The candidates in last night's Republican presidential debate failed to deliver again. The two hour event included the same old stump speech sound bytes, lots of defensive posturing and attempted jabs at each other most of which missed their marks. The allegedly conservative front runner claimed anyone against giving illegal immigrants tuition breaks is heartless, the moderate that's currently running second is still trying to defend his state health care mandate and the most memorable moment of the night came from a candidate few have even heard of.

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Meanwhile hours before the debate, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie appeared with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels at a Rider University forum where these two non-candidates reminded us they have the skills and the attitude the Republican Party and the nation need. Christie-Daniels would be the perfect ready-made ticket to take on first President Barack Obama and then every crisis the country faces. It's time to shine that signal in the sky. It's time to strike fear in the hearts of villains both foreign and domestic. It's time to summon Fatman.

Yesterday's message from the dynamic duo was that the current crop of Republican presidential candidates needs to take a harder line on issues such as federal entitlement spending and debt. "We’re not talking about - on our side or any of the folks - these things in a forthright way," Governor Christie said during the joint appearance. "They’re dancing around on other stuff and just trying to get four or five sound bytes."

"I hope in some small way through things like this, and maybe more to the point in the way we perform our duties in our respective states, it will embolden some of our national candidates to do something similar," Governor Daniels added. "I’d like to think, whether it's by example or encouragement like we just gave, that some of them will take note."

Why encourage others when you have the experience and the ability to do it yourselves?

Among those touting Governor Christie's abilities is the Committee for Our Children's Future, an independent advocacy group which recently launched a $1.5 million ad campaign promoting Mr. Christie's efforts to cut spending and balance the state's budget. "Washington is moving in the wrong direction. From runaway spending and record debt to gridlock, our federal government is not working. Meanwhile, in New Jersey things are moving in the right direction two balanced budgets, a billion dollars in wasteful spending cut and millions of dollars in new education funding,” said CCF spokesperson Brian Jones. "New Jersey should serve as a national model for government leaders across the country. It’s time for a better economic future for taxpayers, working families, and our children. We must protect our children’s future and keep the New Jersey reform movement going."

Many Republican primary voters have been quick to criticize Governor Christie as not conservative enough; not the type of candidate who could carry the Tea Party banner. They point to things like his refusal to claim human activity is not responsible for climate change when he said, "I think we're going to need more science to prove something one way or the other." They complain that even though he has spoken out against Obamacare, he has not added New Jersey to the states suing to overturn the law.

But how conservative is the current front runner Rick Perry who as governor of Texas granted in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants, opposed a fence along the entire Texas-Mexico border and tried to mandate that pre-teen Texas girls get vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus? Any candidate is going to have chinks in their conservative armor with the possible exception of un-electable choices (see Senator Rick Santorum).

On September 27 Governor Christie will be speaking at the Reagan Presidential Library in California and, according to advance reports, the speech will cover themes much bigger than his battles in New Jersey. Could that address be the kickoff to a Christie presidential campaign?

Expect some BAM's, KA-POW's and 'Holy Poll Numbers, Fatman!' if it is.

UPDATE: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is reconsidering his decision not to enter the 2012 presidential race - and he says he will let top Republican donors know within days about his plans. (source)