Keller @ Large: Learn From Mistakes Of Others
BOSTON (CBS) - Everybody makes mistakes in life, and the best that can be said for them is they can be learned from.
Fortunately, we can also learn from the mistakes of others, a much less stressful process.
So let's all give thanks to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for giving us all an object lesson in the pitfalls of arrogance and ego.
Sunday's New York Times all but writes an obit for Christie's presidential ambitions, reporting that Christie is "unpopular at home, limping near the bottom in national Republican polls and lacking the money and momentum of his competitors."
Of course, it's awfully early to be writing off a presidential candidate. Trust me on this, I once wrote off John Kerry in late 2003, just months before he surged to the nomination, a mistake I will never make again.
See what I mean?
What happened to Christie, who many Republicans literally begged to run back in 2012?
A Times piece back in February put it well: "He does not return phone calls. He does not ask for support. He arrives late for meetings. And he acts as if he has all the time in the world…" In other words, Christie has become "imperious," a nice euphemism for arrogant and out of touch.
This unattractive trait was burned into his public image by the Bridgegate scandal, which exposed a culture he had created of vindictiveness and unconcern with the public.
I saw this first-hand at the GOP Convention in Tampa three years ago, where Christie moved around with a big entourage like he was Floyd Mayweather and gave a keynote speech that was all about himself.
Moral of the Christie story: don't let your ego blow up to blimp size. Better to learn that lesson from him than from ourselves.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.