Michelle Cottle is a former political reporter and current member of The New York Times editorial board who has written a nearly perfect analysis of the languid and sleepy MAGA/GOP primary. Her column is brilliant, dead-on and laugh out loud funny. It begins with this gem:
I would never entertain a Christie presidency, but would love to see him wipe the floor with the orange traitor. Then, we could get rid of Christie, too. (the stench of all that ass-kissing lingers)
Steve, I’m sympathetic to the idea of pulling in an ass-kicker to kick Trump’s ass. But beware of what you ask for. Remember the short story, “The Monkey’s Paw”? I don’t doubt that Christie could whomp Trump (unless of course Trump knows things about Christie that Christie does not want known), but Christie strikes me as the sort of man who might relish the taste of blood and get off on the cheers of the mob egging him on to more brutal heights. Perhaps I’m wrong in my reading of him, but I’d prefer someone with a little less corruption in his political veins. I suspect you and Michelle Cottle are thinking, “Best to fight fire with fire and corruption with corruption. But I’m a Lincolnian and a Rooseveltian-- I want a fighter who can stomp on devils both known and unknown while appealing to our better angels. I want someone who can challenge the greedy and the corrupt and the brutal. I want someone who can do this AND also reassure us that our own fears pose greater dangers to our civic well-being than phantasmagoric boogey-men like communists and fascists and Blacks and Jews and immigrants amd homosexuals. I want someone who doesn’t think he (or she) is necessararily the best choice but genuinely wants to be better and to save this country from itself. I want someone with a spine of steel and a heart of compassion. A sledgehammer to shatter the shivs (both domestic and foreign) and the milk of human kindness to console the grieving and the dispossessed of all races and religions.
I'll say it: I don't want a Chris Christie presidency. But I would accept the possibility of a Chris Christie presidency if it comes about because of the existential threat that is Trump's candidacy being obliterated and MAGAfascism being smashed into dust.
Very astute observations made by Michelle Cottle and Steve this morning; but, don't over-think it. It's clear to me that neither Michelle or Steve are suggesting that Christie would beat Trump and then win the general. Taken that as a given, what's left IMHO is a simple, two-step scenario that has a very real possibility/probability of taking place.
Step 1: Christie beats Trump in the primary as already stated.
Step 2: Biden beats Christie in the general for all/many obvious reasons.
I'm not a betting man; but, I'd be willing to place a small bet (a six pack of beer or a bottle of wine) that this is a VERY REAL scenario. I'm hoping it plays out this way too! ;-)
Sorry, but this is wishful thinking/fantasy. While it would be “fun” to watch this death cage matchup, the MAGAverse has one and only one god and that is Trump. And the MAGAverse is the GOP base. It’s a cult. The only person who could displace Trump is the one he personally designates as his heir and successor, no one else. Because his cult will accept no one else. They trust no one else but Trump.
Christie ran in 16 and got nowhere. There is no savior who can set the GOP right; short of deprogramming millions, the only hope we have is to thoroughly defeat them and get large enough majorities in Congress to pass the laws we need to strengthen our democracy and prevent these authoritarians from taking a sledgehammer to it. Sadly, the MAGAverse isn’t going away anytime soon and they will not abandon their god.
Funny thing. Just before I read today's THE WARNING I emailed a friend and told him that of all the pols running for the republican ticket only Christie has a chance because only he has the balls to kick ass and that I was pretty sure he could destroy Trump. I don't think he would make a great president and would not beat Joe. So, from my perspective, go Christie go! The rest of the field are no more than copies of Trump or lemmings heading for that cliff. One more thing, if Trump refuses to debate, Christie will just do it to him on Fox. Repeatedly.
Yah, regretfully you are right. Us never trumpers would love to see him bloodied, having to get hauled off my the medics. How sad we have become. Now we want MMA as our governing selection process. Nothing like a good cage fight to get our blood up. However, we are looking for a political leader, one who can and will reach across the isle, much like our current gentle leader. A leader who steps back and smiles whenever his mug opponent takes a swing and then smiles wider as the punches never land and the mug is breathless and defeated. Unfortunately, the judges/voters might not see the unbloodied smiler as sufficient for their lust..... such can be our sorry state. I hope I am wrong
Steve, thanks and I agree. I hope he takes up the challenge and I do think he is capable of brawling, and I would love to see it. Trump is a chicken shit bully and if really confronted will wilt, it's the reason he cuddles up to strong men, he admires them because he knows he is weak. All the rest of the challengers are week as shit too and have no business of running unless they can confront the orange menace, but instead they dance around him like he doesn't exist.
Jun 1, 2023·edited Jun 1, 2023Liked by Steve Schmidt
I appreciate the way you bust our chops....My dad, born in Hoboken and raised in Jersey City, was the most fearless man I have ever known. An Army private and merchant marine, he met my mom in Yokohama in 1946. They were both 18. His parents hit Ellis Island from East Brandenburg/Berlin in the nineteen teens. I was born and grew up in California, but always had one foot in Jersey. Bravo again, Steve. You are dead on....Yes, even being a mushy, soft, wishy-washy, tree-hugging and female Californian, I know what shiv is.
I would never entertain a Christie presidency, but would love to see him wipe the floor with the orange traitor. Then, we could get rid of Christie, too. (the stench of all that ass-kissing lingers)
I didn't know anyone didn't know what a shiv is.
