We've noted before how Chris Christie seems to be everywhere, challenging traditional boundaries of space and time in order to soapbox on behalf of New Jersey, where he serves as governor. But just when we thought today was going to be Chris-Christie-yells-at-a-doctor day, John Brennan's otherwise very serious (and only occasionally pointed) confirmation hearing on Thursday afternoon was interrupted — after the Code Pink protestors — by maybe one too many Christie jokes. Yes, really.

First, in a moment of jokey banter, Senator Dan Coats noted Brennan's New Jersey heritage:

Dan Coats is essentially saying Brennan is gruff, aka "blunt, straightforward". Calls it the "Jersey Way" like Chris Christie

— Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNBC) February 7, 2013

Brennan — something of a New Jersey hero himself — announced the origin of his candor:

Brennan: "Honesty, truthfulness, was a value that was inculcated in me in my home in New Jersey."

— Tom McCarthy (@TeeMcSee) February 7, 2013

Then, Senator Mark Udall, the member of the Senate Intelligence Committee who was grilling Brennan and has been pressing him on torture all week, declared that serving as CIA Director is way more tasking than running the state of New Jersey:

"Being governor of New Jersey is a piece of cake compared to CIA director..I hope Gov. Christie wont take that the wrong way."-Sen M Udall

— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) February 7, 2013

Then, Brennan announced he did not intend to run against Christie in this year's gubernatorial race:

"I have no plans to run against Gov. Christie," Brennan tells Sen Mark Udall (D-Colo), who opined that being NJ GOV is easier than CIA chief

— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) February 7, 2013

By this time others were noticing a theme:

Gov. Chris Christie is getting way more mentions at this Senate hearing for Brennan than one would expect.

— Matthew Keys (@TheMatthewKeys) February 7, 2013

How did Chris Christie become the Prophet Elijah of the #Brennan hearings?

— Tobin Harshaw (@tobinharshaw) February 7, 2013

See? Chris Christie is everywhere. Indeed, while being discussed in Washington, D.C. — at a confirmation hearing! — Christie was vetoing an Internet gambling bill in New Jersey.

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J.K. Trotter