Chris Christie in 20-never

I greatly respect Gov. Christie for what he knows. He knows how to be effective, he knows how to speak, he knows how to work with people, and most importantly he knows how to lead.

See, there are few people in our country that have that ability to lead. There is a difference between leaders, managers, and figureheads. If you don't believe me, go read a couple decades' of Dilbert. Can you call the Pointy Haired Boss a leader? On the contrary; he's nothing but a manager. Gov. Christie doesn't manage his state. He doesn't just oversee his state. He doesn't sit back and field the underhanded pitches, playing some abstract figurehead in NJ. He leads. And that quality, coupled with the strength of conviction and effective realism is why he'd make a presidential candidate I would be proud to support...

...which is why I don't think he should run in 2012. Do we need him? Oh, more than ever. But Gov. Christie, when asked about a run in '12, said very plainly "No". And I believe him. I believe that he will first and foremost uphold his promise to the residents of New Jersey to lead them well, and he will fulfill that promise. He won't pull a Sarah Palin and eject from office before the first term is up. He won't be like Obama and leave his post to seek higher fame and fortune. His sense of duty, and his sense of honor, will keep him in the place where he can do the most good for the people who need him. That place, for the time being, is Trenton.

I'll be honest with you- if he does decide to run in '12, I would be overjoyed. But that feeling of hope for positive change will be joined by a sense of sadness and some respect lost for the Governor- because he backed down on his word. It's that bittersweet promise to see his term through that hamstrings those of us not in NJ, but a man who keeps his word is rare enough these days.

A man in his position willing to care for his state at the expense of the idol polticians call higher office isn't a member of the rarity these days- he's a member of a class almost extinct.