JWoww -- 'Chris Christie Is Retarded'

10:03 AM PDT -- JWoww just took to Twitter to explain herself and apologize -- sorta. She says she was caught off guard when she made her comments. But she still calls Christie "disgusting and judgmental" for his views on gay marriage. She apologized for her earlier choice of words .. but not for how she feels about the Gov.

Chris Christie is "retarded" ... so says Jwoww who (along with Snooki) is clearly still feuding with the Jersey governor after a nasty run in with the guy earlier this year.

The Jersey gals were leaving Boa Steakhouse on the Sunset Strip last night when we brought up CC -- and that's when the smacktalk began.

"He's a disgrace to New Jersey," Jwoww said ... adding, "Just like we were."

The two sides have been beefin' for a while (Chris doesn't like the show, the girls don't understand why) ... and it all came to a head back in May during an encounter on the Jersey Shore.

At the time, Snooki told Christie, "I just wanted to meet you, and just, hope you start to like us.”