Today's big regional story is that New Jersey governor Chris Christie, the Harkonnen on the Hudson, has withdrawn New Jersey's appeal to uphold a same-sex marriage ban. Christie had appealed a Mercer county superior court judge's decision to allow same-sex marriages, but decided that he didn't want to continue his opposition to marriage equality when the case reached the New Jersey Supreme Court. His opposition to marriage equality has already cost the state millions of dollars... so much for Republican fiscal responsibility.
At any rate, same-sex marriages began in New Jersey today, with Newark mayor and senator-elect Cory Booker officiating over several marriages in the midnight hour. Congratulations to all of the couples who have finally been able to wed. It's a great day for New Jerseyites. Maybe now, my friend and co-worker **REDACTED**, who is one of the nicest guys on the planet, can marry his longtime companion if he wishes to.
I don't follow state and regional politics that closely, not even here in California. But Christie's a national figure, so I've paid a certain amount of (limited, admittedly) attention to him.
ReplyDeleteSo I could be missing all sorts of nuance, but my sense is that he's a more pragmatic politician, with an eye on a more diverse national constituency, and became concerned that his opposition to marriage equality was turning from a local political advantage to a national political liability. So he abandoned it the first opportunity he had to do so and not look totally craven.
mikey's right.
ReplyDeleteChristie is a big hypocrite. But smarter than his fellow trogolodytes.
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The biggest surprise to me is that Christie actually gave up. The timing is really interesting considering the upcoming election.
ReplyDeleteHe's extremely cynical. He knew he'd look like an ass in his home state, and he can bring the issue up later to appease the GOP base (if there still is one) by 2016. Given the low popularity of the Tea Party, he may tack back to the center. When all is said and done, Christie is all about Christie.
So he abandoned it the first opportunity he had to do so and not look totally craven.
He's pragmatic to the extent of cynicism.
Christie is a big hypocrite. But smarter than his fellow trogolodytes.
We'll see how he plays out the next couple of years, with waning support for the Tea Party.
"Harkonnen on the Hudson."
ReplyDeleteThat's gonna leave a mark.