I want Christie to remain as Governor for another term. I love his brash attitude and his dislike for the Dems, who have done nothing for the middle-class of this state.

Thank-you Governor for taking on the teachers union. Next we need to stop the police from being at every roadside construction project....that is a waste of taxpayer money....and yes I know the construction company pays for the police to be there, but they have to bid a higher amount to pay for the police....so in the end it's coming out of my pocket.

With Christie and his shoot from the hip attitude, we would be @ war with Switzerland w/i 2 weeks of the inaguaration.

I love Christie and his no nonsense approach! He has been great for New Jersey so far and would be even better for our Country!!!

Christie would be a great veep, but I would like to see him stay here in NJ. We need him to continue standing up to the Corzine Democrats who have caused a lot of damage to this state.

Hands down, Condi Rice would be the best pick. She is far above the rest and brings some vital experience in foreign relations, which we will really need after this current administration. I wish she had run for president. Doubt she will get the vp nomination.

The only thing Christie is good at is putting All-You-Can-Eat Buffets out of business. I wouldn't even trust this thing around my children, let alone in office.

One can only hope that this loud mouthed crude thug will be voted out of office but one can never underestimate the cluelessness of the folks ruled by the reptilian part of their brains. There are people who worship the supposed strong man. Christie bashes and demonizes the teacher unions but stays silent about the banksters and big corporations which don't pay anywhere near their fair share in taxes. He gives tax breaks to millionaires and big corporations but scapegoats the unions for the crimes of Wall Street. News flash to the knee-jerk union haters: the unions did not cause the economic crash of 2008, that was caused by the one percenters. Oh, and Christie has actually said terrible things against teachers, not just their unions.

He'd be great but hope he stays as Governor of NJ!!!

Liberal slant Patch! "Romney needs Christie to win" , Romney can win now regardless of who he picks for VP. I agree with Phil McConkey's answer. But, if not VP, then perhaps AG?

It would be wonderful if this great bully would run for higher office and get out of New Jersey. But I'd hate to inflict him on the rest of the country.
Too bad the poll did not offer the choice "none of the above."

Reports say Gov. Romney could announce his VP pick tomorrow. Gov. Christie will be with Romney at three of the GOP presidential candidate's fundraising stops tomorrow: In Atlanta, Columbia, SC, and Raleigh, NC.

Chris Christie is the best thing that has been done to fight no show jobs and over paid jobs he is honest and strict to get people in line to finally get some control of runaway taxes and mismanaged government jobs. Would you rather have him smile and say everything is alright and just let things get further out of hand. Not Me !!! Wake up people Christie maybe firm but he is what you need to clean up the sloppy practices in place. I bet your kids don't like you much when they are told to pick up their toys. I am sure thats why people don't like him. As far as his weight. Thats his problem not yours. Democrat or Republican it dosent matter who pulls us out of the crapper and thats what he is doing. Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt him. Great job Gov. Christie

Christie is the number one name caller. He is not pulling us out of anything. Is that what they are saying on NJ 101.5 (that filth hole)?

How much state taxpayer money did Christie pour down the rathole called Revel? How anyone could think spending billions on another AC casino was a good investment sorely needs a reality check. Couldn't jobs be created in some other way?

If Christie gets VP, the US will be bombed in a month. His mouth brings nothing but trouble.

@So much to say: You sound like the typical non-union thug. In what universe are unions the ruination of the US? Germany, Canada, Sweden, Finland & Norway are doing fine with much more than twice our unionization rate. So your remark is wrong and stupid. How could unions ruin the US when there has been agressive union busting for 30 years. Walmart and places like Target don't allow unions and fire anyone trying to start a union. But this is the dumb crap we hear from the union haters who would actually benefit from unions.

@jerseyswamps, i am still in a public CWA union and it is a shameful union. They do not represent the vast majority of us. I wish NJ had opt out laws. I would be he first out the door. If the union wants my money they should earn it and actually represent me.