Steve, I’m sympathetic to the idea of pulling in an ass-kicker to kick Trump’s ass. But beware of what you ask for. Remember the short story, “The Monkey’s Paw”? I don’t doubt that Christie could whomp Trump (unless of course Trump knows things about Christie that Christie does not want known), but Christie strikes me as the sort of man who might relish the taste of blood and get off on the cheers of the mob egging him on to more brutal heights. Perhaps I’m wrong in my reading of him, but I’d prefer someone with a little less corruption in his political veins. I suspect you and Michelle Cottle are thinking, “Best to fight fire with fire and corruption with corruption. But I’m a Lincolnian and a Rooseveltian-- I want a fighter who can stomp on devils both known and unknown while appealing to our better angels. I want someone who can challenge the greedy and the corrupt and the brutal. I want someone who can do this AND also reassure us that our own fears pose greater dangers to our civic well-being than phantasmagoric boogey-men like communists and fascists and Blacks and Jews and immigrants amd homosexuals. I want someone who doesn’t think he (or she) is necessararily the best choice but genuinely wants to be better and to save this country from itself. I want someone with a spine of steel and a heart of compassion. A sledgehammer to shatter the shivs (both domestic and foreign) and the milk of human kindness to console the grieving and the dispossessed of all races and religions.
I'll say it: I don't want a Chris Christie presidency. But I would accept the possibility of a Chris Christie presidency if it comes about because of the existential threat that is Trump's candidacy being obliterated and MAGAfascism being smashed into dust.
Very astute observations made by Michelle Cottle and Steve this morning; but, don't over-think it. It's clear to me that neither Michelle or Steve are suggesting that Christie would beat Trump and then win the general. Taken that as a given, what's left IMHO is a simple, two-step scenario that has a very real possibility/probability of taking place.
Step 1: Christie beats Trump in the primary as already stated.
Step 2: Biden beats Christie in the general for all/many obvious reasons.
I'm not a betting man; but, I'd be willing to place a small bet (a six pack of beer or a bottle of wine) that this is a VERY REAL scenario. I'm hoping it plays out this way too! ;-)
"If you come at the king, you best not miss." Best use of a quote from The Wire!
Here’s hoping -- and that DeSantis gets cut up a bit too by NJ Brawler for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong guy.
Sorry, but this is wishful thinking/fantasy. While it would be “fun” to watch this death cage matchup, the MAGAverse has one and only one god and that is Trump. And the MAGAverse is the GOP base. It’s a cult. The only person who could displace Trump is the one he personally designates as his heir and successor, no one else. Because his cult will accept no one else. They trust no one else but Trump.
Christie ran in 16 and got nowhere. There is no savior who can set the GOP right; short of deprogramming millions, the only hope we have is to thoroughly defeat them and get large enough majorities in Congress to pass the laws we need to strengthen our democracy and prevent these authoritarians from taking a sledgehammer to it. Sadly, the MAGAverse isn’t going away anytime soon and they will not abandon their god.
For this cage match I would buy popcorn for the neighbors.
But, as my dear husband asked, if Christie knew he was a schmuck, why didn’t he call him out in 2016.?
I love this, Steve. Love it.
Funny thing. Just before I read today's THE WARNING I emailed a friend and told him that of all the pols running for the republican ticket only Christie has a chance because only he has the balls to kick ass and that I was pretty sure he could destroy Trump. I don't think he would make a great president and would not beat Joe. So, from my perspective, go Christie go! The rest of the field are no more than copies of Trump or lemmings heading for that cliff. One more thing, if Trump refuses to debate, Christie will just do it to him on Fox. Repeatedly.
Yah, regretfully you are right. Us never trumpers would love to see him bloodied, having to get hauled off my the medics. How sad we have become. Now we want MMA as our governing selection process. Nothing like a good cage fight to get our blood up. However, we are looking for a political leader, one who can and will reach across the isle, much like our current gentle leader. A leader who steps back and smiles whenever his mug opponent takes a swing and then smiles wider as the punches never land and the mug is breathless and defeated. Unfortunately, the judges/voters might not see the unbloodied smiler as sufficient for their lust..... such can be our sorry state. I hope I am wrong
Steve, thanks and I agree. I hope he takes up the challenge and I do think he is capable of brawling, and I would love to see it. Trump is a chicken shit bully and if really confronted will wilt, it's the reason he cuddles up to strong men, he admires them because he knows he is weak. All the rest of the challengers are week as shit too and have no business of running unless they can confront the orange menace, but instead they dance around him like he doesn't exist.
Jump in Chris and land a punch!
I appreciate the way you bust our chops....My dad, born in Hoboken and raised in Jersey City, was the most fearless man I have ever known. An Army private and merchant marine, he met my mom in Yokohama in 1946. They were both 18. His parents hit Ellis Island from East Brandenburg/Berlin in the nineteen teens. I was born and grew up in California, but always had one foot in Jersey. Bravo again, Steve. You are dead on....Yes, even being a mushy, soft, wishy-washy, tree-hugging and female Californian, I know what shiv is.
Just what America's voters need. More "Mad Max" style political discourse aligning with reality show entertainment style politics.
Sarcasm.
Great column! And although I’ve lived in the Midwest for over 50 years, I knew immediately what a shiv is. I’m from Plainfield, New Jersey.
I absolutely loved this column!