New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has declined to make a Shermanesque statement that would flatly rule out the possibility that he would appoint himself to fill the Senate seat of Democrat Senator Bob Menendez. Sen. Menendez is currently under federal trial, facing bribery and corruption charges. Should Menendez be removed from office or resign before Christie’s term ends on January 18, 2018, Christie would have the power to appoint his replacement.
In a recorded interview aired on this today’s Morning Joe, New York Times reporter Nick Confessore said to Christie, “I’m looking for a Shermanesque statement here.”
Replied Christie: “I don’t give Shermanesque statements on anything.”
Christie went on to brag about having an “executive personality.” Later, when asked about his dismal popularity ratings in New Jersey, Christie boasted, “I’ve been the predominant public voice in my state for the last 16 years.”
Note: when Confessore told Christie that “Senator Christie” has a nice ring to it, Christie retorted that “Governor Christie” has a better ring. Maybe so, but Christie is term limited, with the election to replace him just two months away. So he won’t be “Governor Christie” for long. What has a better ring to him: “Senator Christie” or “Out-of-office Christie?”
Note segundo: on the subject of his poor approval ratings, Christie said that “of course” it bothers him. But he added, “do I care? No.” What sense does that make? If something bothers you, doesn’t that by definition mean you care?
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Some speculation about the governor’s own political future.NICK CONFESSORE: So Governor, I have to ask you. There’s a chance, perhaps an outside chance, of a vacancy in the US Senate. If Senator Menendez is convicted. And I’m curious. You said I don’t see it happening that you would possibly be the replacement yourself. So, I’m looking for a Shermanesque statement here. Is it even within the realm of possibility that you would appoint yourself?CHRIS CHRISTIE: I don’t give Shermanesque statements on anything.CONFESSORE: So it’s possible.CHRISTIE: Listen, you can say whatever you like. I’ve said pretty clearly a number of times over the years that there are executive personalities and there are legislative personalities. And I think I’m an executive personality. I don’t know being one of a hundred down there, whether I’d be invited to lunch all the time.CONFESSORE: “Senator Christie” has a nice ring.CHRISTIE: Listen, “Governor Christie” has a better ring to it to me. Listen, we’ll see what happens in this trial. We don’t know if there’s even going to be a vacancy and if there is, whether I’ll still be governor to replace it. What I’ll guarantee the people of New Jersey is, I’ll do the same thing I did when Senator Lautenberg unfortunately passed away and I had to make a choice then. I’ll pick the person I think is best to represent New Jersey’s interests in the US Senate.. . .CHRISTIE: Does it bother me? Of course it does. Nobody likes to have low approval ratings. So of course it bothers me. Do I care? No. Because I know that I’ve done the very best job that I can and I know that I’ve made a huge positive for the people of my state. I also know, Joe, that I’ve been the predominant public voice in my state for the last 16 years.
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