My late Father was a Teamster....he helped organize his local in Philly when he was a young guy. He's been dead for 25 years....thank God....I say that because it would kill him if he saw what Unions have become. The conditions under which he and others worked back in the day were horrific. Trucks with no heaters or doors (hauling coal from upstate Pennsylvania; working with 102 fever, because his job would have been given to someone else if he called in sick), etc. Unions were a good thing then, but they have grown into a money grabbing power broker who can be bought by the politicians. They have driven manufacturing jobs out of our Country, now we are sending every kid who has a pulse to college, to get a useless degree for a job that doesn't exist. Federal Wage and Hour, and OSHA laws protect everyone now, so the premise under which Unions were established is moot.. We just don't need them to succeed....just be smart and be willing to work your butt off (scarce commodities in today's world) and you will succeed. And as far as the Gov., he should stay in NJ, God knows we need him here. Rubio is the right choice for VP. Ciao

Only 3 Republican slanted questions on the poll? How about adding "Christie should have his jaw wired shut so he can do no more harm?" I'd like to see him in an inner city classroom for a day while his ability to insult and spew trash is muffled. Ask the taxpayers of Bridgewater/Raritan and Edison how the mainstreaming of at-risk teens is working out for them so far.

teachers are overpaid and the unions are greedy whoremongers after the mighty dollar.one of the worst unions the USW.ALL FOR THE COMPANY.NOT THE WORKERS

Unions have become parasites. I belong to a union (although I've become an "agency fee payer", I can't vote for union elections, but our union always runs unopposed) that does NOTHING for it's membership, and when they actually do ratify a contract (we've been w/o one for over 3 years) we get the scraps left over from the rest of the NYC/NYS unions, and we are supposed to be happy with what our dear leaders have worked out. Over the past 10 years our benefits have deteriorated to the point where most of them are useless (especially dental and eyeglass prescriptions), the pay scales have not kept up with the times, and workload has increased tremendously. When approaching the leadership about increased workload, something they "promised" they would fight when they ran against the heads of our former union, they tell the members there is nothing they can do. Any issue that comes up that regards working conditions, and other issues in the workplace, are never addressed. However, our leadership are some of the first leftists to show up at picket lines and demonstrations, and have thrown thousands (tens of thousands) of union money to the "working families party" (which lists themselves as a communist party). The membership has become a slush fund for a strong leftist wing in New York. My dad was union carpenter, spent more time layed off than working, and the union stole most of the money from the pension fund. Unions are parasites!!!!!!!!!!

oh gee, another thread spiraling into an anti-union tirade. sigh*

So Much to Say makes my point as he "likes firing people" (aka, US worker). just exactly where are all those non-union garment jobs selling goods at Target and WalMart?

i'd rather support a union factory worker in Indiana than a child year old in Myanmar. i guess that makes me a thug

Brian, there is an opt out. Go to work at a NON union job since you hate unions so much. There are a ton of NON union jobs out there. Non-unionized Corporations are the ones stealing the pensions of workers when they go bankrupt or move overseas. Amazing how these scabs complain about unions. Get a non union job, it is easy since so few jobs are unionized. When did we become a scab nation? The overwheming majority of employment out there is non union because of all the union busting. You scabs deserve what you get, I laugh at you. Ha, ha.

Joe, with all due respect, that is a cheap answer. First, I enjoy my job, if I didn't I would not have been her for 22 years. Nobody should have to leave a job because of a union. Your answer also does not address the previous mentioned concers that people have, unions do need to make some changes.

And lastly, I already have a solution- I hope to move up to a non union position. I will then take my dues and donate them to Scott walker and Chris Christie.

CHRISTIE IS MAKEING IT WORK, LOTS OF TEACHERS NOT WILLING TO DO A LITTEL MORE. THANKS GOV,RICH SAMALONIS

Richard, thank you for your ignorant contribution. NJ schools happen to be top rated and have been for years. NJ always ranks in the top tier of best US schools and is number 1 in many areas. You would not know that from the way Christie smears and demonizes teachers and the unions. Some of the poorest rated states have non union teachers or very weak union representation. These union union haters gladly accept all the raises and benefits that their unions fight for but don't want to pay the dues. They want to be freeloaders. Stop whining and have the guts to get a non union job.

Property taxes in Jersey are still high, food prices- high, gas-high, utilities-high, salaries-status quo. What has Christie done for the middle class- not a damn thing. I don't understand why everyone is in infatuated with this fast talking salesman-like bully when NJ has the 5th highest unemployment rate. If he can't get things done in a small state like Jersey what makes Christie followers think that he'll do a better job nationally? Wake up and look at the bigger picture, masochists.

Teachers, police and firefighters not only pay union dues, they pay into the pension system. It is the STATE and the sleazy politicians who promise all things to all people, starting with tax cuts for the wealthy, that did not meet their contractual obligations to contribute to the pension fund. Now after kicking the can down the road they whine about not enough money for greed unionistas and pit working class people against each other. It is shameful. The legacy of Christie Whitman and her successors.

