By Aaron Joseph. This may be a drop early, but I suggest that if Chris Christie is to have a decent shot for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, he should brush up on his Spanish. Not that I am making any three year predictions, yet Jeb Bush speaks a fluent Spanish, his wife is Mexican, and, well, Jeb Bush is far more a diplomatic personality, and entrenched, to say the least, within the Republican party.

Hurricane Sandy was a game changer- in each of our personal lives and in the political course of events for the nation. Many pundits agree that it gave President Obama the unique, sole presidential platform edge in the crucial two weeks before the election, perhaps cementing his victory. We will leave that to history. Yet another game-changer was our Governor Christie’s reaction.

Prior to Hurricane Sandy, Chris Christie was the ‘bully pulpit’ for the Romney campaign, incessantly attacking the President and his party’s platform. The hurricane caused a reversal in political-fortune, providing Governor Christie opportunity for effervescent praise of President Obama’s handling of the hurricane response coming across as ‘Hollywood perfect.’ The Republican governor’s outspoken praise for his erstwhile political foe prompted an ever-quick hurricane response from the campaigning Democratic presidential candidate. New Jersey’s receiving an even quicker than the response of our bigger neighbor to the north, and its Democrat governor.

It begs a question, when Republican Governor Chris Christie campaigned for Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, whose best interests did he really have in mind?

Of course, in response to criticism regarding his seemingly selling out Republican friend Mitt Romney, Christie responded in his bulldog way that the Sandy natural disaster is far above politics. Brilliant. Christie scored even more points than the President scored in offering his helping hand. Christie was coming across as selfless, after all, he wasn’t in the middle of a personal reelection campaign and had nothing to immediately gain; reinforcing this all the while by- well, willingly selling out Romney. Governor Christie was also able to promote complete bipartisanship on the highest levels.

Don’t get me wrong, Governor Christie proves to be the ‘Giuliani Figure’ you want in charge during a crises. I personally believe he did a brilliant hands-on job in Sandy’s aftermath. Then again, others in his situation may have done so, without selling out friendships. Here is an argument though.

Governor Christie is a brilliant mind, both legally and politically. He knows just how to attack his critics and this proves to be his best defense. Question the Governor if he “sold out Mitt Romney,” and get ready to be scathed by a withering reply questioning your own morality. Selling out friends, or calling exhausted governmental officials after 11:20pm, is also a question of morality, and of respectability, and of leadership. These all a key for a successful presidential candidate.

The Governor knows that in order to level the presidential playing field in 2016, he must do a super fantastic job during his first term, and be reelected by a domineering number to a second term, all the while maintaining record popularity numbers. Electability is the bottom line. Granted this is what politics is all about. The question arises, to what degree does a politician manipulate his constituent’s opinions to get what he wants?

After a very long, very hard fought political fight in Washington, which consumed all of Congress’s holiday vacation time, Fiscal Cliff compromises where finally eked out after many hours of exhausting negotiation. I appreciate it, and hope we all do.

Unlike the president, congress did not fly out to Hawaii with their families. I am not discussing the merits of vacation time for congress, but rather the current mood. After all, congressional representatives are human too. Therefore, it is no shock that after such a huge partisan congressional feud, Speaker of the House Boehner would push off immediate upcoming votes- even as important as Sandy aid; especially since a new congress was actually being sworn in to office within a few days, and the deal was already worked out and the votes needed are there.

I actually agreed with Speaker Boehner’s decision to push off the voting. Everybody should have a chance to breath, and the vote can happen when one-and-all is well rested; this, signs of a healthy, thought out congressional leader. No one is dying, and the Sandy Relief Bill would come through.

Governor Christie’s reaction to the delayed vote however gave me reason to pause.

Of course, everybody wants his or her fair share of Government money. Governor Christie campaigned hard for it in Washington during November and wants to see it happen already, I understand that. I also understand that Governor Christie is up for reelection next year, a reelection that requires an extra stellar performance if he is to have a fair shot at the 2016 presidential nomination. Remember, Jeb Bush speaks better Spanish. The quicker the Governor has his money, the quicker his reelection base starts to develop; I understand that too- each dollar is another vote- simple.

I can just envision the Governor’s response to that, in his trademark, fierce outspoken way: “This is about New Jersey. Simple. And to go-ahead and say this has anything to do with me is crazy, and the fellow should have his head examined. This is not about politics- that’s nuts.” Etc… Or something to that effect. I would not be surprised if the Governor would just use that statement. Be this all as it may, it is politics, and while yes it is about New Jersey, it is also very much about Chris Christie and his political ambitions.

Governor Christie compared Speaker Boehner’s lack of action to some chess game where we, the citizens are mere pawns of the political system. Governor Christie said in an interview today that he had called Speaker Boehner four times after 11:20pm, and the Speaker did not take his calls. The governor also stated that he did not receive and adequate response. Mr. Governor, I believe that Speaker of the House Boehner’s silence, is the most esteemed response you deserve.

I for one if truth were told would not take a phone call from the governor after 11:20pm, and would be very annoyed if he continued calling, especially if CNN isn’t broadcasting a meltdown in Trenton. Besides, after the exhausting past few days that the Speaker of the House had had, he in all probability did not have CNN on, and was probably soaking in a tub with a tonic. The Speaker’s job is a big one. You try managing a voting organization with 434 other members- and one crank Governor calling you after 11:20pm at night. This to me made our dear Governor Christie seem a bit like Democrat presidential candidate Howard Dean after he lost the 2004 Iowa caucus, or somewhat like a more adept Newt Gingrich, but not very presidential.

In truth, Governor Christie should call Speaker of the House Boehner at a normal time and apologize for his behavior. A Presidential contender needs to know how to be diplomatic as well.

So, the political world continues to spin, Governor Christie continues his quest for an amazing reelection campaign, and I wish him all the best. Naturally I like you will continue to keep an ever-watchful eye on Mr. Christie; afterall he did label both you and I as political pawns. I don’t want to be a politician’s pawn, not by politicians in Washington, (which by the way I don’t feel like, regardless of when they vote on the Sandy Relief Bill,) and not by Governor Christie, which I now do begin to feel like.

Oh, I just realized, could Speaker of the House Boehner be on the short Republican list of 2016 presidential contenders along with Jeb Bush? Absolutely- and he does a fantastic job as Speaker- without carrying out political theater or calling other tired government officials after 11:20pm to make a point; at least not that I know of. Wow, Governor, your tirade against the Speaker of the House just sparked a whole another idea, too bad the article is complete.

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