Scott Sumner is Also Unhappy Chris Christie Endorsed Donald Trump

I just commented to Greg and Tom Brown that with all this politics I have no inclination to wade back into the econ and monetary debates right now.

I will again when the election is over. Of course, Sumner always says that politics knocks 20 points off your IQ and there may be some truth to that. At least it leads you to a different focus.

But while we are so focused on politics, the question is where is the economy going? The US economy seems strong but the market has had problems. Does the market foresee trouble? It's clealry worried about China, the drop in oil, etc.

But it is what it is. Right now politics is my focus. Even during the Super Bowl I realized that, I was not nearly as invested in it as usual. That was partly of course because my NY Giants were a flop again and nowhere near the SB.

But Trump did make an accurate tweet that night-the SB this year is not nearly as exciting as politics.

Despite Sumner disdain for politics he's been wading his share lately. I was struck by this:

"No Hollywood film has even come close to portraying the insanity of politics. Here is the latest headline:

"Christie Deeply Insulted by Rubio Voicemail."

"Wow, why would Rubio deeply insult Christie, when he needs his support? So I read on:"

"And after losing the race, the call came from Rubio."

"In his voicemail, the junior Florida senator sought Christie’s support and assured him that he still had a bright future in public service — and Christie didn’t appreciate the words, sources close to the governor said."

"Instead, Christie, 53, took the message to be patronizing and deeply disrespectful, and wanted to know why 44-year-old Rubio would be telling him about his future, and the two politicians never held a direct conversation."

"Shame on Rubio. I don’t think I’ve ever been that deeply insulted, not even by my most vicious commenters. I can’t even imagine the stress that Christie has to go through being a public figure. No wonder he put his ego ahead of the well-being of America. Who wouldn’t, if in his shoes?"

http://www.themoneyillusion.com/?p=31520

This is interesting. So the good of the country requires supporting Marco Rubio? From my standpoint I'm not so sure. I agree that the good of the party might require that. But what's good for the GOP is more or less the opposite of what's good for the country, so I'm all for what Christie did: as it's not good for the GOP.

To be sure, the one thing to come out of Christie's run is he doesn't like Marco Rubio. He feels that the Rubio team played some very dirty pool against him with al the attack ads in NH. 

Remember what Christie had said at the time: Rubio is not going to slime himself to the nomination. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/under-scrutiny-christie-pushes-back-on-rivals-with-sharp-attacks/2016/01/05/12971ed6-b3d0-11e5-a842-0feb51d1d124_story.html

Anyway, supporting Trump was the only way Christie could get some attention and try to stay in the game. He's a term limited Governor who after Bridgegate is probably finishes for future office. Nothing left for him to do than hitch himself to Trump's wagon. 

As I think the good of the country is actually what's bad for the GOP-the good of the country is for the GOP to lose-Christie's move was actually in the best interest of the country, whatever his own motivations. 

P.S. Sumner does put this well:

"Meanwhile, as always occurs in Presidential campaigns, the former head of the CIA is now speculating that the military would refuse to obey orders from one of the two leading Presidential candidates:

"Michael Hayden, the former head of the NSA and CIA, thinks some of presidential candidate Donald Trump‘s campaign promises are so unlawful that the U.S. Armed Forces could not follow them as orders."

"These include Trump’s claim that people deserve to be waterboardedeven if it doesn’t work and that he would target the families of terrorists. The internationally recognized Geneva Conventions bars such action."

“If he were to order that once in government, the American armed forces would refuse to act,” Hayden said Friday during an appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher.” “You are required not to follow an unlawful order that would be in violation of all the international laws of armed conflict.”

"So I guess we can cross our fingers and hope for a mutiny by the armed forces and the CIA against the Commander in Chief. (And for God’s sake make sure the White House is well stocked with strawberries.)"

UPDATE: I left out the best part:

"There is literally nothing Trump could say, no matter how mindbogglingly stupid, that would drive his poll numbers below 30%. America faces 8 more months of insanity, if not 5 more years, or God forbid 9 more years. And if the forces of sanity do somehow cobble together enough delegates to deny Trump the nomination, he’ll cry foul and tell his supporters to stay at home, giving the House, Senate and Presidency to the Dems. And that nightmare is the best outcome!"