E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSWASHINGTON -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Friday urged Washington lawmakers to speak honestly with the American people, warning the public may not like the solutions necessary to fix the country's economic woes, but "they know in their heart they have to accept it."
"Don't tell me the American people aren't ready to hear the truth. They know our government is out of control," Christie said at the CATO Institute's Milton Friedman Awards dinner. "They know our debt and our deficit is out of control. And don't confuse them liking the solution to them accepting it. They don't have to like it, but they know in their heart they have to accept it."
The Garden State governor has found himself in the midst of speculation that he could be a top contender to be chosen as presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney's running mate. Since endorsing Romney in the fall, he has been one of the former Massachusetts governor's top surrogates, and his speech here to the conservative think tank sounded like a politician on the national stage.
Christie said his leadership in New Jersey should be an example for the country, telling the story of how his state is battling back from some of the bleakest of economic times. He used an executive order to overcome the $2.2 billion budget shortfall he faced shortly after taking office in 2010.
The tough talking governor recalled for the crowd his options in overcoming the deficit. "I could sit down and negotiate with the Democratic leadership and the Democratically controlled legislature to try to come to an agreement on these cuts, or, thanks to New Jersey's unique Constitutional structure, cut spending through executive order," he said.
"Now, for those of you who watched me over the past two and a half years, if you believe I chose the former, then it is now time for you to leave. You are note smart enough to be here at the Milton Friedman Dinner."
The popular conservative, who mulled over his own presidential run, is often talked about in vice-presidential speculation because of his ability to excite the party base and record as a cost cutter in his home state. But he also is a lightening rod who could alienating independent voters with his in your face approach to politics.
"The great thing about operating by executive order is, first, that I didn't have to tell anybody," Christie said.
Christie has at times been a polarizing figure in New Jersey, but he maintains his way of doing business is something the federal government can learn from.
"Leaders have an obligation to make those tough choices. In New Jersey that is what we're trying to do. And in the process hopefully set an example for the rest of the country," he said.
"Believe me, if you can do this in New Jersey, you can do it anywhere."
Leave a Comment:
What's out of control is the huge number of taxpayer dollars going into the pockets of wealthy corporations as tax credits while middle-class New Jersey taxpayers pay for them with a 20% property tax increase. Like the $250Million tax subsidy Prudential was awarded by the NJ Economic Development Authority. If Gov. Christie wants to run as VP candidate, we need to see if he will continue to support corporate welfare or veto the Prudential tax credit.
Absolutely not....what is out of control is Government spending at all levels. Also, to be included is Government abuses. By the way, Congress controls the purse strings and taxes, not a VP by a long shot even if he is the Senate President. Remember, the senate president does not vote on crap UNLESS there is a tie and that is doubtful in this day and time. Also, a VP does not veto anything.
What is really amazing with all the politcal bashing comments posted here, is that the governors statement "Now, for those of you who watched me over the past two and a half years, if you believe I chose the former, then it is now time for you to leave. You are note smart enough to be here at the Milton Friedman Dinner." has eluded everyone. Who is he to judge if someone is not smart enough to be there? For the most part, obviously if they are at the dinner then they either support him or voted for him, but if they don't agree with him on something then they are stupid, idiots, not smart enough. GTFO !!!!
Unbelievable....all the politcal bashing on here and ya a$$hats didn't even notice that. Why would a govenor call his citizens "not smart enough" to be here?? Arrogant bastard......
I feel for the citizens of New Jersey for having an arrogant, biased, insulting and discriminative Govenor.
Oh and MSNBC.... Don't you guys proof read or use spell check anymore ????
I think Cristie's eating habits are out of control. If he does get the nod for VP just his food bill alone will triple our Debt.
What a low class intellect............the truth, my azz.
So, if government is out of control, why is Christie part of it?
Bully, Bully, Bully
The massive market for fear, don't trust yourself, don't trust those others, trust only me, and then your fear will give you strength. Think you can use that strength against our enemy, all of those other people, they, their ideas, their plots to steal your wealth. Do not worry, donate your wealth to me, and assuredly I will multiply that wealth to such a degree that you can retire in peace. (Hear this, if the economy is based on generating wealth by generating interest payments, then if we feed those interest payments back into the system, we have made the perpetual motion machine that has defied the ages, it will produce money. Do not hear those that say we need to employ everyone; you know that their own words say this. Do not hear those that say the products need to be distributed, taken from producers, built from energy and materials and distributed to workers earning enough to be consumers, there is answer here. Consumers so called workers are overhead, they cost money, and how can we earn interest payments if we have unnecessary costs? What can be more unnecessary, than workers, and even the workers know this!
