By all accounts, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gave a presidential quality speech at the Ronald Reagan Library last night. The Orange County Register‘s Brian Calle reports: “Nearly three weeks ago I visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library when the venue played host for the GOP presidential candidate’s debate featuring eight Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for the presidency. …none of them, with the possible exception of Texas governor Rick Perry, seemed to really capture the minds and sentiments of the attendees. Just a few hours ago though, New Jersey governor Chris Christie addressed a similar crowd (except twice the size of the presidential debate) also at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California but the energy was different—Christie mesmerized the room.”
National Review‘s Daniel Foster was also impressed: “Christie absolutely owned the Reagan library tonight, a point made most clear during the Q& A by the earnest, trembling plea from a woman who begged, on behalf of her “daughter and granddaughter,” that Christie reconsider running for president. ‘I know New Jersey needs you, but I really implore you — this isn’t funny — we can’t wait another four years,’ the woman said. ‘We need you. Your country needs you to run for president.’”
National Review editor Rich Lowry added “I have never seen a crowd so literally desperate for someone to run for president, nor seen such a heartfelt and frank appeal to someone to run as from the woman who got up in the balcony to implore Christie to think about (he didn’t say he wouldn’t).”
But he didn’t say he would either. The reception Christie received in Simi Valley last night shows, yet again, that there is real dissatisfaction with the current options in the Republican field for president. Christie is a great talent with a strong record, but the attention he is getting right now is not about him. If he did say no, and endorse someone else, attention would immediately shift to another unannounced candidate. Maybe back to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, maybe House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, maybe even Sen. Marco Rubio. Perry had a chance to close the deal with that mass of unsatisfied Republican primary voters, and he missed it. Those voters will continue to search for another option until the Iowa caucuses.
Around the Bigs
Associated Press, Consumers spent less, earned less in 2010: According to the Labor Department’s annual survey of consumer behavior, consumers earned less and spent less for a second straight year in 2010.
The Wall Street Journal, Solyndra Said to Have Violated Terms of Its U.S. Loan: Solyndra’s cash flow problems were so bad in December 2010, that the firm actually defaulted on the terms of its loan from the Department of Energy. The Obama administration then restructured the loan to make it easier for Solyndra to stay afloat until the firm ultimately went bankrupt this September.
The Washington Post, Investment in failed solar firm Solyndra raises questions about nonprofit’s purpose: The biggest investor in Solyndra, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, is a non-profit endowed by Democratic fundraiser George Kaiser. But GKFF gave only .2% of its assets to charity in 2002, raising questions about the non-profit status of the Democratically connected group.
The Wall Street Journal, Benefits Tax Hits Businesses Twice: Employers across the U.S. are struggling to pay increased unemployment-insurance taxes as states try to pay off federal loans for their unemployment benefits programs.
The Wall Street Journal, Employers’ Health-Care Premiums Jump 9%: Health insurance premiums rose 9% this year, surpassing $15,000 a year for family coverage, according the the Kaiser Family Foundation’s annual Employers Health Benefits survey.
Politico, Little saved from lower debit fees: Politico reports that while banks will lose an expected $6.6 billion in swipe fees from the Dodd-Frank law, they are gaining them right back in the form of ending free checking and charging more for other bank services.
The Hill, Reid playing for leverage with jobs bill: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is holding President Obama’s jobs bill hostage until he gets a vote on a China currency bill that the administration does not support.
Gallup, Economic Confidence Slid in Past Week, Mirroring U.S. Stocks: According to Gallup, Americans’ confidence in the economy faltered last week and continues to run well below year-ago levels.
Campaign 2012
Ohio: President Obama holds a narrow 2-point lead over Mitt Romney, 44 percent to 42 percent, in Ohio, according to a Quinnipiac University survey released today. The poll also found that Ohians disapprove of Obama’s job as president by a 53 to 42 percent margin.
Pennsylvania: President Obama holds a narrow 2-point lead over Mitt Romney, 45 percent to 43 percent, in Pennsylvania, according to a Quinnipiac University survey released today. The poll also found that Pennsylvanians disapprove of Obama’s job as president by a 54 to 45 percent margin.
Righty Playbook
Cato‘s Dan Mitchell posts a handy flowchart demonstrating the perverse incentives created by double taxation.
Covering House Budget Committee Paul Ryan’s repeal and replace speech in Palo Alto, The Corner‘s Robert Costa reports Ryan said, “We owe the country a referendum election. We owe them a policy alternative.”
The Heritage Foundation
‘s Todd Gaziano identifies five reasons why Obama decided not to delay Obamacare’s rise to the Supreme Court.
Lefty Playbook
Maxed out Obama 2008 donor Ted Leonsis is not happy with Obama’s new class warfare rhetoric: “Someone needs to talk our President down off of this rhetoric about good vs. evil; about two classes and math. Our country was founded on the premise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Is anyone happy right now with all of this? Hit a reset button ASAP.”
According to the latest Daily Kos/SEIU poll 73% of Americans support the non-existent Buffet Rule.
Rick Hasen adds a political reason why Obama chose not to delay a Supreme Court decision on Obamacare: ” If the Court strikes down the law, Obama makes more of an issue of a Court out of control (think FDR) during the 2012 campaign.”
