Chris Christie TIME's 'Master of Disaster'

But does the magazine's cover make the NJ governor look like a mobster?

Chris Christie is a bit peeved at a new TIME cover he says makes him look like some kinda goon.

Talking Points Memo informs us of the New Jersey governor's opinion as shared with Fox Business host Don Imus, who said the magazine made him look like HBO's Tony Soprano. "It's not kind," said Christie, who jokingly suggests TIME be reported to the now defunct Italian-American Civil Rights League. "I guess they're trying to make some kind of point."

But the photo shoot angle misses a more positive vision of Christie: He made TIME's cover, entitled "The Boss," due to his highly lauded handling of Hurricane Sandy. Business Insider details the governor's current popularity:

Christie's approval ratings continue to stay sky-high as he prepares to run for re-election this year. A new Fairleigh Dickinson poll found that 73 percent of New Jersey voters approve of the job he's doing as governor. That includes an astounding 62 percent of Democrats."

Via Talking Points Memo and Business Insider.

Does Christie deserve to make the cover of TIME?

[thejimbo]

He reminds me of Luca Brasi from The Godfather.

[MarkJM]

True, but he's a lot smarter than Luca Brasi...

[thejimbo]

@MarkJM Christie would never "sleep with the fishes", he'd eat them whole!

[PaxAmericana]

Considering his propensity to rub shoulders with criminals from Chicago.. it seems fitting.

[Republican5001]

Ba zing!

[Mogal]

Does Christie not know what he looks like?

[methinks]

Yes, he does. Why should his appearance have any bearing on his effectiveness as a governor?

[Mogal]

@methinks Um....I was merely pointing out that Christie didnt like the pic that Time published. it looks like him. BTW, just how do YOU know what is in Christies mind?

[justapirate]

I like the dude. He doesn't suck up to a political party he just does his job. What a concept. The closest thing we have to a real 'public servant' and folks wanna whine because he stands for his neighbors and his state and not for the latest party platform. Don't that just make him evil? Cheers, Christie. Keep callin' it out.

[marine1]

most people don't care for principle in a person, it makes too many look bad.

[methinks]

@marine1 I care. He'd get my vote in 2016, and it would be a very hard battle for any Dem who would run against him. He doesn't pander and tells you the truth, not what you want to hear. That's why he works so well with his legislature.

[marine1]

@methinks me too but then i believe in accountability and principle also

[PoliticalSpice]

I'd never vote for him, but you hit the nail on the head. These right wingers are crazy, he's one of the best chances they have and they want to throw it all away cause he said something nice about how obama handled the disaster aid...as one who diesn't want a repub in the white house it suits me fine,but ya gotta wonder what it is they put in the tea they are drinking...

[methinks]

@PoliticalSpice Honestly, I think he'd get a good size chunk of Dem votes because he is honest and will tell you where the bear shits in the woods. His honesty is very rare in the political world these days. Why wouldn't you vote for him? Because he is a Republican? He's shown that he works for the people of New Jersey; not the Republican party. If there was a Dem like him, I'd vote for that person BE AUSE of the honesty and pragmatism. The guy knows what he's doing and works well with others. Our current POTUS is the exact opposite, but Clinton did work well with the Republican Congress and we got results.

The real Obstructionist is Obama right now. The 'it's my way or the highway' stance is keeping us bogged down.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Who cares what he looks like, it's what he acts like that concerns me.

[Keyjo]

Now, what's wrong with Christie? He might just be the one who can legitimately win the White House back for the G.O.P. He has unilateral appeal. Isn't that what the Republicans need in 2016? The old ways are losing, and the Tea Party ways are waaaaaay out of kilter with the main stream.
Take at least three bites of your peas, you might learn to like them!

[Creole]

@Keyjo
The GOP doesn't like him now bc he makes too much sense and isn't kooky enough for the right wingers to manipulate.

[Keyjo]

@Creole
Like when Jon Huntsman uttered those fatal words, " my country before my party!"
From that moment on, his campaign was doomed.

[PoliticalSpice]

@Keyjo I was sooo happy he didn't run. I think he could have beaten obama and could win the white house fir the GOP, which, to answer your question, is exactly what is wrong with Christie.

[LikkerdySplit]

@Keyjo he's an abortion supportin, gay-marriagin semi-liberal, we dont need to spend the primary with him flip-floppin like the idiot we just had done

[stepped_in_it]

Besides that fact that Christie does look a little like a Guido type, generally as a politician he is responding to the needs of his constituents. Funny concept there. A politician that responds to his people. I think it's funny that Republicans are upset because the man "rubbed shoulders" with Obama and Democrats are upset because the man "rubbed shoulders" with Obama. He needed help from the Feds for HIS constituents! Sometimes, in politics, you have to stand next to the devil to get what you need. At least he is/was working for his people. Hey D.C., are YOU paying attention?

[Buzzfriendly]

A perfect fit to replace Tony Soprano. I soooo miss that show.

[Everyman]

After kissing Obama lying azz, what do you expect? Leave it to democrats to put a ton of pork in a bill to use victims of a disaster to make money for themselves. And Christie got sucked into the Obama deception. He's too stupid to be Governor.

[RobertJHarsh]

Christie is a RINO. I would say he'd run in 2016 but the GOP won't do it because he hated on them too hard after the fiscal cliff and his photo-ops with Comrade Soetoro.

[TheJimmy]

@RobertJHarsh
If Christie doesn't address his serious weight issue soon he'll be wearing a pine overcoat in 2016.

[Keyjo]

@RobertJHarsh
Any modern thinking, progressive Republican is a "RINO!" It will be a RINO who takes back the White House. But, perhaps that will be another 20 years after all the prima donnas have died out.

[RobertJHarsh]

@Keyjo There isn't going to be a Republican party in 20 years. They'll be some remnants in the Congress in ten years and running some of the states, but there will be no significant number in Congress by 2020. The Republicans are simply not going to win over the non-tax paying welfare trash that makes up the core of the Democrats. That 47% will be 65% in ten or so years.

America is lost.

[jessejaymes]

there is no reason for Christie to be complaining about someone making him look like a mafioso. You couldn't find anyone who looks more like a Mafioso if you held a nationwide search. The guy simply looks the part.

[kirbstomp1]

And can not only hold weight, but makes use of it. No pun intended. Lol

[jessejaymes]

@kirbstomp1 You know at this point as a moderate I'm watching Christie as many millions of moderates in this country are. There is just a ton of moderates both Dem and GOP who are sick to death of the never ending extremism of both right and left. But Christie is on a very short leash. Going around complaining how Time magazine makes him look is not the very presidential. What would impress me more is if he lost 100 lbs over the next 3 years and pointed out along the way that it was the best thing to do whether he become President or not. Christie has some real charisma on certain issues and with blunt talking. But he is going to have to do something about that obesity. At least for me.

[kirbstomp1]

@jessejaymes - I went from 285 lbs in march of 2011 to 192 lbs as of November 2012. I can promise you one thing, if Christie did that he would have my vote immediately. I just know myself how hard I had to work was extreme, and made me a better person. Something of this nature takes determination, will power, focus, aspiration, and complete dedication, which if completed would therefore qualify him for president in my eyes. I don't know if I could vote for him due to his weight, as I believe if you don't take Care of yourself how can you take care of others.

[jessejaymes]

@kirbstomp1 And that's exactly it isn't it? Kirb? We both have lost significant weight (congratulations) and we both know we feel better, we have more stamina, we can focus on something other than food for longer periods of time. We're just healthier. 40 year old's the size of Christie are dropping like flies everywhere today. I couldn't in good conscience vote for someone that obese. I just feel like if you won't take of yourself to some degree how can you be taken seriously as to making the hard decisions?

[kirbstomp1]

@jessejaymes - exactly congrats to you also. Before I lost my weight I would have said don't judge someone on their weight. Now my opinion is a little different. Your conscience being one half of 'you' and your body being the other half. You can't just be a good person, you have to be able to take care of yourself in a respectable manner if you expect to to hold the highest office in the nation. No president in the Modern era has had weight issues that I can think of. Also what would the world think as a superfat mafia boss runs America. You need someone fit, to at least make America look fit haha

[BelinKS]

He is trying to do what's best for his state! I say kudos to him! If even the democrats in his state like the job he's doing, he must be doing something right! But that pic is pretty bad.

[MongoAPillager]

his complaining is just a publicity ploy,i think you find being thought of in the same frame as Soprano's hit TV show is a big ego boost,everybody wants to be a bad ass today.i'm sure he coined the idea on purpose

[lochlomond]

Time was stereotyping Christie as a New Jersey "mafioso" a la "The Godfather" because it casts aspersions on his character. Christie has won approval for many qualities that are absent in most politicians. He calls them as he sees them, apparently never heard of political correctness and challenges his critics who often back down in the face of his dominating personality. He did everything humanly possible in the wake of the hurricane and held lesser politicians' feet to the fire to get immediate assistance for devastated areas. I believe he is honest, a rarity among members of the political class, abrasive in nature and also projects the image of an old fashioned paterfamilias. Since political writers have to admit that he has been a very effective governor, they have to choose a negative visual interpretation in order to label him. In this case, as a mafia don.

[MadAmerican]

Sounds like a man who gets things done and doesn't play politics.

[Dan_Tien]

Not only that, the picture makes him look fat too.

[HPthinker]

I could picture him eating spaghetti at a supper club talking about how the Shipping Docs are layed out, Forgettaboutit !!!

[seedtick]

Christie's big fault is that he runs off at the mouth before he decides if he needs hot water or cold water...then his ego won't let him admit he said too much or the wrong thing at the wrong time. He needs to remember that he should put his brain in gear before he puts his mouth in motion. Otherwise he is a fine governor.

[DyingBreed]

I like Christie, and I still don't buy into that but about him being a closet left winger. He's brutally honest, and I like it.

[Vance1]

Christie is a fat lazy anti gun near liberal idiot, I cant stand him

[harold_lloyd]

Christie doesn't look like Tony Soprano.
Tony Soprano looks like Christie.

And at least he's not a teabagger, he comes from the rational wing of Republicanism. For which the people of New Jersey should be grateful.

Imagine if Michele Bachmann were governor...

[kathyparsell]

I thought James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano was so sexy! Chris Christie should be flattered. I respect Gov. Christie for his plain speaking and strength of character. He certainly has done much to master the disaster his state is facing but I wonder if even he could help the disaster that has become the Republican party