Chris Christie Spars With Mika & Slams Obama on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gave a signature performance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" today. In addition to giving an expected smack down of President Obama's performance, defending Mitt Romney, and giving his views on the 2012 campaign and gridlock on Capital Hill, Christie challenged the opinions of the shows liberal co-host, Mika Brzezinski.

Watch it all unfold, below:

The governor criticized President Obama throughout most of the interview, accusing him of not showing any leadership. He also said that Obama is "someone who still is searching around in a dark room trying to find the light switch of leadership — hasn’t found it yet.” He also alleged that the president has decided to “fritter” away the rest of the year, running for reelection.

Christie turned down a good deal of party pressure to throw his own hat in the primary ring earlier this year, but says he has no regrets about deciding not to run for president. The governor said the candidate that he has endorsed, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, could be "a little edgier and a little bolder."

He also giggled at the idea of Sarah Palin entering the race based on her suggestive comments on Monday night that "it's not too late for folks to jump in. Who knows what will happen in the future."

"It's too late," Gov. Christie told the panel.

Here's a transcript of the dialogue:

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: And joining the table, Republican governor from New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: He has come to straighten you out.

BRZEZINSKI: Oh, I don't think so.

CHRIS CHRISTIE: The time has come.

SCARBOROUGH:  Thank God.  I have been here alone. I have been surrounded. I've been surrounded.  Thank you for your texts. You're right: everybody but Mr. Soros.

CHRISTIE: Everybody but Soros come to analyze the Republican field.

SCARBOROUGH: I mean, I'm alone!

CHRISTIE: I mean, you're veering.

BRZEZINSKI: What?!

CHRISTIE: Here's what's happening. You're veering. You used to be a voice of reason.  You played it both ways.  Now, you're diving deeply into the Obama tank.

BRZEZINSKI: Really?

CHRISTIE: Yeah, you are, you just are.

BRZEZINSKI: I'm diving just now.

CHRISTIE: Because you know I love Mika.

SCARBOROUGH: I know you do.

CHRISTIE: I do. But it's just--diving deep in the tank. All we're looking for from you, we're not looking for you to come all the way to the dark side.  All we're looking for is just a little bit--get to the middle of the road.

SCARBOROUGH: Just a little fairness.

CHRISTIE: On the boulevard, Mika. You're veering off onto the shoulder.

SCARBOROUGH: You've got a really good point.

CHRISTIE: That's all.  I'm saying, you're just veering off!

BRZEZINSKI: Really?

CHRISTIE: You are. I watch every morning.

BRZEZINSKI: Are we talking about the payroll tax-cut debate? What are we talking about specifically here?

CHRISTIE: Do I have an hour today, so we can go through this?

BRZEZINSKI: Because I want to talk to you about Mitt Romney, and we're going to get there. Because I've got some good questions for you.

CHRISTIE: I'm ready.

BRZEZINSKI: But go ahead, what's your criticism exactly?

CHRISTIE: I just --

SCARBOROUGH: Wait, before you--you watch every day, right?

CHRISTIE: I do. I watch every day.

SCARBOROUGH: So you, you, it seems to me, have a legitimate beef against Mika.  Let's hear it.  This is an intervention. Come on. Let's let it out.

CHRISTIE: I'm just looking to give you--from a friend--an objective perspective.  So like, here's one criticism: you know, your definition, recently, of compromise is: everybody agrees with what the president wants, so we can compromise.

More from Gov.Christie's interview:

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(H/T: NewsBusters)