Chris Christie in 2016

[cb1000rider]

I honestly and firmly believe that if Chris Christie is nominated as the GOP candidate for the 2016 Presidential race, you will see a third party candidate who had formerly been a Republican and he will take the vital heart of the party with him, leaving the old back slapping, cigar smoking go alongs behind.

Jeff B.

Then the Republicans split and the Democrats win... Just sayin'.

[OldCannon]

If the Republicans nominate Christie, I may sit out the 2016 Presidential election for the first time since 1968. I think a lot of good Republicans like me might do the same.

Just FYI: Libertarians fully grasp what the 2nd amendment is about.

Another FYI: Yankee Republicans are nothing at all like true Republicans. We see that again and again.

[Texas_Blaze]

I honestly and firmly believe that if Chris Christie is nominated as the GOP candidate for the 2016 Presidential race, you will see a third party candidate who had formerly been a Republican and he will take the vital heart of the party with him, leaving the old back slapping, cigar smoking go alongs behind.

Jeff B.

Then the Republicans split and the Democrats win... Just sayin'.

tired of hearing that threat.

[mamabearCali]

I honestly and firmly believe that if Chris Christie is nominated as the GOP candidate for the 2016 Presidential race, you will see a third party candidate who had formerly been a Republican and he will take the vital heart of the party with him, leaving the old back slapping, cigar smoking go alongs behind.

Jeff B.

Then the Republicans split and the Democrats win... Just sayin'.

Would rather have that and be able to blame the D's for coercive tyrannical gov't that sticks its nose into everyone's private lives than have that statist label hung around the republicans neck.

[Cedar Park Dad]

If the Republicans nominate Christie, I may sit out the 2016 Presidential election for the first time since 1968. I think a lot of good Republicans like me might do the same.

Just FYI: Libertarians fully grasp what the 2nd amendment is about.

Another FYI: Yankee Republicans are nothing at all like true Republicans. We see that again and again.

This is why Republicans are a minority party and shrinking. As this continues, I expect the Republican Party to define itself into smaller and smaller groups. Pretty soon it will just be Waller County.

As an Independent, I want to see an array of strong vital parties, putting forth good candidates and battling on ideas and management expertise. I find reality the opposite.

[Oldgringo]

I voted for Goldwater in '64 and every GOP contender since including the losers of '08 and 2012. Inasmuch as my latest national votes have been wasted on backward-looking, 1950ish, Pleasantville platforms, I think that I'll waste my next POTUS vote on the 2A loving Libertarian candidate in the next POTUS contest....should I live so long.

[Dragonfighter]

Trying to be an optimist here. Thomas Jefferson warned about the dangers of a two party system, this may be the beginning of the end and as already has been mentioned; a time for multiple viable candidates/parties to rise out of the ashes. But I fear it would have to become worse before it gets better.

[JALLEN]

No need to get too worked up over this. It's a long way up the greasy pole and lots of time to slip back down, or get thrown off the pole entirely.

Think back to former races. It is seldom the sure fire attractive candidate of the moment actually ends up on the ballot years from now.

What's that Will Rogers line, about "Worry being like making payments on a debt that never comes due." Something like that.

Of course, please don't tell me not to worry. It's the only thing I'm good at.

[suthdj]

Trying to be an optimist here. Thomas Jefferson warned about the dangers of a two party system, this may be the beginning of the end and as already has been mentioned; a time for multiple viable candidates/parties to rise out of the ashes. But I fear it would have to become worse before it gets better.

If we are thinking about the same thing I believe it was speech by George Washington when he left the WH.

[MechAg94]

I honestly and firmly believe that if Chris Christie is nominated as the GOP candidate for the 2016 Presidential race, you will see a third party candidate who had formerly been a Republican and he will take the vital heart of the party with him, leaving the old back slapping, cigar smoking go alongs behind.

Jeff B.

Then the Republicans split and the Democrats win... Just sayin'.

If Christie is the nominee, I really doubt the Repubicans win anyway.

There is a big chunk of the Republican party that like smaller govt and lower taxes and they are more often than not ignored. The pro-gun Repub crowd is generally in that camp also. The more "moderate" and elitist the repub candidate it, the more those people will stay home. If that party don't get reorganized or figure it out, they will go the way of the Whig party.

[Excaliber]

Christie is a democrat in all but the letter after his name.

The grassroots reaction to Ted Cruz shows that the nation is sick of demagogues and is starving for competent leadership.

I hope Ted runs in 2016. We'd see an election battle like we haven't seen since Reagan ran.

[Cedar Park Dad]

I honestly and firmly believe that if Chris Christie is nominated as the GOP candidate for the 2016 Presidential race, you will see a third party candidate who had formerly been a Republican and he will take the vital heart of the party with him, leaving the old back slapping, cigar smoking go alongs behind.

Jeff B.

Then the Republicans split and the Democrats win... Just sayin'.

If Christie is the nominee, I really doubt the Repubicans win anyway.

There is a big chunk of the Republican party that like smaller govt and lower taxes and they are more often than not ignored. The pro-gun Repub crowd is generally in that camp also. The more "moderate" and elitist the repub candidate it, the more those people will stay home. If that party don't get reorganized or figure it out, they will go the way of the Whig party.

Independents win elections. The extreme wing of either party does not win elections.

Reagan had a big tent.

[anygunanywhere]

So barry is not a left wing extremist? Sure fooled me.

Anygunanywhere

[Cedar Park Dad]

So barry is not a left wing extremist? Sure fooled me.

Anygunanywhere

When you're hard right, everything is extreme. (And ditto if you're hard left).

Translation: if you think he's hard left you've never experienced the joy of California (or Austin) politicians.

[MechAg94]

I honestly and firmly believe that if Chris Christie is nominated as the GOP candidate for the 2016 Presidential race, you will see a third party candidate who had formerly been a Republican and he will take the vital heart of the party with him, leaving the old back slapping, cigar smoking go alongs behind.

Jeff B.

Then the Republicans split and the Democrats win... Just sayin'.

If Christie is the nominee, I really doubt the Repubicans win anyway.

There is a big chunk of the Republican party that like smaller govt and lower taxes and they are more often than not ignored. The pro-gun Repub crowd is generally in that camp also. The more "moderate" and elitist the repub candidate it, the more those people will stay home. If that party don't get reorganized or figure it out, they will go the way of the Whig party.

Independents win elections. The extreme wing of either party does not win elections.

Reagan had a big tent.

I call bull on that at least in part. Who are independents? They are NOT all moderates who fall in the middle on everything. They are just people who don't like the big Parties for one reason or another. Some are libertarians, some just don't follow politics, some are conservative, and some are liberal. I think many of the self identified "moderates" would not fall in that category if you actually put them through an issue by issue test. I see a great many people on gun forums who are disgusted with the Republican party. I wouldn't say that was representative, but I do think it is a chunk of those independents.

I think a big chunk of the independents and the Repub party respond very well to a small govt, less regulation message. Palin got a big grass roots response when she was named McCain's VP candidate and even after always drew big crowds when she helped local candidates with fund raising.

I guess I would mainly just say that not all Democrats are alike, not all Republicans are alike, and I think independents are even more diverse.