N.J. Governor Christie Visits Middlesex GOP Convention and Rallies 800+ Crowd with Stirring Sandy Testimonial
By Synnove Bakke | The Save Jersey Blog
The Middlesex County Republican organization had their 2013 Convention on Saturday at Royal Albert Palace in Edison, Save Jerseyans.
We had about 800 delegates and guests in attendance, and the energy was sky-high as Governor Chris Christie walked into the room.
Middlesex County GOP Chairman Senator Sam Thompson spoke about the Governor for some time, and announced the actual arrival of the state’s most famous Republican. Councilwoman Lucille Panos actually introduced the Governor, and the speech that followed touched us all and left few dry eyes in the house.
In part of his speech, Governor Christie recounted his experiences in the immediate wake of Superstorm Sandy, and his love for New Jersey couldn’t have come across any clearer. You could feel how this storm caused him much pain, as it did for all of us living in New Jersey as we watch our family and friends struggle and fight for survival.
If you weren’t lucky enough to be there to hear the Governor, here’s the heart of his speech:
So many New Jerseyans lost so much that day. They lost those things that are the touch stones of our lives, that old high school yearbook that you can pull off the shelf, the wedding albums, the videos of your children, their first steps, their first day in kindergarten, the little birthday parties. Those things are irreplaceable, and those destructions leave a hole in your hearts.
The people around the counties woke up that morning after wondering, what are we going to do, can we rebuild, can we restore ourselves or will be have to leave this place that we love so much. I made the decision that morning when I heard of all those things that happened to us that I’m going to spend half of every day making the decisions and plans needed to restore NJ to normalcy and the other half of the day meeting with the people around the state to let them know that I have not forgotten about them. I was holding their hands, giving them hugs, and let them know that things are going to be okay. I can tell you that when I got home after those 16-18 hour days, Mary Pat said; I don’t know how you are going to put one foot in front of the other. I said to her; I’ll tell you how, I get the energy from them. Every place that I went, people hugged me, and they said; hang in there Governor, be strong, and we are praying for you.
That’s how amazing the people of this state are. When they stood above the destruction that had happened to them and their families, and their friends, when I came, they told me they were praying for Me. If you don’t have strength for that, then you don’t belong in this business. Here is my solemn pledge to you, that this is no longer a job for me. I’m not running for reelection because I want this job, I’m running because I’m determined to finish the mission of rebuilding, and restoring our state, and make it even better than it was before. I need you with me.
I hope that you have seen over the last few months that it doesn’t matter how many hours and days it takes, it doesn’t matter who I have to go after. It doesn’t matter where I have to travel or what I have to do, this is my mission, and if that means fighting with my own party in Washington, I’ll fight with my own party to protect the best interest of this state. I am here to make sure that your lives, and the lives of your neighbors and friends get back to normal again. I was born here in NJ and I was raised here, and dragged my poor wife here, kicking and screaming 27 years ago, and now we raise our children here. I know this place, and I know its people, and I know what motivates us, because I am one of you. And let me tell you, what motivates us.
It’s because as children we walked along these streets, through these neighborhoods, to the Jersey shore in the hands and the arms of our parents and grandparents who told us the stories of their youth, of what NJ was like for them back then. They pointed out the places to us where they found great joy, happiness and fulfillment in this state, and taught us that we can have the very same thing if we are willing to work hard enough right here and now. Before Sandy, we had the same opportunity. We walked our children and grandchildren down those same streets and through those neighborhoods, and to the shore and told them about the great memories that it provided for us, and the great promise that it held for them. I know that the motivation of everyone who’s working with me is to rebuild and restore our state.
It’s because we want our children and our grandchildren to walk their children along those same streets, through those same neighborhoods and back to the Jersey shore. See, that’s the fabric of what NJ is. It’s not any one building or structure, it is us, and the fabric is woven by the memories of our life time, and the passing on of that legacy to our children and to our grandchildren. This is a mission for me because; I will not be a governor who presides over the tearing of that fabric, or the breaking of that solemn promise to the next generation. We will leave NJ better and safer for them, they we will walk those streets and neighborhoods, they will have that Jersey shore to build their memories and their lives with their children and grandchildren. I will not let anyone get in our way of making that happen if you give me 4 more years.”
Middlesex County Republicans are very excited this year. Is it hard to see why? And we all feel as if having the Governor on top of the ticket, in conjunction with our great crop of candidates, will enable us to pull off historic victories and win many elections across the county.
Middlesex County has been a Democrat stronghold for too long, and we all know when there’s one party rule for too many years, very often corruption creeps in. We’re hoping 2013 is the beginning of the end!
