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Chris Christie on Principles & Values |
Now, of course, she was talking about women. But I have learned over time that it applies just as much to leadership. In fact, I think that advice applies to America today more than ever. I believe we have become paralyzed by our desire to be loved.
Our founding fathers had the wisdom to know that social acceptance and popularity is fleeting and that this country's principles needed to be rooted in strengths greater than the passions and emotions of the times. Our leaders today have decided it is more important to be popular, to do what is easy and say "yes," rather than to say no when "no" is what's required.
Whatever caused the spark, at that point Christie decided he wanted to be involved in politics. After he excitedly told his mother about the guest speaker and his desire to
"I have to accept this; I have no choice. When you place 1995: Unapologetic about taking on the establishment wrong. "The most polite way for me to have proceeded would have been to blend into the background and not make waves. But I was elected because I espoused a certain set of ideas. I felt a moral obligation to pursue those ideas, even if it was politically
Christie handled it with humor: "I'm slightly overweight. Apparently this has become a great cause of discussion. I don't know what that has to do with being governor."
For Christie, his weight had been a lifelong struggle, starting when he was a chubby kid. He said in 2012, "There is a certain compulsiveness at times to my eating." He would make repeated efforts to lose weight. Losses were often followed by gains, even after as governor he began to see a dietician, hooked up with a personal trainer, and worked out four days a week. "I weigh too much because I eat too much. And I eat some bad things, too."
He said, "I mean, I will tell you that I think both parties deserve blame for what's going on in Washington DC, both parties do. They're spending more time talking at each other than talking with each other. We all know what the solutions to these problems are, we've done them in NJ in many areas, but we don't have the political will to get them done."
How do we know it has begun? Just look around you. In the last two years, we have come together to address the mess that was our budget. The decline, deficits, and departures that plagued our State just two years ago have been reversed. The budget is balanced. Our unemployment rate is no longer going up, it is coming down. Job growth has been restored--in the private sector, where we want it. New Jersey is back.
We have restrained the growth of property taxes. We have put our pensions on a more stable and sustainable footing. And in doing all this, we have restored confidence and pride in NJ.
For New Jersey, the corner has been turned. Today, the debate is not about who to blame for our failures, it is how to build on our successes. It is no longer about how to deal with devastating decline; it is now about how to push New Jersey even further ahead. To be better than we thought we could be.
A: I am.
Q: When I interviewed Mitt Romney, he made quite a surprising statement. He intended to divorce all matters of his faith from his political life. I figured that he did this because he sees being a Mormon as a potential weakness to the electorate. Do you see that you can do that? Can you divorce being a Catholic with all that means that you stand for as a Catholic and I'm a Catholic, from running for high office?
A: Well, I think you have to understand that we are not a religious democracy. Religion to me is a personal thing. And so, you know, I have to make certain decisions. My decisions are going to be made based on what I think is best for all the people of New Jersey. My Catholicism informs part of who I am. But it does not rule who I am.
Christie said he stayed in more expensive hotels only when cheaper ones weren't available. "We always went for government rates first," he said. "I don't think there were a lot of stays in 5-star hotels."
The travel records date to when he was sworn in as US attorney in 2002. The limits are updated regularly to reflec inflation, seasonal price jumps and other economic realities of business travel. Federal employees who exceed the allowance are required to explain why, though the justification merely requires an extra layer of approval that is routinely granted.