Truth is fear, and what can be more truthful than fear. If no one tells the truth then is because of fear, Will you act if not from fear, truth carries no motive, truth cannot act, but fear can. Control that’s what it's about, government control is about fear, make no mistake. When your elected representative wants action, he does not do it him/her-self, instead a government servant is contacted, fearful of his job, and observant of laws, the government servant bends to the will of the elected politician, the government control is "effected", and the fear of government control is relieved that elected official is in control. Surely this is what we mean as good government; elected control and inept action, this we can always blame on government rather than the manipulative politician. As long as we focus only on government, the evil of government, the created ineptitude of government we are subject to those who understand fear better than government, and the longer they continue to move toward the destruction of the country, as we focus on government, by government, over government we will not focus on enterprise, business, and the real possibility that growth and understanding are more valuable than the distraction of fear. What could possibly be wrong with a deficit problem or a debt problem, it is an unrealistic artificial device that contains no substance, which has been erased again and again. Within working "economic" system, a deficit is convenient means to maneuver an accounting system to remain salient. When the "economic" system is not working, and has no potential to work, for reasons of misunderstanding the "why" of an "economy" and for of reasons such as not understanding the "how" of the "economy", where the "how" is some imagined motive power or where the "how" is factually based on drivers such as "energy". The misinformation being delivered here is that some intuitive "feeling" to "accept" the situation fabricated as it is. This "accept it as it is", is a fallacious palliative argument that needs to be immediately replaced by putting you back in the driver's seat. If you fear so much, conquer your fear first, take charge, change what must be changed and reject the motive force that created the "dark ages.
The world's largest Governor is afraid that he won't get enough food, and has taken that accomplished fear to new weights, naturally fitting into the party of fear, and naturally fitting into the historical model that is the failed Roman Empire. The Roman Empire failed, because it started to believe in fate and not in self-determination, but could look into root causes and say the Roman Empire failed when the Roman Republic failed. The fat Emperor should keep is clothes on thank you.
Christie's leadership has failed to recognize that it is the private sector that must be sustained and grown, wasting time, effort, momentum catering to paranoid fears that are utterly unfounded. How can he sit so idly by, and be so profoundly wrong, and not in the least wave his fork to conjure up fattening the business needed to create, generate and sustain growth. It would truly be like asking a business to grow, when business hasn't a clue of how to grow, the puppy peed on the rug, but it is government that needs to take action when business cannot. This never been another way!
Well, oh my, oh me, does the Governor need his tubes unplugged, those leading to his hearing problem (any doctor would diagnose a hearing problem if you shouted all the time). The legislature au du Republican, has virtually launched itself to the celling in the faux protestation over the very existence of the President, I suppose you could sit down with Democrats, and take advantage of them, but what of Republicans, can the Governor visit the Koch estates for some advice.
How convinced are we all, to compromise and accept unreasoned insults in good cheer, poor dear Governor of Fear, regulate thy-self, cutting off the hands that greet you is unlikely to succeed, than you can imagine. So sir, note this, I cannot be bullied by you, I cannot accept the shrillness of your voice, and I will not be convinced that you have ever had anything say that has every hand anything to do with governance. You, sir are the deranged football coach, shouting orders to empty stadium and the players are all gone. Now you award yourself in the prize of failed economics, how noble.
Popular, to a self-serving, self-believing and wholly unspringing group of supporters, who by themselves, are nothing and will be nothing in your absence, the stadium is empty without you, the stadium is empty with you there.
Oh so democratic, so inclusive of the citizens, follow me the pied piper, says the magic flute leads the way. We don’t need the people at all; they all just accept it, so simple.
Christie has been a gravitational figure, the maelstrom sucking the life and energy from the people, not once making single word of sense.
Indeed, if the citizens are following his lead, they soon will be the welfare state, against which he rails, he mistakes the slope of the Earth that make it look like people leaning toward him, but if the wish to save themselves then will have climb out of the hole he is digging.
Rather than be so long winded why don't you just say Duh.....same thing.
Full Moon if you get that.
Read more comment less, way less, really, really way less.
Duh.....did you get that?
By the way, verbal rhetoric does not mean someone is correct. Comment less by following your own advice.....Duh.
The Article needs the comments
The left is alive and well with moronic posts like yours.
Have you not heard that thyroid problems can lead to overweight......?
Kind of like you popping your mouth off because you don't like what he does......hyprocrit
No, the dems are best at what you accuse the repubs of being.....my proof....look at California and what the dems uncontrolled spending and taxation has done.
Kind of like Obama telling people they HAVE TO HAVE health care or they will pay a fine. Duh....................
