Anonymous wrote:I am a very centrist independent, and 5 years ago I would have listened carefully to him and might well have voted for him. After the last three years, I don't see myself voting for a Republican ever again. Not because I am committed to Democrat viewpoints, but because I think the extreme R's threaten the very foundation of our democracy. I don't care how centrist or reasonable Christie is. He says he is a Republican, which means I can't vote for him.

To build on this, while I might be able to get on board with Christie as President, it's entirely possible that the GOP will retain the house majority and have a Senate majority. Can you imagine what would happen if we had Eric Cantor settign the agenda with a GOP President and Senate? No way.

And let's not forget what happened when we elected the tough-talking wannabe cowboy.

Not mincing words doesn't have to equal jackass. It does for him, though.

He has a really bad tendency to be completely disrespectful. That may be fine in jersey, but it sure as hell is not a quality most would want in someone who deals with leaders and dignitaries from other nations.

I am a very centrist independent, and 5 years ago I would have listened carefully to him and might well have voted for him. After the last three years, I don't see myself voting for a Republican ever again. Not because I am committed to Democrat viewpoints, but because I think the extreme R's threaten the very foundation of our democracy. I don't care how centrist or reasonable Christie is. He says he is a Republican, which means I can't vote for him.

Anonymous wrote:As a very strong conservative, I like him - He is honest. He doesn't mince words. He tells it like it is. I respect that. Our current president could learn a little from him.

I agree, but it's very easy to do that from his current position. It's much harder when your state is facing a lot of internal conflict over issues.

It was not that long ago that he was doing a fair bit of dissembling about the state's failed Race to the Top application. He basically blamed Obama and then it turned out that his office had taken over the application and screwed it up. And you don't have to believe me, believe the people of NJ: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/poll_gov_chris_christie_to_bla.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/chris-christie-race-to-the-top-application

As a very strong conservative, I like him - He is honest. He doesn't mince words. He tells it like it is. I respect that. Our current president could learn a little from him.

Ok, he seems like a likable guy, I agree. But I disagree with his views on the majority of social issues. Does he seem like someone I would enjoy having lunch with, having as a neighbor? Yes. Is he someone that I would vote for? No.

How could he not have lost more weight by now, a year after surgery? A dark suit doesn't flatter me either, but he looked huge in his speech last night. Looks like he has well over 100#s to go. In fact, I didn't notice that he'd lost any weight at all. Agree with others that he's too heavy to be voted president.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i'm not trying to bully him. I'm just pointing out reality - honestly do not see the U.S. electing someone obese as president. Have we had obese presidents in the past? Yes, but that was before TV.

I am glad for his own health that he took this measure to try to lose weight. Kudos to him on that.

Realism doesn't = bullying.

so all your friends are skinny? you pass judgement based on how fat they are?

NP, but look. Chris Christie isn't merely overweight - he's as big, if not bigger than what TWO combined healthy people should weigh. I don't want any of my friends to die from morbid obesity, but having a president of the United States weigh 2x what he ought to, is troubling. This isn't like having someone as POTUS who's 20-30 lbs overweight.

I agree that his weight is a liability. I do like him though.

Anonymous wrote:i'm not trying to bully him. I'm just pointing out reality - honestly do not see the U.S. electing someone obese as president. Have we had obese presidents in the past? Yes, but that was before TV.

I am glad for his own health that he took this measure to try to lose weight. Kudos to him on that.

Realism doesn't = bullying.

so all your friends are skinny? you pass judgement based on how fat they are?

Anonymous wrote:his temper will get him in the end, as well as his rino status.

And I hate to say it, but I don't know that america will elect a fat guy in this modern media age.

We elected a black guy. Anything is possible.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a center-left Democrat, have voted Democrat since I became old enough in the Reagan era, voted for Obama twice and still support him. I think Republicans are extremist, lying, incompetent, corrupt, and concerned only with the interests of the rich and the religious right. They have made a wreck of our country, as hard as they can, every time they've held power in my lifetime.

And I gotta say, I like this guy. I really do. I'm scared of how broad his appeal could be in two years.

I could have written this. Though I have an excuse - I'm from NJ, and there's a little bit of "root for the home team" in me. Who knew?

As for his weight, for some reason I don't think it will be an issue for him, and may be an asset. Let's face it, America is getting fat(ter). People can relate to him. He pulls off the "I'm just like you" schtick because in many ways, he IS just like many people - unlike others in the GOP who have tried and failed to pull it off because it was just an act for them (hello, Mittens), or because they were just idiots (I'm looking at you, Ms. Palin).

Of course, I may be completely wrong about this.

i'm not trying to bully him. I'm just pointing out reality - honestly do not see the U.S. electing someone obese as president. Have we had obese presidents in the past? Yes, but that was before TV.

I am glad for his own health that he took this measure to try to lose weight. Kudos to him on that.

Realism doesn't = bullying.

And here we are in this day and age whne we talk to our kids about accepting everyone and not to bully yet most of the posts on here are about his weight and appearance.

Well done folks well done.