Ryan's deal with Murray is to set a budget for the next two years, which can always be tweaked in the future as we all know. Raising the debt ceiling is a must if you value your dollar. I agree we need to balance the budget and stop spending out of control. Mr. Ryan is working towards this as is Mr. Cruz. Being a moderate is not as bad as it sounds. The base will support a Ryan and whoever he picks as his running mate. Difference is Ryan can win more independents and even moderate democrats that Mr. Cruz will have issues with, unless he picks a Christie or Ryan as his running mate. a Ryan/Cruz, or Cruz Ryan.. even a Ryan/Rubio could be highly viable. I'm starting to see your point on Christie and he reminds me a lot of Romney. He would need a strong conservative to have a shot now that I have read your valid points. Cruz/Christie can work. I still prefer Ryan over Cruz as the lead ticket and Cruz as a running mate. Ryan/Cruz can dominate.
Paul Ryan in his debate with VP Joe Biden - they each had different pro's and con's.
Ryan Pro's - Intelligent, level headed, serious
Ryan Con's - he didn't do enough to attack his opponent and turn people away from him. Ryan did what would sound nice in theory but would somewhat help for voters looking for sane candidates to vote for, but turn away voters looking for someone to excite them and interest them enough to get their attention.
Also a lot of the fiscal stuff was over a lot of voters heads that didn't understand it so well.
Biden pro's - Biden was viewed as owning Ryan in the debate, and dominating him, having been in elected office since the same year Ryan was born
Biden's con's - Biden was considered to be possibly drunk that night, and not taking it too seriously, and being too goofy and also very rude as well.
That also shaped the way people viewed Paul Ryan. Plus voters might also consider that Ryan couldn't even deliver his own home state in the 2012 election.
Ryan choosing Christie, and I would worry that Christie would betray Ryan - or not do things to really help Ryan but perhaps turn away Republican voters.
Christie choosing Cruz - I would not see that happening. Christie tends to favor his "friends" - the most conservative people I could ever see Christie choosing would be either Scott Walker or John Kasich. The obvious choice would actually be Susana Martinez, if not for the fact that she doesn't want it - and not in the sense that most future candidates say - but she she has a more legitimate reason, like taking care of her disabled sister. So I'm not sure who else Christie would be more likely to pick as a running mate - assuming he ever won the nod. Rob Portman, Peter King, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio.
I also could not see Cruz picking Christie. Cruz doesn't seem to care who he upsets - as long as he sticks to what he believes in.