By Chris Freind
An letter to Gov. Chris Christie
Dear Gov. Christie:
By now we’ve heard, ad nauseam, all the “what if’s” regarding your embattled governorship. What if you knew that lanes on the George Washington Bridge were closed for political retribution? What if you covered it up? Most damning, what if you ordered it?
The pundits on both sides, of course, are having a field day predicting your political future as governor and possible presidential candidate. But most of them are agenda-driven and don’t know their heads from their derrieres, so their input is largely irrelevant.
Since much of what will unfold in Bridgegate is out of your hands, the real question isn’t what might happen to you, but what you will do to retake control in order to win back your credibility and rebuild your national image. If you play your cards right, governor, the current slide can be reversed and your second term can meet the same level of success as the first — as you remain a viable national candidate.
Here’s how:
It is imperative that you get back to your roots — immediately. Use your ace-in-the-hole that no other politician in America has, but all envy: being a “regular guy,” aka, just being Chris Christie. Your unique ability to speak directly to the people — articulately, brusquely, and, when needed, right in their faces, be they voters, press or opponents — has met with unparalleled success.
From eschewing the teleprompter and talking off-the-cuff on a wide range of issues in a way that even the most non-political person can understand, to your self-deprecating humor, the “Christie model” is exactly what Americans are seeking. As your last election showed, while many may disagree with you, they support you anyway because they know where you stand. People will choose conviction and passion in their leader any day over spineless, vacillating hacks.
Why mention this? Because too often we see individuals, businesses and sports teams deviate from the game plans that earned them success. Rather than stay the course, many completely change who they are in a misguided attempt to meet a new challenge or survive a crisis. Chris Christie cannot achieve success — and can’t beat this scandal — if he tones down his press conferences, appears more stoic, and keeps quiet until the storm passes. You must be stronger than the storm — or your career will soon be a bridge under troubled waters.
So with all due respect, Guv, go after your critics, hard, right now. Take the fight to them by addressing the accusations head-on.
Who better a spokesman than you to tout the strength and fortitude of New Jerseyans who faced literal hell getting their state back on track? Who is more identifiable with Jersey than the man who spearheaded the reconstruction efforts? And who demonstrates to a nation in desperate want of bipartisanship the true meaning of “working together,” shoving political considerations aside and reaching across the aisle to get things done, helping people and businesses get on their feet again?
Absolutely no one. So don’t run from those things; embrace them.
And, using campaign money, launch a series of ads that not only tout your accomplishments but blast the hacks who, believing you are weakened, are criticizing you and your family for appearing in public service ads that promoted a rebuilt New Jersey after Sandy’s devastating blow. (Just as the entire Gulf region did after the BP oil spill).
Political opportunists are already requesting federal investigations into the public service ads, but, more disconcerting, they are doing so without so much of a whimper from you, governor. Say it ain’t so! Don’t let them get away with it — or we all lose.
The hacks are already trying to derail your second-term agenda by using Bridgegate to marginalize you, despite the overwhelming number of Garden staters who just sent you back to Trenton. It’s time to off take the gloves, as only Chris Christie can, and beat them to a pulp.
Tell them that their tactics will not be tolerated, that you will unequivocally not allow New Jersey to stagnate for the next four years, and that the successes already achieved, but need to be expanded upon, will not rot away because of partisan politics.
Your opponents, Republican and Democrat, are smelling blood, hurling everything they can at you — legitimacy and truth be damned — in the hopes of a knockout. And the pundits say you have to “play nice” to get through this challenge.
So do the opposite. Unleash holy hell and tell them to reap the whirlwind, as Chris Christie isn’t going away. Be the bull in a china shop that we have not just come to expect, but love. By addressing the criticisms, and outright slander, in the way that only you can, you will rekindle support overnight with the only ones who really matter: the people.
I have championed many of your causes (pension reform, fiscal responsibility, strong leadership in the face of seemingly impossible odds) and, as a fair commentator, have also been critical (the helicopter flap, the weight issue, taxpayer money for Seaside Heights businesses, and your handling of the DRPA).
But above all, I, along with millions, respect your aggressiveness and no-nonsense, tell-the-truth approach. Therefore, I implore you, governor, to remain true to who you are and go with what brought you. It’s your only way to avoid being on a bridge to nowhere.
The 2016 election is fast approaching. It would be a great disservice to all Americans if Chris Christie were not among the candidates. Godspeed, governor.
Chris Christie Fight Now
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