After 50,000 Republican Primary Debates, a whole bunch of GOP primaries, over a billion dollars of ads by both candidates, their parties, super-pacs, 501c4's (I think it's c4), 3 Presidential and 1 Vice Presidential debate, seemingly endless hours of pontificating by MSNBC, Fox News, network news Sunday shows, Daily Shows and Colbert Reports, I assume you've decided for whom you will be voting. Most of the people who are reading this made that decision some time ago I suspect. Some have already voted in states where that is allowed, including Ohio where the Secretary of State did everything he could to prevent it from happening. I have held off commenting for two reasons. First, there has been enough to read and watch without my two cents in the mix, and, second, I've been busy doing stuff as well as reading and watching everything I could. Of course if you're one of my Facebook friends, I have posted a plethora of links. Now it's time to vote. First, let's take a little detour.
Here in New Jersey, we have early in-person voting at every county clerk's office in the state this weekend and tomorrow for the first time. This is one of the after-effects of Sandy. Governor Chris Christie decided that in order to protect the Constitutionally mandated right to vote, the opportunity to vote had to be expanded. Christie, of whom I am not a fan, has demonstrated character in the face of adversity. He is paying for it, but more about that in a bit.
Before the storm, during the storm and every day since the storm, the Governor has been a whirlwind of activity and executive decision making. He warned, cajoled, threatened and browbeat those who live on the barrier islands down the Jersey Shore to leave. He did everything he could to warn the rest of us as well. His performance was not unique in the region. Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg in NewYork, and Governor Malloy of Connecticut were at their best too. But none of them is my Governor, so I'll focus on Christie. One of the realities he faced was that the State of New Jersey could not possibility mobilize enough resources to meet the oncoming need. More had to happen.
Serendipitously, the one elected official who could mobilize the necessary resources saw the need early as well. Before the Sandy hit, President Obama called the Governor and they talked about what was about to happen. The President and the Governor spoke repeatedly about the need and about how the United States government could help. The critical connection between the two governments was handed to Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator, who was given Presidential clearance to wipe away any red tape or other obstacle and make it happen. FEMA was on the ground here when the storm hit.
During the storm, Christie kept up his drumbeat of information and effective use of state government authority to try to help those of us out in the storm. Of course the Governor was out in it too. The President and the Governor were in frequent communication, with each of them working to provide the kind of coordinated response New Jersey needed and would need going forward.
After Sandy blew through, the President and the Governor visited major scenes of destruction around the state together. This was no George W Bush thirty-thousand foot fly-by, they actually worked. They met with victims and continued to make sure our needs were being met. It hasn't been perfect, but it was very good. At each stop, the Governor praised the President for the skill and attentiveness he was showing and the President praised the Governor for his dedication and responsiveness. It was what we needed to see and hear.
Twelve days before all this, Governor Christie, who has been a strong surrogate for Mitt Romney, was slashing the President verbally all over the country. He has been relentless. It's the same line of attack Romney has made but with Christie's unique New Jersey bluntness. What happened? The answer is very simple, Chris Christie is the Governor of New Jersey, and he understands that while politics, particularly at the Presidential level, is a vicious blood sport, an elected leader's prime priority is meeting the needs of the populace. So the Republican Governor and the Democratic President, who understands what the Governor understands, worked together and stood together to provide the resources needed to help the people of New Jersey. We have all benefitted from this increasingly rare display of grown-up behavior. Christie still supports Romney and the President continues to run against what Christie is for. Whether you support them politically or not, you have to be happy to see them working for us.
Not everybody was so happy. As they were appearing together, Fox News and some of Romney's supporters were attacking Chris Christie as a turncoat. Fox demanded that Christie re-pledge his fealty to Romney. In most GOP circles, Christie is being vilified. How did the Governor respond to all the noise? When asked about the kerfuffle at a stop down the Jersey Shore, Christie's response said it all, "There are 2 million people in my state without electricity, do you really think I give a damn about Presidential politics?" No, Governor, the people of New Jersey do not.
As you vote, think about the Governor and the President, and think about all you have seen and heard. Are the candidates for whom you are about to vote seem to be more committed to us or to themselves? Are they more interested in getting the job done or in screwing the other side for political points? Vote carefully as if your life depends on it, because, one day, it may, literally.
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