Chris Christie says the U.S. is turning into "people sitting on a couch waiting for their next government check." Is he right?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Here he goes again. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says the United States is in danger of becoming a nation of "people sitting on a couch waiting for their next government check."
The refreshingly blunt Republican lawmaker says this is the least optimistic period he's ever seen for this country.
He goes on - boy, doesn't he - saying, "It's because government's now telling people, stop dreaming, stop striving, we'll take care of you. We're turning into a paternalistic entitlement society. That will not just bankrupt us financially, it will bankrupt us morally."
Christie says that when Americans stop believing that hard work and integrity will bring them success, they'll turn into a bunch of couch potatoes waiting for the next government handout.
He didn't mention President Obama, but he has previously said lawmakers need to stop tip-toeing around the need to reform entitlement spending. Christie has even called for raising the retirement age for Social Security.
This is why people like Chris Christie, and why a lot of them were disappointed when he decided not to run for president. A brand new poll in New Jersey shows Christie with his highest approval rating yet: 59%.
The man has a point here. Entitlement spending consumes an ever growing portion of the federal budget.
We recently reported in the Cafferty File that nearly half of Americans live in a household that receives government assistance. Another study shows the public's dependence on the federal government jumped 23% during President Obama's first two years in office.
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Which GOP candidate benefits most from Gov. Christie's decision not to run for president?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has shut the door on a 2012 presidential run, saying "now is not my time."
Christie says he won't abandon the commitment he made to his state as governor – you know, unlike a certain half-term dropout governor of Alaska.
Christie put it this way: "New Jersey, whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me."
This also means that whether Republican voters like it or not, they are stuck with the current crop of Republican candidates.
Unless, that is, Sarah Palin decides she'll get in. But it's getting a little late for that. Plus, more than two-thirds of Republicans say they don't want Palin to run for president.
So with Christie out, it looks like Republicans will nominate either Mitt Romney or Rick Perry, who's sinking fast in the polls.
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Romney leading the pack at 25%.
Perry is now tied for second place with businessman Herman Cain at 16%.
For Perry, that's a whopping 13 percentage-point drop in this poll.
The Texas governor's stock has been falling after a shaky debate performance and questions about where he stands on Social Security and immigration.
Cain, on the other hand, has been surging in national polls after his surprise win in the Florida straw poll – and a flurry of media attention.
Ron Paul is the only other candidate receiving double-digit support in this survey, at 11%.
With primary season sneaking up on us, it's time for Republicans to pick their poison.
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should Chris Christie join the Republican race?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has said "no" just about every way imaginable when it comes to a presidential run in 2012.
But with a splintered Republican field and lack of enthusiasm, many GOP donors are hoping that "no" really means "yes."
And this time it might. Former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean tells the National Review that Christie is "very seriously" considering running.
Politico reports that he will decide in about a week.
As Rick Perry seems to be fizzling out, supporters think there's a rare historic opportunity for Christie to jump in.
Here's the thing: Chris Christie is the rare politician who does what he says.
As New Jersey governor, he's made tough budget cuts and taken on teachers unions and other entrenched interests.
Christie is pro-life - but not an ideologue - and he doesn't engage in the more extreme rhetoric of the tea party.
As one top Republican who watched Rick Perry's debate performance put it, Christie "can string a sentence together."
Christie's aides tell the Wall Street Journal that the governor has received a "relentless" stream of calls over the last week urging him to run; but they insist that his answer is still "no."
And there are several reasons Christie might yet decide to sit this one out:
He has no national fundraising apparatus. He's been governor for less than two years - which limits his record.
Christie himself has said he doesn't feel in his heart that he is "ready"... and Politico reports a source close to Christie says the governor doesn't think he's prepared on all the issues and is "leery of learning on the fly."
Here’s my question to you: Should Chris Christie join the Republican race?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Recent Comments