Harold MacMillan making his “winds of change” speech that heralded the end of British colonialism. “The President’s been so helpful” may turn out to be another historic moment.
Oh, yes. Sorry. I have been distracted by a couple of delightful days down the beach at St Leonard’s.
In response to many commentators and Wellthisiswhatithink readers who have asked why would prominent Republican Governor of New Jersey Christie be so voluble in his praise of Obama? Just a week after tipping another bucket on Obama, and his star turn at the Republican conference in Florida?
Well, that one’s just too easy – you really think the cheerfully chubby lad wants Romney to win next Tuesday? Nu-uh.
He wants the Republican nomination for himself in four years, which he wouldn’t get if Romney wins this time because Romney would automatically secure re-nomination in 2016.
I’m quite sure he – like much of the Republican establishment – wants Romney to do well enough to set Obama up for another four difficult years – and drag a few Congress and Senate candidates up with him – but not so well that the rather wacky crypto-moderate reborn right winger actually wins. And then it’ll be Cry Havoc and let loose the dogs of war for whoever replaces him on the Democrat ticket in four years. It’s called the long game. (I still have my eye on Hillary Clinton for the Democrats in four years, personally.)
Anyhow, as UK Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe once memorably remarked when Tory Prime Minister Harold McMillan sacked getting on for half his cabinet to revive his flagging electoral fortunes, “Greater love hath no man than he lay down his friends for his life.”
Mitt Romney is looking at falling just short in the race for the White House. He’ll be spitting chips right now at Christie’s very deliberate intervention.
Politics, huh? You gotta love it.
Meanwhile, if Hurricane Sandy comprehensively de-rails the already flagging Romney momentum and means the President garners extra kudos (and votes) for doing his job properly, then I am looking forward to Rush Limbaugh, Mike Huckabee and all the other lunatics on the religious right (including Romney and Ryan themselves) confirming that the Good Lord obviously wanted Obama to get another four years to complete the job he’s started.
They do call it an “Act of God“, you know, fellas …
Related articles you may enjoy
- Why Exactly is Chris Christie Subverting Mitt Romney? (theatlantic.com)
- Why Mitt Romney is no Chris Christie (salon.com)
- Chris Christie Praises Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Response, Scoffs Idea Of Mitt Romney NJ Visit (mediaite.com)
- Chris Christie sparks speculation at political centre of the storm (guardian.co.uk)
- Chris Christie, Democratic hero (salon.com)
- Why Has Christie Embraced Obama? (andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com)
- Chris Christie Will Beg Like a Baby for Big Government to Save New Jersey After Sandy (bungalowbillscw.blogspot.com)
- Conservatives Bash Christie For Cooperating With Obama Post-Sandy (thinkprogress.org)
Well, This Is What I Think 