I totally support getting CC into the vp spot. As a retired educator, I have watched the vicious attacks on police, fire and teachers. It has been an embarrassment. What was done to assist our schools. Have you ever checked the number of days students are engaged in state testing? What has CC done to support the dangerous jobs of police and firefighters? Check out the total lack of support.........but he can work a crowd no doubt. Looking forward to better days.............moving from NJ sadly.

Christie is the best Governor this state has had in fifty years. He is not intimadated by union thugs, the Trenton bureaucrats and Demonrats who have nearly brought this state into bankruptcy.
Keep up the good work governor!

@ric: What "mess caused by teachers and educators of our state was a gift to Christie - including their bloated pension system." Huh? There are so many untruths there that it is jaw dropping. You are blaming teachers for the economic meltdown of 2008? You are confusing teachers with banksters and crooked hedge fund managers. Teachers pay into their pensions, teachers have been paying into the pensions for decades, billions over 2 decades. The state has not been paying into the pension fund or has paid a pittance into the fund. The money that should have gone into the pension fund was instead used to balance the budget and give tax breaks to the very wealthy (Whitman). So you are not paying for the teacher pensions. The pensions are not some gift to teachers, they paid for it, they earned it and it's not coming out of your pocket because the state has put little or nothing into the pension fund over the past 18 years. Lots of retired people leave for warmer climates and of course their incomes are not as much as when they were working. That's been going on for generations long before it was fashionable to hate teachers, to hate their unions and to blame them for a crashed economy, and oh boy, those super rich horrible evil evil evil teacher pensions. All those lousey teachers should be in jail because of their luxury fat cat Cadillac Rolls-Royce pensions. They are regular Donald Trumps.

So much hatred for the unions, finally. I think more and more prople are seeing exactly what they have become. Anyway, CC would do well to stay in NJ for another year then see what else is out there for him. Maybe the top job later on.

Before Christie is christened GOP VP, Romney's people might want to take a look at the company he keeps, as described in this story (also a chronicle of pitfalls of outsourcing public-sector jobs).

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/nyregion/nj-halfway-house-operator-plagued-by-financial-woes.html?_r=1&hpw

Christie will never be the VP, there's no upside to his presence on the ticket. Successful VP choices reflect the demographic that the Presidential candidate doesn't. Romney already has the "fiscal conservative who gets stuff done" brand attributes covered. That's what CC would bring.

What Romney lacks is a connection with Heartland Christians and Joe Six Pack types - two groups that he consistently lost in the GOP primaries and ones he needs to win by sizable margins to beat Obama. So any running mate he picks has to have some of that positioning. Again, Christie offers none of that.

Romney is smartly siting back and waiting for Obama's support to decline because of the economy. So why roll the dice on a volatile guy like Christie who has opinions he's eager to voice? A boring middle-America guy like Tim Pawlenty would probably be a better choice for a guy who's running an "Anyone but Obama" campaign backed by infinite ad dollars.

slyfox: What planet have you been living on? You are unaware of the rabid, vicious, unrelenting union busting that has been going on for 30 plus years? There is huge right wing corporate money in anti-union propaganda. The Waltons, the Koch brothers (to name just a few) spend hundreds of millions of dollars demonizing unions non stop 24/7. Places like Target and Walmart force their employees to watch anti-union films and read anti-union propaganda. People are desperate for jobs, so they knuckle under and are terrified of losing low wage no pension no benefit jobs. Germany has a strong union movement and for the most part the unions and the corporations work together. Germany has a lower unemployment rate than we do. I know I'm wasting my breath, I might as well be communicating with a brick. Ethel is channeling her inner Glenn Beck, that's nice.

we keep a police dept because people commit crimes. when there's no crime, there's no need for police. if business treated their employees fairly, there would be no need for unions. sadly, business treats its employees like dirt.

(non-union) Amazon had to be sued because they kept workers in a sweltering hot warehouse because they didn't want to spend a little on proper ventilation.

Boeing just ended a hundred year partnership with the good people of Seattle to send high paying (union) jobs to South Carolina where the same jobs will be paid below $10 per hour.

Many years ago worked for Storer Cable in Woodbury. They were non-union while the Willingboro branch was union. The non-union branch in Woodbury offered better pay and benefits than the union shop. Believe me, nobody in Woodbury wanted to join the union.

The point being, if business treated their employees fairly, there would be no need for unions. sadly, business treats its employees like dirt.

