Weigel

Opening Act: Chris Christie vs. “This Strain of Libertarianism”

Won’t Rand Paul think of the children?

 

Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Jonathan Martin catches Chris Christie in noun-verb-9/11 mode.

“The next attack that comes, that kills thousands of Americans as a result, people are going to be looking back on the people having this intellectual debate and wondering whether they put. …” said Mr. Christie, before cutting himself off.

And there’s audio:

Noam Scheiber, who should know, explains why the White House’s rationale for sending Larry Summers to the Fed is flawed:

I’m especially mystified by the idea that Summers would doggedly implement Dodd-Frank. In 2009 and early 2010, Summers was the most vocal internal opponent of the so-called Volcker Rule, which prohibits federally-backed banks from making trades for their own bottom line (which is to say, gambling with taxpayer money). When Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, a fellow early opponent of the Volcker Rule, made his peace with it and told the president he was getting on board, Summers was furious at him for this reversal. Again, it’s possible that Summers would implement and enforce the Volcker Rule with great zeal. But it’s not where I’d put my money.

Chuck Grassley wants to investigate Huma Abedin’s consulting work.

Ezra Klein quibbles with the NYT’s definition of “the center.”

Republicans disagree over how to kill Obamacare.

And North Carolina pushes through voter ID, with only one Republican speaking affirmatively of the bill on the floor.