The left's favorite words: 'KEEP ME....."
No, you are incorrect in by opinion, ep......check out the Grace Commissions report on government waste and abuse and that was in 1984.
Ever of hear of thyroid problems, fool.
And democrats
Then why the f--- are you reading and listening to him, John?
Did you ever think it might be a throid problem? Probably not, you would rather post crap than find out if there are other reasons.
Spending is what got Great Britain, Spain, Greece, and France where they are just like the dems uncontrolled spending here in California.
AND in Great Britain, socialized medicine contributed greatly to their demise.
How true Wade, and: 1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. 2. What one person receives without working for, another person m …
And it amazes me that the idiots dont realize that uncontrolled spending is what creates the frigging problem in the first place.
You certainly don't speak for the 'REST OF THE COUNTRY'.......yours like mine is nothing more than a personal opinion.
Your post is just BS........Here is my opinion of the problem and it is called government waste and abuse: In 1984 President Reagan charged the Grace Commission with the task of un …
Absolutely not....what is out of control is Government spending at all levels. Also, to be included is Government abuses.
What a low class intellect............the truth, my azz.
Rather than be so long winded why don't you just say Duh.....same thing.
Duh.....did you get that?
By the way, verbal rhetoric does not mean someone is correct. Duh.......
Thyroid. LOL. That and a hundred cheeseburgers. Get real.
The Government is, and has been out of control for years, but that's because our elected idiots spend more time promoting bi-partisan hate than solving our very urgent issues. It needs to stop, but I don't think it will happen without a huge clean out.
Mitt Romney is a Mormon. Why would you trust your life and livelihood to someone who believes a man dug some golden (disappearing) plates out of the ground and started his own religion based on their content. Religious right, do you think this man is a Christian or supports Christian values? What would Jesus say to you supporting a man whose faith promotes racism and only protecting your own (the Mormons). What would Jesus say?
If that is your opinion, then why would anyone trust a man who seems to be muslim but has recently switched to christain values to further his political career and agenda. Duh.....What would Jesus say????????????????????Maybe hypocrite?
I don't know about out of control Government, but I do know that Republicans having a "party" like they never had before. Completely out of control Republican party just past the STOP sign, and speeding up off the cliff.
Oh, yeah, we want to be like New Jersey!
What an idiot. Donuts are out of control. Crissie is the proof.
KFC: Christie is out of control.
False argument. It's CORPORATIONS that have bought the influence of politicians that make laws designed to help corporations that is out of control. He makes it sound like if just cut teachers, firefighters, police, nurses and their pay as well, all would be well. What a JOKE. We don't have EFFECTIVE government and the reason it's not run properly is the money in the system...plain and simple. Not the shouting of anyone on the right about the government or free market or any of the other red herring fallacies....until those items are addressed (term limits for Congress, public financing and no more Citizens United would be the way to start.
So GCCCal, I'm not sure if you're ranting and raving and flapping your right wing about what I wrote BUT IF YOU ARE, then then thanks very much for going back in time and claiming you're remembering the history of how we got here from that misguided perspective---not that I'm believing what you've said but that you've found the intelligence and reasonableness to actually consider how we got here--which is the crux of my earlier response to SNAPPA who really hit the nail square on.
If ranting and raving and bitching and moaning that the smart people in the room want to go back to set the stage, build the foundation and remind that half-wits and dimwits of how we got here to then try to patiently explain what should not need explanation to you is wrong, then your post is exactly along the lines of what the smart people are saying
And by then going back in time to make your point, reminding your followers of your information of how we got here, etc, means, supports and to the extent necessary to get past your narrow minded position that there IS history to consider, then thanks for reminding us of how we got here--the major point of a lot of this discussion.
Now you're free todrink some of your cool-aide and try to grow a few brain cells looking down the road.
I'll leave it to the smart people in this discussion to figure out the thread since it is probably too complex, too realistic and too logical to fit in to your jaded, sick and twisted view of reality.
But thanks for giving us the opportunity to respond to your half-assed but making-our-point comments.
christie is the government; obama is the government; romney is the government. america has the government it elected, so what is the issue?
Sorry, but I have a hard time watching a person that can't control his own eating criticizing anyone else for being out of control. He's living in a glass house. If a person with health problems would have a hard time being elected President, shouldn't the same concern apply to the VP. Did we learn nothing from Chaney?
reading through this string has been pretty interesting. the constant whining about repubs handing $$ to 'big corps' has been nearly amusing...
