Chris Chrisie for 2012?

[Peikko 1,575]

Over the past year Sarah Palin has established herself as the queen of the Tea Party movement. Her endorsements have helped Tea Party candidates oust established Republicans in races across the country.

But even among the hardcore of tea partygoers it cannot be assumed she reigns supreme. A canvass of delegates to the Tea Party Patriots convention in Richmond over the weekend put her in shock second position for their choice for president in 2012.

More than 1,500 delegates voted out of about 2,300 who attended the two-day event. Palin polled 13.5% of the votes and was pipped to the post by Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, on 14%.

At first glance it seemed an odd choice. Sarah Palin, the darling of the movement, versus a relatively little-known governor who has professed his intention not to run in 2012.

Until you take on board what Christie did last week. On Thursday he cancelled the $8.7bn (£5.5bn) tunnel under the Hudson river, the second rail tunnel that would have linked New Jersey and New York, easing congestion on the lines and taking the steam out of the increasingly clogged up roads.

For progressive economists such as the Nobel prizewinning Paul Krugman, that was a "destructive and incredibly foolish decision on multiple levels". It confirmed, the New York Times columnist wrote, that America has become "a nation whose politicians seem to compete over who can show the least vision, the least concern about the future and the greatest willingness to pander to short-term, narrow-minded selfishness".

For the Tea Party crowd, Christie's surprise act was an heroic blow struck against big government and one of its most egregious manifestations – public transport. Government should leave us alone, is the rallying cry you hear everywhere from the Tea Party followers. Let us get on with our lives, enjoying our freedom and liberty in our private cars as we crawl along in mile-upon-mile of traffic.

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[^_^ 5,021]

I am supportive of his efforts with respect to the teachers unions and other public sector unions. However, his decision to cancel the ARC project (the tunnel) strikes me as short sighted and monumentally stupid. If there are concerns about cost overruns, he could have addressed those with the same pugnaciousness that he has demonstrated in his dealings with the public sector unions. But to simply cancel it and then go on tour in Iowa ... that just stinks. I get the feeling he has "moved on" from New Jersey and is now eyeing the national stage. Too bad, he used to be a pretty good governor. Now that he's going national, he has to appeal to a national constituency that does not understand new jersey and frankly hates the northeast corridor. Maybe he forgot but we elected him, not them.

[Peikko 1,575]

I am supportive of his efforts with respect to the teachers unions and other public sector unions. However, his decision to cancel the ARC project (the tunnel) strikes me as short sighted and monumentally stupid. If there are concerns about cost overruns, he could have addressed those with the same pugnaciousness that he has demonstrated in his dealings with the public sector unions. But to simply cancel it and then go on tour in Iowa ... that just stinks. I get the feeling he has "moved on" from New Jersey and is now eyeing the national stage. Too bad, he used to be a pretty good governor. Now that he's going national, he has to appeal to a national constituency that does not understand new jersey and frankly hates the northeast corridor. Maybe he forgot but we elected him, not them.

That makes total sense - seems to me like politicians have an eye on a different prize than the electorate the whole time, personal ambition first and foremost and yes, it is too bad; a person with integrity would stand a great chance of becoming president even today, but no one seems too willing to give that a go - it seems too risky. I'd still take him over Palin any day of the week however so it is welcome regardless.

[^_^ 5,021]

I'd still take him over Palin any day of the week however so it is welcome regardless.

Agreed. If he runs for the Republican nomination, I'd change my registration to vote for him in the primary. I'd love to see him on the ticket against Obama because in my eyes that would be a real contest. FWIW Christie was saying all the right things about the tunnel up until a few days before he suddenly killed it. I get the impression that unlike most of his peers in that party, he recognizes the unique needs of the northeast and how important public transit is up here. In fact, he grew up in Livingston and most people who live there train into NY every day. So there's no way he doesn't understand. I'd rather see them nominate a guy who gets it but sacrifices his principles for an election than a woman who doesn't get it at all.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'd rather see them nominate a guy who gets it but sacrifices his principles for an election than a woman who doesn't get it at all.

Definitely.

[luckytxn 2,265]

I agreed with his reason for cancelling the project. He saw a huge cost overrun on that Boston boondoggle scale and if I remember right he tried to get a grip on it but there was no gripping it so he canceled it. The Feds did come in and after many talks he is now for it again and the assurances he received. That project is fraught with huge problems and huge kickbacks so I would be glad if it was in my area that someone was going to try to not let it get too deep in overruns.

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

I agreed with his reason for cancelling the project. He saw a huge cost overrun on that Boston boondoggle scale and if I remember right he tried to get a grip on it but there was no gripping it so he canceled it. The Feds did come in and after many talks he is now for it again and the assurances he received. That project is fraught with huge problems and huge kickbacks so I would be glad if it was in my area that someone was going to try to not let it get too deep in overruns.

boondoggle? haha, you are too nice. That was a royal cluster $5*@