Teree....decades ago, the positions of teacher, policeman and fireman were relatively low paying positions...benefits were introduced in an attempt to lure folks into those fields....a good idea....back then. But, with the formation of unions, came the possibilty of corruption, as we have seen too many times in the past few decades. Like you, I am educated (three academic degrees) and have worked my whole life in the private sector...any successes I've achieved is because of my determination and work ethic...just like you and your husband. Don't be discouraged, just thank God that we live in a Country that still enables everyone to be as great (or as dismal) as they desire.

You are so right, Chilly. This is why I left the private sector for the public sector. There are no job protections in the private sector. I'm amazed at the hatred for public employees, yet I've never met one that would spout their trash directly in my face. Well, cowards die a thousand times before their true death, they say. The sad fact is that it isn't the rank and file public employees that have the abnormally high pay and/or abused the pension system. Politically-appointed positions, contracted services (e.g. municipal attorneys, engineers, etc.), and double (or even triple) dippers are the real culprits. Yet, Christie has not done much (he did take on the Passaic Valley Water Commission, but that's it) to address the abuse.

Well one thing is for certain, Christie is not going to be veep. Roomney as a consolation has appointed the BIG MOUTH to be the keynote speaker. Hope the stadium is big enough to hold someone with Chritie's HUGE EGO. LOL!
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/jul/18/christie-keynote-republican-convention-gop-activis/

jerseyswamps, you are lying. Union dues are by law not allowed to be used for political campaigns. The voluntary PAC fund is used in political campaigns. If you don't want to contribute to the union PAC, then check off the no thanks box. Why would any union support the GOP. The GOP is openly anti-union. Maryann said: "But, with the formation of unions, came the possibilty of corruption.." Wow, what a bigoted biased comment. What an absolutely vile assumption. Unions are supposedly corrupt but private sector employers are angels and are never ever never never corrupt. So many stupid vile lies against unions. News flash: unions did not cause the economic Armageddon of 2008. That would be the CORRUPT wall street thugs and banksters who nearly put us into a world wide depression.

Amazing, the same people who hate unions, say that unions are a bunch of corrupt thugs also want to eliminate Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Did Maryann go to K-12 public schools with all those corrupt unionized teachers? She thinks that a priori, unions are synonymous with corruption? So all unions are corrupt? Is she basing her opinions on some unbiased study or is she just shooting from her hip and prejudices.

Joe.....chil, don't burst a blood vessel! Life is too short. Now, go back and read what I said......POSSIBILTY of corruption. This surely cannot be news to you, as there is corruption in every organization that has grown beyond it original intent, ie: the Federal Government, the Church (I'm a practicing Catholic), academia....think Penn State, and sad to say some of those evil Corporations....As far as my education, 16+ years in private schools, who taught me to be a linear thinker; a student of Aristotle, not Plato. By the way, my favorite Socialist, FDR, as well as none other than George Meany were vehemently opposed to public sector unions. Ciao

Maryann: Maybe you were joking about FDR being a socialist since he saved capitalism from the capitalists who nearly destroyed it. He was not even close to being a socialist unless you are an extreme right winger. Why even mention the POSSIBILITY of corruption since corruption can happen in any sector, public or private. FDR gave massive support to unions and unionism. The GOP and the tea party don't want any unions anywhere at any time in this universe or galaxy. I am very sceptical about your comments about Meany and FDR concerning public unions. I know the right wing media is cherry picking and quoting out of context the comments of Meany and FDR. I am aware that the wing nut media are flogging these supposed comments like crazy.

ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE (AWL).Ever notice how much time our illustrious Governor spends out of New Jersey campaigning and making political speeches for the Republican Party and involved in fundraisers for out of state candidates? It seems to me that this poor excuse for a governor is out of state when he should be in Trenton performing his job as Governor; or he is on vacation in places such as Disneyland or at the Jersey Shore in places like Belmar or Seaside. And while he is cavorting to and fro, the state of NJ is in a shambles. We have the highest rate of unemployment and an inordinate number of fiscal problems; problems like a one billion dollar shortfall, crumbling infrastructure, the second highest taxes in the nation and more. I ask you, suppose you were absent from your job as much as our governor is from his job, how long would it be before your boss gave you a pink slip? Suppose you were constantly away from your job on interviews or promoting some special interest groups while your work was piling up; how long would you be employed? How long would your company absorb the cost of your salary while you were ‘away’ from your job? Come the next election I believe it is time that ‘we the tax payers’ of NJ give Chris Christie a pink-slip.

