NJ Gov. Fatso, AKA, Chris Christie, opined Tuesday before a receptive Republican audience that included former president George W. Bush and Henry Kissinger that the U.S. is in danger of becoming a “paternalistic entitlement society” where people sit on the couch, “waiting for the next government check.”

Christie spent most of his 30-minute speech on New Jersey budget issues, but brought up national policy toward the end. He said it is the least optimistic period he’s ever seen for the nation.