1. elected repubs and dems both will throw cash and incentives at any substantial corporation that promises JOBS. it's their ticket to re-election
2. we get what we deserve - obama was elected and like so many pols, made wonderful promises and clearly hasn't delivered. his only hope is to stir the class warfare pot.
3. don't like the conservative agenda? the libs crappy performance made it happen. clearly it's time for obama to go. the dems should put up a viable candidate instead of supporting someone who is clearly out of his league.
4. don't like any of this stuff?? get out and vote and turn the rascals out... and keep doing it until they get it.
yes there are big problems but why should 'we the people' be forced to suffer from the mistakes the govt made when none of these 535 nitwits seem willing to make any of the sacrifices that they want us to make
we need leadership in the white house not some rum dumb telling the people how cool he is! right now he is the fear monger i would respect him more if he was honest and not play on people's emotions who are kinda ignorant!
lilbear, because we are the gov't - even though we didn't vote for most of this crap, we get to be the owners of whatever this misguided congress and president do... some austerity on our part is the only way out of this. now we're told taxes will have to go up to fix the deficit - that may be but, i don't want to give these fools any more $$ until they show some responsibility and ability to work together to solve the problem. no budget passed since 2008!! debt ceiling raised every time these losers kick the can down the road!! think the tea party is crazy?? look no further than our own congress and president - what a joke...
it was a rhetorical question, there is no practical answer
i like to point out that the gang of 535 like to say they are in gridlock and as you say no budget in 3 years and kicking the can down the road for the debt ceiling. sure they are in gridlock but they passed the treasonous NDAA overnight and almost unanimously. senate vote was 93 for
but this year we have a unique opportunity 2012 presents us with the chance to sweep out the entire house and 33 senate seats. this will maybe make a step to retake our country.
the nation cries for real change but fears it moreso. the house will not be swept clean and the population will opt to reelect many
lilbear - sadly, i suspect you are right...
Christie is only telling the truth the libs don't want to hear it!
The only entity out of control is the way in which the State of New Jersey is governed by it obsese, idiotic governor.
The fact is the government is out of control. We spend more than we make. And raising taxes on people earning 200,000 dollars a year is not going to do it...closing loopholes on the uber-rich (Like George Stephanopolous, for example) who use those loopholes to not pay taxes...now THAT will do it.
Raising the taxes of one million people from 35% to 60% will only stagnate the economy. Closing loopholes on people who hold BILLIONS will do far far more...
ROFL!!!! This from a man without the discipline to push himself away from the table. Come on. Christie´s State LOST jobs, quite a few of them, and like all Republicans, the programs he cut were all for poor people, while at the same time he is using his State helicopter to fly across town and go to his son´s Little League game. And he really needs to can the tough guy act. He runs around acting like he is seconds from pounding someone and the truth is he would not last 15 seconds in a fight at his size. That is what Republicans are: Windbags. They talk about austerity when they spend gobs more money. They talk about national defense and 90% of them got deferments from Vietnam, or at best hid in the National Guard. Now he is saying we just need to sit back and relax as we bend over: It will only hurt a minute. OMG!!! What ARROGANCE!!!!
Christi is right...Americans are ready to hear the truth, but they sure won't get it from Romney or any other die hard Republican. The Republicans are in denial about the reason the US is in the shape that it is in. I hope the House and Senate goes to Democrats and Obama wins a second term. I think we will see the economy bounce back sooner.
The GOP are always saying they made the tough decision. When the GOP use executive force it had to be done. When are we the people going to not accept ALEC legislature that kills jobs and the american dream. Christie is of the rich for the rich.
Interesting that this man believes he can go out and tout his economic program when his state lost jobs last month (11,000). I feel for the people of NJ. Has anyone ever driven through the state? The one advantage of driving through it is the cheap gas. Frankly, I think I would want to be known for more than that.
I get really tired of republican (closeted and others) pundits who tout this great man, as they pull their kids out of NJ public schools which he has trashed since taking office. However, this is just another indication that your vote has consequences. You all voted this guy in. You believed that by gutting government jobs, services, etc, your economy would "boom"? But boom for who? Certainly not the middle class. Just look at your corporations, their profits and taxation rates and then look at yours.
The answer is clear.
The Republican agenda is clear: they will do anything, say anything to destroy this country.
Dick the ventriloquist and his dummy "George" said: "Deficits don't matter". So NOW they matter? Give me a break.
Obama's the only American in this race. The Republicans are just a bunch of lickspittle corporate lackeys, war profiteers, and insecure white men who can't stand the idea of women having control over their own bodies.
So, vote American! Vote OBAMA in 2012!!!
Oh yeah, is there anybody out there who thinks that this fat pig knows anything about being in control?