Here's an excerpt from a letter from FDR to the President of the National Federation of Federal Employees that reveals more of FDR's true feelings about public employee unions. He was CONGRATULATING them on their twentieth anniversary.:

..."Organizations of Government employees have a logical place in Government affairs.

The desire of Government employees for fair and adequate pay, reasonable hours of work, safe and suitable working conditions, development of opportunities for advancement, facilities for fair and impartial consideration and review of grievances, and other objectives of a proper employee relations policy, is basically no different from that of employees in private industry. ..." FDR was not against unions of federal governmental employees, he was against them striking.

Big News folks: Just announced, Governor Chris Christie will speak the second night or Tuesday of the Republican National Convention. This should determine that Christie will not be the VP choice for Romney. Usually the VP candidate speaks on Wednesday night.

Christie would be great as president, not vp. You'll never see christie bow down to other nations like obama did / does. Obama turned the US into the laughing stock of the world.

For those of you who support Romney, you should be thankful that Christie was not (presumably) selected. I have spoken to people from all over the country about this and the general perception of Christie outside of NJ is that he is a loudmouth, a baffoon, and a unpredictable hothead.
He'd probably hurt Romney in the election.

What's the difference between Romney voters and Obama voters?

Romney voters sign their checks on the front, Obama voters sign them on the back.

Actually "Crass", I associate with many diverse groups of people. I'd venture to say that at least 50% of those I have spoken to about Christie are Republicans-- and obviously NOT Corzine voters, since as I stated, they are from outside the state of New Jersey. But thanks for your input.

The good news....you can Google anything and get some data. The bad news....some folks digest and then regurgitate the info, without applying linear or critical thinking. Not people who comment here, of course. I am sure their thinking was formed by their semester on Industrial Relations During The Great Depression, as they were getting their Masters in Poly-Sci. Politicians then, as now, pander to whomever they need to romance to get their vote. FDR and Meany knew that it would be dangerous for public sector employees to organize because a strike would shut down a government entity. Think what would happen if the Supreme Court or Congress went out on strike.....wait a minute, that's not a bad idea. By the way, my late Father was a Teamster and a card-carrying FDR advocate, he loved him. But even my Dad understood the potential danger in organized public sector unions. A very short stint with the Pennsylvania State Highay Department galvanized his fears. And Tom, I too have heard nothing but positive comments about the Governor in my travels....and I agree....shrink Government and promote personal responsibilty., encourage the Free Market/Capitalism,..then maybe we'll have a chance. Ciao

What a hoot, right wingers, GOPers, libertarians parroting this mindless blather bumper sticker about smaller government and personal responsibility. This is repeated over and over and over as if it meant anything. Translation: they want to kill Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unions, any regulations on polluters, any regulations on corporations and Wall Street and let's lower taxes (on the rich) some more. Their hero, Ayn Rand, signed up for SS and Mediacre in her declining years. George Meany wasn't perfect, he made some mistakes, he supported the war in Vietnam but if he were alive today, he'd be trying to unionize Walmart, Target and the other anti-union corporations in America. FDR was not against federal employee unions.

In any case, FDR and Meany were talking about FEDERAL employees not state, city, municipal or local public employees.

Looks like government workers gonna have to start paying & pulling their own weight...

How about a 4th answer to the question:
No, and furthermore Christie "the IDIOT" should be impeached from his term as governor of New Jersey.

I personally don't like what he has done to the teachers but I still think that he knows what to do and how to keep us on track for recovery. I agree that nothing is going to be easy when coming out of all this debt but someway, somehow it has to be done. I just think he chose the wrong way to do it, through the teachers. I keep swaying back and forth if I like him or not. Think he would be a great President and he should have ran. Americans would have loved his attitude and hard NJ style way to run government. He would of had my support most likely but I've always liked Romney from the start. As for VP, it doesn't make sense for him to accept it as he could of just ran for President at that time.

Question for the editor: What is VeeP? Is that some new helicopter? I was impressed that the Republicans wanted him to consider being V-P...not really sure what VeeP is that your cute little spin on the position?

I would never want taxpayers to pay for my benefits, which is the opposite of what unions are. My company pays for my health insurance, vacation days, and my retirement account. The use their own profits, not taxpayer's money, to pay for it.

It will be interesting to see if he goes soft or hard in speech today!

Where in the world is Chris Christie? He is not in New Jersey but he is in Florida. Does he even spend half the year in New Jersey?

Well, he is a Republican. On the other hand, what is David Stahl, the Democrat mayor of EB doing in Tampa at the Republican Convention??????