Christie Had To Go

By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host

A leader is often only as strong as those he surrounds himself with.  Henry Ford, when asked about his success, said, “I am not the smartest, but I surround myself with competent people.”

When Donald Trump chose Mike Pence as his running-mate, it showed me he may likely surround himself with the kind of people conservatives would prefer.  When looking at those surrounding him, I made the comment the other day that I approved of most of them, but I couldn't understand why he had Chris Christie among that group.  Christie is a liberal Republican, aside from, maybe, a handful of his positions.

Trump has likely figured out that Christie is not best for his team, and has dropped the big boy like a deflated pigskin during a Patriots game fumbled by Tom Brady on a goal line stance when he started moving before the hiked ball was securely in his hands.  Seattle fans know what I'm talking about.

Trump's reasoning, according to The New York Post, involves Christie's handling of the Bridge-gate scandal.

The Post says Trump is so "disgusted" with Christie’s management style as revealed in a recent court case that he’s "kicking" the governor out of his inner circle.

Music to my ears.

Some Trump aides regard the New Jersey governor as "a stupid thug who really needed to go," a transition-team source told The Post.

"Trump thought it was shameful that Christie didn’t take the fall for [convicted aide] Bridget Kelly," a source close to the transition team told the Post. "Trump is really angry that Christie is sending a soccer mom to jail. He believes 100 percent that Christie was behind it all."

Too bad it wasn't Christie's liberal politics that alerted Trump, but I'll take the firing of the New Jersey governor from Trump's team any way we can get it.

Christie's loyalty to Trump has also been shaky.  When the going got tough during the campaign, Christie distanced himself from Trump, canceling appearances on Sunday shows, and failing to attend the second debate.

Christie was originally the head of Trump’s transition team. After the ouster of Christie, the job was given to Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

It is difficult to take on the establishment when members of the establishment are a part of your team.  Christie is now gone.  One down, a few more to go.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary