Chris Christie

It is a purely political and rhetorical idea that, and this is the point I think you were getting at when I interrupted you, there are people around him who want to populate that in a way that is much deeper and much different. But I'm telling you from Trump's perspective, he came up with that stuff and just went like, this will sell. And he's selling it. Wow. Remember, this is a Democrat.

It is a purely political and rhetorical idea that, and this is the point I think you were getting at when I interrupted you, there are people around him who want to populate that in a way that is much deeper and much different. But I'm telling you from Trump's perspective, he came up with that stuff and just went like, this will sell. And he's selling it. Wow. Remember, this is a Democrat.

Trump was a Democrat. When I first met Trump, he was a Democrat donating to Hillary Clinton. This is not a guy. But again, transactional, I'm sure, to try and get. But look, John, as transactional as you might want to be, if you are steeped in what Donald Trump now says he's steeped in philosophically, how could you write a check to Hillary Clinton?

Trump was a Democrat. When I first met Trump, he was a Democrat donating to Hillary Clinton. This is not a guy. But again, transactional, I'm sure, to try and get. But look, John, as transactional as you might want to be, if you are steeped in what Donald Trump now says he's steeped in philosophically, how could you write a check to Hillary Clinton?

You couldn't because you'd say to yourself, look, that's, to use your phrase, a bridge too far. Like, okay, I'll give to this one or that one because I have to because I need permits in New York or something like that. But why am I giving to Hillary Clinton? Well, I'm giving to Hillary Clinton because at that time, he could have cared less about anything philosophically.

You couldn't because you'd say to yourself, look, that's, to use your phrase, a bridge too far. Like, okay, I'll give to this one or that one because I have to because I need permits in New York or something like that. But why am I giving to Hillary Clinton? Well, I'm giving to Hillary Clinton because at that time, he could have cared less about anything philosophically.

And I think people are reading too much into him philosophically. He is transactional, John. Whatever gets him from here to there.

And I think people are reading too much into him philosophically. He is transactional, John. Whatever gets him from here to there.

democratic system that can be used in the way that it was designed to create a more autocratic system well a good question and here's what the founders also didn't count on that we would elect lousy people to the other branches or appoint lousy people to the other branches now

democratic system that can be used in the way that it was designed to create a more autocratic system well a good question and here's what the founders also didn't count on that we would elect lousy people to the other branches or appoint lousy people to the other branches now

You know, you look at what's happening in Congress right now, and you have a group of people who in the main are unwilling to stand up. I mean, the only way a check on a power is effective is if you're willing to exercise the check. And the founders couldn't also make it self-actualizing. There are human beings who have to actually do it.

You know, you look at what's happening in Congress right now, and you have a group of people who in the main are unwilling to stand up. I mean, the only way a check on a power is effective is if you're willing to exercise the check. And the founders couldn't also make it self-actualizing. There are human beings who have to actually do it.

And my problem with folks in my party right now is that people who I know disagree, who I know know better. are so wed to their position that they are unwilling to say what they truly believe. And that's the problem with the way the system's operating, John. The system is fine.

And my problem with folks in my party right now is that people who I know disagree, who I know know better. are so wed to their position that they are unwilling to say what they truly believe. And that's the problem with the way the system's operating, John. The system is fine.

The people we've handed the keys to operate the system, not just in the executive branch, but in the legislative branch, are not doing their job, even to being honest with themselves.

The people we've handed the keys to operate the system, not just in the executive branch, but in the legislative branch, are not doing their job, even to being honest with themselves.

Well, a few things. I think first off, to be fair about your characterization of me.

Well, a few things. I think first off, to be fair about your characterization of me.

You don't have to be. I'm suggesting you might want to be.

You don't have to be. I'm suggesting you might want to be.