Just in case Chris Christie decides this week to join the Republican circus and get the usual instant promotion to ring-master, Democrats have already begun getting their hunting gear prepared. All that’s needed now is confirmation that Christie is running…lol, and the hope that Rick Perry provides his inappropriately named hunting grounds in Texas.
On the Sunday talk shows, Maryland governor Martin O’Malley and Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick were taking some pot shots at Chris Christie just to start the ball rolling.
Maryland Gov. and DGA Chairman Martin O’Malley on “Face the Nation;”
I think at the end of the day what this race is going to come down to is effectiveness. When it comes to being effective at creating jobs, improving schools, and expanding opportunity, his record in New Jersey has not been a record of governing for effectiveness. His bond rating has been downgraded by two of the bond rating agencies, his unemployment in New Jersey is one of the higher unemployment rates in the country at 9.4%. Last year, New Jersey created no new jobs and his schools, because of the choices he’s made to cut education funding, have actually been declining in their national ranking.
So that’s not a record of leadership and governance and effectiveness. So whatever the entertainment value is, it’s not effective governing.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick on “Meet The Press;”
Look, you know, he’s been governor for, what is it, a year and a half, two years? … I think unemployment in New Jersey is higher even than, than the national average. It’s some unfinished work in New Jersey in order to have proof points for the case he wants to make. I think the point is that the president is not leaving the outcome of this election up to pundits, pollsters, or some view of what the current or future field will be in the Republican Party. It’s about getting out and appealing to people where they live, where they are, where they feel, and making sure that they understand he’s trying to do what he can to help them out.