed candidates have swamped so many establishmnet types.
Scott Brown remains popular with the Tea Party? Because all I hear from the Purity™ Brigade is how much of a "RINO" he allegedly is.
I do love me some Chris Christie though. I'm not sure he's ready to be President and I do not think he actually wants the job. But he's a very attractive candidate. I think it also shows the yearning for another option rather than the tired old '08 retread Mitt-Palin-Huckabee trio.
Posted by: Another Chris | October 10, 2010 at 05:51 AM
Certainly Huckabee and Romney are no longer viable as presidential candidates. Palin may not choose to run, but no one will be president without her support.
Chris is the only person I've read who seems to "get" what the Tea Party is about. Regular, normal, hard working Americans who play by the rules and now demand that the political establishment also play by the rules.
Statists and elitists need not apply. Charlatans and demagogues need not apply. Racebaiters and haters need not apply. Ethnocentric bario and ghetto bosses need not apply. Socialists and income re-distributors need not apply. Single issue Sexual, cultural, and environmental extremists need not apply. Union thugs need not apply.
Well, that about describes the Democrat party. The Tea Party is standing up to that rabble because the Republicans couldn't or wouldn't. Good riddance.
Good job Chris.
Posted by: Woodrow Hardy | October 10, 2010 at 06:27 AM
"woodrow"
what xactly is a sexual extremist?
Posted by: local gop | October 10, 2010 at 09:26 AM
Krystal Ball?
Posted by: VA Blogger | October 10, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Local, I'm sure you're going to xplain it to us.
Posted by: Woodrow Hardy | October 10, 2010 at 04:10 PM
Don't worry Woody. That local yokel is an xpert on everything. I'm sure he'll xplain it. But, like all of his posts, good luck understanding he next rant.
Posted by: Bethany Lewis | October 10, 2010 at 06:20 PM
VABlogger wins the thread ;).
Woodrow, you clearly dislike local gop, which is fine. But you were the one who referenced "Sexual Extremists". I don't think it's being a dick to ask what that means.
Posted by: Another Chris | October 10, 2010 at 07:22 PM
Wow dude. Try using a dickshunairy.
Posted by: Walt Plumber | October 11, 2010 at 07:39 AM
If local gop had been closely following the tea party and tea party darling and Republican Senate nominee from Delaware, Christine O'Donnell he would know what a sexual extremist is. It is anyone who masturbates.
Difficult to believe the tea baggers are practicing O'Donnell's views in that regard. Seeing as how so many of them are such complete jackoffs.
Posted by: Not Christine O'Donnell | October 11, 2010 at 10:35 AM
There you have it folks. The friends of local gop ride to his side.
Posted by: Dave Larsen | October 11, 2010 at 06:57 PM